Book Review: Spy For The Queen Of Scots
Updated: Oct 1
2025—I have just returned from reading a historical novel—the singular narrative that I shall be troubled with.
(Cookies for anyone who gets that reference!)
Truly though, Spy for the Queen of Scots was an amazing read!
Here's the Amazon blurb:
As lady-in-waiting to Mary, Queen of Scots, the beautiful Ginette-known as Jenny-is the young queen's closest childhood friend. Growing up in the elegant but ruthless French court, surrounded by enemies and traitors - not least the jealous, manipulative Catherine de Medici, and Mary's own scheming half-brother, James - Jenny has always been fiercely loyal to her mistress. But when she overhears a mysterious whispered plot, closely followed by several unexplained deaths at court, she puts her own life in danger and turns spy for Mary.Jenny quickly realises not a soul at court can be trusted, and when she and Mary return to their Scottish homeland for Mary to claim her throne, they face even greater peril. Desperate to protect her friend from those who would slit her throat to steal her crown, while battling her feelings for the charismatic nobleman Duncan Alexander, Jenny becomes embroiled in a dangerous web of secrets, betrayals and lies.
This was ten hours worth spending. Theresa Breslin's writing style, and plot, and characters caught me, as they say, hook, line, and sinker. My favourite character was undoubtedly our protagonist, Jenny, followed closely by Duncan. The plot twist at the end was just perfection, and Jenny's red petticoat thing running through the story... Red for death, for blood, and for health... Yeah, there is a reason why my brothers call me Major Plot Spoiler. I'll try not to do it anymore.
In terms of content warnings, there are a few. Umm, people die, quite regularly. One or two characters attempt to force themselves upon Jenny, without success, and another character is forced, against her will, into a room alone with a guy and she becomes pregnant. He later becomes her husband. But that episode is only talked about, not shown. Poison is wielded several times. Also, one character essentially day-dreams about kissing her crush. Overall, though, its a pretty clean book.
A solid 4.7 stars, I think!
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