I downloaded this one with every intention of reading it, especially as my love of Loki is something fierce. But there have been some things recently involving the author and I've just lost all interest. Only giving this a rating as NG forces me to.

Loki + Mackenzi Lee? Has there ever been a better pairing?

This was a pure joy to read from beginning to end. From Loki's family drama to finding love to the very excellent queer representation, Loki has a little something for nearly ever teen that comes through my library's doors (and the Marvel Universe tie-in sure doesn't hurt). This was a author/character match made in heaven for me, and I can't wait to read more from both Mackenzi and Marvel.

Thank you NetGalley for this early copy. I was drawn to this book for obvious reasons-I love Loki. Although I didn’t absolutely love this book and the development of Loki ( I thought there could be more), I did find it entertaining and at moments, I couldn’t put it down.

LOKI: WHERE MISCHIEF LIES tells a new story of teen Loki, before all the big battles and intergalactic feuds with Thor. Here, Loki is a young prankster with a great gift of magic and eye for trouble. When a strange request for help comes from London, Loki is sent to investigate...and finds himself surrounded by darker trouble than he expected.

3 things I loved about WHERE MISCHIEF LIES:
1.) Fascinating but brief look at Asgard- Though most of the story is set on Earth, the glimpses of Asgard, home to Loki, Thor, and Odin, the chapters of Asgard are incredible, offering a closer look at the magical realm.
2.) Great character examination of Loki- Loki has one of the strongest personalities in the Marvel universe. Mastering his strange mixture of sarcasm, angst, and surprising sincerity is no easy feat. WHERE MISCHIEF LIES presents a teen Loki exactly how you would imagine, and it’s a joy to read.

3.) Nice introduction to some of the lesser known Marvel/Asgard characters- If your primary exposure to Loki is through the Marvel movies, you might not know much about the Enchantress. Going in, I knew a little about her, but not much. Mackenzie Lee fleshes our her character for those unfamiliar, and uses her as a perfect contract to Loki.

What left me wanting more:
Sadly, the brilliance of Asgard’s depiction didn’t carry over into the historical London setting. In some ways, it felt more like a repeat of Lee’s prior works than a new adventure. However, those who can’t get enough of Lee’s London should enjoy the chance to dive back in.

Overall, this is a fun addition to the Marvel universe, and Loki lovers will not be disappointed.

Mackenzi Lee turns in yet another satisfying read that takes us into a different, yet familiar universe this time. Loki follows that ever-popular Trickster God from Norse mythology in an all-new adventure. Although this is definitely an alternative look him, examining his "younger days" while he's still coming into his power and magic on Asgard, it's still a fun romp with lots of familiar characters present, Thor and Odin in particular. Mackenzi Lee once again shows a deft hand at examining relationships between characters while giving the reader a rollicking plot to follow. This will appeal to Marvel fans and mythology groupies alike.

Overshadowed by his sibling rival, Thor, Loki feels doomed to be subject to his destiny to start Ragnarok. When he falls out of favor with his father, Odin, Loki is sent to Midgard. His mission: to help the humans stop whatever or whoever is magically murdering humans. As he investigates the matter, he discovers his old flame, Amora is behind the humans’ deaths and old sparks reignite. Will he choose to save his old love or will he save Midgard? The characters are well-developed, flawed, and will appeal to reluctant and avid readers alike. The writing style is smooth, easy to follow, and draws the reader into the story. The plot is intriguing, full of humor, and brings to life the world of Thor and Loki in a unique way. Fans of Avengers, fantasy, mythology, and adventure will enjoy reading this book.

Loki is hilarious in this new adventure. I really enjoyed how his character was developed and we got more Norse mythology and world building. This story shows Loki struggling with wanting to develop his own powers, not knowing who to trust, and the pressure from his family. I think this book would be great for fans of the Marvel movies, Norse mythology, or those who have heard about both and want a fun place to start

Loki: Where Mischief Lies is a compelling origin story for Marvel's lovable villain Loki. This book can be read without having any knowledge of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Loki has always been the outcast and has always lived in the shadow of his picture-perfect Norse hero of a brother Thor. After their father, Odin, sees a vision of Loki leading an army of the dead against Asgard, he grows suspicious of his second son’s magical abilities. Loki is now struggling to come to terms of his destiny. Is he always destined to be the villain? Does he have any power to change his destiny? Years later, seeking to prove himself worthy of Odin's respect, a real candidate for the throne, and to prove the prophecy wrong, Loki is sent to Earth to aid a London-based secret organization investigating a series of unusual magical deaths.

To any Asgardian being sent to Earth is like a banishment because Earth is backwards, has no magic, and it means human contact. Loki's disdain for Earth provides lots of humor while also allowing him to see his identity in a different lens. Loki grows from his disgust of Earth to curiosity and perhaps kinship in those who live on the outskirts of society such as the ex-convict Theo Bell who left lame because of his sexuality. Although Loki uses he/him/his pronouns, he says he exists as both man and woman and that Asgardians do not have strict gender and sexuality norms. There is a flicker of interest between Theo and Loki, but that is pushed to the side as Loki must make a series of choices that will determine his future. While the mystery is a bit underwhelming, I was more enchanted with the characters. Lee embraces Loki's antihero antics that makes him three dimensional and vulnerable. You can not help but love Loki while also being wary of what he will do next. I am thrilled this is the first of a series of books that will feature Loki as I definitely wanted more after I finished this book. A great choice for readers who enjoy superhero stories but also books that feature Norse mythology.

Loki, my heart! I love every retelling or story about Loki and this one was no exception!

In this story, Loki is a teenager, growing up in Asgard with his brother, Thor. I loved the banter between these two SO MUCH. It was probably my favorite part of this whole book.

I also loved all the Norse mythology and the stories that we already know weaved into the story.

This was an excellent story about Loki. Seeing him younger was a lot of fun and I highly recommend this one if you're a Marvel fan!

Ever since his appearance in the first Thor movie, Loki has been my favorite Marvel character ever. My family even has a life-size replica of his scepter, and we even named our dog Loki after him. So when I heard that there was going to be a book about his backstory, I was very much looking forward to it!

Loki: Where Mischief Lies highlights his struggle to be there for everyone, appeasing them despite being thought of as a mere trickster. This book portrayed him so close to canon content, and brings to light so many parts of his existence that the movies have (yet, because I don’t think he’s dead) to show us. It combines perspective from norse mythology that many aren’t familiar with, yet still manages to keep an original storyline as Lee adds her own twists on a new adventure.

I was pleasantly surprised to see the LGBTQ+ rep in this. Though Thor is very heteronormative, Asgard is shown to be more accepting than other realms as Loki himself identifies as someone who isn’t straight and even mentioned to be comfortable with being addressed with both male and female pronouns.

However, I felt like the characters of this book fell flat. Apart from Loki (and Amora), the characters felt one dimensional and bland. Thor himself, who has proven time and time again that he isn’t just dumb, gets treated as someone who has no brain and others you could tell were just there….to be there. He was just portrayed as the muscle and not much else. Loki himself was fine with his development, but I’m surprised that we really started FROM scratch as he’s known to be one of the most skilled characters in canon. He’s shown to not be able to use the simplest spells, and though I know this book is written for his development, a simple spell? Really?

Overall though, while not great, it wasn’t bad either. I’m definitely still picking up the other two books in this supposed trilogy, and I’m interested in seeing how the author is following up after THAT ending!

This book was fun, but I felt that it was a bit disjointed. I wish more of it focused on Loki's adolescence in Asgard. I felt that there could have been more attention on the relationship between Amora and Loki, especially in the London section. I loved Theo as a character, but he felt random to the story in my opinion.

LOKI: WHERE MISCHIEF LIES tells a new story of teen Loki, before all the big battles and intergalactic feuds with Thor. Here, Loki is a young prankster with a great gift of magic and eye for trouble. When a strange request for help comes from London, Loki is sent to investigate...and finds himself surrounded by darker trouble than he expected.

3 things I loved about WHERE MISCHIEF LIES:
1.) Fascinating but brief look at Asgard- Though most of the story is set on Earth, the glimpses of Asgard, home to Loki, Thor, and Odin, the chapters of Asgard are incredible, offering a closer look at the magical realm.
2.) Great character examination of Loki- Loki has one of the strongest personalities in the Marvel universe. Mastering his strange mixture of sarcasm, angst, and surprising sincerity is no easy feat. WHERE MISCHIEF LIES presents a teen Loki exactly how you would imagine, and it’s a joy to read.

3.) Nice introduction to some of the lesser known Marvel/Asgard characters- If your primary exposure to Loki is through the Marvel movies, you might not know much about the Enchantress. Going in, I knew a little about her, but not much. Mackenzie Lee fleshes our her character for those unfamiliar, and uses her as a perfect contract to Loki.

What left me wanting more:
Sadly, the brilliance of Asgard’s depiction didn’t carry over into the historical London setting. In some ways, it felt more like a repeat of Lee’s prior works than a new adventure. However, those who can’t get enough of Lee’s London should enjoy the chance to dive back in.

Overall, this is a fun addition to the Marvel universe, and Loki lovers will not be disappointed.

The book Loki tells an origin story that fits in with the broader Marvel universe. Loki is feeling insecure as the second son and feels like nothing will impress his father, so he enacts a series of elaborate schemes to try to prove himself. I thought this book was fine. It was an engaging read, but I found Loki to be whiny more than anything else, which made it less interesting. Overall, though, it was interesting, and it made me want to go re-watch the Thor films.

The roles filled by the major characters are exactly what you expect. Thor is a bit dense and thoughtless but ultimately does what is expected of him. Loki is constantly trying to measure up and looks for alternate ways to prove himself. He questions rules and traditions. He wants acceptance but cant' seem to fit into societal boxes. He's also a bit too willing to break rules if it serves his interests. To the extent that he eventually simply embraces the villain role. There is a feeling of inevitability to that moment I might have expected to be stretched out over a couple of books.

Absolutely perfect rendition of everyone's favourite chaotic good boi. Mackenzi Lee writes genderqueer and pan tricksters wonderfully well, I enjoy her more teenage mischief version of Loki

This was a difficult decision, but I'm going to rate this book 4 stars. There were parts that I really enjoyed, but there were also some parts that I found hard to get through.

Let's start by saying that I love Loki as a character, both in Norse mythology and in the MCU. I would go as far as saying he's one of my favorite fictional characters of all time. He's so complex, and as someone who loves characters who struggle with morality, he's always been one of my favorites. I think that the author, Mackenzi Lee, did an excellent job pulling off his personality and his internal conflicts in this book. I was worried, but she really did his character justice. It was also really interesting to read this origin story—an early look at Loki's life that gives perspective on why he is the way he is. I'm fascinated by villain and anti-hero backstories, so this story was the perfect read for me.

The reason I struggled with rating this book was the plot. While I love books that focus on ethics and characters that straddle the line between "right" and "wrong," this felt so slow and uneventful at times—slow enough that I felt little motivation to pick the book back up during the second act. The beginning chapters had me hooked and the ending was incredible, but the middle just dragged. I wish that MORE had happened. And if I wasn't such a big Loki fan, I have to wonder if I would have enjoyed this book as much as I did. I was planning on rating this three stars until I read the extremely satisfying ending. There's a lot of buildup and potential for book two, so I can't wait to see what happens next!

I really liked this book. Despite its slow middle, there was a lot to love in terms of characters and themes. I really enjoyed Loki's interactions with other characters, like Thor and Amora. There's banter, cute interactions, and some slow-burn romance (my favorite). If you're someone who loves to see characters who struggle with "right" vs "wrong", you'll really enjoy this one. And there are also a few notable references throughout the story that you'll get if you're a Marvel fan!

Writers have been telling Loki’s story for centuries, but in “Loki: Where Mischief Lies” (Marvel Press, 416 pages), Utah author Mackenzi Lee takes on the task of telling teenager Loki’s story.

Utahn and best-selling author Mackenzi Lee will speak about her new book “Loki: Where Mischief Lies” on Tuesday, Sept. 3, at The King’s English Bookshop in Salt Lake City. Melissa Yee, Disney
In Lee’s version, she highlights Loki’s desperation to prove himself a hero instead of the villain everyone thinks he is.
“I don’t think anyone is born good or bad or predestined for something — it’s our life experiences that shape us and bring out different characteristics in us,” Lee said. “Thinking of what had to happen to Loki as a young person in order for him to become the older version of himself we’ve seen previously in Marvel was the main inspiration.”
Lee said she was approached by Marvel to write about the god of mischief. “Loki: Where Mischief Lies” is the first in Lee’s historical fiction trilogy, set in the Marvel world and focusing on antihero characters.
In “Loki,” Loki and Amora, Asgard’s sorceress-in-training, share opinions on magic and have become close. But when they destroy one of the kingdom’s treasured relics, Amora is banished to Earth — the place that slowly kills magic — and Loki is left without any magical allies.

When Asgardian magic is detected on Earth, King Odin sends Loki — who believes this to be a punishment — to assist the Sharp Society. As Odin’s contact on Earth, the society is investigating the murders that are tied to the Asgardian magic.
The events Loki experiences and the people he meets on Earth play a part in his journey toward becoming who he’s meant to be. And Loki’s character is especially an enigma in whether he’s the hero or the villain.
“Usually, when we see villains in books, or even when we study the ‘bad guys’ in history, we know from the start where they end up, rather than where they begin,” Lee said. “As a result, we tend to think of their descent or eventual actions as inevitable. It can be hard to remember that stories happen in the present moment — the characters don’t know where they’re going to end up, or what the consequences of their choices will be.”
Loki discovers stories about him that seem to tell the end of his story before he’s lived it, and he struggles with the idea that his choices are already laid out before him. Members of the Sharp Society continue to tell him that he always has a choice.
“Usually, when we see villains in books, or even when we study the ‘bad guys’ in history, we know from the start where they end up, rather than where they begin.”
“None of us can control what happens to us, but we can control how we react,” Lee said. “Which is something Loki realizes over the course of the story, while also becoming aware of how he can use his own choices to manipulate those around him. Which then of course leads to another question, which is how much he wants to use that power.”
The idea of being faced with important life choices and how we use those choices are part of the reason Lee believes young adult fiction is the perfect place for Loki and his road to self-discovery.
“I love YA fiction because it’s all about young people deciding what kind of adult they are going to be,” Lee said, “And getting to write about that moment in the life of one of the most iconic characters in the Marvel Universe was such a lucky thing to get to do.”
Lee writes Loki as a classic teenager, wanting to prove himself to his father but also figuring out what he really wants out of life, something Lee hopes readers will relate to.
“I think we are all constantly struggling to figure out who we really are,” Lee said. “When you’re a teenager, that feeling can be very pronounced because you are balancing your own growing self-awareness with others around you and their expectations and definitions of you. For Loki, the fate of his realm relies on his answer to this question, but it also matters on a much more personal level. He wants to know who he is as much as everyone in Asgard does.”

Utah author Mackenzi Lee takes on the task of telling teenager Loki’s story in her young adult book “Loki: Where Mischief Lies.” provided by Melissa Yee, Disney
Loki doesn’t want to believe he’s the villain he’s painted to be. He’s spent his life in the shadow of his hero brother, Thor, and seems to be unable to catch a break in being who his father wants him to be. It seems in sending Loki to Earth, Odin was hoping it would change Loki’s path to a better one.
“At this point in his life, he’s spent most of his time in Asgard and doesn’t have a ton of understanding of the wider galaxy around him, so seeing the variety of experiences of people outside his realm gives him more perspective and more empathy,” Lee said.
But for every step forward, every right choice, Loki takes another step in the wrong direction. The choices Loki makes in Lee’s story come to define his fall into antiheroism. But Lee enjoys writing about the antihero and believes that “their awareness of their presence on the precipice between good and bad makes their choices more affecting to readers.”
“I think the most interesting characters are antiheroes.”
That’s why Loki’s story, along with the other antiheroes featured in the upcoming installments of the Marvel series, are intriguing to Lee, and something maybe readers may see in themselves.
“I think the most interesting characters are antiheroes ... ,” Lee said. “None of us are all good or all bad. We’re all varying shades of grey. We all make choices that hurt those around us and act in our own self-interest, but most of us want to be good people.”
And in the end, Lee will write Loki’s story and let us know if for Loki, the desire to be good is enough.

I don’t know why it took me so long to read this; when I actually had time to sit down, it was a quick read! If you like origin stories for how villains became villains, then you’ll definitely appreciate this book. My main issue is that in both instances, at the beginning of the book and the second part, we didn’t have a good indication of what ages Thor and Loki were at the time. I was just guessing, and I thought at least having an idea of their age range in human terms would have helped me visualize the story and characters better. It was not hard to figure out the plot, but it was still entertaining, and I enjoyed it more after having watched Endgame recently. It was nice to see these characters from a different perspective, which is what I liked most about the story. Loki was the star of the book, and even though there were side characters, they didn’t compare to his characterization and inner turmoil.

My expectations for this book were very high knowing that it involved canon genderfluid and pansexual Loki, Mackenzi Lee, historical fiction and Amora (the Enchantress). And I'm so glad to say my expectations were met! LOKI: WHERE MISCHIEF LIES is a great character study of Loki in his younger years, full of intrigue and angst and mystery.

Lee writes an incredible dynamic between Thor, Loki, and Odin that doesn't hold back. I love that the reader gets to see how complicated Thor and Loki's relationship is and also how consistently brutal Odin is to Loki.

With plenty of easter eggs to wider Marvel lore, huge Marvel fans like me will find so much joy in spotting them all and freaking out over every hint of the larger Marvel universe. I think the book balances the grandness of Asgard with the darkness and grime of early London wonderfully.

The supporting characters are memorable and there aren't too many to really divert your attention from the story. There are a few plot twists in here that left me so shook I had to close my computer screen for a moment after reading them.

The romance in this book so well done and full of surprises - I was so invested in every relationship Loki has, which is so hard to do knowing how difficult Loki finds connecting with others.

Overall, I think this is a wonderful addition to the Marvel universe and anyone with an interest in Loki should find LOKI: WHERE MISCHIEF LIES so fun and rewarding.

“You're already the villain in everyone's stories, Loki," she replied, dropping her veil over her face. "Why not start playing your part?”

4 stars!

Thank you to NetGalley and Disney Book Group for the e-book arc of this book.

BOOK REPORT for Loki: Where Mischief Lies by Mackenzi Lee

Cover Story: God of Mischief
BFF Charm: Be Mine
Swoonworthy Scale: 5
Talky Talk: Backstory
Bonus Factors: Loki, LGBTQ+, Tami Taylor Award for Awesome Motherhood
Anti-Bonus Factor: Patty Chase Award for Awful Parenting
Relationship Status: MFEO

Cover Story: God of Mischief

I honestly prefer my Lokis a bit older (and hotter), but this cover really drives home Loki’s mischievous and not-quite-not-villainous nature. I also like how the illustration leans into Loki’s comic roots without going too far in that direction.

The Deal:

Loki, son of Odin and Frigga, brother of Thor, and eventual Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) villain-turned-antihero, wants nothing more than to practice his sorcery and be appreciated by his father for what he is—not what Odin wants him to be. (Which, natch, is more like his brother, the literal golden child.)

But Loki isn’t trained, and his magic often goes awry. Like when he and his (only) friend Amora, apprentice to the royal sorceress, accidentally destroy a priceless Asgardian relic, and Amora is banished to Midgard—Earth—for the role she played in the mess.

Years later, Odin sends Loki on a mission to Midgard to investigate deaths that possibly have a magical connection. Loki wants nothing to do with Midgardians, but even the Trickster isn’t immune to the truth when he comes face-to-face with it.

BFF Charm: Be Mine



I know that he’ll eventually grow up to wreak havoc in New York City, but I can’t help but be attracted to the young, impressionable Loki in Loki: Where Mischief Lies. (I mean, I also can’t help but be attracted to the MCU Loki, but that’s a personal problem.) This Loki is a fragile creature who wraps himself in a veneer of confidence and snark. He wants to be loved for who he is, but even he’s not quite sure who that is, at least when it comes to his personality. (His gender fluidity, however, he’s got down. More on that below.) Amora’s not a good influence on him, and I would gladly take her place.

Swoonworthy Scale: 5

Loki’s long had feelings for Amora that he’d never acted upon. And then there’s Theo, a Midgardian who Loki can’t help but find appealing, no matter how hard he tries.

(Honestly: I wanted a little more swoon, but I can always turn to fanfic for that.)

Talky Talk: Backstory

Loki: Where Mischief Lies is part origin story, part filling in of Loki’s life before he showed up in the MCU. But more than anything, it’s a great standalone(ish*) story that features familiar characters and settings, and is a wonderful expansion of a universe that already has so much to offer.

Loki is one of my favorite characters, in any medium, so I was super excited to dive into his life and read about his adventures through his own eyes. Lee captured his complicated nature perfectly, and expertly toned down his personality—necessary for this more innocent, youthful version of the character.

The plot of the book wasn’t super complicated, and—looking back—it wasn’t too hard to see where the twists and turns were going, but I got sucked into the tale from the very start and was pleasantly surprised a few times. I also loved how Lee included little foreshadowy nods to things we’ll eventually (or already; time is so fickle) learn about the character. Particularly the fact that he’s not bothered by frigid temperatures.

*I say “ish,” because this is the first of three Loki books Lee is writing, but I think they’re all three separate stories.

Bonus Factor: Loki



This is obviously just an excuse to have a photo of Tom Hiddleston in this post. You’re welcome.

Bonus Factor: LGBTQ+



Loki is canonically bisexual and gender fluid, but the MCU movies have shied away from that side of the character. (The original Norse stories and comics, not so much, thankfully.) Lee incorporates these aspects of the character nicely, but it never comes across as a forced issue.

Theo looked away first, turning back to the tea-kettle. The firelight pocked and hollowed his face. “Do you have a preference? Between men and women?”

“I feel equally comfortable as either.”

“No, I don’t mean … not all of us can change our gender at will.”

“I don’t change my gender. I exist as both.”

“You’re not … That doesn’t make sense.”

“It does to me.”

Loki’s unabashedly confident about these parts of himself, at least.

Bonus Factor: Tami Taylor Award for Awesome Motherhood



Frigga’s the shit. She’s sweet, loyal, intelligent, and wholly loving of both of her children (regardless of what comes to light in the MCU). She can’t totally undermine her husband, but she’s willing to go behind his back when the need arises, and she does her very best to ensure that Loki knows he’s loved and special.

Anti-Bonus Factor: Patty Chase Award for Awful Parenting



Odin, on the other hand, is a shit. He thinks that pushing Loki to be more like Thor—to be more like himself—is what Loki needs. He doesn’t take the time to actually get to know his sons and learn that they’re completely different people, with different strengths. Although he kind of, maybe, eventually gets better, his inability and unwillingness to see Loki for who he really is, and Loki’s damage because of this, absolutely breaks my heart.

Relationship Status: MFEO

I knew we were going to hit it off from the moment I heard your name, Book. And I was not wrong.

Literary Matchmaking:



● Another perfect example of a complicated (and sexy) anti-hero can be found in Kaz Brekker in Leigh Bardugo’s Six of Crows duology.

● The main character in Marissa Meyer’s Renegades series also deals with her dual nature and what’s “expected” of her from the adults in her life.

● And for more Marvel YA, check out Black Widow: Forever Red by Margaret Stohl.


FTC Full Disclosure: I received a copy of this book from Marvel Press, but got neither a private dance party with Tom Hiddleston nor money in exchange for this review. Loki: Where Mischief Lies is available now.