Review by Booklist Review
Young Loki is eager to prove his worthiness to his father, Odin, but in Asgard, Loki's magic is something to be controlled and hidden, while his warrior brother Thor's strength and skill is celebrated. So when Loki meets Amora, who is training to be a sorceress, he finds kinship. That is, until Amora is banished to Midgard, or Earth, where her powers (and life) will painfully fade away. Years later, still in a quest to prove himself, Loki is sent to Earth by Odin to investigate murders where magic is suspect. All the while, Loki is fighting Odin's foresight that one of his sons will lead an army against Asgard, determined it won't be him. Lee (The Gentleman's Guide to Vice and Virtue, 2017) infuses Loki with the signature wit and charm her characters are revered for. The dry, conversational humor (""I think you're trying to inflate the charges against me with synonyms"") works in tandem with the story's unflinching plot. Lee deftly reveals the depths of Loki's struggle to grapple with his need for approval as well as his desire to make his own destiny and find an authentic identity. This gender-fluid antihero in nineteenth-century London will draw in diverse readership, though no prior knowledge of the Marvel Cinematic Universe is necessary. This mischievous origin story is sure to satisfy fans of this popular character.--Mahjabeen Syed Copyright 2010 Booklist
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
One does not have to be a Marvel film franchise fan to enjoy this action-packed, emotionally resonant origin story of trickster deity and sorcerer Loki. Through a deep dive into the sibling rivalry between Thor and Loki, Lee (The Gentleman's Guide to Vice and Virtue) traces Loki's sometimes-questionable choices to his attempt to win over their father Odin and be seen as a true contender for the Asgardian throne. Upon peering into the Godseye Mirror during the Royal Feast of Gullveig, Odin sees what he believes to be a treasonous act by one of his sons. The vision sets off a series of events that leads to the mirror's destruction and the banishment of Loki's only friend-- sorcerer's apprentice Amora, who has been teaching Loki to use his magic, is sent to Midgard (Earth), where magic does not exist. After a series of magically induced murders plagues London, Loki goes to help and prove that he can be trusted. Lee's Loki is a complicated young man trying to define who he is as distinct from his family, something that many young people can relate to, and while Lee does not skimp on the fun--a fabulous party, flirty and witty dialogue--she also clarifies that it is not individual acts that determine whether someone is good or bad. Ages 12--up. Agent: Rebecca Podos, Rees Agency. (Sept.)
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Review by Kirkus Book Review
Lee (The Lady's Guide to Petticoats and Piracy, 2018, etc.) weaves a compelling origin story for Marvel villain Loki.Can a young Loki discover the identity of a magical assassin and avoid his own prophesied fate? The pale-skinned, black-haired Asgardian trickster has always lived in his blond, muscular brother Thor's shadow. After their father, Odin, sees a vision of Loki leading an army of the dead against Asgard, he grows suspicious of his second son's magical abilities. Years later, seeking to prove himself (and prove the prophecy wrong), Loki is sent to Earth to aid a London-based secret organization investigating a series of unusual magical deaths. To Loki, this is akin to being banished: Earth has no magic, and he must actually interact with humans. Yet before long, Loki's distaste becomes curiosity, especially regarding pale, reddish-brown-haired Theo Bell, who walks with a cane. Loki learns that Theo is attracted to boys (but possibly not only boys), which in 19th-century London is a crime. Although Loki uses he/him/his pronouns, he says he exists as both man and woman and that Asgardians don't care about the sex or gender of others' partners, to which Theo responds wistfully. Their romance barely blossoms before Loki must make a choice that will shape his life forever.This deft, nuanced examination of identity, destiny, and agency is a surprisingly tender addition to the Marvel canon. (Historical fantasy. 13-18) Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
