Customer Reviews

Against the Grain: A Novel

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(0)
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My Spring Break read (April 1 finished April 11)
Overall book was ok.
Kay and his friends robs a bank and 1 of his friends end up getting shot by the police and he dies. Kay goes to jail thinking it was his fault for his friend getting shot when it really wasn't his fault at all.

After serving time Kay gets out and his buddy Mike helps him get back on his feet with money, clothes and rides. Mike and his friends our well know in the hood due to the drug business they runs.
Kay ends up talking to a girl name Shu-Shu who is a ride and die chick all the way with him. Shu-Shu helps Kay get on the map with his own selling drugs without Mikes help. Kay gets well known in many cities and states.
Mike gets very upset with all that Kay is doing he gets jealous of Kay and all the money he is making without him. They friendship takes a bad turn for the worst and blood is on everyones hands.

Overall book was great lots of drama and would read more books by Freeze anytime.

Arkadian Frost (simply known as "Kay") had a good heart and was a bona fide leader who helped those that were less fortunate and took care of his family. But Kay's career choice as a bank robber leads him to the pen. When a fool-proof plan with his close-knit friends go wrong, it leaves one of his best friends dead. Kay takes the fall for all his friends and does his time alone, leaving his family and child in the outside world. Kay has just been released from prison. With a heavy mind, Kay has a lot of decisions to make. With his friends making new moves, will he join them, or he will he do the right thing and go on the straight and narrow?

Mike ("Go-Go") was Kay's other best friend. He is the man when Kay is released from prison. He owns various businesses and money is at his disposal thanks to his new business in the drug trade. Mike puts Kay on and everything is lovely, or so it seems. Mike has some inner demons within himself, and when the truth comes out, all hell breaks loose. Mike is the boss, and those who don't obey will see his wrath, but will that include his best friends too?

Tank was the class clown who had jokes, but he also had another side that no one wants to see. He could go from jokes to deadly in ten seconds flat.

Apache was the ride-or die of the crew who loved guns and set out to complete a job until the end, even if it included putting his own life on the line for his boys. Apache refused to go to jail, and no was a match for that...including the police.

Gee (a.k.a. "The Dread") was a Jamaican who was smooth from his walk to his talk. He had inside connections that benefitted the close-knit clique. From money to drug connections in several states, if someone needed to disappear at a drop of a hat, it could be done.

Dee was the mysterious person out of the crew. He was quiet and only associated with members of his crew. He was faithful to his woman and didn't partake in the regular drinking and smoking. But Dee knows a lot more than he leads on to, and this would serve to be his advantage in the long run.

Shu-Shu was Kay's neighbor and they grew up together. He knew from the back in the day that Shu-Shu had a thing for him, but Kay had a woman and child. But since his release, Kay sees Shu-Shu in a new light. She's an independent go-getter who waits for no man. Kay and Shu-Shu come up with a plan to become partners. But sometimes things are not that easy, and the end result could lead him back into prison or an early grave.

Against the Grain details the friendship and struggle of six friends. Loyalty and trust is something you earn. Everyone can't be the leader, and when trust is broken, all hell can break loose. I really enjoyed this book since it was gritty and real at the same time. It showed how Kay had an inner struggle within himself between his family and friends. Someone who says they are your friend may not be, and when the chips fall, they will throw you to the wolves to save themselves. I enjoyed how Freeze painted the picture and made you understand the true meaning of "Trust No One But Yourself."

Reviewed by Kristin
for Urban Reviews

Against The Grain is the second novel released under the Nikki Turner Presents line. Author, Freeze, brings to life the story of Arkadian Frost. A young man who seems destined for greatness, but whose missteps land him in the penintentiary for ten years. While doing his time, "Kay" has plenty of time to think about his closest homeboys, Mike, Dre, Gee, Tank, and Apache.

Upon his release, things have changed on the streets of Baltimore. His former crew now runs the city, and Mike is now the "number one stunna." Luckily Kay's friends have made sure that he when he returns home, he has the same financial and social standing that they have. When he begins a relationship with his sister's close friend, ShuShawn (Shu-Shu), things for Kay look like diamonds in the sky. But everything that glitters is not gold. Money and status threaten to tear the crew apart. Who do you trust when everyone seems suspect?

Against The Grain was a good book. After having struggled with and never finishing the last few books I purchased from Amazon (Hell Razor Honeys; Gorilla Black; and Grown and Gangsta), I fully expected to feel the same way about this book. I was so surprised when Freeze's prose read like a breath of fresh air, and flowed freely like a breeze.

While I found some of the transitional scenes lacking and certain scenes could have benefitted from additional development, the book was a really good full-length debut for Freeze. While there are the usual suspects that you find in most urban books, drug dealers; pimps; crack heads; neighborhood mommas; baby-mama drama; super descriptive detail of EVERY outfit each character wears and the like, I would definitely recommend this book to avid readers of the genre.

I was skeptical at first cause I was looking for a different bok but ended up seeing nikki turner endorsing this book so I gave it a look and was not disappointed.

In a perfect world, Kay and ShuShu would be the king and queen of all that is unobtbainable. With struggle and strife Kay walks through these pages on a mission to find no one but himself. He's a smart brother who knows who has his back, or so he thought. It's a shame he could only see the daggers coming in front of him and not from behind!
This book is one of the best written books I have read to date. I was just introduced to it and found it hard to put it down. The writing flowed so well, I was captured from the beginning. One the of best stories written also. Freeze, thanks for this story, it made great reading. Can't wait to read more from this Novelist.

This book was good from beginning to end. It brought to mind the saying the love of money is the root of all evil. Although, Kay was a soldier sometimes soldiers fall short. I want to know when Part II to the book is being released. It is worth the time to read. The book took me a day and a half to read. I didn't want to put it down and when I found a part that I said I would stop reading, something else happened that I had to continue. For a first time author this book is a hit out the ballpark.

This book was great. I could not put it down. It is defintely a must-read. Great job Freeze representing Raleigh, NC

Against the Grain: A Novel
This book was by far, one of the best urban drama's that I have read in quite a while. Nikki Turner did an excellent job in giving Freeze a chance and I'm glad she did. My fiancee is, unfortunately, incarcerated but I am sending him this novel for entertainment to supplement his educational reading.

Even though this is the first time I ever heard of this author I think he did a great job in putting this story together. Showing us readers that even though you think you have known a person all your life they are not always to be trusted. And also if you do the crime, be ready to do the time. Like the saying goes " snitching ain't easy ". I look forward to reading more books from this author, especially if has something to do with Nikki Turner I love all her books.