Loki: A Bad God's Guide to Being Good

Your reviewer wonders whether Louie Stowell has come across the hilarious series of books by Jamie Thompson about a Dark Lord who accidentally comes to earth and, becoming a weedy schoolboy known as Dirk Lloyd, attempts to cope with life on Earth before returning to his true form?  There are indeed some similarities, as the powerful god Loki, known on Earth as Liam, is disgusted with his human physical appearance, especially his ‘noodle’ arms, has trouble understanding Earth life, and thinks he should absolutely under no circumstances be made to fold his own undergarments, but the difference is that Loki has been sent by Odin as a punishment, and he has to try to be good. Being Loki, this is exceedingly difficult, and his -3000 points, rather than being converted into plusses, just increase and increase to –2 million, until he discovers his conscience and finds someone whose happiness he puts before his own.  He has to record his actions and thoughts in a Diary, which contradicts him if he lies – what a great idea! A big drawback is that Thor, alias Thomas, has come to Earth with him, likes to sit on his face and fart, and is generally regarded as ‘the handsome one’ and far more popular. Their ‘parents’, minor Norse gods in disguise, don’t really know much about parenting or life on Earth, but they do all have some fun, and crisps turn out to be a great discovery. Both boys are 11 in their earthly form, and are also dealing with secondary school teachers and bullies like Fierce Boy. Loki has difficulty knowing who to trust, and makes mistakes, which he then has to try and rectify.  In view of the films that are now popular, this may well attract young readers.

Louie Stowell’s own illustrations are in a childlike cartoon style which works well, and readers may well want to draw the characters and doodles themselves.