What do you think?
Juno And The Lady
Juno's beloved Petra is dead.
Petra's replacement, the mysterious Lady, has put Juno's best friend Tilly under a dark spell that has left Juno with nobody she can trust.
With only Chax, her kitten, for company, Juno escapes from her school to a town at the bottom of the cliffs.
A town ruled by men.
Alone, scared, and without friends, Juno feels an unknown power growing inside her. A power she knows she will one day have to harness. With all lost, a dark figure from within the shadows cups her mouth and whispers in her ear to keep quiet.
Juno joins her new friends but just as she starts to learn how the world really works, the ill-tempered Dr Viktor demands an audience.
Juno and the Lady is a young woman's journey into a land of the old ways, where men rule, and women are property.
With unlikely friendships, forbidden love and burning magic, can Juno change the conventions of old? Can she save the town? And will she figure out who the Lady truly is?
Petra's replacement, the mysterious Lady, has put Juno's best friend Tilly under a dark spell that has left Juno with nobody she can trust.
With only Chax, her kitten, for company, Juno escapes from her school to a town at the bottom of the cliffs.
A town ruled by men.
Alone, scared, and without friends, Juno feels an unknown power growing inside her. A power she knows she will one day have to harness. With all lost, a dark figure from within the shadows cups her mouth and whispers in her ear to keep quiet.
Juno joins her new friends but just as she starts to learn how the world really works, the ill-tempered Dr Viktor demands an audience.
Juno and the Lady is a young woman's journey into a land of the old ways, where men rule, and women are property.
With unlikely friendships, forbidden love and burning magic, can Juno change the conventions of old? Can she save the town? And will she figure out who the Lady truly is?
394 pages, Paperback
Published February 14, 2022
About the author
G.J. Kemp
5 books20 followersA nomad at heart, GJ has lived in nine countries across Africa, Europe and the Middle East. His career has included working as a Divemaster in The Red Sea, a zookeeper in Israel, and a proofreader in Sweden.
Born with cerebral palsy, GJ has spent a lifetime trying to tie his shoelaces while standing up in the hope of not falling over. It is a constant challenge, but sometimes he occasionally succeeds.
Finding the love for writing later in life, GJ spends most of his free time going for walks and dreaming of story ideas. He hopes to one day have a small place on the oceanfront where he can walk his dogs on the beach.
Born with cerebral palsy, GJ has spent a lifetime trying to tie his shoelaces while standing up in the hope of not falling over. It is a constant challenge, but sometimes he occasionally succeeds.
Finding the love for writing later in life, GJ spends most of his free time going for walks and dreaming of story ideas. He hopes to one day have a small place on the oceanfront where he can walk his dogs on the beach.
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 31 reviews
April 18, 2022
Juno and the Lady by G.J. Kemp is a good YA Fantasy read that held my interest from beginning to end. The world building is very intriguing and I enjoyed the author’s ability to blend it in with the story rather than info dumping.
In the beginning, it felt a little rushed and things weren’t developed completely. However, as the story progresses, things develop more clearly and I think the second half of the book was very strong.
The characters are well developed and likeable. I enjoyed the growth and this story focuses on friendship, which I found refreshing! The characters acted in ways that made sense, which I thoroughly found enjoyable.
This is an entertaining YA read with plenty of answers yet to come, I’m sure. I recommend giving this one a read!
(3.5☆ rounded to 4 for Goodreads & Amazon)
Thank you to RABT Book Tours for the free review copy. All opinions are my own and unbiased.
In the beginning, it felt a little rushed and things weren’t developed completely. However, as the story progresses, things develop more clearly and I think the second half of the book was very strong.
The characters are well developed and likeable. I enjoyed the growth and this story focuses on friendship, which I found refreshing! The characters acted in ways that made sense, which I thoroughly found enjoyable.
This is an entertaining YA read with plenty of answers yet to come, I’m sure. I recommend giving this one a read!
(3.5☆ rounded to 4 for Goodreads & Amazon)
Thank you to RABT Book Tours for the free review copy. All opinions are my own and unbiased.
January 4, 2022
This is a really good YA fantasy fiction read.
As with most fantasy novels, the first third of the book is mostly world building, drawing us into the lives of our protagonists. A lot happens fairly quickly in the first 100 or so pages, and I felt some scenes could have been developed a bit more, or left out as they didn’t really add anything to the story. From then on, though, things go a bit deeper and the story develops really well.
Our main characters all have good growth and content and are all really likeable. There’s no mushy puppy love, with the focus on friendship and equality, which I enjoyed.
In an unjust world, it’s easy to root for our heroes and I found myself flying through the pages to follow their journey.
As the first book in a series, we are left with plenty of unanswered questions to be answered in the future books!
I mean, do we really trust Dr Viktor?!
As a YA novel, it is aimed at younger audiences, however I would recommend this one to anybody looking for some easy, light fantasy adventure.
As with most fantasy novels, the first third of the book is mostly world building, drawing us into the lives of our protagonists. A lot happens fairly quickly in the first 100 or so pages, and I felt some scenes could have been developed a bit more, or left out as they didn’t really add anything to the story. From then on, though, things go a bit deeper and the story develops really well.
Our main characters all have good growth and content and are all really likeable. There’s no mushy puppy love, with the focus on friendship and equality, which I enjoyed.
In an unjust world, it’s easy to root for our heroes and I found myself flying through the pages to follow their journey.
As the first book in a series, we are left with plenty of unanswered questions to be answered in the future books!
I mean, do we really trust Dr Viktor?!
As a YA novel, it is aimed at younger audiences, however I would recommend this one to anybody looking for some easy, light fantasy adventure.
December 2, 2021
A fantastic read, what a story! This has to be one of the best fantasy books I’ve read in a while, I devoured it. Juno is our main character who finds Chax whilst out on her daily work whilst she is at her school and this is where our story truly begins. The pace of the book was spot on it flowed so well.
I absolutely adored the Sewer Rats in particular the character Chloe. My other favourite character was Valen and his little friends. Oh and I definitely enjoyed the twin Sewer Rat cooks Gem and Jens characters too.
In this story the town is ruled by men and the fight against the patriarchy by the Sewer Rats I really loved. This story would make a fantastic film and I would absolutely love to read more on this story so I hope there will be more published as I would like to hear more about this band of warriors and their quest to bring equality to everywhere they can reach.
Thank you to Anne at Random Things Tour for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for my review.
#blogtour
I absolutely adored the Sewer Rats in particular the character Chloe. My other favourite character was Valen and his little friends. Oh and I definitely enjoyed the twin Sewer Rat cooks Gem and Jens characters too.
In this story the town is ruled by men and the fight against the patriarchy by the Sewer Rats I really loved. This story would make a fantastic film and I would absolutely love to read more on this story so I hope there will be more published as I would like to hear more about this band of warriors and their quest to bring equality to everywhere they can reach.
Thank you to Anne at Random Things Tour for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for my review.
#blogtour
December 10, 2022
MY THOUGHTS ON THIS BOOK
#iReadBookTours
Petra is dead and the mysterious Lady taking her place puts her best friend under a dark spell, leaving no one at all that Juno can trust. Juno and the Lady by G.J. Kemp takes readers on a journey with Juno and her kitten Chax into a dark time when men treated women as their property. Will she be able to save this town from the men who rule? But her biggest curiosity is, who is the lady that replaced her beloved Petra? With Juno’s feisty strong will, this is where the pace picks up and Juno soars into the unknown with Chax, and uncovers interest facts that will surprise and motivate you to keep on reading.
Juno and the Lady is a fun and interesting book to read. With strong characters that develop well throughout the story, I know the rest of the series will be as fabulous as this book. I love Chax. I love kittens, and having a character such as Chax was delightful. There are many surprisingly twists and turns in the story that up the excitement and pace of the story. Juno and the Lady is book one of a four book series. I am honored to have all four books to review and I am looking for much more excitement in the next three books.
A special thanks to the author/publisher for a copy of this book. I am not required to write a positive review, the opinions here are mine alone. I am disclosing this with my review in accordance with the Federal Trade Com
#iReadBookTours
Petra is dead and the mysterious Lady taking her place puts her best friend under a dark spell, leaving no one at all that Juno can trust. Juno and the Lady by G.J. Kemp takes readers on a journey with Juno and her kitten Chax into a dark time when men treated women as their property. Will she be able to save this town from the men who rule? But her biggest curiosity is, who is the lady that replaced her beloved Petra? With Juno’s feisty strong will, this is where the pace picks up and Juno soars into the unknown with Chax, and uncovers interest facts that will surprise and motivate you to keep on reading.
Juno and the Lady is a fun and interesting book to read. With strong characters that develop well throughout the story, I know the rest of the series will be as fabulous as this book. I love Chax. I love kittens, and having a character such as Chax was delightful. There are many surprisingly twists and turns in the story that up the excitement and pace of the story. Juno and the Lady is book one of a four book series. I am honored to have all four books to review and I am looking for much more excitement in the next three books.
A special thanks to the author/publisher for a copy of this book. I am not required to write a positive review, the opinions here are mine alone. I am disclosing this with my review in accordance with the Federal Trade Com
January 23, 2022
I found this a little slow to start, but once I got into it, the pace sure picked up and didn’t quit. There was something really unique about this book, both the story and the writing style, completely captivating and 100% engaging. I loved Juno and Chax so much, Juno is a good main character she is an independent and strong woman , she doesn’t whinge and faces every challenge head on. Juno lives in a patriarchal society ( very tempted to make comments about our own but I’ll resist as this is a book review !) and it’s interesting to see how the men cope when they find themselves without the women in society and that they need to rely on a woman to survive. The characters I though were really well developed and constructed, it was great to see a book not focusing on romance but instead on friendship. Overall, I thought this was a really good introduction to a new series, like all first books it takes some time to set up the key players and set the scene, but I thought it was a fantastic introduction to a series I really can’t wait to read more of and I can’t see where we go next.
Thanks to Anne at RandomTours and the publisher for a free copy for an honest opinion.
Thanks to Anne at RandomTours and the publisher for a free copy for an honest opinion.
October 6, 2022
An epic beginning, cliché I know, but it’s an apt description of Juno and the Lady by G.J. Kemp.
I’ll be the first to admit that one of the reasons I love fantasy is because of the complicated world building involved. I love being immersed into a new and different world so unlike ours currently, and having to really focus on figuring out how this new world works.
G.J. Kemp starts off Juno and the Lady with a strong female character and he develops her and her strengths throughout the storyline. The descriptions are very detailed and give you a vivid picture of the situations Juno and her friends find themselves in.
The world was started in this first book and I am still trying to figure out where G.J. Kemp is going to take us. It is a bit of a different style than I am used to reading but nothing wrong with it. AND I sincerely am enjoying the interlays G.J. Kemp is interweaving.
It does seem very abrupt in certain scenes and more telling than I usually prefer from the characters but I am enjoying the storyline!
3.5 Stars
*I volunteered to read this book in return for my honest feedback. The thoughts and opinions expressed within are my own.
I’ll be the first to admit that one of the reasons I love fantasy is because of the complicated world building involved. I love being immersed into a new and different world so unlike ours currently, and having to really focus on figuring out how this new world works.
G.J. Kemp starts off Juno and the Lady with a strong female character and he develops her and her strengths throughout the storyline. The descriptions are very detailed and give you a vivid picture of the situations Juno and her friends find themselves in.
The world was started in this first book and I am still trying to figure out where G.J. Kemp is going to take us. It is a bit of a different style than I am used to reading but nothing wrong with it. AND I sincerely am enjoying the interlays G.J. Kemp is interweaving.
It does seem very abrupt in certain scenes and more telling than I usually prefer from the characters but I am enjoying the storyline!
3.5 Stars
*I volunteered to read this book in return for my honest feedback. The thoughts and opinions expressed within are my own.
April 6, 2022
I always like to turn to fantasy and adventure novels when I need a break from stress in the real world, this was the perfect escape.
It has everything that makes fantasy what it is, and the plot line is written in such a believable way that as a reader you’re completely immersed and captivated from the very beginning to the very last page.
Once I started reading, I didn’t want this book to end.
All in all, this book had everything I could ask for in a fantasy/adventure book — danger, fantastical creatures, a quest, magic, great characters and vivid writing — and by the end of the book I was absolutely ready to take off on an adventure myself.
It has everything that makes fantasy what it is, and the plot line is written in such a believable way that as a reader you’re completely immersed and captivated from the very beginning to the very last page.
Once I started reading, I didn’t want this book to end.
All in all, this book had everything I could ask for in a fantasy/adventure book — danger, fantastical creatures, a quest, magic, great characters and vivid writing — and by the end of the book I was absolutely ready to take off on an adventure myself.
January 13, 2022
Brilliantly written, fast paced fantasy book. Fell in love with the book from the first page and the dialogue style writing is simply a great idea.
In this book we follow the story of Juno and her extraordinary journey. I absolutely loved the character Juno. I'm a big sucker for strong female lead stories and this one definitely hit the spot. The other character I really liked is Valen.
With a phenomenal world building and brillant characters, I highly recommend this book. I can not wait to read the second one in this series.
In this book we follow the story of Juno and her extraordinary journey. I absolutely loved the character Juno. I'm a big sucker for strong female lead stories and this one definitely hit the spot. The other character I really liked is Valen.
With a phenomenal world building and brillant characters, I highly recommend this book. I can not wait to read the second one in this series.
May 13, 2022
G.J. Kemp has no problem getting the story started.
This story managed to surprise me several times. I liked how balanced the characters were, I felt like each one served their own purpose and had a valid place in the novel.
I was very intrigued by the story, characters, and how everything came together. It was a wild ride and I was fully entertained the entire way.
This story managed to surprise me several times. I liked how balanced the characters were, I felt like each one served their own purpose and had a valid place in the novel.
I was very intrigued by the story, characters, and how everything came together. It was a wild ride and I was fully entertained the entire way.
January 24, 2022
I really enjoyed this book! For starters it has one of my favourite tropes, the unknown power. All the characters are extremely likeable and I love seeing Juno grow into her powers! I love Chloe and how she has just taken Juno under her wing. I definitely carry on the series to see how they manage to rebuild Fairacre as well as exactly what the Queen is up to!
April 5, 2022
Wow, this was imaginative and intriguing while being rich in world-building.
Kemp takes his time delivering a well-planned story in a vivid fantasy world. Diverse characters abound and magic dances with wit.
Young Adult Fantasy fans will love this story!
Kemp takes his time delivering a well-planned story in a vivid fantasy world. Diverse characters abound and magic dances with wit.
Young Adult Fantasy fans will love this story!
June 11, 2022
I absolutely loved this book. It’s an epic fantasy meet’s adventure with a little mystery.It’s a beautiful story featuring the main character Juno and her journey of discovery as she tries to save her friend. The book is well written and had a great flow to the story.I loved the world building as well. I can’t wait for the next book.
#adgifted
#adgifted
January 21, 2022
Instantly I was hooked by this fantastic fantasy book.
It was a very nice easy book to read, I devoured this very quickly.
The author’s writing is captivating. He makes you feel like you’re in the actual book. The storyline is fantastic, this is staying on my shelf for my children to read when they’re older 🥰
I can’t wait for the next book to see what happens to our fantasy friends.
It was a very nice easy book to read, I devoured this very quickly.
The author’s writing is captivating. He makes you feel like you’re in the actual book. The storyline is fantastic, this is staying on my shelf for my children to read when they’re older 🥰
I can’t wait for the next book to see what happens to our fantasy friends.
January 20, 2022
As far as I can tell this is Kemp's debut novel, if this book is anything to go on, a glittering career in writing fiction awaits!
Such an amazing story, so very well written, an exciting, original plotline & some fantastic characters; Juno our protagonist is a kickass, strong, independent woman & with her ever growing kitten sidekick Chax the race is on to evade Miss Lady & rescue next friend Tilly.
Exciting, fast paced & as YA fantasies go, it was pretty awesome & I'm looking forward to book two, to see where Juno's journey takes her next.
Such an amazing story, so very well written, an exciting, original plotline & some fantastic characters; Juno our protagonist is a kickass, strong, independent woman & with her ever growing kitten sidekick Chax the race is on to evade Miss Lady & rescue next friend Tilly.
Exciting, fast paced & as YA fantasies go, it was pretty awesome & I'm looking forward to book two, to see where Juno's journey takes her next.
April 5, 2022
Juno and the Lady is an adventure that is at times funny and scene chewing with action. It is a fantasy filled story filled with fire, friendship, and the hopes of town to change the world.
I received a free copy of this book and I am writing a review without prejudice and voluntarily.
Check out the rest of my review at Phoebe's Randoms. Link in bio.
I received a free copy of this book and I am writing a review without prejudice and voluntarily.
Check out the rest of my review at Phoebe's Randoms. Link in bio.
January 1, 2022
I cannot express how much I enjoyed this book... I just can't wait for the second one. This book was a rollercoaster of emotions. I LOVE the fact that it's written in dialogue. I can't remember when was the last time I felt that bitter-sweet feeling after finishing a book. The story, the world-building, characters... I strongly suggest reading the book and starting this journey. :)
January 3, 2022
Our main character Juno lives in an orphanage. One day she saves a kitten and takes it back to her room. The kitten (who she names Chax) bites her and where she is bitten she notices a small flame shape appear. But that’s not the only strange thing to happen. Chax isn’t just a normal kitten as within a short time Chax starts to grow at an exponential rate. When the principal of the orphanage Miss Petra dies Juno is heartbroken but there is something about the new replacement Miss Lady that doesn’t sit right with Juno. There is something sinister about Miss Lady that only Juno can see and that doesn’t go unnoticed by Miss Lady. When her best friend Tilly falls under the spell of Miss Lady Juno escapes and finds herself hunted wherever she goes because Miss Lady quickly realises that Juno isn’t just an ordinary girl but holds great power. Can Juno escape the clutches of Miss Lady and save Tilly?
Wow this was a fast paced book from the beginning and this is one of the things I loved about the story. At times I felt like I was on the run with Juno. The storyline was unique and engaging. There was something about Miss Lady that definitely gave me Demon Headmaster vibes and I can see why Juno realised very quickly that something wasn’t right. I loved Juno as a character. She was strong, independent and took every challenge she faced in her stride and head on. One of my favourite parts of the book was when Juno meets the Sewer Rats and is taken to the underground city. It very much reminded me of the resistance group from Demolition Man which is one of my favourite films.
This isn’t just a fantasy YA novel with a female protagonist. It was so much more. The story covers topics such as sexism as Juno lives in a world where women are second class citizens in a male dominated world. This is contrasted later on in the book when Miss Lady’s powers start controlling others and the only hope for this male dominated world is Juno, a female. Although the story is centred around a world where men rule it was interesting to see what happened when the women were bewitched by Miss Lady and rebelled. Although painted as the dominant species the men found themselves clearly lost without the females in their lives and in order to survive had to take orders from a woman. This is one book that amplifies girl/woman power, their role in society and their importance.
The story ended on a cliff hanger and I can already tell that the next instalment is going to be as action packed. I’m very much looking forward to reading the second book!
Wow this was a fast paced book from the beginning and this is one of the things I loved about the story. At times I felt like I was on the run with Juno. The storyline was unique and engaging. There was something about Miss Lady that definitely gave me Demon Headmaster vibes and I can see why Juno realised very quickly that something wasn’t right. I loved Juno as a character. She was strong, independent and took every challenge she faced in her stride and head on. One of my favourite parts of the book was when Juno meets the Sewer Rats and is taken to the underground city. It very much reminded me of the resistance group from Demolition Man which is one of my favourite films.
This isn’t just a fantasy YA novel with a female protagonist. It was so much more. The story covers topics such as sexism as Juno lives in a world where women are second class citizens in a male dominated world. This is contrasted later on in the book when Miss Lady’s powers start controlling others and the only hope for this male dominated world is Juno, a female. Although the story is centred around a world where men rule it was interesting to see what happened when the women were bewitched by Miss Lady and rebelled. Although painted as the dominant species the men found themselves clearly lost without the females in their lives and in order to survive had to take orders from a woman. This is one book that amplifies girl/woman power, their role in society and their importance.
The story ended on a cliff hanger and I can already tell that the next instalment is going to be as action packed. I’m very much looking forward to reading the second book!
January 4, 2022
When the lovely headmistress dies suddenly and mysteriously the school is taken over by the Lady. With everyone under a dark spell Juno has no alternative but to run to the town ruled by men, there she realises her powers with her pet kitten. There she finds new friends and alliances but can she save the town and her friend.
I have to admit that this is not a genre I would normally read at all. This is a pacy story with plenty of action and unexpected twists. I can imagine this would appeal to young adults who normally read fantasy novels. I loved the cover which is beautiful and different.
I have to admit that this is not a genre I would normally read at all. This is a pacy story with plenty of action and unexpected twists. I can imagine this would appeal to young adults who normally read fantasy novels. I loved the cover which is beautiful and different.
October 14, 2022
Juno And the Lady is a fun YA Fantasy that had me hooked until the last page. I enjoyed the character development and the characters were very likeable, which is what I look for. The plot wouldn't matter I'd I didn't like the characters but I was pleasantly surprised with exactly what I'm looking for in a book 💜
This book seems to set the stage for the next so I cant wait to see what happens in the second book!
Thank you to ireadbooktours for sending me a copy!
(Although I was sent a copy all opinions are my own)
#epicfantasybooks #epicfantasy #fantasybooks #bookstagram #epicfantasynovels #yafantasy #booksbooksbooks #fantasy #fantasynovels #darkfantasy #fantasybookseries #bookworm #booklover #darkfantasybooks #scififantasy #book #epicfantasyauthor #booknerd #bookrecommendations #booksforteens #fantasywriter #fantasyfiction #yalit #bookstore #childrensbooks #childrenbooks #bookstagrammer #highfantasybooks #fantasyseries
This book seems to set the stage for the next so I cant wait to see what happens in the second book!
Thank you to ireadbooktours for sending me a copy!
(Although I was sent a copy all opinions are my own)
#epicfantasybooks #epicfantasy #fantasybooks #bookstagram #epicfantasynovels #yafantasy #booksbooksbooks #fantasy #fantasynovels #darkfantasy #fantasybookseries #bookworm #booklover #darkfantasybooks #scififantasy #book #epicfantasyauthor #booknerd #bookrecommendations #booksforteens #fantasywriter #fantasyfiction #yalit #bookstore #childrensbooks #childrenbooks #bookstagrammer #highfantasybooks #fantasyseries
March 22, 2024
Juno and the Lady
This has been a different style of story than I am used to, but it has captured my attention. I enjoyed reading about Juno, and all the trials she faced.
Looking toward the next in the series.
This has been a different style of story than I am used to, but it has captured my attention. I enjoyed reading about Juno, and all the trials she faced.
Looking toward the next in the series.
September 4, 2026
I really wanted to like this more - written by a friend of a friend, the start of a fantasy series with strong women characters, it sounds perfect. And it was an interesting plot, but it needed a more rounded writing style and better word use... a shame.
Blurb:
Juno's beloved Miss Petra is dead.
Miss Petra's replacement, the mysterious Lady, has put Juno's best friend Tilly under a dark spell that has left Juno with nobody she can trust.
With only Chax, her kitten, for company, Juno escapes from her school to a town at the bottom of the cliffs.
A town ruled by men.
Alone, scared, and without friends, Juno feels an unknown power growing inside her. A power she knows she will one day have to harness. With all lost, a dark figure from within the shadows cups her mouth and whispers in her ear to keep quiet.
Juno joins her new friends but just as she starts to learn how the world really works, the ill-tempered Dr Viktor demands an audience.
Juno and the Lady is a young woman's journey into a land of the old ways, where men rule, and women are property.
With unlikely friendships, forbidden love and burning magic, can Juno change the conventions of old? Can she save the town? And will she figure out who the Lady truly is?
So, let's get the criticisms out of the way first. This needs more world-building, and less 20thC modernity in it. Sometimes I wasn't sure if this was an urban fantasy in a rural setting, or was supposed to be a completely different world altogether. Stop having your characters speak with colloquialisms suck as "OK" if they are in a different world set - can they have their own local words? The use (or non-use) of contractions was irregular, and kept bringing me out of the world I was trying to inhabit. There is far, far too much use of the word "said" - please use other descriptive verbs to describe the way one is speaking! Please. There is all action and speaking; very little description to build the view of the world we are viewing. Parts of it felt like a script for a television show, rather than a novel, as the emphasis was not on the atmosphere, or the history of the world.
On the plus side, this was an intriguing plot, with some interesting characters who needed to be fleshed out more to get a good view of them. I wanted to know more about motivations and personal histories, which could have been woven into the descriptions throughout the novel. The plot worked well, and was nicely paced for a YA novel.
Blurb:
Juno's beloved Miss Petra is dead.
Miss Petra's replacement, the mysterious Lady, has put Juno's best friend Tilly under a dark spell that has left Juno with nobody she can trust.
With only Chax, her kitten, for company, Juno escapes from her school to a town at the bottom of the cliffs.
A town ruled by men.
Alone, scared, and without friends, Juno feels an unknown power growing inside her. A power she knows she will one day have to harness. With all lost, a dark figure from within the shadows cups her mouth and whispers in her ear to keep quiet.
Juno joins her new friends but just as she starts to learn how the world really works, the ill-tempered Dr Viktor demands an audience.
Juno and the Lady is a young woman's journey into a land of the old ways, where men rule, and women are property.
With unlikely friendships, forbidden love and burning magic, can Juno change the conventions of old? Can she save the town? And will she figure out who the Lady truly is?
So, let's get the criticisms out of the way first. This needs more world-building, and less 20thC modernity in it. Sometimes I wasn't sure if this was an urban fantasy in a rural setting, or was supposed to be a completely different world altogether. Stop having your characters speak with colloquialisms suck as "OK" if they are in a different world set - can they have their own local words? The use (or non-use) of contractions was irregular, and kept bringing me out of the world I was trying to inhabit. There is far, far too much use of the word "said" - please use other descriptive verbs to describe the way one is speaking! Please. There is all action and speaking; very little description to build the view of the world we are viewing. Parts of it felt like a script for a television show, rather than a novel, as the emphasis was not on the atmosphere, or the history of the world.
On the plus side, this was an intriguing plot, with some interesting characters who needed to be fleshed out more to get a good view of them. I wanted to know more about motivations and personal histories, which could have been woven into the descriptions throughout the novel. The plot worked well, and was nicely paced for a YA novel.
September 26, 2022
Juno and the Lady Builds the Groundwork for the Series. The author does a wonderful job building the fantasy world, his characters, and the storylines. Readers will find just enough realism in character interactions and relationships to allow the fantasy and magical elements room to grow and build believably. Juno's rapid acceptance of her abilities and role was a little harder to believe in such an otherwise grounded fantasy. While the author does a lot to develop and launch his series with this novel, it is well-paced and predictable, with just enough loose ends of side plots to leave room for other books.
I Loved the Characters in this Novel. The author creates a strong cast of female characters along with a man-hating / woman-hating storyline that still leaves room for relationships, character growth, and maturing. I am not always a fan of women-saving-the-world style fantasies--but this one builds the story through the characters and their relationships and considers the rights and wrongs of sexism and racism without relying entirely on fantastic magical abilities and brute force action scenes. Juno had me from page one, and other characters pulled me in as the novel progressed.
Would I Recommend Juno and the Lady? This novel landed somewhere between young adult and adult fantasy for me. It doesn't have some of the instant romance, immature dialogue, or childish decision-making of most young adult fantasies--but it still has some of the predictability of young adult novels. If you enjoy young adult fantasies with a little more realism and character development--this novel is launching the series in the right direction. I look forward to reading more and seeing the author's directions in his series in future books.
I received a copy of this book from the author or publisher for use in a blog review. All opinions are my own.
I Loved the Characters in this Novel. The author creates a strong cast of female characters along with a man-hating / woman-hating storyline that still leaves room for relationships, character growth, and maturing. I am not always a fan of women-saving-the-world style fantasies--but this one builds the story through the characters and their relationships and considers the rights and wrongs of sexism and racism without relying entirely on fantastic magical abilities and brute force action scenes. Juno had me from page one, and other characters pulled me in as the novel progressed.
Would I Recommend Juno and the Lady? This novel landed somewhere between young adult and adult fantasy for me. It doesn't have some of the instant romance, immature dialogue, or childish decision-making of most young adult fantasies--but it still has some of the predictability of young adult novels. If you enjoy young adult fantasies with a little more realism and character development--this novel is launching the series in the right direction. I look forward to reading more and seeing the author's directions in his series in future books.
I received a copy of this book from the author or publisher for use in a blog review. All opinions are my own.
October 18, 2022
Yesterday, was my spot on ireadbooktours blog tour for Acre series book 1 Juno and the Lady by G.J Kemp. I read a paperback copy of this fantasy novel for this tour and I’m so happy that I took part on this blog tour as I really liked this novel. I read another fantastic novel in this series for a blog tour a while back and I instantly liked this series and signed up for this tour as soon as I saw it. I hadn’t really read many fantasy novels before this Acre series, but I really like the fantastical setting of this novel, the author’s writing style, and the main characters and the animal companion, Chax in the case of this novel.
I really liked the fact that the main character of this novel is a strong, independent and smart leading female character. I really like reading novels with fierce and powerful female characters, these kind of novels are so refreshing.
This series of novels has made me a great fan of fantasy genre, and whereas before I wouldn’t have considered reading fantasy novels, I now like to read them for a change. I like to read about unlikely heroes, faraway places, fantastical super powers and creatures. This novel is quite a quick read; it is also action-packed and fast-paced. I read this in one go, and this novel held my interest and attention from start to finish.
I’m giving this fantasy novel 4 stars because I enjoyed reading it and I think that other readers will enjoy it too, especially if they are fans of fantasy novels.
I really liked the fact that the main character of this novel is a strong, independent and smart leading female character. I really like reading novels with fierce and powerful female characters, these kind of novels are so refreshing.
This series of novels has made me a great fan of fantasy genre, and whereas before I wouldn’t have considered reading fantasy novels, I now like to read them for a change. I like to read about unlikely heroes, faraway places, fantastical super powers and creatures. This novel is quite a quick read; it is also action-packed and fast-paced. I read this in one go, and this novel held my interest and attention from start to finish.
I’m giving this fantasy novel 4 stars because I enjoyed reading it and I think that other readers will enjoy it too, especially if they are fans of fantasy novels.
September 5, 2022
This is a really fun start to a young adult fantasy series! Juno and the Lady is the first book in the Acre Series, and I am looking forward to continuing with the next book!
As this is a fantasy novel, there is a great world to build, and a magical system to put in place. I thought the author did a good job of getting the details into the story without making it feel like a laundry list to get through. At times I thought that it may have gone a little too fast, but the pacing smoothed out a bit after the first few chapters.
I found the characters to be easy to like and connect with. I was quickly invested in their story, and I needed to know what was going to happen. I enjoyed the friendship focus, and the exciting moments that put problems to overcome in their way! I thought that the character arcs were well-done and left room for growth in future novels.
I would recommend this one for readers who enjoy YA fantasy!
I was provided a gifted copy of this book for free. I am leaving my review voluntarily.
As this is a fantasy novel, there is a great world to build, and a magical system to put in place. I thought the author did a good job of getting the details into the story without making it feel like a laundry list to get through. At times I thought that it may have gone a little too fast, but the pacing smoothed out a bit after the first few chapters.
I found the characters to be easy to like and connect with. I was quickly invested in their story, and I needed to know what was going to happen. I enjoyed the friendship focus, and the exciting moments that put problems to overcome in their way! I thought that the character arcs were well-done and left room for growth in future novels.
I would recommend this one for readers who enjoy YA fantasy!
I was provided a gifted copy of this book for free. I am leaving my review voluntarily.
September 7, 2022
Juno and the Lady is the first book in G. J. Kemp’s The Acre Series. This series of fantasy books is written for the adult audience. The characters are interesting and likable. The main character Juno grows from a young teen to a warrior and leader. Other characters also show growth and maturity as the plot progresses. Unfortunately the dialogue is stilted and somewhat forced at times.
The story has elements of fantasy - an imaginary world, magical creatures, an epic journey, good vs. evil. Those who enjoy fantasy should consider Juno and the Lady.
I was hoping Juno and the Lady would be appropriate for teens, especially since the main character is a girl, but it really isn’t. There is some profanity. One of the plot points is whether or not women can rule or fight with a little bit of man-hating and woman-hating thrown in. One of the characters is also referred to as a demon. I do think the book is appropriate for the adults it is intended for.
I received a complimentary copy of Juno and the Lady. This is my honest opinion.
The story has elements of fantasy - an imaginary world, magical creatures, an epic journey, good vs. evil. Those who enjoy fantasy should consider Juno and the Lady.
I was hoping Juno and the Lady would be appropriate for teens, especially since the main character is a girl, but it really isn’t. There is some profanity. One of the plot points is whether or not women can rule or fight with a little bit of man-hating and woman-hating thrown in. One of the characters is also referred to as a demon. I do think the book is appropriate for the adults it is intended for.
I received a complimentary copy of Juno and the Lady. This is my honest opinion.
September 9, 2022
I enjoyed that Juno was never predictable, she rarely acts how you would expect her to. Her character develops wonderfully, albeit a bit too fast paced with little shown. I would have really liked to see her train a bit more, as I'm not a huge fan of MC's that automatically know how to use their powers with little to no effort. Her emotional maturity growth is astounding. She is a brave character, who - despite everything she had been through - still loves easily.
The entire book was full of awesome, butt-kicking female characters. Every one of them was amazing in their own way. Kemp did fantastic work portraying all of these characters. The sexism, and racism, in Fairacre draws from our history and the way many women all over the world are still treated today.
You can read my full review, plus extras at bookswithachance.com
The entire book was full of awesome, butt-kicking female characters. Every one of them was amazing in their own way. Kemp did fantastic work portraying all of these characters. The sexism, and racism, in Fairacre draws from our history and the way many women all over the world are still treated today.
You can read my full review, plus extras at bookswithachance.com
September 26, 2022
Juno and the Lady is the first book in G.J. Kemp's Acre series.
As with any epic fantasy, quite a bit of world-building is demanded from the book's early sections. I felt the author did a great job incorporating world-building with character introductions.
The pace is brisk throughout, with many intricate turns that I did not see coming. I was always on the edge of my seat, waiting on the next twist.
Juno is an endearing character that grabs the reader in the opening pages. I love the friendships built throughout the tale. They added nicely to the young-adult feel of the story.
As this is the first in a series, there are threads of the story left hanging, but overall, the book works well as a standalone. But, since the next two books are novellas, I bet you are reaching for them immediately.
If you love fast-paced, gripping epic fantasy, this book is for you!
As with any epic fantasy, quite a bit of world-building is demanded from the book's early sections. I felt the author did a great job incorporating world-building with character introductions.
The pace is brisk throughout, with many intricate turns that I did not see coming. I was always on the edge of my seat, waiting on the next twist.
Juno is an endearing character that grabs the reader in the opening pages. I love the friendships built throughout the tale. They added nicely to the young-adult feel of the story.
As this is the first in a series, there are threads of the story left hanging, but overall, the book works well as a standalone. But, since the next two books are novellas, I bet you are reaching for them immediately.
If you love fast-paced, gripping epic fantasy, this book is for you!
October 21, 2024
GJ Kemp’s Juno and the Lady is a fantastic start to this series. Despite English being my second language, I found the book easy to read, with a well-paced narrative that flows beautifully from scene to scene. Kemp’s descriptive style vividly brings the world to life, making it feel as though I were right there, observing the action as it unfolded. The story’s immersive details made the experience feel almost tangible, akin to wearing Harry Potter’s invisibility cloak and witnessing every event firsthand. The rich character development and dynamic plot leave room for the possibility of an adaptation—perhaps even a film or television series. I highly recommend Juno and the Lady for its seamless blend of action, intrigue, and imagination.
March 16, 2022
Imaginative and descriptive in the best possible way.
This novel has done a great job of pulling the reader into the world G.J. Kemp has created.
With a flow and pacing that are well executed and smooth throughout, it makes for an easy and fun read.
I enjoyed getting to know all of the characters. You connect to them from the start
A wonderful Young Adult Fantasy novel!
This novel has done a great job of pulling the reader into the world G.J. Kemp has created.
With a flow and pacing that are well executed and smooth throughout, it makes for an easy and fun read.
I enjoyed getting to know all of the characters. You connect to them from the start
A wonderful Young Adult Fantasy novel!
October 31, 2022
JUNO AND THE LADY (An Acre Story, Book 1) by G.J. Kemp was the first book in the An Acre Story series and so far I have to say the series is off to a great start. I really liked Juno as a character I could not help, but feel for her and want to see where her story goes. I can't wait to read the next book in the series!
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