Hide and Mister Magic: Horror for Millennials

If you have been anywhere near a book app recently, you've probably seen the cover for Hide [Kiersten White]. It's on sale regularly, with the publisher no doubt keen to push it's TikTok influence and turn the author into a bonafide horror brand. 

The release of Mister Magic, a similar nostalgia-tinged, media-inspired horror novel, seems to have cemented that burgeoning reputation. Hide was well received and even I - who normally wait for a sale - bought the new release at full price. 

Grady Hendrix kickstarted a trend for retro horror, tempting non-Horror readers in with retro covers and playful trope-dismantling. But Hendrix's work appeals to the nostalgia of the 80s, whereas White aims to tempt a solidly Millennial audience. 

The books are comfortable in their queerness (a queer romance in both books, and both non-binary and bisexual main characters). The author - a former Mormon with historic roots in the church - clearly uses the books to work through her issues around leaving. Both books feature cult-like communities of white, self-serving Christians, and whilst it's heavy-handed, it's hard not to enjoy a bunch of Karens getting what's coming to them. 

In Mister Magic the 90s Kids' TV show nostalgia directly targets my generation (yes I do have strong opinions about the worst Play School puppet and yes I would fight it out on reddit). In Hide there's the social media grindset to contend with, and the millennial relief at escaping the hustle mentality even if we are forced to participate in it. 

It follows Val who gets swept up into a reunion for a children's TV show cast - despite not being able to remember ever being in it. As she gets to know her former friends she has to unpick her past and adjust to the very recent loss of her father - whilst conspiracies about the show prove to be nothing on the reality. 

In Hide, a bunch of strangers are invited to take part in a reality-TV inspired competition for a huge cash prize. They are each invited out of the blue (in And Then There Were None style). Some are grindset hustlers, seeking fame or fortune, and some are ordinary types who might play well to an audience. The game involves going into an abandoned theme park during the day and finding a place to hide, if they remain unfound until dark then they will play again the next day. The last hidden player wins. The main character is uniquely qualified, having once had to hide for her life. Soon it becomes clear that the losers aren't just kicked out.

Of the two, Mister Magic is weaker. Hide has the energy that comes from picking off a cast, whereas Mister Magic involves a lot of milling around and coming to terms with the past. I grew impatient with the character's recycled thought process. 

I would describe both books as enjoyable rather than good. They're engaging, filled with likable characters, and are generally fun. I highly doubt you'll regret the time you spend with either. But the actual baddies were a let down, with 'selfish humans' being the real monster all along twice in a row.

I don't think these books are quite the phenomenon-material the publisher is hoping for, especially outside of the audience they are targeted at, but given time this author will get even better.