Loki: Where Mischief Lies by Mackenzi Lee

Loki: Where Mischief Lies by Mackenzi Lee
Release Date - September 3, 2019
Publisher Website - Penguin Random House Canada 

Publisher Social Media - Twitter
Pages -  416 pages
My Rating - 4/5
**received from the publisher for an honest review**

Here is the Goodreads synopsis

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.

I fully admit that my Marvel expertise is limited to the Marvel Cinematic Universe movies. I haven't read any of the comics and I certainly do not know the characters inside and out. I, however, enjoyed Mackenzi Lee's version of Loki immensely.

There is a universal, very familiar, story at the core of this novel. The fact that it's so relatable under all of the superhero elements is one of the strongest aspects of the story. Loki just wants to impress his father and be seen. Loki and Thor fight and compete the way that most siblings do and yet they both still love each other despite all of that fighting. The human emotions at play here such as love, fear, jealousy, longing, and anger all ground the story in a realism that, I feel, makes this a book that even those who are not fans of the superhero genre will enjoy.

Loki's shown exactly the way this character should be - a gender fluid pansexual. I loved the subtle way this was woven into who his character is. All faceats of his personality are presented in this way so it makes these elements feel natural and just part of who he is instead of being all he is.

The complex relationship between Thor and Loki has always been a favourite of mine and that continues in this story. There is some great, hilarious banter between the two that was a pure delight to read. Their connection to each other is contrasted by the heartbreaking one that exists between Loki and Odin. I felt how desperately Loki wanted his father's approval and affection even if Odin seem incapable of those returning those feelings.

I could easily see these characters as younger versions of the ones I know from the Marvel movies. The personalities that I associate with these characters felt perfectly captured within these pages. Loki's voice, in particular, rang as very familiar.

The plot itself is a little bit of a mystery wrapped in a historical setting. The mystery itself is predictable but it is the impact these events have on Loki that is the true payoff of the plot. The relationships Loki makes while on Earth are formative and what he goes through will send him down the path to becoming the Loki we all know and love. It really is more about the characters than the plot.

I predict that those who already love these characters will enjoy Mackenzi Lee's twist on them. I also believe it offers a great introduction to those who are unfamiliar with the characters. It is a good entryway to this world and offers up an entertaining story in the process.