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Loki #1
The Gospel of Loki
The novel is a brilliant first-person narrative of the rise and fall of the Norse gods - retold from the point of view of the world's ultimate trickster, Loki. It tells the story of Loki's recruitment from the underworld of Chaos, his many exploits on behalf of his one-eyed master, Odin, through to his eventual betrayal of the gods and the fall of Asgard itself.
280 pages, Paperback
First published February 13, 2014
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December 9, 2013I mean seriously LOKI? I've been waiting ages for a book like this.
I am fangirling so hard right now.
I am fangirling so hard right now.
June 8, 2015
New review 6/8/15:
I couldn't do it, y'all. I made it through 114 pages of this shit show before I decided I'd rather deal with a yeast infection than subject myself to more of this travesty.
Not only does Harris change a lot of details in confusing ways (Loki's a demon, not a Jotun, and comes from Pandaemonium, not Muspelheim? What?) but the book itself is just shallow. I realize Harris was trying to emulate the feeling of Loki telling the story directly, but you can do that and still give you story depth. Instead, it's "this happened, here's what the gods did, here's what I did, some scant description, everyone is one-dimensional and stupid, annnnd scene."
For purportedly being a long time Norse mythology fan, Harris frankly doesn't show it in her book.
The fact that this is going to be many people's introductions to the mythology is about as upsetting as Snorri Sturluson rewriting the myths to better fit his Christian ideology.
Not that Harris is innocent of that, either. Everything from the title (gospel) to the changes made to Loki's origins (he's a demon now) seems very deliberately made in order to further the Christian allusions Snorri inserted into the myths so long ago. Harris also obviously didn't do any research, as Loki refers to himself as the Father of Lies, which was a name Snorri gave Loki in order to further the whole "Devil/Satan = Loki" idea in his Eddas.
Overall, I'm sorry I wasted my time.
Previous review:
I'm a big old Pagan, of the Asatru variety. (And not of the Neo-Nazi variety.) This means that I happen to worship the Norse gods and goddesses and do actually believe that they are real, because I've dealt with them.
Who, in particular, is the goddess I'm most devoted to? Sigyn, of course. She found me first.
I'm used to people maligning my Goddess and getting Her completely wrong. Marvel, so far, has been the biggest offender with their portrayal of her in the 60s and 70s. It's pretty much old hat to me.
This is the first time I was actually heavily offended by a portrayal of my Goddess.
Is it stupid for me to be offended, considering most of the population doesn't believe the Norse gods are real? Probably. I don't really care.
What this shows is a basic lack of research on Harris' part. The Viking culture actually had divorce, for something as little as a spouse being unhappy with their partner.
What this shows is a basic lack of logic in story. You know what Odin did in order to punish Loki when he killed Baldr? Odin killed his sons in return. This is meant to be the worst punishment because Odin knew how much it would pain Loki. Why, then, would Harris portray him as barely tolerating them? Why would Odin kill Narvi and Vali if it wouldn't cause Loki the most agony possible?
Loki ADORES His family. He loves His wife. Losing His sons and seeing Sigyn being put through torture in order to protect Him (the Ordeal in the Cave) actually traumatizes Him.
So yes, excuse me if I'm pissed. I don't ask for a whole lot out of my Norse mythology books. All I ask, at minimum, is that Sigyn be treated with the respect She deserves.
Maybe I'll read this book one day in order to tear apart everything Harris got wrong about Norse culture and society. Probably not, though. Books like this aren't worth my time or effort.
I couldn't do it, y'all. I made it through 114 pages of this shit show before I decided I'd rather deal with a yeast infection than subject myself to more of this travesty.
Not only does Harris change a lot of details in confusing ways (Loki's a demon, not a Jotun, and comes from Pandaemonium, not Muspelheim? What?) but the book itself is just shallow. I realize Harris was trying to emulate the feeling of Loki telling the story directly, but you can do that and still give you story depth. Instead, it's "this happened, here's what the gods did, here's what I did, some scant description, everyone is one-dimensional and stupid, annnnd scene."
For purportedly being a long time Norse mythology fan, Harris frankly doesn't show it in her book.
The fact that this is going to be many people's introductions to the mythology is about as upsetting as Snorri Sturluson rewriting the myths to better fit his Christian ideology.
Not that Harris is innocent of that, either. Everything from the title (gospel) to the changes made to Loki's origins (he's a demon now) seems very deliberately made in order to further the Christian allusions Snorri inserted into the myths so long ago. Harris also obviously didn't do any research, as Loki refers to himself as the Father of Lies, which was a name Snorri gave Loki in order to further the whole "Devil/Satan = Loki" idea in his Eddas.
Overall, I'm sorry I wasted my time.
Previous review:
I'm a big old Pagan, of the Asatru variety. (And not of the Neo-Nazi variety.) This means that I happen to worship the Norse gods and goddesses and do actually believe that they are real, because I've dealt with them.
Who, in particular, is the goddess I'm most devoted to? Sigyn, of course. She found me first.
I'm used to people maligning my Goddess and getting Her completely wrong. Marvel, so far, has been the biggest offender with their portrayal of her in the 60s and 70s. It's pretty much old hat to me.
This is the first time I was actually heavily offended by a portrayal of my Goddess.
Is it stupid for me to be offended, considering most of the population doesn't believe the Norse gods are real? Probably. I don't really care.
What this shows is a basic lack of research on Harris' part. The Viking culture actually had divorce, for something as little as a spouse being unhappy with their partner.
What this shows is a basic lack of logic in story. You know what Odin did in order to punish Loki when he killed Baldr? Odin killed his sons in return. This is meant to be the worst punishment because Odin knew how much it would pain Loki. Why, then, would Harris portray him as barely tolerating them? Why would Odin kill Narvi and Vali if it wouldn't cause Loki the most agony possible?
Loki ADORES His family. He loves His wife. Losing His sons and seeing Sigyn being put through torture in order to protect Him (the Ordeal in the Cave) actually traumatizes Him.
So yes, excuse me if I'm pissed. I don't ask for a whole lot out of my Norse mythology books. All I ask, at minimum, is that Sigyn be treated with the respect She deserves.
Maybe I'll read this book one day in order to tear apart everything Harris got wrong about Norse culture and society. Probably not, though. Books like this aren't worth my time or effort.
February 25, 2017
The first fantasy novel from Joanne Harris, The Gospel of Loki is a brilliantly entertaining retelling of Norse mythology. As the title suggests, it's all seen through the eyes of the god of mischief, Loki, who relates his own version of events in a wonderfully unpredictable, unreliable and humorous voice. It's part 21st-century update - Loki's narration is very modern - and part faithful reconstruction - the book presents the world of these myths as it was originally told, and as a very real experience, or at least as real as Loki wants you to think it is.
First things first: I'm not going to pretend that my reasons for reading this book and my reasons for loving it have nothing to do with the Marvel Avengers films. Or that I wasn't reading the whole thing in Tom Hiddleston's voice. Yes, I am pretty enamoured with the character of Loki (I'm not quite of the obsessed Tumblr-fangirl variety yet, but I do own a Loki figurine... or two...) and that undoubtedly helped. Still, I'm sure the same will apply to a lot of the potential audience for this book, and this alone is not what makes it good, it's just an added bonus.
I only had the vaguest familiarity with these myths before I started the book, and it's a perfect introduction for the uninitiated. Unfortunately, my lack of knowledge of the source material means I can't assess how faithful it is to the original stories, but it feels fresh, interesting and even relatable while packing a lot of fantastical detail into the narrative. Loki's mischievous personality and sense of humour are useful tools for explaining away some of the more out-there elements of the plot... like the fact that he gives birth to an eight-legged horse. (Sometimes the stuff that happens in the Nine Worlds makes Adventure Time look like an episode of Springwatch.) (I bet that scene won't be featuring in Avengers 2.)
I'd never read anything by Joanne Harris before, I think because I had viewed her oeuvre as somewhat cosy and slightly twee. I'm now reassessing this opinion and have found that I was very wrong: I'm particularly interested in checking out her debut novel The Evil Seed, described as a reworking of the classic vampire myth, and the recent collection of short stories A Cat, a Hat and a Piece of String. Apart from being original, funny and engaging, The Gospel of Loki is also brilliantly written. It must have been so hard to write about these complex fantasy worlds with such a light and accessible tone, but Harris pulls it off without the end result seeming in any way flimsy.
I would recommend this not just to habitual readers of fantasy and/or to those who have a surreptitious crush on movie-Loki, but to everyone. It's a delight to read, enormous fun, and even makes you feel like you've learned something. To be honest, I'm crossing my fingers for a sequel.
First things first: I'm not going to pretend that my reasons for reading this book and my reasons for loving it have nothing to do with the Marvel Avengers films. Or that I wasn't reading the whole thing in Tom Hiddleston's voice. Yes, I am pretty enamoured with the character of Loki (I'm not quite of the obsessed Tumblr-fangirl variety yet, but I do own a Loki figurine... or two...) and that undoubtedly helped. Still, I'm sure the same will apply to a lot of the potential audience for this book, and this alone is not what makes it good, it's just an added bonus.
I only had the vaguest familiarity with these myths before I started the book, and it's a perfect introduction for the uninitiated. Unfortunately, my lack of knowledge of the source material means I can't assess how faithful it is to the original stories, but it feels fresh, interesting and even relatable while packing a lot of fantastical detail into the narrative. Loki's mischievous personality and sense of humour are useful tools for explaining away some of the more out-there elements of the plot... like the fact that he gives birth to an eight-legged horse. (Sometimes the stuff that happens in the Nine Worlds makes Adventure Time look like an episode of Springwatch.) (I bet that scene won't be featuring in Avengers 2.)
I'd never read anything by Joanne Harris before, I think because I had viewed her oeuvre as somewhat cosy and slightly twee. I'm now reassessing this opinion and have found that I was very wrong: I'm particularly interested in checking out her debut novel The Evil Seed, described as a reworking of the classic vampire myth, and the recent collection of short stories A Cat, a Hat and a Piece of String. Apart from being original, funny and engaging, The Gospel of Loki is also brilliantly written. It must have been so hard to write about these complex fantasy worlds with such a light and accessible tone, but Harris pulls it off without the end result seeming in any way flimsy.
I would recommend this not just to habitual readers of fantasy and/or to those who have a surreptitious crush on movie-Loki, but to everyone. It's a delight to read, enormous fun, and even makes you feel like you've learned something. To be honest, I'm crossing my fingers for a sequel.
March 18, 2024
Запознайте се с Локи - немирен, лукав и непостоянен, с трудно разбираеми мотиви и постъпки, всъщност дете на Хаоса първичен, непринадлежащ дори и малко на Асгард и боговете му.
Неговият разказ не ще ви остави равнодушни, а скандинавската митология пречупена през погледа му, ще ви забавлява чак до Рагнарьок.
Боговете са представени толкова приличащи на смъртните си обожатели, та чак да не повярваш, че има някаква разлика между тях.
Джоан Харис пише изкусно и си струва да ѝ отделите от времето си!
Моята оценка - 4,5*.
Цитат:
"Когато са замесени жени, всички мъже са еднооки - и не виждат много добре дори с единственото си око."
P.S. Локи винаги ми е бил любимец от всички божества в скандинавския пантеон и се радвам, че най на края е получил признанието, което твърдо заслужава!
Неговият разказ не ще ви остави равнодушни, а скандинавската митология пречупена през погледа му, ще ви забавлява чак до Рагнарьок.
Боговете са представени толкова приличащи на смъртните си обожатели, та чак да не повярваш, че има някаква разлика между тях.
Джоан Харис пише изкусно и си струва да ѝ отделите от времето си!
Моята оценка - 4,5*.
Цитат:
"Когато са замесени жени, всички мъже са еднооки - и не виждат много добре дори с единственото си око."
P.S. Локи винаги ми е бил любимец от всички божества в скандинавския пантеон и се радвам, че най на края е получил признанието, което твърдо заслужава!
January 15, 2015
What do we have here?
A whole lot of sarcasm, the most unreliable narrator of all time, an alternative view on the Norse mythology and a quite a lot of epicness in addition.
As somebody who has to do a presentation on the "Prophecy of the Oracle" next week I couldn't have chosen a better book for this month. One of my majors is Scandinavian Studies so I can't rate this book objectively. I have always been enamored with the Norse myths, the legends, the gods and the most popular trickster of all time - Loki.
What is even more important - I can proudly say that I was interested in Norse mythology before Marvel's Loki was created! Thus, before the Tom Hiddleston hype!
This is basically the retelling of the Older Edda from the POV of Loki, written in prose form instead of epic poetry, with a lot of dark and cruel humour and some interesting interpretations and additions to the original Edda. To those who expect something entirely new, Loki's life-story or something, don't expect too much. Seriously, this is the Older Edda retold from a biased perspective, a very intriguing and highly amusing perspective though.
"Basically, never trust anyone."
The best statement about Loki that I've ever found. He indeed brings the party! Every. Single. Time.
And it's not that he is evil, on the contrary, he tries to play by the gods rules at the beginning but after the attempt fails he just repays for all their "kindness".
In one of my lectures when we discussed mythology our professor mentioned that historians found some evidence that Loki, the trickster, used to be a folk-hero before an unexplained shift occured which turned him into the traitor and the villian of Asgard. Perhaps it was due his two-faced nature (some think that he used to be both a fire and a water god) or maybe because he was born from pure Chaos. This is unknown, but apparently Loki wasn't always evil, even in myths.
Anyway, I enjoyed reading a book from the perspective of a truly unreliable narrator whom you can't help but doubt and question and I enjoyed Loki's sarcastic and dark humour, I enjoyed reading about the sharpness of his mind and the creation of the world which he described differently from what I am used to.
Chaos and Order.
Believe me, it was described vividly, beautifully even. Often I found myself closing my eyes and sinking into the world that was created, following the small steps of the gods in the shaping of the world and laughing at them with Loki.
And of course, of course my favourite chapter was when Thor and Loki had to dress up to get Thor's hammer back. Damn, that was hilarious!
Whenever the gods messed up again or couldn't find their way out of the situation he appeared saving their arrogant...yeah, we all know what.
Chaos and Order.
Caught up in a never-ending battle, they depend on each other, one cannot exist without the opposite, a cycle that will never end.
Consequently, I highly recommend this retelling to everybody who wants something epic, or something about Norse mythology, or something about Loki and without a trace of romance. I think this book is a good read for the general education, and definitely one that is worth reading.
I am sure I will come back to this book at least one more time before the end of 2014. Soooooooo...Highly recommended!
April 18, 2021
“Everyone has a weakness, and I make it my business to know them all”
The Gospel of Loki is a fresh, unique, hilarious telling of the rise and fall of the Norse Gods from the perspective of the God of Mischief, Loki, who turns every tale into a witty, memorable experience. Unlike some other mythological retellings I have read recently, this feels unique, and different than just a regurgitation of stories I have heard many a time.
The characters are of course the strongpoint, forming the bedrock for everything good coming out of this story, Whilst the plot is interesting and engaging, it is the characterisation that adds flavour and humour, severity and gravitas, depending on the event at hand. Loki is charismatic and manipulative, and everyone knows it, but sometimes still fall for his tricks. In that he actually reminds me a bit of Richard III, in Shakespeare's iconic play, as he often manages to emerge victorious against those who are fully aware of his mischievous ways.
Many of the characters are close to caricatures, such as Thor being the strong warrior who has a malleable mind, excluding when anger has claimed him, and is easy to confound. But Joanne M. Harris adds little inflections to these characters that does add a humane edge to them, which I loved, such as a moment of affection, or evident regret from the One-Eyed Odin himself..
Full Review To Come
The Gospel of Loki is a fresh, unique, hilarious telling of the rise and fall of the Norse Gods from the perspective of the God of Mischief, Loki, who turns every tale into a witty, memorable experience. Unlike some other mythological retellings I have read recently, this feels unique, and different than just a regurgitation of stories I have heard many a time.
The characters are of course the strongpoint, forming the bedrock for everything good coming out of this story, Whilst the plot is interesting and engaging, it is the characterisation that adds flavour and humour, severity and gravitas, depending on the event at hand. Loki is charismatic and manipulative, and everyone knows it, but sometimes still fall for his tricks. In that he actually reminds me a bit of Richard III, in Shakespeare's iconic play, as he often manages to emerge victorious against those who are fully aware of his mischievous ways.
Many of the characters are close to caricatures, such as Thor being the strong warrior who has a malleable mind, excluding when anger has claimed him, and is easy to confound. But Joanne M. Harris adds little inflections to these characters that does add a humane edge to them, which I loved, such as a moment of affection, or evident regret from the One-Eyed Odin himself..
Full Review To Come
July 25, 2019
I truly enjoyed this rewrite of the Edda from the point of view of Loki. So, shoot me. I've always been a fan of the antihero. While I cannot approve of everything that Loki did, he comes off the page as genuinely sympathetic and, dare I say -- human? The fact is, nobody in the Norse pantheon of gods comes across as admirable. In that regard, Loki fits in very well.
January 11, 2017
I spent the whole of this book visualising Chris Hemsworth and Tom Hiddlestone in their roles of Thor and Loki. I think it added to my reading pleasure!
I really liked Ms Harris's original take on the story of the Norse gods and especially Loki. Of course as a known trickster and liar Loki must be the most unreliable narrator ever and we have to assume that it may not be a strictly accurate retelling. However it is a fun one and Loki is quite ready to admit to his failings as well as his successes.
As aways for this author the book is well written, entertaining, enjoyable and a little unusual.
I really liked Ms Harris's original take on the story of the Norse gods and especially Loki. Of course as a known trickster and liar Loki must be the most unreliable narrator ever and we have to assume that it may not be a strictly accurate retelling. However it is a fun one and Loki is quite ready to admit to his failings as well as his successes.
As aways for this author the book is well written, entertaining, enjoyable and a little unusual.
May 8, 2015
4 of 5 stars at The BiblioSanctum http://bibliosanctum.com/2015/05/08/b...
It’s been so many years since I read Chocolat, that for all intents and purposes The Gospel of Loki may as well be the first book I’ve ever read by Joanne Harris. Highly entertaining and original, this novel chronicles the epic rise of the Norse gods all the way through to the coming of Ragnarok, completely retold from the point of view of none other than the trickiest trickster of them all – Loki.
First thing you should know though, if you’re like me and sometimes you get that temptation to skip everything before the prologue in a book? Well, fight it! Be sure to read everything, including the character list. I had started skimming it initially, right up until I glimpsed Thialfi and Roskva, the two siblings in Norse mythology who are the servants of the god Thor, respectively described as a “fanboy” and a “fangirl”. Chuckling to myself, I went back and read everything more carefully. Glad I did! Aside from being absolutely hilarious, the forward material sets the tone of the novel perfectly, and I knew right away that I was going to enjoy this.
Now I don’t usually use quotes when I try to summarize a book, but in this case I’ll make an exception, simply because I doubt anyone else can describe the book better than our eponymous narrator. Plus, it gives a good idea what you’d be in for:
“Loki, that’s me. Loki, the Light-Bringer, the misunderstood, the elusive, the handsome and modest hero of this particular tissue of lies. Take it with a pinch of salt, but it’s at least as true as the official version and, dare I say it, more entertaining. So far, history, such as it is, has cast me in a rather unflattering role. Now it’s my turn to take the stage.”
Well, considering the legions who are now in love with Tom Hiddleston’s portrayal of Loki after the Thor movies, “unflattering role” might be debatable, but the rest I have to say is pretty spot on. The version of events presented here is indeed vastly more entertaining, our protagonist is as humorous as he’s not humble, and as he puts it, this is his story; at the end of the book, whether or not you feel sympathy towards Loki for some of his less savory actions is entirely up to you.
In many ways, the book is a retelling in the most honest and straightforward sense; it stays very close to the source material which are the well-known Norse myths, featuring stories about the giant mason who built Asgard’s Walls, Loki and Angrboda’s tryst and the subsequent births of the three Chaos Monsters, the theft of Idunn’s apples, the death of Balder by mistletoe dart, etc. None of the events described in this novel deviate all that much from the traditional versions, but the one major difference is the voice that tells us those tales. Loki chimes in with his own take of these stories, dropping little nuggets of wisdom and of the things he’s learned, even as he’s filling in the details. Although he’s unreliable as Hel and it’s in his nature to be up to no good, Loki nevertheless attempts to give us his reasons for the things he did, and admittedly, he can be quite convincing.
So if you were expecting a creative, “modernized” re-imagining of the myths or a brand new story, this is not that book, though the narrative does use present-day vernacular to great effect. I loved Loki’s voice in this, the way he delivers his lines with that silver tongue and dry sense of humor. Harris has done a brilliant job hitting the sweet spot with Loki’s character, portraying him as the ultimate trickster without going overboard with his slippery, snarky ways. He’s exactly the way I would have pictured the god of mischief, and my hat’s off to the author for nailing it.
Overall, The Gospel of Loki succeeds in giving readers both something old and something new, and manages to be a lot of fun while doing it. A fantastic way to experience the major Norse myths, those with an interest in the topic are sure to delight in the engaging new way Harris has presented them in this novel. Highly recommended.
It’s been so many years since I read Chocolat, that for all intents and purposes The Gospel of Loki may as well be the first book I’ve ever read by Joanne Harris. Highly entertaining and original, this novel chronicles the epic rise of the Norse gods all the way through to the coming of Ragnarok, completely retold from the point of view of none other than the trickiest trickster of them all – Loki.
First thing you should know though, if you’re like me and sometimes you get that temptation to skip everything before the prologue in a book? Well, fight it! Be sure to read everything, including the character list. I had started skimming it initially, right up until I glimpsed Thialfi and Roskva, the two siblings in Norse mythology who are the servants of the god Thor, respectively described as a “fanboy” and a “fangirl”. Chuckling to myself, I went back and read everything more carefully. Glad I did! Aside from being absolutely hilarious, the forward material sets the tone of the novel perfectly, and I knew right away that I was going to enjoy this.
Now I don’t usually use quotes when I try to summarize a book, but in this case I’ll make an exception, simply because I doubt anyone else can describe the book better than our eponymous narrator. Plus, it gives a good idea what you’d be in for:
“Loki, that’s me. Loki, the Light-Bringer, the misunderstood, the elusive, the handsome and modest hero of this particular tissue of lies. Take it with a pinch of salt, but it’s at least as true as the official version and, dare I say it, more entertaining. So far, history, such as it is, has cast me in a rather unflattering role. Now it’s my turn to take the stage.”
Well, considering the legions who are now in love with Tom Hiddleston’s portrayal of Loki after the Thor movies, “unflattering role” might be debatable, but the rest I have to say is pretty spot on. The version of events presented here is indeed vastly more entertaining, our protagonist is as humorous as he’s not humble, and as he puts it, this is his story; at the end of the book, whether or not you feel sympathy towards Loki for some of his less savory actions is entirely up to you.
In many ways, the book is a retelling in the most honest and straightforward sense; it stays very close to the source material which are the well-known Norse myths, featuring stories about the giant mason who built Asgard’s Walls, Loki and Angrboda’s tryst and the subsequent births of the three Chaos Monsters, the theft of Idunn’s apples, the death of Balder by mistletoe dart, etc. None of the events described in this novel deviate all that much from the traditional versions, but the one major difference is the voice that tells us those tales. Loki chimes in with his own take of these stories, dropping little nuggets of wisdom and of the things he’s learned, even as he’s filling in the details. Although he’s unreliable as Hel and it’s in his nature to be up to no good, Loki nevertheless attempts to give us his reasons for the things he did, and admittedly, he can be quite convincing.
So if you were expecting a creative, “modernized” re-imagining of the myths or a brand new story, this is not that book, though the narrative does use present-day vernacular to great effect. I loved Loki’s voice in this, the way he delivers his lines with that silver tongue and dry sense of humor. Harris has done a brilliant job hitting the sweet spot with Loki’s character, portraying him as the ultimate trickster without going overboard with his slippery, snarky ways. He’s exactly the way I would have pictured the god of mischief, and my hat’s off to the author for nailing it.
Overall, The Gospel of Loki succeeds in giving readers both something old and something new, and manages to be a lot of fun while doing it. A fantastic way to experience the major Norse myths, those with an interest in the topic are sure to delight in the engaging new way Harris has presented them in this novel. Highly recommended.
July 16, 2017
So shoot me : I have a weakness for the bad guys… And frankly, every book I’ve ever read about Norse mythology seems to be driven by the fact that writers everywhere are crushing just as hard as I am on Loki… Maybe because he is the most complex “god” of the Norse pantheon, or maybe because he is just plain fun to read (and I assume, write) about. One of the things that I love most about Loki is that he is the agent of change, he stirs the pot and shakes the other gods out of their comfortable routines. Harris does such an interesting job of reminding us that in many respects, Loki isn’t that different from Lucifer (even their nicknames have clear similarities): his actions can seem disruptive, but would change, evolution ever take place if he wasn’t there to light a fire under the Asgardians’ chairs?
After being painted as the bad guy for so long, Loki decided to finally tell us the story of his life from his perspective. From the very creation of the Nine Worlds to Ragnarok, including all the other well-known episodes of Norse myths (Sif’s haircut, Thor’s hammer, his “wedding”, Loki’s interesting children, Balder’s demise, etc.) are told with self-deprecating humor and wit. Of course, nothing is ever Loki's fault, and he's just having some fun, but that fun sometimes has very dramatic consequences. Don't you just love an unreliable narrator?
I had never read anything by Joanne Harris before, but given the fact that she penned “Chocolat”, I had a feeling I was in for some fluff. But fluff isn’t always a bad thing: my brain needs a little break every once in a while, and this is just the right kind of book for me to relax with. The writing is not stellar, but it’s fun and she gives Loki a charming and sarcastic voice. Some reviewers did not enjoy the modernized aspect of the narrative (the word “chillax” is actually used at some point – a word I barely tolerate in real conversation!), but honestly, if I’m reading a fluff book, I’d rather have it narrated to me by someone who sounds like Joss Wheadon than by someone pretending to be Shakespeare. It was silly, but not bothersome.
So why three starts if I enjoyed it? Urg... Well, because it's a first person narration by one of my favorite characters ever, it feels more fleshed out than "Norse Mythology", which was a third-person omniscient narrator, and had a slightly more detached feel. That being said, Harris' writing is nowhere near as good as Gaiman's (I know, that bar is pretty darn high, but I'm just being honest: they aren't playing in the same league). If Gaiman had written this, I'm pretty sure my mind would have been blown, but here I'm just feeling like it was a fun and fluffy retelling of a few amazing stories, with a great central character, but unremarkable writing.
This version is also less endearing than Gaiman’s because I feel like Harris treats this mythology with a hint of contempt. OK, I get that her narrator is a snarky, sarcastic son of a bitch, but when you read Gaiman’s “Norse Mythology”, his love and reverence for the source material flows off the page warmly. Harris does not manage to convey any affection for the myths in her writing, which is a shame because Loki as a first-person narrator is such an awesome approach to retelling those stories!
Then there is the ending, which felt rushed and not very well thought out. I won't go into details because I don't want to spoil it, but I think she just had no idea how to wrap this up. An open ending would have been more satisfying because that would have embraced that uncertainty without being dry. As I mentioned, she drops a lot of hints about Loki's resemblance to Lucifer, and she could have rolled with that, which would have been fun. Alas. The other small nitpicking I have is that the narration is a little bit G-rated: no dirty bits, no gore and grit… But I suppose I was spoiled in that regards by Mike Vasich's short stories about my favorite trickster...
So, 3 non-committal stars. People who haven't read much on Norse Mythology might enjoy this more than those who know their stuff a bit better.
After being painted as the bad guy for so long, Loki decided to finally tell us the story of his life from his perspective. From the very creation of the Nine Worlds to Ragnarok, including all the other well-known episodes of Norse myths (Sif’s haircut, Thor’s hammer, his “wedding”, Loki’s interesting children, Balder’s demise, etc.) are told with self-deprecating humor and wit. Of course, nothing is ever Loki's fault, and he's just having some fun, but that fun sometimes has very dramatic consequences. Don't you just love an unreliable narrator?
I had never read anything by Joanne Harris before, but given the fact that she penned “Chocolat”, I had a feeling I was in for some fluff. But fluff isn’t always a bad thing: my brain needs a little break every once in a while, and this is just the right kind of book for me to relax with. The writing is not stellar, but it’s fun and she gives Loki a charming and sarcastic voice. Some reviewers did not enjoy the modernized aspect of the narrative (the word “chillax” is actually used at some point – a word I barely tolerate in real conversation!), but honestly, if I’m reading a fluff book, I’d rather have it narrated to me by someone who sounds like Joss Wheadon than by someone pretending to be Shakespeare. It was silly, but not bothersome.
So why three starts if I enjoyed it? Urg... Well, because it's a first person narration by one of my favorite characters ever, it feels more fleshed out than "Norse Mythology", which was a third-person omniscient narrator, and had a slightly more detached feel. That being said, Harris' writing is nowhere near as good as Gaiman's (I know, that bar is pretty darn high, but I'm just being honest: they aren't playing in the same league). If Gaiman had written this, I'm pretty sure my mind would have been blown, but here I'm just feeling like it was a fun and fluffy retelling of a few amazing stories, with a great central character, but unremarkable writing.
This version is also less endearing than Gaiman’s because I feel like Harris treats this mythology with a hint of contempt. OK, I get that her narrator is a snarky, sarcastic son of a bitch, but when you read Gaiman’s “Norse Mythology”, his love and reverence for the source material flows off the page warmly. Harris does not manage to convey any affection for the myths in her writing, which is a shame because Loki as a first-person narrator is such an awesome approach to retelling those stories!
Then there is the ending, which felt rushed and not very well thought out. I won't go into details because I don't want to spoil it, but I think she just had no idea how to wrap this up. An open ending would have been more satisfying because that would have embraced that uncertainty without being dry. As I mentioned, she drops a lot of hints about Loki's resemblance to Lucifer, and she could have rolled with that, which would have been fun. Alas. The other small nitpicking I have is that the narration is a little bit G-rated: no dirty bits, no gore and grit… But I suppose I was spoiled in that regards by Mike Vasich's short stories about my favorite trickster...
So, 3 non-committal stars. People who haven't read much on Norse Mythology might enjoy this more than those who know their stuff a bit better.
July 1, 2015
It seems that history hasn't remembered Loki--the trickster god, father of lies, wildfire, chaos incarnate--kindly. Now, after Ragnarok has brought an end to the rule of Odin, Loki finds himself with plenty of time on his hands--and he's using that time to set the record straight.
In a witty, anachronistic voice, Loki retells the famous myths of Norse mythology from his perspective, highlighting how he was a victim of fate and a necessary counterbalance to Order (indeed, Odin pulled him out of Chaos to give weight and meaning to the regimented rule he established). As such, all of his guile and machinations are simply the fulfillment of his required role, as necessary as the wind blowing or the tides rising and falling, and his status as a demon chosen to live among the gods makes him a perpetual outcast. Loki is, of course, the most unreliable of narrators and seems to "wink, wink, nudge, nudge" the reader while casting himself as history's ultimate scapegoat.
The book consists of a retelling and, in some instances, a recasting of popular Norse myths. There's not really a cohesive plot, but rather a scattered collection of stories that ultimately move the narrative through time. Those looking for the Loki of the Marvel universe may find a few parallels, but ultimately this is a Loki distinctly different from his comic book incarnation (in fact, halfway through the book I had stopped picturing Loki as Tom Hiddleston--one could argue this as a blessing or a curse). As for those looking for a faithful account of Norse myth? I have no idea as to how Joanne Harris's Loki matches up with the Prose Edda and the Poetic Edda as I've never read either, but I did find the overall telling of the myths to be fun and accessible (also far more successful than a lot of the "gods in modern day" narratives featuring Greek and Roman deities).
In a witty, anachronistic voice, Loki retells the famous myths of Norse mythology from his perspective, highlighting how he was a victim of fate and a necessary counterbalance to Order (indeed, Odin pulled him out of Chaos to give weight and meaning to the regimented rule he established). As such, all of his guile and machinations are simply the fulfillment of his required role, as necessary as the wind blowing or the tides rising and falling, and his status as a demon chosen to live among the gods makes him a perpetual outcast. Loki is, of course, the most unreliable of narrators and seems to "wink, wink, nudge, nudge" the reader while casting himself as history's ultimate scapegoat.
The book consists of a retelling and, in some instances, a recasting of popular Norse myths. There's not really a cohesive plot, but rather a scattered collection of stories that ultimately move the narrative through time. Those looking for the Loki of the Marvel universe may find a few parallels, but ultimately this is a Loki distinctly different from his comic book incarnation (in fact, halfway through the book I had stopped picturing Loki as Tom Hiddleston--one could argue this as a blessing or a curse). As for those looking for a faithful account of Norse myth? I have no idea as to how Joanne Harris's Loki matches up with the Prose Edda and the Poetic Edda as I've never read either, but I did find the overall telling of the myths to be fun and accessible (also far more successful than a lot of the "gods in modern day" narratives featuring Greek and Roman deities).
July 26, 2016
I have always loved the Norse myths. This love has even survived being made, age ten, to re-enact the saga of Thor and the giants. As this involved stomped around on wooden stilts (we were giants obviously) in a linen tunic chanting something like "We are great and men are sods, we will conquer men and gods" ad infinitum, it's amazing that I would want to revisit anything that brings back such memories. But no, Viking lore and Norse mythology remains as intriguing as ever, and this new book by Joanne Harris is a lovely addition to the more serious works in the genre.
Loki makes an entertaining if unreliable narrator. In a running motif throughout the book, he warns us of various people we should never trust – a wise man, a relative, a friend – and inevitably we discover that no one can be trusted, including Loki himself.
The tone of The Gospel of Loki is quite light, at odds with some of the darker and more twisted events straight from the myths. It feels as though it were written from the point-of-view of a modern Loki, reminiscing about the distant past, possibly while relaxing at a café with a coffee in one hand and a pen in the other. At times this can be a little jarring, but mainly the casual style adds to the experience, emphasising the cheery-trickster aspect of our narrator. Harris clearly knows and is fascinated by the Norse myths – she is currently studying Old Norse – and, luckily for us, that fascination translates into a charming book.
Full review here
*Received direct from the publisher through NZ Booklovers.
Loki makes an entertaining if unreliable narrator. In a running motif throughout the book, he warns us of various people we should never trust – a wise man, a relative, a friend – and inevitably we discover that no one can be trusted, including Loki himself.
The tone of The Gospel of Loki is quite light, at odds with some of the darker and more twisted events straight from the myths. It feels as though it were written from the point-of-view of a modern Loki, reminiscing about the distant past, possibly while relaxing at a café with a coffee in one hand and a pen in the other. At times this can be a little jarring, but mainly the casual style adds to the experience, emphasising the cheery-trickster aspect of our narrator. Harris clearly knows and is fascinated by the Norse myths – she is currently studying Old Norse – and, luckily for us, that fascination translates into a charming book.
Full review here
*Received direct from the publisher through NZ Booklovers.
January 3, 2022
Mitología nórdica contada por Loki, el Embustero, fuerza primigenia, de manera amena y divertida.
Aunque el tono es ligero, hay una gran labor de documentación en la novela, que se vertebra en cuatro partes: Luz, Sombra, Ocaso y Crepúsculo, y culmina en el Ragnarok, la caída de los dioses.
Muy interesante y entretenido.
Aunque el tono es ligero, hay una gran labor de documentación en la novela, que se vertebra en cuatro partes: Luz, Sombra, Ocaso y Crepúsculo, y culmina en el Ragnarok, la caída de los dioses.
Muy interesante y entretenido.
Want to read
March 12, 2019Highly recommended by Mary!
September 4, 2020
This was a very different look at the mythology of the Norse gods. Different, because this time we get Loki's side of the story, LOL! 😁
If you're a fan of mythology, this is fabulous entertainment! It was just what I needed to lighten my mood and that's something I definitely need these days.
As entertaining as the story itself is, a very large part of the credit for my enjoyment goes to the reader, Allan Corduner. He was the perfect voice for Loki. This was my first listen with him as the narrator but I'll absolutely be looking for more from him. ❤️
If you're a fan of mythology, this is fabulous entertainment! It was just what I needed to lighten my mood and that's something I definitely need these days.
As entertaining as the story itself is, a very large part of the credit for my enjoyment goes to the reader, Allan Corduner. He was the perfect voice for Loki. This was my first listen with him as the narrator but I'll absolutely be looking for more from him. ❤️
June 10, 2023
“Loki, that's me. Loki, the Light-Bringer, the misunderstood, the elusive, the handsome and modest hero of this particular tissue of lies.”
June 2, 2022
3.5 stars
If this book were to have a tagline, it should be sympathy for the devil because this is Loki's story and you can't help but feel for him. Or at least I did. The story unfolds with snide first-person narration from Loki's caustic point of view, beginning from the moment Odin pulled him from Chaos to the moment he might or might not have brought down Asgard. (Is that too spoilery? I can never tell, especially when it comes to reviewing retellings of well known mythology...)
Before I get into it, I just wanted to say that this book has the most hilarious dramatis personæ list I've ever seen. If you don't mind spoilers or are well versed in Norse mythology, check it out at any online bookstore.
Normally, I don't enjoy showy, performative fiction and I rarely enjoy snide, caustic POV characters or that style of narration, save for Discworld and the Samuel Johnson series. So it took me over half the book to get used to Loki's voice, and it took a little more before I began to understand him, his burning rage, and his war path. Near the end, though, I was with him all the way--his reasons for bringing down Asgard made sense, and so shoot me, I approved of his savagery.
Not being familiar with Norse mythology or Marvel's Thor franchise, I was able to read this book like any other fictional retelling with a modern spin. That is, I had very few preconceived notions and was able to get on with the writing just fine, in spite of not really liking the narration in the beginning. I have a feeling, if you know Norse mythology or are a fan of Loki (whether from the Thor movies or American Gods or somewhere else), the first third of this book would probably bore you with its account/rehashing of Asgard's and Odin's history and the creation of the nine worlds, all told in Loki's particular style with many amusing asides where he shares what he really thinks of a certain god or goddess and their purpose in Asgard. What he really thinks of Thor are, by far, my favorite moments in the book.
One thing that gave me pause when I started reading was Loki's knack for slipping in anachronisms. One moment he would be talking about journeying to the Land of the Dead, and the next he would make a comment about teenagers these days--"you know how they are..." Descriptions of peasant folk and their country farms, and then cars and three-piece suits and so shoot me and je ne sais quoi. I get that the purpose is to show Loki as an immortal who exists outside of our reality, but slipping modern inventions/speech into ancient settings will never not be jarring to me.
That aside, what I like best about Loki's take on Norse mythology is his biting sense of humor and shameless dishonesty--"it's the chaos in me." I started out reading this book on my own, but had to switch to the audio when I went out of town for a few days, and it was a good thing I had to switch because the audio is a lot of fun. Allan Corduner is a talented narrator and, in my opinion, has a great handle on the character of Loki as presented in this book. He adds so much to the listening experience that I think I started to feel for Loki because of his voice and narration style. This is one of those rare instances where I think the audio narrator enhances the prose.
[...]
[...]
[...]
In his defense, Loki didn't start out as a pain in the ass whose sole purpose was to bring Asgard to its knees. Quite the contrary. When Odin first brought him to Asgard, Loki did his best to try to fit in with "the family," but after several disastrous attempts, he just couldn't--it was the chaos in him, forever setting him apart. Also, it didn't help matters much when none of them wanted to reach out to him or willingly accepted him (and his chaotic ways) into the family. After many disputes and being treated like an outsider even though he's saved (and disrupted) their lives plenty of times, he finally had enough of them, Odin included. So he stealthily set out to bring down all of Asgard for all the pain he suffered because of them, but little did he know that that was part of a prophecy all along.
Once Loki put his mind to planning and carrying out his revenge, the book became a quick read for me, and much to my surprise, there's some conflicting complexity to Loki's characterization later in the book. He became less like his flighty former self at the start of the book and more like what an embattled immortal should be. I really like this change in him--it made the read a lot more interesting--and I'm glad that the whole book isn't about Loki being a witty, clever trickster outwitting everyone and everything.
This is my first time reading Joanne Harris and certainly not the last. Looking forward to the next book of Loki.
* * * * *
Reread: March 2022
* * * * *
Cross-posted at https://covers2covers.wordpress.com/2...
If this book were to have a tagline, it should be sympathy for the devil because this is Loki's story and you can't help but feel for him. Or at least I did. The story unfolds with snide first-person narration from Loki's caustic point of view, beginning from the moment Odin pulled him from Chaos to the moment he might or might not have brought down Asgard. (Is that too spoilery? I can never tell, especially when it comes to reviewing retellings of well known mythology...)
Before I get into it, I just wanted to say that this book has the most hilarious dramatis personæ list I've ever seen. If you don't mind spoilers or are well versed in Norse mythology, check it out at any online bookstore.
For a moment I was disoriented. Too many sensations, all of them new, enveloped my new Aspect. I could see colours; I could smell sulphur; I could feel the snow in the air and see the face of the man before me, cloaked in glam from head to foot. I could have chosen any form: that of an animal, or a bird, or just a simple trail of fire. But, as it happened, I’d assumed the form with which you may be familiar; that of a young man with red hair and a certain je ne sais quoi.
Normally, I don't enjoy showy, performative fiction and I rarely enjoy snide, caustic POV characters or that style of narration, save for Discworld and the Samuel Johnson series. So it took me over half the book to get used to Loki's voice, and it took a little more before I began to understand him, his burning rage, and his war path. Near the end, though, I was with him all the way--his reasons for bringing down Asgard made sense, and so shoot me, I approved of his savagery.
He left the hall with the dignified walk of a man with a serious case of piles and I knew I’d made an enemy. Some people would have laughed it off, but not Heimdall. From that day on till the End of the Worlds, nothing would ever make him forget that first humiliation. Not that I wanted to be friends. Friendship is overrated. Who needs friends when you can have the certitudes of hostility? You know where you stand with an enemy. You know he won’t betray you. It’s the ones who claim to be your friends that you need to beware of.
Not being familiar with Norse mythology or Marvel's Thor franchise, I was able to read this book like any other fictional retelling with a modern spin. That is, I had very few preconceived notions and was able to get on with the writing just fine, in spite of not really liking the narration in the beginning. I have a feeling, if you know Norse mythology or are a fan of Loki (whether from the Thor movies or American Gods or somewhere else), the first third of this book would probably bore you with its account/rehashing of Asgard's and Odin's history and the creation of the nine worlds, all told in Loki's particular style with many amusing asides where he shares what he really thinks of a certain god or goddess and their purpose in Asgard. What he really thinks of Thor are, by far, my favorite moments in the book.
There are races that hate each other on sight – mongoose and snake; cat and dog – and though I didn’t know much of the Worlds, I guessed that the straightforward, muscular type would be the natural enemy of the lithe and devious type who thinks with his head and not his fists.
One thing that gave me pause when I started reading was Loki's knack for slipping in anachronisms. One moment he would be talking about journeying to the Land of the Dead, and the next he would make a comment about teenagers these days--"you know how they are..." Descriptions of peasant folk and their country farms, and then cars and three-piece suits and so shoot me and je ne sais quoi. I get that the purpose is to show Loki as an immortal who exists outside of our reality, but slipping modern inventions/speech into ancient settings will never not be jarring to me.
That aside, what I like best about Loki's take on Norse mythology is his biting sense of humor and shameless dishonesty--"it's the chaos in me." I started out reading this book on my own, but had to switch to the audio when I went out of town for a few days, and it was a good thing I had to switch because the audio is a lot of fun. Allan Corduner is a talented narrator and, in my opinion, has a great handle on the character of Loki as presented in this book. He adds so much to the listening experience that I think I started to feel for Loki because of his voice and narration style. This is one of those rare instances where I think the audio narrator enhances the prose.
There were a few compensations to having corporeal Aspect. Food (jam tarts were my favourites); drink (mostly wine and mead); setting things on fire; sex (although I was still extremely confused by all the taboos surrounding this – no animals, no siblings, no men, no married women, no demons – frankly, it was amazing to me that anyone had sex at all, with so many rules against it).
[...]
Well, don’t blame me for being attractive. Demons are, for the most part. Besides, it wasn’t as if the competition was especially tough. Sweaty, hairy warlords with no polish and no address, whose idea of a good time was to kill a few giants, wrestle a snake and then eat an ox and six suckling pigs without even taking a shower first, whilst belching a popular folk song. Of course the ladies gave me the eye. A bad boy is always appealing, and I’d always had a silver tongue.
[...]
my charm, which ran more to witty conversation than merely hitting things, a welcome change in Testosterone Central.
[...]
So shoot me. Turns out I'm not naturally monogamous.
In his defense, Loki didn't start out as a pain in the ass whose sole purpose was to bring Asgard to its knees. Quite the contrary. When Odin first brought him to Asgard, Loki did his best to try to fit in with "the family," but after several disastrous attempts, he just couldn't--it was the chaos in him, forever setting him apart. Also, it didn't help matters much when none of them wanted to reach out to him or willingly accepted him (and his chaotic ways) into the family. After many disputes and being treated like an outsider even though he's saved (and disrupted) their lives plenty of times, he finally had enough of them, Odin included. So he stealthily set out to bring down all of Asgard for all the pain he suffered because of them, but little did he know that that was part of a prophecy all along.
Once Loki put his mind to planning and carrying out his revenge, the book became a quick read for me, and much to my surprise, there's some conflicting complexity to Loki's characterization later in the book. He became less like his flighty former self at the start of the book and more like what an embattled immortal should be. I really like this change in him--it made the read a lot more interesting--and I'm glad that the whole book isn't about Loki being a witty, clever trickster outwitting everyone and everything.
This is my first time reading Joanne Harris and certainly not the last. Looking forward to the next book of Loki.
Because it all has to end, of course. Everything dies – even Worlds; even gods; even Your Humble Narrator. From the moment the Worlds came to life, Ragnarók, the End of All Things, was written into every living cell in runes more complex than any we know. Life and Death in one package – with Order and Chaos acting not as two forces in opposition but as a single cosmic force too vast for us to comprehend.
* * * * *
Reread: March 2022
* * * * *
Cross-posted at https://covers2covers.wordpress.com/2...
June 11, 2014
I haven't read a lot of Mythology books. It is not a lack of interest, it's more that I did not know which books were good. So I came into this book with very little knowledge of Norse Mythology other than what I know from Thor (the movie). And while this book packs in a lot of information in under 300 pages, Loki tells his story with a lot of wit, making it an interesting read.
...a handsome young man named Honor (nicknamed 'The Silent' in the hope tat one day he might take the hint)
"Oww! That was unnecessary." That was the tip of a young poplar, right in the spot where even a god feels it keenly.
The Gospel of Loki, is a new point of view in very old stories. You see why he came to be the way he was, and I even found myself feeling a little bit sorry for him, for as smart and tricky as he is, he seemed to never come out of any situation unscathed.
Each chapter begins with a valuable piece of advice summarizing what Loki learns in his journeys, from which came some of my favorite lines:
One woman; trouble. Two women - Chaos.
Always look on the bright side. And if there is no bright side? Look away.
A bird in the hand will leave you with bird shit on your fingers.
I highly recommend this book for anyone with an interest in Mythology or someone wanting a hilarious book with a fresh perspective.
...a handsome young man named Honor (nicknamed 'The Silent' in the hope tat one day he might take the hint)
"Oww! That was unnecessary." That was the tip of a young poplar, right in the spot where even a god feels it keenly.
The Gospel of Loki, is a new point of view in very old stories. You see why he came to be the way he was, and I even found myself feeling a little bit sorry for him, for as smart and tricky as he is, he seemed to never come out of any situation unscathed.
Each chapter begins with a valuable piece of advice summarizing what Loki learns in his journeys, from which came some of my favorite lines:
One woman; trouble. Two women - Chaos.
Always look on the bright side. And if there is no bright side? Look away.
A bird in the hand will leave you with bird shit on your fingers.
I highly recommend this book for anyone with an interest in Mythology or someone wanting a hilarious book with a fresh perspective.
March 25, 2019
Joanne M. Harris treats readers to episodes from Norse mythology from Loki's point of view.
"No doubt about it, I told myself. These bastards really don't like me." pg 27
Born from literal Chaos and tricked into joining Odin's forces of Order, Loki is perpetually a child of both worlds. From his first moments out of the world of Chaos, Loki is disliked by the other gods. That leads to some initial unpleasantness and he vows, no matter how long it takes, to get his revenge.
"Till then, I bided my time, and smiled as sweetly as my scarred lips would allow, until the day I would take my revenge and bring the gods down, one by one." pg 67
And it is a long game. Through schemes, tricks and straight up cons, Loki weaves disorder throughout the worlds.
There's the memorable time he convinces Thor to dress up as a bride in order to sneak into the home of their enemies: "I'll be your handmaid, Thor," I said. "Don't worry, I won't steal your thunder. You'll make a gorgeous bride." Thor growled. pg 118
As he becomes famous for his trickery, it becomes more difficult for Loki to pull off his tricks. He's pushed into marriage by Odin, but it doesn't fit who he is. It isn't in his nature to settle.
"I began to see that celebrity wasn't all hot girls and free beer. It's also the curse of expectation — and the bitterness of falling short." pg 141
We all know where the story is headed, but it's a train wreck you can't quite look away from.
My quibbles with this book included a disjointed feel to the overall story. Loki and company run from one disaster to the next. I realize that the source material is probably the reason for this, but it just doesn't coalesce into something more than its parts.
Odin's gods, the gods of Order, come off as rather one note. It's interesting how Odin was able to see potential in Loki, enough so that he calls him from Chaos to begin with, but the other immortals share none of his vision.
Other than a few notable exceptions, they never extend an olive branch or give Loki the smallest chance to prove himself. In my mind, it's easy to see why he wants them to fall. Who wouldn't wish that on the people who are mistreating you?
I've read a few of Joanne Harris' other books, and I remember they contained delightful twists in them, so that the plot wasn't so straight forward. She's somehow stuck in telling conventional mythology in this book.
If only she could have used this book to tell aspects of the story we haven't heard before, or even imagined, using the voice of one of the most interesting of the gods to do so. That would have been something I may have enjoyed even more.
Recommended for readers who adore Loki. There's plenty of him in here, and that's it.
"No doubt about it, I told myself. These bastards really don't like me." pg 27
Born from literal Chaos and tricked into joining Odin's forces of Order, Loki is perpetually a child of both worlds. From his first moments out of the world of Chaos, Loki is disliked by the other gods. That leads to some initial unpleasantness and he vows, no matter how long it takes, to get his revenge.
"Till then, I bided my time, and smiled as sweetly as my scarred lips would allow, until the day I would take my revenge and bring the gods down, one by one." pg 67
And it is a long game. Through schemes, tricks and straight up cons, Loki weaves disorder throughout the worlds.
There's the memorable time he convinces Thor to dress up as a bride in order to sneak into the home of their enemies: "I'll be your handmaid, Thor," I said. "Don't worry, I won't steal your thunder. You'll make a gorgeous bride." Thor growled. pg 118
As he becomes famous for his trickery, it becomes more difficult for Loki to pull off his tricks. He's pushed into marriage by Odin, but it doesn't fit who he is. It isn't in his nature to settle.
"I began to see that celebrity wasn't all hot girls and free beer. It's also the curse of expectation — and the bitterness of falling short." pg 141
We all know where the story is headed, but it's a train wreck you can't quite look away from.
My quibbles with this book included a disjointed feel to the overall story. Loki and company run from one disaster to the next. I realize that the source material is probably the reason for this, but it just doesn't coalesce into something more than its parts.
Odin's gods, the gods of Order, come off as rather one note. It's interesting how Odin was able to see potential in Loki, enough so that he calls him from Chaos to begin with, but the other immortals share none of his vision.
Other than a few notable exceptions, they never extend an olive branch or give Loki the smallest chance to prove himself. In my mind, it's easy to see why he wants them to fall. Who wouldn't wish that on the people who are mistreating you?
I've read a few of Joanne Harris' other books, and I remember they contained delightful twists in them, so that the plot wasn't so straight forward. She's somehow stuck in telling conventional mythology in this book.
If only she could have used this book to tell aspects of the story we haven't heard before, or even imagined, using the voice of one of the most interesting of the gods to do so. That would have been something I may have enjoyed even more.
Recommended for readers who adore Loki. There's plenty of him in here, and that's it.
September 6, 2022
This was another one of my series-sampling audio listens, to see if I might want to pursue it in print someday. The answer: Nope!
Audio Narration
The narrator is George Guidall. I thought his voice was well-suited for this book which is told from the first-person perspective of Loki. His reading style fit the character well, without being too over-the-top about it. Actually, his narration was probably the best part of this audiobook for me.
Story
The story is told from the first-person perspective of Loki, covering the time from when Odin recruited Loki to join the Norse gods up through Ragnarok. Loki tells various stories about things he was involved with, explains the motivation behind his choices, and teaches us the lessons to be learned, which could basically be summed up as “never trust anyone”.
Aside from some very basic knowledge about Loki and some of the other gods in the story, I don’t know any traditional stories about Loki, so I couldn’t tell you if these are familiar stories told in a familiar way, or familiar stories told in an unexpectedly clever way, or unfamiliar stories, or what. All I can say is that very little of this was familiar to me, and I didn’t find any of it to be particularly clever.
Even though I didn’t care for the story much, I can’t actually think of much to complain about, except that sometimes Loki just seemed to rant on and on and on. I think that was more a sign of my disinterest than anything, though. I would listen for short periods at a time, then I’d be ready to stop. I finally knocked out the last 2 hours during a road trip, one hour during part of the drive there and the last hour during part of the drive back. That was the worst stretch. I oddly don’t do great with audiobooks in the car to begin with, and that was the longest stretch I’d forced myself to listen to in one sitting, but I just wanted to get it finished.
I’m rating it 2.5 stars, but I had a really hard time deciding whether to round up or down for Goodreads. Rounding down to 2 seems a little harsh because I didn’t think there was anything terrible about the book and I suspect this is more a case of me being the wrong audience. I don’t usually get very enthusiastic about stories that are heavily based on real-world mythologies anyway. Rounding up to 3 seemed overly generous based on how much it bored me. Last night I had decided to round up. After sleeping on it, I decided to round down.
Audio Narration
The narrator is George Guidall. I thought his voice was well-suited for this book which is told from the first-person perspective of Loki. His reading style fit the character well, without being too over-the-top about it. Actually, his narration was probably the best part of this audiobook for me.
Story
The story is told from the first-person perspective of Loki, covering the time from when Odin recruited Loki to join the Norse gods up through Ragnarok. Loki tells various stories about things he was involved with, explains the motivation behind his choices, and teaches us the lessons to be learned, which could basically be summed up as “never trust anyone”.
Aside from some very basic knowledge about Loki and some of the other gods in the story, I don’t know any traditional stories about Loki, so I couldn’t tell you if these are familiar stories told in a familiar way, or familiar stories told in an unexpectedly clever way, or unfamiliar stories, or what. All I can say is that very little of this was familiar to me, and I didn’t find any of it to be particularly clever.
Even though I didn’t care for the story much, I can’t actually think of much to complain about, except that sometimes Loki just seemed to rant on and on and on. I think that was more a sign of my disinterest than anything, though. I would listen for short periods at a time, then I’d be ready to stop. I finally knocked out the last 2 hours during a road trip, one hour during part of the drive there and the last hour during part of the drive back. That was the worst stretch. I oddly don’t do great with audiobooks in the car to begin with, and that was the longest stretch I’d forced myself to listen to in one sitting, but I just wanted to get it finished.
I’m rating it 2.5 stars, but I had a really hard time deciding whether to round up or down for Goodreads. Rounding down to 2 seems a little harsh because I didn’t think there was anything terrible about the book and I suspect this is more a case of me being the wrong audience. I don’t usually get very enthusiastic about stories that are heavily based on real-world mythologies anyway. Rounding up to 3 seemed overly generous based on how much it bored me. Last night I had decided to round up. After sleeping on it, I decided to round down.
July 26, 2021
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
"A man too often meets his Fate whilst running to avoid it"
I'm probably the best audience for these kind of books: I don't now much of Norse mythology and I love bad guys! Loki the Trickster god, say no more, I'm in!
When you put aside all the mythology "facts", did it happen exactly the way Joanne Harris described it, is it authentically or not... you get a beautiful story about right and wrong, about basic humans needs like being accepted, loved, honored, but also survival, fear, jealousy, rage, trust, revenge. Loki is more human than any other god. That's why he is loved. Even if you don't know anything about Norse gods, you know who the Loki is.
"A man too often meets his Fate whilst running to avoid it"
I'm probably the best audience for these kind of books: I don't now much of Norse mythology and I love bad guys! Loki the Trickster god, say no more, I'm in!
When you put aside all the mythology "facts", did it happen exactly the way Joanne Harris described it, is it authentically or not... you get a beautiful story about right and wrong, about basic humans needs like being accepted, loved, honored, but also survival, fear, jealousy, rage, trust, revenge. Loki is more human than any other god. That's why he is loved. Even if you don't know anything about Norse gods, you know who the Loki is.
October 3, 2017
"The General (Odin) didn't know it then, but what he needed was a friend whose morals were flexible enough to handle the moral low ground while Odin lorded it on high, keeping Order, untouchable...
Basically, he needed me."
There was once a "Prophecy of the Oracle" as told to Odin Allfather by the head of Mimir the Wise. This is the story of the rise and fall of Asgard. Many are familiar with the events but this time there is a slight change. This version of the Oracle, if not the whole tale, is called the Lokabrenna. Thus this saga of the Norse pantheon is told by Loki.
As Odin is formed from the forces of Order, so was Loki formed by Chaos. Yet, Odin still recruits Loki with the promise of having a non-magical form (versus the "Aspect" which is their god-form) and brotherhood. Loki accepts but events go downhill from there.
This retells many of the famous sagas that make up Norse myths. many will be familiar, even if there ARE changes. Of course there are-this is told from the standpoint of Loki. I enjoyed his outlook not only on the other gods but also on morality. Of course I tend to lean towards Loki anyways.
An enjoyable tale for any fan of Norse mythology. It is told in a sarcastic style that fits Loki to a tee. Perhaps the only thing I didn't care for (and it was not that big a deal) is the use of modern colloquialisms. It just seems a bit off for a tale of this nature. Still- a good read.
Basically, he needed me."
There was once a "Prophecy of the Oracle" as told to Odin Allfather by the head of Mimir the Wise. This is the story of the rise and fall of Asgard. Many are familiar with the events but this time there is a slight change. This version of the Oracle, if not the whole tale, is called the Lokabrenna. Thus this saga of the Norse pantheon is told by Loki.
As Odin is formed from the forces of Order, so was Loki formed by Chaos. Yet, Odin still recruits Loki with the promise of having a non-magical form (versus the "Aspect" which is their god-form) and brotherhood. Loki accepts but events go downhill from there.
This retells many of the famous sagas that make up Norse myths. many will be familiar, even if there ARE changes. Of course there are-this is told from the standpoint of Loki. I enjoyed his outlook not only on the other gods but also on morality. Of course I tend to lean towards Loki anyways.
An enjoyable tale for any fan of Norse mythology. It is told in a sarcastic style that fits Loki to a tee. Perhaps the only thing I didn't care for (and it was not that big a deal) is the use of modern colloquialisms. It just seems a bit off for a tale of this nature. Still- a good read.
November 29, 2013
This book is so good!
I've always wondered why Loki is painted as plain evil most of the time, while his Shakespearian alter ego Puck gets to keep the ambiguous status that, in my opinion, is the heart of Loki: neither good or bad, he's chaos after all. He's trickster, prankster and even a bit of a clown.
Harris understands this perfectly and shows Loki as I see him. Her writing is both fun and funny and even while a lot of the stories were familiar for me, I enjoyed reading them and seeing them from Loki's point of view. Harris manages to make you understand Loki, loathe those Gods who are mean to him, and root for Loki to succeed in his plans.
All in all this book is even better than I hoped it would be and I will most certainly reread it often.
I can advice this book to everyone who loves retellings of old myths and to anyone who ever thought Loki wasn't getting a fair treatment.
I've always wondered why Loki is painted as plain evil most of the time, while his Shakespearian alter ego Puck gets to keep the ambiguous status that, in my opinion, is the heart of Loki: neither good or bad, he's chaos after all. He's trickster, prankster and even a bit of a clown.
Harris understands this perfectly and shows Loki as I see him. Her writing is both fun and funny and even while a lot of the stories were familiar for me, I enjoyed reading them and seeing them from Loki's point of view. Harris manages to make you understand Loki, loathe those Gods who are mean to him, and root for Loki to succeed in his plans.
All in all this book is even better than I hoped it would be and I will most certainly reread it often.
I can advice this book to everyone who loves retellings of old myths and to anyone who ever thought Loki wasn't getting a fair treatment.
September 30, 2016
I didn't know much about Norse mythology when I picked up this book but this was an enjoyable way to learn a little more.. The rise and fall of Loki, the trickster, born from Chaos, who lies and irritates the Hel out of, well everyone! This is a clever take, Loki tells us his version of events in a memorable voice. The book reads as a series of episodes rather than a single narrative, the chapters were short and it was easy to both pick the book up and put it down. Perfect for a quick break / read maybe when you don't have time to sit down and get engrossed.
October 24, 2020
Such a fun book. RTC.
December 8, 2014
Hello there, I see that you are wondering who I am. My name is Loki and I am not Tom Hiddleston. Marvel studios and its comics lineup has done a fine job in making my name a household one but nothing could be farther from the truth. You see, I am not a fine spoken British gentleman who fights costumed super powered human beings in NYC. My abode is a place of biting cold, darkness and incessant violence. I was a sentient being when the concept of a world itself was beyond comprehension. I was around when the first beings took tentative steps on Earth. Teased from the bowels of chaos, I took form and being among Odin and his kin in Asgard.
This is the story of how a peace loving and honest individual was corrupted into commiting one atrocity after another all in the name of accpetance into a pack of rabid dogs (or gods ?). A naive and trusting mind was my undoing and one help after another that I did for them 'gods' gained them admirers galore while I was decried as the trickster and the mischief maker. They tortured me, imprisoned me, killed my sons, chained another son and murdered my wife and what did I do ? Brought down Ragnarok on them ! That's what I did. Let them all rot in hel and let not even a sliver of memory of them remain. That is what you get for double crossing me, you arrogant buggers !
What is left of me ? There is consciouness somewhere but I think that is not enough for me to assume a form to walk the Earth again. I can remember the satiated feeling that revenge filled me with but beyond it there was nothing. Perhaps I will come back again or perhaps this will be my eternal prison. Until we meet again human ! And remember, I am not Tom Hiddleston.
Note : It is not a great book but the portrayal of Loki as a terribly flawed character is good. The tone that Loki adopted however suits an angst riddled teenager than a vengeful god.
This is the story of how a peace loving and honest individual was corrupted into commiting one atrocity after another all in the name of accpetance into a pack of rabid dogs (or gods ?). A naive and trusting mind was my undoing and one help after another that I did for them 'gods' gained them admirers galore while I was decried as the trickster and the mischief maker. They tortured me, imprisoned me, killed my sons, chained another son and murdered my wife and what did I do ? Brought down Ragnarok on them ! That's what I did. Let them all rot in hel and let not even a sliver of memory of them remain. That is what you get for double crossing me, you arrogant buggers !
What is left of me ? There is consciouness somewhere but I think that is not enough for me to assume a form to walk the Earth again. I can remember the satiated feeling that revenge filled me with but beyond it there was nothing. Perhaps I will come back again or perhaps this will be my eternal prison. Until we meet again human ! And remember, I am not Tom Hiddleston.
Note : It is not a great book but the portrayal of Loki as a terribly flawed character is good. The tone that Loki adopted however suits an angst riddled teenager than a vengeful god.
November 2, 2015
This is one of those books that should have been a five-star. I love Loki, both in Marvel and in Norse deity Aspect. I love the stories of Norse mythology. I love unreliable narrators. I love "this is MY side of the story" narratives.
So why didn't this blow me away? I can't really explain it. Maybe my own head-place?
Well, I liked it, anyway. And that's what a three-star review means. So that's what it gets. So shoot me.
So why didn't this blow me away? I can't really explain it. Maybe my own head-place?
Well, I liked it, anyway. And that's what a three-star review means. So that's what it gets. So shoot me.
January 8, 2020
It was fine. Some of the stories were good and memorable, some not so much. The Audible narrator was quite good but I just never got to the point of really enjoying the book. 3.5 stars rounded down. I am happy I read it but will probably not think about it much shortly.
Lesen
August 2, 2019Και αφού ταλαιπωρήθηκα με την Τες για ένα δεκαήμερο, ξεκίνησα δειλά δειλά αυτό το βιβλίο.
Όχι γιατί δεν μου άρεσε ή ότι το βρήκα βαρετό, αλλά μετά την Τες υπέπεσα σε ένα ας τον πούμε αναγνωστικό κορεσμό.
Μου πήρε μια βδομάδα να διαβάσω αυτό το βιβλίο των 300 σελίδων.
Προτού το πάρω στα χέρια μου δεν είχα ιδέα περί Σκανδιναβικής Μυθολογίας.
Ακουστά είχα μόνο το Θορ τον Όντιν και τον Λόκι όπως και το Ραγκναρογκ, το Ασγκαρντ και την Βαλχάλλα. Όπως επίσης και την σκανδιναβική ετυμολογία των αγγλικών ονομάτων των ημερών:
Tuesday (Tīw's Day, η μέρα του Τυγ)
Wednesday (Odin's day, η μέρα του Όντιν),
Thursday (Thor's Day, η μέρα του Θορ),
Friday (Frigga's day, η Μέρα της Φρίγκα, γυναίκα του Όντιν και μάνα του Θορ)
Διαβάζοντας αυτό το βιβλίο έμαθα ακόμη περισσότερα περί Σκανδιναβικής Μυθολογίας.
Όλα από τη σκοπιά του Λόκι όμως, που δεν είναι και ο πιο αξιόπιστος αφηγητής.
Παρόλο που απόλαυσα αυτό το βιβλίο ένιωσα ότι προχωρούσε πολύ γρήγορα και μάθαινα περί Σκανδιναβικής Μυθολογίας περιληπτικά, έμαθα δηλαδή την κορυφή του παγόβουνου, μου έμεινε το υπόλοιπο 90%.
Αυτό το βιβλίο το πήρα (σχεδόν εξ ολοκλήρου) για το υπέροχο σκληρόδετο εξώφυλλο στην τιμή του €1 μόνο.
Λέω σχεδόν γιατί η συγγραφέας του συγκεκριμένου βιβλίου έγραψε την (άτυπη) τριλογία της Σοκολάτας που το πρώτο βιβλίο έγινε ταινία με τον Τζόνι Ντεπ και τιν Ζιλιέτ Μπινός.
Αγαπημένη ταινία, αγαπημένο σάουντρακ, αγαπημένο βιβλίο
Σίγουρα θα πάρω και το δεύτερο μέρος αυτής της σειράς, που πάλι έχει υπέροχο εξώφυλλο.
Φυσικά δεν περιμένω περισσότερα από αυτό το δεύτερο μέρος.
Απλά θα περάσω και πάλι καλά και θα έχω ένα όμορφο βιβλίο στη συλλογή μου.
Βαθμολογία: 7/10
Όχι γιατί δεν μου άρεσε ή ότι το βρήκα βαρετό, αλλά μετά την Τες υπέπεσα σε ένα ας τον πούμε αναγνωστικό κορεσμό.
Μου πήρε μια βδομάδα να διαβάσω αυτό το βιβλίο των 300 σελίδων.
Προτού το πάρω στα χέρια μου δεν είχα ιδέα περί Σκανδιναβικής Μυθολογίας.
Ακουστά είχα μόνο το Θορ τον Όντιν και τον Λόκι όπως και το Ραγκναρογκ, το Ασγκαρντ και την Βαλχάλλα. Όπως επίσης και την σκανδιναβική ετυμολογία των αγγλικών ονομάτων των ημερών:
Tuesday (Tīw's Day, η μέρα του Τυγ)
Wednesday (Odin's day, η μέρα του Όντιν),
Thursday (Thor's Day, η μέρα του Θορ),
Friday (Frigga's day, η Μέρα της Φρίγκα, γυναίκα του Όντιν και μάνα του Θορ)
Διαβάζοντας αυτό το βιβλίο έμαθα ακόμη περισσότερα περί Σκανδιναβικής Μυθολογίας.
Όλα από τη σκοπιά του Λόκι όμως, που δεν είναι και ο πιο αξιόπιστος αφηγητής.
Παρόλο που απόλαυσα αυτό το βιβλίο ένιωσα ότι προχωρούσε πολύ γρήγορα και μάθαινα περί Σκανδιναβικής Μυθολογίας περιληπτικά, έμαθα δηλαδή την κορυφή του παγόβουνου, μου έμεινε το υπόλοιπο 90%.
Αυτό το βιβλίο το πήρα (σχεδόν εξ ολοκλήρου) για το υπέροχο σκληρόδετο εξώφυλλο στην τιμή του €1 μόνο.
Λέω σχεδόν γιατί η συγγραφέας του συγκεκριμένου βιβλίου έγραψε την (άτυπη) τριλογία της Σοκολάτας που το πρώτο βιβλίο έγινε ταινία με τον Τζόνι Ντεπ και τιν Ζιλιέτ Μπινός.
Αγαπημένη ταινία, αγαπημένο σάουντρακ, αγαπημένο βιβλίο
Σίγουρα θα πάρω και το δεύτερο μέρος αυτής της σειράς, που πάλι έχει υπέροχο εξώφυλλο.
Φυσικά δεν περιμένω περισσότερα από αυτό το δεύτερο μέρος.
Απλά θα περάσω και πάλι καλά και θα έχω ένα όμορφο βιβλίο στη συλλογή μου.
Βαθμολογία: 7/10
September 14, 2021
Si están buscando acercarse a la mitología nórdica, aquí no es. Esto es mitología novelada y por ello se toma muchas muchas licencias.
Si buscan un libro para pasar el rato, basado medianamente en un personaje muy popular en los últimos años, entiéndase Loki (gracias por eso, Marvel), bueno, supongo que podría resultar un libro entretenido.
Si buscan un libro para pasar el rato, basado medianamente en un personaje muy popular en los últimos años, entiéndase Loki (gracias por eso, Marvel), bueno, supongo que podría resultar un libro entretenido.
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