I Am Just Junco

I Am Just Junco, Book 1

By: JA Huss

Narrated by: Kristen Sieh

Length: 28 hrs and 38 mins

Publisher's summary

Left with few choices after the murder of her father, a young assassin teams up with a brutal alien race to expose an 8,000-year-old plan to destroy Earth.

Nothing about Junco’s world is what it seems. She has been trained to kill from the day she was born and her life has been nothing but a long string of secret missions interspersed with long bouts of insanity and insubordination.

But now that her father is dead every military faction wants a piece of her. Especially the ruthless alien soldier, Tier, and his team of murderous brothers.

With no one left to trust she turns to the aliens, and their ancient overlord, Lucan, to learn the secrets of her origins. But this sanctuary comes at a hefty price and she will have to participate in a series of death battles to prove her worth and go on the most demanding and deadliest missions of her life.

But that’s not so bad, right?

After all, killing is what she does best. 

©2012 JA Huss (P)2020 Podium Audio

Riveting! I need the next 3 books NOW!

I bought this book because of all the excellent reviews, I was not really sure what the book was all about, It started out with a bang and never really slowed down for the next 28 hours. Junco is an assassin, trained by her father, who has just died. She doesn’t realize she has lost large blocks of memory and as the story progresses what she has lost is slowly revealed, but nothing is what it seems. If you like to be constantly on your mental toes, this is th book for you. There’s a “big love” type of romance that drives the story but due to circumstances, it isn’t front and center for most of the 3 books.

The narrator is definitely a voice actor who can handle many character voices, male voices for the most part, and does them well. She is so good, I forget all about her, and just fell into the story. 5 stars! And 5 stars for the story also. Now I have to wait for the second omnibus to come out in audio because I cannot imagine reading the last 3 books after listening to Kristen Sieh narrate the first three.

Ugh so frustrating

I love Ja Huss but not this series. This story moved slow at times and I felt like there were too much telling in book one, book two was like reading the hunger games, and book three moved extremely slow because of the flashback scenes that were way too long and unnecessary.

It’s like whatever obstacle Junco has there was a flashback scene that she had encountered that same obstacle which gave her power and advantage over the situation.

I disliked that every male character was in love with her and she in turn was in love with them. She was only 19 and had more sexual partners than I ever did at 40.

For a trained assassin/killer/hit man/etc she was way too immature and trusting. Everyone in her life lied to her or omitted truths to her. Which led her to be super emotional lash out and then be friends, trusting, and sleep with those same men in the following chapters.

I don’t understand how Junco was a bad ass in certain scenes (the really hard battles) and then a total scary cat in the next (super easy fights). Plus she whined and cursed too much.

I felt like a hamster in a wheel in book one because the story went on in circles. Captain Tier literally wanted to take Junco to his world but somehow they ended up going in circles in the compound. Then back and forth in a cave only to go back to her house and then finally leaving to Tier’s world.

When you get to book two all of the back and forth in book one felt unnecessary. I also felt that every time she would loose consciousness too much time lapsed and you as Junco was confused as to what happened only to be told to trust people but then they end up giving you a piece of information then they themselves tells you the other part of the truth that contradicts what they previously told you.

All the characters were in plausible, unrealistic, and had no real connection to Junco other than to bark out orders, tell her what to do, and then sleep/kiss/fall in love with her.

Too much inconsistency and then a convenient power emerges to win only for her to loose consciousness to start the reader on another unreasonable and unrealistic missions to figure things out when everyone around her knows but won’t tell her anything.

Ugh frustrating. I will not read/listen to next books in this confusing series.


The reader is outstanding at her craft and that’s why I kept listening to the end, otherwise, I would’ve DNF this book.

Exceptional...listened to this twice!

I LOVED this book. The minute it was over, I started from the beginning and listened to the whole thing again to pick up on the clues and nuances I didn't see the significance of the first time. The only other time I have ever done this was after I saw the movie "The Usual Suspects". Remember how gobsmacked you felt after that ending? Same type of situation with this fantastic book, every 28 glorious hours of it.

Masterfully and suspensefully written, it is full of characters you will love --and love to loathe, heartstopping action sequences, and scenery so vividly described you will feel you are standing there. Be warned: there is lots of violence and horror in here and it's described vividly too. I am an experienced reader but some of this stuff made even me squeamish.

Could not have asked for better narration -- it's superb. I mean this: Top. Tier. Performance.

Cover art matters and this one deserves much better. It looks like some sort of cheap stock art that has no resemblance to any place or character actually in this book...and it deserves to be a best seller.

Edited to add: I purchased the books in paperback...they have gorgeous covers.

Good story but ...

Junco has some real daddy issues or she truly falls I love with ever man in her life at that moment. I found myself rolling my eyes every time a man got in her face because I knew they were gonna start making out. I don’t think I will listen to anymore in the series.

great narrator

poor story it's actually really annoying she's supposed to be a killer but so far she's doing a piss poor job at Killing. it's a really long book I thought it would be better but sadly it's more annoying than anything. She seems to not stick to her decisions that she makes and shes super judgmental over shit that she does herself. her overall character is a mix between overconfidence and passing out at the smallest injury while also taking these weird mental detours shes bloody annoying.

Amazing Story - JA Huss does YA

I am addicted to these Junco books. The Junco series isn’t sexy like other JA Huss books, more like a JA Huss version of a YA book. The Junco books are action packed and the lead character kicks butt. In true JA Huss style the world building is beautiful. The story is exciting and complex in a good way... who is the good guy, who is the bad guy? Heck I still don’t k or, bit I have two books to go.

Junco the character is strong and funny. She also has multiple loves and lovers over time, not just one true love like most action stories. I think that is much better and emotionally healthier for an audience to read. Junco’s relationships are real and refreshing. These stories would make a great tv series or movie series.

The actor on this audio book is AMAZING. I honestly can’t remember the last time I’ve heard such a talent in an audio book. Her energy is perfect. Her voices and accents are spot on. I’m gonna look for more of her work too.

Jayzuz! What did I just listen to?!

I’m shell shocked, and not entirely sure I understood half of this three book omnibus. But what a mind-trippin ride! What kind of a series is this? It’s both like and unlike any of JA Huss’ other books. She writes sexy, jagged, smutty romance with wild, far-out plots. Sometimes, her brand of bonkers works for me (Space Booty and double🍆🍆- what?! And yet I cat-ate-the-canary grinned maniacally thru them) and sometimes it went over like a whip cream bikini (the Mister series prequel was all kinds of cringe). This series has romance with zero smut, fading to black without describing any booty knocking. And, this series is less about the romance and more about a fantastical, high octane, bloody vicious sci-fi epic. Be prepared for the language, however; Ms. Huss is mouthy and the F💣 in this series, especially by book 2, are machine-gun rapid fire.

“I’m having a hard time reconciling the two sides of you:
ruthless skilled killer and helpless, naive teenage girl.”
Book 1: Clutch: It’s a dystopian Memento meets Johnny Mnemonic as 19year old assassin Junco starts at boom, with little memory and factions coming at her from all sides. From the avian aliens to the concept of laser weapons gene-melded into people, Huss gives truly unique characters, futures, and sci-fi. Because Junco is just beginning to put her messed up life-puzzle together, she’s closer to the naive than killer side in this book.

“Says the lion to the wolf.”
Book 2: Fledge: It’s an alien version of Hunger Games, with the sick rules of the games dialed to wtf. I do so respect an author who’s willing to take out major characters. I did think it odd that the alien culture still has the human stereotypes for what makes women proper women. Ironically, for an author that writes such great romance, I feel like there was a missed opportunity to let Junco get a James Bond pass, where she can get in and out of bed without needed to create love triangle issues (or in this case, a love-icosahedron, cause whoo! there is a revolving door of guys).

Still, book 2 was a pulpy, bloody rush. This book showcases Junco’s killer side, begins to reveal her messed up childhood, adds a slew of characters and tangles the plot-web something fierce. The mind-trip reminded me of the Battlestar Galactica reboot and its concept of Cylon godlike overseers playing an endlessly repeating battle of good and evil. This is not a matinee listen kind of series; this is a
“pay attention and occasionally rewind” series.

“Jayzuz!”
Book 3: Flight: It’s Orphan Black meets The 6th Day meets Aliens in both good and bad ways as Junco and her team go on a recovery mission and take on myriad monsters while the clock kicks down to nuking the place from orbit (no wait, that’s Aliens… the nuke is on the ground here). I got lost in the kaleidoscope of plot twists among 8,000 year old prophecies, lies within lies, and surprise after surprise. By this book,
I was exasperated with Junco’s constant insta-trust of folks, rolled my eyes at yet another unnecessary secret, and downright pissed at the ease at which Junco just goes along with suicide missions without asking any of the obvious questions. Much like I experienced with the Orphan Black series, the trippy concepts in Season/book 1 multiplied and twisted with each successive season/book until I wasn’t sure if the story jumped the shark into absurdity. But, was I not entertained? Yes, yes I absolutely was entertained. I give this the Keyser Soze salute!

This series closes with a second 3-book omnibus that unravels into too many unhelpful POVs, bastardized biblical stories, and unnecessarily prolonged (and convoluted) mysteries. Still entertaining, but it ended like a half-baked cake of random ingredients that only sort of came together for the end.

One of the worst books I ever encountered

Before I’ll go any further with the book itself, I have to give some credits to the narrator - only her acting and pleasant voice made me listen to this for more than few chapters.
So, let’s move to story.
It’s supposed to be a series about strong woman. Strong physically and as a person. And sure, she can take a hit and go trough losses. But most of the time she just been dragged around by one man or another (they always take her by hand to get somewhere), told what to do, saved by one man or another and so on. During the first book she exactly one logical, intelligent and independent action of her own.
And here we move to the plot quality. Or lack there of. One can tolerate some plot holes, especially if this is a lasting series, right? Well, you need lots of tolerance, As well acceptance of motivation and behavioral changes in most of the characters. Logic is completely missing in most characters behaviors, and logic in a story is barely noticeable.
And some specific notes to the author: Swearing doesn’t make you less of a woman. One can be a solder and a woman at the same time, and putting on dress or makeup doesn’t make you more woman. And so on, and so on. How one can even be such sexist when writing about strong women?

Lol unlabeled reverse harem.. Junco does everyone

This trilogy is sooo long and drawn out. It's not porny but Junco basically messes around with every dude in her platoon..so there's a bit of confusion, but there is no romance...absolutely none. The sci fi is just okay, felt too much like Hungar Games. Narrator is spectacular though.

Disappointing

The narrator does a good job bringing the characters to life. The 1st book leaves the reader interested in the story but in the second book the story is essentially a copy of “Hunger Games” and the main protagonist proclaims she loves someone sincerely, proclaiming her unwavering love and then immediately causally sleeps with someone else…..tarnishing that proclamation and her sincerity. Lost interest and did not finish the books.

Actually can't believe the good reviews.

I listened to this as I was waiting for my next credit to come in. It was in my recommended, I love sci-fi, it had good reviews. Sure, why not.

I can't belive how two-dimensional and poorly written all the characters and relationships between them are. My eyes almost hurt from rolling them every time another completely interchangeable dude with the exact same personality as all the other dudes falls in love with the cliche of a protagonist.

Unfortunately, not an original thought to be found. Skip.

Amazing!

I Am Just Junco is an epic sci-fi/paranormal adventure that’s oftentimes emotional, funny, and mind blowing. Throw in the complex characters, a mystery, and a whole lot of danger and I was hooked!

a great story

I loved this book and lost two days listening to it from start to finish. Straight onto the next book now

Incredible story, Amazing narration

I was blown away by this! The story was powerful (looking forward to Book 2) and Kristen Sieh’s narration was just superb. So many different characters, both male and female, she captured the essence of them all. I laughed, I cried. It was brilliant! Thank you.

Ummmm I'm so confused

The narrator was great but the story I'm struggling with and I'm a sci-fi girl.
I went in knowing from other reviews that it was a bit all over the place but I don't live and die by reviews, so I gave it a shot.
I love this author and was interested in how she would spin a sci-fi tale but I'm just so confused and I can't figure out why.
Yes it jumps around, yes the characters are muddy and yes the story is a bit disjointed but I think its the whole of all the parts. I think for the length of this book/boxset, we as readers needed more world building and more character development? I feel like I just don't have a grasp on any of it, even after the story is done.
JA Huss in her CR worlds really flushes out her characters and world and paints them so the reader gets really comfortable in the story but I don't get that here.
This series starts as a sci-fi romance than turns into Hunger Games than some weird biblical thing and ends as something else. It is just all over the place and I don't know what to think but dang it, I still bought #2 🤷

At first I wasn’t sure at all,It was a Genre I would watch but have never really read before !

However I went back in for another Try and opened my mind to it ,some pretty Scary shit, quite freaky discovering a batch of clones of oneself ,with extra Rows of Teeth,The Character is pretty wild anyway without the extra bits. It’s basically an Adventure wrapped in a love Story with an Alien or two ,which turns out to be a bit of incest or is it? she also has some Psychopathic tendencies which was pretty necessary being brought up by some Religious/ Military Nut and a Sentient House.
That’s just a tiny part of it all it’s a long Adventure worth a listen.

Had to keep coming back to finish

I was hoping for a good sci-fi opera but got what seemed an overly teen focused melodrama love story wrapped in sci-fi background. I hate note finishing a book so kept coming back to finish and was not driven to finish.
Some good complex characters which did seem to get lost at times.
Performance however was outstanding and I am always in awe of these people who make a book come alive. Simply fantastic and would look for more by this performer.

Did not finish

I think this is the only the second time in years that I have not completed an audiobook.

Bluntly, the story is all over the place and the characters are not very compelling. 5 hours in and I barely had a clue what was meant to be going on and I didn't care enough about the characters to stick with it.

Narrator is fine though.

All over the place.

Even though the setup have potential and there are some interesting things here and there, I was forcing myself to finish it.

The story is all over the place, every third page offering something new and groundbreaking development, that is never really explained or put into context. So much makes zero sense…

And the characters are equal amounts of immature and annoying, seemingly none of them able to think before they talk or act or make any kind of situational assessment. The protagonist is unbearably, I’m aware it’s called fantasy, but there’s simply no believable way that Junco can be a deadly assassin… and the way the “soldiers” act feels like someone heard, someone tell a third party how marines talk in cheap B-movies and decided that’s how the elite of the elite talk, all the time and to each other…

It was just cringeworthy from start until end.

I don’t like to leave negative reviews, but this is simply had me so much on edge that I had to get it off my chest.

Needed better ending

It was very bitty other than that I enjoyed it till the end. Needed to be finished better.