frozel's reviews
351 reviews

Solo Leveling, Vol. 2 by Chugong

adventurous medium-paced

4.0

I like this, but I’m also like babes… you’re a little bit too powerful [About Jinwoo Sung]. 

Stories that feature a MC with unlimited power and the inability to be defeated often walk the tightrope between being a fun ride and utterly boring. If the character doesn’t have any setbacks that foster development or in other words, can’t be humbled, then it makes for a lackluster story (One Punch Man is a great example). I am enjoying this story so far, but I fear it may teeter in that direction.

Dune by Frank Herbert

adventurous challenging slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

4.0

In my second read of this, I am certain that I love this book and I am very interested in the universe Frank constructed. I haven’t continued the series since my first read, but I intend to continue it going forward.

Among the Bros: A Fraternity Crime Story by Max Marshall

informative

4.0

There's nothing like White men committing crimes and either getting away with them completely or barely unscathed. 🤡

Okay, Cupid by Mason Deaver

fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

Mason Deaver’s Okay, Cupid is a middling tale that explores the idea of diverging from one’s known path and following the unknown. Specifically, it follows Jude’s journey balancing the tightrope between losing everything they’ve ever known, including their status as a Cupid for the love of a human versus living a life they no longer find themselves enjoying. 

Jude Ricci is a Cupid that seemingly can’t stop falling in love with human boys. Only issue is that Cupids are forbidden from entering romantic relationships with humans. One kiss warrants the erased memories of the other party, and the second strips a Cupid of their powers and otherworldly status. 

After six months of probation for falling in love with a boy on their last mission, Jude is given the chance to go back into the world and help humans fall in love. Their new mission is to bring two ex-best friends together, but the catch is they’re in high school. Jude’s life until this point has only involved homeschooling and working the many “jobs” that come with being a Cupid. 

Things start smoothly and Jude meets their to-be-helped, Huy and Alice. Jude is also taken away with how different the human teenage experience is compared to what they only observed through movies or shows. As things progress, the mission turns for a turn when Huy, starts to become more than a human Jude is supposed to help fall in love. Huy becomes the object of Jude’s eye and it appears, Huy may feel the same. This leads to a series of events in which Jude is supposed to help Huy and Alice fall in love, but ultimately, Jude is the one who falls instead. Stuck in a sticky situation, Jude must choose between fighting their growing feelings and completing their mission or forsaking everything they’ve ever known for a chance at being happy and loved by Huy. If you’re familiar with romcoms, I’m certain you can figure out what they choose in the end. 

Okay, Cupid sits in a tough spot for me as I couldn’t get on board with Jude’s actions. I knew all along where things were going, but the weight of what’s lost versus what’s gained never seemed as tantalizing as it did for Jude. 

Mason Deaver’s Okay, Cupid warrants a fair rating of 3/5. 

Risk Taker by Lily Morton

fast-paced

3.0

• Didn't necessarily love the plot, characters or the stakes at play. 
• I wish this elicited more positive feelings, but you win some and you lose some. 
• I did like the mental health subplot (if that's what you can call it) and think it was handled well. 

Memphis by Tara M. Stringfellow

medium-paced

4.0

What can I say… I really enjoyed this. Memphis tells the beautifully tragic collective stories of the North women, Hazel, Miriam, August, Joan & Mya.
The feeling I got from reading their stories is reminiscent to how I feel whenever im around the black women in my life, regarded and loved.
Memphis is a strong 4/5 in my books. 

For the Fans by Nyla K.

dark emotional funny sad medium-paced

• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

Eeeeeekk!!! This was such a ride!!! I ship Avi and Kyran forever. Their story really tugged my heart and all I can say is that I want anything close to what they have. There were some things that didn’t feel believable, but fiction is all about the suspension of belief right??
Also, I have got to say that this book was pretty hot, like damn. 🥵

This is a strong 4/5 for me and definitely a new favourite. 😏

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual content

Moderate: Rape, Sexual assault, and Mental illness

Gravity by Tal Bauer

fast-paced

3.0

Gravity is my second read from Tal and I've noticed that he has a certain way of setting up stories. Things tend to develop quickly, like maybe a bit too quickly. It really does feel like Tal doesn't know how to properly set up and pace a story, and it surely shows in Gravity.

Additional Note: I've read my fair share of hockey novels and Tal's take on hockey explanations has got to be one of the worst I've read. I

The Town of Babylon by Alejandro Varela

4.0

Tentative Review: 
Alejandro Varela’s Town of Babylon explores a multitude of topics, from race, politics, and identity to how the people and environment that surround us impacts our lives. There are some great points made, whereas others failed to make a solid landing. At times, it felt like Andrés’ neurotic-adjacent stream of consciousness was a bit much, but it also felt a little too close to home. 
I feel like I have more to say, but don’t know exactly how to express it yet. As of right now, I’m not sure if this story yields a 3.5 or 4. 

Iced Out by CE Ricci

medium-paced

4.0

This was fun.