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Loki: A Bad God’s Guide #5
Loki: A Bad God's Guide to Causing Chaos
Vinir, the luscious-locked elven menace is staying in Midgard. To preserve the peace and prevent him from trying to murder Loki (again), Odin sends the goddess Freyja to keep an eye on things.
Soon, strange things start to happen. Thor receives mysterious fan mail, Valerie and Georgina start bickering and, worst of all, Heimdall develops a crush on Loki's teacher!
With friends turning into enemies and enemies into friends, it’s up to Loki – and (horrifyingly) Vinir – to figure out what mischief is afoot…
Soon, strange things start to happen. Thor receives mysterious fan mail, Valerie and Georgina start bickering and, worst of all, Heimdall develops a crush on Loki's teacher!
With friends turning into enemies and enemies into friends, it’s up to Loki – and (horrifyingly) Vinir – to figure out what mischief is afoot…
- GenresMythology
272 pages, Paperback
First published September 11, 2025
3 people are currently reading
48 people want to read
About the author
Louie Stowell
108 books72 followersLouie 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 - 10 of 10 reviews
October 19, 2025
Chaotic and predictable but wry and funny
January 14, 2026
I am genuinely baffled by the enthusiasm surrounding this series, and Loki: A Bad God’s Guide to Causing Chaos crystallises many of the issues I have been trying to articulate about the direction of some contemporary children’s fiction.
The book revels in disruption for its own sake. Chaos is not interrogated, contained, or meaningfully resolved - it is celebrated, glamorised, and presented as inherently funny. For readers still learning how behaviour affects others, this is an unsettling moral stance. Loki’s selfishness, cruelty, and manipulative tendencies are repeatedly framed as “cheeky” rather than harmful, and the narrative expects us to laugh along rather than question the impact on those around him.
The humour is relentless and loud, relying heavily on bickering, embarrassment, and interpersonal conflict. Female characters in particular are reduced to irritation and nagging, with “bickering” treated as a defining trait rather than a symptom of poor communication or stress. Freyja’s role as a watcher and peacekeeper feels joyless and thankless, reinforcing the tired idea that female authority exists only to clean up male messes. Even when goddesses appear, they are stripped of agency and reduced to managerial inconvenience.
Romantic subplots are handled with an odd mix of smugness and immaturity. Crushes are played for laughs in ways that feel invasive and mocking, encouraging readers to see other people’s feelings as entertainment. There is very little modelling of respect, boundaries, or emotional responsibility, which is particularly disappointing in a book aimed at younger readers.
Stylistically, the book leans on snark, sarcasm, and exaggerated reactions, often at the expense of clarity or depth. The language occasionally strays into rudeness that feels unnecessary for the age group, mistaking noise for wit. It is exhausting rather than engaging.
Ultimately, this book asks children to root for a protagonist who learns very little, causes harm without accountability, and is repeatedly rewarded for bad behaviour. As an educator, I find it hard to justify recommending something so morally thin, emotionally careless, and dismissive of kindness. Children deserve humour that challenges power and cruelty, not stories that excuse them because the offender happens to be “funny.”
The book revels in disruption for its own sake. Chaos is not interrogated, contained, or meaningfully resolved - it is celebrated, glamorised, and presented as inherently funny. For readers still learning how behaviour affects others, this is an unsettling moral stance. Loki’s selfishness, cruelty, and manipulative tendencies are repeatedly framed as “cheeky” rather than harmful, and the narrative expects us to laugh along rather than question the impact on those around him.
The humour is relentless and loud, relying heavily on bickering, embarrassment, and interpersonal conflict. Female characters in particular are reduced to irritation and nagging, with “bickering” treated as a defining trait rather than a symptom of poor communication or stress. Freyja’s role as a watcher and peacekeeper feels joyless and thankless, reinforcing the tired idea that female authority exists only to clean up male messes. Even when goddesses appear, they are stripped of agency and reduced to managerial inconvenience.
Romantic subplots are handled with an odd mix of smugness and immaturity. Crushes are played for laughs in ways that feel invasive and mocking, encouraging readers to see other people’s feelings as entertainment. There is very little modelling of respect, boundaries, or emotional responsibility, which is particularly disappointing in a book aimed at younger readers.
Stylistically, the book leans on snark, sarcasm, and exaggerated reactions, often at the expense of clarity or depth. The language occasionally strays into rudeness that feels unnecessary for the age group, mistaking noise for wit. It is exhausting rather than engaging.
Ultimately, this book asks children to root for a protagonist who learns very little, causes harm without accountability, and is repeatedly rewarded for bad behaviour. As an educator, I find it hard to justify recommending something so morally thin, emotionally careless, and dismissive of kindness. Children deserve humour that challenges power and cruelty, not stories that excuse them because the offender happens to be “funny.”
November 18, 2025
A really fun and wonderful new part in the series and I need the next one given the ending. In this one spells that change your emotions (so Vinir becomes in love with Loki which I actually liked a lot and wouldn't mind more of, Georgina/Valerie fight, and more), it was a very interesting and exciting thing + seeing how Loki handled things. I did like that Loki went for some trouble/pranks but also tried to do good. I love how much he has changed over the books. From a real trickster to someone who actually tries to help others and has more of a conscience. I am curious to see how much more he will grow!
Plus, tons of mythology, we meet Hel, we see the Frost Giants again, there are quests, and lots of fun illustrations + more!
OH, and my heart broke for Loki when Hyrrokkin acted all bad.
I did think it was weird that Loki didn't get any points when refusing Vinir when he presented that present. I mean, seriously, old Loki would have gone gimme gimme and this new one was like HECK NOPE.
Review to come in January.
Plus, tons of mythology, we meet Hel, we see the Frost Giants again, there are quests, and lots of fun illustrations + more!
OH, and my heart broke for Loki when Hyrrokkin acted all bad.
I did think it was weird that Loki didn't get any points when refusing Vinir when he presented that present. I mean, seriously, old Loki would have gone gimme gimme and this new one was like HECK NOPE.
Review to come in January.
October 29, 2025
I love this series so much. It is a lot of fun and can't believe we're on book 5 already.
In this story Loki has a mystery to solve: why is everyone close to him behaving so strangely? Acting in the opposite of how they really feel about each other?
Freyja the goddess of Love and War has moved to the neighbourhood, along with her cats, to keep an eye on Vinir and pose as his mother. There are references to Freja's necklace, the Brisingame, which is a source of great power and plays a key role in a few different Norse stories.
One of my favourite jokes in this novel is Vinir boasting about how he has been friends with many different authors and artists throughout history and inspired their creativity, including Conan Doyle.
I am looking forward to finding out who the big villain is. This has been teased as the individual responsible for some of the strange goings on, but we don't who it is yet.
The illustrations by the author are a lot of fun. I spotted an Aziraphale.
In this story Loki has a mystery to solve: why is everyone close to him behaving so strangely? Acting in the opposite of how they really feel about each other?
Freyja the goddess of Love and War has moved to the neighbourhood, along with her cats, to keep an eye on Vinir and pose as his mother. There are references to Freja's necklace, the Brisingame, which is a source of great power and plays a key role in a few different Norse stories.
One of my favourite jokes in this novel is Vinir boasting about how he has been friends with many different authors and artists throughout history and inspired their creativity, including Conan Doyle.
I am looking forward to finding out who the big villain is. This has been teased as the individual responsible for some of the strange goings on, but we don't who it is yet.
The illustrations by the author are a lot of fun. I spotted an Aziraphale.
September 28, 2025
Dikisahkan di dalamnya, para dewa dan makhluk mitologi bersatu dalam kekacauan penuh tawa dan intrik. Loki, dewa nakal yang terkenal, harus berhadapan dengan Vinir, elf berambut lebat yang mengancam kedamaiannya di Midgard. Demi menjaga ketertiban dan mencegah bencana, Freyja dikirim untuk mengawasi setiap gerak-geriknya. Namun, keanehan dan kekacauan segera mengikuti setiap langkah mereka. Kisah fantasi remaja ini menghadirkan petualangan seru dan kocak, penuh strategi licik, humor jenaka, dan persahabatan di dunia mitologi Nordik. https://blog.periplus.com/2025/09/15/...
July 27, 2025
Warning: Do not start reading this book when you are eating. I made that mistake and ended up reading about Loki's snort as I was gobbling down some food. I almost lost my appetite due to that.
This is easily the best in the series. I love how Loki seems to have been capable of growing up in his mortal form. (Hallelujah! It's a miracle!) He is every bit the typical teenage boy that he appears to be now. I am sure that my students are going to love this one. Am definitely getting some copies of this for my students as presents.
This is easily the best in the series. I love how Loki seems to have been capable of growing up in his mortal form. (Hallelujah! It's a miracle!) He is every bit the typical teenage boy that he appears to be now. I am sure that my students are going to love this one. Am definitely getting some copies of this for my students as presents.
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July 12, 2025I ate this one up, honestly it may be the best in the series so far.
In this book we have all the humour and silliness from the previous books, but Lokis personal growth in this one just SHINES, while he is still the mischievous crisp lover we all know he shows some real dearth in this one where is the one to fully save the day and his loved ones even at great risk to himself was just heartwarming.
E-Arc provided for free in exchange for an honest review from Walker Books via NetGalley
In this book we have all the humour and silliness from the previous books, but Lokis personal growth in this one just SHINES, while he is still the mischievous crisp lover we all know he shows some real dearth in this one where is the one to fully save the day and his loved ones even at great risk to himself was just heartwarming.
E-Arc provided for free in exchange for an honest review from Walker Books via NetGalley
August 15, 2025
Sat at nights and on holiday reading this aloud to my wife (we are massive Loki fans). This brings lols, mystery and much war-fare! Loki and his crew are back, but this time all does not seem as it should be! Watch out for parent/teacher proposals, unexpected declarations of love and much planned destruction. I just love the illustrations too! I really enjoy the interactions between Loki and the diary!
November 3, 2025
How good it was to be back with Loki and friends and if there’s one thing guaranteed it’s a good laugh.
So a little advice, do not drink while reading this book,
I think this is the best book so far, we see the personal growth of the Loki character, and see the friendships grow.
The illustrations are just as funny.
I hope there is more to come.
So a little advice, do not drink while reading this book,
I think this is the best book so far, we see the personal growth of the Loki character, and see the friendships grow.
The illustrations are just as funny.
I hope there is more to come.
August 15, 2025
cliffhangers... what a bitch
loved it
loved it
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews