Author: Joanne M. Harris
Publisher: Gollancz
Publication Date: 2018
Pages: 295
Format: Paperback
Genre: Fantasy
Source: Xmas Gift
Ragnarok was the End of Worlds.
Asgard fell, centuries ago, and the old gods have been defeated. Some are dead, while others have been consigned to eternal torment in the netherworld - among them, the legendary trickster, Loki. A god who betrayed every side and still lost everything, who has lain forgotten as time passed and the world of humans moved on to new beliefs, new idol and new deities...
But now mankind dreams of the Norse Gods once again, the river Dream is but a stone's throw from their dark prison, and Loki is the first to escape into a new reality.
The first, but not the only one to. Other, darker, things have escaped with him, who seek to destroy everything that he covets. If he is to reclaim what has been lost, Loki will need allies, a plan, and plenty of tricks...
Having adored The Gospel of Loki, I had been keen to read the sequel and was thrilled when I finally acquired a copy. Unfortunately, that joy did not last when I started reading. Although purportedly a sequel, the only thing this book has in common with Gospel is Loki as a main character. Otherwise, the style of writing and narrative voice are completely different. Book One was a delightful take on Norse mythology from Loki's perspective, full of wit and charm. Book Two feels like an average piece of fan fiction, complete with a forgettable Mary Sue-type character in the form of Jumps. I read to the end, but I skimmed through pages here and there during dull scenes, and overall I felt really let down. I came to The Testament of Loki expecting more of everything I'd enjoyed in Book One, but all those great qualities from that work were absent here. Even Loki didn't come across as well, perhaps because he had to share page time with so many other bland characters. All up I would give this 2.5 stars, and I will have to round down to 2, because going up to 3 feels like being too generous, given the level of my disappointment. If you loved The Gospel of Loki, reread that and give this one a miss. I would only recommend this one to readers who enjoyed Loki-based fan fiction-style adventures.
I'm a very simple person. I see the name Loki, I click. What can I say?
ReplyDeleteMan, it's such a shame to hear this was a disappointment. I still haven't read The Gospel of Loki, but I think maybe I'll just act like that's a standalone, based on what you've said here. xD
Yes, the Gospel of Loki is fun and worth reading. This one not so much.
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