Outbreak

The Fringe #3

by Tarah Benner

Don’t miss the third chapter of The Fringe — the heart-pounding series dystopian fans are raving about.When Harper and Celdon escaped to compound 119, they thought they had a chance to start a new life away from Constance. What they found instead was a desolate wasteland ravaged by death.Now, they have no choice but to return to their home compound, where things have never been worse. The drifters are plotting a large-scale attack out on the Fringe, and Jayden is speeding up deployments to secure the perimeter. She’s ordered Eli to kill the drifters’ leaders — including his estranged older brother.Eli would do anything to protect Owen, but every choice has its consequences. Saving his brother means turning his back on Harper, and keeping the drifters’ secret means putting thousands of lives at risk.

Genres: Dystopia, Post Apocalyptic, Young Adult, Science Fiction, New Adult, Apocalyptic, Fiction

364 pages, Kindle Edition

First published July 13, 2015

About the author

Tarah Benner is the author of more than 25 books, including Witches of Mountain Shadow, Mountain Shadow Mysteries, The Fringe, the Elderon Chronicles, the Lawless Saga, and more.
She lives and writes in sunny Colorado with her two dogs, a cat, a toddler, and her beloved partner in crime. When she’s not writing, she enjoys breakfast, hiking, yoga, and martial arts.

Reviews

[naz · Rating 3 out of 5]

lmao it took me five years but i finally finished this book. me finish things??? i'm shocked and proud

[Catherine Chestnut · Rating 3 out of 5]

This series started off great. I loved the concept of the Compound vs the Fringe. Harper and Eli are HOT. This author keeps things moving. I finished the book in less than 24 hours. The author actually researches a lot to create the futuristic circumstances and world in this series. I love her discriptions of technology, medical ventures, and political setup of the compound.
However book 3 was filled with the same sequences of events. Jayden threatens, Eli lies, make out scene, Harper acts wounded, out to Fringe, make out scene, they don't make a plan, Repeat.
Also we were given 2 new points of view in this book, yet all 4 voices sound too similar to me. Multiple POV books are only as effective as the voices are different. Harper and Eli are almost too similar at times to function. Their repetitive arguments coupled with the repetitions in plot made Book 3 less interesting to me.
I feel like Eli and Harper lack a moral compass to guide their actions.
Owen asks the question: "we are in a war, which side are you going to choose?" Right now I would say neither. The compound with Constance seems corrupt and doomed to fall yet the Fringe seems volatile and lifeless. I would love to see some reasons to fight for either cause. At this point, I just want Harper and Eli to rig a rover and drive off into the radioactive sunset.
2.6 stars for this book. Still cant wait for Book 4!!!

[Audrey Ainsworth · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was so excited to receive a copy Outbreak and continue the Fringe series. I hated the cliffhanger at the end of the second book. I had so many questions and no answers but that just meant another book had to come out and explain some of these questions. Outbreak did not disappoint. It took me a little over 7 hours to complete the book and of course it ended with a cliffhanger and more questions but that's okay for me.

Tarah Benner pulls the reader along with vivid descriptions of the people and environments that you can picture it playing along in your mind as you're reading. I love the Fringe and how the physical surrounding stopped progressing but the people were able to keep going despite the harsh elements that radiation created. The Drifters have continued living in a world the Compound gave up on.

Eli and Harper are just an ordinary couple leaving in a post radiation exposure world of death, violence, corruption, lies...okay so an ordinary world just like ours just with the extra problems of radiation. They are not much of an ordinary couple either as Eli is Harper's superior officer and in charge of preparing her and the other cadets in her squad for deadly assignments of the Fringe. Enter them into a harsh world of Drifters who will kill them on site just because they are there. Often I ask myself why would the Compound go to such lengths to train these people and what was the reason in the beginning that they decided killing Drifters was a noble idea? Though I haven't figured out the answer to why they are killing each other, I know the knowledge of that information will come soon enough.

This book is nonstop in drama and entertainment. I cannot wait for the next book to find out what is going with Eli and Harper and their predicament and what is Celdon up to?

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've really enjoyed reading this series. If you have not read the first two, well don't read this one until you do.
Of the the three books currently out however this one is the weakest. It's a 4 out of 5, so it's still really well done.
The author does a great just in the creating the characters. They are really well written. Once you begin reading you are transported to their lives. The world is well detailed and she has researched and thought of a lot of minor things that just add up to make the book a great read. I also enjoyed that the perspectives of Sawyer and Celdon were added. Sawyer has grown so much as a character in this series and the changes to her character I found she was the one growing the most. They are such important characters that it was nice to get into their heads. Harper again is such a great female lead. She isn't overly badass, she has weakness and emotion which are usually left out with tough female characters. Eli is also great in this book because he is starting to let his tough guy wall down just a bit so he can let Harper in.
I enjoy the descriptive writing and the book is so addicting that once you start there is no stopping till you reach the end. Which you wish doesn't come because you are left with another huge cliffhanger.
That being said, my only real problem with the book is the fact that Eli and Harper finally build a relationship and it's immediately tore down like it had no foundation...again. I would hope that after everything they have gone through they don't have such a fragile relationship.

[Mollie Smith · Rating 3 out of 5]

Confused about timelimes

I like the premises a lot. The story has great bones and lots of action. I have some complaints though... (Spoilers)

How old is Eli?? The first book mentioned him seeing Harper in the maturity ward as a baby. He joined the compound at 14. The age difference is only weird because it hasn't been mentioned, IMO. Its like the author has tried to change the timeline somehow. He is supposed to be a young training officer, right? But the Recon turnaround plus he isn't supposed to live to be that old...confusing

How long has the compound been operating? IF death storm was less than 15 years ago, how are there 3 generations + of compound civilians?

Last complaint has nothing to do with timelines....just sick of Eli and Harper. She's supposed to be a genius with computers with scrappy orphan experience but gets confused by everything. He lies and hides everything all for love and she forgives him every time just because he starts to open up just a little. Then is heartbroken when he shuts down AGAIN. One of them needs to break the cycle. I don't want to read it over and over again. Communicate and grow! She's smart, he's smart. Figure that crap out. Have new conflicts instead of the same old crap.

Celdon and Sawyer however are amazing. And i cant wait for the rest of Harpers cadet crew get bigger parts

[Adam Palmer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Outbreak is the third book in the Fringe series. The writing and story line seems tighter then the second book and it kept my interest throughout. Outbreak takes up where the second book left off. Eli and Harper work to save the life of Owen (Eli's brother) after they are sent out to kill him. While on the fringe they discover a plot that could be the end of the compound. I recommend this book and series. I still have a slight problem with the kiss me don't kiss me element but maybe that just adds to the excitement.

*I was given a copy of the book in exchange for a honest review.*

[Laura · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was probably my least favorite in the series thus far. I'm feeling underwhelmed at events outside the compound and events inside are becoming stale and repetitive. There's only so much I can take of a villain who constantly gets up to the same old evil deeds yet never gets what's coming to her.

The actions of Harper and Eli are also starting to become annoying. Lie to each other, obtain hurt feelings, stalk off, make up, make out, lather, rinse, repeat....

I'm ready for a big event. Hopefully the next book will be more satisfying. Not ready to give up just yet.

[Tad Huffstutter · Rating 5 out of 5]

Make sure you understand ahead of time that purchasing this series will alienate you from your friends, your family, heck your life because after 1 page you will have entered the world of Tarah Benner's The Fringe and you will not want to leave. This series is incredibly immersive and enjoyable. It has it all from science fiction to Dystopian world scapes to love, mystery and suspense. I honestly cannot put these down sometimes because I get so engrossed in the stories. I highly recommend putting this author at the top of your list.

[Allison · Rating 4 out of 5]

If the people on the Fringe have managed to wipe out an entire compound why do t they just move into the compound? They could be safer and live their lives without having to bring down the remaining compounds. Seems to me that more communication could be used on all sides. Eli and Harper are always fighting about something that if they just talked to each other it would have been resolved or they could have come up with a plan together. It will be interesting to see how this works out for them and if they ever finally figure out that they love each other.

[Angela · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great Storyline

The story and the characters I LOVE! I get all caught up in it! I gave 4 stars bc I started skimming alot through this book, felt like there were alot of paragraphs I didnt need to read and skimmed until it got back to the heart of the story. As soon as I started tk thi k I was losing interest however I found myself completely sucked back in lol! Again, I enjoy this series, am downloading the next book, I just felt there were alot of details I didnt want.

[A Schaeffs · Rating 5 out of 5]

Plenty of action and drama but without skimping on the relationships.

Third book of the series follows straight through from where the second finished, the strength of the drifters is building and the threat cannot be ignored.

Placed at opposite sides, the brothers struggle with their loyalties, putting each side in jeopardy.

I really enjoyed this book, it has enough action to balance out the drama and heart to hearts.

[Shannon Heck · Rating 3 out of 5]

Getting old

I'm knocking this book down a star because it start to get repetitive. Eli and Parker keep things from each other, they fight, they make up, repeat. I'm on the fence about reading book 4.

[Rosie Ingebritson · Rating 3 out of 5]

The whole series is a page turner, but man the characters (particularly Eli) are INFURIATING. I also cannot get over why they never get their stories straight WHILE they’re on the fringe instead of getting back and screwing up EVERY. SINGLE. TIME. Why?!?

[Christine Cazeneuve · Rating 4 out of 5]

Better than previous book

Much better than book two. More exciting and interesting. The story kept flowing and had the story told by more points of view. Nice to enjoy an adult dystopian series.

[Sheila gullick · Rating 5 out of 5]

Pretty good book

Pretty good book. This series is really good. Great story line. Always something happening. Full of twist and turns. Ready for the next one

[Dodiegregoire · Rating 4 out of 5]

Again, I am enjoying this book series. Will read other books by this author.

[Michelle · Rating 3 out of 5]

*3.5

There was a lot of action and plot twists. I like that this book is not predictable. It would have been a 4, but it was too slow at times.

[Holly Kilmister · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book continues to tell the story of Harper and Eli, their forbidden love and fight against Constance. New twists and turns are revealed in this story.

[Georgette Quinn · Rating 3 out of 5]

Series started fantastic but now it feels like it is dragging on.

[jen florio · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the best book in the fringe series. All I think of is, where is my Eli?

[Brent · Rating 3 out of 5]

onto book 4. this really is just a long story in different books.

[Destiny Ciera · Rating 5 out of 5]

I could look up and write down every good word in the dictionary in every language and it would not be enough to describe the amazingness that is this series!!! By far hands down my FAVORITE series I have ever read. I started it for the first time in October 2015. It is now June 2016 and I have read through the entire first four books a total of 3 times already and am on pins and needles waiting for book 5 to release in two weeks!!!!

There is a lot of profanity in this book and I don't like profanity at all and usually deduct AT LEAST one star for it and for as much as is in this series it would usually be 2 stars but the story and the characters are SOOOOOOOO good that they add like another 8 stars so...clearly, even with the profanity there are still not enough stars to give this series.

I'm not going to write any spoilers or anything. For a summary I'm sure there are plenty of reviews below that tell more about what it is about but I just wanted to add my stars to the pot and say that ELI and HARPER are the best written characters I've ever read and Tarah Benner has done such a great job getting into her characters' heads and making you fall in love with their energy, their determination, their fight, even their ugliness. The plot has so much going on but you never feel overwhelmed by it. I like that the main characters don't always agree and don't always like each other. I think one of my favorite things about Harper and Eli is that- when they don't agree, they both have passionate reasons behind their sides of the argument and both are equally wrong and right. That is such a real world concept that is rarely clear in stories. I think because the author has an option on the issues they write about and it's hard for them to legitimately write unbiased for an opposing side. Benner accomplished this. She didn't compromise on making an easy gray area for the characters and she also didn't lean towards one or the other. She really got down to the nit and grit of disagreements with them the way people do in real life. Her side characters also come in on the story telling. She gets into several different POV and the same thing each time. You can really feel for how each of the characters are similar and different from each other. I did feel like it was getting a little busy with all the POV but at the same time I appreciated getting into those characters' minds and getting more pieces of the story.

I doubt I've read this series for the last time. It REALLY needs to be made into a movie! I've told her several times on her website and I continue to hold to that. This would make an EXCELLENT movie! It's full of action, political scheming, twists and turns, romance. It has everything you could want in a book or movie. Super love and super recommend!

[S Lewis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Outbreak is the third book in The Fringe series, and while we get to find out what really happened at Compound 119, we also see that Jayden suddenly doesn't seem to have any teeth--even though Eli still believes she does. She seems almost "nice" compared to her previous behavior. Everybody else is so caught up in what they believe is true that they have a hard time seeing what is really going on. I'm starting to get to the point where I am shouting at the characters 'don't do it!', like when you want to tell the heroine in a slasher movie "don't go in the basement!" when she hears noises--at least not without a better plan. It's like everyone muddles along, making one mistake after another, for all the right reasons, and then boom! I leave you to read it and find out what happens. No spoilers!

I love the series. The writing is impeccable, the science is researched and plausible, but not in any way overwhelming. The world-building doesn't leave you scratching your head trying to keep it all straight. Tarah Benner just lets the characters live out their lives and show you the world they live in and the challenges they face. They are definitely challenged and are forced to grow and gain mental and physical strength.

The only downsides are that the novels are coming too slow and the anticipation is killing me. Surely Tarah can write faster than this! Please hurry with the next installment. And let's get to the denouement, soon. I want to see Jayden get hers in the end.

[Vtveganmom · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you haven't read the first two books in The Fringe series from Tarah Benner, I strongly urge you to get them. I was lucky enough to get my hands on a copy of Outbreak (book 3), and it definitely did not disappoint -- it is a heart-pounding nail-biter of a story.

Tarah's writing pulls you in from the start; her descriptions of environment and physical surroundings are so detailed that you can really envision the world she is creating. Be sure to read her "Author's Note" at the end of the story, where she gives details regarding the research she performed while writing this book. Her goal of grounding fiction in reality not only showcases how seriously she takes her career as an author, but is also the reason that you as the reader will become completely immersed in the world she has created.

I also love her characters -- flawed, trying so hard to do the best they can but making mistakes just like the rest of us -- are so real that you can't help but connect with them. The story chapters are told from the point of view of several different characters, but that does not detract whatsoever; in fact, I think it enhances the story because you see the events unfolding from different angles.

This one ends with an electrifying cliffhanger -- so Tarah, please get book 4 out quickly!

[Kathi Kelley · Rating 4 out of 5]

The best of the three books so far! The story flowed smoothly and continues to be full of many twists and turns. Ms. Benner continues with great descriptions of the environment and physical surroundings such that you have no difficulty envisioning the world she has created. All of the characters have become three dimensional. The chapters alternate primarily between Eli and Harper with an occasional chapter of Celdon or Sawyer. Eli and Harper are still struggling with their emerging relationship and I think that the next book will determine if they can make it as a couple.

Outbreak is the most polished and well put together book in this series. For that and the other reasons previously mentioned, I have rated the book 4.4.

Only one thing nags at me, and has since book 1, the story time line. In books 1,2,and 3 its implied that a long period of time has elapsed since Death Storm. However Eli was around 7 to 10 when that occurred and is now in his 20's? This has nagging at me a lot and more so throughout Outbreak. Doesn't make since.

[Patricia Thomas · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gah! This series... book 3, Outbreak, started off exactly how I wanted it too. I find it less enjoyable when an author decides to get others up to speed on what has already happened in the previous books. I understand why they do it, it just makes me want to pull my hair out. ha ha Tarah Brenner does NOT do that in Outbreak. Thank you, gurrrllll!

cliff hangers...they are bittersweet to me. I love the anticipation of the next book, but at the same time, I want to cry. I LOVE HARPER RILEY. She is such a bad ass character. I want to be just like her. I think Eli Parker is everything she needs. Someone to tell her when she is being irrational. Someone to make her insides squirm with the feeling of butterflies flapping around intensely. I would like to say one more thing...JAYDEN. When do we get to read of Harper beating the evil out of her?? Please tell me that this happens sooner than later. I do not like an ounce of that character. #teamharperandeli

[Donna · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you have read the first two you must get this one. If you haven't, go get them now! This is one of the better dystopian series out there.
Very exciting, action packed. Out on the Fringe together Eli and Harper look for his brother among the drifters, trying not to get found out and killed. They want to tell him something important for all their lives. But brother Owen has something to surprise them with too.

The writing is so good, filled with excellent dialog. The fear is real, within the compound they live in and out on the Fringe. The threats are real from Jayden and Constance.
The book ends with our hero and heroine in deep trouble. So please, Tarah, tell us you are writing the fourth installment quickly so we can find out what happens.

Update: I have just listened to this series after having read it years ago. Still so good.

[Stacey · Rating 4 out of 5]

I rated this 4 stars (would give it 3.5 if I could) but definitely considered making it 3 (I stopped myself because this was still miles better than the 1st book for me). I feel Jayden's threats and Harper's butt hurt attitude and annoying decisions are getting a little tiring. But I did like the introduction of Celdon as a narrator. I still think all the POV voices sound too much alike but it's not as monotonous as it could be. Celdon and Eli are my favorites, though even Eli was getting annoying by this book. I'm still excited to read the next one if only because the general plot and world building are still really interesting to me. I do think the author could have written this story in 2 or 3 books total though, rather than 4 or 5 or how ever many there are / are going to be now. There's a lot of editing / condensing that could be done that would tighten it up.

[Jess · Rating 5 out of 5]

Best in the series so far! So it took me a little while to get into Book 1. Book 2 was easier. Seriously, this third book is amazing. It's so very well done. There were points where I thought it was going to turn into wondering if Harper and Eli would stay together and annoying fights every five seconds, but it blew past them. I wasn't rolling my eyes and I was excited to see how they progressed. I hope maybe in the next book that Harper gets thrown out into the Fringe on her own. Not to die or anything, but maybe have to learn how to make it on her own. Adventures with Owen perhaps? Eli needs to be a little more jealous ;)

I look forward to Book 4 and I do hope we get this same package of excitement and romance!!

[Vindya Donahue · Rating 5 out of 5]

What an incredible wild ride. I enjoyed this beautiful sequel to Reckon and Exposure . Once I started this book, I could not put it down.
What made this book for me.
1. The Realistic approach to this beautiful distopian story.
2. The heart pounding suspense throughout this book
3. The twists and surprises, Celdon???
4. The fuzzy wuzzy love story between Eli and Harper
5. The relationship between Owen and Eli.
One would think why the hell do these two still remain in the compound after being condemned to bring the rut in this society.
When's the next book due now? Tarah, you are an amazing story teller. Thanks for transporting me to another space in time.