Old Gods New Tricks

By Author / Illustrator

Thiago de Moraes

Genre

Myths & Legends

Age range(s)

Publisher

David Fickling Books

ISBN

9781788452953

Format

Paperback / softback

Published

06-07-2023

Synopsis

Trixie dos Santos is obsessed with trickster gods, so when the world is plunged into darkness, she knows who can bring back the light. Loki, Maui and the Monkey King join her on the hugest adventure, but can Trixie keep these maverick saviours in line?

Shining a light on epic myths from cultures across the world, Old Gods New Tricks is at once a heart-racing and fascinating read. Full of heart and humour, it has the potential to spark a lifelong interest in folklore and legends.

Thiago's distinctive artwork brings these tricksy gods to life, creating a truly unique and unforgettable package.

See also: Let Sleeping Gods Lie (book 2)

Reviews

Hayley

Old Gods New Tricks by Thiago De Moraes is a feast of a mythological adventure that enlightens the reader on epic myths from cultures across the world. We are first introduced to Trixie when the world is plunged into darkness; she has been called into the headteacher's office for carrying out one-too-many pranks. Trixie is the daughter of two anthropologists and sees herself as a scholar of ancient beliefs, only this time it has landed her in serious trouble at school, so when the light does not return, Trixie is determined to find out exactly who has stolen it.

It turns out that it is the gods who have stolen the electricity, and it is threatening total disaster for humankind, so Trixie decides to gather a band of infamous trickster gods to help her retrieve it. She knows that their pranks and schemes will help her steal the electricity back for the humans, so along with her pet ferret Lorgi, she summons some of the world's deadliest trickster gods: Exù, Loki, Maui and many more. Trixie battles the trials and challenges to outwit the gods into being on her side and she knows that she needs all of the gods to face the battle that awaits them on Olympus.

This highly entertaining story portrays the deities like a dysfunctional extended family, which brings humour to the plot. Children will love reading this story because it creates a magical world of total belief and the illustrations help to bring this to life. What I really enjoyed about this book was its layout. Each chapter starts with a quotation that is taken from a genuine encyclopaedia of mythology and this just adds an extra sprinkle of magic to the layers of the storytelling.

Children will be captivated by Trixie’s character and her ability to unite a band of trickster gods.

288 pages /Reviewed by Hayley Summerfield, teacher