posted on 11 Oct 2024

Loki: A Bad God’s Guide To Making Enemies by Louie Stowell

This is the fourth book in the compelling series about Loki, the mischievous but very likeable young trickster god from Norse legend who has been temporarily banished by his father, Odin to Midgard (Earth). I had very much enjoyed reading about his earlier outrageous escapades and his many difficulties in trying to live as a conventional mortal.

The familiar diary style format embellished with plentiful cartoon drawings makes this a story that will appeal to all children who like comic books with funny asides and plentiful doodles. This style has recently become a burgeoning area in publishing, so what makes this author/ illustrator a bit different?

As an experienced adult reader, I really appreciate the self-deprecation and gentle mockery of authority that has echoes of the tone in ‘A Catcher in The Rye’ by J.D. Salinger. I also recognise the brash self- awareness of the confident narrator that reminds me of stories by  Lemony Snicket. It is a difficult authorial voice to pull off successfully, but I think that Louie Stowell does it very well. She speaks directly to the reader in a non-patronising way and invites them into Loki’s rather cynical view of his fate. 

I always appreciate a map of the setting and a cast of characters at the beginning of a new instalment in a series. Even if this isn't the first dip into the world of Loki, a concise visual overview of his previous adventures is also very helpful.   This time he has to deal with Vinir Volundsson, a vengeful elf who beams him aboard his chariot and challenges him to a magic duel. At the same time, Loki is obliged to continue to prove his worth with his adopted foster family, win back the friendship of Georgina due to a drastic misunderstanding involving a spell gone wrong, and to save the world from evil. Trying to juggle such conflicting demands at home and ‘mortal child jail’ (school) successfully will be familiar to many young readers who will perhaps be heartened at the way in which he is never fazed. 

As he tries to find a way of dealing with the elf, he also has to put up with the many mysterious school-related rules and customs. When the winter fair is announced, he is suitably baffled:

‘an event where a school is turned into a place of commerce. The parents of the children who attend the school are strong armed into helping, except in the case of adults whose lives are so empty that they volunteer willingly.’

The way in which his foster parents are unwittingly dragged into helping via a Whatsapp group sabotaged by Loki who has transformed into a moth, plus Loki’s scorn for his brother who is enthusiastic about ‘participating in this farce’ is one of my favourite multi- layered episodes.

Despite Loki’s best intentions, he has to keep a daily Virtue Score, which self corrects if he tries to lie, to prove that he is trying hard. I like this as a way in which each short chapter thus provides a summary about how just how far he continues to fall badly short of redemption. The score is usually terrible but he occasionally gets a few points for ‘showing glimmers of empathy’ and ‘task completion.’ Could it be that this time, Odin might give him some fatherly praise for his many efforts? But it would appear that Loki’s exile continues because fans will be thrilled to read the final page which promises yet another epic story involving giant cats and magic going wrong. 

I strongly recommend this entertaining book published by Walker Books which should be available from your local independent bookshop – who will be happy to order it for you if they don’t have it on their shelves.

Karen Argent

October 2024