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Loki: A Bad God’s Guide #4

Loki: A Bad God's Guide to Making Enemies

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Loki's fourth doodle-packed diary in the number one best-selling series.

Loki has made a fair few enemies during his time in Asgard. Too many to count and certainly too many to remember. When the elf, Vinir beams Loki aboard his chariot and challenges him to a magical duel, Loki hasn't got a clue why. Sweet talking his way out of a fight by pointing out there's little honour in duelling someone who can't remember how they wronged you, and even less in picking on a child, Loki is returned safely to school. That is until Vinir shows up in child form, as resolute as ever about seeking that duel... and vengeance.

272 pages, Paperback

First published September 1, 2024

21 people are currently reading
130 people want to read

About the author

Louie Stowell

107 books71 followers
Louie Stowell started her career writing carefully researched books about space, ancient Egypt, politics, and science, but eventually she lapsed into just making stuff up. She likes writing about dragons, wizards, vampires, fairies, monsters, and parallel worlds. Louie Stowell currently works as the publisher of Ladybird Books and lives in London with her wife, Karen; her dog, Buffy; and a creepy puppet that is probably cursed.

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Displaying 1 - 30 of 31 reviews
Profile Image for Mehsi.
15.1k reviews455 followers
January 7, 2025
The newest Loki and this time it is time for winter, figuring out feelings, finding out how friendship works, and trying to not do bad deeds.


🥰 Once again I love that we got a map along with a character introduction + a time table (along with some extra annotations courtesy of Loki).
🥰 I love that this one sticks to the format of a diary! It is just such a fun way to tell the story and I love that Loki tells us all the deets.
🥰 I actually love seeing Loki still change. Yes, I love the sneaky/devious/devilish side of him, but I am also happy to see him try to figure out feelings, get better on saying sorry, tries to better his life, try to be kinder. It is just so much fun and I can so see the change. If you compare it with the first book he has changed quite a lot and I am 100% happy with it. I am proud that he tries, things aren’t always easy and of course he is still not happy with the arrangement but he keeps trying.
🥰 The illustrations throughout the book just fit perfectly with the story + the characters. They definitely bring the story further to life and that makes me happy (and laugh because sometimes things are just too funny already in the story and then you get a bonus illustration of the scene/the event).
🥰 Those self-help books Heimdall always has just make me laugh, and also wonder, where does he get those very specific books from? Is there a special magical self-help book store somewhere?
🥰 Hyrrokin and Loki trying to do magic and her trying to help him out by being patient and giving him tips. It isn’t always the easiest to learn Loki magic (one, he is just not getting the spells down and two, he has no patience for practicing).
🥰 I love that while it started off as a fake family, it is slowly becoming more and more like a family. Heimdall and Hyrrokin are really caring about Loki and Thor and that makes me smile.
🥰 Winterfestival/Winter time! While I read it during fall, I still love the winter vibes as I am so looking forward to winter!
🥰 Seeing the various transformations of Loki, like the one time he was hungry and turned into a gull and stole fries from people.
🥰 The giants are back and this time they have a really evil scheme that I very much loved. OK, not a fan of the giants, but they do add a nice dose of extra tension and excitement. Plus, sorry, but I had to laugh at their names.
🥰 Thor and Loki, they are still bickering endlessly, but there are also some sweet moments between them that made me smile.
🥰 It was fun seeing Loki (and also the other family members) try out human stuff. From food to items. It is always fun to see how they react to it.
🥰 While I have no kids, I would definitely be Hyrrokin in this situation. I would also want to sic some snakes to someone at that point.

🥰/🤔 Vinir. On the one hand I couldn’t stand him. On the other hand I started to like him more as the story continued.

🤔 While I could understand Georgina’s feelings on the events that Loki started, HE DID TRY HIS BEST TO MAKE THINGS RIGHT. Georgina especially should know that Loki isn’t having the easiest times with all these new feelings and emotions. He is used to be hardcore sneaky, and now he has to care, think about his actions, it is not easy.
🤔 I am still not 100% happy with Loki Virtue Score/who is behind it. At times I think they were just a bit too harsh on Loki. Again, if he didn’t care/try or whatever, sure, but I could see Loki try and then just get hurt because of a little thing.

But all in all, I did have a lot of fun reading it and I love getting new characters (good or evil) and of course see Loki change for the better! I am curious what is going to happen next! I cannot wait~

Review first posted at https://twirlingbookprincess.com/
Profile Image for Beck Saad.
41 reviews2 followers
March 12, 2025
I really, truly love this series. Can't wait until the next book comes out!
Profile Image for Catie Markesich.
342 reviews2 followers
September 27, 2025
Love this series so much. The audiobook narrator is so fabulous too. I can’t wait for the next one!

“Breakfast club: a concept beyond space and time where one is both at school and yet not. Also, there is breakfast.”

“I didn’t lie; I merely took the truth and gave it a little hat.”
Profile Image for Mikayla.
545 reviews34 followers
October 20, 2024
Loki A Bad God's Guide to Making Enemies is an absolute gem! From the very first page, I was drawn into Loki's mischievous world, filled with humor, clever writing, and unexpected twists. The author masterfully captures Loki's chaotic personality which is utterly entertaining.

What I loved most about this book is its unique perspective on the classic tales from Norse mythology. The blend of ancient lore with modern wit creates a refreshing narrative that keeps you hooked. Each chapter is packed with clever anecdotes and insights, making it a delightful read for fans of mythology and humor alike.

The illustrations add an extra layer of charm to the story. They perfectly complement the text, bringing Loki's escapades to life in vivid detail. The pacing is spot on, ensuring that the story flows smoothly while keeping the reader engaged throughout.

Whether you're a long-time fan of Loki or new to his antics, this book offers something for everyone. It's a perfect blend of comedy, adventure, and mythology that will leave you laughing out loud and eagerly turning the pages. I can't recommend it highly enough!
Profile Image for Nicola Michelle.
1,877 reviews15 followers
August 24, 2024
Not only are these books wonderfully entertaining but the audiobooks themselves are an entertaining work of art that warrants both the buying of the physical books AND the book in an audio format.

Ben Willbond is not just an amazing actor but narrates these books expertly. He brings the fun, entertainment and humour that makes these books the masterpieces they are. Also, I always love an audiobook that incorporates sound effects so it wins extra points for that too.

Loki is a character we’ve all come to know. He’s a god of mischief, overshadowed by his strong and more famous older brother and the son of an all seeing father of a god that never seems to give him a break! And all recorded nearly in this one little book that lays out all of his dastardly darings. And he’s not short of an enemy or two…

It’s a solid recommend for the shelves of all young readers (and older ones. They can’t fail to raise a smile and I dare you not to enjoy this book too). Definitely don’t pass these books by.

Thank you to the author and publisher for this audiobook on NetGalley in return for my honest thoughts and review.
Profile Image for Theo.
261 reviews3 followers
March 10, 2025
Another great entry in the series. Lots of fun to read to my daughter and sad it's over.
43 reviews1 follower
October 19, 2025
Always funny, especially as more gods and elves and frost giants get added to the mix
89 reviews1 follower
December 7, 2024
"I feel like you still have a lot to learn about friendship, If not wanting someone to die means you're best friends."
I sighed. Mortal friendship truly WAS an onerous and tedious maze of unknown complexities.

This book was amazing. Loki is hilarious and made me laugh every time I picked up this book. Truly amazing.
Profile Image for Lobo.
959 reviews
April 21, 2025
Kedvenc gyerektestbe zárt bajkeverő istenünk, Loki immár negyedik alkalommal tér vissza, s még mindig zseniális és tartja a színvonalat Louie Stowell sorozata. Igazából még azt is megkockáztatom, hogy akár magában is lehet olvasni a részeket (de minek), ehhez sok segítséget nyújt az első pár oldal képes karakter-útmutatója, amely nemcsak a szereplőket de nagy vonalakban az eddigi történteket is összefoglalja.
A kötet még mindig nagyon jól is néz ki, Loki naplójában vannak firkák, rajzok, meg jó párszor képregénypanelek is, ráadásul ugye még párbeszéd is zajlik a napló és a szerzője között, mert az előbbi igyekszik figyelmeztetni az istent, ha éppen letérne a számára kijelölt útról. Bár ez természetesen nem mindig sikerül. A skiccek mellett megint több olyan jegyzet is volt, amiben az asgardiak próbálják értelmezni a földi dolgokat (Heimdall önsegítő könyvei külön viccesek és mindig nagyon specifikusak 😊) . S most, hogy a teljes SZMK be lett vonva a téli vásár megszervezésébe akad jó pár mozzanat, ami előtt még a “szülők” is értetlenül állnak. Heimdall az aki igencsak igyekszik beilleszkedni, míg Hyrrokkin most inkább arra fókuszálna, hogy felkészítse Lokit a párbajára és megtanítsa neki a varázslatot ami talán megmenti. Miközben navigálnak a hétköznapi események között egy dolog válik egyre világosabbá: ez a négy isten kezd igazi családdá összekovácsolódni.

oki is több fronton fejlődik megint. Először is tényleg nagyon igyekszik jóvá tenni a dolgokat Georginával, de nem megy könnyen neki, hiszen nem is érti, mi a gond, mivel bántotta őt meg. Hamarosan azonban nagyon fura dolgokat kezd észrevenni magán: együttérez és az empátiája is növekszik. Ami pedig a varázspárbajra való készülést illeti, ott is komoly érzelmi hullámvasút várja, mert nemcsak szembe kell nézni a tettei következményeivel, de még az is lehetséges, hogy alul fog maradni. Márpedig egy 12 éves testbe zárt érzelmi vihar fizikailag is megviseli Lokit. Az ironikus humor mellett Louie Stowell hozzáértően játszik az olvasó érzelmeivel is.

S míg a célközönség jókat szórakozik Loki csínyein és beszólásain, a felnőtt olvasóknak is van min elgondolkodni. Például hogy tényleg miért kell beskatulyázni a gyerekeket, hogy biztos ha valaki elkövet 1-2 huncutságot akkor mindenképp rendbontónak kell őt elkönyvelni? Illetve a szülői felelősségről is több szempontból szó esik: Georgina és Vinil is próbálnak megfelelni az elvárásoknak és teljesen összetörnek, hogy a felnőttek szemében nincs szavuk és nem hallgatják meg őket.

Úgyhogy megint nagyon jó részt hozott Louie Stowell: minden korosztály megtalálja benne a kalandot, az izgalmat, a viccet és a tanulságot is. Vannak meglepetés fordulatok, határozottan komoly gondolatok és a humor is hol hangosan nevetős hol finoman szarkasztikus. Jöhet a következő!
Részletesen: https://olvasonaplo.net/olvasonaplo/2...
67 reviews
August 6, 2024
I loved this one -I laughed so much!
So, as always, Loki has upset someone (surprise, surprise) in spite of his utterly charming personality and awesome hair.. And as always that person wants to exact a painful revenge upon him. Of the very deathly kind.
This time the offended party is an elf with gorgeous hair and who likes to use the word, "churl". He challenges Loki to a magical duel, the aim of the game being that they both use a deadly spell. And to ensure that it's a fair fight (well, fairish) he allows Loki times to practise while also turning himself into a kid called Alfie.
In the meantime, Valerie is still obsessed with aliens, Thor is still obsessed with Frost Giants, and Heimdall and Hyrrokkin get peer pressured into helping out with the school's winter fair. Much to Hyrrokkin's utter joy. (can't blame her).
This volume was so much fun to read. The notes explaining everyday mortal life are still very sassy and dripping with sarcasm. And at this point Heimdall and Hyrrokkin are my favourite characters as they try to understand, survive, and thrive in the mundane aspects of human life. (love Heimdall's oven gloves). And, Loki is growing! As a reader you want to cheer him on!
The overarching plot of this series is about Loki learning to be good, but it's also about Loki, Thor, Heimdall and Hyrrokkin growing as a family.
Can't wait for the next one!
Thank you to Walker Books and Netgalley for letting me read this early!
3,117 reviews6 followers
January 6, 2025
Loki: A Bad God's Guide to Making Enemies is a marvellously entertaining book that will have young readers giggling at the antics that Loki gets up to.

If you have never read any of the books from the series - Why not? Just kidding. You are missing out though. But a bit of back story is that Loki has been sent to Earth to live as a real boy with his brother Thor and two guardians posing as his parents. He also has a diary he has to write in daily but he can only tell the truth within it as it is a magical diary with a big attitude.

This outing sees Loki on Midgard back in the mythical world but he's ruffled a few too many feathers, again and is now having to go into battle.

The whole series has been perfectly created and author Louie Stowell has some clever imagination as well as knowing a lot about Norse gods and their world.

If you are looking for a series that a child can become fully emerged in and be kept riveted from beginning to end with each book then this is it.
Profile Image for Heidi Drake.
134 reviews2 followers
July 30, 2024
Loki has done it again! Another masterful adventure here on Midgard as Loki attempts to learn his lesson and take his punishment whilst putting up with the most irritating (kind of) brother around.
This time Loki is navigating friendships with humans, an elf who wants to duel to the death and horror of horrors...the school Winter Fair.
Will he make it up with Georgina?
Will Thor stop thinking they're Frost Giants everywhere?
Will that annoying elf stop going on about his dad?
Will detention ever end?
This may well be Loki's toughest adventure yet!
The humour keeps coming though and this was a fantastic read (digital arc on netgalley). I will be buying a real one when it's out to share with my 9 year old who kept reading over my shoulder! And we're already excited about Loki's next adventure.
9,059 reviews130 followers
August 26, 2024
Part four of this ongoing series and it's just as good as it ever was – the clever formatting, the use of the unreliable narrator in an easy-read book, the counter to that from the sentient diary the lead character is presenting this to… It seems to have suitably upped all the stakes, as well, as Loki must work out which side of the good/bad divide he really feels most at home – yet here it proves to not just be good or bad, but kill or be killed. All the while the plot can still bring in weaponised farts, even when the writing looks at the school fete from the point of view of the parents forced to give their time and efforts to it – there's almost as much Motherland here as Wimpy Kid. A strong four stars.
Profile Image for Anne.
5,128 reviews52 followers
December 9, 2025
3.5 stars
Book 4 in series
Loki is still trying hard to be a good god. In book 4 of the series, he is challenged by the elf Vinir who feels that Loki has insulted him and his father. Vinir wants Loki to duel him and gives him a month to get ready. In the meantime, Loki has also tried to impress Georgina but it ended up in a school wide fire alarm and got them both detention for weeks. Georgina now refuses to speak to Loki because he didn't confess that she had nothing to do with it. There is also a winter dance coming up that Loki and Thor's parents are going to help plan.
This series is a great read-alike for Wimpy Kid fans. Love the humor and illustrations.
Profile Image for Helen.
1,454 reviews38 followers
February 25, 2025
This is the funniest thing I have read in a long time, I adored how we got a character introduction and how this book is in the form of a diary. Throughout the cause of the book it was great to see Loki's character change with him showing more empathy. I love the little comments he made in situations where we have all thought the same but never have dared to say anything. There were moments where I could be heard laughing out loud, and getting funny looks from my family.
This book is perfect in every way and I can't wait for Loki's next adventure.
Profile Image for Nic.
248 reviews4 followers
September 4, 2024
I will be recommending this book and audiobook whole-heartedly to my pupils. It is a total riot from start to finish. I really enjoyed the plot and watching Loki flounder when having to dig deep and find empathy. All it took was an existential crisis!

Louie Stowell’s trademark sense of humour (with many layers of laughs) had me in stitches throughout. That said, there is so much to be learned about Norse mythology through the books and I’m sure many of us benefit from learning through narratives.

The voice acting, by Ben Willpond, exquisitely captured the mischief and mayhem of the narrative and the sound effects enhanced many a moment even further.

Great stuff.
Profile Image for Sarah.
268 reviews3 followers
June 25, 2025
4.5/5 stars for this fourth book in the Loki series from Louie Stowell. As with the other entries, I listened to the audiobook for this and absolutely cannot recommend them enough! Ben Willbond is wonderful with all the different characters and the production is great. This book focused on Loki learning about listening to his emotions and building up empathy. Really fun read for all ages (says your trusted 36-year-old) with a sweet message on top of the laughs.
Profile Image for Joseph D..
Author 3 books3 followers
September 24, 2025
Book 4 of this series. This time there is an offended elf ready to dual Loki to the death. Can Loki find a way out? This one actually shows Loki with true growth making me curious as to the direction of the new book, especially with the teaser at the end. Aside from that there are plenty of antics and Loki fails as he tries to navigate life as a human boy. Overall a quick fun read. ​

Joseph McKnight
http://www.josephmcknight.com
Profile Image for Rebecca Roberts.
Author 11 books19 followers
January 4, 2026
A bedtime read with my son, who absolutley loved it. A bit slower-paced than some of the other Loki books, but was great to Hyrokkin taking centre stage for a change, and I laughed out loud reading the WhatsApp conversation about the winter fair. The Loki series is one of those rare marvels that both adults and children can enjoy reading together.
342 reviews1 follower
August 1, 2024
The 4th book in the series is just as hilarious. The language used seems to have gone up a notch and that works perfectly with the series' fans who must have grown up a bit too. My students have loved this series since the first book and I am sure they are going to love this one too.
Profile Image for Steph.
1,448 reviews87 followers
August 5, 2024
Really enjoyed this! I love all of the nods to mythology and the strangeness of Earth life! Loki has to battle ANOTHER foe while he is seeking forgiveness and trying to understand friendship. Properly funny this. And the little illustrations throughout just bring joy!
Profile Image for Bethany Fisher.
516 reviews7 followers
August 21, 2024
I swear I'll consume anything Loki related, even though I know very well I am not the target audience.

This was so much fun and perfectly narrated by Ben Willbond. The snark and arrogance just poured through and I loved every sentence.

Thank you to Netgalley and W.F Howes for the ALC
Profile Image for Becki Sims.
492 reviews13 followers
September 22, 2024
Myself and my daughter really enjoyed sharing this book.

The characters and illustrations are engaging and we will definitely be seeking out others in the series.

Many thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for gifting me this arc in exchange for an honest, unbiased review.
Profile Image for Nova.
230 reviews1 follower
Read
May 23, 2025
Again, funny cute and witty. Seeing Loki try his hardest to stay a horrible god is just too cute
Profile Image for Jenn..
299 reviews
June 28, 2025
Read as audiobook from Hoopla. Excellently narrated by same narrator as previous books. Another fun, quick, entertaining read. Excitedly awaiting the next book in the series.
Profile Image for Lyureya.
36 reviews
January 4, 2026
Loki's redemption arc. In this book he is more human than in the others.
Profile Image for A Bookworm Crafts.
307 reviews7 followers
September 2, 2024
I read this book with my nine year old son.

In this fourth book of the Loki series, the titular God has made a new enemy, elf Vinir, who challenges him to a dual. He has also made an enemy of his former friend Georgina. And, shocker, he discovers empathy!

As with the previous books, the story is presented in the form of diary entries, with the addition of witty comments from the diary itself. There are many laugh-out-loud moments to be had, particularly through Loki's reactions to the events unfolding around him. My son was disappointed that the story was too short (itself, a testament to how much he was enjoying it!). I was a little surprised at the repetitive theme of killing or being killed by one's enemy. Although there are no actual deaths in the book, this theme is rehashed a little to much to my likely for a book aimed at children. That said, the book was a pleasure to read out loud and, like the rest of the series, is as enjoyable for parents as it is for children.

A recommended read for fans of Louie Stowell, Max Evans, and humourous mythology retellings.

Thank you to Netgalley and Walker Books for providing me with a digital copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 31 reviews

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