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2176 Freedom #1

The Legend of Banzai Maguire

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Part 1 of a two-part series

The revolution begins....

The year: 2016. While flying a peacekeeping mission over North Korea, Air Force pilot Bree "Banzai" Maguire is shot down. Instead of the North Korean troops she expected, she finds herself captured by a mad scientist and put in bio-stasis. When she wakes, everything has changed. It's 2176, the world is in crisis, and she is a hotly contested prize. Once, Banzai's job was to protect democracy; now a mysterious voice claims she must bring it back.

The year: 2176. U.C.E. Commander Ty Armstrong is a decorated SEAL, combat veteran, and part-time treasure hunter. Seeking one elusive prize has become a personal obsession for him: Banzai Maguire, who was never found after her mysterious disappearance 160 years earlier. His quest to find her remains takes him into enemy territory where he discovers that not only is she very much alive, he might have already fallen in love with her. But before he can bring her to safety, they are captured by the charming, yet ruthless, Emperor of Asia. Ty vows to escape with Banzai at his side. But his captor has other plans for him—and for Banzai Maguire.

247 pages, Kindle Edition

First published April 1, 2004

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About the author

Susan Grant

66 books452 followers
Susan’s childhood dreams of becoming a space explorer fizzled when she found out calculus was involved. Luckily, she didn’t need math skills to fly jets--or to create sky-high stories in her head, first for herself, then for friends, and now for readers everywhere.  

A New York Times/USA Today bestselling author and a military veteran, Susan won the prestigious RITA® Award for her book Contact, a sci-fi aviation-thriller romance.

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Displaying 1 - 30 of 65 reviews
Profile Image for PointyEars42.
753 reviews49 followers
August 5, 2016
Not the Susan Grant I'm used to. I found the protagonist's willingness to accept her circumstances without any suspicion irritating and unbelievable and by the time she does start questioning things it was too late. Accepting everything she's told because it comes with a huge serving of luxury and ease from a stranger who is okay with describing himself as a dictator? Oh, but he's soooo attractive too! No. Just...no. Her hard military training and natural wariness and personal strength seem to have stayed in the cryo tank when she was defrosted and it was actually unpleasant watching her be so shallowly materialistic for so much of the book and her growth happens too late for me to buy it.

Also, the raging nationalistic fervour; the racist generalisations; the war time flag waving; the blind faith in the Nuremberg defense; the equally blind faith that "it is good and fitting to die for one's country"? Again - just no. Maybe if you're American and/or have family in the armed forces you will find this aspect appealing, but for those of us who do not elevate our nations to the status of near-religion and do not buy into the "my country, right or wrong" the way everyone in this book does, it is unappetising to the point of being unreadable propaganda.
Profile Image for Lizzy.
307 reviews159 followers
May 19, 2016
I like Susan Grant sci-fi writing, but I had problems with the plot and the heroine herself in The Legend of Banzai Maguire, even though by the end I had started to finally enjoy it.

Banzai Maguire is a pilot in the year 2006. She is shot down over Korea along with her wingman and best friend Scarlet, both are cryogenically frozen and awaken in the year 2176. She has become a legend, thus it develops.

Banzai’s easy willingness to accept her new circumstances without suspicion troubled me. It almost seemed unbelievable. All she worried about was with the whereabouts of her friend Scarlet, which would be expected. She did not question what was happening around her and what the world had turned into until near the end.

There was plenty of potential in the plot, it is a pity Susan Grant did not explore it fully. I loved other books by her, especially Star King and its 2 sequels, among others. I will read the last installment of the 2176 series The Scarlet Empress and have high hopes.

PS: When I first rated this book I think I was too hard, but it deserves more despite its problems and it was a good overall read. Many books that I gave only 2 stars I found much worse than this. So now I'm raising it to 3 stars. I recommend it, and if you are to read the final book of the series, The Scarlet Empress, it's necessary.
Profile Image for Linda (NOT RECEIVING NOTIFICATIONS).
1,906 reviews328 followers
February 11, 2018
Thank you, Luli, for your amazing insight! Because of our buddy-read, my awareness was elevated when I read The Legend of Banzai Maguire for a second time. I just wish we could have figured out what the differences were between the original paperback and the new, longer and re-edited Kindle version.

We both agreed that new readers should avoid the prologue. As it was somewhat revealing: start at Chapter 1.

In 2006, Bree ‘Banzai’ Maguire along with her wingman, Cam ‘Scarlet’ Tucker, were pilots flying in the Korean demilitarized zone when they were shot down and captured. -In itself, this was unsettling because of what is currently happening between the US and North Korea.- Except that a mad scientist was the perpetrator.

Very quickly, Bree finds herself in the year 2176. She wants to find Cam alive and two men -they are enemies- want Captain Maguire. Each for a different reason.

I agree with all those readers who thought Bree accepted her situation willingly; I expected greater trust issues. She might have put up more of a fight. It was interesting to note Bree’s comment on genetically altered food (a hint of GMOs today?) and the countries that made up the UCE, United Colonies of Earth, versus the ruling power of Asia. And, lastly, what eerily happened to Australia, Pakistan and India and their surrounding countries.

My description: it was a futuristic time travel that included apocalyptic militaristic overtones with a light romance. What a mouthful!

I know it is a must-read if you attempt the entire 5 book series or just Ms. Grant’s two stories. There were some interesting parts but unfortunately and too often, it slowed down considerably. The romance was a long time coming. I am lowering my original 4 stars to three.
Profile Image for Luli.
718 reviews78 followers
February 9, 2018
You can find this review in English below.

*Fantástica lectura con Linda*

Para mayor facilidad voy a diseccionar la historia en tres partes.

Parte 1: 5 stars.
Corre el año 2016 y Bree (también conocida como Banzai Maguire) y Cam son dos pilotos de las fuerzas aéreas norteamericanas en misión de paz que se encargan de sobrevolar la zona desmilitarizada existente entre las dos Coreas. La historia comienza precisamente con uno de estos vuelos, con un nivel de detalle tan preciso que realmente te hace sentir que estás detrás de los mandos del avión. Impresionante. La autora sabe de lo que escribe y se lo transmite a la historia. Lo mejor del libro son los primeros capítulos en los que los aviones de Bree y Cam son derribados y Bree tiene que tirar de todo lo que ha aprendido en el ejército para sobrevivir en un entorno hostil, con enemigos en los talones y sin saber dónde o cómo está su copiloto.
Ha sido brutal. Reconozco que de vez en cuando tenía que hacer un descanso para coger aire, porque la historia tenía un grado de tensión bestial. Decir que Bree es una tía dura es quedarse corta. Muy impresionante y (supongo) que realista.

Parte 2: 2 stars.
Bree es capturada por un científico loco que la criogeniza (o algo así). Nada de esto son spoilers. Todo se puede leer en la sinopsis, que dicho sea de paso, se pasa un poco. Casi cuenta la historia…

A lo que íbamos, la siguiente vez que Bree abre los ojos es el año 2176 y Ty, nuestro héroe, la está despertando en territorio enemigo cuando las tropas del emperador de Asia llegan y los apresan.
Esta es la parte de la historia más larga y que menos me ha gustado. La autora se pierde en los detalles de la nueva geografía del mundo (nada es como ahora, los continentes como tal han desaparecido y hay imperios y colonias) y sobre todo ralentiza la trama con la carga política. Las explicaciones de los diferentes sistemas de gobierno, sus pros, sus contras, ha sido un tostón. En esta parte no pasa nada. Ty es encarcelado y Banzai, que más parece una posesión que un ser humano, flirtea con el emperador. Apenas queda nada de la Banzai de los primeros capítulos.
Había muchos temas fascinantes en esta parte que la autora decide nombrar y olvidar.

Parte 3: 3 stars.
Bree y Ty escapan.
En esta parte comienza de nuevo la acción, pero llega tarde. La historia ha perdido todo el fuelle y en lo poco que queda, no consigue remontar.
Hay acción y persecuciones y combates cuerpo a cuerpo, pero sigue arrastrando el trasfondo político que vuelve a paralizar la trama.
Y el romance es casi inexistente. Amor instantáneo más raro que la leche. O amor instantáneo por un lado y veneración por el otro. Muy extraño todo.
Y no te voy a contar qué pienso del final.
Porque hay finales abiertos y después hay aquí-se-acaba-esto-compra-el-próximo-libro-gracias!.


Y también está el prólogo, que no le hace ningún favor a la historia, y el epílogo, que te deja con una cara de tonta que no puedes con ella…

Con lo que, el potencial estaba ahí. El mundo que crea es muy interesante y nunca se aleja demasiado de la realidad, pero la autora ni es valiente y agarra los temas calientes por los cuernos, ni tampoco deja esa sombra de ambigüedad en la que se instala desde el principio.

No creo que lea la segunda parte.

***

*Awesome b-r with Linda*

For my convenience, I will dissect the story in three parts.

Part 1: 5 stars.
The year is 2016 and Bree (aka Banzai Maguire) and Cam are two pilots of the US Air Force in peacekeeping mission, who are overseeing the existing demilitarized zone between the two Koreas. The story begins precisely with one of these flights, with a level of detail so precise that it really makes you feel like you are behind the aircraft's controls. Awesome. The author knows what she writes and transmits it into the story. The best part of the book are the first chapters in which Bree and Cam´s F-16 are shot down and Bree has to pull everything she has learned in the army to survive in a hostile environment, with the enemy hot on her heels and not knowing where or how is her wingman, Cam.
It has been brutal. I admit that from time to time I had to take a break to catch my breath, because the story had a beastly degree of tension. To say that Bree is a harda** is the understatement of the century. Very impressive and (I guess) realistic.

Part 2 : 2 stars.
Bree is captured by a mad scientist who put her in bio-stasis (or something like cryogenize). None of these are spoilers. Everything can be read in the blurb, which by the way, it went too far... It almost tells the full story...

Anyway, the next time Bree opens her eyes is the year 2176 and Ty, our hero, is waking her up in enemy territory when the troops of the Emperor of Asia arrive and capture them.
This is the longest and the part of the story I liked less. The author is lost in the details of the new geography of the world (nothing is as is now, the continents as such have disappeared and there are empires and colonies) and above all, she slows the plot with all the political content. The explanations of the different systems of government, their pros, their cons, has been a bore. Nothing happens in this part. Ty is imprisoned and Banzai, who looks more like a possession than a human being, flirts with the emperor. Hardly anything remains of the Banzai of the first chapters.
There were many fascinating themes in this part that the author decides to name and forget.

Part 3: 3 stars.
Bree and Ty escape.
In this part the action begins again, but it is too late. The story has run out of steam and in what little remains, it can´t overcome it.
There is action and persecutions and hand to hand fights, but it still is dragging the political background that paralyzes the plot again.
And the romance is almost nonexistent. There is an odd insta-love. Or rather, insta-love on one part and pure worship on the other. Weird.
And I'm not going to tell you what I think of the end.
Because there are cliffhangers and then there are here-it-ends-buy-the-next-book-thank-you!´s.


And there is also the prologue, which does not do the story any favors, and the epilogue, which leaves you... staring blankly.

To sum up, the potential was there. The world she creates is very interesting and never gets too far from reality, but the author is neither brave and grabs the hot topics by the horns, nor does she leave that shadow of ambiguity in which she installs herself from the beginning.

I do not think I will read the second installment.

But above all, thanks, Linda because I don´t remember the last time I have so much fun!!!
Profile Image for Judy Lewis.
1,566 reviews55 followers
February 2, 2017
CAPTIVATING, RIVETING AND DELIGHTFULLY ENTERTAINING SCI-FI ROMP !!!
Title: The Legend of Banzai Maguire
Series: 2176 Freedom Series
Author: Susan Grant
Designation: Book One of Series, Full-Length Novel, Not Recommended As A Standalone, Originally released as part of a multi-author anthology
Genre: #sciencefiction #action/adventure #futuristic #dashofromance
Reading Platform: Kindle Edition
***Publishing Disclosure: This book was originally released in 2004 but has since been re-edited, revamped, lengthened, enhanced and re-released.

Oh my! I'm so excited I'm bouncing in my seat! And why am I so enthused, you ask? I adore science fiction, addicted to action and adventure, completely smitten with anything involving time travel but give me a combination of all three along with a dash of romance and I'm in heaven! And that's exactly what Susan Grant has done with The Legend of Banzai Maguire. Grant has once again wowed her fans with the revamped, lengthened, and enhanced edition of The Legend of Banzai Maguire. And folks, it just doesn't get any better than this for sci-fi action adventure fans. The Legend of Banzai Maguire is a well-crafted, well-edited and beautifully written full-length standalone sci-fi romp filled to the brim with heart-pounding danger, spellbinding drama, edge-of-your-seat action, pulse-pounding adventure, spine-tingling suspense, agonizing angst, and a generous dash of spicy romance. The narrative is exceptionally well written with a riveting third-person perspective but includes an introductory first person pov prologue from Bree 'Banzai' Maguire. The dialogue is smart, snappy, easy-to-follow, well executed and flows effortlessly. But without a doubt, my favorite element of this mesmerizing tale is the cast of engaging, fascinating and well-developed characters. I fell in love with the brave courageous Air Force pilot Banzai Maguire. There is absolutely nothing sexier or more entertaining than a smart, courageous, strong-willed, kick-butt, take-no-prisoners heroine who is determined to live life to the fullest and never back down from a challenge, and Banzai exemplifies these qualities in spades! And what can I even say about the hero, former Seal and part-time treasure hunter Commander Ty Armstrong? *swoon* He's just the cat's meow.... so MEOW! Hubba! Hubba! And when you put these two characters together....well, let's just say the sparks don't fly, they explode! Bree and Ty complement each other perfectly and their interaction is nothing short of mesmerizing! What more could you ask from a great read? Not a darn thing! Did I like this book? No, I loved it! Would I recommend it? You bet and I am! Will I read this author again? Absolutely! Just as soon as she releases her next book! It's no secret I'm a diehard Susan Grant fan and have been for years but there's a very good reason for my loyalty. Grant is an incredibly gifted writer with a boundless imagination who excels at creating detailed and beautifully depicted worlds, then populates them with captivating well-developed life-like characters who will not only engage your imagination but will also completely capture your heart! Was I entertained? Completely! I was glued to my seat, white-knuckling my reader with my heart fluttering wildly in my chest while the time flew as quickly as the pages! Fabulous entertainment and an awesome read! I can hardly wait to continue the heart-pounding adventure in Book Two, The Scarlet Empress, which is already available!
Profile Image for Theresa.
1,426 reviews25 followers
June 28, 2016
I really enjoyed this, enough that I've tracked down either digital or paper copies of the rest of the 5 book series, even though a different author wrote each entry.

Bree 'Banzai' MacGuire is a fighter pilot who sets out on a routine peacekeeping patrol over the DMZ between North & South Korea in 2006 (book was published in 2004 so this is slightly in the future from the start). Shot down by a handheld missile, Banzai is captured by a scientist operating outside legitimate labs who takes her to his North Korean cave lab and puts her into biostasis for what he says will be only a few days. We next find ourselves in 2176, and a SEAL named Ty who is a treasure hunter in his free time is hunting amongst the underwater bombed out ruins of the lab for Banzai. He finds her and starts the process of awakening her when they are captured by the autocratic ruler now controling all of Asia. Ty is treated as a prisoner and thrown into the dungeons while Banzai is brought back to life completely and treated as a prize. One thing leads to another, and in simple terms it becomes clear that there is unrest throughout the planet Earth as forces start protesting against the governments repressing them, all reminiscent of 1776 just with cool tech. The rebel factions are intent on luring Banzai to the cause as her legendary status of surviving from the past makes her a rallying point for the rebellions. By the end, Banzai has decided to throw herself into the rebellion, that destiny has set this path for her, and she brings Ty along with her. And yes, a romance starts to bloom, but that is not the driving part of the story. For those of us who love action and adventure, there is plenty to be found here.

There are also cool references to 1776 particularly the revolutionary writings of Thomas Paine and the Stamp Tax Act that gave birth to the American Revolution. As Banzai says history tends to repeat itself.

This is only the beginning of a saga where each of the 5 separate novels continues the story but from the point of view of a different set of protagonists and geographic location each time. Banzai and Ty clearly appear in each story though, as the rebellion grows and their roles as leaders increase.

I was struck by the novel's similarity to The Hunger Games -- like Katniss, Banzai is a reluctant leader of the rebellion, at least at first. But then this is a book written for adults, so Banzai is 28, already a decorated female fighter pilot in the male dominated USAF, and dedicated to serve. She was born to be a soldier and only ever wanted to be a soldier. Banzai, unlike Katniss, embraces her destiny and makes it hers.

I read this as my romance (fitting either love story romance or adventure romance) set in the future for 2016 Pop Sugar Reading Challenge, but it qualifies as a science fiction book or a dystopian novel just as easily. I also met one of my personal rules for the challenge - it was a book I already owned, stumbling across it as I searched my bookcases for something else I knew I had.
Profile Image for KJ Van Houten.
31 reviews8 followers
November 30, 2016
The Legend of Banzai Maguire (TLoBM) is a re-release of what I consider a terrific Susan Grant novel. This was originally a part of a series of novels by different authors, with Susan Grant writing two: this one and The Scarlet Empress, which is a continuation of the story started in TLoBM. After reading this re-release, I went back and skimmed over the original story. It was amazing to see how little updating the story needed! Still incredibly relevant and fitting! And the jet piloting descriptions in the first couple of chapters are awesome and make you feel you are there in the cockpit with Banzai!

TLoBM is, in brief, about a female USAF jet pilot that gets shot down and captured in North Korea. Her captor is not the expected North Korean government however, but a mad scientist who puts her into a suspended animation, only something goes wrong and instead of being revived within a couple of weeks, Banzai is awakened 160 years later! She is quickly embroiled in a struggle between the United Colonies of Earth (including the former USA) and the Asian Empire, embodied in the two men responsible for her rescue – handsome Tyler Armstrong, UCE commander and treasure hunter who located and revived her, and the very charismatic Crown Prince Kyber, ruler of Asia, who is responsible for getting her the medical care necessary to bring her back to full health and reintroduce her to the ‘world of tomorrow’ in which Banzai finds herself. The shape of global borders may have changed, but the game of politics seems familiar!

I won’t say anything of the story because I don’t want to give away spoilers. I will say that I think Banzai has the potential to be one of the strongest female characters Susan Grant has written. I say potential because I really don’t think she was given enough opportunities in this story to show what she can do – it needed to be a longer story! While she does eventually show her metal, I think her healing process and adjusting to the world of 2176 takes a little too long – in terms of how much of the book involves this because storywise it happens fairly quickly really. A little less figuring out what’s going on and following along with what others tell her and a little more kicking butt and taking names would go a long way to showing her potential.

Bottomline: While the 2176 Freedom Series isn’t my favourite of the many series Susan Grant has written, The Legend of Banzai Maguire is a classic (in every good sense of the word) Susan Grant story that you can’t go wrong with! Highly recommend it.

I received a free review copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Profile Image for Tara van Beurden.
401 reviews9 followers
July 27, 2012
I’d read nearly all of Susie’s books by the time I picked up this one, and I’m a big fan so I had a fair idea of what to expect (ie. Awesomeness). This book, unlike all of Susie’s other books (excluding ‘The Scarlet Empress’ which is in the same series) is written as a series alongside three other authors (Susie writes the bookends to the series, first and last). The idea is that in 2176, Banzai Maguire wakes up after having spent 170 years in stasis, a position she comes to not by choice. Not only are all her family dead, but the world is a very, very different place. A clever enough idea, even if Susie probably doesn’t really support the idea of Banzai ending up in stasis in the first place. That aside, the story heads off at breakneck speed from that point forward. Banzai is initially discovered by Ty Amstrong, a sort of philanthropic adventurer (think Bear Gryllis without the cameras) with SEAL training in what is now the United States, the United Colonies of Earth. She is revived but then captured by the Emperor Prince of what is now the Kingdom of Asia (with its capital in modern day North Korea for those of you playing at home!). The Emperor, Kyber, tries to win on to Banzai, but though he’s a nice enough fellow, she’s not interested – Ty has already wormed his way into her imagination. Thankfully, Ty is also armored by her, and given that the Kingdom of Asia and the United Colonies of Earth don’t much like each other, Ty sets out to rescue Banzai a second time.
The idea behind this series is quite clever, and being a Susie book it’s pulled off pretty well. Susie manages to do a fairly good job of pulling off the sheer shock Banzai experiences upon realizing her situation (something many fantasy books with equally bizarre situations consistently fail at). Perhaps the only disappointing thing is the plot itself is brief because of the requirement to set up the background of the story that goes onto to be used in the rest of the series. Nonetheless, a nice little fluffy sci-fi romance (is there anything better?).
Profile Image for Linda C.
2,504 reviews4 followers
February 15, 2017
This is the first of a 5 volume series set in 2176 written by multiple authors. Captain Bree 'Banzai' Maguire and her wingman, Cam 'Scarlet' Tucker are shot down in a routine patrol along the DMZ in Korea by a mad scientist who is looking for subjects for his experiments in bio-stasis. When Banzai is awakened it is 2176 and she is in the Kingdom of Asia being 'protected' by Prince Kyber. It seems Banzai is a hot property and also pursued by a treasure hunter with ties to the United Colonies of Earth (grown out of the old USA) and the Shadow Walkers who want her as inspiration for their revolution. I'm looking forward to more of this world; high adventure and romance, along with and interesting world view.
Profile Image for Carolyn F..
3,491 reviews51 followers
November 6, 2011
Bree "Banzai" Maguire is a pilot working in South Korea. When she does a flyover, she's shot down and put into hibernation, supposedly for a couple of days. It ends up being around 170 years. The world is different, the nations are different but it seems the fight for freedom is the same as it was when the US fought for freedom and now they're rallying around Banzai as this symbol and catalyst of freedom. Very good book. I'm going to order the 2nd one from the library.
Profile Image for Lydia E Winters.
237 reviews2 followers
November 2, 2020
I remember liking this book. Why did I like this book???

Overly political, almost disturbingly patriotic, and barely a romance. (Seriously, they didn't meet for 2/3 of the book.

This was the original book, so I don't know if the update the author made (to convert her two parts of a 6 book series into a whole story) is any better. I won't be finding out.
Profile Image for Alice.
195 reviews1 follower
January 26, 2021
ETA: My review is for the 2004 edition. It got a reprint?? Does it mention the "five women" advertised on the 2004 paperback?? What five women!

Another one from my shelves that I chose at random. A quick and easy read, and boring.

Despite being revived in a completely different century, Bree didn't take a moment to grieve for the family who thought she died, she didn't shed a single tear or take that time for herself to really process anything. For some reason she had it in her head that she had to fight to free the UCE, where she had never gone but did a little computer research on, from all of its problems. Why is she so adamant about this place she's never been?

The majority of the book is Bree just kinda sitting around in this new world. If you asked for a map of plot points and rising tension in the middle of the book, um, good luck. We could've had a moment to sympathize with her character and get to know her a little better if she had a moment of shock and grief.

Should I even mention the men? Kyber is sexy Asian prince man. He's more than happy to do whatever it takes to keep Bree alive and healthy, not to mention happy, knowing she's from a different time. She was in a kingdom leading in technological marvels, education, and wealth and had a prince fawning over her but that just wasn't good enough for Bree, no sir!

Tyler is sexy American, I mean UCE, man. He's been ogling posters of Bree since he was ten and blamed his love for her as the reason he couldn't connect to anyone in his life. He thinks of Bree as his possession, his treasure, his booty, all because he's the one who found her and plans to steal her back from Kyber. Obviously Bree runs to Tyler because they have some kind of connection that's mentioned over and over and they run away and fall into bed together and blah, blah, blah.

And I only now realized their names. Kyber. Tyler. Yeah, whole lotta nothing in this one...
Profile Image for M Robinson .
2,422 reviews
May 6, 2021
Dnf 70%

2nd time reading this and I dont know how I finished it last time

So much wrong with this book sadly. I dont know how sg got it so very wrong.

Her fmc are usually strong, independent women and to start bree was but once she woke up she turned into a freaking Disney Princess! Seriously pathetic and annoying. Any normal person would have been straight on the Internet searching for her relatives and then going, not languishing in Disney Princess dresses pretending to be a damsel in distress.

A legend? God help us all if bree is sg idea of a legend!

The prince i found interesting. And I'll re read the scarlet empress just cos I want to see if cam does a better job than bree.

Ty is a besotted wuss who is like a little boy rather than a hard arse navy seal.

And seriously by 70% i just cant bear to read this book any longer, its terrible, corny, pathetic, embarrassingly mills n boon esque.

Nope not for me.

What a shame from the author of the star King series, one if my favs we get this? It doesn't even seem like the same author!!!

What the hell happened?
2,115 reviews8 followers
October 27, 2018
USAF pilot Bree "Banzai" Maguire is on what should be a routine surveillance mission over N. Korea when her wing "man" Cam "Scarlet" Tucker and Banzai are shot down in 2006. Banzai is eventually taken prisoner by a scientist who is experimenting with suspended animation or biostasis. What was supposed to be week's biostasis at most, finally ends in 2176, when she is found by U.C.E. Seal commander, Ty Armstrong. They are both captured by Prince Kyber, the ruler of the Asian Kingdom. He imprisons Ty but treats Banzai like the legend she has become. Gradually she discovers the world has drastically changed in 150 years. She eventually escapes with Ty for an unknown future while some other group in anonymously, but publicly trying to get her to lead a revolution.
Interesting theory. You're left dangling for the next episode (written by a different author). Some language, sex and violence.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Frances Law.
1,123 reviews14 followers
December 26, 2018
Against the odds!

Bree Banzai Maguire is shot down over North Korea in 2016. She is captured by a scientist who needs someone like her to test his theory of suspended animation on. In addition to Bree they had captured her wingman Cam. But something goes wrong and when she wakes it is 2176! From then on the story is a kaleidoscope of action and desperation.
This is not the world as we know it today. There are off earth colonies that seem to be in the same position as pre revolutionary war America while the earth is split into three blocs. There I no overt war but there are rumblings of revolution everywhere and the particularly loud rumblings in the UCE call for Banzai Maguire to lead them!
This is not stand alone but only the beginning of the story. You have to but the second book to find out more. Worth it though. It has a sensible amount of romance mixed in with the action.
Banzai and Ty are fighting against the odds with no surcease.
Profile Image for Jamoz23.
5,357 reviews46 followers
February 13, 2021
READ IN THE BOX SET.
The absolute best way to read this two book series is in the box set.
1 - THE LEGEND OF BANZAI MAGUIRE
Read in the box set through Kindle Unlimited.
Ms Grant can really write a book that grabs you and refuses to be put down.
This is one of those stories.
The author wrote what she knows best, flying F-16 fighter jets but has merged that knowledge into a story that pulls you under from the first page.
Time travel stories are hard to do as it needs to be believable. I found myself believing in this future world, though being an Ozzie I did find Australia referred to as a cesspool a bit disappointing.
Loved the characters and the way everything played out.
The Americanism patriotism runs rampant throughout but that was what was needed to change the future of this time.
I would suggest having both books available as it is really one continuous storyline and you will want to read the second book straight away.
Profile Image for Kerstin.
52 reviews3 followers
May 5, 2019
Good idea, bad outcome.

The idea of it is good, the frame is well thougt out but the content really lacks everthing I look for in a romance novel. I couldn't relate to any of the characters, they just fell flat. I didn't feel for this characters because I didn't really got to know any of them. And the story was to fast going and didn't made any sense to me. The sexscene was the worst I have ever read, you just can't say "I have wanted you since I was 10" while having sex. It was so weird. No no no....really awful.
Profile Image for Sammy.
23 reviews
January 19, 2020
While I like this book, it kind of fizzled out for me at the end. This book was an introduction to a world of the future and it was semi interesting. I was quite entranced at the beginning but at the end I felt like I had read nothing but the 1st 3 chapters of the book. All of a sudden in the last 20 pages the main characters got together and I did not feel like the story was just beginning. While this book did end on a cliffhanger I do not think I will continue reading the series. I do not feel that I am intrigued enough to continue it.
2,161 reviews14 followers
June 14, 2020
US Air Force pilot Bree "Banzai" Maguire wakes up 160 years after she was shot down and put in biostasis to learn that the world is now a much different place. Bree is caught between SEAL Tyler Armstrong and Crown Prince Kyber. If Bree exchanges Kyber’s protection for Tyler’s shaky promises, will she jump from the proverbial frying pan into the fire? Note: this story ends on a cliffhanger and I can't wait to read The Scarlet Empress, Book 2 of the 2176 Freedom Series.
Profile Image for Donna McMaster.
26 reviews19 followers
April 27, 2021
I loved the 5-book series but the new condensed 2-book series is very different and very disappointing. I started reading it and scrapped it and dug up copies of the original paperbacks via my local used bookstore. I love Susan Grant but I feel cheated when the new books have the same title but are not the same books. They should have separate listings so that they can be reviewed separately. It's like a little magic trick swapping cards under the table and thinking people won't notice.
Profile Image for Maria.
2,388 reviews50 followers
September 7, 2021
Really, I spent the entire book puzzled as to why two fighter pilots shot down over North Korea in 2006, who had no prior actions to distinguish them as either heroes or exceptional, should have been known to practically the entire world 170 years later. Setting that aside, I felt like the entire book was setting up a world for future books to mine. It was half a story and ended up in the air. Very unsatisfactory.
Profile Image for Tiffany Fox.
101 reviews5 followers
March 1, 2023
If you like your women to be constantly called “girls” and stripped of all agency, despite their accomplishments, and your men to be led by their egos and their “little brains” *ahem* then this book is for you.

When faced with the choice between how to get the two main characters together - “there was only one bed!” or “oh no, hypothermia, let’s get naked and warm each other up” - the author chose both. Why not?

110 reviews
July 19, 2025
Awesome read

Awesome read yet thought provoking at the same time. Reminded me quite a bit of Clive Cussler except winding up in the future and not present day. The only downside was that even though continued the story dropped off way too fast at the end. This story could have easily gone on for another couple hundred pages and still have been imminently read worthy. For those who love action, sci-fi and slo burn romance this is a definite must read!
645 reviews
July 10, 2020
A cool book full of cool ideas. The main character is from our time and ends up 160 years in the future and is used as a rallying cry to inspire what used to be the United States to remember its founding values. The dictator of Asia is the good guy, the current US is the bad guy, and the main character just wants to find her wingman.
Profile Image for Angela.
3,554 reviews16 followers
October 4, 2020
A play on the time travel romance - my first loves when I started reading. Banzai wakes up after 160 years and the whole world has gone completely crazy. Can her loyalty to a past country and organization make the adjustment for her new reality?
Profile Image for Oriane.
236 reviews
November 30, 2018
Allez 2.5 pour la nostalgie, relecture 12 ans plus tard. J'espère que les tomes suivants seront plus proches de mon souvenir.
Profile Image for Jaq.
2,226 reviews2 followers
December 28, 2019
Enjoyable imaginings of a future world, still mired to the great American dream.
1,249 reviews6 followers
September 3, 2020
Liked

I have had this story for years, but never read. Now I noticed a Part 2 had been added so decided to give it a try. Really enjoyed the story so far.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 65 reviews

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