Series Review: Spy Girl by Jillian Dodd

Series Review: Is this series worth your time? Does it get better as the novels progress? Or does it get worse? Find out below:

Synopsis for The Prince (from Goodreads):

Can one girl save the world?

From USA Today bestselling author Jillian Dodd comes the first book in a sizzling series filled with action and adventure. Fans of The Selection and The Hunger Games will discover a heart-pounding thrill ride of espionage and suspense set in glittering high society.

An eighteen-year-old covert agent is pulled out of training before graduation by Black X, a espionage group so secret even the President of the United States doesn’t know it exists.

For her first mission, she must go undercover as the long-lost daughter of a recently deceased billionaire, infiltrate high society, and protect the Prince of Montrovia from assassination. But Prince Lorenzo is known as the Playboy Prince for a reason and his sensuality and charisma add a whole other level of complication to her mission.

She knows that her every move is being watched, but what she doesn’t know is that the Prince is just a chess piece in a bigger game that will have world-wide ramifications. And that Blackwood Academy, the place she has called home for the past six years has secrets of its own.

Author: Jillian Dodd
Series: Spy Girl
# of Books: 7 (Full Reading Order Here)
Book Order: Chronological
Complete?: Yes
Genre: New Adult, Contemporary, Action, Romance
Heat Rating: warm
Point of View: First + Third Person
Publication Dates: April 2016 – June 2019
Source & Format: Public Library–Audiobook

Why I Picked it Up / My Expectations:

I was a huge fan of the Gallagher Girls and I’ve yet to come across another great, female lead espionage series. I think I picked up The Prince as a freebie for my eReader years ago, hoping it could fill that void. But it wasn’t until I discovered my library had the whole series as an audiobook that I picked them up…didn’t hurt the entire series was complete and I could binge it.

The Concept / The World:

During Huntley’s first mission she uncovers a larger conspiracy that is afoot and throughout the series does her best to navigate the obstacles thrown her way. I don’t want to give much away but the one plotline is eerie to read after 2020 (the last book was published in 2019).

The Plot:

Sometimes, I think this book got too caught up in the characters and not enough in the plot. I understand why though, it’s a hard thing to balance. I think about the original James Bond movies where we only get the surface of the characters and in more standalone plot scenarios; whereas the newest movies focus more on the man and his demons as he navigates an overarching plot. We like to watch broken people and I think people crave that deeper insight into the character. But I just felt like this series took a longer time than it needed to in order to reach the conclusion.

The Characters:

I felt like Huntley was the amateur James Bond had he just graduated from the MI6 academy. Like Bond, the opposite sex flock to her without much effort; they’re both skilled in combat and they’ve got a chip on their shoulder. I liked that her humanity and compassion shined throughout the series. It gave her character depth.

The Romance:

In short, I was not a fan of the romance at all. Huntley had so many interesting suitors and I think the main one was so boring and just not the right fit at all. I really do think my annoyance with the romance is why didn’t rate these books higher.

My Audiobook Experience:

I enjoyed the audio production. They are quick reads and the plot isn’t so complicated that you can’t keep up or remember things without having the ability to flip back a few pages.

Series Rating: 3/5

I wanted more of an espionage focused novel with more action than romance. But if you want a more character focused story set in a world of conspiracy and espionage, check this out!

Read if You Like: character driven stories, action
Avoid if You: want more cutthroat action