The premise of a preternatural, video game-esque narrative is one that isn't always done too well. However, in Loading Life, real world and video games mesh together excellently.
Hero, the downtrodden, troublemaking main character without a special ability, is paired with Annie Mei, top student, for a project that will allow him to pass a class in school. From there his life gets weirder and more malicious, while he himself grows as a person.
Now, usually when the main character is a delinquent, or made out to be something of an uncontrollable statistic, they're inherently abusive in one way or another. In Loading Life, the author takes a different approach. Sure, Hero is a butthead, but he doesn't abuse his friends or Annie, especially. Not using her as a sounding board was a huge deal for me. Therefore, when Hero's character development came, he learned he didn't need to be scared and run away. He learned he could ask for help. He wasn't given up on and tossed aside like so many wanted to do. He was still a butthead, but it turned into friendly banter. Character development was huge in this novel for almost every character, even the minor ones, like the guys in the gang. The reader also go to know the characters well without a clogging info dump.
The writing style was well-suited as well. It was light and serious where it needed to be. Gritty in places without being over the top. As for the world building: HUDs, mana bars, health bars, and things of the Life were as well-integrated as magic would be in a fantasy setting.
All-in-all, a rounded novel. It's easy to get sucked in. While the storyline isn't necessarily original, the storytelling is refreshing and everything wraps up nice and neat at the end.