Quirky Cat's Fat Stacks

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 series’s third (and hopefully not final) novel.

Lizbeth Rose (Gunnie Rose) has been through a lot this past year. She’s fought Grigori, thwarted a scheme, and lost two 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 alone. 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 both familiar and new, all at the same time. Set in the 1930s, it has many 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, and a few new ones are introduced along the way. They flesh out Rose’s adventure in vital ways while adding just a touch of humor.

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 makes complete sense, it was still a little disappointing.

Development

Gunnie Rose is not a woman one should rush. Nor is The Russian Cage a novel that feels rushed. Yes, a lot 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 throughout this novel, as did Rose herself.

Several clever little twists were 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, showing us a whole new side of the country. It’s fascinating and full of fun plot twists and character development. This is a novel that I had been counting down the days for, and ultimately, it proved worth the wait.

This review was originally written for Word of the Nerd, but has been ported over to Quirky Cat’s Fat Stacks now that the site has shut down.

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