In the 3rd installment of the Gunnie Rose series, we finally get to visit the much talked about Holy Russian Empire (HRE), previously California and Oregon, and the Tsar’s court. The story starts with Lizbeth in Segundo Mexia getting a coded message from her half sister Felicia, who is at school in the HRE. She determines Eli has been imprisoned and sets out to go to San Diego in the HRE to help free him. Along with Felicia, Felix also returns and we get to meet Eli’s family, the tsar and his family and court as well as the group of people looking to remove the tsar from power.

I was happy that the plot of this book returns the focus to political and familial intrigue as it was in book 1. The story was also well paced this time and did not have as much of the slow downtime as the previous book. I found myself engaged and interested the entire time, finishing the book in a day because I wanted to keep reading to find out what would happen next. I thought the author did a great job of continuing to flesh out the existing characters, most notably Felisha, while also bringing to life new characters such as Eli’s mother and sisters.

The only criticism I have toward the book would be that there was one minor plot inconsistency and one larger plot hole involving the null character. The minor point was a small issue and easily overlooked but the impact of the null character made it a much bigger problem given what we had been told about the effect of magic on a null. Neither issue was enough to impact how much I enjoyed the book.

You would be able to follow along with the book if you have not read An Easy Death or A Longer Fall, but I think readers would find it more enjoyable to know the background and history of all of the characters. The first book in the series provides the most context as to alternative history of the world and gives a lot of relevant information to book three, I would recommend reading both but at a minimum An Easy Death before The Russian Cage.

I had originally read that this was to be a trilogy and this book does wrap up enough of the storylines that it could serve as the final book. I hope however that this is not the end of Lizbeth and Eli’s story as I would love to continue on with their adventures. I would also be interested in a book from Felicia’s point of view as well.

Thank you to NetGalley and Gallery/Saga Press for providing me the eARC in exchange for an honest review.

This review was posted to Instagram @OhioBookGal on 1/16/21 at the link provided.

Thank you to Netgalley for this ARC copy. What a trip this book was! So intriguing at every turn! Enjoyed it very much.

The 3rd book in the series by Charlaine Harris is a standalone novel which can be read without having intimate knowledge of the prior books in the series. The heroine is a hired gun or gunnie who discovers that her man has been imprisoned on Balboa Island for an unknown crime. She teams up with his family to approach the family of the tsar to find out what crime he has committed and to break him out of prison. There are magic powers in some people, violence, attempted overthrow of the Russian government, all set in a fictional country that has broken apart after a flu epidemic in the time of Rasputin and William Randolph Hearst. Engrossing and well-crafted.

I love this author and have always enjoyed her books. Sadly, I wasn’t aware this was a series so I was a bit confused. I am going to grab the first two books and reread this one.

In this third installment of Charlaine Harris's alternative United States history, Lizbeth Rose leaves her home in Texoma, formerly known as Texas and Oklahoma to head out to the Holy Russian Empire, formerly known as California. Lizbeth receives a letter from her sister Felicia letting her know her husband, Eli has been put in jail and no one knows why or what he is charged with. Lizbeth arrives in the Holy Russian Empire and with the help of Felix, Felicia and Eli's family begins unraveling the mystery as to why Eli has been jailed. Mystery, mayhem, and a little bit of romance make this a very satisfying chapter in the story of Lizbeth and her friends and family. I am looking forward to see what the author comes up with next!
Thanks to NetGalley, Gallery Books/Saga Press for an advanced copy in exchange for a fair review.

I received a free copy from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

This was a thrill ride. In this novel, Lizbeth isn’t gunning for hire, but on a rescue mission. Her man, Prince Eli has been thrown in jail and no one knows why. It’s down to her and her half sister to save him - deep in the heart of the Holy Russian Empire.
I was expecting adventure, I was hoping for romance, and got both - with a few extra surprises along the way. If you’ve read the first two in the series, the pace and style are as you would expect, but there are some major differences- this time, there’s no cargo but Eli. There’s still threats and mysteries to solve, murders and mayhem, but it’s more personal this time for everyone involved. I will happily admit this is a series that, when a new book is announced, is an automatic want to read. This installment definitely lives up to that, and I cannot wait for the next.

When I requested this book I was not clear that it was the third in a series. I had just finished re-reading all the Sookie Stackhouse books and was intrigued by exploring other books by Charlaine Harris. I began reading The Russian Cage, but discovered I really needed to read the first two Gunnie Rose books in advance of this one. I am glad I backtracked; this third installment is not a stand-alone book. I found myself enthralled with the concept of the series; an alternate future for Americans if one historical event had not occurred as it did. What a fascinating idea! At any point our lives can turn in a direction never expected, and it is quite interesting to consider how our lives as American's might have evolved if things had been different at pivotal moments in time.

The plot advances quickly, in short bursts and covers a lot of ground, much like the main character, Lizbeth (Gunnie) Rose lives her life. She wastes little time, and actions speak louder than words or reflective thoughts. There are many minor characters that we do not come to know well, but the main characters come to life more as time passes. From the first book to the end of the third I came to know Lizbeth better and to appreciate her thoughts and actions - even if I cannot imagine living life in her shoes. Historical accuracy is hinted at, but really, Charlaine Harris creates her own timeline and version of the world since Tsar Nicholas was abdicated in March of 1917. The storyline, though readers may be curious about history and timeline of other events, is completely fictional in this alternate view of reality. A fun, interesting series, The Russian Cage is a great way to understand more of Lizbeth Rose's story.

With each book that comes out I love this series more and more! I would recommend reading this series in order or I think you would miss out on a lot of the back story, especially for this third book as it picks up right where book two left off.

I love a strong character like Lizbeth Rose. She is a smart, capable woman who has can solve her own problems and can and will kill people if its necessary. This book was action packed, and full of political intrigue. With Lizbeth having to learn how to navigate a place and situations she never been in before. All while trying to rescue Eli.

Thanks to her sister Felicia, Lizbeth is going to go rescue Eli who has found himself in a bit of trouble. They have grown very close over the last couple of books and she will do whatever it takes to free him. I love how their romance has come together. It was a slow burn that was a small part of the first two books. It features a bit more promintely in this book, as he is the reason she is traveling from Texoma to the California.

Lizbeth needs to figure out why Eli has been thrown into jail, how to get him out, and also help his family with their problems.

Charlaine Harris knows how to write a cozy and I’m on book three of the latest in the Gunnie Rose series. Once again there’s a lot of filler with descriptions of mundane activities and random thoughts from the protagonist but Harris also added some great action in this installment.

Picking up soon after the events of book two, A Longer Fall, Lizbeth Rose travels from her home in Texoma (formerly Texas & Oklahoma) to the Holy Russian Empire (formerly California) after receiving a coded letter from her sister Felicia to rescue her estranged husband, Prince Eli who has been jailed for an unknown reason.
Once she arrives, Lizbeth has to navigate politics, her mother-in-law, and royalty to exonerate Eli and clear the family name... while dodging a few bullets and explosions!

Thanks to Gallery - Saga Press and NetGalley for providing an ARC in exchange for my honest review. The Russian Cage is scheduled for release on February 23, 2021.

This was a fun, fast read & a great continuation! Romance, suspense & overall a wild ride. My one complaint is that I felt like it could’ve been longer, and I’m curious about the next installment.

Thank you Netgalley & Gallery/Sage press for this e-arc!

Thank you for the chance to review this book in exchange for an unbiased review.
I absolutely loved this third installment in the Gunnie Rose series, and certainly hope that Ms. Harris intends to continue with this series! This particular book picks up where the previous book ended, and has Lizbeth going to San Diego to rescue the captured Prince Eli. She'll need to rely on her precocious younger sister and her growing powers as she tries to figure out the ways of the city and the people within it.
This is a must read book within a really well written series!

Determined, resourceful and ever faithful, Lizbeth returns to Eli's side in an unexpected manner. She rides into the Holy Roman Empire (HRE) like a white knight to save his damsel in distress. Well, not quite. She borrows a bit of money from her stepfather to take a train into the HRE to figure out why her sister is telling her that Eli is in prison and needs to be rescued.

This story is a pleasure to read. I love the character Lizbeth. She stays strong to her ethics and does what she can to solve one problem at a time. Her intuition helps save her several times as well as her fast reflects. She really is an ideal gunnie. I admire her clear distinction of her job. When others pull back in horror that she "kills people" for a living, her answer is perfect. She protects her cargo, be it a crate or a human. In the process of protection, if someone attacks, she obviously needs to defend. Sometimes... defending means a death.

This has been her moral code and with Eli unjustly imprisoned, this severely tests her code. The society and how it works in HRE seems to test not only her code but her patience. The differences between Eli's home and hers are vast. It will be interesting to see if Eli and Lizbeth can figure out what will be the future for the two of them. We still have another region of the States which has not been explored in this book yet. I cannot wait to see what the original 13 colonies ends up like as they reverted back the the Brits.

The conflict in this story is well written. Eli's loyalty to his Tsar is at the crux of the issues. Whilst he seems to fumble with the political intrigue, Lizbeth's foreign status and straightforward ways cuts straight through it all. There are several subplots going on which require Lizbeth's attention and distracts her from her main goal. Yet it all comes together at the end.

This speculative fiction in a dystopian world is fascinating and I cannot wait to read what Ms. Harris comes up with next. I can only hope there is more in this exciting new series. This book is highly recommended to readers who enjoy strong female leads who ride in to save the day.

This book was not at all what I expected or what I find enjoyable to read. While I thank Netgalley for sharing a copy with me I find that I am not able to read enough of it to write an objective review.

I truly enjoyed the 3rd installment of the Gunnie Rose series. This is one of those series that just keeps getting better! I wasn't overly thrilled with the 1st book, but the 2nd book had me hooked and now the 3rd one has left me wanting more.

4.5 stars, rounded down.

First of all, the cover for "The Russian Cage" is beautiful! I definitely judged this book by its cover... and I am okay with that. :)

In general, if you enjoyed the first part of the Gunnie Rose series, you will likely enjoy this installment. If you haven't read books one and two, I recommend reading those first. Book three takes place almost directly after book two, with Lisbeth Rose heading to the Holy Russian Empire to rescue Eli from imprisonment.

There was a continuity issue that threw me off (although since I read an advanced copy, it may be fixed beforehand!) with characters that are "null," meaning that the character isn't affected by grigori magic.
Felicia, Felix, and Eli's family has more character development that makes for great world building.

Overall, the book was an enjoyable, quick read. I love this kind of series for fun, easy reads and I've both gifted and recommended the series to others. Book 3 and the series is still going strong. If you only moderately like the series and want to give this book a go, there's a bonus: even though it isn't the end of the series, it ends conclusively and it easily could be!

Thank you Netgalley and Gallery Books for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. Looking forward to book 4 in this series!

The Russian Cage is the third novel in a new series by Charlaine Harris. It follows "gunnie" Lizbeth Rose on her quest to break out her friend/lover from jail in the Holy Roman Empire. Set in an alternate timeline of the US where the assassination of FDR led to the fracturing of the nation into five smaller nations, the Holy Roman Empire on the West coast, the new America in the middle of the country, Texahoma (a merging of Texas and Oklahoma), Dixie (the South mostly) and Britannia on the East coast. The world-building of the series is thorough and interesting. I found the characters to be engaging and generally multifaceted.

I read this book in one sitting, during an afternoon. It's a fast-paced page-turner that is full of action and surprise. Lizbeth is a woman who knows her mind and herself. I find her personality to be a refreshing change from previous female leads in Harris' worlds that were less certain of themselves. The plotline of the novel is interesting. If you are looking for a quick and fun read, I would recommend this book. It's not clear if there are more books planned for this series, there certainly could be some additional interesting stories and explorations of other areas of the new world that Harris has developed. In particular, I'd love to read more about the path of Lizbeth's younger sister Felicia. However, this novel felt a bit like the end of Lizbeth's story arc.

Lizbeth "Gunnie" Rose finds it strange when she receives a letter from her sister Felicia filled with misspellings. That's not like Felicia, who is always meticulous in her writing. Lizbeth studies the letter and realizes that Felicia is trying to tell Lizbeth something important - Lizbeth's sort-of(?) partner Eli has been placed in jail in the Holy Russian Empire. Lizbeth knows she must venture to the HRE to save Eli - despite having no understanding of how things work in the HRE. Thankfully, she'll have her sister Felicia to help her out.

I'll be honest, I'll read anything Charlaine Harris puts out because it is guaranteed to be fun and have a lot of action. The Russian Cage is no exception. Lizbeth's adventures in the Holy Russian Empire are entertaining and enjoyable and Lizbeth continues to be a typical Harris heroine that takes no crap from anyone, which I absolutely love.

An enjoyable novel by the master storyteller we all love. However, I have always the impression the something is missing. It is definitely not my favourite Charlaine Harris series. The world setting is great: original and fresh, lots of possibilities arise. However, it is difficult to root for a protagonist whose unique solution to all problems is killing first. She is definitely flat. And I feel the lack of a strong antagonist too.

The Russian Cage is the third book in the Gunnie Rose series and I loved this one the best so far.

The Russian Cage picks up where A Longer Fall left off. Lizbeth is in Segundo Mexia, trying to get on with her life after Eli left to go back to San Diego. When Lizbeth receives a letter from her sister Felicia saying Eli is in trouble, Lizbeth runs to San Diego. When she arrives, she realizes getting Eli out of this trouble will not be a walk in the park. Lizbeth will need all the help she can get and it may just be not enough in the end.

I adore Lizbeth and Eli and their adventures. Lizbeth is still a badass and she does whatever it takes to get Eli out of jail. She needs her wits, courage and her sharp-shooting skills to get him out and make sure they both stay alive.

It took me a day to finish this book because I couldn’t put it down, it was exciting, funny and has characters I love. The story is easy to follow.

I hope there will be more books with them because I can’t get enough of their story.

Thank you to NetGalley and Gallery Books for my copy.

I really enjoyed this book. Although it wasn't quite as exciting as A Longer Fall, it still had some good action. It picks up right where the last book left off. Lizbeth gets a letter from her sister that Eli is in jail and she travels to see what she can do to get him out. I'm glad there was a third book and hoping there is a fourth one.