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persychan 's review for:
The Gospel of Loki
by Joanne M. Harris
lighthearted
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I read it in Italian, but since most of my problems are not with the writing but with the content, it doesn't matter.
I didn't expect much of this book, I'm used to mythological retelling that barely has anything in common with the original mythos and I was ready to enjoy it but this book isn't even that.
This book is the more tedious and Christianized version of pop-culture nordic myths + a narrator (that is Loki) that tries to be sarcastic and unreliable but is only vaguely edgy and verbose. It is like listening to someone talking about their first D&D character: "They're so eviL! A demon! A lone wolf, who thinks only to themselves!!"
The myths in themselves aren't technically wrong, there're some changes but they're well within the author's freedom when writing a retelling, but for being a book about Loki, grey morality or just conflict is underwhelming. Loki is an egoist, the gods are dumb and Odin is a scheming b*stard and all the myths are at face value. It's like reading "All nordic myths for your children" but with more complicated prose.
Loki, in general, is an interesting figure because as a trickster and as a deity of which we know very little (even by Norse religion standards) is open to interpretation: is he a misunderstood hero? An antihero? A mother of monsters? A fire god? The source of all evil? Who knows.
But until this book, I never thought he could be boring.
I didn't expect much of this book, I'm used to mythological retelling that barely has anything in common with the original mythos and I was ready to enjoy it but this book isn't even that.
This book is the more tedious and Christianized version of pop-culture nordic myths + a narrator (that is Loki) that tries to be sarcastic and unreliable but is only vaguely edgy and verbose. It is like listening to someone talking about their first D&D character: "They're so eviL! A demon! A lone wolf, who thinks only to themselves!!"
The myths in themselves aren't technically wrong, there're some changes but they're well within the author's freedom when writing a retelling, but for being a book about Loki, grey morality or just conflict is underwhelming. Loki is an egoist, the gods are dumb and Odin is a scheming b*stard and all the myths are at face value. It's like reading "All nordic myths for your children" but with more complicated prose.
Loki, in general, is an interesting figure because as a trickster and as a deity of which we know very little (even by Norse religion standards) is open to interpretation: is he a misunderstood hero? An antihero? A mother of monsters? A fire god? The source of all evil? Who knows.
But until this book, I never thought he could be boring.