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Lawless #3

Ruthless: Lawless Saga, Book 3

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Don’t miss the third installment in Tarah Benner’s riveting dystopian saga!

When Lark, Soren, and Axel disappear from Kingsville, Bernie learns that her friends have been captured by Homeland Security. They’re being detained at Cheyenne Mountain Complex, an impenetrable government fortress where prisoners have been known to disappear.

Homeland Security wants information on GreenSeed, but Soren is still reeling from his discovery in Kingsville. He’s combative and inconsolable, while Axel is determined to block the government at every turn. Lark is desperate to negotiate their freedom, but she doesn’t know whom she can trust.

When the agents come to Lark with an offer, she’ll have to make a choice that carries monumental consequences: Risk her freedom in exchange for Soren’s and Axel’s, or sentence them all to a life behind bars.

Audible Audio

Published January 30, 2018

306 people are currently reading
99 people want to read

About the author

Tarah Benner

39 books349 followers
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.

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Community Reviews

5 stars
184 (42%)
4 stars
168 (38%)
3 stars
70 (15%)
2 stars
13 (2%)
1 star
3 (<1%)
Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews
9 reviews
September 4, 2017
Good read

I enjoyed, all 3 books in this series. And am definitely looking forward to reading the 4th. I just wish I knew when it's going to be released.
Profile Image for Nereid.
1,466 reviews21 followers
December 9, 2017
Action and adventure

Well so much is happening and it is interesting to think about what you would do if the world as we know it ended - kind of like The Walking
Dead minus the zombies. The motley crew were not friends before apart from Lark and Bernie, Portia was a sworn enemy and the boys were unknowns and now they are escaped prisoners on the run. Lark seems like the obvious leader with her ability to adapt and survive but she defers to Soren. Axel is a loose cannon, all brawn and does not think before he acts which gets them into trouble a lot yet they have become dependent on each other in spite of their differences. I disliked Portia immensely in the beginning.and while I would not say I liked her character now she has started to redeem herself in this book. I wonder how they are going to resolve this dilemma without sacrificing something or someone to leverage their freedom. Why does Green Seed persist with the prison now that the world is in ruins and food is so scarce especially as they can't feed them all and if they all revolted maybe they can escape but I guess they have no where to go if they did escape. There are few tender but awkward moments with Lark and Soren but have a lot to overcome before they can have their happily ever after. Sometimes the plot was predictable but at times you just have to suspend your beliefs and be entertained.
Profile Image for Erika.
1,159 reviews19 followers
August 27, 2017
For some reason I thought this was going to be the final book, but I was disappointed to find another cliffhanger and no real resolution. I love book series, but I'm getting tired of the cliffhangers. With half of the guys on the government's hands and the other half trying to get them back we have a pretty interesting and action packed book, but it feels like there were more than a few plot holes, and some things just were too much. I insist, Lark is great, but she is worse than terminator, it's just so unrealistic.

I like the setting and I liked where the story was going, but I'm not so sure anymore. I want to read more about it, because I want an ending, but I'm not sure how much more I will be willing to keep falling into the cliffhanger trap.

Profile Image for Bob.
126 reviews4 followers
August 20, 2017
Another great story

The Lawless series really makes you think about what might be. Whether or not such a scenario, as depicted in this story, might ever happen is not the point but rather the underlying issues of how we might respond.

Regardless of what might be the story is well written and interesting.
Profile Image for Brittany McGee.
17 reviews
October 7, 2020
Amazing as always. This is one of my favorite Tarah Benner series and since ei love them all that says A LOT!
Profile Image for Bob.
556 reviews1 follower
March 1, 2019
More Excitement

Ms. Benner has ratcheted up the adrenaline in this series. The things you've heard about Homeland Security? What could be your worst nightmare has come true. What is "legal" for Homeland Security to do is 100% the truth. While someone might say it's legal, the truth is plain. They have the power to suspend habeas corpus and take away your constitutional rights just by declaring you belligerent.

The weather systems have gone totally berserk; the east coast, west coast and coastal Gulf areas are under water from melted ice caps, and crops have failed all over the world. How do you survive? Add in desperate people willing to do anything to survive ... and you have the Lawless series.

I've already got the next book. If you like a wild adventure mixed with prison escapes, killer drones, powerful friendship's, a touch of a love story or two and two crazy people in Axel and Portia, you should get this book.

You'll hate yourself if you don't.
Profile Image for A Schaeffs.
184 reviews1 follower
August 14, 2023
The world created in this series is not particularly far fetched but when the world ends because of famines and drought, who can you trust? The surviving government that will do anything to stay on top or the private companies that strive to find solutions, but with a continued focus on the bottom line?

Lark, Soren and friends have been captured again and Lark is faced with her worst nightmares of returning to the prison camp but protecting the only people she has started to care for in years.

There are some aspects of the plot that you might question or brush off as unrealistic but it doesn't reduce the excitement and anguish that you feel right along with the characters as they scramble to understand the changed world and what their role is.
Profile Image for Tamara J.
99 reviews4 followers
September 2, 2020
While I like listening to these books, they also annoy me sooo much!

The world is ending, its basically the middle of the apocalypse. So I don't understand why there are cops hunting down fugitives. Because let's be honest for a second, there is no way in hell that the police would still be doing their job. They would be trying to survive like everyone else.

But for some reason in this series, we are still worried about being chased by the cops and now by Homeland Security. I understand being concerned about Greenseed hunting them down, but that's about it.

But why are these people still working? Why haven't they run off to try and survive too?
65 reviews2 followers
September 14, 2017
Looking forward to book 4


I really enjoyed the first 3 books and patiently waiting on the next a d fin book. Great characters and story. I must read for fans of post apcolyptic and dystopian fiction. Fiction that could one day be non fiction.
Profile Image for Rob.
77 reviews2 followers
December 16, 2017
Very fun read, albeit getting a bit too convenient for the crew all the time. Still keeps you reading though.

Things just pop out of nowhere and they have what they need at their fingertips. Still is a fun read.
769 reviews2 followers
March 15, 2018
A cliffhanger ending.

This book is just as good as the first two with numerous twists and turns in the plot and the heroes constantly dipping in and out of trouble. On to the last book now.
Profile Image for Renata Mitchell.
4 reviews
March 17, 2018
Good plot too much fight detail

Like where the story line is going. Some of the injuries sound really severe though and hard to imagine someone recovering yet they always do. I didnt like that part. Really enjoyed the authors notes at the end. Well said
Profile Image for Hillary Lowes.
12 reviews1 follower
August 24, 2017
Love

Love this series! I can't wait for the fourth book to come out. I need more words to submit this review.
Profile Image for Jill.
57 reviews
December 31, 2017
Ruthless

Quick read with a good story, some parts don’t seem plausible but good none the less. Bring on book 4.
3 reviews
February 4, 2018
Such great characters!

This is an amazing series. The characters are really well developed and defined and the plot is fast paced. Never want it to end!
Profile Image for Sheila gullick.
280 reviews5 followers
February 25, 2018
Lovin this series

Lovin this series. Its so full of action. Hadn't been able yo put it down. Wonderfully strong characters. Ready for this next one
33 reviews
July 7, 2019
Ruthless

A good story. I liked the unique characters and the storyline. Never like her endings but what can you do? Gotta leave them hanging so they will read the next one.
104 reviews27 followers
October 9, 2021
Great story..

Little bit dizzy with the back and forth but overall very good. Looking forward to next in series to read.
Profile Image for Michele Evans.
1,213 reviews8 followers
April 27, 2022
Love this series ! It just gets crazier and crazier as a bunch of convicts try to save the world (and themselves)
16 reviews
November 24, 2023
Ruthless

No. 3 in the Lawless Saga. All wonderfully written, couldn’t put down. Totally different from other survival books I’ve read.
Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews

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