Dives deep into Loki’s inner life and the complexities beyond his sarcastic exterior. Enjoyed it more than the second season of his actual show.

Author Katherine Locke took that cool "Journey Into Mystery" comic series by Kieron Gillen and turned it into a compelling novel. She digs deep into all the messy feelings and choices of our favorite Marvel characters. Loki's always been stuck with the titles of God of Lies or God of Mischief, and he has played that role pretty well in the past. But this time around, reborn Loki isn't quite sold on sticking to the same script.

The situation in Asgard and the Nine Realms is getting dicey thanks to the Serpent, stirring up some major trouble. To put a stop to it, Loki has to draw on the reputation of his former self, skillfully navigating through his behavior of the past. The catch is, this Loki isn't as heartless as everyone assumes. In his effort to assist Thor and sidestep Ragnarok, Loki embarks on a tumultuous journey, grappling with his own identity crisis and working to shed the labels others have placed on him. It's a wild expedition across the realms, as Loki tries to rewrite his own narrative and steer clear of his mistakes of the past.

I think it takes a lot to interpret a graphic novel and specifically this one. Locke tries really hard and clearly cares about the source material. It ultimately wasn't my favorite, but Loki also isn't my favorite character so that may be a part of it.

I was pleasantly surprised while reading Loki, Journey Into Mystery, I was expecting the usual comic book in prose young adult novel. Instead I found an introspective tale about a young reborn Loki, trying to walk a path of redemption. This Loki is trying to rise above the past version of himself. He is distrusted, attacked for the actions of his previous life, abuse heaped upon him by all Asgardians with only his older brother, Thor, to protect him. Plots are discovered, deaths occur, schemes & betrayals abound. The Mythology is handled fairly well and hangs together with the Marvel Multiverse. All in all, one of the better adaptations of a Comic book/Movie character.

I enjoyed this book! I loved Loki as a character and found him to be incredibly well-written in this book. There was a lot of action in this book as well as a lot of plot twists, which is typical of a Loki book! I liked the various characters and would be interested in reading more books by this author. I would recommend this to any Loki or Marvel fans.

"Loki: Journey Into Mystery" offers a fresh take on Marvel's trickster god. This prose novel is a whirlwind of mischief and fun, with surprises at every turn. It delves into Loki's character, giving us a deeper understanding of his motivations. With sharp writing and vivid imagery, it's a must-read for Marvel fans. I received an ARC through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you!

Another great Loki novel! I had read the graphic novel version of this book but I really enjoyed reading it as a full out novel!

Thank you to netgalley and the publishers for providing me with an arc for an honest review!

I got this graphic novel through NetGalley, which doesn't affect the review.

"Loki: Journey into Mystery" is the novelisation of a comic book story. Although I don't recall all the details of the comics, I found this novel to closely mirror the idea and key events of the source material.

The author skillfully translates the visual elements of the comic book into prose, allowing readers to envision the scenes with as if they were reading the comics. Unfortunately, this also means that the slower pages are just as slow in the novelisation. The main characters are rounder, since certain elements, implicit in comic book format, become expicit. Superhero comic books always rely on previous knowledge of the characters. Context is also described in a much more detailed way, although there are still some scenes that would benefit from a brief explanation of previous events. Thus, new readers don't need to be familiar with the source material to enjoy this novel.

In conclusion, this is a very good adaptation of an already amazing story. It's great for new readers and it provides them with an accessible entry point to the adventures of Kid Loki, but it adds very little in terms of plot for those already familiar with the story.

A disappointing experience due to a struggle to fully get caught up in the story and the supporting characters who felt so flat. I had originally been excited to read this novel, as Loki is a joy to read in the graphic novels, but this book had too many obstacles for me. The tales were lacklustre and at times confusing, I had to reread pages to keep track of who was doing what. The only real positive was Thori, the hell-puppy who was a delight.

Sadly this wasn’t a success with this reader.

Loki is one of my favorite villains and I have always wanted to read the graphic novel series this novel is based on. So this is the review of someone who hasn’t read it, and I think it matters…

I really wanted to like it but I didn’t that much. There parts that were fine but I actually found myself pushing to get it read and not wanting to read it anymore. And the weird part is I’m not sure why. My guess is that it felt like it wasn’t fleshed out enough. The book was more like 4 short stories that all had an overarching story. I didn’t like Loki as much I as I normally do and he’s the reason I was there.

I feel like if you had read the graphic novels you would probably like it even if just for nostalgias sake.

Novelisations actually got me into this genre. Doctor Who and The Daemons is a book I credit with merging SF, Fantasy and Horror into one story and I can’t help thinking that the show and that particular book I read a lot made a lasting impression on my tastes. It raises an interesting question - who is a novelisation for and what makes a good one work.? For me as a casual comics reader unaware of the source material but mildly aware of the characters Loki - Journey into mystery by Katherine Locke was interesting but ultimately has a few issues getting in the way of me enjoying it.

Asgard is destroyed and the remnants are on earth. Loki is responsible. Loki is Dead! But Loki has been reborn as a teenager. Trying to show he is a new God. But when Odin senses a threat and plans to attack Earth then Thor is locked up and its down to Loki to stop things. Problem being a villain people think you’re still a villain. Hell and all other dimensions though will not stop in the way.

My lack of knowledge of the original story and wider cast is my biggest issue reading this book. While I recognise a few of the characters’ names and locations there is little time for the story to breathe and tell me who they are and what their relationship to each other is. We might get a whistle stop explanation as a scene starts but it’s more like a short wiki page summary than narrative world building. You sense this huge story is part of a huger story but no one really explains things in a way to make me care for it even when the fate of my world is in the balance! That’s frustrating because Locke can make scenes individually work. They can deliver pace, snark and plotting which makes each chapter work but not gelling together very well. I did enjoy Teenage not quite evil Loki but the sea of situations and characters we flow through feels like its been shortchanged in the pages department. A major character has a huge battle and dies and it’s a simple couple of paragraphs. It feels like a book driven by a page limit rather than has had it achieved what the original tale which I imagine was many issues long set out to do.

I think if you’re a long-term Loki/Thor comics fan then you’ll probably get the references and enjoy this narrative take but for the more casual reader like myself you may find it a more bewildering tale. Are these noveliations more for the former than the latter? If I think back to the Daemons all those years ago I was reading a tale over ten years old at the time I read it - I never felt i was missing out and that for me is what is lacking from this tale. I wanted to be immersed in the world and instead its like a movie with no sound or text cards, Interesting but not delivering the full effect on the wider audience. A puzzling book!

Loki: Journey into Mystery is a name that some may recognise, and this book is a retelling of the hit comic series by Kieron Gillen, originally published from 2011-2013. However, this isn’t just a copy/paste style adaptation, as writer Katherine Locke has managed to infuse this retelling with enough new flavour and originality for it to be able to stand on its own, and it’s a perfect first Loki story for those who might be coming to this character off the back of the films or television series.

When a plague of fear is sweeping the world, the Asgardians are trying to get to the bottom of things, and it’s believed that Thor is the only one who can defeat the ancient, powerful Serpent. However, the newly reborn Loki will be damned if they’re going to let their brother face this threat alone. Set not long after the death and rebirth of the trickster god, the Loki that we have here is the start of a newer, less antagonistic version of the character, and they begin this story as a younger version of themselves. Because of this, a lot of the expected baggage for the character has been dropped, allowing for Locke to be able to do some interesting things with the character (even whilst sticking to the established story they’ve been given).

Locke has a history with writing books aimed at Young Adult readers, and is able to bring some of that expertise and style to this story, as we have a version of Loki that’s more like a YA protagonist than the older villain they were in comics before this point. Locke injects Loki with a ton of personality and energy that’s going to appeal to younger readers, and will feel like a lovely refresh of the character; even for those who’ve been reading this version of Loki for the last decade in the comics.

Adapting a pre-established story can be difficult, but Locke manages to do it in such a way that it seems effortless, and if it wasn’t for the cover telling you that this was based on a comic series you’d be able to come away thinking that this was a brand new story. It’s got an energy and flavour to it that’s instantly infectious and gets you excited to read more. A book that’s perfect for Loki fans, and will appeal even to those that have read the original work.

Gotta love a story about Loki. He’s one of my favourite Marvel characters cause he’s complex. This was interesting, and a good little story.

I personally love novelisations and I adore that lately we’ve been getting more and more prose novels for graphic novels. Katherine Locke has done a masterful job at turning Kieron Gillen’s graphic novel into a prose one. Locke has kept the characters, storyline and added in a little more life to the characters along the way. Now I will say that while novelisations and prose novels are usually a good starting point due to the storyline of Journey Into Mystery a little bit of base knowledge of the canon and sources will help a lot. As with most things in the Marvel Universe there are multiple plot lines, timelines and sometimes universe to contend with so if you are going completely knew or coming from the cinematic universe it may be worth reading the graphic novel first or at least going in understanding at the start you might not know all the characters mentioned etc. If you don’t mind that or are happy to do research as you go this is still perfectly accessible to a new fan.


Now that is out of the way lets go into the novel itself. As I already said Locke is amazing at bringing the characters to life. I personally loved their tone and style of writing and found it really did bring the graphic novel to life. This I wouldn’t imagine is an easy task when you consider that a graphic novel has limited text and graphics to show and tell the story but for me Locke nails it! You could really see yourself in the lands and places Loki visits as well as get an understanding of the inhabitants and characters.

If you are already a fan of the graphic novel you really do need to add this to your collection. It is also perfect for Loki fans in general.

This prose novel retelling of the Loki graphic novel series was complex, witty and captivating. I haven't read the graphic novel series myself but this has definitely made me want to. Loki's character was as mysterious, mischievous and humorous as we know and love him to be. I especially liked the addition of Leah and Thori and would love to see their stories expanded on some more too. A truly delightful read for anyone who is even the slightest fan of Marvel and Loki.

“All stories have beginnings. The good ones don’t have endings. In every world, stories are told. By gods or mortals, it doesn’t matter. Stories are currency. Stories are power. ... Many millennia ago, I read a fairytale that began like this: Once there was where there was not. This isn’t a fairytale. Not strictly speaking.”

My thanks to Titan Books for an eARC via NetGalley of ‘Loki - Journey into Mystery’ by Katherine Locke.

This prose novel is adapted from the graphic novel of the same name by Kieron Gillen and tells the story of the reborn trickster god’s journey to find redemption as he tackles new adventures.

The novel and graphic novel are both linked to the Marvel Comics SF-themed depiction of the Norse gods and Asgard. While I have a passing familiarity with the comics and their cinematic adaptations, I am not that knowledgeable. However, despite this I found this quite an enjoyable story.

It is divided into four parts, each covering a corresponding collection of the graphic novel. I would have appreciated a short introduction that linked the novel to the source material.

My favourite of the parts was ‘The Manchester Gods’ in which Loki and companions are sent by the All-Mother to give assistance to King Arthur in the British Otherworld.

Overall, I found ‘Loki - Journey into Mystery’ an entertaining tale despite my lack of knowledge about the Marvel version of the characters. It also inspired me to look at the graphic novels and I might well read these at some point.

3.5 stars rounded up to 4.

I’m afraid that this book did not live up to my expectations. The premise was exciting, and Locke quickly established an exciting discourse with a promising plot.
However, as the story continues, I am let down. The plot is not thrilling, it is merely a trudge to try and get through it. I held out hope that this book would get better as it went on, but it did not.

From my understanding, this book was adapted from a graphic novel, which would explain why the story feels terribly disjointed, with events and emotions seemingly appearing out of nowhere.

For those of us who have grown up on a steady diet of Marvel Comics, the character of Loki needs no introduction. In the hands of Kieron Gillen, the character took on a whole new dimension that has now been brought to life once again in Katherine Locke's adaptation, Loki: Journey Into Mystery.

First things first, this book is not for the uninitiated. If you're not already familiar with the Marvel universe and its characters, you may find yourself struggling to keep up with the multiple plot threads and references. However, that is the status quo for most comic book stories coming from the big two.

Locke has done an admirable job of staying true to Gillen's original vision of Loki, while at the same time adding her own touches to the story. Loki is a complex character with a unique moral code that often puts him at odds with the other gods. And it is this conflict that forms the backbone of the story.

The supporting cast is equally impressive, adding much-needed depth to the narrative. The humor that is a hallmark of Loki's character is also present, and some of the one-liners in the book are laugh-out-loud funny.

But perhaps the most impressive aspect of this book is the way it weaves together various plot threads from across the Marvel universe. Locke manages to tie everything together in a way that is both satisfying and meaningful.

In terms of pacing, the book starts off slow but picks up steam as it progresses. The action scenes are well-choreographed and the quieter moments are given ample room to breathe.

Loki: Journey Into Mystery is great for fans of Marvel Comics looking for something outside the pages of a floppy comic. While it may be daunting for newcomers, for those who are already invested in the world of Asgard, this book offers a fresh and exciting take on a beloved character. With a talented author like Katherine Locke at the helm, we can only hope that we will see more adaptations of our favorite Marvel stories in the future.

I always love everything Loki and this is no exception. Such a fun and well done novel, thank you for the early read!

As a huge Marvel fan, I absolutely devoured this book but you don't need to be a fan of that world to enjoy this book. This side of Loki is more rooted in the he Norse mythology origins but is still as action packed as you would expect.