Loki: Where Mischief Lies

There are some writers that you can just rely on. Mackenzie Lee is without a doubt one of them for me. Her writing is always so swift, her characters rich and engaging, and while her stories can twist and turn in unconventional ways they always hold my attention.

Loki: Where Mischief Lies is not quite good as the two books of the Gentleman's Guide series, but it has a similar flair and pace that keeps you turning the page. Loki, much like the MCU character we meet in the first Thor film, is a young prince struggling with his identity and his role as a likely second in line to the throne, but never first. His closest friend - and big fat crush - is Amora, a confident and powerful young sorceress who encourages him to grow his magic and take risks. When Amora is banished to Midgard for taking the blame for one of Loki's schemes gone wrong, effectively killing her slowly as Earth will gradually drain her magic away, Loki is left with nothing but to do his best to be the perfect prince, the perfect diplomat, the person his father wants him to be. Naturally, he never quite get its right. When he's sent to Midgard to solve a mystery that Odin can't be bothered to address himself, he finds Amora, some charming humans and gets in touch with his inner villain.

Loki is a natural choice for a tie-in book like this, as his portrayal by Tom Hiddleston in the MCU has captivated so many (myself included) but never underestimate what a challenge it can be to write from the point of view of a villain. Especially when he's not quite the villain yet. How gray to make him really? How naive? How dangerous? I think what's so interesting about Lee's version of Loki is that he is so unapologetic about who he is and what he wants that it makes sense that being denied the ability to use the magic that comes naturally to him, to be the sorcerer he was meant to be, is so grating. It's what pushes him towards Amora, what frustrates him about how Thor is so easily loved when his magical abilities and cleverness should be considered just as valuable as Thor's strength, and what sews those seeds of darkness and arrogance in him. His characterization is solid, but I think Lee struggled a little bit with how far to take things.

I think there was a lot Lee wanted to do here that she only got to skim over. Loki's relationship with Theo and the other humans he meets is a lot of fun but feels more abbreviated than it should have been. Like, I felt like the story was on a really good roll with Loki developing stronger and stronger ties to Theo and Mrs S until suddenly it wasn't. The more substantial relationship is between Loki and Amora, and don't get me wrong, I loved it. Their energy is incredibly sexy and intense. But even the ambiguity, the inherent danger in their relationship, kind of gets cut off before it can really be explored. As such, you neither get the vulnerability that would have come from him falling for Theo or the darkness and temptation that comes from his love for Amora.

What this story does best is the slower stuff. The spooky atmosphere of a 19th century seance, the muck of London streets. I wish the structure of the story had stuck closer to that of a mystery, because that is what really got me invested. When it moves into the third act, which resembles those of many MCU films, I found myself drifting away. I appreciate what Lee was trying to do - cool action on a speeding train, writhing hordes of the undead, and of course a double cross - but I think I would have liked something that was a little subtler. A little more like Loki himself.

A very solid 3.5 stars rounded up because I undeniably enjoyed this - it's fun, funny, fast and surprisingly sexy - it's just overall its a little thematically convoluted, and the last act felt too conventional for my tastes.

Overall I enjoyed the book, but the writing seemed more juvenile than I'm used to reading to the point where this felt more like a junior book (maybe 6-8 grade) rather than YA, as if the one same-sex peck was what got it slapped with a YA rating. I really enjoyed Lee's [b:The Gentleman's Guide to Vice and Virtue 29283884 The Gentleman's Guide to Vice and Virtue (Montague Siblings, #1) Mackenzi Lee https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1492601464l/29283884.SY75.jpg 49527118] but felt that those characters were a lot more thought out with better dialogue and a more realistic relationship. Even though the author had an immeasurable amount of resources for Loki's character, this still read like an ammateur fan fiction (and I've read better on A03 that wasn't backed by an official brand). However, I am undoubtedly biased with my own ideas of Loki's characterisation, which is unavoidable in this case.I'm honestly surprised Marvel published this as an official release. While it's canon in both the original Norse sagas and many comics with Loki appearances that he can change gender and has an undefined sexualiy, this book seemed to make it a lot more concrete that he's fluid in both which makes the narrative feel that it's for a more specific audience than stereotypical superhero comic book readers, especially fans from the MCU - media that tends to shy away from making Loki's character quite so multi-dimensional.

This book was incredible! If you are a fan of Loki, queer representation, Victorian London, is murder mysteries here is a combo of all four! The writing is gorgeous. It's captivating start to finish. It explores the ideas of identity and toxic masculinity through the lens of the Loki character and his interactions with different societies that don't fit comfortably with him.
It was truly funny, romantic and heartbreaking.
Fits well with the MCU cannon as well.
I wholeheartedly recommend

DNF - PG 15 (approx)

Why?

Oh, so very many reasons.

First I want to state that this will be my last book by Lee. It would have been, no matter how it turned out. For more information on why, check this out and this out. (There's, honestly, a lot of reasons I am done with this author, her handling of diversity is an ever climbing one, as well.)

The absolute only reason I even tried this book is because I love Loki. He is my favorite character from the Marvel ‘verse and I have actually never found an incarnation of Loki that I didn't love. Until now. More on that in a minute. First I want to share part of an interview with Lee. The question was [How did you] make him your own character even though he already has these predetermined things through the movie and mythology?

Lee's answer was, basically
When I really sort of let go of that and stopped doing research and reading other people's version. [...] when I sort of let go of other people's ideas about him and looked at him as not a character that has existed in this franchise [...] that was what really made all the difference.

...

I'll be the first to say it, I'm not a published author. I've never written a book good enough for that. Lee has. She's a good enough author (what ever I think of her) to have multiple published books, to have Disney approach her and say ‘hey, we think you'd be a good fit' so kudos to her.

But what the hell? This is not how you write a book about an established character. You do your research. You pick a version - if there's more than one - and you understand that character. Otherwise, this is an original Lee character merely named Loki. At the best, this is bad fan fiction. I mean really, really bad fan fiction. To the level of ‘I don't really care about the character's personality and set history and traits, I'll just half ass something and all the girls will love it because he's hawt.' bad fan fiction.

(I had assumed that this would be following the MCU, because I would imagine that more people have seen the movies than read the comics and they, naturally, would want to appeal to the biggest audience they can. Because of this, most of my comparisons will be from the movies.)

So, Loki. Lee's Loki is a poor little woobie that can't do any magic.

Not my Loki.

https://youtu.be/bbq2mYimFrY

(Too lazy to click on it? Okay, Thor is telling Bruce and Valkyrie the story of how Loki turned himself into a snake (because Thor loves snakes) and when Thor went to pick it up to admire it (like you do) Loki turned himself back and was all ‘bleh, it's me!' and stabbed Thor. They were eight at the time.)

...

Lee's Loki wouldn't have the ability or the guts to stab a marshmallow. And, why doesn't he have that ability? Because Frigga has cautioned him to, basically, be ashamed of his magic.

Not my Frigga. Look, the lady wasn't perfect, but she was a good mom. She loved Loki and was proud of him.

https://youtu.be/UcoNxqkyGTQ

(Too lazy to click on it? Frigga is telling Thor that she's never regretted teaching Loki magic, and she did it because Odin and Thor cast such big shadows, she hoped that magic would help Loki find a little sun for himself.)

Basically, what Lee's Loki is, is any poor little misunderstood YA hero with a bad family.

Loki's situation sucked, yes. But Frigga loved him. Thor loves him. (Odin's a dick and doesn't count.)

Now, I didn't actually get far enough to experience much of the Loki and Thor dynamic in this book, but I have heard enough about it to know that, once again, it firmly resides in ‘bad fan fiction' territory.

(I've heard that) Lee's Thor is stupid and a bully to poor widdle Loki.

Not my Thor.

https://youtu.be/CpZakOJlRoY

(Too lazy to click on it? It's awesome. Click on it.)

Look, my brother's favorite character in the MCU is Thor. Thor is a good guy. He's a sweet guy. He probably has the biggest heart of all the Marvel character's I've seen. He's not what these other reviews are describing.

I also didn't get to experience the ‘big deal' that is, as Lee tweeted ‘a canonically pansexual and gender fluid character.' Which, honestly, only sounds like a good thing, because the way it's been described is not how you do good rep. Also? This is not groundbreaking.

In 2013 Al Ewing (the writer of the amazing Loki: Agent of Asgard) stated: “Loki is bi and I'll be touching on that. He'll shift between genders occasionally as well.” (First, note, bi.)

It's sounds like Lee's Loki is ‘I'll be touching on him being pan and mention he's gender fluid once.' This isn't Hollywood movies, guys. We don't have to be afraid of diversity.

Does anyone remember A-Force: Warzones? It was this all female team up from Marvel. There was no switching genders, all characters used were already established as that gender. (Like, they didn't feminize Wolverine, or anything.)



...

So...Loki being gender fluid is groundbreaking? Or maybe you'll try telling me that just mentioned once in passing is better gender fluid rep than the gorgeousness that is Mistress Loki.

Whatever.

I'm - ... I think I'm finally done. Let me check my copious notes.

Oh, right.

You guys know the trope Draco in Leather Pants? That's only actually used to describe fan fiction. (Particularly bad fan fiction.) Well, not no more. Now we can use it to describe this book.

From the tropes description page:
The writer's attempt to make the villain more “sympathetic” will likely cause them to remove everything that made the character so cool/well liked in the first place.

...

Dear Loki, you have now been diagnosed with Draco in Leather Pants syndrome. I suggest you shake it off before the start of your new Disney+ series.

Me? I'm going to go read some good fan fiction.