The Russian Cage
Book Title: The Russian Cage
Book Description: “#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.”
Book Author: Seanan McGuire
Publisher - Orgnization: Gallery/Saga Press
Publisher Logo:
Date published: February 23, 2021
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Writing - 8/10
8/10
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Development - 8/10
8/10
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Overall - 8/10
8/10
Summary
Lizbeth Rose, aka Gunnie Rose’s adventure continues here in The Russian Cage, the third novel in Charlaine Harris’ latest series. Set in an alternate version of the 1930s, this is a world that merges magic and gunslingers.
Overall
8/10
User Review
( votes)
Time for a Jailbreak in The Russian Cage
The Russian Cage brings us back into an alternate version of the 1930s, where magic is real, and gunslingers are a vital part of society. Written by Charlaine Harris, this is the third (and hopefully not final) novel in the series.
Lizbeth Rose, aka Gunnie Rose, has been through a lot this past year. She’s fought Grigori, thwarted a scheme, and lost two different teams. Oh, and she fell in love. Against her better judgment, that is.
Now Eli is in danger, and she has a choice to make. She could sit at home and trust him to find a way out of this dilemma on his own. Or she could ride in to save the day. Is that even a choice? Well, it isn’t for Gunnie Rose.
Writing
Gunnie Rose’s world is one that is both familiar and new, all at the same time. Set in the 1930s, it has a lot of the elements that history would recognize. Well, except for a few key details, such as the Holy Russian Empire’s control over certain states, and the presence of magic.
Naturally, worldbuilding is one of the many highlights found within The Russian Cage. It’s rich and full of details, from moments of daily life to the dangerous politics of the world. Rose’s perspective on all of this is a delight, as always.
The secondary characters are another highlight in this novel. Some favorites come back to the pages, as well as a few new ones introduced along the way. They flesh out Rose’s adventure in vital ways, while also adding just a touch of humor in the process.
My only complaint would be that one of the characters was sort of shunted to the background. Given the description, it’s probably not hard to guess who. Or why, for that matter. While it does make complete sense, it was still a little disappointing to see.
Development
Gunnie Rose is not a woman one should rush. Nor is The Russian Cage a novel that feels rushed. Yes, there is a lot that goes on within the pages, but it all seems to flow smoothly onward. Leaving plenty of room for details.
The details are part of what makes this series feel so alive, so that is always appreciated. The new characters introduced had plenty of time to grow and develop over the course of this novel. As did Rose herself, obviously.
There were several clever little twists written into this book, and more than one major confrontation to be had. All of which helps to balance out that almost leisurely pace the series is known for.
As for the conclusion? Well, that one left me thinking. On the one hand, I can see this being a proper conclusion to Gunnie’s story. On the other hand, it could very well just be the beginning of a new chapter.
Conclusion
The Russian Cage is another great addition to Gunnie Rose’s story, one that shows us a whole new side of the country. It’s fascinating and full of fun plot twists and character development. I had been counting down the days for The Russian Cage. And it proved to be well worth that wait, and then some.
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