An the adventure continues with Eli and Lizbeth. We meet Eli's family and come across some characters from past stories. Our gunslinger is still fast and saving the day. The story is the best when Eli and Lizbeth are together.

Charlaine Harris’s alternative history/urban fantasy GUNNIE ROSE series shifts to a new setting in this third book in the series, The Russian Cage, one that was foreshadowed by the ending of the prior book, A Longer Fall. Lizbeth Rose, who makes her living as a hired gun or “gunnie,” receives an intentionally cryptic letter from her younger half-sister, Felicia. For the past year, Felicia has been living in what once was California, Oregon and Washington but is now the Holy Russian Empire, ruled over by a young, married Tsar Alexei — certainly a better fate for him than his actual historical fate of being assassinated at age thirteen by Soviet revolutionaries. He’s surviving his hemophilia with the help of magical blood transfusions from Grigori Rasputin’s descendants, which include Felicia (in fact, Lizbeth is also a grandchild of Rasputin, though she hides that fact from the Russians, telling them that she and Felicia share a mother rather than their Russian father).

Reading between the lines of Felicia’s letter, Lisbeth realizes that her on-and-off-again lover Eli, a Russian noble as well as a gifted magician or “grigori,” has been tossed into prison for political reasons. Felicia thinks that Lizbeth can do something to bust Eli out of jail, and Lizbeth can’t wait to try. Apparently finding out that Eli’s in trouble makes Lizbeth realize that her feelings for Eli are stronger than she’s previously been willing to admit, even to herself.

A four-day train ride later, she’s in the HRE’s capital of San Diego, getting the lay of the land from Felicia, Eli’s mother Veronika, and his friend Felix (who we met in A Longer Fall). Felicia’s life is more complicated — and dangerous — than Lizbeth had imagined, giving her qualms of guilt for sending Felicia to the HRE. There’s a conspiracy to take Tsar Alexei down, and Eli and the tsar’s other supporters are in the crosshairs. Eli’s family isn’t a whole lot of help: his older stepbrothers are antagonistic to him, and his mother and sisters are mostly helpless (1940s-era Russian society isn’t particularly encouraging of noblewomen being tough and resourceful, unless you’re a grigori). And no one seems to have any idea what crime Eli has been charged with. But Eli’s friend Felix, though oddly antagonistic toward Lizbeth, seems anxious to help get Eli out of jail, and Felix has some particularly interesting magical powers, as well as the beginnings of a plan.

Eli’s family and friends are intriguing characters, more complex than I initially would have guessed, and Charlaine Harris does a competent job of creating a believable Russian society in exile in western America, beset by political conspiracies and plots to unseat a tsar who is viewed as weak. The tsar’s wife Caroline, a Scandinavian princess, proves surprisingly useful to Lizbeth and Felix in their efforts to bring the royals’ attention to Eli’s plight.

There are a couple of notable breakdowns in plot logic, one involving Eli’s prison guard, a woman named Hubble who is supposedly a “null,” impervious to magical spells … except it ends up that she’s not, for no particularly good reason, and that seems to be simply an oversight by Harris. The other relates to a direction given by the tsar to Eli at the end, which simply didn’t make much sense from a plot perspective. It felt more like the author simply needed an excuse to move Eli in a certain direction, and perhaps that was the best reason she could come up with.

The plot of The Russian Cage takes some time to really get rolling, but the details, as they unfold, are intricate and interesting enough to keep the reader engaged, and the bloodstained climax toward the end is gripping. The dénouement in the last few chapters is far tamer, but it does provide a reasonably satisfying wind-up to the story of Lizbeth and Eli … at least for now.

The Russian Cage is a fun adventure, less weighed down by the slavery and social issues that darkened A Longer Fall, not to mention the constant references to eating and sex that bogged down the pacing of that book. The GUNNIE ROSE series is worth reading if you have an interest in Old West-flavored urban fantasy, which sounds like a contradiction in terms, but isn’t entirely. You do need to start with the first book, An Easy Death, and read the series in order.

3.75 stars.

This is the 3rd book ofthis series. It took me awhile to figure out what was going on in the story. The story reminded me of some of the series I have watched such as The man in the high castle and the Badlands. I am sure the whole series was very good.

It probably wasn’t the best idea to start this series on book #3 but it didn’t feel as if I was missing anything vital and the author managed to summarize relevant previous events within the storyline.

The story is set in an alternative North America. The main protagonist is Lisbeth, a gunnie (armed security provider) from Texoma (Texas & Oklahoma) who finds herself in what used to be California but is now The Holy Russian Empire ruled the Tzar of Russia who managed to escape the Revolution alive.

The relevance of the title was not obvious. On a superficial level, I assumed it referred to the prison in which Eli spends most of the narrative. On a more metaphorical level, it seemed to express Lisbeth’s frustration at being limited by the strict etiquette and courtly politics required in the Russian enclave.

Lisbeth is strong and no-nonsense, and although she was often unfamiliar with the etiquette required she was quick to learn and proceeded in a sensible matter such that she succeeded without putting herself into unnecessary danger or turning the situation into a farce.

The characters, relationships and situations are believable even at their most fantastical but there was a lot of travelling around and waiting which slowed the pace and made the story less exciting than I would have liked.

In addition, I was surprised by the pragmatic killing of certain people. Their deaths were required for the safety of the main protagonists but I was still shocked by the matter-of-fact way these actions were presented on the page.

Solid and enjoyable but not quite 4 stars.

Gunnie Rose is back in another gunslinging adventure in alternative history. The United States has been divided up into several independent regions. This time Lizbeth Rose goes west to the Holy Russian Empire, that west coast part of what we know as the United Stated, that is now governed by refugees from Russia.

After receiving an enigmatic letter from her sister Felicia, Lizbeth determines that Eli is in trouble and heads west. Readers of this series will know that Eli is Lizbeth’s sweetheart, the two having teamed up together in the 2 previous adventures. Lizbeth’s occupation is Gunnie, a hired gun, usually hired for protection purposes. But this time, Lizbeth is not on the job. She is on her own.

In the Holy Russian Empire, Lizbeth finds a world she is totally unfamiliar with, but her relentless determination means she will figure it out fast. Eli is in prison for a big part of the book. I missed him being a big part of the story as he is a nice contrast to Lizbeth.

Lizbeth was pretty much on her own for most of the planning and plotting. She does meet and team up with Eli’s family, digging into royal affairs and Grigori challenges. The Grigori are the magicians of the HRE and may be friend or foe. Eli’s family are secondary characters that I wanted to sympathize with, but I found them to be one-dimensional. I think I wanted a little more depth to Eli’s family. Since I like him, I wanted to like his kin.

The Russian Cage was not nearly as satisfying as the first two books in the series, which had me cheering for Lizbeth and Eli while appreciating the world that was the setting for their adventures. In this book, the urban setting, as opposed to the more rural western setting of the first two books, did not play out as well for a Gunnie. Also, there was a point in the book where Lizbeth crossed a line that I did not like for her character. Plus, not enough Eli, him being in jail and all.

Through Netgalley, the publisher provided a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

What a fascinating book. I was impressed by the storyline and the characters were all well written and complex. Where there are complex storylines combined with intriguing characters the reader experience is magnified tremendously. To have a book that is well written as well as entertaining is a delight. Reading is about escaping your world and entering another one. Here I forgot about my own life and was immersed in the world created by the author. I would recommend this book.

I absolutely love this series. The concept has a very dystopian vibe with gritty and endearing characters I love to root for. I greatly anticipated this book and absolutely love the Gunnie Rose series. I recommend reading the first two books the journey is more than worth it to understand the characters and world. This series has a very strong female MC who is quick on her feet and rolls with the punches as everything she knows about her life is in constant flux. The story arc flows easily throughout this series and the continuity is masterfully written. I truly hate to say goodbye as this is the series that made me fall in love with chaplains Harris’s work. I can only hope she will revisit this world in the future.

However, I am a fan to stay and I hope you give this series a chance it’s a fascinating read and truly takes you to the gritty world she weaved. I highly recommend it!!

As much as I wanted to like this one, it was ultimately a DNF for me. I typically get about 1/3 of the way through a book before I decide to give up, but this wasn't the book for me.

2/5 Stars

This book was a quick, easy read. I liked the alternate history premise - where Russian royalty now resides in San Diego - no United States anymore, but maybe the author tried to do too much because some of it felt a little flat. The characters were great - but the choices were sometimes questionable - seeming to happen just to make the story flow. But I finished it in all of 24 hours - so I'd say read it, but don't go in expecting too much

I really enjoy this series. This book is somehow completely different from the rest in the series, but also the same. Lizbeth gets civilized, and, surprise, doesn't care for it much. But she gets the job done.

Gunnie Lizbeth Rose is a fish-out-of-water in The Russian Cage, the latest in the Gunnie Rose series by Charlaine Harris. After receiving a puzzling letter from her sister Felicia from which Lizbeth deduces that the man she loves, Prince Eli, is in jail in San Diego, which is part of the Holy Russian Empire, Lizbeth goes off to break him out by any means possible. Lizbeth navigates an unfamiliar society with its equally unfamiliar rules and technology and finds allies along the way, including her sister who is an enigma.

The Russian Cage was a fun novel start to finish, with action and intrigue and subterfuge throughout. In some ways, it’s like reading a heist novel in which Lizbeth portray different characters in order to achieve her means. As always, she is strong and determined and definitely not one to treat badly because she won’t put up with it. Her behavior was juxtaposed against other women who seemed to be created to be put on display.

I also enjoyed her sister Felicia’s character because it seems that neither we nor Lizbeth understand exactly what Felicia is capable of or all that she may know due to her powers. It will be fun to see where Harris takes Felicia in the future. She is definitely someone to be reckoned with.

I am delighted to see that Harris has created such wonderful female characters who are strong and smart and unwilling to be treated badly by the men in their lives.

The Russian Cage also allowed us to understand further this world alternate history that Harris has created with William Randolph Hearst being a significant player in inviting the Russian dignitaries to his world. I can’t wait to see what Harris cooks up next.

Page-turning, gripping, and sometimes wry, The Russian Cage is a good, escapist read.

I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This was an interesting read. While I love the Aurora Teagarden mysteries on Hallmark, I’m not in love with the True Blood series. Granted this is the first book by Charlaine Harris I’ve read, so I probably should infer I don’t like the books those series are based on. We all know how TV goes and the changes they make to our favorite books.

When I got The Russian Cage, I didn’t realize it was part of a series. One that you can read on its own, but starting from the beginning gives it a greater depth and meaning. So when I realized it was part of a series, I found I had An Easy Death on Audible so I thought I’d listen to that one while I read The Russian Cage. It has been an enlightening journey. Not the way I usually do a series I come in at the middle on, but it actually worked in my favor.

Before I go on, this is a Dystopian mystery/light romance. Book one and Easy Death just pretty much introduces the characters, while the following books see them into a relationship. The Russian cage however, is more about what Lizbeth Rose will do for the man she loves. She is a hard woman who’s made hard choices and lived a hard life in the near desolate Texoma area of the North America. She works as a Gunnie, which in plain English means shooter, security guard. She’s very good at what she does, but isn’t one to wear her heart on her sleeve. While Eli her love is more open and less reserved, he does things without letting others know which seems to cause more trouble for everyone.

These characters if I based them on just this last book would have been misunderstood and with no depth. But when you factor in the first book along the way, you realized why Lizbeth and Eli are the way they are. The characters grow exponentially for the reader through the books. So I highly recommend you read the whole series before passing judgement on her characters and the environment they live in by just one book. She tells a story slowly so it takes a bit to feel like you know whole story. BTW, you can not assume you know how it is going to end either because when you think one thing is going to happen, something else entirely does.

I will say this made me reflect on a few of my own relationships. It made me wonder, would I race into the middle of a situation I knew nothing about except I was risking my life to help and save the ones I loved. Lizbeth sure does. She also trusts (I use that liberally) a few people along the way she doesn’t know because it is the only way she can get to the bottom of things. I’m not sure I could do that part. I believe I would muddle around a situation until I got the lay of the land and devised a plan, but trusting outsiders…Not sure I could go that far.

I’m giving this book a 4.5 of 5 because if I hadn’t started listening to An Easy Death, I probably would have only given it a 3. There is a good ending to this book, however there is no way without book one that you get the depth of the characters she is writing about. Certainly you wouldn’t get why Lizbeth is doing what she is doing, but grudgingly and not very ladylike. A few things she needs in this trial for true love.

I will continue listening to and probably review An Easy Death. This series is definitely good for the soul with a kick a$$ heroine and hero who needs her help. Can’t discredit how much we need more of those types of heroines. I highly recommend this series for that reason alone, but it’s also a fascinating look at what could become of America also.

I was so excited to be provided a free copy of this book by the publisher in exchange for an honest review. I flew through the author’s Sookie Stackhouse books and I read the first Gunnie Rose book to fulfill a challenge. Boy am I glad I found this series! The alternate history, the character development, the action.... it all works and it nicely balanced. I am curious to see where this series goes next, given the way this book ended (no spoilers!), but I’m sure I’ll want to read it.

If you’re not familiar with this series, it’s an alternate-history-fantasy-western set in I think about the 1930’s. The follows the adventures of a female gun for hire named Gunnie Rose. Russian Cage takes place in California which in controlled by the Russian empire. After getting a coded message from her sister Gunnie Rose is on a mission to save the man she loves. This book had way more character depth espionage vibe which made gave it a fast pace. This book can be read as a standalone, but you’ll definitely appreciate it more if you’ve read the other two books in the series.

This book 3 was a strong entry in the series - all of the characters came together, and we learned a lot more about them.

Lizbeth discovers Eli is in prison and travels to the Holy Russian Empire to help him. Her sister also lives there now. Lizbeth has to figure out what is happening and negotiate this place with its different customs and rules. I really liked seeing more of Felicia (Lizbeth's sister). She is a strong character in her own right. And Eli's family was interesting too.

Thanks to the publisher for letting me have a copy to review!

This one was my favorite in the series. I love that Lizbeth finally gets to travel to HRE - Holy Russion Empire. And she finally got to be the one to arrive for Eli - instead of the other way around. There are grigori around all over there. She gets to see the school, meet some people we've heard about and have some great battles. This one introduces more interesting magic users - once I hadn't remembering hearing about yet.

All in all, it felt like a conclusion to the series and I really liked it.

Just finished this book, after bingeing on the whole series. I really enjoyed this series and will absolutely recommend it to anyone who is looking for a fun series to read. I will absolutely read the next book as well :)

I really love this series. The Russian side of the country is really interesting and quite well developed. The characters are fabulous and feel very real. I can’t wait for book number 4

The Russian Cage is the third novel in the series featuring Gunny Lizbeth Rose, who has gotten more than she bargained for after getting involved with Prince Eli of the Holy Russian Empire. After her half sister Felicia sends word that Eli is in trouble, Lizbeth arrives in unfamiliar territory. Navigating her way through the customs and traditions of Russian aristocracy, with the help of Eli's family, will Lizbeth be able to secure Eli's release from prison?

Although I did like this novel more than its predecessor, A Longer Fall, the novel is still lacking the depth of story and character development that I have come to expect from this seasoned author. This Fantasy Western series has an interesting premise, but the author has yet to bring the story together. Lizbeth Rose is a likable character, but she just does not leap off the page. The Russian Cage is a quick read, however, and those who are familiar with the characters will enjoy catching up with them.

Disclaimer: I was given an Advanced Reader's Copy of The Russian Cage by NetGalley and the publisher, Gallery / Saga Press. The choice to review this book was entirely my own.

The nitty-gritty: Lizbeth is back in this imaginative alternate history fantasy, but this installment was just too slow paced for my taste.

I’m still plugging away at this series, although I have yet to enjoy a book as much as An Easy Death. Still, there are some nice moments in the Russian Cage, and I’m still loving Lizbeth’s character, so at this point I’ll probably keep going with the series, even if this latest installment didn’t blow me away.

The story picks up soon after A Longer Fall, when Lizbeth sent her younger half sister Felicia to the Holy Russian Empire (HRE) with Eli for safekeeping. But one day, Lizbeth receives a letter from Felicia that seems to be written in code. It doesn’t take her long to figure out that Felicia is trying to tell her that Eli has been arrested and is currently in jail. Lizbeth leaves the comfort of her familiar home in Texoma to travel to San Diego, California, the heart of the HRE. When she arrives, she is shocked to discover that Eli has been accused of murder, and so she devises a plan to break him out of prison, knowing that he’s been falsely accused. Joined by Eli’s brother Peter and his friend Felix, Lizbeth navigates the complex political situation with the Russian grigoris (magicians) while keeping an eye on Felicia. But there is unrest with the Russian royals and LIzbeth is about to find herself caught in the crosshairs of a grigori power struggle. 

Once again, Lizbeth was my favorite character, although I really liked Felicia as well. The story is told from Lizbeth’s first person narrative, and Harris is pretty consistent with her character throughout the series. For those who haven’t started this series, Lizbeth is a “gunnie,” or gun for hire. She’s usually hired by groups of people travelling across the barren deserts of Texoma, her trusty Winchester rifle at the ready to shoot and kill anyone who becomes a threat. She’s brash and blunt doesn’t follow societal conventions, and in this story she finds herself in a more conservative environment where women are expected to behave and dress in certain ways. This gives us a nice “fish out of water” scenario where Lizbeth isn’t very comfortable with her situation. There are some very funny moments, particularly when she needs a gun but the HRE forbids carrying weapons on the streets. Luckily Lizbeth is a very resourceful woman and guns aren’t her only option for wounding and killing, but I have to say I nearly cheered with excitement when she finally had a gun in her hand and started shooting!

I also loved the banter between Lizbeth and Eli, who have definitely had their ups and downs when it comes to their relationship. Unfortunately, Eli isn’t in the story much, since he’s in jail for most of the book. But once he gets out and he and Lizbeth are reunited, the story really came to life for me. Harris’s dialog is definitely one of the best parts of the series, and whenever Lizbeth is part of the conversation, I couldn’t help but laugh out loud.

That being said, my least favorite part of The Russian Cage was probably the pacing. There were bursts of exciting action here and there, but the rest of the story was a lot of Lizbeth going through the motions of her day to day activities and literally waiting for something to happen. This story was slow, and I really missed the fast-paced, action heavy scenes of An Easy Death, although we do get some good ones near the end of the book. What should have been a quick, two day read for me took over a week to finish, since I just couldn’t muster much enthusiasm to pick it up. And while I really love the unique alternate world that Charlaine Harris has created—the United States has fractured after a series of events, including a complete breakdown of the political infrastructure, and the Russians have come in and taken over the Western part of the country—there was a whole lot of nothing happening for a good chunk of the story.

But I have to say, Harris really knows how to wrap things up. The ending was very satisfying and sweet, and best of all, Lizbeth and Eli finally head back to Texoma. I enjoyed learning more about the Holy Russian Empire, but I missed the dusty, lawless streets of Texoma, and I hope we spend more time there in the next book.

Big thanks to the publisher for supplying a review copy.