Day of Fire (2176 Series, Book 2)

I discovered author Kathleen Nance after I read Susan Grant's "The Legend of Banzai Maguire," the 1st book in a 5 book series by different authors, about life on earth in the year 2176 C.E. "Day of Fire" is book two in the series. I enjoyed Ms. Nance's writing and storytelling talent so much that I have bought several of her books since completing this novel. I have not been disappointed. "Day of Fire," stands on its own, however, and does need to be read as part of the series, although the reading experience is enriched by doing so. The Dominion of Tri-Canada has had its borders sealed to the rest of the world for 160 years due to terrible plagues that spread in epidemic proportions throughout the country, leaving millions of people dead. Multiple bio-terror agents, a mixture of anthrax, smallpox and Ebola, had been released in Toronto, proliferating with amazing speed and horrific results. The world's response had been to quarantine the country, occasionally air dropping relief supplies. The United Colonies of Earth, (UCE), which at one time was called the Untied States of America, placed a plasma border between the two countries, thereby protecting its own citizens from their disease-ridden neighbors to the north. The UCE is no longer a democracy but a repressive imperial power. In the present year of 2176, Canada is virtually disease free and thriving as a nation. Canadian Royal Mountie Inspector Day Daniel is a woman who epitomizes the highest competency and ethics of her profession, combined with unusual beauty and intelligence. In fact, she is similar in nature to legendary heroine Banzai Maguire. These women are both butt-kicking professionals with lioness-sized hearts! Day is presently on the hunt for the terrorists who killed her partner. She has been assigned a temporary partner to assist her on this particular mission, civilian plague hunter Dr. Lian Firebird. His part of the assignment is to find a militant group, the revolutionary No-Borders, and prevent them from releasing a new deadly virus on the people of Canada. This group is related to the Mountie's murder. These are revolutionary times. The Voice of Freedom, the Shadow Voice, is being broadcast all over the country, urging citizens of the world to join the revolution. Day and Lian trek toward the Citadel, along with Day's pet wolf, to capture the virus before it is released, find and arrest the killer(s) and confront the Shadow Voice. This is a wonderful, action-packed, mystery, love story - and I couldn't put it down. Although the storyline hooks in to the Banzai Maguire novel, it is totally different, more complex and somewhat darker - although Susan Grant's book provides a terrific introduction to the series. The characters are different and the chemistry between them is electric. I am looking forward to the 3rd novel, "The Power of Two" by Patti O'Shea. I highly recommend this one - a wonderful read! JANA

"Day of Fire" is the second book in a five book series set in the year 2176. "The Legend of Banzai McGuire," by Susan Grant, was the first of the five books, and introduced the premise that the world has changed greatly since the 21st century due to a series of wars and plagues. The old political boundaries have disappeared, to be replaced by nation-states -- Canada has been isolated from the rest of the world due to repeated smallpox epidemics. Recently, someone known as the Shadow Voice has been broadcasting calls to revolution all over the world, including Canada. "Day of Fire" skillfully recounts the story of Day Daniels, a 22nd century member of the Canadian Mounties, and her uneasy partnership with Lian Firebird, a plague hunter. Kathleen Nance is an excellent story teller -- she draws the reader in immediately with Day's almost humorous encounter with some college students who take over a huge concrete sculpture of a moose in order to broadcast a message from the Shadow Voice. The encounter quickly turns dangerous and deadly and Day looses her partner to a murderer. On an order from the Prime Minister, Day and Lian become partners so they can discover the person or group who wants to unlease a new plague on Canada.While the action comes fast and furious, Nance also explores the at first uneasy partnership that is spiced with a strong sexual attraction. Both Day and Lian have baggage from the past that could keep them apart in the future; unlike far too many novels of this type, the conflicts are realistic and not just the result of a contrived misunderstanding. Day and Lian are fully developed characters, and the author also has created memorable secondary charcters as well. This is a much more detailed and complex work than Grant's "Legend of Banzai McGuire" which lead off the series, which is why I rated it as 5 stars and "Banzai McGuire" with 4 stars. Nance has a good ear for dialogue and also a writing style that contains details this reader enjoys in a futurist novel (hockey is still the national sport of Canada & just as prone to violence as it is today, for example).

This is the second book in this series. It's well written and more serious then The Legend of Banzai Maguire. You must read Banzai's book first, or you'll be a little lost at first. This book is a great middle for the series. I love it. Could not put it down!

DAY OF FIRE is the next book in the 2176 series. The first is the LEGEND OF BANZAI MACGUIRE, This book is just as good as the first.Day Daniels is a RCMP, she is a survivor of the bio-plagues that were unleashed on Canada. She is tough, determined, and very stubborn about the Law she serves.Lian Firebird is a doctor who has had to face the tragedy of losing his family, as well as fighting for the survival of the citizens of Canada. He also has some very important friends, and some very unusual secrets. He is with Health Canada, an agency that seems to compete with the Mounties for tax money.Both are strong characters who must find a way to work together. The first thing they have to do is trust each other (easier said than done).Canada has been quarantined for more than a century. She has had to survive alone. Kathleen Nance has given us a very believable world. IT is very fine tuned. So many things we take for granted, they have to re-invent in their isolation. Day is assigned to work with Lian. She is determined to find the killer of her partner Luc. From the first page to the last we follow a trail of action and adventure as well as a romance. I loved it and look forward to the rest of the series.

This is the second of five books in the "2176 Series" and a SMASHING sequel to Banzai's story.This is the story of Day Daniels (orphan turned Mountie) and Lian Firebird (exiled doctor turned Plague Hunter). Before I continue, let me share a little bit of info about their chosen careers. Mounties and Plague Hunters don't exactly see eye to eye on certain matters. Laws being the main one and weather to break them for the greater good (Plague Hunters) or uphold them no matter what (Mounties). Now, I'll continue...Lian and Day are thrown together on a case that is the same, but seen from two VERY different angles. The case of the murder of Day's partner, and the NEW virus (Lian's Dept.) found on the partner's hat.Will Day and Lian solve their respective cases before the Prime Minister's SHOCKING announcement? Or will everything they've gone through be absolutely useless? These are just a couple of questions that ran through my mind as I read this installment of the continuing saga of "2176." With all the pulse-racing and passion filled plot points, you'll be reluctant to put the book down for any reason. This is once again, a page-turning, action-packed, "I don't WANNA put it down right now" kind of story. As I said in my review of Banzai's story, this is a series destined for my personal library shelves. Yes folks, another keeper.