@MightyIntrovert

First of all, I would like to say that I absolutely love this story. It has a lovely story, and it leaves you in a lot of suspense and has plenty of those torturous feels that you know you love even though they're really painful sometimes.

It has beautiful spelling and grammar, which you don't always find in fics on here. As a reader who can't help but obsess over spelling and grammar, because I'm just like that and I know a lot of other people on here are too, I'm always glad to find such excellence in a fic about my beloved Loki.

While reading the story, I found myself often disliking Peter, who featured as another love interest for the protagonist, Grace, and can be seen on the book's cover. This was mainly simply because Grace was agonizing over whether she loved Loki or Peter more, and as a definite Loki fan I was obviously on his side, as a lot of other readers were as can be seen from the comments.

However, having glanced through it on a half-re-read, I found myself sympathizing more with Peter. He's a brilliant character, with plenty of strengths but he also has his weaknesses, which makes him more human (this can also be seen in Grace). In fact, I found myself almost shipping Grace with him. Almost.

I also love the fact that both Grace and Peter are deeply religious, Peter actually being a priest which adds to the story in several ways. It gives more depths to them both in my opinion, and it does with without shoving religion in your face - you don't get sick of people going on and on about religion, which can be annoying even for those who agree with the religion, because they're here to read a story not a sermon. Distant Shores manages this wonderfully.

The setting and description are gorgeous too. If you have even a halfway decent imagination in working order, you can easily see yourself in the beach where our three protagonists are so often found, or the church, or Grace's home.

However, as much as I'd love to continue heaping praise on this wonderful story, it does have its faults, which I feel I need to point out for a good review.

First of all, Loki himself. Loki is an amazing, complex character, which is I think what Loki fangirls like about him (those of us that don't just like him because he's hot). He's evil, yes, I guess you could say that, but he's such a tragic and misunderstood person I don't understand how anyone could watch the movies and not feel sorry for him, if not love him.

  However, I feel like a lot of the darkness which makes him so interesting is taken away in Distant Shores. That's what makes him Loki, and I feel like the character in this book is, although definitely recognizable as the Loki we all know and love, not the same. He has his evil moments, in which Grace refers to him as Dark Loki, and the rest of the time I feel like he's almost been forced into a nice guy in order to match up to Peter, the ultimate nice guy (although still a believable guy, which again, is a great feat).

  Also there are a few flaws in Grace. I absolutely adore this character, don't get me wrong, but there's just a couple of things about her that don't quite add up - for example, what kind of introvert wears bright red lipstick, in not that long a time finds herself opening up about most of her life to Loki, is very sassy, and is surprisingly comfortable kissing in front of people? Yes, I'm nitpicking here, but this just didn't make sense to me. I feel she would've been more believable if she was more socially awkward or nervous, or presented as less of an introvert to begin with.

  My final negative point is what I know from the comments a few other people were cross with Grace over too. As part of the story, she does something that most people would perceive as wrong, and somehow she acts like the righteously angry victim and Loki as the guy who did something wrong and should feel bad for it. I feel as if the author here was trying to force Loki into being a bad guy so it was more believable she still wanted Peter, although I may well be mistaken. In any case, I think it would've made more sense for the storyline and for the characters for them to have switched roles here.

  All in all, this is an absolutely stunning read, which all Loki fans on Wattpad should give a go. It has a sequel, Demon Echoes, and Divine Providence, which I believe is a spin-off based on Peter, although I haven't read that one myself.

  I hope you enjoyed reading this review!

Note: I'd just like to say I feel like a total hypocrite when talking about the portrayal of Loki in this story. He's a practically impossible character, because of, again, how complex and mysterious he is as a person. In all of my Loki fics, I'd say the only scene where I ever got him even half right was the first part of A Daughter Exiled. However, I felt I ought to give my full opinion in the review, no matter my personal ability.