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graceheartsbooks's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
fast-paced
4.75
I’ve been reading a lot of historical fiction lately so I needed something different to shake myself out of a reading slump.
And this book was very much needed. I’ve never read Kiersten White before so I wasn’t sure what to expect but I loved the writing. From the moment I opened the book I was spell bound.
I also loved the way this book talked about trauma and religion and grief—it’s all super important and super needed to talk about. But I can also see why some would give it a lower rating (ironically a lower rating made me want to read it lol) as the ending is bittersweet: almost everyone gets out/has a happy ending but there needs to be a sacrifice before that.
My only slight criticism is that there’s a lot of exposition near the end but it’s not terribly egregious.
And this book was very much needed. I’ve never read Kiersten White before so I wasn’t sure what to expect but I loved the writing. From the moment I opened the book I was spell bound.
I also loved the way this book talked about trauma and religion and grief—it’s all super important and super needed to talk about. But I can also see why some would give it a lower rating (ironically a lower rating made me want to read it lol) as the ending is bittersweet: almost everyone gets out/has a happy ending but there needs to be a sacrifice before that.
My only slight criticism is that there’s a lot of exposition near the end but it’s not terribly egregious.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent, Child abuse, and Abandonment
Moderate: Homophobia, Sexism, Religious bigotry, and Child death
Minor: Alcoholism, Vomit, and Fire/Fire injury
kaylokay_'s review against another edition
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Homophobia, Religious bigotry, Child death, Fire/Fire injury, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Grief, and Misogyny
Minor: Alcohol, Alcoholism, and Death of parent
wowsmeows's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
"Growing up isn't inherently loss, it's just change. Maybe she can't taste sparkles anymore, but she has a lifetime of moments that feel like that."
Mister Magic is the story of an old children's TV show that everyone remembers, but there is no evidence it ever actually existed. Thirty years after the show abruptly ended, the last cast members have a reunion and uncover the past.
I'm really not a horror reader (I'm a scaredy cat!) but I saw this book being recommended and the plot really intrigued me so I was willing to give it a go.
However, I do think classing this book as a horror is maybe being kind. It's a bit creepy in places, but at best I'd say it was a thriller or just supernatural fiction. It ends with a bittersweet and perhaps even a somewhat wholesome conclusion, so I don't think it can really be classed as a horror. It's an interesting concept but didn't really deliver with the fear.
I really enjoyed the beginning of the novel, and was ready to delve into the story and uncover the mysteries, but it lost some steam towards the end. As it was drawing to a conclusion I felt maybe it could have benefitted from having been explained a bit better and explored a bit more. I found myself a bit lost with some of the descriptions as I went through the big conclusion, but maybe that was just a me problem.
From the author's note at the end of the novel, it becomes clear that the whole book is basically an allegory for religious trauma, which looking back now is very obvious. I almost wish this had have been explored a bit more as cults are just inherently creepy.
Also,
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child death, Death, and Religious bigotry
Minor: Racism, Alcoholism, Homophobia, and Addiction
wrenl's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.75
What I thought was an SCP-style tale turned out about to be about trauma and growing up. Which hit way harder than an SCP story probably would.
I love the suspense and intrigue. It keeps building and building. Although the truth is a bit of a letdown (I really wanted SCPs. Have I mentioned SCPs yet?), I appreciate the message about growing up and living life outside of arbitrary rules.
Val is such a great character with strong convictions and the drive to conquer everything that comes into her path.
I’d love to see this as a movie. It would be really trippy but really great.
I love the suspense and intrigue. It keeps building and building. Although the truth is a bit of a letdown (I really wanted SCPs. Have I mentioned SCPs yet?), I appreciate the message about growing up and living life outside of arbitrary rules.
Val is such a great character with strong convictions and the drive to conquer everything that comes into her path.
I’d love to see this as a movie. It would be really trippy but really great.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child abuse
Minor: Alcoholism
caseythereader's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cursing, Grief, Death of parent, Abandonment, Fire/Fire injury, and Child abuse
Moderate: Alcohol and Homophobia
Minor: Alcoholism
sarah_shelf's review against another edition
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Religious bigotry, Gaslighting, Abandonment, and Child abuse
Moderate: Child death and Homophobia
Minor: Alcoholism, Fire/Fire injury, Death, and Death of parent
blacksphinx's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
I picked up this book expecting an entertaining creepypasta-flavored romp through cosmic horror. Instead, I cried my eyes out and felt like some wounded piece of myself got picked out of the darkness and bandaged. (And I lack the Mormon religious trauma this author is digging into!) I am tempted to push this into the hands of every millennial I know.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent, Confinement, Body horror, Abandonment, and Gaslighting
Moderate: Child death, Kidnapping, Racism, Sexism, Grief, Homophobia, and Misogyny
Minor: Vomit, Fire/Fire injury, Alcoholism, and Religious bigotry
fairytalefootnotes's review against another edition
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Abandonment, Body horror, and Child abuse
Moderate: Sexism, Death of parent, Religious bigotry, Alcoholism, Gaslighting, Child death, Homophobia, and Confinement
hellsjerome's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.25
A great concept with solid themes. I thought the moment-to-moment plot was lacklustre and at times meandering but it finished strong!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child death
Minor: Homophobia and Alcoholism
cc_shelflove's review against another edition
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
This was a weird ass book. One thing about weird ass books, though: I love them! 🤣
You grew up watching Mister Magic on the little black box in your living room. Couldn’t sleep? Even at two o’clock in the morning, Mister Magic was on. He sang you silly little rhymes that taught you how to be a good little boy or girl. And then, suddenly… Mister Magic and his circle of six friends were gone. They vanished without a trace. You were all alone.
What happened to Mister Magic? I hated the creepy house in this book!!!! It had six identical floors with no doors and a terrifying basement. 🫠 What a nightmare. The whole story was pretty bonkers! My 3.5 ⭐️ rating is attributable to a whole lot of things going on at one time and also the seemingly rushed ending. I would definitely read White’s next release, however. 🤗
Content Warnings
Graphic: Confinement, Death of parent, Child abuse, Dementia, Injury/Injury detail, and Abandonment
Moderate: Fire/Fire injury and Alcoholism