“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