Book Review: Loki: Where Mischief Lies by Mackenzi Lee with Stephanie Hans (Illustrator)

 

 

Title: Loki: Where Mischief Lies

Series: Marvel Universe

Author: Mackenzi Lee with Stephanie Hans (Illustrator)

Release Date: 03 September 2019

Page Amount: 416 pages 

GoodReads 

StoryGraph

Blurb:

An instant New York Times best seller

*"This deft, nuanced examination of identity, destiny, and agency is a surprisingly tender addition to the Marvel canon."-Kirkus Reviews, starred review

*"This mischievous origin story is sure to satisfy fans of this popular character."-Booklist, starred review

Selected for the ILA-CBC 2020 Young Adults' Choices reading list.

This is the first of three young adult novels from New York Times best-selling author Mackenzi Lee that explores the untapped potential and duality of heroism of popular characters in the Marvel Universe.

Before the days of going toe-to-toe with the Avengers, a younger Loki is desperate to prove himself heroic and capable, while it seems everyone around him suspects him of inevitable villainy and depravity . . . except for Amora. Asgard's resident sorceress-in-training feels like a kindred spirit-someone who values magic and knowledge, who might even see the best in him. 

But when Loki and Amora cause the destruction of one of Asgard's most prized possessions, Amora is banished to Earth, where her powers will slowly and excruciatingly fade to nothing. Without the only person who ever looked at his magic as a gift instead of a threat, Loki slips further into anguish and the shadow of his universally adored brother, Thor. 

When Asgardian magic is detected in relation to a string of mysterious murders on Earth, Odin sends Loki to investigate. As he descends upon nineteenth-century London, Loki embarks on a journey that leads him to more than just a murder suspect, putting him on a path to discover the source of his power-and who he's meant to be.

Review:

I think the thoughts in my reading journal mostly have spoilers, so I'm going to see what I can say here. 

I really enjoyed this book. The thing is, if you have watched the MCU, you have a general idea of where things are going in regards to Loki's character, since it is set before the events of the MCU. Which for me made the whole read have a sad tone running through it because I love Loki and it is sad to see him on the arc to where he he will be in the beginning/the middle of the first three phases of the MCU. 

That being said, it had a lot that I really liked. The tone and sarcasm of Loki was there, which I loved. Seeing the relationship between Thor and Loki was at times fun, and at times sad. I always loved Frigga and Loki. I actually think I would have liked a bit more of Frigga and Loki. Amora was interesting, to say the least. I loved that Loki ended up in 1800s London. And I enjoyed the characters Mrs. Sharpe and Theo. I especially loved the interactions between Theo and Loki.

I also have to say it: I feel like this book gave me something I felt I was missing in the Loki series, which would be showing a bit more of Loki's bisexuality. It wasn't at all the main point of the plot, which wasn't even what I wanted, but in the series there was one line that some people didn't even get. Here we explore it a bit more, but it wasn't the only thing going on or what entirely defined Loki as a person, so I appreciated both of those things. 

Also, there were several MCU references throughout, which were  a joy to read and pock up on. 

Overall, I really enjoyed this and I would highly recommend it to any Loki or Marvel fan.

4.5 quills