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Junkyard Cats #2
Junkyard Bargain
From the author of the best-selling Jane Yellowrock and Soulwood series comes a tough new heroine who is far more than she seems. Junkyard Bargain is the second in Faith Hunter’s SciFi novella series.JUNKYARD BARGAINSometimes before you can face your enemies—you need to confront yourself.Time is running out for Shining Smith and her crew to gather the weapons they need to rescue one of their own. But will they even make it to the ultimate battle? First, they’ll need to hit the road to Charleston—a hell ride full of bandits, sex slavers, corrupt lawmen, and criminal bike gangs looking to move in on Shining’s territory.Shining’s human allies will do anything to protect her—because they must. But will victory be worth it if she must compel more and more people to do her bidding? And will her feline warriors, the junkyard cats, remain loyal and risk their lives? Or are they just in it for the kibble?
166 pages, Kindle Edition
First published February 25, 2021
280 people are currently reading
792 people want to read
About the author
Faith Hunter
90 books5,715 followersFaith Hunter's Junkyard Cats novella series is available in Audible, eBook, and "ridiculously expensive" (her words) trade paperback books at this time.
Faith's Jane Yellowrock series is a dark urban fantasy. Jane is a full blooded Cherokee skinwalker and hunter of rogue-vampires in a world of weres, witches, vampires, and other supernats. 15 books and several compilations of shorts
The Soulwood series is a dark-urban fantasy / paranormal police procedural /para-thriller series featuring Nell Nicholson Ingram, an earth magic user and Special gent of PsyLED. 6 books
Her Rogue Mage novels—Bloodring, Seraphs, Host, and the RPG Rogue Mage—feature Thorn St. Croix, a stone mage in a post-apocalyptic alternate reality.
Faith is a full time writer who finally hired a housekeeper when the dust bunnies multiplied, She bakes homemade bread and loves to cook.
Faith researches in great detail, and tries most everything her characters do. Research led to her life’s passions – jewelry making, orchids, Japanese maples, bones, travel, white-water kayaking, and writing.
Faith loves orchids. Her favorite time of year is when several are blooming. Pictures can be seen at her FaceBook page. And yes, she collects bones and skulls. She has a fox, cat, dog, cow skull, goat, a boar skull, a deer skull, (that is, unfortunately, falling apart) and the jawbone of an ass. Her prize skull is a mountain lion (legally purchased from a US tannery) hit by a car in the wild.
Her latest love is Japanese maples, and she has managed to collect over thirty.
She and her husband RV, traveling to whitewater rivers to kayak all over the Southeast. Whitewater Kayaking is her very favorite sport, discovered when she was researching her (Gwen Hunter) mystery book, Rapid Descent. She took a lesson and—after a bout of panic attacks from fear of being upside down trapped in a boat—discovered she loved the sport.
Under other pen names, notably, Gwen Hunter, she writes action adventure, mysteries, and thrillers. As Gwen, she is a winner of the WH Smith Literary Award for Fresh Talent in 1995 in the UK, and won a Romantic Times Reviewers Choice Award in 2008. As Faith, her books have been on the New York Times and USA Today Bestseller lists, been nominated for various awards and won an Audie Award with Khristine Hvam, among other awards. Under all her pen names, she has more than 40 books, anthologies, and complications in print in 30 countries.
For more, including a list of her books, see www.faithhunter.net , www.gwenhunter.com . To keep up with her daily, join her fan pages at Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/official.fait... and see her website blog at
www.faithhunter.net
Faith's Jane Yellowrock series is a dark urban fantasy. Jane is a full blooded Cherokee skinwalker and hunter of rogue-vampires in a world of weres, witches, vampires, and other supernats. 15 books and several compilations of shorts
The Soulwood series is a dark-urban fantasy / paranormal police procedural /para-thriller series featuring Nell Nicholson Ingram, an earth magic user and Special gent of PsyLED. 6 books
Her Rogue Mage novels—Bloodring, Seraphs, Host, and the RPG Rogue Mage—feature Thorn St. Croix, a stone mage in a post-apocalyptic alternate reality.
Faith is a full time writer who finally hired a housekeeper when the dust bunnies multiplied, She bakes homemade bread and loves to cook.
Faith researches in great detail, and tries most everything her characters do. Research led to her life’s passions – jewelry making, orchids, Japanese maples, bones, travel, white-water kayaking, and writing.
Faith loves orchids. Her favorite time of year is when several are blooming. Pictures can be seen at her FaceBook page. And yes, she collects bones and skulls. She has a fox, cat, dog, cow skull, goat, a boar skull, a deer skull, (that is, unfortunately, falling apart) and the jawbone of an ass. Her prize skull is a mountain lion (legally purchased from a US tannery) hit by a car in the wild.
Her latest love is Japanese maples, and she has managed to collect over thirty.
She and her husband RV, traveling to whitewater rivers to kayak all over the Southeast. Whitewater Kayaking is her very favorite sport, discovered when she was researching her (Gwen Hunter) mystery book, Rapid Descent. She took a lesson and—after a bout of panic attacks from fear of being upside down trapped in a boat—discovered she loved the sport.
Under other pen names, notably, Gwen Hunter, she writes action adventure, mysteries, and thrillers. As Gwen, she is a winner of the WH Smith Literary Award for Fresh Talent in 1995 in the UK, and won a Romantic Times Reviewers Choice Award in 2008. As Faith, her books have been on the New York Times and USA Today Bestseller lists, been nominated for various awards and won an Audie Award with Khristine Hvam, among other awards. Under all her pen names, she has more than 40 books, anthologies, and complications in print in 30 countries.
For more, including a list of her books, see www.faithhunter.net , www.gwenhunter.com . To keep up with her daily, join her fan pages at Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/official.fait... and see her website blog at
www.faithhunter.net
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 268 reviews
November 10, 2021
3.5 Stars
Still dense with the sci-fi details, this sequel expounds upon a post apocalyptic future that apparently is at a constant standoff between two main militia groups, each vying for power and control, one with a particular evil outlier that’s making things all sorts of complicated.
Here, our heroine Shining, must leave her self imposed isolated life of dealing in illegal contraband and weapons to basically preserve world order or to at least die trying. Luckily, on top of her unique gifts, Shining’s got plenty of help in the form of saucy AI’s and cheeky human teammates. Bonus points for a pretty hot brewing romance on the side that hasn’t quite come to fruition but leaves you wanting more.
Shining is a heroine to root for as the stakes get higher and higher. Ending on a slight cliffhanger, I look forward to the next installment!
*currently on audible.com only and free for subscribers - kindle copy supposedly coming Oct 2021*
Still dense with the sci-fi details, this sequel expounds upon a post apocalyptic future that apparently is at a constant standoff between two main militia groups, each vying for power and control, one with a particular evil outlier that’s making things all sorts of complicated.
Here, our heroine Shining, must leave her self imposed isolated life of dealing in illegal contraband and weapons to basically preserve world order or to at least die trying. Luckily, on top of her unique gifts, Shining’s got plenty of help in the form of saucy AI’s and cheeky human teammates. Bonus points for a pretty hot brewing romance on the side that hasn’t quite come to fruition but leaves you wanting more.
Shining is a heroine to root for as the stakes get higher and higher. Ending on a slight cliffhanger, I look forward to the next installment!
*currently on audible.com only and free for subscribers - kindle copy supposedly coming Oct 2021*
March 25, 2021
Junkyard Bargain
By: Faith Hunter
Narrated by: Khristine Hvam
Series: Shining Smith, Book 2
I like this series. Free with the Audible membership. Our gal, Shining, is no average gal. She works at a junkyard during post war times. Psychic cats she can understand, a cyborg war bot lives there, and a couple others that she has saved too. In this episode, she is determined to stop a group that runs a slave and sex trafficking trade.
It's a wild ride! Full of action, no sympathy, a female Mad Max! Love it!
By: Faith Hunter
Narrated by: Khristine Hvam
Series: Shining Smith, Book 2
I like this series. Free with the Audible membership. Our gal, Shining, is no average gal. She works at a junkyard during post war times. Psychic cats she can understand, a cyborg war bot lives there, and a couple others that she has saved too. In this episode, she is determined to stop a group that runs a slave and sex trafficking trade.
It's a wild ride! Full of action, no sympathy, a female Mad Max! Love it!
March 1, 2021
The Shining Smith books are set in a dystopian future after a world destroying war. She lives in a world with giant mecha, crashed spaceships and battle suits. But perhaps the greatest weapon is her touch. She carries microscopic bots that transfer to others with a touch and then proceed to bend the persons will to serving her.
These audiobooks are short and carry the feel of the serialised radio-plays of the 1940s and '50s. They are well thought out and entertaining.
These audiobooks are short and carry the feel of the serialised radio-plays of the 1940s and '50s. They are well thought out and entertaining.
October 22, 2023
For such a short book it really took me awhile to get through this.
Shining Smith, lives in a Junkyard and has a full time job of hiding the alien bug spaceship underneath it. She also is unique in that she is full of nanobots that make her a hive queen and infect anyone she gets too close to. She never wanted to be in a position to create people who follow her unquestioningly, especially the guy that she might have some interest in. So she has done everything possible to make sure they keep as much free will as possible.
This is a story where she head out of the junkyard to dig up a super tank in another region of the state. If she runs into some trouble and finds some people holding slaves, well then she will do what needs to be done in order to move them out so she can get the tank she needs to save a friend from the other Queen who wants war with Shining.
This had some cool scenes in it but I don't know why I struggled so much to get into the story. There is a lot of fighting and some cool tech happening but I struggled with how all the characters were and keeping some of the names straight. I think I was supposed to remember from the last book, but I read that over a year ago.
Love the Jane Yellowrock series and Faith's other works but besides the cats, which to be fair are fantastic I'm not super connected yet.
Shining Smith, lives in a Junkyard and has a full time job of hiding the alien bug spaceship underneath it. She also is unique in that she is full of nanobots that make her a hive queen and infect anyone she gets too close to. She never wanted to be in a position to create people who follow her unquestioningly, especially the guy that she might have some interest in. So she has done everything possible to make sure they keep as much free will as possible.
This is a story where she head out of the junkyard to dig up a super tank in another region of the state. If she runs into some trouble and finds some people holding slaves, well then she will do what needs to be done in order to move them out so she can get the tank she needs to save a friend from the other Queen who wants war with Shining.
This had some cool scenes in it but I don't know why I struggled so much to get into the story. There is a lot of fighting and some cool tech happening but I struggled with how all the characters were and keeping some of the names straight. I think I was supposed to remember from the last book, but I read that over a year ago.
Love the Jane Yellowrock series and Faith's other works but besides the cats, which to be fair are fantastic I'm not super connected yet.
April 5, 2021
After the events of the first audio, Shining, Cupcake, Mateo and the gang along with the cats travel to Charleston. They need weapons and information to save their friend.
The trip is treacherous in this post-apocalyptic world. There are bandits, fellow travelers, slavers and corrupt lawman looking out for their own interest.
I love the unique characters Hunter has created with Shining and those she has infected. The world-building again unfolds in a need to know format which help keep the pacing. What happened to Shining is interesting, and her effect on other causes her turmoil. On one hand, she can save lives but on the other the cost is high.
Plenty of snark, action and battle scenes delivered an engaging storyline. We even see some action with the biker’s trying to encroach on the junkyard. The story arc itself feels like a serial without all the boring recaps, and admittedly I am fully invested.
Shining is flawed and tends to be self loathing but she also cares and carries the weight of her decisions with her.
Khristine Hvam delivered a stellar narration from characters to capturing the tone of the series.
The story wrapped up well as Shining claimed revenge against Harland’s killer. Along the way, she and her comrades claimed some cool tech. All of which fed my inner geek. Shining needs all the help she can get for the upcoming war with Clarice Warhammer and gained some allies. This review was originally posted at Caffeinated Reviewer
The trip is treacherous in this post-apocalyptic world. There are bandits, fellow travelers, slavers and corrupt lawman looking out for their own interest.
I love the unique characters Hunter has created with Shining and those she has infected. The world-building again unfolds in a need to know format which help keep the pacing. What happened to Shining is interesting, and her effect on other causes her turmoil. On one hand, she can save lives but on the other the cost is high.
Plenty of snark, action and battle scenes delivered an engaging storyline. We even see some action with the biker’s trying to encroach on the junkyard. The story arc itself feels like a serial without all the boring recaps, and admittedly I am fully invested.
Shining is flawed and tends to be self loathing but she also cares and carries the weight of her decisions with her.
Khristine Hvam delivered a stellar narration from characters to capturing the tone of the series.
The story wrapped up well as Shining claimed revenge against Harland’s killer. Along the way, she and her comrades claimed some cool tech. All of which fed my inner geek. Shining needs all the help she can get for the upcoming war with Clarice Warhammer and gained some allies. This review was originally posted at Caffeinated Reviewer
April 14, 2022
Arrggg!!!! Now I have wait for book 3 to come out.
March 22, 2021
I was very happy to see a follow up to 'Junkyard Cats' which I enjoyed tremendously. The action carries straight on from the last book, with just enough backstory to let someone who hadn't read the first book keep up (I don't recommend it. Why do yourself out of reading a book that was as fresh, engergetic and fun as 'Junkyard Cats'?).
Like its predecessor, 'Junkyard Bargain' is a fun, fast-paced, shoot 'em up tale with some intriguing world-building stirred into the mix. This time we get beyond the gates of Smith's Scrapyard and engage the post -World War III, post-bug invasion version of the US where Virginia is a desert and everyone is short on resources.
Shining Smith, a woman who is no longer entirely human and who is infected with nanobots that make the people she touches into thralls who are keen to serve and please her, is gathering weapons and allies to go after the woman who attacked Smith's Scrapyard in the first book and to rescue someone the woman is holding hostage.
So, we have an against-the-odds mission to acquire a super-weapon, find her arch-enemy’s nest. On Shining Smith's side we have her fast-than human thralls, a sassy AI who has given herself the personality of a Southern Belle plucked straight form fiction, a spider-shaped cyborg who used to be a starship captain and telepathic people-hunting cats. We also have stolen alien tech and lots and lots and lots of guns. Up against Shining, have violent sex-slave-camp-running gang to fight, tricky traders to deal with and the local Motorcycle Gang to negotiate with.
This is an action-packed tale, with a huge bodycount, lustful descriptions of advanced weaponry and armour, great fight scenes and some of the scariest cats in fiction.
There are moments of reflection, when Shining struggles with her guilt over making thralls and then with her surprise and disappointment when they act autonomously and do things behind her back.
For the most part, what we have is a well-designed rollercoaster that delivers thrills every time the plot crests.
This is a transitional book. Shining doesn't get to fight her arch-enemy yet BUT she gains weapons and allies, adds a few problems and future liabilities and gets a close up and personal reminders of the nastiness she's going to war against.
I'm already looking forward to having Khristine Hvam read the next book to me.
Like its predecessor, 'Junkyard Bargain' is a fun, fast-paced, shoot 'em up tale with some intriguing world-building stirred into the mix. This time we get beyond the gates of Smith's Scrapyard and engage the post -World War III, post-bug invasion version of the US where Virginia is a desert and everyone is short on resources.
Shining Smith, a woman who is no longer entirely human and who is infected with nanobots that make the people she touches into thralls who are keen to serve and please her, is gathering weapons and allies to go after the woman who attacked Smith's Scrapyard in the first book and to rescue someone the woman is holding hostage.
So, we have an against-the-odds mission to acquire a super-weapon, find her arch-enemy’s nest. On Shining Smith's side we have her fast-than human thralls, a sassy AI who has given herself the personality of a Southern Belle plucked straight form fiction, a spider-shaped cyborg who used to be a starship captain and telepathic people-hunting cats. We also have stolen alien tech and lots and lots and lots of guns. Up against Shining, have violent sex-slave-camp-running gang to fight, tricky traders to deal with and the local Motorcycle Gang to negotiate with.
This is an action-packed tale, with a huge bodycount, lustful descriptions of advanced weaponry and armour, great fight scenes and some of the scariest cats in fiction.
There are moments of reflection, when Shining struggles with her guilt over making thralls and then with her surprise and disappointment when they act autonomously and do things behind her back.
For the most part, what we have is a well-designed rollercoaster that delivers thrills every time the plot crests.
This is a transitional book. Shining doesn't get to fight her arch-enemy yet BUT she gains weapons and allies, adds a few problems and future liabilities and gets a close up and personal reminders of the nastiness she's going to war against.
I'm already looking forward to having Khristine Hvam read the next book to me.
February 28, 2021
Audible version. Great narration & story telling. Sadly, I wasn’t a fan. 3 The only way to abdicate the thrown is death stars.
I believe you are only treated as badly as you allow yourself to be treated, & Shining is allowing herself to be treated as disposable. I am not sure I can follow this series into war & eventually add’t attempts of regicide. I am not a fan of self flagellation, penitence, an abundance of guilt, low self worth, willful ignorance etc. This is a nonnegotiable for me & Shining is dangerously close to suicide by turncoat. I can’t abide by that & although the world building, sci-fi, plot, narration, & writing are spectacular I’m uncertain I’ll continue the series. By the end this book made me mad 😡 & I don’t read books to incite my temper.
I believe you are only treated as badly as you allow yourself to be treated, & Shining is allowing herself to be treated as disposable. I am not sure I can follow this series into war & eventually add’t attempts of regicide. I am not a fan of self flagellation, penitence, an abundance of guilt, low self worth, willful ignorance etc. This is a nonnegotiable for me & Shining is dangerously close to suicide by turncoat. I can’t abide by that & although the world building, sci-fi, plot, narration, & writing are spectacular I’m uncertain I’ll continue the series. By the end this book made me mad 😡 & I don’t read books to incite my temper.
May 13, 2021
I liked this one a lot. Much better than the first. Interesting, intriguing and a frustrating yet budding romance. This author typically takes too much time to get a romance going but better than insta love for sure. Now to wait another year for the next????
October 6, 2021
3.5
What I needed after reading Lauren Groff’s wonderful but heavy Matrix was a short, light palate cleanser. Besides, the library’s website was down, so I couldn’t download my next read.
This did the trick. A post World War III apocalyptic future in West Virginia, a junkyard, scores of feral cats, nanobots that morph people into fighting machines, a hot male love interest, etc. And a quirky, reclusive, semi-mutated warrior heroine, Shining Smith. Shining and her team set out to save what’s left of the world. And kick a lot of butt in the process.
Sounds grim, but it’s not. It’s fun.
Khristine Hvam is an excellent audio reader.
This is an Audible Original, free for Audible Plus members. There’s no text available, just audio.
What I needed after reading Lauren Groff’s wonderful but heavy Matrix was a short, light palate cleanser. Besides, the library’s website was down, so I couldn’t download my next read.
This did the trick. A post World War III apocalyptic future in West Virginia, a junkyard, scores of feral cats, nanobots that morph people into fighting machines, a hot male love interest, etc. And a quirky, reclusive, semi-mutated warrior heroine, Shining Smith. Shining and her team set out to save what’s left of the world. And kick a lot of butt in the process.
Sounds grim, but it’s not. It’s fun.
Khristine Hvam is an excellent audio reader.
This is an Audible Original, free for Audible Plus members. There’s no text available, just audio.
February 27, 2021
I was so so on the first book, so was a bit leery going into this one. I actually liked this one more, I think because the world has been set up, things are more familiar. I like that Shining is struggling with who she has become, because if she was all right with creating thralls left and right there would be issues with her. I do like that she has come to terms with those that she has created, think that has to do with her noticing that they might not be full thralls, but still have some of their own freewill to buck against her.
While Shining would rather be alone, with what is coming at her she needs allies and Cupcake, Mateo and the others are great ones for her. Heck, even the cats will help out. If the group keeps doing what they did in this book (and they should, helping the kinds of people they did is absolutely the right thing to do) people will be gunning for them quickly. But with the allies they are picking up hopefully that will help them in any battles that come their way.
While Shining would rather be alone, with what is coming at her she needs allies and Cupcake, Mateo and the others are great ones for her. Heck, even the cats will help out. If the group keeps doing what they did in this book (and they should, helping the kinds of people they did is absolutely the right thing to do) people will be gunning for them quickly. But with the allies they are picking up hopefully that will help them in any battles that come their way.
December 12, 2023
Yep! All the intricate techy stuff included in the first book in this series did ease up just enough to make it a bit easier to read and get into the story. And get into it I did! I’m still deciding whether I really like Shining, but I LOVE the cats! And the secondary characters are super intriguing, as well. That, along with an incredibly unique plot and Ms. Hunter’s stalwart writing skills, make this a series I won’t be putting down!
June 10, 2023
Interesting guilty pleasure—- nanobots and more fantasy than science but still fun adventure
March 27, 2021
Originally published at Reading Reality
Honestly, I picked up the audio of the first book in this series because of the title. Basically, I started Junkyard Cats for the cats. But I came back for Shining, her friends, her totally screwed-up world and her need to preserve her own little corner of it – and the cats.
OK, I’m still here for the cats. It’s actually the cats that Shining makes the junkyard bargain of the title with. Because she needs to take some of them away from the junkyard and with her and Cupcake on a dangerous and deadly mission – to Charleston, West Virginia.
A place which isn’t all that dangerous or deadly in our world. But in Shining’s world, post the apocalypse that punched a hole in the ozone layer, totally wrecked the planetary environment and brought alien peacekeepers to our solar system to keep us from screwing ourselves any further – every trip away from Shining’s base at the scrapyard is fraught with danger.
Especially this one. Because she’s preparing to take on and take out the one person who might be a bigger threat to the world than Shining is herself. Someone who is more than willing to take over the entire planet.
The world is literally not big enough for both Shining Smith and Clarice Warhammer. They may both be queens, but only one of them is out to rule the world. And the other is out to stop her.
Escape Rating A+: The first book in this series was very insular, while it still managed to introduce us to the mess of the world that is what Shining, and the rest of humanity, is left with. That insularity managed to introduce us to everything that’s going on because we spend the entire story – and this one as well – inside Shining’s head. And because the world comes to her, her sanctuary and her scrapyard, in order to take her out.
So in the first book the war came to her. This second book is about Shining getting ready to take the war out to the rest of the world – or at least out to the people who are after her. That she may have to take out at least a piece of a rival gang and possibly even part of the government along the way is just part of the cost to protect herself and those she sees as hers.
And that’s where this story goes to all kinds of interesting places. Because Shining is in the process of adjusting her perspective on exactly who and what she sees as hers and how it got that way. She wants friends – not too many but a few. What she’s afraid she has made is something else altogether.
As this story takes us out into Shining’s greater world, we get to see just how FUBAR’d everything really is. Humanity seriously screwed up. In a way, it reminded me of the world of Horizon Zero Dawn. In both post-apocalyptic worlds, at first it seems as if it’s the machines who are the enemy of humanity, only to eventually realize that the situation is one that Walt Kelly’s Pogo recognized all the way back in 1970, “We have met the enemy and he is us.”
What makes the story, at least for this reader, is that we do spend all of it inside Shining’s head. This is a first-person singular perspective that is absolutely aided by the marvelous narrator, Khristine Hvam, who manages to perfectly convey Shining’s tired, sad, and generally world-weary voice in a way that made me really feel like I was listening to Shining think. That Shining is excellent at bringing on the snark provides a great deal of rueful laughter and gallows humor.
And yes, the cats are still part of the story. I suspect that the reader’s mileage on just how much they enjoy the cats’ participation in Shining’s not-so-little war is going to depend on just how much the reader likes cats, anthropomorphized or otherwise. I think the pack of little predators fits in really well, and adds to my enjoyment of the story quite a bit. Ailurophobes may feel differently.
Obviously I loved the entire experience of listening to Junkyard Bargain. At the end, it definitely feels like there are more parts to this story, and I’m really, seriously, absolutely looking forward to them. But as this episode in Shining’s saga came to an end, something happened that made me sit up and have a kind of a WOW moment. (Luckily I was sitting in my garage to finish and not still on the road!)
Shining is Galadriel. No, she’s not an elf queen and this is not an epic fantasy world. But Shining IS a queen. Not just figuratively but actually literally. And she has power in some of the ways that Galadriel has power. To the point where Shining is faced with the same choice that Galadriel is faced with when Frodo asks her if he should give her the One Ring. And like Galadriel, when faced with that ultimate test, Shining is not found wanting.
At least not yet.
Honestly, I picked up the audio of the first book in this series because of the title. Basically, I started Junkyard Cats for the cats. But I came back for Shining, her friends, her totally screwed-up world and her need to preserve her own little corner of it – and the cats.
OK, I’m still here for the cats. It’s actually the cats that Shining makes the junkyard bargain of the title with. Because she needs to take some of them away from the junkyard and with her and Cupcake on a dangerous and deadly mission – to Charleston, West Virginia.
A place which isn’t all that dangerous or deadly in our world. But in Shining’s world, post the apocalypse that punched a hole in the ozone layer, totally wrecked the planetary environment and brought alien peacekeepers to our solar system to keep us from screwing ourselves any further – every trip away from Shining’s base at the scrapyard is fraught with danger.
Especially this one. Because she’s preparing to take on and take out the one person who might be a bigger threat to the world than Shining is herself. Someone who is more than willing to take over the entire planet.
The world is literally not big enough for both Shining Smith and Clarice Warhammer. They may both be queens, but only one of them is out to rule the world. And the other is out to stop her.
Escape Rating A+: The first book in this series was very insular, while it still managed to introduce us to the mess of the world that is what Shining, and the rest of humanity, is left with. That insularity managed to introduce us to everything that’s going on because we spend the entire story – and this one as well – inside Shining’s head. And because the world comes to her, her sanctuary and her scrapyard, in order to take her out.
So in the first book the war came to her. This second book is about Shining getting ready to take the war out to the rest of the world – or at least out to the people who are after her. That she may have to take out at least a piece of a rival gang and possibly even part of the government along the way is just part of the cost to protect herself and those she sees as hers.
And that’s where this story goes to all kinds of interesting places. Because Shining is in the process of adjusting her perspective on exactly who and what she sees as hers and how it got that way. She wants friends – not too many but a few. What she’s afraid she has made is something else altogether.
As this story takes us out into Shining’s greater world, we get to see just how FUBAR’d everything really is. Humanity seriously screwed up. In a way, it reminded me of the world of Horizon Zero Dawn. In both post-apocalyptic worlds, at first it seems as if it’s the machines who are the enemy of humanity, only to eventually realize that the situation is one that Walt Kelly’s Pogo recognized all the way back in 1970, “We have met the enemy and he is us.”
What makes the story, at least for this reader, is that we do spend all of it inside Shining’s head. This is a first-person singular perspective that is absolutely aided by the marvelous narrator, Khristine Hvam, who manages to perfectly convey Shining’s tired, sad, and generally world-weary voice in a way that made me really feel like I was listening to Shining think. That Shining is excellent at bringing on the snark provides a great deal of rueful laughter and gallows humor.
And yes, the cats are still part of the story. I suspect that the reader’s mileage on just how much they enjoy the cats’ participation in Shining’s not-so-little war is going to depend on just how much the reader likes cats, anthropomorphized or otherwise. I think the pack of little predators fits in really well, and adds to my enjoyment of the story quite a bit. Ailurophobes may feel differently.
Obviously I loved the entire experience of listening to Junkyard Bargain. At the end, it definitely feels like there are more parts to this story, and I’m really, seriously, absolutely looking forward to them. But as this episode in Shining’s saga came to an end, something happened that made me sit up and have a kind of a WOW moment. (Luckily I was sitting in my garage to finish and not still on the road!)
Shining is Galadriel. No, she’s not an elf queen and this is not an epic fantasy world. But Shining IS a queen. Not just figuratively but actually literally. And she has power in some of the ways that Galadriel has power. To the point where Shining is faced with the same choice that Galadriel is faced with when Frodo asks her if he should give her the One Ring. And like Galadriel, when faced with that ultimate test, Shining is not found wanting.
At least not yet.
April 25, 2021
Junkyard Bargain is the wonderful follow up title to Ms. Hunter’s Junkyard Cats. The story picks up with Shining preparing for war against Clarice Warhammer, the bot infested queen who killed Shining’s only friend and is bent on world domination. Shining, along with her thrall Cupcake and warbot Mateo, make plans to uncover a weapon they’ll need to defeat Warhammer.
I absolutely enjoyed Junkyard Bargain and am so excited the author is creating a series around Shining and this exciting post-apocalyptic world. After developing an incredible world in her first book, Ms. Hunter continues to build on her foundation by adding interesting characters to support Shining. The alien-tech and the ways Shining utilizes and improves upon it is fascinating. But it’s the “human” elements of the story that make this one a winner.
Shining is infested with all sorts of alien bots that give her enhanced abilities, but the downside is that those bots will infect others and create thralls. Unlike Warhammer, Shining doesn’t want a bunch of mindless thralls who bend to her will. I appreciate Shining’s moral compass and the internal conflicts she ponders throughout the story. She’s torn because her bots want to create more thralls, but she knows it isn’t the right thing to do. Also, she’s not sure what to think about the fact that her thralls are defying her: it frustrates her but also gives her hope, especially because of her feelings for Jaeger.
Narration: Junkyard Bargain is shared via the first person POV of Shining. Ms. Hvam’s voice for the narrator/Shining is on the deeper side of average female and has a gravely component at times. She alters the voice for dialogue, using distinct accents and dialects for each character. I especially enjoyed the southern accent of Jolene, and the metallic/robotic accent of Mateo. I like how she portrays Shining. She’s got an edge and you can hear it in her voice… it’s not soft and comforting. It’s got grit. You can also hear exasperation with the situation in her non-spoken verbal cues. She brings Shining and the world to life.
Junkyard Bargain is a wonderful addition to Ms. Hunter’s series. I love that we get more of Shining and her fears, desires, etc. I love that the group is expanding and Shining’s thoughts on thralls is morphing. Junkyard Bargain is a solid tale, but only a part of a larger story. The war is coming, and I cannot wait!
Story: A-
Narration: A-
I absolutely enjoyed Junkyard Bargain and am so excited the author is creating a series around Shining and this exciting post-apocalyptic world. After developing an incredible world in her first book, Ms. Hunter continues to build on her foundation by adding interesting characters to support Shining. The alien-tech and the ways Shining utilizes and improves upon it is fascinating. But it’s the “human” elements of the story that make this one a winner.
Shining is infested with all sorts of alien bots that give her enhanced abilities, but the downside is that those bots will infect others and create thralls. Unlike Warhammer, Shining doesn’t want a bunch of mindless thralls who bend to her will. I appreciate Shining’s moral compass and the internal conflicts she ponders throughout the story. She’s torn because her bots want to create more thralls, but she knows it isn’t the right thing to do. Also, she’s not sure what to think about the fact that her thralls are defying her: it frustrates her but also gives her hope, especially because of her feelings for Jaeger.
Narration: Junkyard Bargain is shared via the first person POV of Shining. Ms. Hvam’s voice for the narrator/Shining is on the deeper side of average female and has a gravely component at times. She alters the voice for dialogue, using distinct accents and dialects for each character. I especially enjoyed the southern accent of Jolene, and the metallic/robotic accent of Mateo. I like how she portrays Shining. She’s got an edge and you can hear it in her voice… it’s not soft and comforting. It’s got grit. You can also hear exasperation with the situation in her non-spoken verbal cues. She brings Shining and the world to life.
Junkyard Bargain is a wonderful addition to Ms. Hunter’s series. I love that we get more of Shining and her fears, desires, etc. I love that the group is expanding and Shining’s thoughts on thralls is morphing. Junkyard Bargain is a solid tale, but only a part of a larger story. The war is coming, and I cannot wait!
Story: A-
Narration: A-
November 14, 2021
This is really a serial series with a furthering of the story in each and no major cliffhanger. It is a little frustrating as we want more, we want the romance that is hinted at, we want to know that they will shut down the other 2 queens from being able to enslave others, only we get how her knowledge of herself and her companies, the ones she worries about as thralls. This is all done as they fight and make alliances with competing factions.
So I really liked this furthering of the story though I might wait until it is much further along as it just didn’t feel like enough.
So I really liked this furthering of the story though I might wait until it is much further along as it just didn’t feel like enough.
January 26, 2022
3 Stars for a short read..
Shining Smith on a road trip. Between all the cat interaction and the tech talk, this went rather over my head. I liked the romance but there wasn't enough of it. There was, however, too much of the female trafficking. I understand that this crime is in our lives, in our neighborhoods but Im not a fan of it in my literature. (It also drives home the thought that women are one bad decision away from ending chained up to a wall somewhere when the thin veneer of civilization slips)
Shining needs to find Mateo's 2nd in command to the space ship in the junkyard who was taken by the Warhammer. Unfortunately, her thralls are making plans of their own.
Shining Smith on a road trip. Between all the cat interaction and the tech talk, this went rather over my head. I liked the romance but there wasn't enough of it. There was, however, too much of the female trafficking. I understand that this crime is in our lives, in our neighborhoods but Im not a fan of it in my literature. (It also drives home the thought that women are one bad decision away from ending chained up to a wall somewhere when the thin veneer of civilization slips)
Shining needs to find Mateo's 2nd in command to the space ship in the junkyard who was taken by the Warhammer. Unfortunately, her thralls are making plans of their own.
May 18, 2021
This was enjoyable - I definitely had a few moments of "what was this about again" while I was listening to it but it did a good job of refreshing me on the previous book. This was an audible production and I like the narrator a lot. I did feel a lot of Jane Yellowrock's phrases coming up as something Shining would say so I found that disconcerting. I did enjoy the cats.
February 4, 2023
Lines have been crossed. Stakes have been raised. War is coming.
I'd rate rate this an R for swearing, alcohol use smoking, violence and gore, references to torture and rape, and sexual themes.
Review published 2/3/2023.
I'd rate rate this an R for swearing, alcohol use smoking, violence and gore, references to torture and rape, and sexual themes.
Review published 2/3/2023.
March 31, 2021
3.5
This was enjoyable although it had me wanting to go back and listen to the first one again to get caught up.
I hope to see more of these, it's a series I will follow.
This was enjoyable although it had me wanting to go back and listen to the first one again to get caught up.
I hope to see more of these, it's a series I will follow.
April 19, 2021
An exciting, fast paced SF audiobook with delightfully original world building and wonderful characters.
May 7, 2022
2.5
I liked the first one better.
I liked the first one better.
June 24, 2021
This originally appeared at The Irresponsible Reader.
---
WHAT'S JUNKYARD BARGAIN ABOUT?
Shining Smith needs to gear up and improve her weapons and armor if they're going to take on the task they have ahead of them. This means traveling to Charleston, and selling some of the junk from her scrapyard, and making the right deals.
Standing in their way are rival bike gangs, corrupt police, sex slavers, and random other criminals. Whatever else happens—Shining isn't going to allow those slavers to hang on to their captives (and likely won't let them hang on to their lives, either). She needs to avoid the police, strike careful deals with the gangs, and survive the rest—all the while she's noticing changes in her cats and expands the control Shining's won enhancements have on those closest to her.
It's really hard to explain without pretty much recapping everything in the first book.
HOW'S THE NARRATION?
In short, Khristine Hvam is the perfect reader for Hunter's work. She gets how Hunter's mind works, she knows how to bring the characters to life and how to infuse them with the right kind of humanity. You read enough of an author's books and it's just impossible to think of anyone else doing it. Just not sure what else to say about her work.
SO, WHAT DID I THINK ABOUT JUNKYARD BARGAIN?
After Junkyard Cats took several unexpected turns in the latter half, I didn't know what to expect from this beyond more of the same. This novella may have ended up where it seemed to be heading from the beginning, but the route it took bore so little difference to what was expected that it's hard to recognize that. Hunter is filling this post-apocalyptic world with more dangers and strangeness than we'd been exposed to last time, and you know the next installment will increase the danger.
When talking about the last book, I said that it was too brief and not deep enough. This isn't the case this time—and not just because it was 40 minutes longer. This time it felt like there was a solid match between depth and time—to the point I wondered how she fit it all in the novella-length book.
There were some great action scenes, some solid surprises, and good character development. And...cats with telepathy. I can't wait to see what #3 has in store.
---
The Law was uncertain, vengeance wasn't.
WHAT'S JUNKYARD BARGAIN ABOUT?
Shining Smith needs to gear up and improve her weapons and armor if they're going to take on the task they have ahead of them. This means traveling to Charleston, and selling some of the junk from her scrapyard, and making the right deals.
Standing in their way are rival bike gangs, corrupt police, sex slavers, and random other criminals. Whatever else happens—Shining isn't going to allow those slavers to hang on to their captives (and likely won't let them hang on to their lives, either). She needs to avoid the police, strike careful deals with the gangs, and survive the rest—all the while she's noticing changes in her cats and expands the control Shining's won enhancements have on those closest to her.
It's really hard to explain without pretty much recapping everything in the first book.
HOW'S THE NARRATION?
In short, Khristine Hvam is the perfect reader for Hunter's work. She gets how Hunter's mind works, she knows how to bring the characters to life and how to infuse them with the right kind of humanity. You read enough of an author's books and it's just impossible to think of anyone else doing it. Just not sure what else to say about her work.
SO, WHAT DID I THINK ABOUT JUNKYARD BARGAIN?
After Junkyard Cats took several unexpected turns in the latter half, I didn't know what to expect from this beyond more of the same. This novella may have ended up where it seemed to be heading from the beginning, but the route it took bore so little difference to what was expected that it's hard to recognize that. Hunter is filling this post-apocalyptic world with more dangers and strangeness than we'd been exposed to last time, and you know the next installment will increase the danger.
When talking about the last book, I said that it was too brief and not deep enough. This isn't the case this time—and not just because it was 40 minutes longer. This time it felt like there was a solid match between depth and time—to the point I wondered how she fit it all in the novella-length book.
There were some great action scenes, some solid surprises, and good character development. And...cats with telepathy. I can't wait to see what #3 has in store.
March 10, 2021
4.5 stars 🌟
It was a while ago that I read/listened to the first book in this series and I was afraid that I wouldn't remember it, but to my surprise and actually my delight, I completely remembered everything after the first few minutes of the audio. I listened to this book completely on Audible and enjoyed Khristine Hvam's narration. For some reason, her voice just brings memories of Jane Yellowrock. I know that she has narrated most of Faith Hunter's books, but it is Jane that comes to mind when I hear her. Anyway, the narration was spot on and the story was wonderful.
The characters that Hunter has created, especially Shining Smith, are so very different from any others that she has created in her other series'. This entire series, come to think about it, is COMPLETELY different, even though it is set in a futuristic somewhat supernatural world.
I like the premise, the details of this futuristic world, the nanites, the weapons....all in all she has created this wonderful world, with such unique problems that it seemed like the story had just started before I realized that it was already over. As I have said before, the greatest compliment that I can give any book is to say that I was so invested in the book that I didn't realize that I had reached the last page until I heard the Audible recording saying thank you for listening...or whatever they say at the end.
So...I'm hooked and will be anxiously awaiting the next installment because things are getting interesting in Ms. Smith's world...whether she is ready for it or not :):
It was a while ago that I read/listened to the first book in this series and I was afraid that I wouldn't remember it, but to my surprise and actually my delight, I completely remembered everything after the first few minutes of the audio. I listened to this book completely on Audible and enjoyed Khristine Hvam's narration. For some reason, her voice just brings memories of Jane Yellowrock. I know that she has narrated most of Faith Hunter's books, but it is Jane that comes to mind when I hear her. Anyway, the narration was spot on and the story was wonderful.
The characters that Hunter has created, especially Shining Smith, are so very different from any others that she has created in her other series'. This entire series, come to think about it, is COMPLETELY different, even though it is set in a futuristic somewhat supernatural world.
I like the premise, the details of this futuristic world, the nanites, the weapons....all in all she has created this wonderful world, with such unique problems that it seemed like the story had just started before I realized that it was already over. As I have said before, the greatest compliment that I can give any book is to say that I was so invested in the book that I didn't realize that I had reached the last page until I heard the Audible recording saying thank you for listening...or whatever they say at the end.
So...I'm hooked and will be anxiously awaiting the next installment because things are getting interesting in Ms. Smith's world...whether she is ready for it or not :):
November 18, 2021
It's a logical sequel, but there's no room to breathe in this non-stop action packed quick listen. Having too many storyballs in the air might not take it to the next level. Instead too much of the good stuff might smother the whole act and it becomes a parody of itself.
So the world has gone to hell, but people still seem to be living in the middle of gang warfare and even have some fun. Then there are some ESP capable cats, high-tech mechas and armor, nanobots and even aliens.
Probably having a bit of a pause between reading the first part and now the second might have contributed to the general confusion. Through most of this book my face must have been like Fry of Futurama in the "not sure" memes, but I guess the fact that I didn't care enough to go back to part one for a quick catchup also contributes to the count of stars on the rating.
So the world has gone to hell, but people still seem to be living in the middle of gang warfare and even have some fun. Then there are some ESP capable cats, high-tech mechas and armor, nanobots and even aliens.
Probably having a bit of a pause between reading the first part and now the second might have contributed to the general confusion. Through most of this book my face must have been like Fry of Futurama in the "not sure" memes, but I guess the fact that I didn't care enough to go back to part one for a quick catchup also contributes to the count of stars on the rating.
February 28, 2021
I listened to this as an audiobook on Audible Plus, because that's how the book is debuting. It was fantastic. I LOVE this author. The thing with the cats is a little silly, but doesn't bother me. The sci fi, motorcycles, and military threads work well together in this series, and I never would have guessed they could. The narration is great as well. In this one, Shining gets revenge on Harland's killer and claims some tech and allies that will help her in her campaign against Clarice Warhammer.
July 10, 2021
Another hair raising entry in the Junkyard Cats saga (is it a saga after only 2 installments?) from Faith Hunter, narrated by Khristine Hvam!
Action packed from start to finish, the Shining Smith and her junkyard cats leave their scrapyard on what should be a low-key supply run, gearing up for the greater battle to come, but when has Shining's life ever been routine? New enemies, new allies, new toys, and new cats all come together in this excellently paced and deliciously detailed second installment in Shining's story.
Can't wait until the next one drops!
Action packed from start to finish, the Shining Smith and her junkyard cats leave their scrapyard on what should be a low-key supply run, gearing up for the greater battle to come, but when has Shining's life ever been routine? New enemies, new allies, new toys, and new cats all come together in this excellently paced and deliciously detailed second installment in Shining's story.
Can't wait until the next one drops!
October 26, 2021
A great story that kept me interested right until the end. I’ve recently abandoned this author’s Jane Yellowrock series as the books have turned into a bloated Hollywood/HBO scripts. Perhaps Shining might be my new Jane.
November 18, 2022
Can't wait for December to get the next in this series!
April 13, 2024
It's a damn shame this is a novella. This is legit if it had 20k to 30k more word count this could have been absolute FIRE.
Way to much world building for a novella so it never settles well. You get these skippy moments that would actually be solid writing moments for a talent author like Faith Hunter. I think for this to work as a novella series there'd honestly have to be a little less world. Bit more action, bit more romancy interpersonal. That would let you shift away from so of the jargony world building that only pays off in this genre
Damn the cats always steal this show. Frankly, LEt us have the word count. I want to give this 5 stars but the word count doesn't match the world building so there's dump moments that aren't even out without it. IT's not a great novella because it just has too much world. At the same time I'd love to reread this. The audiobook is so worth it. 4 stars :)
Way to much world building for a novella so it never settles well. You get these skippy moments that would actually be solid writing moments for a talent author like Faith Hunter. I think for this to work as a novella series there'd honestly have to be a little less world. Bit more action, bit more romancy interpersonal. That would let you shift away from so of the jargony world building that only pays off in this genre
Damn the cats always steal this show. Frankly, LEt us have the word count. I want to give this 5 stars but the word count doesn't match the world building so there's dump moments that aren't even out without it. IT's not a great novella because it just has too much world. At the same time I'd love to reread this. The audiobook is so worth it. 4 stars :)
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