Book Review: The Gospel of Loki by Joanne M. Harris

If you ask a normal person what do they know of Loki, they might refer to the Marvel movies such as Avengers and Thor. They might even refer to Tom Hiddleston’s masterful portrayal of the trickster god in the big screen. That said, The Gospel of Loki has nothing to do with the comic book Loki that most people know but rather a different yet amusing take on the mythology.

The Gospel of Loki starts of with an enumerated list of the denizens of Asgard. Listing the names of the gods and a short description to tell readers who they are. Reading this, I had a brief taste of what’s Loki going to be like for the rest of the book. Happy to say he did not disappoint, he is charismatically written, we also get a taste of his sarcastic humor, which never gets old and despite previous negative claims about the trickster god, we feel empathy towards him. Another character that is well written is Odin. The rest of the characters however, are monotonic and one dimensional.

The pacing of the book is another complaint as the book starts of in an enthralling way, specially after a pivotal point which involves Loki and the gods. Unfortunately this is followed by little episodes that features the everyday life of Loki. Don’t get me wrong some of these are fun, as Loki’s character is being fleshed out and we get to find out why he is as cunning as they say he is. That said, this part of the book does drag on.

The end however, is another story as when it starts, it never stops rolling. It is climactic, exciting and by all means a page turner. You will almost feel bad for rooting for Loki for he is about to bring destruction to the gods or as the book calls it, Ragnarok. And despite how despicable the act is, a part of you wants him to succeed. The fights involving Odin and Thor are of epic proportions and will undoubtedly keep the readers glued.

Overall The Gospel of Loki is a fun read, Loki is a fascinating character and you never get enough of him. All thanks to the author. Other characters though, are forgettable with the exception of Odin and maybe Thor. It is not a masterpiece despite how great the cover looks but it is tolerable and with only 300 pages should provide a quick yet entertaining read.

Graphic Novel Review: Thor, The Trials of Loki by Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa

Thor: The Trials of Loki is Loki’s origin story. It tells his transition to being just a trickster to becoming one of the most impactful villains within the Marvel universe.

The story is told in his perspective and straight away we notice the jealousy that he possess towards his brother Thor. He despises the fact that him and Lady Sif are extremely close, he despises the idea that Odin prefers Thor in a higher degree compared to Loki. However Loki does not do anything drastic straight away, for in retaliation he just does what he does best and cause mischief, such as shaving Sif’s blonde hair, which is quite rather funny than evil. However the race to win Odin’s approval is a losing battle for Loki as everything he does seems to go under Odin’s nose as Thor get most of the attention. This went on until an unpleasant event occurred between Loki and the other Gods and this led him to devising a devious plan that will eventually entitle him as Loki The Destroyer.

I haven’t read much of comic books about Thor nor Loki, this being an experimental read, I was immediately hooked the story. It is told in narrative and to see Loki in such a vulnerable state really does make me feel empathetic towards him. Most of the time he is misunderstood on his actions and whenever he does a good thing it goes unnoticed. Therefore as a reader we can truly understand where the hatred and bitterness came from.

The artwork is magnificent specially when we see Loki in just a human looking state, no horns, no green clothes but rather looking like a simple fisherman it’s almost as if he is a different person. The cover pages are amazing and it will definitely give the reader a surge of excitement reading into the issues.

The only problem with this is the story felt rushed and the ending was just a little bit unclear. I personally wish it could’ve gone longer and this could’ve ended with a much better conclusion.

To sum up, Trials of Loki is still an enjoyable read and as much as it is Loki’s origin story it also shows how Thor got his mighty hammer of Mjolnir and other origin story. The artwork is magnificent and even though the story is somewhat rushed it still provides enough for readers to feel satisfied in the end. Highly recommended towards fans of Loki, if you haven’t read any Loki story yet, Trials of Loki is a great start.

Book Review: American Gods by Neil Gaiman

American Gods follows the extraordinary tale of an ex convict called Shadow. Recently released from a 3 year service in prison, Shadow rushes home in hopes to look into his wife’s mysterious death days before his release. However on the way home, he encounters a charming, mysterious man who calls himself Mr. Wednesday. Persuaded by Mr Wednesday’s incredibly detailed knowledge on Shadow’s life. Shadow finds himself employed under Mr Wednesday, who then drags Shadow into a world full of gods and an impending war between them.

This is the first Neil Gaiman book I’ve read and with all the awards it got I simply couldn’t wait to read the book. That said it was a decision I did not one bit regret. Having minimal knowledge on the premise of the book, I did not know what to expect, except that I’m reading a story about a man named Shadow. As the story goes on, it slowly captivates me as I turn and read every single page. Every detail, every character, every moment, every little story has a purpose to serve. All of it are cleverly connected and as the reader figures out the bigger picture it gives that sense of satisfaction you get solving an intricate puzzle.

To sum up, this book can be considered a modern mythological tale. A story that takes the reader into a magical journey and makes the reader wanting more. It is a highly recommended book for anyone to read. Whether you love fantasy or not, it is one worth spending time with. If you are a lover of Mythology, it is one you should definitely read.