I Bring the Fire Part I : Wolves by C. Gockel

Picked up this first volume in a sort of serialized self-published novel the other day because it was free.  And read it while I was sick and not up to much besides laying on the couch reading something light. I enjoy unique twists on mythology so I Bring the Fire seemed worth a look.

i-bring-the-fireIn the middle of America, on Route 44, Amy Lewis has a plan — to get to her grandma’s house in time for dinner. Galaxies away Loki is waking up in a prison cell, strangely without a hangover, and with no idea what he’s done wrong — this time anyway. But he does know Thor is hiding something, Odin is up to something wicked, and there seems to be something he’s forgotten… 

In this tale that is equal parts “Another Fine Myth,” “American Gods,” and “Once Upon a Time,” a very nice midwestern girl and a jaded, still very mischievous Loki must join forces to outwit gods, elves, magic sniffing cats, and nosy neighbors. If Loki can remember exactly what he’s forgotten and Amy can convince him not to be too distracted by Earthly gadgets, her boobs, or three day benders, they just might pull it off… 

While an easy and at times entertaining read, it wasn’t compelling enough for me to pay $3 apiece for the remaining books in the series.

If you are going to mention authors like Neil Gaiman and Robert Lynn Asprin in your blurb you need a little more writing chops than this one showed.

There were a number of well done aspects (the suspense of Amy on the road when Loki first makes an appearance, grandma Beatrice, etc.) and I felt like the book was just about to take off on a number of occasions but it just never quite got there. And when it abruptly ended I wasn’t willing to invest more.

It has the feel of serialized fiction in a magazine or comic somehow. A little action, some backstory, a bit of character development, more action, etc.  I don’t know maybe I just wanted a little more depth and a more developed level of writing.

It felt like a sketch or a start to a novel not a completed story. And I am still not sure what exactly the plot was. Loki sons are in danger and he want’s revenge but something bad is happening and Odin needs his help. He ends up on earth and connects with Amy and likes her large breasts (seriously, this comes up quite a few times). They go to another dimension survive Valkyries and Thor and then Loki takes off. The end? And what is the point of the Velociraptors that keep coming up?

Alas, such is the risk of self-published serials like this.  That is the point of offering the first book for free, after all, to entice you to read, and pay for, more. And there seems to be quite a few happy reviewers online. But for me it was an entertaining but ultimately rather flat story.

Anyone out there read more of the series? Drop a comment and let me know what you thought and why you kept reading.

Kevin Holtsberry
I work in communications and public affairs. I try to squeeze in as much reading as I can while still spending time with my wife and two kids (and cheering on the Pittsburgh Steelers and Michigan Wolverines during football season).

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