Status
Available
Call number
Series
Collections
Publication
Orion Hardbacks (2014), Hardcover
Description
The trickster god Loki describes the rise and fall of the gods of the Norse, detailing how he left Chaos to serve Odin until the fall of Asgard.
User reviews
LibraryThing member stefferoo
It’s been so many years since I read Chocolat, that for all intents and purposes The Gospel of Loki may as well be the first book I’ve ever read by Joanne Harris. Highly entertaining and original, this novel chronicles the epic rise of the Norse gods all the way through to the coming of
First thing you should know though, if you’re like me and sometimes you get that temptation to skip everything before the prologue in a book? Well, fight it! Be sure to read everything, including the character list. I had started skimming it initially, right up until I glimpsed Thialfi and Roskva, the two siblings in Norse mythology who are the servants of the god Thor, respectively described as a “fanboy” and a “fangirl”. Chuckling to myself, I went back and read everything more carefully. Glad I did! Aside from being absolutely hilarious, the forward material sets the tone of the novel perfectly, and I knew right away that I was going to enjoy this.
Now I don’t usually use quotes when I try to summarize a book, but in this case I’ll make an exception, simply because I doubt anyone else can describe the book better than our eponymous narrator. Plus, it gives a good idea what you’d be in for:
“Loki, that’s me. Loki, the Light-Bringer, the misunderstood, the elusive, the handsome and modest hero of this particular tissue of lies. Take it with a pinch of salt, but it’s at least as true as the official version and, dare I say it, more entertaining. So far, history, such as it is, has cast me in a rather unflattering role. Now it’s my turn to take the stage.”
Well, considering the legions who are now in love with Tom Hiddleston’s portrayal of Loki after the Thor movies, “unflattering role” might be debatable, but the rest I have to say is pretty spot on. The version of events presented here is indeed vastly more entertaining, our protagonist is as humorous as he’s not humble, and as he puts it, this is his story; at the end of the book, whether or not you feel sympathy towards Loki for some of his less savory actions is entirely up to you.
In many ways, the book is a retelling in the most honest and straightforward sense; it stays very close to the source material which are the well-known Norse myths, featuring stories about the giant mason who built Asgard’s Walls, Loki and Angrboda’s tryst and the subsequent births of the three Chaos Monsters, the theft of Idunn’s apples, the death of Balder by mistletoe dart, etc. None of the events described in this novel deviate all that much from the traditional versions, but the one major difference is the voice that tells us those tales. Loki chimes in with his own take of these stories, dropping little nuggets of wisdom, of the things he’s learned, even as he’s filling in the details. Although he’s unreliable as Hel and it’s in his nature to be up to no good, Loki nevertheless attempts to give us his reasons for the things he did, and admittedly, he can be quite convincing.
So if you were expecting a creative, “modernized” re-imagining of the myths or a brand new story, this is not that book, though the narrative does use present-day vernacular to great effect. I loved Loki’s voice in this, the way he delivers his lines with that silver tongue of his and such wonderfully dry humor. Harris has done a brilliant job hitting the sweet spot with Loki’s character, portraying him as the ultimate trickster without going overboard with his slippery, snarky ways. He’s exactly the way I would have pictured the god of mischief, and my hat’s off to the author for nailing it.
Overall, The Gospel of Loki succeeds in giving readers both something old and something new, and manages to be a lot of fun while doing it. A fantastic way to experience the major Norse myths, those with an interests in the topic are sure to delight in the engaging new way Harris has presented them in this novel. Highly recommended.
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Ragnarok, completely retold from the point of view of none other than the trickiest trickster of them all – Loki.First thing you should know though, if you’re like me and sometimes you get that temptation to skip everything before the prologue in a book? Well, fight it! Be sure to read everything, including the character list. I had started skimming it initially, right up until I glimpsed Thialfi and Roskva, the two siblings in Norse mythology who are the servants of the god Thor, respectively described as a “fanboy” and a “fangirl”. Chuckling to myself, I went back and read everything more carefully. Glad I did! Aside from being absolutely hilarious, the forward material sets the tone of the novel perfectly, and I knew right away that I was going to enjoy this.
Now I don’t usually use quotes when I try to summarize a book, but in this case I’ll make an exception, simply because I doubt anyone else can describe the book better than our eponymous narrator. Plus, it gives a good idea what you’d be in for:
“Loki, that’s me. Loki, the Light-Bringer, the misunderstood, the elusive, the handsome and modest hero of this particular tissue of lies. Take it with a pinch of salt, but it’s at least as true as the official version and, dare I say it, more entertaining. So far, history, such as it is, has cast me in a rather unflattering role. Now it’s my turn to take the stage.”
Well, considering the legions who are now in love with Tom Hiddleston’s portrayal of Loki after the Thor movies, “unflattering role” might be debatable, but the rest I have to say is pretty spot on. The version of events presented here is indeed vastly more entertaining, our protagonist is as humorous as he’s not humble, and as he puts it, this is his story; at the end of the book, whether or not you feel sympathy towards Loki for some of his less savory actions is entirely up to you.
In many ways, the book is a retelling in the most honest and straightforward sense; it stays very close to the source material which are the well-known Norse myths, featuring stories about the giant mason who built Asgard’s Walls, Loki and Angrboda’s tryst and the subsequent births of the three Chaos Monsters, the theft of Idunn’s apples, the death of Balder by mistletoe dart, etc. None of the events described in this novel deviate all that much from the traditional versions, but the one major difference is the voice that tells us those tales. Loki chimes in with his own take of these stories, dropping little nuggets of wisdom, of the things he’s learned, even as he’s filling in the details. Although he’s unreliable as Hel and it’s in his nature to be up to no good, Loki nevertheless attempts to give us his reasons for the things he did, and admittedly, he can be quite convincing.
So if you were expecting a creative, “modernized” re-imagining of the myths or a brand new story, this is not that book, though the narrative does use present-day vernacular to great effect. I loved Loki’s voice in this, the way he delivers his lines with that silver tongue of his and such wonderfully dry humor. Harris has done a brilliant job hitting the sweet spot with Loki’s character, portraying him as the ultimate trickster without going overboard with his slippery, snarky ways. He’s exactly the way I would have pictured the god of mischief, and my hat’s off to the author for nailing it.
Overall, The Gospel of Loki succeeds in giving readers both something old and something new, and manages to be a lot of fun while doing it. A fantastic way to experience the major Norse myths, those with an interests in the topic are sure to delight in the engaging new way Harris has presented them in this novel. Highly recommended.
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LibraryThing member AmaliaGavea
''They tell you revenge isn't worth it. I say there's nothing finer.''
When a writer makes an effort to compose a story out of all the different well-loved myths about the deities of Norse Mythology, putting the Trickster at the heart of the narration, and having him confessing all the crimes he has
The incorporation of the myths is well-done, atmospheric and skillfully bound. The Nine Worlds are as realistic as can be. The wonderful rendition of Thor's trials in the Hall of the Giant King, one of the most well-known myths about the Thunderer, is one of the best moments in the book., The end is darkly beautiful.
As much as I liked the way the stories are told, there were a few things I had major problems with. The ''Yours Truly'' code name became too tiring rather quickly. In addition, the pseudo-funny, aloof, semi-modernized interactions and descriptions alienated me from the narration in a significant degree. There were a few parts that lost their beauty and their impact because, to my ears, they sounded like a silly Nickelodeon teen-movie. I'm not suggesting that I would have preferred a translated Old Norse text, but between that and the ''I Was A Teenage Loki'' style, there could have been a balanced mixture of both. Still, this is my personal pet-peeve, I am sure many readers will find this kind of language satisfying and entertaining. Easier to understand, most probably. Here, I will agree with a reviewer on GR who stated that, perhaps, this is the kind of book that would engage the younger generation, but not the adults of my age.
My biggest problem has to do with the characters, and this one I can't easily forgive. The gods and goddesses are strangely represented, portrayed as rather simplified versions of themselves. I don't care whether they represent archetypes, the Norse myths never treated them as such. Poor Heimdallr (as is his proper name) and Baldr are ridiculed to no end,as is Sigyn whose legendary loyalty is portrayed as the infatuation of a plain old-maid ( I hated that with a vengeance!). Iðunn is a stupid teenager, Freyja is someone who would go all the way to acquire a piece of jewellery (and yes, it did happen according to the myths but here, it is described without any elegance), and the tormented Skaði, my personal favourite goddess, doesn't have a kinder luck in the hands of the writer. I admit that all these didn't sit well with me, the complexity of the deities is vanished and we steer too much away from the myths. I tried to have in mind that we witness everything from Loki's perspective, and it made sense, but still, it bothered me deeply.
I don't know how these legendary, larger than life, mythical figures are portrayed in some recent popular action movies. I couldn't care less, I haven't watched them, I never will. My guess is their luck can't be much better than here. But the Thor I have in mind, the Thunderer of the myths, isn't a dim-witted brute, gentle Baldr isn't vain and silly, Freyja isn't a shrew with no presence at all. In the hands of any other writer, this issue would have made me abandon the book shortly after I started it.
Joanne Harris is a writer I love and trust. Her books have a certain something, her writing a distinct kind of beauty. When you choose to present such beautiful stories out of the Pantheon of Norse Mythology, the responsibility must be quite heavy. The Gospel of Loki is well-written, and adequately respectful to the original material which has brought up generations and generations. I am certain that if Loki ever had the chance to read it, he would love it. And I, for once, was satisfied with this book, even though there were some issues that prevented me from granting it four stars. Would I read it again? Probably not. However,I was told there is a sequel to it, I checked in the synopsis, and my answer was a big, fat NO. Let us respect some things, let us not turn everything into cartoon super-heroes...
When a writer makes an effort to compose a story out of all the different well-loved myths about the deities of Norse Mythology, putting the Trickster at the heart of the narration, and having him confessing all the crimes he has
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committed in all their evil glory, then it deserves no less than a fairly positive review. The result is a fascinating work, able to transport the reader into Asgard and the whole Nine Worlds, but not without some hindrances along the way.The incorporation of the myths is well-done, atmospheric and skillfully bound. The Nine Worlds are as realistic as can be. The wonderful rendition of Thor's trials in the Hall of the Giant King, one of the most well-known myths about the Thunderer, is one of the best moments in the book., The end is darkly beautiful.
As much as I liked the way the stories are told, there were a few things I had major problems with. The ''Yours Truly'' code name became too tiring rather quickly. In addition, the pseudo-funny, aloof, semi-modernized interactions and descriptions alienated me from the narration in a significant degree. There were a few parts that lost their beauty and their impact because, to my ears, they sounded like a silly Nickelodeon teen-movie. I'm not suggesting that I would have preferred a translated Old Norse text, but between that and the ''I Was A Teenage Loki'' style, there could have been a balanced mixture of both. Still, this is my personal pet-peeve, I am sure many readers will find this kind of language satisfying and entertaining. Easier to understand, most probably. Here, I will agree with a reviewer on GR who stated that, perhaps, this is the kind of book that would engage the younger generation, but not the adults of my age.
My biggest problem has to do with the characters, and this one I can't easily forgive. The gods and goddesses are strangely represented, portrayed as rather simplified versions of themselves. I don't care whether they represent archetypes, the Norse myths never treated them as such. Poor Heimdallr (as is his proper name) and Baldr are ridiculed to no end,as is Sigyn whose legendary loyalty is portrayed as the infatuation of a plain old-maid ( I hated that with a vengeance!). Iðunn is a stupid teenager, Freyja is someone who would go all the way to acquire a piece of jewellery (and yes, it did happen according to the myths but here, it is described without any elegance), and the tormented Skaði, my personal favourite goddess, doesn't have a kinder luck in the hands of the writer. I admit that all these didn't sit well with me, the complexity of the deities is vanished and we steer too much away from the myths. I tried to have in mind that we witness everything from Loki's perspective, and it made sense, but still, it bothered me deeply.
I don't know how these legendary, larger than life, mythical figures are portrayed in some recent popular action movies. I couldn't care less, I haven't watched them, I never will. My guess is their luck can't be much better than here. But the Thor I have in mind, the Thunderer of the myths, isn't a dim-witted brute, gentle Baldr isn't vain and silly, Freyja isn't a shrew with no presence at all. In the hands of any other writer, this issue would have made me abandon the book shortly after I started it.
Joanne Harris is a writer I love and trust. Her books have a certain something, her writing a distinct kind of beauty. When you choose to present such beautiful stories out of the Pantheon of Norse Mythology, the responsibility must be quite heavy. The Gospel of Loki is well-written, and adequately respectful to the original material which has brought up generations and generations. I am certain that if Loki ever had the chance to read it, he would love it. And I, for once, was satisfied with this book, even though there were some issues that prevented me from granting it four stars. Would I read it again? Probably not. However,I was told there is a sequel to it, I checked in the synopsis, and my answer was a big, fat NO. Let us respect some things, let us not turn everything into cartoon super-heroes...
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LibraryThing member thejohnsmith
The Gospel of Loki provides a fascinating insight to Norse mythology wrapped up in an enjoyable and, at times amusing, novel. Its an inimitable retelling of the old legends and very entertaining.
LibraryThing member ColeReadsBooks
The latest release from Chocolat author Joanne Harris is a wonderful retelling of the Norse god myths.
Synopsis:
The story is centered on and narrated by Loki, the trickster god. The plot follows his birth in the world, how he befriends Odin and the other gods, his schemes and the eventual downfall
“Loki, that’s me.
Loki, the Light-Bringer, the misunderstood, the elusive, the handsome and modest hero of this particular tissue of lies. Take it with a pinch of salt, but it’s at least as true as the official version, and, dare I say it, more entertaining.
So far, history, such as it is, has cast me in a rather unflattering role.
Now it’s my turn to take the stage.”
Review:
I have never read the original stories surrounding Odin and Thor and so was only partly familiar with the myths. I found it a really interesting read and loved the first person narration style. It focuses completely on Loki, what he wants us to see and know. If you’re in the same boat as me and don’t know very much about the Norse gods, the book serves as a great introduction to that. The book is fun and brilliantly written, and Loki is a great character, he’s mischievous and clever and a very likable narrator.
One thing for me that became a slight problem is with the success and popularity of the marvel Avengers series, the characters of Thor and Loki were already drawn up for me. I couldn’t help but imagine Tom Hiddleston or Chris Hemsworth as I read the story. I imagine this isn’t a problem for the many many fans the Avengers has, but it ruined the story for me slightly, as I prefer to imagine my own versions of the characters. Despite this I think Harris did a wonderful job at putting her own spin on the characters and making them distinctly hers, I just had a hard time not picturing the marvel versions.
I love the fantasy genre, and this felt like although it is a fantasy story - and Joanne Harris’ first fantasy novel in fact - it reads in a much more accessible way than the huge epics I primarily read. The story is very fun and entertaining, there’s some very witty chapters with Loki outwitting everyone and coming up on top only to have his feet stolen out from under him.
A quick thing that I really liked, the chapter pages of the book feature Loki’s great pieces of life advice. For example “Always look on the bright side. And if there is no bright side? Look away.” These always served to make me smile and added to the larger than life Loki character. Overall it’s a really enjoyable read, just over 300 pages it’s a fun, tongue n cheek read for fantasy fans and greek mythology fans.
Synopsis:
The story is centered on and narrated by Loki, the trickster god. The plot follows his birth in the world, how he befriends Odin and the other gods, his schemes and the eventual downfall
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of the gods. “Loki, that’s me.
Loki, the Light-Bringer, the misunderstood, the elusive, the handsome and modest hero of this particular tissue of lies. Take it with a pinch of salt, but it’s at least as true as the official version, and, dare I say it, more entertaining.
So far, history, such as it is, has cast me in a rather unflattering role.
Now it’s my turn to take the stage.”
Review:
I have never read the original stories surrounding Odin and Thor and so was only partly familiar with the myths. I found it a really interesting read and loved the first person narration style. It focuses completely on Loki, what he wants us to see and know. If you’re in the same boat as me and don’t know very much about the Norse gods, the book serves as a great introduction to that. The book is fun and brilliantly written, and Loki is a great character, he’s mischievous and clever and a very likable narrator.
One thing for me that became a slight problem is with the success and popularity of the marvel Avengers series, the characters of Thor and Loki were already drawn up for me. I couldn’t help but imagine Tom Hiddleston or Chris Hemsworth as I read the story. I imagine this isn’t a problem for the many many fans the Avengers has, but it ruined the story for me slightly, as I prefer to imagine my own versions of the characters. Despite this I think Harris did a wonderful job at putting her own spin on the characters and making them distinctly hers, I just had a hard time not picturing the marvel versions.
I love the fantasy genre, and this felt like although it is a fantasy story - and Joanne Harris’ first fantasy novel in fact - it reads in a much more accessible way than the huge epics I primarily read. The story is very fun and entertaining, there’s some very witty chapters with Loki outwitting everyone and coming up on top only to have his feet stolen out from under him.
A quick thing that I really liked, the chapter pages of the book feature Loki’s great pieces of life advice. For example “Always look on the bright side. And if there is no bright side? Look away.” These always served to make me smile and added to the larger than life Loki character. Overall it’s a really enjoyable read, just over 300 pages it’s a fun, tongue n cheek read for fantasy fans and greek mythology fans.
Show Less
LibraryThing member Mothwing
I like this modern version of the Lokabrenna, which works as a prequel to Remarks, though some details are different.
The contemporary phrases that crop up annoyed me vaguely to the and I didn't see their point. They didn't endear the characters to me, if that was the idea.
Loki is as entertaining
The contemporary phrases that crop up annoyed me vaguely to the and I didn't see their point. They didn't endear the characters to me, if that was the idea.
Loki is as entertaining
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and human and as a prequel he couldn't have been much different, though I'd really like to see a Loki that does not suffer from this civilising softening. It makes us understand the characters as humans, but in their original context they were different, revered as forces of nature and arbiters of life a and death. they were also human, of course, but they were still fundamentally different. The difference seems to have home lost and turns gods into powerful mortals, superheroes. In the words of the novel, named and tamed. Show Less
LibraryThing member bbbart
Really fun read for in between. The Gospel of Loki serves as a nice take on the most important Norse myths and tells you the stories of Asgard and the Nine Worlds from an interesting point of view.
At school I studied the Greek mythology most, and only tangentially got to know about the Norse
Fun and interesting read, but don't expect any fully detailed mythological stories or thrilling passages.
At school I studied the Greek mythology most, and only tangentially got to know about the Norse
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mythology through living in Norway and reading the Thorgal fantasy comics and Tolkien's work. This gospel presented a nice update on some of the most famous stories and characters.Fun and interesting read, but don't expect any fully detailed mythological stories or thrilling passages.
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LibraryThing member Ailinel
This quick read is particularly humorous and enjoyable for those already familiar with Norse mythology. Many of the well known tales are re-told from the perspective of Loki (your humble narrator), as he considers why and how things end as they did and attempts to justify his views and actions.
As a side note, the humor in this novel starts early. In fact, it begins before the story does! Don't miss reading the cast of characters, and, if they're unknown to you, be sure to glance back at it after finishing Loki's tale.
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Readers are presented again with the story of how Thor ended up in a wedding dress, why you shouldn't test feats of strength against masters of illusion, how Asgard had its walls built for free (and Odin got his horse), and how Loki rose and fell time and again as the stories progressed. Told with modern language, a sense of humor, and a interesting and enjoyable (if self-serving and quite problematic) narrator, this is a pleasant way to dive back into the Norse tales or to introduce someone new to the pantheon... albeit with an admittedly biased perspective.As a side note, the humor in this novel starts early. In fact, it begins before the story does! Don't miss reading the cast of characters, and, if they're unknown to you, be sure to glance back at it after finishing Loki's tale.
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LibraryThing member anyaejo
Really fun retelling of the Norse myths from Loki's perspective. You don't need to know anything since Loki explains all the myths for you with plenty of amusing commentary. Such a great anti-hero!
LibraryThing member jshillingford
Even before I joined Loki’s Army after Avengers, I’d always been a fan of the myth version. “The Trickster” appears in many cultures because the chaotic archetype is so universal. So I ordered The Gospel of Loki as soon as I learned of it. Those looking for the Marvel version may be
The book doesn’t cover much new ground Vis-à-vis the original myth and the Lokasenna. The oft-heard events are all here: sewing his lips closed, Thor in drag, his various monstrous offspring, et al. What made this book stand out for me was how well Harris captured Loki’s voice. He is irreverent, humorous, sarcastic, and above all, sassy. When he first refers to himself as “Yours Truly,” I laughed aloud because it was so spot on. The books has a lot of funny moments, such as his ruminations on sex and how can anyone enjoy it with so many restrictions? Naturally, each of the main events are told from his POV so there’s some twisting to what readers expect to happen, but always in a way that can be explained by perception, instead of the black and white of “truth.” Our “Humble Narrator” even implies that everything he says can’t be trusted; but neither can anyone else.
One place where Harris did go beyond the myth was to provide Loki with an origin, how did he come to be in Asgard, the “brother” of Odin? I loved her explanation, and how it underlay everything that comes after. The book ends with Raganarok, but I truly hope Loki’s story doesn’t end with it. I would love for him to tell more tales.
Overall, I loved the book and intend to read the others in the series (Runemark and Runelight) though I doubt either could possibly be as entertaining without Yours Truly. Highly recommended to fans of myth, mischief or re-imagined fairytales.
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disappointed, but I found Harris’ interpretation wonderful.The book doesn’t cover much new ground Vis-à-vis the original myth and the Lokasenna. The oft-heard events are all here: sewing his lips closed, Thor in drag, his various monstrous offspring, et al. What made this book stand out for me was how well Harris captured Loki’s voice. He is irreverent, humorous, sarcastic, and above all, sassy. When he first refers to himself as “Yours Truly,” I laughed aloud because it was so spot on. The books has a lot of funny moments, such as his ruminations on sex and how can anyone enjoy it with so many restrictions? Naturally, each of the main events are told from his POV so there’s some twisting to what readers expect to happen, but always in a way that can be explained by perception, instead of the black and white of “truth.” Our “Humble Narrator” even implies that everything he says can’t be trusted; but neither can anyone else.
One place where Harris did go beyond the myth was to provide Loki with an origin, how did he come to be in Asgard, the “brother” of Odin? I loved her explanation, and how it underlay everything that comes after. The book ends with Raganarok, but I truly hope Loki’s story doesn’t end with it. I would love for him to tell more tales.
Overall, I loved the book and intend to read the others in the series (Runemark and Runelight) though I doubt either could possibly be as entertaining without Yours Truly. Highly recommended to fans of myth, mischief or re-imagined fairytales.
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LibraryThing member SashaM
Wasn't sure what to expect from this one but was pleasantly surprised very readable retelling of old Norse mythology from loki's point of view. Entertaining quick read. Not sure if I would have picked it up if I wasn't such a fan of marvel avengers movies though.
LibraryThing member LoriFox
The Gospel According to Loki, by Joanne Harris, is told from the point of view in the voice of bad boy Trickster Loki. The Trickster’s captivating ability to tell a tale is almost bewitching enough to elicit an inkling of sympathy from the reader, yet anyone who has ever read Norse mythology
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knows how the story ends. Loki is never the hero. Maybe he could have been if the tale had unfolded differently, if the tables had been turned a bit in his favor. Destined to be more of a villain and an anti-hero, he is still able to persuade us to wish for a glimmer of hope at the end. Loki’s personality, cunning, and self-admiration shine through his words in this fun romp celebrating the glorious days and the final moments of Odin, Thor, Loki, and the rest of the Aesir in Asgard. Show Less
LibraryThing member KittyCunningham
This is a good retelling of the Loki myths and the narrator is perfect.
LibraryThing member Treebeard_404
The Gospel of Loki does an excellent job of stitching together many of the Norse myths into a coherent narrative. At the same time, Harris gives Loki, Odin, and (to a lesser extent) the other gods of Asgard an understandable psychology. If you've ever wondered "Why do the gods put up with Loki's
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constant betrayals?", The Gospel of Loki gives you a plausible answer. Show Less
Awards
Mythopoeic Awards (Finalist — Adult Literature — 2015)
Language
Original publication date
2014-02-13
ISBN
1472610571 / 9781472610577
Local notes
A first-person narrative of the rise and fall of the Norse gods - retold from the point of view of the world's ultimate trickster, Loki.
Signed by the author.
Signed by the author.