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junkyard cats new series looking forward science fiction jane yellowrock shining smith world building post apocalyptic forward to the next next book new world strong female next installment really enjoyed yellowrock and soulwood start to a new great new highly recommend well written character development
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Elena
3.0 out of 5 stars Nice idea but has issues
Reviewed in the United States on August 27, 2020
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Well, where do I begin...
Let’s start with the pluses. And since reviews should help other readers understand is it worth it or not, I’ll try to avoid spoilers, so they can hold their own judgment.
Overall idea of post-apocalyptic world isn’t new but I haven’t quite seen before such a complex mix of robots, aliens, alien tech, insane weapons, genetically modified insects, spaceships and bikers (!) in one place. And mustn’t forget cats!
But that complexity is what have ruined this story which had such promise.
First, the acronyms: WIMP, EntNu, OMW, NBP, WIMP, WIMP-anti-WIMP particle processor engine-whatever-the-heck-that-means... and some of them author explains literally at the end of the book only, I’m not kidding. It is very distracting when you are trying to follow the story only to stumble over one made-up acronym after another.
Second, disjointed and uneven timeline. The whole book is a description of the events of ONE day. It is dragging and dragging, albeit filled with action, I’ll give you that, but still. And then suddenly at 97% that day finishes and author throws you directly to some days later, wraps up quickly “oh, this happened and that happened, goodbye!” Wait a second, what was exactly in between that first day and three days later??
There’s no transition and it is jarring.
Overall, next time I’ll wait for the book to come out first and read reviews instead of pre-ordering on impulse based on the cover (guilty guilty, but cats are cool:))
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Glinda Good
5.0 out of 5 stars Classic Golden SF vibe
Reviewed in the United States on February 13, 2020
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The overall impression I was left with, as I finished listening to Junkyard Cats at 2 a.m. in the morning, was that I had been transported back to those wonderful days when I was a young science fiction reader. It's been a while since SF fiction made me remember the high I got from reading "Have Spacesuit - Will Travel" or "Starship Troopers." (Recently the Murderbot stories recaptured that vibe). Hunter has managed to incorporate all the good bits of classic Heinlein -- alien tech, cats, AI sentience, cats, humans evolving due to alien stresses, and did I say cats . . . Not radically new story elements, but the deft use of known ingredients creates comfort food for this reader. I hope the next story will be novel length, and explore the world outside the Junkyard.

Well done, Ms Hunter -- and thanks for all the stories!
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Kindle Customer
3.0 out of 5 stars Little character development
Reviewed in the United States on August 26, 2020
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I really love the premise and world building here but as a standalone book this seriously lacked character development. There was way too much details about the apocalypse and not enough information about the main characters life or experiences. This felt like a novella in between two other books. Stop riding the money train and put together a full novel with a beginning, an arc and a conclusion.
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Bookseeker
5.0 out of 5 stars Faith Hunter, master plotter, friend of cats
Reviewed in the United States on August 26, 2020
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Ok, this is great. And man, must Faith Hunter love cats. Consider; Jane Yellowrock shares her existence with a big cat, her next heroine loves a man who turns into a cat, and her newest heroine is a queen of cats.

And now for the book. We find our protagonist living in a junkyard, making a living in the junk trade, highly isolated since the death of her father, a former biker and military asset. The junkyard is unusually well equipped, and our heroine keeps herself in a kind of quarantine for a reason. A perfect story distraction for anyone needing to self isolate in the time of Covid.

As usual for Faith Hunter the heroine is smart and driven and starts out isolated from most of humanity. Also usual for Ms. Hunter, her protagonist is resourceful, self reliant and has many admirable characteristics. And as usual for Faith Hunter the book is absorbing, well written and creative. This looks like the beginning of a series, and I for one am all in. More please.
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Alix
5.0 out of 5 stars Hopefully the Start of a New Series
Reviewed in the United States on August 27, 2020
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Wow! This novella is amazing. The same excellent writing and fully drawn characters we expect from Ms. Hunter with a spectacular new heroine with an interesting back-story we get only in glimpses. Although I have seen other reviews placing this in science fiction, regular readers of the Jane Yellowrock/Soulwood books shouldn't let that deter them from reading this series as well. This is the same character-driven fiction you love, with a wonderful world of characters, both human and feline, to get to know. It is a good thing I am working remotely because once I started this novella, I couldn't put it down until I finished it. It will be a late night, but totally, totally worth it. I will be re-reading this novella over the weekend - it is that good.
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Carole
5.0 out of 5 stars Great Book
Reviewed in the United States on March 18, 2020
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Loved this book can't wait till the next one. Those cats were awesome and the ship's AI is a hoot.
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Kindle Customer
5.0 out of 5 stars Different, but as good as any Faith Hunter book
Reviewed in the United States on August 25, 2020
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Had I not already been familiar with Faith Hunter's writing, I probably never would have chosen this book since I don't typically read sci-fi. However, since she's my favorite living author and I'm a huge fan of her Jane Yellowrock and Soulwood series, I snapped up this book as soon as it was available for pre-order. I was not disappointed. Ms. Hunter is a wonderfully creative writer and she did not disappoint in this book. Full of details that brought this new world to life, it didn't get bogged down in the massive amount of tech. The characters and story managed to stay front and center. I look forward to the next installment in the series. Thanks to Ms. Hunter for another great read. Please keep them coming!
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Top reviews from other countries

april
3.0 out of 5 stars Ok, but...
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on September 3, 2020
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Pretty exciting setting, good heroine, reasonably interesting plot, hero-in-spe promising, but...oh dear...all those weapons, and all the fighting, and all the details...bored me...i skipped to dialogue, and ignored all the hardware...also, a bit expensive, for a pensioner on limited income...will i get the next one in the series? Hmmm...maybe...not sure...not if it will be just more bangs and booms, weapons and fights...
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Book Addict
4.0 out of 5 stars “Junkyard Cats” novella book 1?
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on September 10, 2020
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Heroine Shining Smith brought to mind Andrew Hall’s fabulous Tabitha and surprisingly Ilona Andrew’s Innkeeper Dina despite this book falling firmly into the sci-fi realm rather than fantasy. I think I drew similarities because like Dina, Shining is the absolute authority and power in her junkyard domain. I thought there could have been more romance but as the storyline progresses and the reader learns exactly what Shining can do, it’s understandable (and a pity) this doesn’t progress further. Shining is a tough heroine with some equally tough allies; Mateo and the army of cats deserve a mention considering what they accomplish during the escalating action. This is touted as the first in a series, but I couldn’t find any news about further books. Let’s hope FH hasn’t finished with Shining as she’s an intriguing character with some exciting secrets. 4½ stars
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TimC
2.0 out of 5 stars A mistake. The change of genre does not go well
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on September 23, 2020
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This is full of mysterious technology and 'scenarios' which become clearer as the book progresses but frankly what is the point. Wen Spenser's "Tinker" does the junkyard better and segues nicely into some supernatural stuff but to me Faith Hunter is at home with the supernatural , not with this techno scene. I was prepared to buy this because of the excellence of the Yellowrock and psi-FBI series but shall give any future volumes a miss. Good to see there are more of the other series coming next year. Davis Weber wrote a dire book with a vampire in it, this is the same mistake in reverse!
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MR D PENNOCK
5.0 out of 5 stars Onwards from Cordwainer Smith and C'Mell (at last)
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on September 28, 2020
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Mainly all likes, the post apocalypse structure of the society and rules of engagement are clearly set out, the society is NOT a rip off imitation of other authors, it is sufficiently unique to create its own problems. The cats are there in abundance and as a unique evolutionary move they cooperate with the heroine (in as far as any cat can.) Many years ago C'Mell introduced cat people as evolution, this novel takes felines off in a brand new evolutionary direction. I am looking forward to an extended series (and hoping soon)
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Aria-May
2.0 out of 5 stars Not what I'd call a story
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on September 10, 2020
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There's a story to be told, that's for sure, but this was a short episode in what should've/ could've been a while story. The characters are quite superficial, which is a shame. I loved the idea, but would have liked more backstory, plot development and founder characterisation.
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