Loki

by Melvin Burgess

Melvin Burgess revolutionised children's literature with the infamous cult novels Junk and Doing It. In his first adult novel, Loki, he breathes new life into Norse myths.
Starting with the Norse creation myths, the trickster god Loki takes the reader on a wild ride through Norse mythology, from the time the gods - the founders of Asgard - defeated races of monsters, and hurtling through famous stories, including Odin hanging himself on the World Tree, the theft of the corrupting gold ring and the murder of Baldr, the god of love and the Sun. This narrative may seem familiar enough at first, but the reader should beware.

Born within the heart of a fire in the hollow of a tree-trunk, Loki arrives in Asgard as an outsider. He is a trickster, an unreliable narrator, the god of intelligence and politics. In spite of his cleverness and sparkling wit (or, perhaps, because of this...) Loki struggles to find his place among the old patriarchal gods of supernatural power and is constantly at odds with the god of thunder - Thor.

This retelling contemporary in tone, at once amusing and relatable. It is a heartfelt plea to overthrow the old gods of power and authority and instigate a new era ruled by love and intelligence. Alongside the politics of Asgard, it charts the course of Loki's many loves and families, from his mothering of Odin's famous horse to his intense, turbulent, and, eventually, fatal relationship with Baldr the Beautiful - a tender and moving story of love that goes wrong, jealousy and a transitioning that is forbidden by society.

Genres: Mythology, Fantasy, Fiction, Retellings, Historical Fiction, Historical, LGBT

288 pages, Hardcover

Published May 2, 2023

About the author

Melvin Burgess is a British author of children's fiction. His first book, The Cry of the Wolf, was published in 1990. He gained a certain amount of notoriety in 1996 with the publication of Junk, which was published in the shadow of the film of Irvine Welsh's Trainspotting, and dealt with the trendy and controversial idea of heroin-addicted teenagers. Junk soon became, at least in Britain, one of the best-known children's books of the decade.

Burgess again courted predictable controversy in 2003, with the publication of Doing It, which dealt with underage sex. America created a show based on the book, Life As We Know It. In his other books, such as Bloodtide and The Ghost Behind the Wall, Burgess has dealt with less realist and sometimes fantastic themes. In 2001 Burgess wrote the novelisation of the film Billy Elliot, based on Lee Hall's screenplay. Polyphony is typical for his most famous novels.

http://us.macmillan.com/author/melvin...

Reviews

[Rosa · Rating 3 out of 5]

As a Norse (Dane) I've been wanting to read more books inspired by/retellings of Norse mythology, but they're not as easy to come by as certain other mythologies cough Greek cough, so I was excited when I came across this one - and it's also told by one of the best Norse gods, Loki (I'm not biased.. you are)!

First off, I want to make it clear that this is very much a collection of retellings - don't take everything at face value. Loki isn't actually originally included in a lot of the stories he's telling throughout the book, but very fitting to his character, it also makes him come off as an unreliable narrator. Some were given a fun twist, others that aren't so thoroughly told originally were explained further (Norse mythology can be a bit "weird" which leaves a lot of room for interpretation) and overall it was nice to revisit a lot of the stories I've heard throughout my childhood/school years.

➕Sarcastic, humorous, unreliable narrator
➕The stories were nicely woven together
➖Some stories were changed way too much for my own personal liking

If you don't like swearing and crude humor, maybe reconsider this one as well. I personally thought it fit in just fine and was funny, but I see others saying it was a bit much.

4/5⭐

Thanks to NetGallery for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review!

[bookishcharli · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really really enjoyed Marvin’s take on Loki whilst reading through this book filled with incredible retellings of some of the best myths in Norse Mythology. I loved that Marvin’s portrayal of Loki is as crude, obnoxious, vain, humorous, sarcastic and unfiltered as we’ve seen in most other portrayals of the God. It’s perfect because we all know how unreliable, and tricky, Loki can be and you get the real sense of wondering whether or not you’re being lied to throughout the whole book which just made it that much more fun to read.

If you like North mythology or just want to learn about some of the myths surrounding your favourite trickster seen in some Marvel film adaptations then definitely pick up this book.

Thanks to Kim from Hodder & Stoughton for sending me a proof of this amazing book.

[Stuart McCarthy]

Dnf. Really interesting, but just can't find any enjoyment in it. Vulgar language when there are plenty of other words to use. And constantly insulting the reader, which does nothing to keep me intrigued or wanting to continue.

Went from reading 270 pages in a day of other books, to dreading picking this one up 😢

[Irono Yami · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5

this book demands some open mindset, the retellings are unfiltered, and the vocabulary vulgar (readers get insulted).

i was not prepared for this since i only bought this book because of its title, nor have i any knowledge of Norse myths (MCU knowledge doesn't count) - i did/do not know which stories are true to the original myths and which are not.

but in the end, this book's Loki and the MCU's Loki have one thing in common:
Misunderstood.

ps: i am very impressed how Marvel reformed Loki from his myths to the one they cast Tom Hiddleston for.

[Axel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ik heb overwogen om dit boek 5 sterren te geven, maar aan het einde was er toch een iets te grote afwijking van de originele mythe.

In 'Loki' vertelt Melvin Burgess de Noordse mythen vanuit het perspectief van Loki. Voor mensen die bekend zijn met dit onderwerp, biedt dit een interessante kijk op het verhaal en kun je het gemakkelijk volgen. Natuurlijk worden er dingen verdraaid, maar dit vertelt Loki zelf al aan het begin van het boek.

Gedurende het boek praat Loki rechtstreeks tegen de lezer en vertelt hij over zijn streken tijdens de mythen. De manier waarop hij met de lezer communiceert, geeft het boek een aangename en humoristische toets.

Het is zeker een aanrader voor mensen die geïnteresseerd zijn in de Noordse mythologie, maar het is geen vereiste.

[rosa :) · Rating 2 out of 5]

2 1/2 stars. I was extremely interested in the premise of this book but unfortunately was just not a fan of the execution. A few of the changes made from the original myths just didn’t make any sense to me & at times the language felt vulgar for no reason :/

[David Harris · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am fascinated by mythology. The stories of ancient gods and heroes seem to have a staying power that has outlasted belief in them. Endlessly invented and reinvented, they clearly remain relevant today, immensely popular and indeed seem to be having a bit of a moment now, especially through feminist versions and as here, those which re-evaluate the villains of the pantheons.

Villains are SO much more interesting than heroes, and Loki is a fascinating example, who's been under close scrutiny of late. Burgess's retelling takes that further, not just giving Loki's estimation of himself but also presenting the stories of Asgard, of Thor, Odin and Freya, from the trickster god's perspective. It's an interesting, not to say at times eye-popping experience. Like (I suspect) many people in the UK, my first encounters with the classic Greek and Norse myths were as a child, via retellings by Roger Lancelyn Green, versions designed to be OK for children and therefore missing out some of the more earthy aspects. In contrast Loki leaves little out, making full use of the mischievous god's full range. He (at times she) is one of the more entertaining and interesting mythical characters, allowing Burgess to fuse the separate Norse myths and legends and create a thematically satisfying narrative. That makes Loki a fluid and engaging read, rather than just a collection of episodes.

The setup here is that we - as modern humans - are being told this story by Loki from his deep prison. Like a celebrity giving an interview following a tabloid storm, he wants to put his side of things, to set the record straight. He's been traduced by the Asgard spin machine, his good deeds edited out, his crimes twisted and magnified. Loki acknowledges himself as a liar (indeed, the inventor of the lie) but promises that, this time, we're getting the truth. And a great deal of the story is uncomplimentary enough to him that we might accept this, although it's also, perhaps, a story spun and pitched to meet our modern sensibilities, showing Loki as the one who preached love, who always counselled peace, who urged (and performed) diversity and tolerance. We may therefore think we are being spun a tale, that he wants something from us. And indeed, as it eventually turns out, he does, though we're assured that is something that will benefit us, in the end.

I'm not sure whether this is meant by Burgess to be a depiction of Loki as a being with a supreme ability to distort the truth, or as a genuinely wronged figure in the narrative that's presented. You will have to read the book and judge.

That reading was for me a fun and enthralling experience, the Norse myths being dismantled and reassembled with a very modern sensibility. Indeed some of the overtly "religiously" aspects are presented in what was for me, as a Christian, a very suggestive way - clearly, for all his confinement, Loki has a good knowledge of the modern work. Take for example Thor's passion, dying nailed to a tree before descending to the Underworld and arising again, bearing the scars of his experience. This was a very horrifying, but also moving, account, as much so for me as any Easter passion. Other elements touch on the modern understanding of gender fluidity, with one of the gods (I won't say who, because spoilers) challenging the rigid, patriarchal regime of Thor and Odin with their developing understanding of their own identity.

Throughout, Loki takes pains to draw himself as the good guy, standing against the authoritarianism of Asgard and for freedom of conscience. He has been misunderstood, he seems to be saying, and the bad things attributed to him are often things that would have happened anyway, or else he was simply carrying out orders for the rest of the gods, and obviously regrets what happened - but what's done is done.

That slipperiness makes Loki, for all the modern enjoyment of a morally grey character, hard, in the end, to actually like. We can empathise with him, yes, especially when some really awful things happen to him, but I'm not sure I'd go so far as to say he is morally conflicted - Loki is always guided at the time, when push comes to shove, by what's best for Loki, even if he expresses sadness after. Mistakes were made, he seems to be saying, but it wasn't, really, my choice.

Overall, this is an exciting and deeply readable retelling. Loki himself is a complex and shrewd narrator whose role is framed with just enough meta-ness to make what he tells us relevant today, rather than being lost in a vaguely medieval Never-Never land. (References to razor-wire defences in Asgard and the like crop up, not as anachronisms but deliberate placings to show us this a story of the now, not the long-ago). It's therefore thought-provoking, but the nature of the central character is such that it's hard to relax with him, so to speak. Perhaps that's the point?

[WolfR · Rating 2 out of 5]

Two stars so far. Possibly will sink to one.

What started as an interesting experiment turns out to be one of the most boring retellings of myths I have ever read.
The narrator’s voice (Loki) is an ass. “Nothing ever was my fault, everything that you have read about me was an Asgard propaganda!” - like, really, wtf?
The author has a weird habit of putting unnecessary “shocking” details into the old stories as we know them, and I guess the only reason for it is their shock value. Can’t count how many times I rolled my eyes and thought “oh please do shut up.” I understand, he’s trying to come up with something new and exciting but his ideas don’t even make sense (not to speak of the lack of excitement).

The language of this book is also poor. The narrator is Loki, as I said, and those stories take place in very, very, VERY old times. Loki using modern language in his speech, like “OK” or “homophobic” therefore sounds a bit weird. I’m wondering, had this book ever seen an editor?

I will finish this book, purely out of my respect to Loki. But I’m also sorry that another piece of pop culture involving him as a main character is such a crap.

Recommend definitely to no one. Save your money.

[Mette · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5

[Sarah Laudenbach · Rating 3 out of 5]

"But love, my friends, does not need to be kind, or generous or peace-loving. Love does not exclude hate. Love can be cruel. Love can be manipulative. Love, to put it briefly, can be a weapon.""

2.5 rounded up to a 3. My thoughts on this one are very, very messy, so bear with me.

The first thing that I encountered with Loki was a common sentiment among a lot of other reviewers: that this book has too much 'cursing', or something similar. I scoffed at that because this is an adult book, and if you're afraid of encountering bad language, you might want to stick to YA. But having read Loki now, what I think those reviewers were trying to express was not the words themselves, but the context in which they're used, and namely, the frequency. Let me try and explain without going off on a complete tangent.

What always appealed to me about Norse mythology and Norse deities over those from other pantheons and cultures was that the Norse gods are, simply put, very crude. They don't demand to be put on some pedestal of gold, taking empathetic pity on us humans who they so adore; rather, they're warriors vikings, made immensely powerful. When you think about the context in which Norse myths were created, when you think about the time and culture which saw their rise, it was the age of the Viking: violence, rape, and general 'uncouth' behaviour, because these people were not high-class aristocrats, but people living off of the land. That translates directly to their belief system, of course, and that translated to Burgess's writing in Loki. What I mean to say is that, alongside describing how often the gods fart and rape and piss themselves, there is also an emphasis on shit in this book. For a good one-hundred pages in the middle of Loki, Burgess cannot go a single paragraph without Loki calling the reader Arse-born, or Shite-in-flight, or Rimmer, or recounting the fact (in graphic detail) that Loki and Odin made humanity from a literal piece of shit. Now, recounting this story (whether or not it has any truth in the Sagas, I don't know with certainty) is completely fine, and certainly lends itself to that crude nature of the vikings who created this mythos in the first place; this, however, is not what Burgess does.

It took me quite a while to distinguish what was so odd about this book, before I read Burgess's author bio, and realized that he authors mid-grade and YA books. Burgess is used to writing for a younger audience. A middle-school, young teen audience. An audience that, indeed, fucking adores toilet humour. And that is exactly what so much of Loki felt like: a preteen boy being given free reign to talk about shit and poop, who is allowed to use words like 'cunt' and 'cock' for the first time, and is running completely wild with them. Loki is the literary equivalent of Rick and Morty in entirely too many places for a book that is trying to retell the stories of Norse gods for an adult audience. So, when you see other reviewers talking about the overuse of bad language, it isn't a censorship or toleration thing - it's the fact that, for most of this book, if Burgess doesn't talk about shit at least once a page, he'll die.

But let's imagine for a brief, blessed moment that all of that was removed. That Burgess didn't have the impulses of a thirteen-year-old boy, and that we strike out every 'Arse-born' in Loki. In this scenario? Loki is a solid four-star book. The descriptions of scenery are lush and beautiful, the characters are all interesting and well-developed, and most importantly, I think that the concept behind Loki is ingenious: not only are you retelling myths for a modern audience, but re-telling them from a specific point of view is so fascinating. You get a sense of subjectivity, and not only do you gain a new perspective, but because our narrator is Loki, you also get to play with a little bit of an unreliable narrator. Do we trust what Loki is saying? Do we trust what we've always been told? Is it a little bit of both? There's so much to explore there that is just regrettably overshadowed by juvenile moments.

Now, that isn't to say I'm entirely against the way in which Loki is written. There are several moments where Burgess blends classical storytelling and modern dialogue or slang that is laugh-out-loud funny. Burgess has a quick wit, which is perfect for Loki's character, and an important thing in modern retellings is making the story resonate with the audience of the time. There are moments in Loki that, despite taking place in viking age-Valhalla, feel plucked out of our modern society, but blend seamlessly into the story. It's just unfortunate that those moments tend to air on the side of toilet humour instead.

My other big conundrum with Loki was its queerness. Now, I had been debating about getting this book, but when I saw that it was tagged 'queer' on Goodreads, I knew I had to buy it. Loki is one of the most prominent, unabashed, openly queer figures in any mythology, and I was looking forward to seeing how that played into his retelling of events. But of this 250 page book, 200 pages have absolutely nothing to do with Loki's queerness or his sexuality, and I was so certain that the only even brief reference to it would be the time that Loki tricked Thor into having sex with him, just so that Thor would be pissed off about it.

And then, when you hit the last 50 pages? It's nothing but 50 pages of queerness pulled out of an old gender studies textbook. As in, every single line, paragraph, page, and story is about Loki's queerness or Baldr's gender identity. This book was so incredibly unbalanced that it almost felt like the last 50 pages were tacked on as an afterthought. We get almost no hint of Loki's sexuality through this entire book, and then it's shoved into the final pages of Loki all at once, and with this strange, uneasy combination of too much depth and not nearly enough depth. Baldr's gender identity and transition is not handled with the grace that one would expect of a queer and genderfluid deity like Loki, and yet it is beaten into the ground by him that love is love, gender doesn't matter, everyone has fucked men/women/animals/siblings, etc. etc. It was like Burgess was trying to make sense of historical queerness in a modern mindset, which simply doesn't work. Queerness has been woven throughout every culture in every century in every place on earth, yes, but we can't ascribe our current notions of sexuality to the past, and that just felt like what Burgess was trying to do. I sort of wish a queer sensitivity reader had gone through and edited that portion, not because it was particularly inaccurate or offensive, but because it was so deeply, immensely awkward, clunky, and out-of-place with how the rest of Loki is told.

That being said, of course, I was delighted that queerness was openly explored in this book at all. Not only do you have discussions of same-sex relationships, bisexuality, and a pantheon of other sexualities, but there's so much gender exploration as well. It's important that in retellings of old stories, we keep the queerness in-tact, because it reminds us that there were bigender, transgender, and genderfluid in the viking age just as there are now. So I'm glad Burgess spent time exploring that, but the way in which it was done just wasn't right for this book.

There is so much about Loki to love, and if you read between the lines, there's a phenomenal book here. Unfortunately, if you're looking at what we got as a final product, there's just more bad than good woven into this book. If you're a fan of Norse mythology, I'd maybe give it a shot - but don't be surprised if you forget you're not reading a Diary of a Wimpy Kid book halfway through.

[Ella · Rating 1 out of 5]

This was just anger-making. I can’t stand villain-perspective retellings that make the “heroes” cartoonishly evil so that the “villain” seems even more hard-done-by. This is that to a T. It also flattens a lot of of the more interesting aspects of Norse myth in doing so. In the Eddas, Odin, not just Loki, is a figure of tricks and gender ambiguity (he’s a master of seidr, a form of magic mostly associated with women, for example). And I’ve always loved Loki and Thor’s relationship and the way it fluctuates between best buds, weird uncle Loki, and bitter enemies. Making Thor nothing more than a psychopathic bully erases those nuances.

Also, turning the “let’s throw things at Baldr” game into an orgy of transphobic violence is absolutely nutso to me. So too is all the fixation on Baldr’s penis, which really seems to reinforce some super transphobic tropes.

Finally, this book is so incredibly nastily misogynistic in its portrayal of women almost exclusively as hysterical sex-crazed harpies. It super grossed me out, as did the completely unnecessary aside about Thor raping Angrboda before murdering her.

If there’s one good thing about the book, it’s that it makes me want to haul out my old Norse myth projects and work on them.

[jay! · Rating 4 out of 5]

i’ve read quite a few mythology and folklore retellings and generally adore them as a subgenre, and burgess’ version of loki is so fun to read. if you want a retelling that’s sly, humorous, and surprisingly raunchy at times, this is the one for you.

loki is (in my opinion) an often misunderstood figure in the norse pantheon. he’s a interesting one for that reason, because deciphering his morality and motives requires one to look closer than the surface. he’s not a wholly good or evil figure and his moral ambiguities make him a really compelling protagonist. i loved the role that queerness played in this book as well! it was a super engaging and interesting read.

[Runalong · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked it when it went strange and eerie or really tried to make the Norse Gods untrustworthy but overall the story felt a bit patchy

Full review - https://www.runalongtheshelves.net/bl...

[Anwesh Ganguli · Rating 4 out of 5]

I know the story of Loki... how he was introduced to Asgard. How he is the main reason for Ragnarok, the twilight of the Gods. I know how he schemed and tricked his way while being in Asgard... or did I?

The author Melvin Burgess, writes an account of Loki from his inception to his captivation. In between he writes a lot of things and shares a lot of incidents, some new to me, some a bit distorted and different from the conventional story of the Norse God's and Goddesses. But , after a point, it seems that this book, this written account of Loki is the real version and the one we know at school and different Fiction books and telly are the ones that's the savoury version made to keep us unaware.

The beauty of the book and author's writing style is brilliant that at times, you do feel bad for the God of Mischief, the Trickster, The Slippery One.
This book should definitely be ready for the ones who love Mythology and like to keep an open mind.

[Sweta · Rating 4 out of 5]

Absolutely loved it. Made me shift between three perspectives while reading it but that was awesome:

1. Was Loki wronged by the Aesir and Vanir and we think of him as evil because history is always written by the victor? (I mean, it kinda makes sense because why were the Gods of War and Power (Tyr and Thor) depicted to be peace-loving in the classical texts and even in the other more popular modern retellings?)

2. Loki is the God of lies, deceit, mischief, trickery, etc. So, since it's his POV, was it him being his manipulative self and changing the narrative? (If this is true then I never thought I'd love being gaslit but here we are)

3. Did Mr. Burgess use the whole mythology as a metaphor for the political scene where the rulers are essentially blind and want to run the world with fear and crave for wars to maintain control and power? (If this is true then bravo, Mr. Melvin Burgess, nicely done.)

[Laurie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a fun retelling of Norse mythology told from Loki's perspective with all the arrogance and hubris you would expect. I giggled my way through it.

[Heather McFarlane · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not my favourite.

I’m not sure if it’s because I read this on audiobook and the narrator sounded very much like MCU Loki or if it was indeed the voice the author intended but I found the “woe is me” and the “it’s everyone’s fault but mine” quite tiresome by about 2/3 of the way through.

If I see a physical copy in my local library I’ll probably borrow it to see if it reads better than the audiobook. If I do I’ll update my review.

[Nicole Sweeney · Rating 3 out of 5]

Melvin Burgess’s Bloodtide was one of my favourite books growing up so I was really intrigued to read his newest release – Loki. Here Burgess tackles the Norse myths, taking the reader through all the adventures and mischief that Loki gets wrapped up in. From his birth to his inevitable demise, Loki recounts the stories you think you know, but with a fresh perspective.

I usually really enjoy Norse myth retellings and this sounded like exactly the kind of thing I would enjoy. The story is quick paced and Loki has a really strong narrative voice. He really comes to life in the story and you can’t help but get wrapped up in his tale. Loki is such a trickster and such a mischievous character and that really shines through in the story. There were some tales I wasn’t familiar with so I really liked seeing how Loki was going to get himself out of those sticky situations. All the characters in the story are well developed and I loved that all the gods are a bit unreliable and untruthworthy.

The one thing I found difficult with this book was the vulgar language. It felt very unnecessary to the story and this alongside the reader being regularly insulted really pulled me out of the story. This really lessened my enjoyment and meant the story didn’t captivate me as much as I was expecting it to. Overall this is an interesting and unique take on the Norse myths and if you’re looking for a story was a main character who really leaps off the page, this could be just what you’re looking for.

[Ross · Rating 5 out of 5]

There's no shortage of Norse mythology adaptations these days, though most deal with the myths as canon. Burgess' Loki takes a different tack - namely revisiting the old stories from the perspective of the titular trickster god, who insists that he's been heinously defamed and that true events unfolded in a very different manner.

What follows is an entertaining, unexpectely moving novel in which Loki, a self-admitted liar, lays bare the failings of the other gods and outlines his pivotal role in... well, everything. It's an interesting spin on the subject matter, even if it doesn't have anything especially insightful to say about Norse myth as a whole.

The book's not without its flaws, chief among which is an over-use of certain jokes, but these are forgivable, especially considering that other sections (see; Loki and Svadilfari) are painfully funny. It's this humour, coupled sections of especially powerful prose (Odin's hanging from Yggdrasil, in particular) that carry the novel through to the end.

[Vakaris the Nosferatu · Rating 5 out of 5]

all reviews in one place:
night mode reading ;
skaitom nakties rezimu

About the Book: Loki tells us the tale of how the gods, and their world, their realms, were all created, what part he had in it, and how we entered the picture too. Not all things are as they seem, not all things were as we were told, but then again, we are listening to Trickster God speak…

My Opinion: It’s not the smoothest read no, but the farther it went, the more interesting it got, with story moving forwards to the bottleneck of the end, the last point, and the last seed of doubt. It’s marvelously woven, the little intrigue string all through out it making it something else than a redemption arc of a villain. Truly, a pleasure to read, despite… Well, some unsavory expressions.

[RuWithTheBooks · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm about to start a new job and will have little time for reading..

Dracula's on my current reading and i've mainly wanted to procrastinate and play video games in my final mega free time for the next 5 weeks so I scrolled through what Spotify has to offer in terms of audiobooks and found this little gem.

Loki recounts some stories involving himself. It was really nice to listen in on some norse mythology (even if he is a unreliable narrator lol). This book was so funny, Loki keeps referring to you as "arseborn" and ends up being involved in some rather crazy stupid shenannigans. I'm really happy that I spent ~9 hours listening to this and giving myself video game brainrot rather than reading Dracula LOL.

It's very vulgar, with lots of fucking and tackles themes of homophobia/homosexuals, transphobia/trans people, cheating, love etc.

I loved it a lot.

4/5

[Precious Sagbodje · Rating 3 out of 5]

I found this particular story about Loki to be very engaging. It was a refreshing take on the character, highlighting his intelligence and cleverness, rather than just his mischievousness ( Although, I do prefer his mischievousness). The author did an excellent job of bringing Loki to life in a captivating way. The story had a strong start and kept me hooked throughout most of it. However, I felt like the final few chapters lacked direction. Despite this, I must commend the author for their fantastic writing, making the book an enjoyable read overall.

[Doofus · Rating 3 out of 5]

Would be 2.5 but eh fuck it.

U can tell this was written by a writer who before this only wrote books for teenagers. Which is in one way better (more queer) and in other ways much worse (god I could name so many examples).
Certain passages tickled my fancy though and god I just love Loki as a god in general. I just think he's p neat okay.

[Rob Boogaers · Rating 4 out of 5]

a very fun way to (re)tell Norse mythology, and an inspiring message to take home after. also, if unreliable narrator was a book. do recommend, but would first get acquainted with the "conventional" interpretation of Norse mythology (if indeed there is a single one) so you can pick out references and see where the storyline diverges :)

[Jammin Jenny · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed reading this story, which tells the story of Loki from his own perspective. Some of his passages had me laughing out loud, some had me furious with rage, and others torn by heaertbreak. I highly recommend this book for any Loki or Greek mythology fans. I want to thank the author, the publisher, and Edelweiss+ for giving me an e-copy of this book, in return for an honest review.

[Millie the Book Witch · Rating 4 out of 5]

First thing that people should do before even reading this book is check the trigger warnings. Not because there is anything necessarily to graphic or horrific in this book, but there are certain animal...activities, shall we say, that are discussed and brought up throughout the book, as well as unusual birth.
Leaving that warning aside, I would highly recommend this book to anyone who is new to Norse mythology and those who are familiar with it. It is a breath of fresh air around the character of Loki, who has become famous for all the wrong reasons thanks to marvel's depiction of Loki (no hate, I love marvel's Loki, but he is very far from the original character). Burgess' Loki is flawed and, not only acknowledges his flaws, but embraces them. He also is quick to point out other people's flaws, leading to him being a humorous, if not slightly hypocritical character, which works perfectly in this book.
The relationships Loki has with his fellow gods and giants is the crux of the story. This is a story about the characters, rather than the plot, and their importance in Loki's life, whether positively or negatively. Especially his relationship with Odin. In recent years, thanks to marvel, Loki has been associated with Odin as his adopted son, and whilst that does make for a compelling dynamic, the relationship between them in the mythology is more like brothers, as shown in this book, being sworn brothers.
The story does play around with the original myth, taking the blame away from Loki in almost all of the stories, but keeps the stories as accurate to the original source material as possible, which makes it a really interesting read.
I enjoyed this book and I hope that there is a continuation of this version of Loki which was hinted at, at the end of the book. Whether or not there is, it is a brilliant short standalone book and well worth your time.

[Bertha · Rating 2 out of 5]

Although I like the idea of the book, I think you really need to enjoy being insulted by the narrator and reading the wildest things. I for one did not need to read about how Loki had sex with a horse. But to each their own. The prose was enjoyable, Burgess gave us a fun new perspective on the fun tales of the Norse, but the writing is just not for me

[Angelique Simonsen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Impressive storytelling. Sometimes a little confusing as Loki switches from first to third narrative a far bit

[John Graves · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not a very good take on the Norse Pantheon, although different in lots of ways.

[Timofey · Rating 3 out of 5]

tw zoophilia