What do you think?
Rate this book
I Am Just Junco #1
Clutch
How long can you lie to yourself before it all comes apart?
In 2152 the avian race is on Earth looking for something stolen from them decades ago – their genetics. At the center of the search lies the Rural Republic; a small backwards farming country with high hopes of military domination and a penchant for illegal bioengineering.
19 year old Junco Coot is the daughter of the Rural Republic’s ranking commander. She’s the most foul-mouthed, wildly unpredictable and ruthless sniper the Rural Republic has ever trained. But when her father’s death sparks a trip into forbidden places, she triggers events that will change everything she knows to be true.
As an elite avian military officer, Tier’s mission is to destroy the bioengineering projects, kill Commander Coot’s daughter, and return home immediately. There’s just one problem. Junco isn’t who she claims to be.
With no one to trust, not even herself, Junco must confront the secrets of her past and accept her place in the future, or risk losing herself completely.
In 2152 the avian race is on Earth looking for something stolen from them decades ago – their genetics. At the center of the search lies the Rural Republic; a small backwards farming country with high hopes of military domination and a penchant for illegal bioengineering.
19 year old Junco Coot is the daughter of the Rural Republic’s ranking commander. She’s the most foul-mouthed, wildly unpredictable and ruthless sniper the Rural Republic has ever trained. But when her father’s death sparks a trip into forbidden places, she triggers events that will change everything she knows to be true.
As an elite avian military officer, Tier’s mission is to destroy the bioengineering projects, kill Commander Coot’s daughter, and return home immediately. There’s just one problem. Junco isn’t who she claims to be.
With no one to trust, not even herself, Junco must confront the secrets of her past and accept her place in the future, or risk losing herself completely.
Audible Audio
First published September 16, 2012
63 people are currently reading
3631 people want to read
About the author
J.A. Huss
144 books9,078 followersJ.A. Huss never wanted to be a writer and she still dreams of that elusive career as an astronaut. She originally went to school to become an equine veterinarian but soon figured out they keep horrible hours and decided to go to grad school instead. That Ph.D wasn’t all it was cracked up to be (and she really sucked at the whole scientist thing), so she dropped out and got a M.S. in forensic toxicology just to get the whole thing over with as soon as possible.
After graduation she got a job with the state of Colorado as their one and only hog farm inspector and spent her days wandering the Eastern Plains shooting the shit with farmers. After a few years of that, she got bored. And since she was a homeschool mom and actually does love science, she decided to write science textbooks and make online classes for other homeschool moms. She wrote more than two hundred of those workbooks and was the number one publisher at the online homeschool store many times, but eventually she covered every science topic she could think of and ran out of shit to say.
So in 2012 she decided to write fiction instead. That year she released her first three books and started a career that would make her a New York Times bestseller and land her on the USA Today Bestseller’s List eighteen times in the next three years. Her books have sold millions of copies all over the world, the audio version of her semi-autobiographical book, Eighteen, was nominated for a Voice Arts Award and an Audie award in 2016 and 2017 respectively, her audiobook Mr. Perfect was nominated for a Voice Arts Award in 2017, and her book, Taking Turns, was nominated for an Audie Award in 2018. Johnathan McClain is her first (and only) writing partner and even though they are worlds apart in just about every way imaginable, it works.
She lives on a ranch in Central Colorado with her family.
After graduation she got a job with the state of Colorado as their one and only hog farm inspector and spent her days wandering the Eastern Plains shooting the shit with farmers. After a few years of that, she got bored. And since she was a homeschool mom and actually does love science, she decided to write science textbooks and make online classes for other homeschool moms. She wrote more than two hundred of those workbooks and was the number one publisher at the online homeschool store many times, but eventually she covered every science topic she could think of and ran out of shit to say.
So in 2012 she decided to write fiction instead. That year she released her first three books and started a career that would make her a New York Times bestseller and land her on the USA Today Bestseller’s List eighteen times in the next three years. Her books have sold millions of copies all over the world, the audio version of her semi-autobiographical book, Eighteen, was nominated for a Voice Arts Award and an Audie award in 2016 and 2017 respectively, her audiobook Mr. Perfect was nominated for a Voice Arts Award in 2017, and her book, Taking Turns, was nominated for an Audie Award in 2018. Johnathan McClain is her first (and only) writing partner and even though they are worlds apart in just about every way imaginable, it works.
She lives on a ranch in Central Colorado with her family.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 148 reviews
August 27, 2016
So far, I'm about sixty pages in, and I already have several of the questions the author has said won't be answered in this book.
Why such a random, awkward start? Not at the funeral, just...randomly, in front of a restricted area.
Why is the area restricted? What's in there she's not supposed to be interacting with?
Why do people live in a "restricted zone"?
Why is everyone after this chick, anyway?
Why did America crumble into a bunch of small republics?
Why is the landing zone for space vehicles in one of the most primitive republics on earth?
Why is a primitive, backwards "country" the place someone went to genetically splice alien DNA into a human being?
A little further in.
Why do the aliens look like humans before they reach double super secret puberty?
Why are the aliens apparently genetically identical to humans? Or do they have super advanced cloning tech in this backwoods shithole, but no ability to do paternity testing?
Why does the alien planet have earth magpies?
Where did these freaky night dog things come from? Are they an example of the genetic manipulation talent of the local area? Alien lifeforms?
Why hasn't she run off? Tried to kill the freaky ass alien bird-man who's kidnapped her? Used ANY of that vaunted military experience to get away?
Is she ever going to get to deliver the message so important she left her own fathers funeral before it was completed to deliver?
And 1/3'd of the way through, we find out WHY everyone's after her. She might be some sort of mythical origin creature for the bio-engineered avian race! Even though she's a kid who grew up on earth. You LIE author! We have an answer! It's a shitty answer, but it's an answer!
Seriously though, why is this "trained military sniper super rugged hardcore empowered woman rancher" Marry sue so fucking incompetent? "OH NO, I CAN'T SWIM THROUGH THAT DARK HOLE" "OH NO, THERE ARE WILD NIGHT DOGS HERE, WITHIN VIEW OF MY FUCKING HOUSE, AND I DIDN'T KNOW ABOUT THEM"
Why is this horrible book rated so highly by so many people?
Did this book have an editor? Was that editor fired after publication?
Can I get a refund if I take it back to the used book store?
Why am I still reading this? Is it really THAT much like a train wreck?
Why such a random, awkward start? Not at the funeral, just...randomly, in front of a restricted area.
Why is the area restricted? What's in there she's not supposed to be interacting with?
Why do people live in a "restricted zone"?
Why is everyone after this chick, anyway?
Why did America crumble into a bunch of small republics?
Why is the landing zone for space vehicles in one of the most primitive republics on earth?
Why is a primitive, backwards "country" the place someone went to genetically splice alien DNA into a human being?
A little further in.
Why do the aliens look like humans before they reach double super secret puberty?
Why are the aliens apparently genetically identical to humans? Or do they have super advanced cloning tech in this backwoods shithole, but no ability to do paternity testing?
Why does the alien planet have earth magpies?
Where did these freaky night dog things come from? Are they an example of the genetic manipulation talent of the local area? Alien lifeforms?
Why hasn't she run off? Tried to kill the freaky ass alien bird-man who's kidnapped her? Used ANY of that vaunted military experience to get away?
Is she ever going to get to deliver the message so important she left her own fathers funeral before it was completed to deliver?
And 1/3'd of the way through, we find out WHY everyone's after her. She might be some sort of mythical origin creature for the bio-engineered avian race! Even though she's a kid who grew up on earth. You LIE author! We have an answer! It's a shitty answer, but it's an answer!
Seriously though, why is this "trained military sniper super rugged hardcore empowered woman rancher" Marry sue so fucking incompetent? "OH NO, I CAN'T SWIM THROUGH THAT DARK HOLE" "OH NO, THERE ARE WILD NIGHT DOGS HERE, WITHIN VIEW OF MY FUCKING HOUSE, AND I DIDN'T KNOW ABOUT THEM"
Why is this horrible book rated so highly by so many people?
Did this book have an editor? Was that editor fired after publication?
Can I get a refund if I take it back to the used book store?
Why am I still reading this? Is it really THAT much like a train wreck?
July 18, 2014
3.5 Stars
I was wanting something just like this story, and even though it's not perfect, it was still a really fun read.
The story is about Junco, and lawd, dat name! I kept pronouncing it as 'Junk-co' first before really forcing myself to say it as 'June-co' since I can't imagine the author said it as Junk-co, lol. Anyway, Junco is a young woman with a myriad of issues, and a bad attitude to boot, who finds herself partnering with an Avian alien after she crashes her humvee. From that point on it's all kinds of crazy but there's no way I can think of to delve more into the story without spoilers.
The avian, Tier, was hawt and once I decided to hear an Irish lilt over a southern drawl he became much sexier (and it wasn't even a page or two later that he dropped an "aye" and confirmed his accent and my thought). He's a badass himself, in fact, I found his badassery much more convincing than Junco's. Junco had a massive problem with her repressing memories, and she was nursing so many fears (and I didn't say they're not legitimate but still) that I found myself feeling like she was acting more than being genuinely tough. For the most part at least. Tier was hard core from the start and they have a bit of a romance going on, in fact, it's partly their romance that bugged me as well as made me like the story more.
Confusing, right?
Junco and Tier kind of hit it off really quickly, but it's not insta, nor was it exactly love, but they were touchy and close, and made comments about how they could love the other for something one had said, and then how that was the point of their comment. But, beyond that was
I absolutely loved the world and species in this book though, it was really unique and futuristic and I want to see planet pads myself. The space element was perfect for me and I think it gets more involved in future books which makes me happy. This might not fit in my favorites shelf, but it was really enjoyable, and all problems aside, I'm glad I gave it a shot.
August 30, 2013
Not bad but I was hoping it would be better. I couldn't really get myself to like Junco, I feel like she's trying too hard. Story-wise, it certainly isn't the most interesting thing out there. I'll give #2 a try.
May 29, 2015
Junco is brilliant! And Clutch is so well done! Aliens, clones, war, fights, doubts, lies, amazing characters, it's all there!
April 8, 2013
I'm not quite sure how to start off talking about this book. It was incredibly creative, with amazing characters. It was action-packed, and there was lots of fighting. It was awesome. I loved it, and as soon as I finished this one, I moved on and started the next book in this series.
Even though I loved everything about this novel, the main characters were what made it. Junco is the best heroine I've read about in a long time. She shoots first, and asks questions later. Even when things look bleak for her, she gets right back up, and lives to fight another day. I love her strength and resilience so much. The fact that underneath all of that there's someone vulnerable, and who's just trying to figure out the truth of things makes her even more likable.
Then, there's Tier. I loved him the moment he appeared. He's so tough, but so kind at the same time. I loved getting to see all the sides to his character. It's definitely a contest between him and Junco for my favorites. I loved their scenes together, from the action ones to the more quiet ones.
The side characters were all sorts of complicated. A big thing in this book was not knowing who she could trust, and that was definitely pulled off well. We didn't know whether or not her best friend was good or bad until later on in the novel. So many characters were so layered, and it was so awesome how well the author pulled it off. One side character I did like was Moju. He was so great with Junco and when we learn his backstory, well…he is also more than he first appeared. This, in my opinion, shows great talent for characterization, because I definitely didn't guess who was bad, and who was good.
As for the plot of this novel, it was epic. Junco had to try and figure out what parts of her life were true. She had to decide who to trust, and she learned some very devastating things. This book also follows Junco and Tier getting to know each other, and that was awesome as well.. Also, in this book there were flashbacks, and it was pretty hard to watch Junco deal with them, even before we knew whether they were real or not. It was amazing, and I loved it.
So, in case it wasn't perfectly obvious, I thought this book was incredible. The sci-fi elements were well-done, with a sentient house thrown in for good measure. The pace was ridiculously fast, which I always love. Lies and secrets abounded, and it was hard to know which characters were good and bad, so that made this book a crazy, twisting roller coaster ride of emotions. Lastly, the characters definitely made this story what it was. If Junco were any less resilient, and if Tier were any less soldierly and kind, it definitely would not have worked. Therefore, I'm definitely glad this wasn't the case, and I'm moving on with the next book in this series right away.
Even though I loved everything about this novel, the main characters were what made it. Junco is the best heroine I've read about in a long time. She shoots first, and asks questions later. Even when things look bleak for her, she gets right back up, and lives to fight another day. I love her strength and resilience so much. The fact that underneath all of that there's someone vulnerable, and who's just trying to figure out the truth of things makes her even more likable.
Then, there's Tier. I loved him the moment he appeared. He's so tough, but so kind at the same time. I loved getting to see all the sides to his character. It's definitely a contest between him and Junco for my favorites. I loved their scenes together, from the action ones to the more quiet ones.
The side characters were all sorts of complicated. A big thing in this book was not knowing who she could trust, and that was definitely pulled off well. We didn't know whether or not her best friend was good or bad until later on in the novel. So many characters were so layered, and it was so awesome how well the author pulled it off. One side character I did like was Moju. He was so great with Junco and when we learn his backstory, well…he is also more than he first appeared. This, in my opinion, shows great talent for characterization, because I definitely didn't guess who was bad, and who was good.
As for the plot of this novel, it was epic. Junco had to try and figure out what parts of her life were true. She had to decide who to trust, and she learned some very devastating things. This book also follows Junco and Tier getting to know each other, and that was awesome as well.. Also, in this book there were flashbacks, and it was pretty hard to watch Junco deal with them, even before we knew whether they were real or not. It was amazing, and I loved it.
So, in case it wasn't perfectly obvious, I thought this book was incredible. The sci-fi elements were well-done, with a sentient house thrown in for good measure. The pace was ridiculously fast, which I always love. Lies and secrets abounded, and it was hard to know which characters were good and bad, so that made this book a crazy, twisting roller coaster ride of emotions. Lastly, the characters definitely made this story what it was. If Junco were any less resilient, and if Tier were any less soldierly and kind, it definitely would not have worked. Therefore, I'm definitely glad this wasn't the case, and I'm moving on with the next book in this series right away.
January 1, 2015
DNF at 55%
The book was not for me, the story dragged and I had zero interest in the characters. I almost never leave a book before its done but the fact I did so clearly speaks of how this book was to me.
The book was not for me, the story dragged and I had zero interest in the characters. I almost never leave a book before its done but the fact I did so clearly speaks of how this book was to me.
May 3, 2015
3.5...more than a 3 but not quite a 4
What I liked:
★The actual story, it was an interesting one.
★The voices, Junco and Tier are both wonderfully sarcastic. There is a lot of good repartee between them.
★Junco’s badassness in the last 1/3 of the book. I do love a kickbutt female warrior.
★The fact that Junco was smart enough not to just take everything at face value.
★The actual mechanical writing. It was good, as was the editing.
What I didn’t like:
★Tier’s ‘Darlin’ habit. It made him sound like an old man. In fact I can’t say I liked his accent at all. The use of ‘ya’ instead of ‘ you’ really ground on my nerves after a while. Plus, I think it undermined his gravitas.
★The lack of worldbuilding. I have a very vague idea that there was an American succession of some sort, but nothing beyond that and no idea how (or when) avians fit in.
★The fact that Junco did a personality 180. I liked the badass she became, but after seeing her flail about for the first 2/3 the book it was a bit abrupt and unbelievable.
★As much as I love a badass warrior woman, Junco’s badass attitude became just too much for me.
★The events that led to both the revelation of memories that allowed her to revert to her other personality and caused her to start the whole chain of events in the first place is pretty major and completely glossed over.
★The lack of character depth, none of the characters were well fleshed out.
★I was confused on some of the tech. How does a construct work, for example? It seemed too sentient, not to mention aware of the outside world and able to pop up in Junco’s mind without her ‘logging in’ or whatever.
★The subtitle, I understand the Clutch reference, but since this isn’t set online or anything what’s up with the Dot Com?
Overall impression:
I liked it, enjoyed reading it, but A LOT was left unexplained or only vaguely sketched out. I know I’ve seen at least one write up in which the author says there are no answers in this book (or in book 2, 3 or 4 even) but that’s not even what I’m talking about. The cliffhanger wasn’t painfully abrupt. I thought it reached an acceptable breaking point.
I just mean that the whole world, plot, everything just seemed to hang together on gossamer threads. So, while I followed it I didn’t sense that it was solid; if that makes sense. I needed to know more about the whole Charlie situation, the voices in Junco’s head, who/what avians are, what happened to America (and the rest of the world presumably), why Tier would disobey orders for Junco, what was his f*** up that sent him to Earth in the first place, was his apparent affection for Junco supposed to be love, etc. It felt a little weak.
Despite all that, I did enjoy the book. I looked into buying book two and might have if it was super cheat. But I held off for fear that Junco would turn into one of those heroine’s who can miraculously do everything, survive everything, recover from everything, outsmart everyone, etc and do it all with a sarcastic smirk in the process. (As much as I love a badass woman, I hate those characters.)
I haven’t read the second book, so I’m not saying that’s the case, but I sense that it could be. Hope I’m wrong. All in all, an interesting start to the series. I’m definitely up for more of Ms. Huss’ writing.
What I liked:
★The actual story, it was an interesting one.
★The voices, Junco and Tier are both wonderfully sarcastic. There is a lot of good repartee between them.
★Junco’s badassness in the last 1/3 of the book. I do love a kickbutt female warrior.
★The fact that Junco was smart enough not to just take everything at face value.
★The actual mechanical writing. It was good, as was the editing.
What I didn’t like:
★Tier’s ‘Darlin’ habit. It made him sound like an old man. In fact I can’t say I liked his accent at all. The use of ‘ya’ instead of ‘ you’ really ground on my nerves after a while. Plus, I think it undermined his gravitas.
★The lack of worldbuilding. I have a very vague idea that there was an American succession of some sort, but nothing beyond that and no idea how (or when) avians fit in.
★The fact that Junco did a personality 180. I liked the badass she became, but after seeing her flail about for the first 2/3 the book it was a bit abrupt and unbelievable.
★As much as I love a badass warrior woman, Junco’s badass attitude became just too much for me.
★The events that led to both the revelation of memories that allowed her to revert to her other personality and caused her to start the whole chain of events in the first place is pretty major and completely glossed over.
★The lack of character depth, none of the characters were well fleshed out.
★I was confused on some of the tech. How does a construct work, for example? It seemed too sentient, not to mention aware of the outside world and able to pop up in Junco’s mind without her ‘logging in’ or whatever.
★The subtitle, I understand the Clutch reference, but since this isn’t set online or anything what’s up with the Dot Com?
Overall impression:
I liked it, enjoyed reading it, but A LOT was left unexplained or only vaguely sketched out. I know I’ve seen at least one write up in which the author says there are no answers in this book (or in book 2, 3 or 4 even) but that’s not even what I’m talking about. The cliffhanger wasn’t painfully abrupt. I thought it reached an acceptable breaking point.
I just mean that the whole world, plot, everything just seemed to hang together on gossamer threads. So, while I followed it I didn’t sense that it was solid; if that makes sense. I needed to know more about the whole Charlie situation, the voices in Junco’s head, who/what avians are, what happened to America (and the rest of the world presumably), why Tier would disobey orders for Junco, what was his f*** up that sent him to Earth in the first place, was his apparent affection for Junco supposed to be love, etc. It felt a little weak.
Despite all that, I did enjoy the book. I looked into buying book two and might have if it was super cheat. But I held off for fear that Junco would turn into one of those heroine’s who can miraculously do everything, survive everything, recover from everything, outsmart everyone, etc and do it all with a sarcastic smirk in the process. (As much as I love a badass woman, I hate those characters.)
I haven’t read the second book, so I’m not saying that’s the case, but I sense that it could be. Hope I’m wrong. All in all, an interesting start to the series. I’m definitely up for more of Ms. Huss’ writing.
November 12, 2013
4.5 STARS!!
Junco Coot is a soldier. She's all alone. And her world is filled with monsters. Thing is, this pint-sized, foul-mouthed killer is a monster too. It took me a few days to adjust to such a different kind of story, but finally I realized my brain absorbed the words as if I was watching a movie. The images were so vivid, the characters so real, the blood so right in your face. The simple act of hitting a buck in the road felt like a slow motion movie reel. I couldn't look away. I also had to adjust to a female character with minimal introspection/whining. This girl just goes and goes. Got a bloody head and busted shoulder? Suck it up. Got a military faction after your ass? Take em' down and run for it. Then enter Tier. An actual winged man wrapped in a shroud of mystery, mayhem, hotness, and murder. He wants to help Junco, but we're never sure what he really wants.
There are so many deeply rooted conflicts in this story. Earth is in a state of constant conflict with military factions and all the politics it takes to crush ordinary folk in the name of peace. We have hatred between humans and the winged aliens. And we have freaking scary beasts like the moondogs that will eat you. They'll howl and sing and munch you down. J.A. Huss pulled me into Junco's world by creating a wonderfully captivating, flawed, and raw character. Did I hop on over to Amazon and one-click Fledge (book 2)? Yes I did.
Junco Coot is a soldier. She's all alone. And her world is filled with monsters. Thing is, this pint-sized, foul-mouthed killer is a monster too. It took me a few days to adjust to such a different kind of story, but finally I realized my brain absorbed the words as if I was watching a movie. The images were so vivid, the characters so real, the blood so right in your face. The simple act of hitting a buck in the road felt like a slow motion movie reel. I couldn't look away. I also had to adjust to a female character with minimal introspection/whining. This girl just goes and goes. Got a bloody head and busted shoulder? Suck it up. Got a military faction after your ass? Take em' down and run for it. Then enter Tier. An actual winged man wrapped in a shroud of mystery, mayhem, hotness, and murder. He wants to help Junco, but we're never sure what he really wants.
There are so many deeply rooted conflicts in this story. Earth is in a state of constant conflict with military factions and all the politics it takes to crush ordinary folk in the name of peace. We have hatred between humans and the winged aliens. And we have freaking scary beasts like the moondogs that will eat you. They'll howl and sing and munch you down. J.A. Huss pulled me into Junco's world by creating a wonderfully captivating, flawed, and raw character. Did I hop on over to Amazon and one-click Fledge (book 2)? Yes I did.
December 19, 2012
Whoa. This is really unlike any book I've read before, and believe me, I've read A LOT.
The main character is Junco. She's a small, foul-mouthed young woman with the ability to do some serious damage. Junco is also the name of a species of tiny, clever North American bird, and her name couldn't be any more appropriate. You will fall in love with her, and the more she discovers, the more you will match her reactive emotions.
The creative aspects in the story, especially with the Avians, is tight and organized, making it extraordinary but well within the realm of suspension of disbelief. The technology is impressive and well-explained, and the alien species is incredibly intriguing, mysterious, and at time, enviable.
By the end of the book, I was just about to start spewing the make-a-sailor-blush language myself in empathy with Junco's story, and a few times almost cheered out loud. The action is described in a way that makes the reader feel like they are watching it happen in slow-motion, not missing a thing. It's definitely not a young adult story, the violence is enough to make you feel sympathy pains, but it's necessary.
Junco's history is fed to the readers in conjunction with Junco finding out, herself, and while at times is really confusing, I promise it will all come together. And when it does, all I can say, like Junco would, is "Holy S**t."
The main character is Junco. She's a small, foul-mouthed young woman with the ability to do some serious damage. Junco is also the name of a species of tiny, clever North American bird, and her name couldn't be any more appropriate. You will fall in love with her, and the more she discovers, the more you will match her reactive emotions.
The creative aspects in the story, especially with the Avians, is tight and organized, making it extraordinary but well within the realm of suspension of disbelief. The technology is impressive and well-explained, and the alien species is incredibly intriguing, mysterious, and at time, enviable.
By the end of the book, I was just about to start spewing the make-a-sailor-blush language myself in empathy with Junco's story, and a few times almost cheered out loud. The action is described in a way that makes the reader feel like they are watching it happen in slow-motion, not missing a thing. It's definitely not a young adult story, the violence is enough to make you feel sympathy pains, but it's necessary.
Junco's history is fed to the readers in conjunction with Junco finding out, herself, and while at times is really confusing, I promise it will all come together. And when it does, all I can say, like Junco would, is "Holy S**t."
April 12, 2015
F*cking brilliant series!
This one will be with me for a very long time.
And the twists are insane.
Like Junco.
This one will be with me for a very long time.
And the twists are insane.
Like Junco.
July 20, 2025
Katrai jaunai grāmatai būtu tā vienpate/standalone vai garākas sērijas aizsākums ir potenciāls aizsākt aizraujošu piedzīvojumu, kas galvenajam tēlam un iespējams pastarpināti plašākam varoņu ansamblim līdz nepazīšanai neatgriezeniski uz labu vai ne tik labu izmana to dzīves. Diemžēl reizēm gadās reizes, kad ar attiecīgo izpildījumu un sižetiskā stāsta pasniegšanas stilu un manieri no vāka līdz vākam nav ne tikai pa ceļam, bet ne vienā brīdi nerodas iespaids, ka autora (šajā gadījumā J.A. Huss) iztēloto pasauli un vīzīju būtu kaut niecīgā mērā veiksmīgi izdevies izlikt uz lapaspuses citam saprotamā veidā.
https://poseidons99.com/2025/07/20/j-...
https://poseidons99.com/2025/07/20/j-...
October 1, 2012
ok, this review was posted originally on The Book Tart http://thebooktart.com/new-fiction-re...
and I loathe giving stars! I loved this book and I'm a big UF Sci/fi fan. I love Ilona Andrews, Rachel Caine, Sharon Shinn, Jennifer Estep and Ann Aguirre to name a few and this novel grabbed me in a similar fashion. I am hooked! From reading other reviews the sequel is even better so, though I wish I could give this a galaxy of stars- to save room to give the sequel 5 I'm giving this a 4 *sigh* the star thing is so subjective and every reader connects with a book differently. I connected with this story!
Clutch is a fast paced, addicting, science fiction adventure that hooked me from the start. When I first read about the book and saw that the heroine was 19 years old I assumed it was a YA novel. Ummm... It's NOT! Junco is a damaged, tough, messed up cookie and she has a mouth on her like a sailor. She swears all the time. :p There's also violence and adult situations (not as much as I'd hoped for :p but the beginnings of a romance).
Junco's tough, she takes a lickin' and keeps on tickin'. I liked Junco, actually I adored Junco! This is a first person novel... That's not my favorite perspective normally, but for this story I was immediately sucked into Junco's head and her world and held on tight for the ride. This is an adventure story, a vengeance story and a mystery and even the sparks of a love story... Its a story with science, politics, war, lies, intrigue and destiny. The world building felt so organic and real. The pieces of her life are stacked up naturally and never felt like "So Bob," kind of details. :) Everything seemed to flow and because her world is not so unfamiliar from ours I was able to easily suspend disbelief and enjoy this tale of humans in a possible future, aliens with wings, gene splicing and cloning and a host of other fascinating details.
Clutch is set in 2152 and Junco is a member of the Rural Republic, a farming zone that shuns excessive technology use. Junco has been raised to hunt, fish and shoot and she's a champion mounted aerialist (tricks on the back of a horse!). She works for the military and is an excellent sniper. After her father dies she sets out on a mission and has an accident. But Junco doesn't know the meaning of quit. She crawls from the wreckage determined to complete her tasks and encounters an Avian. His name is Tier and he's been sent to hunt her. Is he her rescuer or her executioner? And who is Junco really? Why doesn she keep having nightmares and why is everyone hunting her? Is Tier for her or against her? I got a kick out of their interaction and how they treat each other with a kind of wary fascination at first. There are a lot of intriguing questions in this story and I loved it! I couldn't put this book down. I loved her voice, I loved her courage. This story made me laugh and towards the end I actually had tears in my eyes... I am very excited to follow Junco's journey.
I was highlighting something on almost every page. I appreciate snark in all forms and this story delivered. Here are some of my favorite lines.
"What's going on?" he says as he approaches. The question hangs between us as a tip my head back as far as I can so I can see his upside down face in the starlight. "Having a pity party. You're invited." He lies down next to me. "Am I now?"
"I'm a human, get it? And human girls around my age are quite temperamental and emotional. You must not have had very much training in human culture if that simple fact mystifies you. I feel better now, so let go of me."
"I'm an idiot now? Because I'm the subject of a multinational, shit, multi-species manhunt, and I'm scared about what's going to happen and where I'm going to end up?"
I liked how Junco faced the challenges that came at her and the mysteries of her past and future. I can see that, for me, this series has the potential to become a favorite. I blazed through the first one and have just downloaded the sequels. I highly recommend you check out Clutch if you enjoy original world building and a strong, smart-mouthed heroine with a lot of baggage and attitude enough to take on the worlds. This ebook is only $0.99 from Amazon and it's well worth the download. Clutch is a roller coaster adventure that made me gasp and cry and hold on tight for the ride. I can't wait to see what happens next.
(((hugs))) Kat
The Queen of Tarts
♦eARC provided for review
and I loathe giving stars! I loved this book and I'm a big UF Sci/fi fan. I love Ilona Andrews, Rachel Caine, Sharon Shinn, Jennifer Estep and Ann Aguirre to name a few and this novel grabbed me in a similar fashion. I am hooked! From reading other reviews the sequel is even better so, though I wish I could give this a galaxy of stars- to save room to give the sequel 5 I'm giving this a 4 *sigh* the star thing is so subjective and every reader connects with a book differently. I connected with this story!
Clutch is a fast paced, addicting, science fiction adventure that hooked me from the start. When I first read about the book and saw that the heroine was 19 years old I assumed it was a YA novel. Ummm... It's NOT! Junco is a damaged, tough, messed up cookie and she has a mouth on her like a sailor. She swears all the time. :p There's also violence and adult situations (not as much as I'd hoped for :p but the beginnings of a romance).
Junco's tough, she takes a lickin' and keeps on tickin'. I liked Junco, actually I adored Junco! This is a first person novel... That's not my favorite perspective normally, but for this story I was immediately sucked into Junco's head and her world and held on tight for the ride. This is an adventure story, a vengeance story and a mystery and even the sparks of a love story... Its a story with science, politics, war, lies, intrigue and destiny. The world building felt so organic and real. The pieces of her life are stacked up naturally and never felt like "So Bob," kind of details. :) Everything seemed to flow and because her world is not so unfamiliar from ours I was able to easily suspend disbelief and enjoy this tale of humans in a possible future, aliens with wings, gene splicing and cloning and a host of other fascinating details.
Clutch is set in 2152 and Junco is a member of the Rural Republic, a farming zone that shuns excessive technology use. Junco has been raised to hunt, fish and shoot and she's a champion mounted aerialist (tricks on the back of a horse!). She works for the military and is an excellent sniper. After her father dies she sets out on a mission and has an accident. But Junco doesn't know the meaning of quit. She crawls from the wreckage determined to complete her tasks and encounters an Avian. His name is Tier and he's been sent to hunt her. Is he her rescuer or her executioner? And who is Junco really? Why doesn she keep having nightmares and why is everyone hunting her? Is Tier for her or against her? I got a kick out of their interaction and how they treat each other with a kind of wary fascination at first. There are a lot of intriguing questions in this story and I loved it! I couldn't put this book down. I loved her voice, I loved her courage. This story made me laugh and towards the end I actually had tears in my eyes... I am very excited to follow Junco's journey.
I was highlighting something on almost every page. I appreciate snark in all forms and this story delivered. Here are some of my favorite lines.
"What's going on?" he says as he approaches. The question hangs between us as a tip my head back as far as I can so I can see his upside down face in the starlight. "Having a pity party. You're invited." He lies down next to me. "Am I now?"
"I'm a human, get it? And human girls around my age are quite temperamental and emotional. You must not have had very much training in human culture if that simple fact mystifies you. I feel better now, so let go of me."
"I'm an idiot now? Because I'm the subject of a multinational, shit, multi-species manhunt, and I'm scared about what's going to happen and where I'm going to end up?"
I liked how Junco faced the challenges that came at her and the mysteries of her past and future. I can see that, for me, this series has the potential to become a favorite. I blazed through the first one and have just downloaded the sequels. I highly recommend you check out Clutch if you enjoy original world building and a strong, smart-mouthed heroine with a lot of baggage and attitude enough to take on the worlds. This ebook is only $0.99 from Amazon and it's well worth the download. Clutch is a roller coaster adventure that made me gasp and cry and hold on tight for the ride. I can't wait to see what happens next.
(((hugs))) Kat
The Queen of Tarts
♦eARC provided for review
November 9, 2012
This futuristic story, set in the year 2152 surprised me because honestly I don’t read these types of books. However, as the story progressed, twisting around dark corners from scene to scene, I was pleased at how the author managed to sprinkle some horror into this stewing pot of illegal bioengineering and deception.
Nineteen-year-old Junco Coot is the main character in this imaginative tale. As a child she was trained to be a soldier in the Rural Republic where her father was ranking commander. She knows how to handle a gun and in fact is a trained sniper. I was hoping for more scenes displaying her sniper skills, but that’s just because I’m personally interested in expert marksmanship. But Junco is one tough chick who knows how to handle herself and has a foul-mouth that fits her character perfectly. And although she’s a capable person–a survivor who not only can put up a good fight but knows how to live off the land–she’s also emotionally fragile and harbors fears that grounds her and makes her a believable character.
After Junco crashes a military vehicle called a Goat, she meets Tier. He’s an avian which is basically a human with wings and talons for feet. He’s considered an alien because avians don’t live on earth. I liked his character except it annoyed me when he called Junco “darlin’” but that’s just my own personal pet peeve. Aside from that, I enjoyed getting to know him and the history of his people. At first, though, Junco views Tier as the enemy and attempts to kill him several times. However, circumstances bring them together, and Junco finds herself struggling to trust him.
Here–in my opinion–is where the story picks up and captures my interest. They end up in a cavern inside a mountain which happens to be a breeding ground for nightdogs. Those creatures freaked me out, and I shared Junco’s horror when they chased and attacked her. I was pleasantly surprised when the author threw this into the story. Another scene that chilled me to the bone was when the bots were chasing after them down underground tunnels. After Junco fires at them, they explode, then self-reassemble into more bots.
Holy, shit!
They cannot be totally eliminated.
This was one of many action-packed scenes throughout the book.
Junco also has a house that’s a sentient being.
How cool is that?
The author has a great imagination, and she skillfully intertwines these surprises without overwhelming or diminishing the story. I have to admit, I was hoping, Junco and Tier’s relationship would develop more. It ran hot and cold throughout the story, leaving me to wonder if they truly have feelings for each other.
During the chaos Junco faces, she discovers she’s been betrayed by the people closest to her and just about everything in her entire life is smoke and mirrors. I’m not going to go into the whole sordid detail about how tragic it is to find out you’ve been manipulated mentally and physically by a sinister government for their own twisted agendas. You’ll have to read the book to find out. I don’t want to spoil it for you.
I was going to give this story 4 stars. However, the author’s awesome imagination and ingenuity deserves 5 stars. I recommend this outrageous book because it’s worth reading.
Nineteen-year-old Junco Coot is the main character in this imaginative tale. As a child she was trained to be a soldier in the Rural Republic where her father was ranking commander. She knows how to handle a gun and in fact is a trained sniper. I was hoping for more scenes displaying her sniper skills, but that’s just because I’m personally interested in expert marksmanship. But Junco is one tough chick who knows how to handle herself and has a foul-mouth that fits her character perfectly. And although she’s a capable person–a survivor who not only can put up a good fight but knows how to live off the land–she’s also emotionally fragile and harbors fears that grounds her and makes her a believable character.
After Junco crashes a military vehicle called a Goat, she meets Tier. He’s an avian which is basically a human with wings and talons for feet. He’s considered an alien because avians don’t live on earth. I liked his character except it annoyed me when he called Junco “darlin’” but that’s just my own personal pet peeve. Aside from that, I enjoyed getting to know him and the history of his people. At first, though, Junco views Tier as the enemy and attempts to kill him several times. However, circumstances bring them together, and Junco finds herself struggling to trust him.
Here–in my opinion–is where the story picks up and captures my interest. They end up in a cavern inside a mountain which happens to be a breeding ground for nightdogs. Those creatures freaked me out, and I shared Junco’s horror when they chased and attacked her. I was pleasantly surprised when the author threw this into the story. Another scene that chilled me to the bone was when the bots were chasing after them down underground tunnels. After Junco fires at them, they explode, then self-reassemble into more bots.
Holy, shit!
They cannot be totally eliminated.
This was one of many action-packed scenes throughout the book.
Junco also has a house that’s a sentient being.
How cool is that?
The author has a great imagination, and she skillfully intertwines these surprises without overwhelming or diminishing the story. I have to admit, I was hoping, Junco and Tier’s relationship would develop more. It ran hot and cold throughout the story, leaving me to wonder if they truly have feelings for each other.
During the chaos Junco faces, she discovers she’s been betrayed by the people closest to her and just about everything in her entire life is smoke and mirrors. I’m not going to go into the whole sordid detail about how tragic it is to find out you’ve been manipulated mentally and physically by a sinister government for their own twisted agendas. You’ll have to read the book to find out. I don’t want to spoil it for you.
I was going to give this story 4 stars. However, the author’s awesome imagination and ingenuity deserves 5 stars. I recommend this outrageous book because it’s worth reading.
November 15, 2012
In the year 2152, after a lengthy war of succession between the United States, North America has been divided up into many smaller self-governing republics. The Rural Republic’s (RR) highest commander has just been killed and his sniper-trained 19 year old daughter, Jucno Coot, has gone AWOL into a barren section of the country called The Stag where secret military operations take place. Junco is haunted by recurring nightmares that involves being alone on a dock, hunting people in foreign cities, and her early childhood. She cannot make sense of the nightmares so she pushes them out of her forward consciousness and decides she doesn’t want to think about them.
On her way out to The Stag she hits a deer, wrecks her vehicle, and ends up injured. TIER, a winged avian alien from a band of habitats far out in the Solar System, has just returned from blowing up the secret camp where Junco was headed. He helps her and then tries to force her to come with him. The military of a neighboring country, the Mountain Republic (MR), headed by teenage love interest Aren, shows up and captures Junco.
For me, Clutch started out confusing and I was having doubts that I would like this book but then things started to make sense and I was thrown into this new world that kind of reminded me of the video game "Borderlands" where the land was divided into different sections and in between each was a place known as the Stag Lands. Everything started getting interesting after Junco is captured by the MR.
While the book started out kind of slow it picked up the pace very quickly and before I knew it I was half way through the book. The characters were witty and entertaining while the story was interesting and original. There were times where things seemed to slow down but that didn't make me want to stop reading. I really liked this book and am looking forward to seeing how the story continues.
On her way out to The Stag she hits a deer, wrecks her vehicle, and ends up injured. TIER, a winged avian alien from a band of habitats far out in the Solar System, has just returned from blowing up the secret camp where Junco was headed. He helps her and then tries to force her to come with him. The military of a neighboring country, the Mountain Republic (MR), headed by teenage love interest Aren, shows up and captures Junco.
For me, Clutch started out confusing and I was having doubts that I would like this book but then things started to make sense and I was thrown into this new world that kind of reminded me of the video game "Borderlands" where the land was divided into different sections and in between each was a place known as the Stag Lands. Everything started getting interesting after Junco is captured by the MR.
While the book started out kind of slow it picked up the pace very quickly and before I knew it I was half way through the book. The characters were witty and entertaining while the story was interesting and original. There were times where things seemed to slow down but that didn't make me want to stop reading. I really liked this book and am looking forward to seeing how the story continues.
September 26, 2012
NOT what I expected. At all. Where to start? Junco is a filthy mouthed little psycho? Yes, that’s a good place! But somehow this is a good thing. You just have to wait until the end because there’s a good reason for all her erratic behavior. One thing I really appreciated was the lack of insta-love. No love at all in this story in fact. There are hints of possible love, but that’s about it, so if you’re looking for a romance novel, this ain’t it.
And can you say action? And hot winged guy that might be some kind of angel? I’m not sure what he is, actually, but I’ll definitely be reading the next one to find out.
This author, who is self-published from what I can tell even though there is a publisher attached to the books, had a very interesting marketing strategy and released all three books in this series at the same time. Very smart I think because I will definitely be picking up the second book tonight. You will not regret this one if you like: action, science fiction, developed characters, and a solid plot. (and winged hot dudes!) :)
And can you say action? And hot winged guy that might be some kind of angel? I’m not sure what he is, actually, but I’ll definitely be reading the next one to find out.
This author, who is self-published from what I can tell even though there is a publisher attached to the books, had a very interesting marketing strategy and released all three books in this series at the same time. Very smart I think because I will definitely be picking up the second book tonight. You will not regret this one if you like: action, science fiction, developed characters, and a solid plot. (and winged hot dudes!) :)
September 28, 2012
**UPDATE** I hate to do this to the author, but I revised my review to a four star because after reading book two, I just liked it so much more than the first one. Fledge is hands down, IMO, a five star read and I wanted to make sure that satisfaction was clearly illustrated in my reviews. **Back to review**
WOW! Such an emotional roller coaster ride. This book has a lot going for it - a kick-ass heroine, a sexy guy, and lots (and I do mean lots) of action, blood, guts, and fighting. Fun read and I can't wait to read the second one. The characterization was very well done - I felt like I was taking this trip along with Junco - her emotions were very clear. Tier as well, his heart-felt speech at the end was touching. I don't always enjoy a cliff-hanger ending, but in this case the second book is already out - and the author gives you the first chapter at the end of Clutch, so I'm OK with the ending. Not exactly open-ended, but enough to keep you reading.
WOW! Such an emotional roller coaster ride. This book has a lot going for it - a kick-ass heroine, a sexy guy, and lots (and I do mean lots) of action, blood, guts, and fighting. Fun read and I can't wait to read the second one. The characterization was very well done - I felt like I was taking this trip along with Junco - her emotions were very clear. Tier as well, his heart-felt speech at the end was touching. I don't always enjoy a cliff-hanger ending, but in this case the second book is already out - and the author gives you the first chapter at the end of Clutch, so I'm OK with the ending. Not exactly open-ended, but enough to keep you reading.
May 7, 2013
Really enjoyed this! Lots of action, a complex twisty plot, realistic romance, and an ass-kicking heroine with a deep vulnerable side. The only thing that drove me nuts was Tier's drawling accent, but then again I'm a New Yorker - other than that I loved him and thought he was a perfect complement to Junco and her relentless attitude. Junco herself was really well developed right from the first page (SO many f-bombs, it was fantastic! lol), and though I worried initially that she was just too tough/emotionally withdrawn (beyond her anger) for me to connect with, before long a different side of her surfaced and I had a lot of sympathy for what she'd been through. I also went into this totally unaware of the avian/alien aspect of the story, which turned out to be totally awesome and I'm looking forward to seeing where the next one is going, especially with all the mythology that was presented in this one. Overall, absolutely recommended!
November 15, 2012
I received a free copy in exchange for my honest review. This is one of the coolest Sci-Fi novels I’ve read in a very long time. Apparently the earth is now split into two republics. The Rural Republic, where they abstain from most forms of technology, do only farming and “allegedly” do not swear. The description reminded me of the Mennonites, that they refuse certain technologies. Then there is the Mountain Republic, and the Avian race. This story has a great plot and so many twists, I feel for Junco as she feels so confused as to who she can trust. She flees the RR and now, both the republics and the Avian race want her. When you find out why, it will most certainly shock you.
December 25, 2012
Wow. This was really good. And although at 47% I still had no idea what was going on, I did not care! For some reason the book grabbed my attention and held it the entire way through. Definitely a new concept and story line ( for me anyway) and was a welcome change from the books I was reading. And like I said, although confusing, great read! On to the second and hopefully it will stay as action packed and smooth as the first. Very surprised there isn't more reviews on this book, but i have a feeling that will change.
February 23, 2016
There are few books that I wish were made into movies and this would be one of them. JA Huss has a brilliant mind and her writing keeps you on your toes. I don't normally read futuristic scifi books, but being this comes from one of my favorite authors, I had to give it a chance. I was highly entertained! This book was so full of action and I was constantly trying to figure out who was telling the truth and which side should I be rooting for. I will definately be reading the rest in the series.
July 11, 2018
Excellent. This book is a bit different than what I’m used to reading from JAH. It’s mc is Junco Coot, heroine extraordinaire. It ends on a cliffie as we ponder what awaits Junco....as for Tier? Ummmm, could mean anything, won’t find out until the the next book.
January 30, 2023
I thought I’d give the Mil-sci-fi genre a bit of a break and picked this up free on my audible subscription. It’s definitely more YA, with clunky romance and plenty of teenage angst. However, there’s a bit of mystery going on and so it almost holds up. As the next 2 books are included, I’m willing to see if it picks up as book 1 ends on a spaceship and so I’m optimistic the sci-fi might be about to kick in.
June 30, 2019
There is a lot of world building in this book. It ends on a cliffy too. Its just I'm not sure if I'm feeling this type of book at this moment in time. I might come back and read the next one.
June 1, 2013
"Do ya trust me, darlin?"
Original review posted at JC's Book Haven and given 4.5 stars
I met J.A. Huss a while back because she is a blogger too and wanted to read her series I Am Just Junco when I found out about it. I was lucky enough to win Book 1 and 2 from Bookworm Brandee.
The Good
First, I would like to comment on how great a character Junco truly is. She is Just Junco and is apparently at war, but didn't know it right at first because the action packed ride this book takes you on goes through Junco regaining memories in a most interesting fashion. She is a no-holds-barred type of character who has a potty mouth that others (mainly Tier) really take offense to and she knows how to wield a weapon.
The story is so interesting. There is a lot going on here! The world built is incredible and well-delivered. The technology (like Junco's talking sentient house) is so much fun to read about. She is really put through the ringer in the book. It starts off with a funeral and a car crash and just gets crazier by the second. There are aliens with wings here that are called Avians and a lot of soldiers in this story. She is often what I consider a woman in the middle of a boy's club. Aren is someone that she has known for quite a while and you can tell that she seems more comfortable when he is around. It seems like this is the case for some of the other soldiers that she knew. I will be the first to tell you that from the reader's perspective, I didn't really care for Aren.
Tier is a fantastic character. He is an Avian that shows up basically out of nowhere and continues to keep showing up and asking for her trust. I will admit that it seemed like she was going to tell him that she trusted him, but I don't think the words would make it out very well because she just didn't know. I didn't know if she could trust him either because to be honest, he seems like he could be good or bad (and very good at either). The two of them together was a lot of fun. They are pretty different, but there is a lot of chemistry there. He so often says the words 'darlin' and 'sweetheart', so I immediately thought that he was a chauvinist, but that went away pretty quickly.
The Bad
I was a little bit confused at times because as I said there was a lot going on. It was a lot easier with the great revelations that surfaced and information given later on in the book so it all ironed itself out, but even though I was immersed in the action of Clutch, I would sometimes wonder where the story was going.
I thought the reaction to the character of Moju was very odd. Junco immediately let all guard down for him and this didn't seem to be in line with her character in my opinion. She just seemed to accept things a little too easily I guess? I'm not sure, it just sat a little weirdly with me.
The Romance
There's not much romance to mention. Tier and Junco have a great chemistry around each other and it hints at more in future books. Also, Aren and Junco have history but I didn't feel the chemistry between the two of them in the same manner.
Conclusion
This is a great book. Even if you don't read a lot of science fiction, I think you could get into it. I guess it's because she reminds me so much of an urban fantasy heroine in the world of technology and aliens. There is excellent action, fantastic characters, great twists and turns with revelations and the world-building was very well done. Absolutely recommended.
Original review posted at JC's Book Haven and given 4.5 stars
I met J.A. Huss a while back because she is a blogger too and wanted to read her series I Am Just Junco when I found out about it. I was lucky enough to win Book 1 and 2 from Bookworm Brandee.
The Good
First, I would like to comment on how great a character Junco truly is. She is Just Junco and is apparently at war, but didn't know it right at first because the action packed ride this book takes you on goes through Junco regaining memories in a most interesting fashion. She is a no-holds-barred type of character who has a potty mouth that others (mainly Tier) really take offense to and she knows how to wield a weapon.
The story is so interesting. There is a lot going on here! The world built is incredible and well-delivered. The technology (like Junco's talking sentient house) is so much fun to read about. She is really put through the ringer in the book. It starts off with a funeral and a car crash and just gets crazier by the second. There are aliens with wings here that are called Avians and a lot of soldiers in this story. She is often what I consider a woman in the middle of a boy's club. Aren is someone that she has known for quite a while and you can tell that she seems more comfortable when he is around. It seems like this is the case for some of the other soldiers that she knew. I will be the first to tell you that from the reader's perspective, I didn't really care for Aren.
Tier is a fantastic character. He is an Avian that shows up basically out of nowhere and continues to keep showing up and asking for her trust. I will admit that it seemed like she was going to tell him that she trusted him, but I don't think the words would make it out very well because she just didn't know. I didn't know if she could trust him either because to be honest, he seems like he could be good or bad (and very good at either). The two of them together was a lot of fun. They are pretty different, but there is a lot of chemistry there. He so often says the words 'darlin' and 'sweetheart', so I immediately thought that he was a chauvinist, but that went away pretty quickly.
The Bad
I was a little bit confused at times because as I said there was a lot going on. It was a lot easier with the great revelations that surfaced and information given later on in the book so it all ironed itself out, but even though I was immersed in the action of Clutch, I would sometimes wonder where the story was going.
I thought the reaction to the character of Moju was very odd. Junco immediately let all guard down for him and this didn't seem to be in line with her character in my opinion. She just seemed to accept things a little too easily I guess? I'm not sure, it just sat a little weirdly with me.
The Romance
There's not much romance to mention. Tier and Junco have a great chemistry around each other and it hints at more in future books. Also, Aren and Junco have history but I didn't feel the chemistry between the two of them in the same manner.
Conclusion
This is a great book. Even if you don't read a lot of science fiction, I think you could get into it. I guess it's because she reminds me so much of an urban fantasy heroine in the world of technology and aliens. There is excellent action, fantastic characters, great twists and turns with revelations and the world-building was very well done. Absolutely recommended.
February 29, 2016
I read this book last year and enjoyed the hell out of it. I didn't review it as I meant to continue on in the series, but I had over-committed myself to blog tours, author requests, etc. and never got a chance to return to the series. This really ticked me off, especially when book five, the final book in the series, RETURN, came out. I wanted to sit down and gobble them all up!
You know JA Huss left me hangin' at the end of book one. You know she did. So, I decided to try and get a group of online buddies to group read this. You should know that I'm pretty shitty at group reads. Why am I so shitty at them? I devour books, my friend, and read fairly quickly. So I'm TRYING to hold back and not start book two after having just reread book 1, until at least Monday. We're doing a book a week. Five books, five weeks, tahdah! Yeah, I won't last. ANYWAY!
What I love about Junco Coot: She's impassioned, tough as nails, quick on her feet, and doesn't know when to quit. I admire that. No matter what is thrown at her, she gets up, assesses the situation, and SURVIVES. She's got a filthy mouth on her which I adore. (Seriously, if you're offended by cursing, this is NOT the series for you.) Why do I adore a dirty mouth? Those who swear are usually more honest and have a higher pain tolerance than those who do not. This is proved by science. And you know...sometimes a "gosh darn it" just ain't gonna cut it. I liked the way she talked to herself, I liked the way she self-analyzed, and I sure liked the way she handled the situation and got it back to her terms.
Other characters: Tier, Moju, Aren, Dale, Slag, etc. along with Junco herself ring with truth. Slimy, gullible, over-inflated sense of self, psychotic, jerkwads, etc. are totally believable and jump off the page. They aren't stereotypes of a characteristic. They ooze their oily untrustworthiness, they exude honesty, they are incredibly life-life and believable.
The plot: Rolling, rolling, rolling! The plot just keeps on rolling! There are so many people and factions and NONE OF THEM are forthright. Not a one. So you have this 19 year old girl whose father just died, she's a military operative from a farming district, she's naive and trusting and believes everything that seems to have been forcefed into her brain, and yet...when she hears truth, she is strong enough to doubt. I just know this plot is going to have more twists, more turns, and Junco has a way to go.
I have no idea why I decided to highlight those points in this review, but there you have it. The book leaves you hanging and eager to read the next one. And you know what...that's exactly what I'm going to do. Right now. While all the facts as I know them are fresh in my head, I'm going to dive in! (I warn you...I can see it becoming even MORE complicated!)
FYI, you can get books 1, 2, 3 in an omnibus. That's what I did. And if you're like me and on a supertight book budget, shoot me an email (a.tiffy.fit at gmail dot com). I can loan out book one or the omnibus. :)
You know JA Huss left me hangin' at the end of book one. You know she did. So, I decided to try and get a group of online buddies to group read this. You should know that I'm pretty shitty at group reads. Why am I so shitty at them? I devour books, my friend, and read fairly quickly. So I'm TRYING to hold back and not start book two after having just reread book 1, until at least Monday. We're doing a book a week. Five books, five weeks, tahdah! Yeah, I won't last. ANYWAY!
What I love about Junco Coot: She's impassioned, tough as nails, quick on her feet, and doesn't know when to quit. I admire that. No matter what is thrown at her, she gets up, assesses the situation, and SURVIVES. She's got a filthy mouth on her which I adore. (Seriously, if you're offended by cursing, this is NOT the series for you.) Why do I adore a dirty mouth? Those who swear are usually more honest and have a higher pain tolerance than those who do not. This is proved by science. And you know...sometimes a "gosh darn it" just ain't gonna cut it. I liked the way she talked to herself, I liked the way she self-analyzed, and I sure liked the way she handled the situation and got it back to her terms.
Other characters: Tier, Moju, Aren, Dale, Slag, etc. along with Junco herself ring with truth. Slimy, gullible, over-inflated sense of self, psychotic, jerkwads, etc. are totally believable and jump off the page. They aren't stereotypes of a characteristic. They ooze their oily untrustworthiness, they exude honesty, they are incredibly life-life and believable.
The plot: Rolling, rolling, rolling! The plot just keeps on rolling! There are so many people and factions and NONE OF THEM are forthright. Not a one. So you have this 19 year old girl whose father just died, she's a military operative from a farming district, she's naive and trusting and believes everything that seems to have been forcefed into her brain, and yet...when she hears truth, she is strong enough to doubt. I just know this plot is going to have more twists, more turns, and Junco has a way to go.
I have no idea why I decided to highlight those points in this review, but there you have it. The book leaves you hanging and eager to read the next one. And you know what...that's exactly what I'm going to do. Right now. While all the facts as I know them are fresh in my head, I'm going to dive in! (I warn you...I can see it becoming even MORE complicated!)
FYI, you can get books 1, 2, 3 in an omnibus. That's what I did. And if you're like me and on a supertight book budget, shoot me an email (a.tiffy.fit at gmail dot com). I can loan out book one or the omnibus. :)
October 5, 2012
My Review:
What a completely different and completely original book. This is one of those books that you keep reading just to find out what the heck is going on and a lot of that is because the heroine of the book, Junco, is clueless too.
Junco is a 19 yo soldier on the run after her father's funeral when she runs into an animal that sends her vehicle, and somewhat symbolically her life too, careening off the road. An Avian, Tier, rescues her. Avian's are humanoid, but they have wings.
As I sit here and try to think what else I can tell you about the story that won't provide a spoiler of some sort...I don't think there's anything else I can say specific to the story without messing with your enjoyment of the book. That's one of the reasons that this book is so brilliant...it has a seriously interwoven story line that moves and reveals little bits when and where you least expect them. I never knew what was going to happen next. It was so good in that way.
Junco is amazing. She is one messed up girl, but she continues to come up swinging when anyone would just give up. This girl does not know how to quit and I loved her character for it. She receives blow after blow after blow...some of them so fierce that they left me as the reader gasping and crying for her. *gah* My heart just ached for her. At the same time, this girl is fierce...she doesn't think twice about doing WHATever she has to do to survive ANYway she can. She has a recurring dream throughout the book and when it came out as to what this dream was about, I was literally sobbing for her.
Then there's Tier, the Avian who obviously cares deeply for her. I love the way that J.A. wrote his character. Nothing is ever really said about his feelings for her, but there is so much depth that you can feel just crawling off the page when he's dealing with her. Teeny-tiny spoiler: She doesn't know it, but he's been a part of her life for 2 years. In that time, he's come to care for her and the amazing person that she is. He also realizes that she simply needs someone to be on her side. He decides to be that person...she just has to accept him and his help. I thought it was going to kill me waiting for her to do that. I truly fell in love with his character (and will admit that it scares me a bit to not see his name on the story description for book #3...*eeks*....I will be a basket case if something happens to him...I'm just warning you now.)
This book ends in somewhat of a cliffhanger, but that is the brilliance of the way that J.A. has released these books...the first three are releasing at once. I love that and am now dying to dig into reading book #2...(yes, I write my reviews as soon as I finish reading the book...so, even though my review for #2 is below, when I actually wrote this review, I hadn't read #2 or #3 yet.)
I received a complementary copy of this book in return for an honest review.
What a completely different and completely original book. This is one of those books that you keep reading just to find out what the heck is going on and a lot of that is because the heroine of the book, Junco, is clueless too.
Junco is a 19 yo soldier on the run after her father's funeral when she runs into an animal that sends her vehicle, and somewhat symbolically her life too, careening off the road. An Avian, Tier, rescues her. Avian's are humanoid, but they have wings.
As I sit here and try to think what else I can tell you about the story that won't provide a spoiler of some sort...I don't think there's anything else I can say specific to the story without messing with your enjoyment of the book. That's one of the reasons that this book is so brilliant...it has a seriously interwoven story line that moves and reveals little bits when and where you least expect them. I never knew what was going to happen next. It was so good in that way.
Junco is amazing. She is one messed up girl, but she continues to come up swinging when anyone would just give up. This girl does not know how to quit and I loved her character for it. She receives blow after blow after blow...some of them so fierce that they left me as the reader gasping and crying for her. *gah* My heart just ached for her. At the same time, this girl is fierce...she doesn't think twice about doing WHATever she has to do to survive ANYway she can. She has a recurring dream throughout the book and when it came out as to what this dream was about, I was literally sobbing for her.
Then there's Tier, the Avian who obviously cares deeply for her. I love the way that J.A. wrote his character. Nothing is ever really said about his feelings for her, but there is so much depth that you can feel just crawling off the page when he's dealing with her. Teeny-tiny spoiler: She doesn't know it, but he's been a part of her life for 2 years. In that time, he's come to care for her and the amazing person that she is. He also realizes that she simply needs someone to be on her side. He decides to be that person...she just has to accept him and his help. I thought it was going to kill me waiting for her to do that. I truly fell in love with his character (and will admit that it scares me a bit to not see his name on the story description for book #3...*eeks*....I will be a basket case if something happens to him...I'm just warning you now.)
This book ends in somewhat of a cliffhanger, but that is the brilliance of the way that J.A. has released these books...the first three are releasing at once. I love that and am now dying to dig into reading book #2...(yes, I write my reviews as soon as I finish reading the book...so, even though my review for #2 is below, when I actually wrote this review, I hadn't read #2 or #3 yet.)
I received a complementary copy of this book in return for an honest review.
March 20, 2013
I had a feeling about this book...a good one. And let me tell you, I was not disappointed! Reading Clutch, I was reading something a little outside my norm BUT the world building and original concepts and mythology that went into this book are incredible! Also, the action, mystery and keep me on the edge of my seat suspense are fantastic. To say that I never saw "that" coming would be an understatement. As would "I love this freaking book!"
Junco is such a unique character...unlike any I've ever met, I think. There's lots of mystery surrounding her throughout the book and the answers are revealed to us in small bits. The END - OMG! Anyway, the entire time I was rooting for Junco, hoping she'd recover her memories, make the right choices. And through it all, I couldn't help but admire her resiliency. She can seemingly handle anything, whether it be a plasma fun blast, a nightdog attack, or finding out the people you thought were your friends are your enemies and the people you thought were your enemies are your friends. She is one kick-ass heroine! She may be a bit bent but she's not broken. She is just Junco...and unapologetic about it!
Tier, the avian who seems to show up at just the right moments to help her out of jams, is a very intriguing character. Junco doesn't know if she should trust him or not but seems to instinctively give him her trust anyway. The secrets and doubts surrounding his role in Junco's present and future had me second guessing myself a lot. But the heat between these two - great tension and heat! Loved it!
Then there's Aren, who Junco has known for most of her life. He's had her trust forever - even if he seemingly abandoned her. Once again, I found myself wondering if I (and Junco) should trust him and his knowledge of the events currently hounding Junco.
I LOVED the writing in this book! Like I said, the world building and mythology incorporated in the story are amazing. It's set in the future - a future where the world as we know it doesn't exist. And this avian species whose origins are intermingled with humans and a prophecy about those origins have humans and avians alike in it's grip.
Clutch is also gritty and raw in it's portrayal of deceit and backhandedness within the military and political worlds. And the science in the fiction - ah, well done! The descriptions of genetic altering/mutating and all the futuristic gadgets is impressive!
I don't want to say so much that I ruin the experience of reading Clutch. I will reiterate how fantastic I think it is! I had a hard time putting it down. J.A. Huss has a forever fan in me! :)
Junco is such a unique character...unlike any I've ever met, I think. There's lots of mystery surrounding her throughout the book and the answers are revealed to us in small bits. The END - OMG! Anyway, the entire time I was rooting for Junco, hoping she'd recover her memories, make the right choices. And through it all, I couldn't help but admire her resiliency. She can seemingly handle anything, whether it be a plasma fun blast, a nightdog attack, or finding out the people you thought were your friends are your enemies and the people you thought were your enemies are your friends. She is one kick-ass heroine! She may be a bit bent but she's not broken. She is just Junco...and unapologetic about it!
Tier, the avian who seems to show up at just the right moments to help her out of jams, is a very intriguing character. Junco doesn't know if she should trust him or not but seems to instinctively give him her trust anyway. The secrets and doubts surrounding his role in Junco's present and future had me second guessing myself a lot. But the heat between these two - great tension and heat! Loved it!
Then there's Aren, who Junco has known for most of her life. He's had her trust forever - even if he seemingly abandoned her. Once again, I found myself wondering if I (and Junco) should trust him and his knowledge of the events currently hounding Junco.
I LOVED the writing in this book! Like I said, the world building and mythology incorporated in the story are amazing. It's set in the future - a future where the world as we know it doesn't exist. And this avian species whose origins are intermingled with humans and a prophecy about those origins have humans and avians alike in it's grip.
Clutch is also gritty and raw in it's portrayal of deceit and backhandedness within the military and political worlds. And the science in the fiction - ah, well done! The descriptions of genetic altering/mutating and all the futuristic gadgets is impressive!
I don't want to say so much that I ruin the experience of reading Clutch. I will reiterate how fantastic I think it is! I had a hard time putting it down. J.A. Huss has a forever fan in me! :)
November 16, 2012
Title: Clutch (I am Just Junco #1)
Author: J.A. Huss
Publisher: Science Future Press
Date of Release: October 1st, 2012
Number of Pages: 320
Source: SupaGurl Tours for review!!!
Summary from Goodreads:
How long can you lie to yourself before it all comes apart?
In 2152 the avian race is on Earth looking for something stolen from them decades ago – their genetics. At the center of the search lies the Rural Republic; a small backwards farming country with high hopes of military domination and a penchant for illegal bioengineering.
19 year old Junco Coot is the daughter of the Rural Republic’s ranking commander. She’s the most foul-mouthed, wildly unpredictable and ruthless sniper the Rural Republic has ever trained. But when her father’s death sparks a trip into forbidden places, she triggers events that will change everything she knows to be true.
As an elite avian military officer, Tier’s mission is to destroy the bioengineering projects, kill Commander Coot’s daughter, and return home immediately. There’s just one problem. Junco isn’t who she claims to be.
With no one to trust, not even herself, Junco must confront the secrets of her past and accept her place in the future, or risk losing herself completely.
CONTENT WARNING The I Am Just Junco series is NOT YOUNG ADULT. This series contains foul language and graphic violence.
Review: BLURGHHH!!! I am just so high off of finishing this novel! I love new adult, it’s a new genre growing popularity fast. I really, really can’t stress how good this book was. J.A. Huss is BRILLIANT!! Like doctor who twists and turns and EVERYTHING!! I just mentioned doctor who!! I love this author so freaking much, adding them to my favorites list!!!! I NEED MORE!!!
Junco was brilliant. We got to know her, but we knew something was off from the very beginning with the flash backs. We didn’t know if they were real or not until the very end. I was VERY surprised by the revelations. The way Junco is developed with mini explosions of information sucked me into the book. I loved it. Tier is so freaking yummy. Although I didn’t and still am not sure what his hidden past is! I know book two will tell me though!!!
Junco is a kick butt heroine that I can’t get enough of. The plot twists held my attention. The world building was effortless and I am seriously having withdraws of epic proportions at the moment. Clutch goes and proves that Indie published books can be just as devastatingly good as the traditional route!!!
Buy this book now. I promise you will not regret it!
Author: J.A. Huss
Publisher: Science Future Press
Date of Release: October 1st, 2012
Number of Pages: 320
Source: SupaGurl Tours for review!!!
Summary from Goodreads:
How long can you lie to yourself before it all comes apart?
In 2152 the avian race is on Earth looking for something stolen from them decades ago – their genetics. At the center of the search lies the Rural Republic; a small backwards farming country with high hopes of military domination and a penchant for illegal bioengineering.
19 year old Junco Coot is the daughter of the Rural Republic’s ranking commander. She’s the most foul-mouthed, wildly unpredictable and ruthless sniper the Rural Republic has ever trained. But when her father’s death sparks a trip into forbidden places, she triggers events that will change everything she knows to be true.
As an elite avian military officer, Tier’s mission is to destroy the bioengineering projects, kill Commander Coot’s daughter, and return home immediately. There’s just one problem. Junco isn’t who she claims to be.
With no one to trust, not even herself, Junco must confront the secrets of her past and accept her place in the future, or risk losing herself completely.
CONTENT WARNING The I Am Just Junco series is NOT YOUNG ADULT. This series contains foul language and graphic violence.
Review: BLURGHHH!!! I am just so high off of finishing this novel! I love new adult, it’s a new genre growing popularity fast. I really, really can’t stress how good this book was. J.A. Huss is BRILLIANT!! Like doctor who twists and turns and EVERYTHING!! I just mentioned doctor who!! I love this author so freaking much, adding them to my favorites list!!!! I NEED MORE!!!
Junco was brilliant. We got to know her, but we knew something was off from the very beginning with the flash backs. We didn’t know if they were real or not until the very end. I was VERY surprised by the revelations. The way Junco is developed with mini explosions of information sucked me into the book. I loved it. Tier is so freaking yummy. Although I didn’t and still am not sure what his hidden past is! I know book two will tell me though!!!
Junco is a kick butt heroine that I can’t get enough of. The plot twists held my attention. The world building was effortless and I am seriously having withdraws of epic proportions at the moment. Clutch goes and proves that Indie published books can be just as devastatingly good as the traditional route!!!
Buy this book now. I promise you will not regret it!
January 22, 2013
Junco is the female version of House. She says whatever is on her mind and purposely does things just for the sake of being an ass. She's the teenager who laughs the whole way through a haunted house, complains that it was cheesy, and then has nightmares about it. I love how complex a character she is. Plus, she's the shoot first then shoot again if still alive kind of gal. I fell in love with her on the first page and despite all shortcomings of this book, Junco has convinced me to continue the series until her final breath.
The universe in which Junco lives in is a dystopian science fiction. There's some geek terms and alien technology, but most of what Junco uses exists on the real world. I didn't have any trouble following along with the unique terms, although it did take me a few pages through Chapter One to figure out that "Goat" is not an animal but a vehicle. Baa!
I liked Tier throughout the story, even though Junco did not. He's a killer, but there's a soft side to him that I find very touching. There's not much room for personality between Tier and Junco and so many of the minor characters feel more like plot things than actual people. Moju especially has no personality. He plays a big role in the story (and probably the series), but there's no definition at all to his personality.
There's quite a bit of disinformation and half-truths being told to Junco by the other characters and it makes the story line confusing as hell through parts, but it does make sense by the end. Junco is so thickheaded and stubborn that she also hides information from the reader and other characters in the story. She also manages to pull off the seemingly impossible - pulling a Benedict Arnold every chapter. She trusts no one and so jumps ship at every opportunity.
I wish that there was a little more polish to the novel, as there's some things that seem to pop out of nowhere, and a little foreshadow would of been nice. For instance, Junco being afraid of water isn't mentioned until it plays a major part in the story. And the ending felt very wordy. I did love the dialogue and Junco's narrative had just the right amount of attitude to keep me entertained.
Overall, this is a fun science fiction novel with a protagonist you can't help but love. Looking forward to reading more books by J.A. Huss featuring Junco.
(I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for my honest review.)
The universe in which Junco lives in is a dystopian science fiction. There's some geek terms and alien technology, but most of what Junco uses exists on the real world. I didn't have any trouble following along with the unique terms, although it did take me a few pages through Chapter One to figure out that "Goat" is not an animal but a vehicle. Baa!
I liked Tier throughout the story, even though Junco did not. He's a killer, but there's a soft side to him that I find very touching. There's not much room for personality between Tier and Junco and so many of the minor characters feel more like plot things than actual people. Moju especially has no personality. He plays a big role in the story (and probably the series), but there's no definition at all to his personality.
There's quite a bit of disinformation and half-truths being told to Junco by the other characters and it makes the story line confusing as hell through parts, but it does make sense by the end. Junco is so thickheaded and stubborn that she also hides information from the reader and other characters in the story. She also manages to pull off the seemingly impossible - pulling a Benedict Arnold every chapter. She trusts no one and so jumps ship at every opportunity.
I wish that there was a little more polish to the novel, as there's some things that seem to pop out of nowhere, and a little foreshadow would of been nice. For instance, Junco being afraid of water isn't mentioned until it plays a major part in the story. And the ending felt very wordy. I did love the dialogue and Junco's narrative had just the right amount of attitude to keep me entertained.
Overall, this is a fun science fiction novel with a protagonist you can't help but love. Looking forward to reading more books by J.A. Huss featuring Junco.
(I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for my honest review.)
November 28, 2012
Junco Coot is known as Rural Republic's greatest sniper in the year 2152. She may have had everything under control for so long but as of recently she has totally lost it. She’s not to blame after all. She has lived a life of being forced to assassinate many, many people in the coldest fashions. By now Junco has become undisturbed by killing for her human government. Human government have to say because in the world of I AM JUST JUNCO avians are a species that are winged humans seen as aliens. The government that she has listed to so far though has crossed a line she is set on making them pay. Unfortunately just as, she is setting out to do just that, Tier, an elite avian military officer, shows up professing the chance of a lifetime to tell Junco how deep the lies go told to her by the Rural Republic. Things definitely get dicey quick.
Clutch what really found refreshing from a lot of novels out in the world is that it has a healthy dose of foul-mouthing language from our main characters which mean Junco. Too many readers maybe as soon as mentioned this would be put off right about now but you shouldn't. The foul-mouthing is in good sync with who Junco is as a person so it almost becomes a trademark and source of humor. While Clutch happened to have moments of romance what found surprising was how well it was managed to an equal to its Science Fiction elements. Tier, the avian military officer, happens to be Junco's main love interest in Clutch and he sure can hold someone's attention. Something else to find in Clutch would be its action/suspense by that mean there are many matters of shooting and explosions. Its a book for that reason with a fast, fast pace. Clutch would be a book that recommend in so many ways for having to offer so much what with some of the best rogue characters that have ever come across and the fact that once your in the zone of reading it you''ll find you have no regrets over beginning the book.
J.A. Huss is building a far more different realm of Science Fiction Romance. A genuine book lover (me included) has to applaud this.
Overall: Amazing read!
Genre: Science Fiction, Romance
--Review courtesy from Book & Movie Dimension a Blog--
Clutch what really found refreshing from a lot of novels out in the world is that it has a healthy dose of foul-mouthing language from our main characters which mean Junco. Too many readers maybe as soon as mentioned this would be put off right about now but you shouldn't. The foul-mouthing is in good sync with who Junco is as a person so it almost becomes a trademark and source of humor. While Clutch happened to have moments of romance what found surprising was how well it was managed to an equal to its Science Fiction elements. Tier, the avian military officer, happens to be Junco's main love interest in Clutch and he sure can hold someone's attention. Something else to find in Clutch would be its action/suspense by that mean there are many matters of shooting and explosions. Its a book for that reason with a fast, fast pace. Clutch would be a book that recommend in so many ways for having to offer so much what with some of the best rogue characters that have ever come across and the fact that once your in the zone of reading it you''ll find you have no regrets over beginning the book.
J.A. Huss is building a far more different realm of Science Fiction Romance. A genuine book lover (me included) has to applaud this.
Overall: Amazing read!
Genre: Science Fiction, Romance
--Review courtesy from Book & Movie Dimension a Blog--
Displaying 1 - 30 of 148 reviews