The Fringe Collection #1-3

by Tarah Benner

Nuclear war destroyed the earth, but Harper's world was perfect until she met Eli Parker. As a promising up-and-coming developer, she should have been a shoo-in for a cushy job in Systems. Instead she was drafted into Recon — kicking and screaming onto Eli's squad.For Eli, death is just your average Tuesday. Most of his cadets don’t last a year. When your job is to venture out into the radiation-soaked Fringe, you learn not to get attached to anyone. Harper Riley should be no different, but she’s gotten under Eli’s skin. She’s started asking lots of questions — dangerous questions with no good answers. Eli wants to save her despite his better judgment. But can Eli save her from herself?If you love kickass heroines, tormented heroes, blistering action, and steamy romance, you’ll love this nonstop dystopian adventure.The Collection Recon (Book One)Exposure (Book Two)Outbreak (Book Three)What readers are "This is one of the best dystopian series I have ever read, and it is most definitely a series you can reread. This series is a must-read for dystopian lovers.""The world within the compound and the particular threats faced by the main characters feel so authentic, that when the suspense ratchets up (and it does), the pages practically turn themselves. The slow-burning chemistry between the cadet and the vet is electrifying.""A heroine with attitude and a hero who is more than a match for her...Harper and Eli are great characters." "Honestly, I cannot stress too strongly how much I loved this book...I read one last night (finished about 5 a.m.) and read the other today — both times straight through because I could not put them down."The Fringe is perfect for grown-up fans of Divergent and The Hunger Games who want a series they can binge!

Genres: Dystopia

979 pages, Kindle Edition

Published June 26, 2018

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

[Cindy Woods · Rating 5 out of 5]

Apparently real!

This collection of the first three books of the Fringe series is written by the exceptional skill of author Tara Benner.

This is not your run-of-the-mill dystopian plot. No flesh-eating zombies here. The subject matter is based on hard, cold facts due to the copious research by this author as she skillfully lays out a very realistic, futuristic plot.

Dystopian genre has been a favorite of mine for some years, but this author makes it real! The series is action-packed, intelligent and suspenseful with the added romance as characters Eli and Harper wade through political machinations and radioactivity beyond the fringe of the life-sustaining compound city they live in.

The story is narrated by the characters who are all well described with all the foibles and human traits. They 're very real and the plot is superb.

I wholeheartedly recommend this collection of The Fringe to readers of dystopian novels and science buffs. This is futuristic with steadfast realism. Hard to put down!

[Eileen Washington · Rating 5 out of 5]

Edges

There are more people out there than anyone realizes. Eli and Harper have to figure everything out before the die in the Fringe

[Jaime Harvey · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read the first three books to this series fairly quickly so I would say I thoroughly enjoyed them. I really enjoy the storyline and characters and the post apocalyptic/nuclear world the author has built. I am frustrated with the main female character, Harper, because she can be so dang stubborn! Sometimes she makes me want to pull my hair out but I want to know how this ends so I will finish the series. I would also have liked to see her and Eli’s relationship develop a little further than it has but maybe in the next book…I think this would make a good tv series too. It’s something I would definitely watch and could probably even get my husband into. I have already recommended this series to my 2 oldest daughters.

[Lisa Romero · Rating 5 out of 5]

Awesome series!!

Ok so, I now have a book series hang over… and I feel lost no longer being on the fringe with Eli and Harper. And I must say, the last 2 books of this series I listened to on Audible, they were sooo
good!! My only issue was the voice of Eli, Michael Goldstrom was Eli’s narrator, he did an excellent job but just not what I had pictured him to sound like…on another note the story line was well written and the characters were awesome, even the secondary characters were very likable, they made you want to hate them or love them. My 2 days(binge reading) on the fringe will now hold a space in my minds library… it’s a definite recommend !

[Lyn · Rating 2 out of 5]

Great plot marred by clunky dialogue

I love the setting and premise of this series, but dang! The protagonists never seem to have an intelligent conversation. I realize that the author is attempting to build suspense and keep the reader involved but I, for one, would looove to see some emotional growth... I will keep reading reading this series but it is now in spite of the high schoolish drama between the twin leads.

[jen florio · Rating 5 out of 5]

If I could give this story series 10 stars I would. This is by far one of the best dystopian series I’ve ever read. I promise you, you will not be disappointed. This series put Benner on the map for good reason. She is a professional at writing male characters. I promise you will love Eli. Normally I find the female heroine sometimes annoying, but not Harper. She kicks ass! I can’t recommend this serious enough. Please please please read the Fringe whole series.

[Juliah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent series so far

I cannot put this series down, it’s had me up late into the night. I love Harper and Eli, and all of their friends. I read the first three books in 2-1/2 days and I am downloading the next one right now!

[Quinn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great story and characters

Far from the truth what our future holds, you be the judge. Such strong characters to take us through what could be realisms if things go completely sideways.

[Don · Rating 4 out of 5]

Future possibilities

A little editing would help this author. Found several errors throughout the book. The author had a good imagination. However it seems that those in power are getting away with too much. Much like our own society.

[Valerie Worster · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good story

This is a Good story but I wish I would have known that this wasn’t the whole set. I don’t want to keep reading.

[Che is Slowly Getting Back to Reading · Rating 4 out of 5]

Book 1- 4 Stars
Book 2- 2.5 Stars
Book 3- 3 Stars

[Dani · Rating 1 out of 5]

DNF

[Kimmarie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyed this series - :) Well done dystopian world.

[Thisali · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is literally one of my favourite dystopian series EVER!!!! It's so action packed with a romance here and there - I love these books so much!!!

[sophie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This series is genuinely the best series i have ever read. i read the first 3 books a few years ago and completely forgot about it until lately. i did some researching and finally found them!! I love these books so much i just want more even though i’ve already finished them. Will definitely re-read this countless times because they are just amazing i can’t even put it into words.

[Donna · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am generally not a fan of dystopian stories but I have to admit that I am enjoying this one, so much so that I have bought the next two volumes. The author does a good job of showing how the various characters relate to their lives and each other. There's some sexual tension between two of the characters but also quite a bit of conflict. I'm not sure if it's human nature to jump to conclusions without verifying a point of view but there you have it.

There are four main characters and an assortment of cronies. One works in the medical unit, one in what I would liken to IT and two in the dangerous Recon unit, where they are mandated to leave the safety of the compound to annihilate drifters - those who survived the radiation attack and are forced to live outside in the fringe. Fraternization is not encouraged and romantic attachments are just about illegal except for members of the higher echelon.

There are several bad guys - primarily a powerful supervisor, a controller/enforcer with sadistic leanings and another who might be considered a mob boss. Our heroes discover a secret organization that has been controlling the lives and beliefs of all of the compound's residents except for a select few. This discovery does not bode well for them. All in all a satisfying reading experience.

[Jeffrey · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed the book. It takes interesting post apocalyptic view of the world. Just before nuclear Armageddon there were these groups of people who build these survivalist colonies out in the desert area as close as I can tell near the 4 corners region of the United States. The story starts out with you following Harper and her friends as they get their test scores that will determine where they will work for the rest of their lives. Harper, though really intelligent gets paired up with Eli who works in Recon, which are the ones that brave the outside of the compound in the supposedly uninhabitable wasteland. These are typically for those with very little promise in society. Harper believing that there was a mistake starts a little bit of an investigation that uncovers lots corruption in the society. The chemistry between Eli and Harper is very strong. Its amazing to me how much romance this author is able to put into the book without making it very sexual. I recommend it to anyone who likes strong men and very capable women in a apocalyptic setting.