The Chronicles of Loki

The Chronicles of Loki Book Three: Ragnarok is the third book in a trilogy centred on the life of the Norse trickster, Loki. This narrative is essentially a reworking of the Norse myths, where Loki, commonly identified as the god of mischief and wickedness, gets to tell the story from his point of view.

The twist in this treatment of Loki is that he, Odin, Frey, and company are presented as if they were real human beings who lived ages ago on a lost island continent they called Igdrasil. This island, as in the myths, was divided into nine realms inhabited by distinctly different peoples and cultures. One of the most challenging and fun aspects of this book has been reimagining Loki's various adventures and misadventures as they might have actually happened without the benefit of magic and sorcery, though a Lovecraftian dimension is at work in this book and its predecessor.

The book unfolds across two time axes. The first takes place in the present, where Loki, his family, and allies are setting in motion a war of vengeance against Odin and the Aesir. Readers are introduced to the machinations of key characters from the myths: Odin of Asgard, Frey of Vanaheim, Surt, High King of Muspelheim, the rulers of the wee folk of the West—including Ivaldi, the principal ruler of the Dwarves, and Mama Cori, Lokane of Alfheim—and Loki's children, Fenrir (aka the Wolf), Fafnir (ruler of Jormundheim), and Hela, Queen of Nifleheim.

The second timeline serves as a memoir of Loki's life, covering significant events such as the theft and recovery of Thor's weapon, Mjollnir, Odin and Loki's encounter with an evil brigand, Odin's vision quest and ensuing madness, Sif's golden hair, Balder's death, and Loki's imprisonment.