Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

I was hesitant to pick up this series as Westerns aren't really my jam, but I requested this one off of Netgalley thinking it was a new series from Charlaine Harris and didn't realize it was third in the Western-esque Gunnie Rose series. So, after approval, I saw that it was book three and went to find books one and two.

I'm really glad I picked these up and I should have trusted Charlaine Harris. Yeah, the series is a little Wild Wild West adjacent, but it's got magic and mystery as well.

This installment finds Lizbeth going west to the Holy Russian Empire (formerly known as California) to rescue an ally from the prior books. It put her WAY outside her comfort zone, and was a refreshing change of pace from Western settings of the first two books.

Plenty of character growth, some romance, and a lot of magical explosions, this one was a riotous amount of fun.

Definitely recommended, but only after reading the first two.

Gunnie Rose is gifted with a gun and an expert in surviving. The Russian Cage puts Gunnie in situations where she has to adapt, improvise and fake it in a world apart from what she’s used to. I really enjoyed this peek into Eli’s life and family. This story takes their relationship to the next level. I was blown away by this installment and hope we get to visit with her again.

My thanks to NetGalley for making an eARC copy of this book available to me.

Very enjoyable if you've liked the previous books in this series. (You really want to read these books in order.)

Gunnie Rose has thankfully learned to be a little bit more circumspect in how she deals with the conflicts that she encounters, and she encounters a lot of them in this book. She travels to San Diego in order to help get Eli out of prison. We see a few previous supporting characters, but we also add in the rest of Eli's family as well as some new grigori (sorcerors) as well as members of the royal family. There is a fair amount of action in the first part of the book, but it really kicks off in the last quarter of the book. We are also left with plenty of opportunity for further books in the series at the conclusion of this book.

The Russian Cage is the third book in the Gunnie Rose series by Ms. Harris. The series takes place in an alternative America where America is no longer the United States but has been broken up into new countries with California now being part of the Holy Roman Empire. The time frame of this alternative history is around the 1930s I think, but it's not really important to know.

It has been some time since I read the second book in the series so I was coming to this story as someone whose memory of what happened needed refreshing. I recommend reading this series in order ( Book One: An Easy Death & Book Two: A Longer Fall ) so that you can really dig in and enjoy the world it is set in as well as the characters otherwise I think you do a disservice to yourself and the books.

I have read most of Charlaine Harris's many books and the Gunnie Rose series is a favorite. I appreciate that in this series, Lizbeth is a strong independent woman who knows herself very well and is able to say no. One of the best character traits Lizbeth has is that as a hired gun, she is very good at reading people and situations and then acting. She doesn't get paralyzed by indecision.

Lizbeth and her sister Felicia are fun characters to read, they know what they want and they don't let others or the conventions of the day put limitations on them. In this book, we spend more time with Felicia and Felix and really get to know them as the story moves along. On Charlaine Harris's website, the Gunnie Rose books are described as a trilogy so this may be the final book in the series. I enjoyed the action in the book and how the story finished. The ending to this book is very satisfying and it makes sense to leave things there. Now, should Ms. Harris chose to continue the series, especially if it were to branch off to new adventures with Felix or Felecia as our protagonist; well, then I will be the first in line to preorder.

I give this book a 4.5 star rating, there is magic, there is love, there are bad guys, and the bad guys get what's coming to them. I hope that Charlaine Harris has an inclination to go back and play in this world again, I'd like to see how things go for the people around Lizbeth.

*I received an ARC via NetGalley all the opinions are mine! This book comes out on February 23rd, so you have time to go read the first two books in the series!

This is the third book in the Gunnie Rose series, and it continues to be a quality series. Russian Cage picks up where A Longer Fall left off. Lizbeth received a coded message from her sister that her estranged love, Prince Eli, has been taken captive by the Holy Russian Empire. Instead of working with a crew as she usually does, Lizbeth must go this job alone. She will depend on the help of her sister, Felicia, to rescue Eli and we learn a bit more about her along the way.
I’ve been a Charlaine Harris fan for quite a while. While I credit the Southern Vampire series with my introduction to her work, my favorite writing of hers has not been in that most popular series. My favorite is her Midnight, TX trilogy. I must say, though, this series is coming up hot on its tail! Harris is a master at building new and exciting worlds and the characters in this series just continue to grow and gain more depth. There was one plot hole in this particular installment, but that can be forgiven, of course. I won’t point it out, in case you miss it! You could read this as a stand-alone, but you will really benefit from reading the books in order. I can’t wait to get more stories of Lizbeth Rose’s life!

This is the third book in the series, and it takes a different tone than the previous two. This one picks up pretty much where the second one left off, but Lizbeth doesn’t have a job, she has to rescue Eli from a Russian jail. I love the character growth that she has gone through as well as some of the others. I think there were a couple characters that need to grow up, however. LOL! I did enjoy this book from beginning to end, but sometimes the events were just a little too easy to accomplish and I did miss the journeys she made protecting cargo. Aside from that, this was a great addition to the series, and while you could read this without having read the others, reading the others fills in blanks and are excellent besides. Recommend. I was provided a complimentary copy which I voluntarily review.

I am a fan of Charlaine Harris's Southern Vampire and Shakespeare series. This series is different. It is broader. More expansive. You feel like the world exists beyond one small town and influences the narrative. I would definitely recommend.

I do love the way the author has taken places in the US and given them a whole new identity. This alternative history mashes together Texas and Oklahoma but perhaps even more oddly takes California and Oregon and moulds those into a new version of Russia and that is exactly where our heroine is heading ! Lizbeth receives a coded message from her half sister telling her that the man ( or should that be Prince ? ) she loves has been taken prisoner and there's no way our plucky heroine is going to ignore that . You would think as an experienced Gunnie (gun for hire ) that very little could faze Lizbeth but that's before she meets her mother in law and starts to navigate the Russian court !
I find Lizbeth to be an odd protagonist because as much as she's focused and brave she's also quite detached emotionally. I do understand that killing when necessary for a living would have a profound effect on anyone but her thoughts and actions at times baffle me. This story does revolve heavily on political intrigue surrounding the Tzar and if it's action you are looking for than standby for gunfights and explosions. The supporting characters added greatly not just to the plot but also my enjoyment. There is sadly a huge plot hole involving someone considered a Null who is immune to magic and then suddenly bam not immune ! However I did truly enjoy this book with its unusual heroine and its a world that I definitely want to explore more.
This voluntary take is of a copy I requested from Netgalley and my thoughts and comments are honest and I believe fair

Third book in the Gunnie Rose series. Lots of exciting buildup to the final confrontation. Lizbeth travels to the Holy Russian Empire to free Eli, who has been imprisoned. Along the was she meets Eli’s family, which is fun and leads to a bit of culture clash.

"#1 New York Times and USA TODAY bestselling author Charlaine Harris is at her best in this alternate history of the United States where magic is an acknowledged but despised power in this third installment of the Gunnie Rose series.

Picking up right where A Longer Fall left off, this thrilling third installment follows Lizbeth Rose as she takes on one of her most dangerous missions yet: rescuing her estranged partner, Prince Eli, from the Holy Russian Empire. Once in San Diego, Lizbeth is going to have to rely upon her sister Felicia, and her growing Grigori powers to navigate her way through this strange new world of royalty and deception in order to get Eli freed from jail where he’s being held for murder.

Russian Cage continues to ramp up the momentum with more of everything Harris’ readers adore her for with romance, intrigue, and a deep dive into the mysterious Holy Russian Empire."

I already have my signed preorder in at my favorite Indie bookstore, Murder By the Book!

This is the third book in Harris' Gunnie Rose series and I will say that if you haven't read the first two you definitely need to. The story picks up right where the last one left off and the action starts almost immediately when Lizbeth receives a coded letter from her sister letting her know that Eli has been arrested. Normally Lizbeth works as part of a crew but on this adventure she's all on her own and has to make do with anther Grigori, Felix, and Eli's family as she plots to rescue Eli and help the Tszar and the Holy Russian Empire. We continue to see more of this wonderful wild west world that Harris has created, specifically the Holy Russian Empire. We also get to see Lizbeth's sister, Felicia, grow more and find out a little secret about her. This is definitely an action packed, page turner that you won't want to put down once you start. I can only hope that we get to see more adventures with Gunnie Rose and her Grigori prince.

Magic is back in the world and Lizbeth (Gunnie) Rose is immune. She receives a letter from her half sister, who is learning how to be a grigori in the Holy Russian Empire, which was created out of California and Oregon when the world began again. The letter tells Lizbeth her husband is being held captive by the Tsar. She travels to the Empire to rescue him and encounters a coup attempt by the Tsar's uncle, who is responsible for Eli being jailed. She has to maneuver between various factions, some who are loyal to the Tsar and those who are not. Lots of fun action and an entertaining read.

"The Russian Cage" is the third book in Charlaine Harris' Gunnie Rose series. As with many of Harris' heroines, Lizbeth is plainspoken and straightforward. This causes her issues when dealing with the Holy Russian Empire and its wizards.

Lizbeth receives a letter from her half-sister, who is a student at the grigori school in California. Lizbeth's lover, Eli, has been arrested, and no one knows why. Lizbeth travels to California, determined to free him, and uncovers a plot that could destabilize the region.

Harris has a simple writing style, not sparse exactly, but told with a minimum of frippery, much like Lizbeth herself. Lizbeth has a strong sense of self, and that contrasts to the other characters, who must hide their true thoughts and feelings in order not to be branded traitors.

The plot is solid and moves swiftly, but logically. This is a quick, but enjoyable read, and a great addition to the series.

Recommended.

I received an advance copy from NetGalley and Gallery Books in return for my honest review.

As the final book in the Lizbeth Rose series, I was left both satisfied for the ending which tied everything up, but also dissatisfied for the lack of depth & the ease in which every event seemed to take place. Out of all three books, 'An Easy Death' remains my favorite. I felt there was a lot of potential for growth & was very curious to see where Charlaine would take the characters. The second book 'A Longer Fall' was my least favorite out of the three & had a weird romance aspect to it that I really didn't care for among other things about the book that I didn't like. This final book falls in second place. There is very little in the way of romance. This is mostly an action book with some magic tossed in. We quickly discover that Lizbeth aka Gunnie Rose, has some mad knife skills when she finds herself unable to conceal carry in the Holy Russian Empire of California.

Charlaine introduces us to the Russian way of life in this weird alternate America, where the Russians own the part of the USA known as California called the Holy Russian Empire of California. Lizbeth is completely out of her element, but thanks to being an incredibly capable young woman, she manages to hold her own. She is so good in fact, that each of her goals is accomplished with unbelievable ease. So unbelievable, that as the reader, I was kind of shocked. I figured at some point Lizbeth would end up in a bit of a pickle, but it really wasn't the case. Yes, there were some rough spots, but none felt all that threatening. I feel like Charlaine just wanted to be done with the series & be sure to tie everything up nice & neat for her readers in this final book. I am glad that she didn't leave us hanging, but there could have been so much more.

While this wasn't the greatest book (I personally feel the first 3 Sookie Stackhouse books are some of her best works), I am still glad for the opportunity to have read it. If this is your first time hearing of this book, know that this is a series. You really need to read the other books before this book otherwise you will be doing yourself a great disservice & it is highly likely you will not be able to enjoy the novel without the backstory from the previous two books.

I received this book from NetGalley/SagaPress in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

3.5 stars

This is the third book in Harris's Gunnie Rose series, which is a unique combination of alternate history, fantasy, and Western . Set in the 1930s, the U.S. has been fractured into pieces, with East Coast Brittania realigning with England, the South becoming independent Dixie, Texas and Oklahoma forming Texoma, where our protagonist Lizbeth Rose lives, and California and Oregon becoming the Holy Russian Empire, ruled over by the escaped royal Romanov family. In The Russian Cage, we're finally getting a glimpse of the mysterious Holy Russian Empire (HRE) when Lizbeth rushes there to help her love interest, Eli, who's been imprisoned under murky circumstances. Lizbeth remains a pragmatic, antisocial, capable main character who you can't help but like and root for; I loved that we got a lot more interaction between her and her younger sister in this installment. I continue to be fascinated by Harris's worldbuilding and the sharp contrasts between the places we visit in each book. I did, however, feel that the writing in this one wasn't as strong as in some of Harris's previous books, and the ending left me wondering where the plot will be going in future books. I received an eARC of The Russian Cage from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Lizbeth Rose gets a letter from her half-sister Felicia that contains a coded message. Felicia tells her that Lizbeth's partner Eli has been arrested and imprisoned in San Diego, the capitol of the Holy Russian Empire. Lizbeth has to go to try to get him out.

The Holy Russian Empire is a whole new world for a young woman from Texoma who works as a gunnie - an armed guard. And Lizbeth feels like a fish out of water. Luckily, she has the help of her little sister Felicia, who is a student at the Rasputin school and who is learning to be a grigori. Having only recently met her sister, Lizbeth doesn't know her well. She does know that she is smart and tricky.

She also has the help of Felix who is another grigori and who is in love with Eli which makes his relationship with Lizbeth a little more complicated.

Lizbeth gets to meet Eli's mother and sisters during her investigation too. She also has to deal with Eli's brother Peter who causes a lot of the problems in this story.

I like the setting of this story. California has become the Holy Russian Empire after the United States dissolved and is now ruled by a Tsar who escaped from Russia and sought asylum there. The Tsar didn't come alone. There are large numbers of Russians of all classes who came with him. A lot of this story has to do with political complications surrounding Tsar Alexi.

The story is filled with a number of intriguing characters. I especially liked getting to know Lizbeth's sister Felicia better in this story. Eli's mother and sister were also interesting characters as were they people surrounding the Tsar who had roles in this book.

Lizbeth is a great character. She's smart but not educated. She is also determined and phlegmatic. The story is told from her point of view. This is the third book in the series. I think it would add much more depth to the reading experience if the series was read in order but I feel it could also work for those new to the series.

I thoroughly enjoyed this newest series from Charlaine Harris. I had previously only read (and loved) the Sookie Stackhouse series.

This is the third instalment, so I’m not sure how much detail I should go into, but I felt like this was my favourite of the trilogy. I felt as though we really saw some character development that was perhaps a bit lacking in the first two,

I would definitely recommend this series, it had almost a western type feel to it.

If you like any of these five things, consider checking this book out!
- Gunnie action adventure
- Speculative Russian-run future?
- Magic
- People being trained to be stronger magicians
- The rest of the series. Yes, this is a part of a series. No, I had not read any of the other books first.

Okay so, usually I can read books from later in a series with relatively few issues caused by my lack of previous experience. That's why even once I realized this was a sequel, I decided to give it a go. Unfortunately, I would say this is definitely one of the cases where, if you're going to understand it, you need to have read the other books. Bear that in mind when you look at my rating.

There are some things I can still review well in spite of not having read the other books. Namely, the pacing. The pacing was a little all over the place in my opinion. This was especially clear when I felt like the climax of the book came out of nowhere and then the wind down from that battle lasted way longer than I would have liked. Frankly, I thought most of the scenes at the end of the book were unnecessary.

That being said, this was a fast-paced read that was relatively easy to get through and I'm sure it would have been loads of fun if I had known the context from the first few books!

I have loved this series from the first chapter of the first book. I do feel that because it is book three in a series reading the first two books will help the reader fully understand the world that Gunnie Rose lives in. A truly wonderful dystopian world, where the United States as we know it is turned all around. It was also great to get to know more of the background of Prince Eli and to introduce more secondary characters. Loved it!

I didn’t realize this was a third book in a series until I was about to start reading it. I decided to jump in and quickly immersed myself in the storyline. The author wrote the scene in such a way that I immediately understood what was going on and was quickly pulled along for the ride. So glad I grabbed this book and had a blast following along with their story. Definitely can see reading any future book and could see looking into the prequels even though I know now how it would end.