Published By: Random House
Pages: 288
Released On: 01/08/2023
Thirty years after a tragic accident shut down production of the classic children’s program Mister Magic, the five surviving cast members have done their best to move on. But just as generations of cultishly devoted fans still cling to the lessons they learned from the show, the cast, known as the Circle of Friends, have spent their lives searching for the happiness they felt while they were on it. The friendship. The feeling of belonging. And the protection of Mister Magic.
But with no surviving video of the show, no evidence of who directed or produced it, and no records of who—or what—the beloved host actually was, memories are all the former Circle of Friends has.
Then a twist of fate brings the castmates back together at the remote desert filming compound that feels like it’s been waiting for them all this time. Even though they haven’t seen each other for years, they understand one another better than anyone has since.
After all, they’re the only ones who hold the secret of that circle, the mystery of the magic man in his infinitely black cape, and, maybe, the answers to what really happened on that deadly last day. But as the Circle of Friends reclaim parts of their past, they begin to wonder: Are they here by choice, or have they been lured into a trap?
Because magic never forgets the taste of your friendship. . . .
*****
Thanks to NetGalley and Random House for the advanced copy of this title in return for an honest review.
Hide was my first Kiersten White novel and I thought it was amazingly good. I also have the Chaos of Stars but I’m yet to read it. But I had high hopes for any new Kiersten White book, based solely on that one. And this one sounded equally as creepy and thrilling and intriguing.
This had elements of Hide about it – based on a TV show, a small group of characters, secrets – but that’s about it. I felt this was more psychological than physical, and that causes a different reaction from the reader.
It’s a bit difficult to get your head round. Existential, abstract, mind-bending. It’s not always clear what is happening and to whom and why. But I think Kiersten has hit the right balance. It could have made it frustrating to read, but instead, it makes it a thrilling ride, entertaining, very of its own.
I’m not fully sure I understood everything that was going on, but in a way, I think that works. The whole idea is there’s this mystery: who is Mister Magic? What was the TV show? Did the TV show even exist? Who were these children? Who do we trust? What are people hiding? And I think if it was clear cut, we wouldn’t be as invested, whereas by writing it like this, we get a feeling of that confusion and disorientation that Val (our main protagonist) feels.
It really looks at the Mandela effect. Can we really believe our memories? Can we trust children? Can we trust adults? Do we only remember the good times, and forget the negative? How easy is it to convince someone that something that didn’t happen, did in fact happen? Or vice versa?
For me, there is nothing quite as creepy as creepy rhyming jingles sung to children under the guise of lessons. I could practically hear them. It really got under my skin.
It’s partly mystery, thriller, horror, fantasy, and a little sci-fi at times. It’s an amalgamation of a number of genres, and for me, there’s also this slight romantic undercurrent.
I can’t give you a black and white description of the main characters. In a way, there is this sort of…they’re almost like a caricature, like they behave and speak like the roles they were given as a child, they live up to that expectation, and I mean that in a positive way, not a criticism. They are clearly adults, but adults whose childhood still has this hold on them. They seem stuck in this loop that their childhood caused but they cannot figure it out. They’re clearly all hiding something, but they are also having things hidden from them. They’re confused, they’re lost, but it’s not all their fault. There’s something mysterious that has this hold over them that they need to break through, but they’re unsure what it is and how to do so.
For me, this book is less about the TV show itself, and more about how the cult-like show and following has affected the children (now adults) and the wider community. It uses the show as a jumping off point, but then dives deeper than I could possibly have thought.
If you’re after a book that is straightforward, that’s linear, understandable and easy to read, this isn’t for you. But if you want a book that will challenge you, that is frightening, thrilling, creepy and thought provoking, then definitely give this a read.
If I had to compare it, I’d say I marginally preferred Hide. But this book is proof that Kiersten is a talent of her own, with a very powerful narrative. There seems to be no-one like her around currently. To be able to consistently write these thrilling books, uncovering more layers to her talent, I think it’s very impressive and I will look forward to future work.
*** POTENTIAL THEMATIC SPOILER ***
In her acknowledgements, Kiersten explains that she used to be a Mormon, and talks about the negative aspects of that experience, as well as her experience leaving the religion. And as soon as I read that, it was so obvious that was the influence. She’s used this storyline as an allegory of religion and cults. It instantly made the storyline clearer; there was like this lightbulb moment, and it all makes it so much clearer. It adds a new dimension and further depth to the story and the characters, and I think it may even be worth a re-read to see if it makes the reading of it any different.
Books By Your Bedside 