Member Reviews
I dont know what I was expecting but it wasnt quite what I got but I am not complaining . This was very cute and I think alot of kids of various age groups and genders will enjoy the activities in this book. They wont even realize they are learning something! This book is beautifully illustrated and has lots of neat tricks that look quite easy for the adults and the kids. Very easy to follow instructions.
Much like one of Loki’s variants, this book has a bit of an identity crisis. With the title, Loki’s Book of Magic and Mischief: Tricks and Deceptions from the Prince of Illusions any Marvel fan would pick up this book. The title promises to give us a peek into Loki’s tricks and deceptions. In the forward, author Robb Pearlman purports to be an archivist dedicated to rescuing ancient books. He claims that he discovered and edited this book that Loki created for a potential future self in case he somehow lost and needed to regain his magical powers. With that tilte and forward, the author sets the stage for a Spell book that would reteach Loki his powers. One expects a lot of Marvel lore and magic.
But this book is actually exactly as advertised by the editors. Rather than a grimoire, it is a lesson book with step-by-step instructions for magic tricks. Each lesson written by Loki, for Loki to perform, is accompanied by the stage patter that would help him convince Midgardians (Earthlings) just how powerful he is. The instructions for the trick are explained quite clearly and accompanied by drawings that help clarify the set up and performance of the trick. This book would provide hours of entertainment for any kid who loves magic tricks. But if the reader isn’t old enough or fan enough to have seen several Marvel movies, a lot of the commentary will go over their head. Most Marvel aficionados will enjoy the Loki Lore and love all the original Marvel art. But they may find page after page of magic tricks a bit tedious. T
This book would enthrall anyone who is both a Marvel fan and would like to try is hand at magic. But that is a bit of a narrow niche. For that target audience this book would deserve 5 stars. For most kids who would have fun with magic, this would also be a five-star instruction book. As a typical Marvel fan, I enjoyed the discussion and the artwork, but I was underwhelmed. The book provides an entertaining few hours, but it is not a must read. I averaged out the rating to give this book a solid four stars.
Thanks NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book!
Not my usual cup of tea, but can totally see how an older child/someone interested in magic tricks would enjoy this. Particularly if they are a Marvel fan as I am.
Magic taught by the god of mischief — a great concept and an enjoyable read at any age.
I don't know what I expected to find in this book but when I started reading it I loved it and it seemed bizarre at the same time.
Here we find a diary that Loki hides for the Loki of the future to whom he knows that all his memories are going to be erased, but he keeps this little guide to magic and tricks in a place that he knows any Loki could find. I loved this part, the way they present each magic trick as if it was REALLY Loki who was explaining it, referring to the Avengers, to different moments that we already know or that we could read about in comics, I loved it, I thought original and captivating.
What I found kind of bizarre (but not bad) is that he doesn't really teach magic tricks!! I didn't expect that at all, I thought it would be more abstract, magical things, but no! They are really magic tricks. Reading them sometimes becomes tedious if you are not interested in learning them, but there was always a special touch that made it more dynamic.
The illustrations are MAGNIFICENT.
Thanks BenBella Books for the ARC I read on NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
This book is just full of fun magic tricks taught by the god of mischief himself, Loki Laufeyson. Inside are cool practical tricks written clearly with easy to follow along images so any kid can mystify their friends and family. What a cute book for beginner magicians and Marvel fans alike!
A how to guide for the Midgards looking to be as powerful as the trickster god Loki. This book gives step-by-step guides on how to master the tricks and magic of the popular Marvel character. The book is broken down into sections starting with the easy magic and ending on the expert tricks, each section comes with beautiful illustrations of the god found in various comics.
A surprising book filled with lots of magic tricks all in the spirit of Loki. Although the book is marketed towards adults, it will be easy for middle grade and young adult readers to follow along and learn how to perform various magic tricks.
Good magic book for kid, fun but I got bored quickly. The artwork was good. The steps for the tricks were clear and easy to follow (I tried about four of them) so yeah fun distraction for kids.
Rating ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
"Everyone loves magic! Especially Marvel Comics’ Loki, who’s mastery of magic makes him one of the most dangerous—and beloved—antiheroes in all of The Nine Realms. And now, for the first time ever, Loki shares the secrets behind performing 35 tricks!"
Thank you Netgalley for letting me read and review this book. It was a somewhat enjoyable read. To me it got a little boring though. The art was pretty and I enjoyed reading some of the magic tricks, but it got old quickly. If you enjoy Loki and learning about magic tricks you should check this one out. It just wasn't for me.
This was a very cute book that I think could provide a lot of super fun activities for kids. With an introduction reminiscent of Percy Jackson and the Olympians, it is sure to draw them in with the promise of magic and mischief. I am reminded of magic trick books magicians used to put out in a more kid-friendly and engaging way for a younger audience. I could imagine them excitedly telling people they have learned magic and ready to show off their tricks. Very cute.
I was not expecting this but I found it delightful. So this is a twofold amusement. Perhaps you are looking to entertain with some simple, but fun and less than costly magic tricks, but you also happen to be a Marvel fan? Your wish has been granted. Not only does this book treat you so some delightful observations on himself and those he battles from the point of view of Loki himself, most of the items needed for these playful slights of hand can easily be located in your home or found at a dollar store. Found myself racked with the occasional giggle fit as Loki ever modest (yeah, right) puts forth an almost autobiographical view of his own cleverness and his utter disdain for the Avengers and their ilk, including Thor. Really, though, what is a Loki book that does not rip on Thor if not a missed opportunity for entertainment, right? Regardless, the tricks are easy enough with flare and mischief in only the best ways and the narrative is so enjoyable you will want it for yourself just to reread when you run out of Season 2 Loki episodes to watch.
This was a super cute step by step book teaching readers magic tricks by none other than the god of mischief himself! This is definitely something I would gift to a young Loki fan who also enjoys magic and tricks. I personally don’t have much interest in the step by step guides but the artwork in this book alone are mesmerizing!!
Thank you NetGalley and to the publishers for giving me this ARC inc exchange for my honest review!
A charming book that gathers magic tricks done and explained by Loki, the God of Mischief, himself.
It starts off with an introduction and a warning (very nicely done too). The tricks are divided into three parts, showing three levels of mischievous magic. It has some very nice classic Marvel comic book illustrations of Loki, and detailed step-by-step instructions to all 35 tricks.
Fun and entertaining, particularly for the younger fans of Loki.
(First of all, thank you NetGalley, and Marvel Comics for sending me this ARC in exchange for an honest review)
Loki's Book of Magic and Mischief is a book about step-by-step 35 magic tricks. I didn't expect this because I didn't read even the cover, I just saw Loki on the cover and knew I had to read it. So yeah, kind of disappointed because I imagined a real Loki comic (That happens for not reading well). So in my opinion, it's a good way for kids who love magic to introduce them to the Marvel world by meeting Loki. Thus, I'm giving it 3 stars.
Immense gratitude to #NetGalley and t BenBella Books for this ARC in exchange for an honest review of the book.
Loki's Book of Magic and Mischief by Marvel Comics and Robb Pearlman, is a grimoire featuring fun tricks, slight of hands, and disappearing objects for mischief makers of all ages. It was an entertaining read, I know my nieces
and nephews would enjoy giving these tricks a whirl.. It was hard not to want to pull some of the tricks on family members. This might be a end of summer gift for a few people I know. Highly recommend
I liked the idea of this, magic tricks for kids to learn from Loki. The pictures seemed easy to follow and I think kids - especially ones who are fans of marvel - will get a kick out of learning tricks from the God of Mischief himself.
Marvel
Is it the curse of all kinds of franchises, the rise and fall of empires? I don’t know about you, but are you a little tired of superhero movies and TV shows? There was a resurgence in the 2010s, cinema exploded with superhero movies. Yes there were those from the 2000s like X-Men, Blade and then the few punisher films and games. They were there, but sprinkled in with every other kind of film genre. Now, it seems like there are two categories in film and TV, superhero and not superhero. R&R do like a good superhero comic, movie or tv show, but when you’re inundated with them, sometimes you can get a little bored. And when a huge conglomerate like Disney took over Marvel, what’s a mega business like them going to do? Except release, release, release.
Innovation
Why reinvent the wheel? The famous phrase that does what it says. You won’t be able to. There are just things out there that can’t be done. Sure you can improve it. (Nasa, n.d) But the basic concept stays the same. There has been lots of reinvention in marvel, especially the comics. There are more extensive lists on the internet where you can find what different writers brought to the different characters of the Marvel Universe, but what’s important is to try. There has been a certain formula to the MCU, but it’s where different graphic novel’s like this shake things up. Would you have ever thought there would be a book of magic tricks packed full of Marvel lore, brought to you by Loki?
Interest
Removing the magic tricks, I was actually interested in the small narrative that tied the whole graphic novel together. I won't spoil anything, but it did pique my interest and I would be interested to see, if even in an albeit small story, what happens to the "reader" of the book of mischief, and what would Loki do to that person who stole his book? There are 35 tricks included here and if you’re into magic, or Loki, you’ll want to add this to your collection. It’s fun and novel and if magic is your thing, then I’d say this is the book for you. Its described as for readers of all ages and I’m sure children would love a book like this. Guided by step by step instructions and illustrations, there is bound to be something in the book that you can have a go at too.
Conclusion
If you’re expected a normal graphic novel, Loki’s Book of Magic and Mischief, is not that. It’s a magic book. The first I have come across in comic form, using comic characters. It’s interesting and unique, and of course, it cannot be compared to other graphic novels, because it’s more of a DIY book. If you’re into magic or a diehard Loki fan, this book will be great for you.
References
Amazon, (2023). Loki’s Book of Magic and Mischief. Accessed via: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Lokis-Book-Magic-Mischief-Deceptions/dp/1637741626
Nasa, (n.d). Reinventing the Wheel. Accessed via: https://www.nasa.gov/specials/wheels/
First I wanna say thanks to Net Galley and Marvel Entertainment for providing me an ARC in exchange for a honest review.
So... unfortunately I'm proud extremely disappointed with this book cause the cover give us soooo much... and as a Loki's obsessed fan it was so sad cause this book is just a bunch of recipes, really boring.
At first i was so excited when i saw the cover of the book. I thought that this will be one of the comic book but turns out that it actually looks like a tutorial or tips. I’m kinda devastated because I’m assuming this book will be like story of loki why he become such a mischief child.
T̶h̶i̶s̶ i̶s̶ a̶ c̶h̶i̶l̶d̶r̶e̶n̶'s̶ b̶o̶o̶k̶ f̶o̶r̶ m̶a̶g̶i̶c̶ t̶r̶i̶c̶k̶s̶. This is a secret, ancient book written by Loki for a future variant of himself, and restored by Robb Pearlman under dire circumstances. It's to be opened solely at your own risk. This artifact has not been altered (pinky promise). Despite Midgardians not being equipped to perform Loki's magic, you still might get empowered if reading the instructions carefully.
The book is structured in three parts, showing mischievous magic tricks on three levels. Every trick is carefully described including drawings of ingredients and tools.
My son would have loved this book when he was younger and still in his magic-tricky years, so I can fully recommend it for kids who want to dive into magic tricks or adults who are still kids inside. I sadly do not have the patience to try out all the tricks described, but I really enjoyed the framing and narrative of this book, being a book fan of the Trickster.
4/5 stars
Thank you @netgalley and @benbellabooks for the eARC.
My thanks to both NetGalley and the publisher BenBella Books, Smart Pop for an advanced copy of this grimoire featuring fun tricks, slight of hands, and disappearing objects for mischief makers of all ages.
Loki Laufeyson, the Trickster God of the the Norse Pantheon. God of Lies, Mischief and stories. Adopted son of the Allfather Odin, step-brother to Thor God of Thunder. Enemy of boredom, a fool for fun, play and all in for mystifying the mundane. Also not that well known, a very good stage magician and slight of hand artist. One can not fool the Avengers without knowing how to hide a coin or a number of coins from the eyes of superheroes. And all great bad guys have to start off somewhere. Robb Pearlman has braved the darkness, translating this ancient book of magic from Norse to modern day so one can understand the draw of fooling others. Loki's Book of Magic and Mischief: Tricks and Deceptions from the Prince of Illusions are time tested tricks and and stage magic, quick to remove boredom and even calm a savage Hulk.
The book is a book of practical magic for burgeoning gods of mischief boy or girl. The book features illustrations and a brief story, the illustrations from various Marvel comics and the story tying everything together. The book features step by step instructions to make coins appear, or horns, and many other things to disappear or move somewhere the people don't expect. There are mentions of other spellcasters from the Marvel universe, some with suggestions or cracks about Loki which add to the fun.
The book is well written and laid out, with the instruction clear and concise and easy to get a grasp of even for the most clumsy of people like myself. This is an ideal book to get little eyes of youtube, even if it is just for a short period of time. My nephews had a good time with it, and even a few days later were still talking about some of their tricks. The writing is very informative, with jokes that are actually funny, which is not common in books that are written for children. Kid Lokis and grumpy Old Man Lokis will have a lot of fun with this.
A book that can be used to distract on rainy days, or when little eyes are starting to become militarized by what they find on youtube. Well-written, funny and lots of fun.