This book sounded promising from the get go, but ultimately fell flat for me. The character list was plentiful and admittedly, I had trouble knowing who was who. I needed to go back and remind myself at times of who some characters were and their affiliation. This detracted from my immersion into the story.

The Eyes of the Queen provides a foundation for the rest of the series.. Despite my misgivings from this book, I am interested in continuing on in the series and will report back with my thoughts!

Many thanks to Atria/Leopoldo & Co. and NetGalley for providing me with a free copy of this title. All thoughts in this review are honest and my own.

This was a great book. As I read it I felt like I was reading Tom Clancy set back in Elizabethan times. Francis Walsingham and John Dee could be characters like those in Tom Clancy’s books. The details and depth were great and the ending was a real shocker! Well done! Will have to read other books by this author in the series.

I was dazzled by the write up of book 4 and when offered the chance to download books 1-3 to read the whole series, I thought I was in for a treat.

Wish there was a warning. It was crude with an awful plot line that was difficult to follow. I found the actual “historical context” lacking and quickly learned this was not the series for me. Sadly, I will be DNF’ing the rest of the series.

I used to read nothing but Tudor/Elizabethan era historical fiction but it's been at least a decade. I knew enough of the politics of the time to not be completely confused about the beef between Mary, Queen of Scots and Queen Elizabeth but needed a quick internet search to be brought up to speed on the St. Bartholomew's Day Massacre depicted in the opening pages.
I read this book solely for its entertainment value and not because I was hoping to be immersed in a historically accurate portrayal of the time period so while some of the dialogue did seem like it could have been a little too modern, it didnt' take me out of the story at all.
I got through this entire book without really knowing who the main character was. Dee? Walsingham? One of the Queens? Maybe that was the point?
This whole book sort of felt like a movie, which was fun. There's a little reveal right at the end that fans of another famous fictional character might get a kick out of. Im probably the only person who's never seen one of the films, but at least I understood the reference!

This was an interesting book which really starts with a jolt so you are definitely drawn in quickly. The historical context is excellent and inspired me to look up Walsingham and Dee to learn more. In this first book Walsingham is portrayed as not as clever as he thinks while Dee comes off as the hero. I enjoyed the storyline and look forward to reading the other books in the series.

The Eyes of the Queen is a novel that takes you through a period of history that has many queens claiming the throne. The allegiances and deals made within these households makes it hard to know who is in power and for how long.
England for years was dealing with Mary Queen of Scots and the house of Tudor. Both claiming the throne as rightfully theirs.
Getting messages and dictates from each respective Queen takes longer than it does today and immersing yourself in the times is necessary.
The Eyes of the Queen will have you twisted up wondering what will happen next.
Spain and England are locked in a battle to keep the Church out of the Age of Enlightenment and each of these queens is trying to use the connection with Spain for their own benefits. It really is a story that will keep you wondering.
An interesting read and something anyone who loves historical types of fiction will gladly read.

I loved the premise. The execution on the other hand left much to be desired. I felt lost in the historical minutiae of the book and found myself googling throughout just so I could sort out what exactly the author was talking about. Unfortunately it ultimately fell flat.

I apologize for taking so long to review this book.I struggled with what to say. As an undergraduate History major with a specialization in Tudor Stuart England, I was eager to read this book.

The focus on the beginning of an organized spy network in England was very interesting,That topic could attract readers, even those who are not particularly interested in the historical era.

However, I had a hard time sustaining interest. There were so many characters that I kept losing track of who people were and what side they were on. I had to constantly go back and reread. The author is introducing a series, so probably wanted to introduce all the characters readers would encounter in future volumes. However, for me, it was frustrating.

Second, the book read more like a screenplay than a novel.There was a good deal of dialogue and action, but not much else. 

Readers who want an action novel with intrigue but not much intellectual depth will possibly enjoy this book.
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In the first book in a new, fascinating, and vividly detailed historical fiction series, Oliver Clements brings the chaos of sixteenth century European politics and the vibrancy of the English court under the capable Elizabeth I to life. Following the first modern spy and the birth of the English secret service, readers join John Dee, a scholar, soldier, and alchemist who happens to be old friends with Her Majesty, as he undertakes a mission to find a new weapon that England can use to fight a war of espionage against the rest of Europe. With high stakes and a fascinating insight into the origins of the British secret service, readers will get to experience the dangers of the sixteenth century and the early risks taken by spies in this amazing researched and detailed historical fiction novel. With a clever plot and a complex historical setting, Clements’ characters are realistic and lifelike, with complex personalities and backstories built into the narrative. The single protagonist of Dee allows for a straightforward experience of this novel and intricate plot, yet the other characters in this novel are fully developed and have their own backstories that come into play as Dee and the readers experience the dangers of Tudor espionage in this fascinating novel.

This is the first in the series, and it should be said that I am posting my reviews for all books of the series on the same day. As such, it has me reflecting on the series as a whole as well. This book is my second favorite in the series. It lays the ground work for the second book which is incredible. This book is a necessary book in the series though to give a baseline for everything else that happens in the subsequent books, but it is just not as much of a page turner. Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books | Atria/Leopoldo & Co. for a copy of this book for an honest review.

This work of historical fiction, set during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I, quite cleverly depicts events that will give rise to the spy network known as His Majesty's Secret Service and agents of the Crown, such as the well-known fictional James Bond 007.

The story begins in Paris in 1572, the night of the Huguenot massacre. Francis Walsingham, working as an agent for the English queen, is desperate to get plans depicting a Northwest Passage safely back to England, which will help him thwart a plot to free Mary Queen of Scots from her captivity. He and his intelligencer, Oliver Fellowes, make a mad dash across the rooftops of Paris with Death breathing down their necks. If that sounds like an opening scene from a James Bond movie, you are right, complete with its shocking conclusion.

Back in London, Walsingham enlists Dr John Dee, a scholar, soldier and alchemist, as well as a great friend of the Queen, to undertake a mission to reclaim the stolen plans, which leads, of course, to another death-defying scene.

Obviously the author had a screenplay in mind as he wrote this novel so the plot is driven by several more exciting action scenes. We want to boo and hiss over Mary, Queen of Scots. When she's not plotting her moves to take over the crown, how does she spend her time in captivity? With some manic cringe-worthy self-pleasuring, all too often aided by a reluctant maid servant. Ugh! I could have lived without those scenes.

The fourth book in this series is publishing in August so the author and publisher made copies of all four books available via NetGalley. I jumped at the chance to try this series but as I started to read this first book, I regretted that I was so hasty to grab them up. But all in all, it's an interesting premise and I was a big fan of Ian Fleming's books, so we'll see how the others go--maybe they will get better and hopefully a bit deeper and meatier.

A interesting historical fiction book. Interesting plot and characters. Good beginning for the series

The Eyes of the Queen is the first in the Agents of the Crown series of books by Oliver Clements. It is a very interesting story of the spies who served Queen Elizabeth I of England. The story does take a bit to get into and it is hard at first to see how the characters fit together, but the writing style is great and the novel is rich with texture and history.

I was given a copy of this book from the publisher and NetGalley.com in return for a fair review. A while ago, I was given an advance reading copy (arc) of The Queen's Men by Oliver Clements. I loved every page! At that time, however, I didn't realize that it was the second in a series called Agents of the Crown. Then I was given another arc of the third book in the series, All the Queen's Spies. Both books were excellent. I have finally read the very first book and it begins the story of Dr. John Dee who has a close relationship with Queen Elizabeth I. With Mary Queen of Scots trying to steal the throne from her cousin, Elizabeth, John Dee comes to the aid of his queen, whom he always calls Bess. Mr. Clements is a fine author who has done an extraordinary amount of research and made the story fun with his many snarky (yet funny) remarks. John Dee is definitely a flawed character who is loyal to his queen as she puts him in charge of her newly formed secret service agency. Dee finds himself in all sorts of trouble, but always puts his queen first. A truly enjoyable series and I look forward to the fourth installment coming out in August 2024.

The writing style was great, and I look forward to continuing the series. The only fault I find with this title is that the story meanders through many characters who do not seem to have any connection to each other, until you get to the very end of the book.

This is a complex story of spying on behalf of Queen Elizabeth and on behalf of her rival, Mary (popularly known as Mary, Queen of Scots) in 1572. The story starts in France with the Huguenot massacre. Stolen plans are involved, a link to the fabled “Northwest Passage.” But what it all boils down to is intrigue and treachery surrounding Mary, Queen of Scots. And boy, what that lady gets up to in the course of the book, they didn’t teach us in our history books, let me tell you. Be advised that there’s some erotic content here that’s, interesting, that even puts a blush on Sir Francis’s face. John follows a dream. He does that a lot, and finds out things. There’s a lot of treachery and double-crossing going on, of course. The end, we learn that assassins are out to kill Elizabeth, but with John’s help, that doesn’t happen, of course. He’s quite the inventive guy. The story was hard to really dive into and is hard to follow.

Thank you to NetGalley, the author and Atria Books

"The Eyes of the Queen" by Oliver Clements marks an exciting start to the "Agents of the Crown" series, diving into the cloak-and-dagger world of the original MI6 agent, John Dee, during the tumultuous Age of Enlightenment. As Europe emerges from the shadows of poverty and persecution, Spain continues its ruthless enforcement of Catholic orthodoxy, threatening the new era's progressive ideals. Amidst this conflict, a young and brilliant Queen Elizabeth I reigns over Britain, recognizing that traditional warfare alone cannot counter such pervasive threats.

John Dee, a multifaceted character—scholar, soldier, and alchemist—leads the nascent Her Majesty’s Secret Service. His profound loyalty lies with his queen and the pursuit of truth, even as he harbors a forbidden love for Elizabeth. Tasked with safeguarding his nation and monarch from Spain's dark agenda, Dee epitomizes the quintessential secret agent whose cunning and courage forge a new path in espionage.

This novel skillfully combines historical richness with thrilling espionage, offering readers a glimpse into the origins of secret service tactics and the geopolitical stakes of the time. Clements delivers a narrative that is not only fast-paced and intellectually engaging but also deeply human, exploring themes of loyalty, love, and the cost of security. "The Eyes of the Queen" is a must-read for fans of historical thrillers and anyone fascinated by the secretive underpinnings of nation-states.

The Eyes of the Queen by Oliver Clements was such a phenomenal historical fiction/spy book!
I was truly captivated from start to finish!
A captivating story. With fantastic writing and phenomenal characters!

Thank You NetGalley and Publisher for your generosity and gifting me a copy of this amazing eARC!

The first book in the Agents of the Crown series. There have been many books written about the era surrounding Queen Elizabeth 1 and Mary, Queen of Scots, but Clements' work approaches the story through a different perspective. Each King or Queen has always had their loyal attendants that would spy and carry gossip to them. THE EYES OF THE QUEEN takes this story line and expands it. John Dees served the Crown through myriad duties but would eventually develop his own network of agents that would eventually become MI6. The story combines historical fiction with true events to become a compelling read. It is heavy on the fiction that Clements uses to set the theme for the series. It will be interesting to see where he takes it from here.

"**The Eyes of the Queen**," authored by Oliver Clements, stands as an impressive first work that delves into the establishment of contemporary espionage agencies. While the novel encounters slight challenges in rhythm and shifts in narrative perspective, it remains a compelling piece for aficionados of historical fiction and espionage narratives. It is suggested for those who have an affinity for a confluence of historical elements, romantic subplots, and suspense, all interwoven within a meticulously researched storyline.

In essence, "**The Eyes of the Queen**" succeeds in providing both amusement and knowledge to its readers, thereby representing a significant contribution to its literary category.