Karl Johnson
Saraband
3 November 2026
112
eBook - PDF
Non-Fiction
ARC via Edelweiss
Loki, ever the shapeshifter, has never been more adaptable across pop culture. Whether it’s deep in the stories from Norse mythology, the countless offshoots and intepretations across media, or even the prolific Loki that has come to dominate our screens via the Marvel Cinematic Universe, each serves its own purpose and offers a new layer to the character we’ve come to know so well.
By exploring contemporary variations of Loki from Norse god to anti-hero trickster in four distinct categories – the God of Knots, Mischief, Outcasts and Stories – we can better understand the power of myth, queer theory, fandom, ritual, pop culture itself and more.
Johnson invites readers to journey with him as he unpicks his own evolving relationship with Loki, and to ask: Who is your Loki? And what is their glorious purpose?
Anyone who knows me knows I love Loki, whether it's the MCU version or the original Norse myths. I even wrote and published a fantasy novel of my own where my version of Loki was one of the two main characters. Therefore The Loki Variations seemed like the perfect read for me. This was a short book (I got through it in two brief sittings) but I enjoyed the author's analysis of Loki across various media, with a particular focus on the myths and MCU but also incorporating Supernatural and several well-known novels. For those interested in looking at Loki through the lens of popular culture this is a great introductory read. I am giving it 4 stars. I liked it and had fun reading it, but part of me wished it could have been a little longer and offered a bit more of a detailed analysis, as it only seemed to scratch the surface. For Loki fans and those fascinated by different versions of myths in popular culture, though, it is well worth a look.
For those who read and enjoy this book and then want a more in-depth analysis, two other works I can recommend are Trickster Makes This World by Lewis Hyde and, if you can read French, Loki by Georges Dumézil.
I received this book as a free eBook ARC via Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review.
No comments:
Post a Comment