The Russian picks up right where A Longer Fall left off, as Harris continues the story of Gunnie Rose in this alternative version of the US where magic and magicians are not only acknowledged but despised and feared. This is the third book in the series and again Gunnie Rose is back with Prince Eli from the Holy Russian Empire, a Grigori or magician still trying to not only save the czar but also her half-sister and Eli.

It’s a very interesting story and a strong series, though I personally was a little over the Rasputin bloodline point. It and Gunnie’s connection to Rasputin ran through all 3 books, and not as part of the mystery, but retold and repeated again and again until it felt like a space-filler or a way to flesh out the word count.

If you enjoyed the True Blood series, you should like this, though personally, I hope it doesn’t turn into a never-ending or 15 book series, unless Lisbeth Gunnie Rose goes on a different quest each time.
Rose is a strong, powerful, female character that could carry a good series for many, many books, with or without the romantic entanglements.
I received this Arc free from NetGalley in exchange for my honest and unbiased opinion.

Charlaine Harris is best known for her Sookie Stackhouse novels that were turned into the HBO series, True Blood. The world of The Russian Cage takes place in an alternate universe where the United States has dissolved into several countries, one of which is the Holy Russian Empire. This is the third book in the series, and I must confess, I had to quickly read the first two books before I felt right about reading, and reviewing, this book. I'm so glad I did. This is a fun series that feels like a cross between a western, and a supernatural thriller. There's a strong female lead, along with many other colorful supporting characters. With a suspenseful plot and a touch of the supernatural, this was a page-turner.

What I Liked:

World-Building:

This takes place in an alternate universe where the United State is now made up of several countries. Mexico has taken over a large portion of Texas and the Southwest. There are other countries such as Dixie (you can guess where that is), and then there is the Holy Russian Empire on the west coast. The time period is not spelled out but it seems to be set in about the 1930's.

What I liked about this universe was that it was interesting, even without the magic. Much of the former U.S. is made up of lawless areas where people who travel need to hire "gunnies" for protection from highway bandits. That's where Lizbeth Rose comes in. She is a gunnie who's mother was raped by a russian. She may have some magical power, or may be useful to the HRE (Holy Russian Empire).

In the previous books, Lizbeth has only heard about the HRE. But in The Russian Cage, Lizbeth has to walk straight into the lion's den to save a russian she is in love with. This book shows us this world up close, with it's complicated royal etiquette, and social hierarchy. It also explains more about the magical aspects of this world.

Characters:

Lizbeth is such a strong person, that it's hard to imagine she is only nineteen years-old. But, given her upbringing, she is used to scrabbling for survival. Her character finds it hard to trust people, even her russian lover, Eli. I enjoyed how she finally forms a bond with her younger sister, Felicia, and even begins a tentative friendship with Eli's family.

One of the struggles of this character is that she is often called upon to kill people in her job. But where does she draw the line between what is necessary and revenge? There are no black and white answers.

I also really liked the supporting characters, particularly Eli's mother Veronika, and his friend Felix. Veronika, at first, seems like a snobby rich aristocrat. But because her late husband was so involved in politics, she has had to learn to maneuver carefully through treacherous social situations and royal plots. This has made her a survivor. Maybe that's why Veronika isn't as put off by commoner Lizbeth as I would have initially thought.

Felix is another character who is more than he seems. The magic he specializes in is death magic. Most people give him a wide berth. But he has formed a deep friendship with Eli over the years. His fierce loyalty to Eli has him taking all kinds of risk for his friend. Over the course of the novel, Lizbeth learns to really appreciate him.

Plot:

Eli has been thrown in the HRE prison, but due to politics, no one even knows what the charges are. Lizbeth decides she must rescue Eli. But since she doesn't know anything about the HRE, there are dangers she can't imagine. This is a classic fish out of water story where Lizbeth must learn about this society and then figure out how to help Eli. This plot device was perfect for the reader to discover, along with Lizbeth, the HRE.

Lizbeth is also in danger because she secretly is part russian, and could possibly have blood that can help keep the Czar alive. Hiding this part of herself is critical if she doesn't want to become a prisoner, herself.

Also, since the main character is a gun-slinger, there are plenty of shootouts, murder plots, and other dangers that keep this book going at a brisk pace. This was a very entertaining book.

I am most familiar with Charlaine Harris as the author of the Sookie Stackhouse novels. Though I did love those books and even the TV series based upon them, I didn't care for Sookie very much as a character, as I found her to be bratty and thankless. I was hesitant to read this series, fearing that her protagonist would again be the same. Thankfully, Lizbeth Rose is nothing like Sookie Stackhouse. This book is set in the past (though I honestly do not know which decade. Maybe the 20s or 30s?), and Lizbeth is trying to rescue her sometimes lover Eli. The world-building that went on in books 1 and 2 help set the stage for Lizbeth's adventure here, so I would read the first two in the series before diving into this one. But even if you don't read the first two books, there is enough good stuff here for the book to stand alone. If you are a history buff, you may also love these books, as the country is divided into different sectors in a fun alt-history arrangement that helps make these books more intriguing. In fact, mapping out in my mind all the places that LIzbeeth travels and how different they are from the actual layout of the world was one of the most fun aspects of the book, at least for me. Give it a try.

4.5 stars The Russian Cage is the third book in the Gunnie Rose series by Charlaine Harris and this series has quickly become one of my favorites. It’s an interesting mix of alternate history, magic, adventure and romance. The story takes place in the decades after the USA fell apart after the assassination of FDR. Rose, the main character, lives in Texoma (Texas and Oklahoma), where a lot of the action of the first book took place. The second book took place in Dixie (most of the former southeast USA), and this third book mainly takes place in the Holy Russian Empire or HRE (what used to be California and Oregon). Lizbeth Rose is a hired gunslinger, generally hired to protect cargo. But this time, the focus is on rescuing Eli, her “grigori” love interest, who has been arrested in the HRE. People who are “grigori” possess magical powers. An interesting twist is that carrying guns are not allowed in the HRE, or at least in San Diego where the Tsar lives and where the action takes place. This obviously presents a problem for Lizbeth, putting a serious crimp in her plans to break Eli out of prison. So she has to use her knives and a lot of ingenuity, along with help from other grigoris, including Eli’s brother, Peter and Lizbeth’s sister, Felicia, who we met in earlier books. Felicia is a very complex young lady and she’s learning how to use her magical abilities. Harris does a great job showing how Lizbeth is uncomfortable in this very different culture and how she figures out what to do and who to trust and who not to trust. Eli’s mom and sisters are great characters too, each drawn with individuality, not stereotypes. I hope there are more books to come in this series!

As in many series, this book will work best if you’ve read the first two in the series. Harris does a good job of providing backstory, but you will lose a lot if you pick up this book without having read the other two first.

Thank you to NetGalley and Gallery / Saga for the opportunity to read an advance readers copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

This is the third book in Harris’s Gunnie Rose series which takes place in an alternate history America in the 1930’s where the US has splintered into separate nation-states and where magic is real. Lizbeth Rose is a Gunnie whose job it is to provide armed protection to those traveling within or between these often lawless states. In this story, Lizbeth travels to the Holy Russian Empire (once California and Oregon) where her sometimes partner and lover Eli has been thrown in prison.

The story unfolds mostly from Lizbeth’s point of view. She is a tough and eminently practical person, and the narrative reflects her nature. The HRE, led by the exiled Russian tsar and rife with deadly politics and deadlier magic-using Grigori, is very different than Lizbeth’s Texoma home which is more Wild West, but she adapts with her usual determination. She visits and gets help from her younger half sister Felicia, whom she earlier sent to the HRE for schooling, and meets Eli’s aristocratic family.

The clash of cultures and Lizbeth’s ruthless determination to free Eli make for a fast-paced and very entertaining read. She and the reader learn more about other key characters, with hints about Lizbeth’s own Grigori heritage and possible abilities, and there are some very satisfying personal developments as well.

I look forward to reading what happens next.

I really enjoyed this adventure of a book. I highly recommend this book if you enjoyed the first two series installments.

Lizbeth Rose aka Gunnie Rose receives a coded letter from her half-sister letting her know that Eli Savarov is being held in prison in San Diego, the capitol of the Holy Russian Empire. Lizbeth has no choice - she loves Eli so, although the Holy Roman Empire seems a world away in more ways than one, she immediately sets out for San Diego where she will free him or die trying.

The Russian Cage is the third installment in the Gunnie Rose alternate history series by author Charlaine Harris and, like the previous two books, it doesn't disappoint. It grabbed me from the first page and never let go. It continues to expand the world building as well as fleshing out many of the old characters even more while introducing us to some interesting new ones.

The Gunnie Rose series is one of my favourites and, for anyone who shares my love of these books, you're really gonna enjoy this latest edition. If you haven't discovered this series but love smart alternate histories with great characters, world building, and plenty of action, I can't recommend it highly enough but I would suggest that this might not work as a standalone since it follows the actions in the last book. Therefore, I would recommend reading the previous books first = trust me, you won't be sorry you did.

<Thanks to Netgalley and Gallery Books for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review</i>

The third and latest installment of the Gunnie Rose series is by far my favorite- and I really really enjoyed the first two, so that is saying something!

When the first installment came out, it was right before New York Comic Con. Charlaine Harris was a guest there, and I was lucky enough to see a panel with her, and after get the book signed and talk to her. I embarrassingly told her I didn’t know anything about the book, but I knew it would be great because she wrote it. This gracious Oman took the time to tell me what it was about instead of being offended! She was so sweet!

Back to the third installment! Lizbeth gets a coded note from her sister prompting her newest adventure. In quite a twist, Lizbeth is not on a trip as a gunnie! As with other books, lots of travel, interesting things happen from different laws and customs of different lands. And one of my favorites, Lizbeth being uncomfortable when she has to wear things she doesn’t want to, especially dresses, oh do I relate! We get to see a lot of characters we know, and meet some new ones along the way.

I was totally engrossed from the beginning to the end. The first thing I did when finished was look to see if it looks like there will be a book 4, and it does look like that! I can not wait for more. The series just keeps getting better and better, it is a real treat.

I just love the alternate history/western/fantasy world Charlaine Harris has created for the Gunnie Rose series. I love reading about all the adventures Lizbeth and Eli get up to and this book was no exception. I can't wait for the next book.

I'm afraid this one lost me. Admittedly, I hadn't read the first two books and that's no doubt the reason I found myself floundering. I suspect, however, that Harris fans will love it for the plot and the characters, especially if they are invested in the series. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC.

I was a big fan of Charlaine Harris' Sookie Stackhouse series but had yet to read any of her other series. Then I started reading the Gunnie Rose series, and now I'm left wondering what took me so long to check out her other work. These books keep getting better and better, and The Russian Cage is my favorite so far. I could not put this book down and devoured it in two sittings. The expanded setting and world building, introduction to the Russian empire, seeing new sides to Lixbeth's strengths and abilities were excellent. Harris' relationship development between Lizbeth and all of the important friends and family in her life have been solid since book one, but I loved the increased depth and details in this one – from Eli and Felicia to Jackson and Felix, The dialogue had me laughing out loud in some parts.

Thank you Gallery/Saga Press for providing me a copy of the book. I loved every minute of it. I can't recommend this series enough. The Russian Cage is the best one yet. I can't wait to see where Harris takes us next.

Lizbeth Rose is off to the Holy Russian Empire to save her beau Eli who has been imprisoned. She is also looking forward to visiting with her half sister Felicia. I have really enjoyed this series of an alternate America. I enjoy the diverse characters and the rougher lifestyle. Charlaine Harris is a genius with her diverse mystery series.

This third book of the series looks like the HEA for one of the oddest couples of gunslingers and wizards I've ever crossed paths with in a good way. Always quirky and fun.

'The Russian Cage' is the third book in Charlaine Harris' alternate-history urban fantasy series, in which the Holy Russian Empire rules over a portion of America after influenza wiped out a majority of US politicians and left a power-vacuum that was filled by the escaped royal family of the Romanovs.

'Russian Cage' picks up a little down the ways from second book 'A Longer Fall', after which our 'gunnie' (gun-for-hire, strictly protection not assassination) Lizbeth Rose parted ways with magical grigori Eli, who returned to the Holy Russian Empire and left Lizbeth in Texoma ('Texas') - even though they'd established a powerful romantic entanglement. Eli had family and business to settle back home, and that side of the country is tricky for Lizbeth to enter into - because she's a descendent of Rasputin, and her blood is of great value to the Tsar for healing purposes.

But it's no surprise that Book 3 kicks off with Lizbeth getting word that Eli is in trouble - imprisoned and accused of a crime nobody will reveal - and she promptly decides it's finally time to visit the mysterious Holy Russian Empire (which roughly makes up the entirety of California) to save Eli.

Now, my heart kinda sunk once I realised that a chunk of this book would be Lizbeth and Eli separated and following Lizbeth as she tries to break him out and save him. I get it, I get it - it's way more interesting if she has to navigate Eli's territory solo and raises stakes if his freedom is her motivator. But I've come to really appreciate the Lizbeth and Eli romance, and a big basic part of me just wanted to read them together again (I know, I know - stories need 'tension' and 'plot' and all that jazz!)

It is really interesting finally seeing the oft-spoke-about Holy Russian Empire through Lizbeth's eyes for the first time. The story is mostly situated in San Diego, and involves Lizbeth meeting Eli's family (his mother, sisters, brother and stepbrothers) and getting up close to the monarchy and high-society. She also gets to reconnect with her sister, Felicia, who is situated at the Grigori School where she's learning magic and also subterfuge, as becomes apparent to a fairly proud Lizbeth.

I did really enjoy this story, *even though* the Holy Russian Empire was kind of a let-down after being so built-up in the previous two books? I think it's mostly that the plot is very focused on political intrigue and savagery, so the scenery kinda passes us by? But also speaking of the intricate machinations of the plot - I also found some really Big Events just whizzed by me and it wasn't until characters were recounting what happened that I even realised where we'd moved to in the story? I think it's because lots of these finer-points happen off-page, and it's hard to keep up when there's so many major and minor characters that fill out the Russian Monarchy coming and going.

I am usually a big fan of Charlaine's ability to pace and build tension, but honestly and compared to the finely-detailed and edge-of-your-seat finesse to be found in her 'Harper Connelly', 'Lily Bard' and 'Aurora Teagarden' books (I will concede that sometimes 'Southern Vampire' plots were *a trip* ... especially during the damn faerie instalments) - I just don't have the same admiration for the crime and thriller details of the plot in 'The Russian Cage'. It's not working like a well-oiled machine, and I think it's mostly down to a particularly bloated cast and too many layers of off-scene political infighting. Which - to be fair - previously Charlaine has focused on small-town intrigue and very insular-type stories (even Sookie mostly dealt with low-level vampire bureaucracy of Louisiana, and tried hard to stay off the radar of the higher-ups). 'Gunnie Rose' is Charlaine trying to fold in alternate histories, reconfigured politics, and all playing out on a much bigger stage of how an unstable Holy Russian Empire fits into this new America - with Lizbeth as a possibly lynchpin amidst it all too. It's a LOT.

I will also flag that I kinda read 'The Russian Cage' assuming it was closing out what would be a trilogy. But as I got closer to the end I started thinking; "Hmmmm, feels like there's more to come," and then LO! - I check and there's a fourth book due now too, for 2022. Which makes me nervous. Because Charlaine Harris is notorious in many of her series for totally and tragically upending her protagonist's lives once they get a *little bit* settled. And 'Gunnie Rose' has been the darkest in tone of all Charlaine's series so far, so I'm not holding my breath for everything to continue to be smooth-ish sailing for all involved.

But, I am excited to see where else this story goes. There's a real trend now for alternate American-history Western Dystopia's (see also: 'Outlawed' by Anna North, and 'Upright Women Wanted' by Sarah Gailey) that I am *so intrigued by* and wonder if its a byproduct of the Trump era to imagine all the sliding-doors ways that America avoided catastrophe throughout history (certainly in Charlaine's series, the question of what would have happened if Russia had a foothold in America, and a deadly pandemic was mismanaged to the point of fracturing the United States is ... *pointed*. And she started this series in 2016, in 'Unfettered II: New Tales By Masters of Fantasy' Anthology!)

In this third book in the Gunnie Rose series, Charlaine Harris delves deeper into the world of the Holy Russian Empire as Rose attempts to free her fiance from prison. Exciting and romantic, I look forward to more books featuring Gunnie Rose.

This was an interesting read. It follows the story of Rose as she travels to rescue her boyfriend Eli who has been illegally arrested in the Russian Empire.⁣
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I requested this from Netgalley mainly because of the cover and name. It's actually the third installment in the series. It can be read as a standalone though it's much better to read from the beginning so as not to get confused.⁣
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I love Rose's character. She's very competent in what she does and we see that very well in this book. Travelling to the Russian Empire to save Eli is no joke and she has to watch her back for assassins. Usually in colts and black attires, here we see her in dresses! How strange 😂⁣
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Eli is involved in a lot of confusing, deadly politics which involve the Tsar, but that doesn't stop her. She also spends time with her sister who is quite strong in her own way, and Félix whom at first sort of hates her but later on begins to appreciate her.⁣
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As if all these aren't enough, Rose has to win over Eli's mother. ⁣
I ship Rose and Eli so much ❤ they're a perfect couple, who have been through so much together from the beginning. ⁣
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In this book there is a lot of violence, guns and illegal activities. ⁣
Btw towards the end, there's actually a wedding which is so cute 😍 Everyone got the happily ever after they deserved ✨⁣
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I hadn't read any Harris books before and this one was my first, I do know her previous books were the source material for True Blood.

I liked her writing and the characters, but I hadn't read the previous titles in the story so I probably need to pick up them up, because I didn't get very invested in them.

Lizbeth Rose heads West. The third in this series, the cover is stunning but it doesn't quite match with the others so while this sat on my digital TBR list, I kept forgetting that is was a Gunnie Rose book. Doesn't quite evoke the Western theme as much. But then again, the whole book isn't that heavy on the Western front.

You see Lizbeth hears that the man she loves, Eli, an aristocrat of that realm, has been taken prisoner and it's up to her to get him out. She travels West to the Holy Russian Empire (this is an alt-universe USA, so HRE is basically California) and finds herself very much a fish out of water. Wrong mannerisms, wrong female accomplishments, wrong words...you name it, and she doesn't fit. But it's the fighting and survival skills she learned as a Gunnie that gets her connected to the right people and keeps those she cares about alive.

It was nice to finally delve into the HRE in this book as we'd been hearing about it and dealing with the Grigori from there in the previous two books. While I miss the full on Western feel, Lizbeth was still Lizbeth and this wraps up and reveals a few things that should hopefully move the story forward.

I didn't realize this was part of a series so I will have to catch up before reading this one. I do love Charlaine Harris book so I'm excited to get into this series as soon as a I have the chance.

Book too a bit to build but the climatic fight towards the end was a good payoff. Writing seemed like the book was meant for a YA audience but wasn't too simplistic.

Read this because I had heart of Charlaine Harris because of her Sookie Stackhouse series and I enjoyed the HBO series it was based upon. I hadn't read the first two in the series but read this because I had received an arc from netgalley. I think I will go back and read the previous entries as I enjoy the characters and the alternate history (Alt-history Theodore Roosevelt had been assassinated which had causes a splitting of the country into four new countries with California, Oregon and Washington becoming the Holy Russian Empire after the Tsar had made the ocean voyage rather than being killed in the revolution) with some magic thrown in for fun.