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Montacute House
Cess works caring for the chickens at Montacute House but on her thirteenth birthday everything changes. She finds a precious locket hidden in the chicken coop and is convinced someone has placed it there for her to find. But the day is overshadowed by fear as a boy's body is found by the river, and then when William disappears, Cess is accused by the villagers of bewitching her best friend.
Cess is determined to find William and prove the villagers wrong, but is soon embroiled in a plot that threatens her world and forces Cess to draw on powers she never knew she possessed, powers that will place her life in danger if they are discovered by the villagers.
Witchcraft, politics and religious ambition combine in this gripping and wonderfully realised novel set in the Somerset of the 1500s.
Cess is determined to find William and prove the villagers wrong, but is soon embroiled in a plot that threatens her world and forces Cess to draw on powers she never knew she possessed, powers that will place her life in danger if they are discovered by the villagers.
Witchcraft, politics and religious ambition combine in this gripping and wonderfully realised novel set in the Somerset of the 1500s.
288 pages, Hardcover
First published May 3, 2010
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681 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 51 reviews
January 28, 2011
Not good. At all. The odd thing was that the book was set a few years before Montacute House was completed, which seems a strange way to fictionalise a real place which had a real family living there. Very anachronistic presentation of religious beliefs for the Elizabethan period, and very odd indeed in its grafting of New Age Wiccan ideology onto old witch stock (which puzzled me less when I saw in the author's acknowledgements at the end that the only book mentioned was Wicca: The Old Religion in the New Age).
April 30, 2024
I really enjoyed this book. I found the characters engaging and I cared about them which for me is fundamental to my enjoyment. I agree with others who’ve said they were expecting a different type of story. From the cover it looks like a modern mystery especially as the girl on the front looks present day. I wasn’t expecting witches which is a good thing as they are not usually my bag. However, I found it easy to read, and enjoyed the various twists.
May 3, 2010
Montacute House opens with a most shocking discovery. The corpse of an unknown boy is found by the river. There are whisperings among the villagers of Montacute. Did the boy die of the Sweat? How did his body come to be so far from home? The mystery wraps around the folks and the Parson is excited by the possibility that Witchcraft is involved. The Parson has a thirst for hunting witches and a mission to constantly remind the villagers that they are all sinners. Our heroine is Cecily. She is an outcast in the village being born out of wedlock and is thus scorned by all except her mother and her friend William. He too is an object of the villagers' hatred. Poor William has the Devil's mark according to the folks of Montacute and so they stay well away from him.
Set during the reign of Elizabeth I, Montacute House explores the growing conflict between the Protestants and Catholics. It also examines the persecution of witches and explores Paganism. There is a touch of historical fantasy to this book but it didn't make it feel any less real. The story felt like a glimpse into the past and it was fascinating.
Cecily (or Cess as she is more often known) works on the Montacute estate as the poultry girl. She looks after the hens, collects the eggs and keeps to herself. Cess is a determined, earthy and somewhat stubborn girl who has firm ideas of right and wrong. Sadly, she does not always know when to hold her tongue and as the lowest of the low in the social hierachy this can equate to a curse. William is a quiet boy who is easy to like. Cess is distraught when William is taken. He is not the first local boy to disappear. Cess refuses to believe that William ran away and sets out to rescue him. Cess is a law unto herself. There are many other interesting characters in this book. So many of them are guarding secrets and it gives the book an atmosphere of suspicion.
The plot in this story moved at a fairly slow place. It did hold my attention as there were so many mysteries to be solved and so much authenticity to the period. I loved the way the author explored the relationships between the villagers. I loved the depiction of the House with all its secrets. However, there were times when I felt the author was telling me too much. You know that writing cliche people say: "Show, don't tell". Well, that was how I felt a couple of times reading this book. I wanted to work it out for myself and felt in conflict with the author because I wasn't given the opportunity to do this.
Overall, I think Lucy Jago's debut novel is a worthy addition to the YA historical fiction genre. It will appeal to fans of Pat Walsh's The Crowfield Curse and Kevin Crossley-Holland's Gatty's Tale and Arthur series. I certainly look forward to reading more books by this author.
Set during the reign of Elizabeth I, Montacute House explores the growing conflict between the Protestants and Catholics. It also examines the persecution of witches and explores Paganism. There is a touch of historical fantasy to this book but it didn't make it feel any less real. The story felt like a glimpse into the past and it was fascinating.
Cecily (or Cess as she is more often known) works on the Montacute estate as the poultry girl. She looks after the hens, collects the eggs and keeps to herself. Cess is a determined, earthy and somewhat stubborn girl who has firm ideas of right and wrong. Sadly, she does not always know when to hold her tongue and as the lowest of the low in the social hierachy this can equate to a curse. William is a quiet boy who is easy to like. Cess is distraught when William is taken. He is not the first local boy to disappear. Cess refuses to believe that William ran away and sets out to rescue him. Cess is a law unto herself. There are many other interesting characters in this book. So many of them are guarding secrets and it gives the book an atmosphere of suspicion.
The plot in this story moved at a fairly slow place. It did hold my attention as there were so many mysteries to be solved and so much authenticity to the period. I loved the way the author explored the relationships between the villagers. I loved the depiction of the House with all its secrets. However, there were times when I felt the author was telling me too much. You know that writing cliche people say: "Show, don't tell". Well, that was how I felt a couple of times reading this book. I wanted to work it out for myself and felt in conflict with the author because I wasn't given the opportunity to do this.
Overall, I think Lucy Jago's debut novel is a worthy addition to the YA historical fiction genre. It will appeal to fans of Pat Walsh's The Crowfield Curse and Kevin Crossley-Holland's Gatty's Tale and Arthur series. I certainly look forward to reading more books by this author.
June 8, 2011
I've never been a massive fan of historical fiction, but after reading books like Montacute House by Lucy Jago, I'm never quite sure why that is because this book was fun and different and very exciting to read. The historical detail is present but never over-bearing and I was drawn into the plot and the characters quickly and was really pleasantly surprised by this book.
Montacute House introduces us to Cess, a thirteen year old servant girl who works on this big estate house in Somerset during the 1500s. On the day of her birthday, Cess finds a valuable locket in one of the chicken's nests whose job it is for her to look after. But it isn't the only unusual event that happens that day, as a boy's body has been found, beaten and is apparently the victim of disease and witchcraft is ultimately blamed. The town also begins stirring after the estranged-heir to Montacute House arrives and when Cess's best friend, William, disappears, Cess must gather together all the pieces of this mystery and figure out how they fit together.
To do this, Cess relies on two very surprising sources - the first, her old friend, Edith, who was recently accused of witchcraft and chased out of town; the second, a village boy she's only just met. Together the three put themselves at risk as they uncover this deadly secret that could have very far-reaching consequences.
I really liked Cess's character - she's a loyal friend and she stands up for both William and Edith despite the harm that it might cause her. When William goes missing, there isn't much that Cess won't do in order to find and save him. While I did find Cess's growing romantic interest in the village boy Jasper hard to believe, I felt like everything else kept me interested in the story. I became quite surprised at how much of the story involved religion, both of the conflict between Catholics and Protestants as well as the persecution of witchcraft. All and all, an enjoyable read!
Montacute House introduces us to Cess, a thirteen year old servant girl who works on this big estate house in Somerset during the 1500s. On the day of her birthday, Cess finds a valuable locket in one of the chicken's nests whose job it is for her to look after. But it isn't the only unusual event that happens that day, as a boy's body has been found, beaten and is apparently the victim of disease and witchcraft is ultimately blamed. The town also begins stirring after the estranged-heir to Montacute House arrives and when Cess's best friend, William, disappears, Cess must gather together all the pieces of this mystery and figure out how they fit together.
To do this, Cess relies on two very surprising sources - the first, her old friend, Edith, who was recently accused of witchcraft and chased out of town; the second, a village boy she's only just met. Together the three put themselves at risk as they uncover this deadly secret that could have very far-reaching consequences.
I really liked Cess's character - she's a loyal friend and she stands up for both William and Edith despite the harm that it might cause her. When William goes missing, there isn't much that Cess won't do in order to find and save him. While I did find Cess's growing romantic interest in the village boy Jasper hard to believe, I felt like everything else kept me interested in the story. I became quite surprised at how much of the story involved religion, both of the conflict between Catholics and Protestants as well as the persecution of witchcraft. All and all, an enjoyable read!
September 4, 2010
Cecily Perryn is an illegitimate child and as such is very lucky to hold the position of poultry girl at the estate house of Montacute. A position she is very proud to have and happy with too as she enjoys the company of the hens, they were much more accepting of her then those folk in the village, even those of her own relation.
For three years Cess had worked for Sir Edward Mortain, the Earl and master of Montacute, but it was only recently that she had know his son to be at residence. However such things did not interest her as they did her socially aspiring cousin Amelia, what was more interesting to Cess was what she discovered on the morning of her thirteenth birthday beneath the bottom of a hen, and no it was not an egg.
But this discovery was only the beginning of a series of seemingly random events to happen at Montacute, not the least of which being the disappearance of her best friend William. Can it really have anything to do with the dead boy who was earlier discovered as well as the rumour of witches that has everyone reaching for their pitchforks and, if she's not careful, pointing them in Cess's direction?
Montacute House is a story of court intrigue, murderous mystery and happily ever after. A little disappointed with the predictable outcome to this story, there are also a couple of story threads that are left without purpose. However despite this it still managed to be a solid read and a pacey adventure into the past.
For three years Cess had worked for Sir Edward Mortain, the Earl and master of Montacute, but it was only recently that she had know his son to be at residence. However such things did not interest her as they did her socially aspiring cousin Amelia, what was more interesting to Cess was what she discovered on the morning of her thirteenth birthday beneath the bottom of a hen, and no it was not an egg.
But this discovery was only the beginning of a series of seemingly random events to happen at Montacute, not the least of which being the disappearance of her best friend William. Can it really have anything to do with the dead boy who was earlier discovered as well as the rumour of witches that has everyone reaching for their pitchforks and, if she's not careful, pointing them in Cess's direction?
Montacute House is a story of court intrigue, murderous mystery and happily ever after. A little disappointed with the predictable outcome to this story, there are also a couple of story threads that are left without purpose. However despite this it still managed to be a solid read and a pacey adventure into the past.
October 5, 2010
This was a book I picked up quickly from the library and had completely misunderstood what it was about. I was expecting a modern day story with a historical mystery, but actually the whole book is set in Elizabethan England.
I enjoyed the book, but was slightly disappointed with the end. It didn't feel rushed, but the author was interested in the children in the book instead of going into detail about the adult story lines.
I enjoyed the book, but was slightly disappointed with the end. It didn't feel rushed, but the author was interested in the children in the book instead of going into detail about the adult story lines.
September 19, 2010
MOntacute House was a book filled with tension and wonder. It was a bit slow at the start, getting into the story and letting everything sink in - quite a few times I would ahve to flip back a few pages to see who was who, which was which, who's side they were on etc. But overall, it was a good book to read... With a big surprise towards the end... I tell you, I didn't expect that at all.
January 30, 2011
I LOVED the cover of this book, and the synopsis was so intriguing that I knew I would love this book. Unfortunately, neither the cover nor the synopsis really captured what this story was about. Some might like this book, but it just wasn't for me.
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June 5, 2021Montacute House by Lucy Lago
When first picking this book up, it looked very enticing ;with it being set in a rambling country house shrouded in murder and mystery, the creepy house staff and the odd ghost or spooky trick played. The classical horror story.
It begins at a slow pace, which made it hard to continue reading. Many times I found myself having to look back in previous chapters to remind myself who was who and which side they were on- though this changed quite frequently. However it then begins to weave itself into a complex political affair which I myself found impossible to understand, seeing as the author hadn’t explained at all what had happened just skimmed through it. In addition, although the descriptive language was quite extensive and used good ‘show not tell’ I felt as if Lucy was spending too much time on telling me what was happening and the appearance instead of leaving me even slightly on edge.
The story is essentially about a 13 year old girl called Cecily Perryn , a maid of sorts who works at Montacute House and has done so for three years. As of all gothic books, she is the character who refuses to be told what do and always thinks she can solve everything, which always amounts to trouble. If I had to be honest. I found her extremely irritable and convinced of herself ,which found it hard to sympathise or just in general feel for her throughout the book. This happened with many other characters such as Will who in retrospect is the reason she had begun this journey.
It all starts with a shocking discovery, a boy’s body is found in a nearby river. He is found to be far from his home and as can be expected, many speculations begin to arise. This is when it begins to become complicated and mind this is in the first few chapters. Suddenly, there’s a plot twist. A sort of disease called the sweat caused by witchcraft and man is the reason the boy died. Something called the devils mark also makes an appearance, a sign of as the name suggests the person bearing this mark is in partnership with Satan himself. A huge part of this book is in fact about religion and beliefs, and I had expected the author to at least research on the subject in order as not to offend any readers. However I found it was very much historically inaccurate and I sometimes quite forgot it was supposed to be set in the Victorian era.
As a summary, it was a dreary book which although had lovely description, was impossible to keep reading and didn’t make sense at all. Definitely not a page turner. The only good point I would say interested me even slightly was the fact you were always slightly kept in the dark so you could imagine and fill in the gaps. This also however also got quite annoying after a while, due to the fact that you felt the need to know what happened, not use your imagination.
I rate this a 1.5/5 Personally don’t recommend it at all though you might differ in opinion.
When first picking this book up, it looked very enticing ;with it being set in a rambling country house shrouded in murder and mystery, the creepy house staff and the odd ghost or spooky trick played. The classical horror story.
It begins at a slow pace, which made it hard to continue reading. Many times I found myself having to look back in previous chapters to remind myself who was who and which side they were on- though this changed quite frequently. However it then begins to weave itself into a complex political affair which I myself found impossible to understand, seeing as the author hadn’t explained at all what had happened just skimmed through it. In addition, although the descriptive language was quite extensive and used good ‘show not tell’ I felt as if Lucy was spending too much time on telling me what was happening and the appearance instead of leaving me even slightly on edge.
The story is essentially about a 13 year old girl called Cecily Perryn , a maid of sorts who works at Montacute House and has done so for three years. As of all gothic books, she is the character who refuses to be told what do and always thinks she can solve everything, which always amounts to trouble. If I had to be honest. I found her extremely irritable and convinced of herself ,which found it hard to sympathise or just in general feel for her throughout the book. This happened with many other characters such as Will who in retrospect is the reason she had begun this journey.
It all starts with a shocking discovery, a boy’s body is found in a nearby river. He is found to be far from his home and as can be expected, many speculations begin to arise. This is when it begins to become complicated and mind this is in the first few chapters. Suddenly, there’s a plot twist. A sort of disease called the sweat caused by witchcraft and man is the reason the boy died. Something called the devils mark also makes an appearance, a sign of as the name suggests the person bearing this mark is in partnership with Satan himself. A huge part of this book is in fact about religion and beliefs, and I had expected the author to at least research on the subject in order as not to offend any readers. However I found it was very much historically inaccurate and I sometimes quite forgot it was supposed to be set in the Victorian era.
As a summary, it was a dreary book which although had lovely description, was impossible to keep reading and didn’t make sense at all. Definitely not a page turner. The only good point I would say interested me even slightly was the fact you were always slightly kept in the dark so you could imagine and fill in the gaps. This also however also got quite annoying after a while, due to the fact that you felt the need to know what happened, not use your imagination.
I rate this a 1.5/5 Personally don’t recommend it at all though you might differ in opinion.
January 20, 2022
Cess (Cecily) Perryn is a young bastard girl working as a poultry girl at Montacute House. On her 13th birthday (May Day, 1596) she finds an intriguing gift in one of her chicken coops, and the villagers find the body of a boy, recently missing from a nearby town. The next day her best friend William goes missing, and Cess finds herself at the beginning of a difficult and dangerous journey. Along the way she discovers witches among old friends, some new friends, great enemies and an even greater wicked plot that she must foil, no matter the cost.
It did take quite a large portion of the book - perhaps just under half - to really get this story going. However, if you have the patience the reward is an action filled second half with a decent twist.
Lucy Jago creates characters that are easy to love and to hate as appropriate. Cess is very much the underdog and I found myself 100% routing for her from the offset.
Overall, I give Montacute House 3 out of 5 stars. I wish it had a but more oomph to it, but it wasn't a terrible read by any stretch. Its an ideal book for a holiday read, as it would be easy to pick up and read in snippets.
It did take quite a large portion of the book - perhaps just under half - to really get this story going. However, if you have the patience the reward is an action filled second half with a decent twist.
Lucy Jago creates characters that are easy to love and to hate as appropriate. Cess is very much the underdog and I found myself 100% routing for her from the offset.
Overall, I give Montacute House 3 out of 5 stars. I wish it had a but more oomph to it, but it wasn't a terrible read by any stretch. Its an ideal book for a holiday read, as it would be easy to pick up and read in snippets.
January 3, 2025
This is a book of witch crafting with a more or less solid plot. Cess, a thirteen year old girl is the centre of this novel. How a poor little adventurous, curious, brave girl ends up in varieties of troubles, and ultimately in a palace will catch readers attention.
I feel the first plots were not moving fast but loved the finishing.
I feel the first plots were not moving fast but loved the finishing.
July 3, 2021
Passable tosh
August 16, 2024
I loved this book when I was younger, and I was so happy when the author responded to the letter I wrote her. Will read to my future child
May 4, 2011
Poultry Girl, Cecily Perryn, might be one of the lowliest workers at Montacute House but she knows she is lucky to have her job. Without it, she and her mother wouldn't survive. An illegitimate child in the Elizabethan era, Cess is at best ignored in the village of Montacute and at worst thought to be a witch.
Cess's thirteenth birthday is an eventful one to say the least. First she finds a locket in the chicken coop and then there's the case of the missing boys. When her only friend, William, later goes missing, Cess sets about finding out what is going on, finding herself deep in a treasonous plot.
I really liked the idea behind Montacute House. It's set in a time period that I love reading about, there's conflict between Protestants and Catholics and the whole witch hunting thing going on. However, for me there was something missing. I don't know what though. There was nothing I particularly disliked about this book, it just somehow didn't pull me in and grab my attention. The writing throughout was good, although in places I personally felt it was a little too descriptive; there seemed at times to be more about the scene than what the actual characters were doing and feeling. The characters themselves were okay; they didn't annoy me but at the same time I didn't really feel that I connected with them and I didn't really care what happened to them. This was a shame because I thought they had potential to be really good characters. There's a small element of a love triangle that's not really expanded on as much as it could have been which would have given another dimension to the story. Also, the villian of the story is called Drax Mortain which has to be up there with the great names for bad guys!
Essentially the book was more plot driven than character driven but as the plot was itself a fairly predictable, it really needed something else to take it from an okay book to a great one. There are also places in which the plot is moved forward just by one of the characters telling "This is what happened" rather than it being discovered or figured out. However, this book seems to be aimed more at younger teens, what with the heroine being thirteen and the length of the book, so that mostly explains a lot of these points. Baring this in mind, I'd say iMontacute House would be a good introduction to historical fiction for that age group.
An okay, but not great read. If you're a fan of the genre maybe get it from the library.
Cess's thirteenth birthday is an eventful one to say the least. First she finds a locket in the chicken coop and then there's the case of the missing boys. When her only friend, William, later goes missing, Cess sets about finding out what is going on, finding herself deep in a treasonous plot.
I really liked the idea behind Montacute House. It's set in a time period that I love reading about, there's conflict between Protestants and Catholics and the whole witch hunting thing going on. However, for me there was something missing. I don't know what though. There was nothing I particularly disliked about this book, it just somehow didn't pull me in and grab my attention. The writing throughout was good, although in places I personally felt it was a little too descriptive; there seemed at times to be more about the scene than what the actual characters were doing and feeling. The characters themselves were okay; they didn't annoy me but at the same time I didn't really feel that I connected with them and I didn't really care what happened to them. This was a shame because I thought they had potential to be really good characters. There's a small element of a love triangle that's not really expanded on as much as it could have been which would have given another dimension to the story. Also, the villian of the story is called Drax Mortain which has to be up there with the great names for bad guys!
Essentially the book was more plot driven than character driven but as the plot was itself a fairly predictable, it really needed something else to take it from an okay book to a great one. There are also places in which the plot is moved forward just by one of the characters telling "This is what happened" rather than it being discovered or figured out. However, this book seems to be aimed more at younger teens, what with the heroine being thirteen and the length of the book, so that mostly explains a lot of these points. Baring this in mind, I'd say iMontacute House would be a good introduction to historical fiction for that age group.
An okay, but not great read. If you're a fan of the genre maybe get it from the library.
April 20, 2011
Originally posted on IceyBooks
Because of what happened in Father of Lies, I was afraid The Coven's Daughter would be pretty much the same. But this gorgeous young-adult debut did not disappoint.
The story begins with Cecily Perynn, a poor poultry girl, beginning her day collecting eggs from under the many hens in Montacute House. When she sticks her hand under a hen, she pulls out a small box. Unsure of what to do with it at first, she quickly opens it to find a beautiful pendant. What a gift for her thirteenth birthday, but who left it there?
Finding trinkets under hens is the least of Cess's problems when a boy is discovered dead in front of the village church. Whispers are spreading through Montacute saying witches have a hand in all this. And because Cess's good friend is called a witch, young Cecily finds fingers pointing her way.
But there's more to it than the Devil and witches. There's corruption brewing just days before the Queen of England visits Montacute House. When Cecily finds her self in the midst of it all, there's only one way her heart will lead her - to the heart of danger.
The Coven's Daughter had an unexpected plot. While I simply expected witches and hanging, I found the plot swerve into politics and poison. Nothing prepared me for the beautiful ending when Cecily uncovers a secret she's wanted to know the answer for since she was a little girl.
Many of you know I'm not a fan of religion hidden in young adult fiction - particularly paranormal. If a book has religion mixed in, so be it, but it should be mentioned in the back. While I expected some religious concepts to come up in The Coven's Daughter, I found none, making this historical fiction novel a 2011 must-read.
I like the earthy tone of the cover and the girl's face fades perfectly with Montacute House below. Even the foliage that peeks in from the sides is significant to the story ;)
Because of what happened in Father of Lies, I was afraid The Coven's Daughter would be pretty much the same. But this gorgeous young-adult debut did not disappoint.
The story begins with Cecily Perynn, a poor poultry girl, beginning her day collecting eggs from under the many hens in Montacute House. When she sticks her hand under a hen, she pulls out a small box. Unsure of what to do with it at first, she quickly opens it to find a beautiful pendant. What a gift for her thirteenth birthday, but who left it there?
Finding trinkets under hens is the least of Cess's problems when a boy is discovered dead in front of the village church. Whispers are spreading through Montacute saying witches have a hand in all this. And because Cess's good friend is called a witch, young Cecily finds fingers pointing her way.
But there's more to it than the Devil and witches. There's corruption brewing just days before the Queen of England visits Montacute House. When Cecily finds her self in the midst of it all, there's only one way her heart will lead her - to the heart of danger.
The Coven's Daughter had an unexpected plot. While I simply expected witches and hanging, I found the plot swerve into politics and poison. Nothing prepared me for the beautiful ending when Cecily uncovers a secret she's wanted to know the answer for since she was a little girl.
Many of you know I'm not a fan of religion hidden in young adult fiction - particularly paranormal. If a book has religion mixed in, so be it, but it should be mentioned in the back. While I expected some religious concepts to come up in The Coven's Daughter, I found none, making this historical fiction novel a 2011 must-read.
I like the earthy tone of the cover and the girl's face fades perfectly with Montacute House below. Even the foliage that peeks in from the sides is significant to the story ;)
May 10, 2011
www.booksforcompany.com
When l was sent this l was really unsure as to whether it would be able to grab my attention. The main and only reason l thought l may not enjoy this book is because l don’t read historical books. The last historical book l tried l sadly wasn't interested in as too much detail was being put about the period in which the book is based. Montacute House was a nice surprise and is an example of why l try to give every book a go, even different sorts of books or books l wouldn’t usually read.
I think there are two main reasons l loved this book. The first is because Lucy had a great way of integrating the story line, the characters and the history into this book. At no point did l feel bored by the history because Lucy didn’t just place a random paragraph describing about the period which Cess was living in. Instead she made the whole book flow with information where you needed it but not in a way it was like a history lesson.
The second reason is because of the gripping plot with intriguing characters. I loved how Lucy introduces Cess in a way that makes you want to be there for Cess and rescue her from her life. The mystery is also introduced to this book really quickly and you are kept guessing throughout the book on a number of things. It really is a book which is near impossible to be bored by, there is nearly always something going on which makes you want to read quicker to find out.
The only thing l will say is the romance in this book seemed a bit undeveloped and out of nowhere in a way, l could kind of see it happening but it seemed really out of place in a book which is built around mystery. It felt like it was added for the wrong reasons whereas l would have loved this book without the romance.
Overall this is a great book full of mystery, friendship and history. If you love historical YA books then this is one you won’t want to miss. If historical books aren’t your thing or you’re not too sure about them then this is a book l would still definitely give a go, you will be gripped before you know it!
When l was sent this l was really unsure as to whether it would be able to grab my attention. The main and only reason l thought l may not enjoy this book is because l don’t read historical books. The last historical book l tried l sadly wasn't interested in as too much detail was being put about the period in which the book is based. Montacute House was a nice surprise and is an example of why l try to give every book a go, even different sorts of books or books l wouldn’t usually read.
I think there are two main reasons l loved this book. The first is because Lucy had a great way of integrating the story line, the characters and the history into this book. At no point did l feel bored by the history because Lucy didn’t just place a random paragraph describing about the period which Cess was living in. Instead she made the whole book flow with information where you needed it but not in a way it was like a history lesson.
The second reason is because of the gripping plot with intriguing characters. I loved how Lucy introduces Cess in a way that makes you want to be there for Cess and rescue her from her life. The mystery is also introduced to this book really quickly and you are kept guessing throughout the book on a number of things. It really is a book which is near impossible to be bored by, there is nearly always something going on which makes you want to read quicker to find out.
The only thing l will say is the romance in this book seemed a bit undeveloped and out of nowhere in a way, l could kind of see it happening but it seemed really out of place in a book which is built around mystery. It felt like it was added for the wrong reasons whereas l would have loved this book without the romance.
Overall this is a great book full of mystery, friendship and history. If you love historical YA books then this is one you won’t want to miss. If historical books aren’t your thing or you’re not too sure about them then this is a book l would still definitely give a go, you will be gripped before you know it!
October 28, 2010
Cecily Perryn, called Cess, is an outcast in her village of Montacute during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I. She was born out of wedlock and her mother has never revealed the identity of her father. After her grandparents died, she and her mother were forced to leave the family home and live in poverty. Their only income is Cess's wages working as a poultry girl at the grand Montacute House. Being poor and illegitimate makes Cess an easy target of the villagers' scorn. The only person who accepts her is her good friend, William, who is Cess's age and also seen as "different" by the villagers because he has a deformed foot.
On the morning of her thirteenth birthday, while gathering the eggs, Cess finds a necklace hidden in the coop, with an elegant portrait of a woman. Cess wonders who left it there and why. Then she learns several boys from nearby villages have gone missing, and one has been found dead. Soon after, he friend William goes missing as well. Cess is determined to solve the mystery, while learning about her own newly discovered magical powers, but in doing so, she discovers a plot more terrible than anything she could have imagined.
This book wasn't quite what I was expecting. I thought it would mostly be a historical mystery, but the fantasy suplot was stronger than I expected, and I'm not sure it was really necessary or important to the main story, which was Cess discovering a terrible plot while searching for her missing friend. At times I thought it distracted from that. The ending was also somewhat too good to be true and there was a little bit of romance that seemed to come out of nowhere and didn't make much sense. But it wasn't a bad read overall, I did enjoy the story, and I think other readers who enjoy historical fantasy will as well. The historical setting is really well done, I'm just not really sure what the fantasy sublot added to the story.
On the morning of her thirteenth birthday, while gathering the eggs, Cess finds a necklace hidden in the coop, with an elegant portrait of a woman. Cess wonders who left it there and why. Then she learns several boys from nearby villages have gone missing, and one has been found dead. Soon after, he friend William goes missing as well. Cess is determined to solve the mystery, while learning about her own newly discovered magical powers, but in doing so, she discovers a plot more terrible than anything she could have imagined.
This book wasn't quite what I was expecting. I thought it would mostly be a historical mystery, but the fantasy suplot was stronger than I expected, and I'm not sure it was really necessary or important to the main story, which was Cess discovering a terrible plot while searching for her missing friend. At times I thought it distracted from that. The ending was also somewhat too good to be true and there was a little bit of romance that seemed to come out of nowhere and didn't make much sense. But it wasn't a bad read overall, I did enjoy the story, and I think other readers who enjoy historical fantasy will as well. The historical setting is really well done, I'm just not really sure what the fantasy sublot added to the story.
June 9, 2011
3.4 stars. This would have warranted a higher rating if not for the ending. Most of the time The Coven's Daughter reads as a historical fiction with dark mischief in kidnapping and murder, and these elements are done well. Cess is an illegitimate child of thirteen and lives as an outcast. Her station in life is reflected in the villagers' prejudice as well as the prose (there are subtle references to pigs and other farm animals). Her only friend, also an outcast dubbed by his club foot, is missing and assumed to be the victim of a string of kidnappings, the latest having turned up dead with signs of the pox. On the hunt for her friend and using every mental tool at her disposal, Cess is quick-witted, caring, and courageous. She does not have blond hair as shown on the cover. She also doesn't know who her father is, a scene that later is disappointedly taken straight from Star Wars. My suspension of disbelief had to really be stretched to understand the way the adults respond to the circumstances, but this allows the teens to showcase their skillz. Coven's Daughter doesn't glamorize the lifestyle of the setting, 1590 England, as other historical-fiction-genre blends. There are undercurrents of wicca at work that blends fantasy-supernatural abilities to some characters that tend to weaken the plot. However this may be a gateway to introduce readers to historical fiction. I was hooked with the details and paragraphs like the first: "News of the dead boy spread through the church as fast as a pig runs from a butcher's sack. His body was black and blistered, they whispered, like the Devil himself had danced upon it. His tongue stuck out from his mouth as if someone had tried to pull it out." Awesome sauce, right?
April 4, 2011
Summary: Cecily has lived her whole life as the poultry girl for the powerful Montacue House. When local boys begin to go missing (and later gruesomely turn up dead), her town is convinced that witchcraft is to blame. But when Cecily herself is captured, she discovers a horrible secret and makes a formidable enemy.
My thoughts: Just a quick disclaimer before I begin—I read this book while trying to combat the flu, so my memory may be a bit fuzzy (sorry if certain points I make are vague!). The fact that The Coven’s Daughter held the attention of my feverish brain really says something, though!
I didn’t really know what to expect going into The Coven’s Daughter, but I was pleasantly surprised! The story was solid, the characters were endearing, and I just overall liked it quite a bit!
Cecily may be thirteen, but she was a sassy, lovable protagonist! Because of the town’s stigma against her (Cecily’s mother gave birth to her out of wedlock), Cecily isn’t as prim and proper as most girls of her time period. This made her much easier to understand and relate to. I was impressed with Cecily’s resilience and courage—being only thirteen, I expected her to crack easily under pressure, but she didn’t!
The Coven’s Daughter has an exciting, well-paced story that will easily appeal to lovers of fantasy- and adventure-themed books alike. Readers will find that the climax, especially, makes the novel almost impossible to put down. Though I can’t speak to the accuracy of any of the historical references (Montacue House, Wiccans), I really enjoyed reading about them!
My thoughts: Just a quick disclaimer before I begin—I read this book while trying to combat the flu, so my memory may be a bit fuzzy (sorry if certain points I make are vague!). The fact that The Coven’s Daughter held the attention of my feverish brain really says something, though!
I didn’t really know what to expect going into The Coven’s Daughter, but I was pleasantly surprised! The story was solid, the characters were endearing, and I just overall liked it quite a bit!
Cecily may be thirteen, but she was a sassy, lovable protagonist! Because of the town’s stigma against her (Cecily’s mother gave birth to her out of wedlock), Cecily isn’t as prim and proper as most girls of her time period. This made her much easier to understand and relate to. I was impressed with Cecily’s resilience and courage—being only thirteen, I expected her to crack easily under pressure, but she didn’t!
The Coven’s Daughter has an exciting, well-paced story that will easily appeal to lovers of fantasy- and adventure-themed books alike. Readers will find that the climax, especially, makes the novel almost impossible to put down. Though I can’t speak to the accuracy of any of the historical references (Montacue House, Wiccans), I really enjoyed reading about them!
December 6, 2013
A nice coming of age story/mystery which takes place in Queen Elizabeth era. At the beginning, the heroine Cess is a maid servant in Montacute House serving her noble masters. In her 13 years old birthday, a mysterious piece of jewel came into her possession and Cess discovered she might also possess magical power. She soon learned that her magical gift didn't go unnoticed as someone in Montacute House tried to harm her and those she loved. Meanwhile, teenage boys from nearby region went missing one after another and soon Cess' best friend also vanished. All these mysteries tied Cess and her friends to a ploy which not only endangered the peace of Montacute House, but also the entire country.
Most of the characters in the story are vividly written, especially Cess' social climbing, vain cousin. The author also gives us fine description of Cess' character and makes her a likeable girl with her own mind and moral sense whom we can root for. Miss Jago also spiced her story with refreshing ideas of witchcraft and well designed mystery. In the end there's a love triangle but luckily it's not a sickening, cliche one.
The story also addresses the social issues of the time: discrimination against illegitimate and deformed children, the injustice of witch hunt, cruelty and ignorance of the general public. Therefore it's nice to see Cess and her friends overcome the odds -- not a complete victory but still a huge improvement from their previous situations. Still, I have a feeling that Cess' adventure has still yet came close to an end, maybe we'll see more of her stories in the future.
Most of the characters in the story are vividly written, especially Cess' social climbing, vain cousin. The author also gives us fine description of Cess' character and makes her a likeable girl with her own mind and moral sense whom we can root for. Miss Jago also spiced her story with refreshing ideas of witchcraft and well designed mystery. In the end there's a love triangle but luckily it's not a sickening, cliche one.
The story also addresses the social issues of the time: discrimination against illegitimate and deformed children, the injustice of witch hunt, cruelty and ignorance of the general public. Therefore it's nice to see Cess and her friends overcome the odds -- not a complete victory but still a huge improvement from their previous situations. Still, I have a feeling that Cess' adventure has still yet came close to an end, maybe we'll see more of her stories in the future.
January 19, 2016
We begin with a young girl named Cecily in the village of Montecute. Where the village is in festivities. A seasonal festival with Maypole dancing and lots of nobles present. Until the festival is disrupted by someone finding a young dead boy just outside the village. Suddenly the village is in and uproar. They are trying to figure out who this young boy is. They get news that the young boy was kidnapped and was from a neighboring town of Yeovil. Cecily a lowly pheasant girl is employed in the house of Montecute. The chores that she has is poultry girl, In charge of the chickens. So on her thirteenth birthday she goes to the hen house to get the daily eggs, when she finds a precious locket with a beautiful stone and an image of a noblewoman. She hides the locket around her neck because people will think she has stolen it. Poor Cecily who is fatherless and a mom who mends clothes for food. Then her best friend William asked her to meet him at night for the Maypole dance. Cecily agrees because he is the only friend she has In the village. The friends met but then William disappears. This is where the adventure begins. She decides to look for him. There's talk of kidnapping and witchcraft. Cecily doesn't care she still goes to find him. I highly recommend this middle grade book. I truly enjoyed it. it has a little of everything such intrigue, suspense , witchcraft and small amount of romance.
March 19, 2014
The covens daughter
Cecily Perryn has visions, that doesn't make her a monster or a witch! She's a normal thirteen year old girl but she doesn't have a father or friends. She goes by the name of Cess, she knows she's lucky to be employed by a grand estate, even if it was like a poultry girl.
On her birthday Cess found a precious locket in a chicken coop. It was a strange discovery that quickly overshadowed by her best friends disappearance two days after she had found the locket. There is news of other children going missing and there is lots of panic around but not only that but rumors of the "story that comes behind that." The villagers believe that Cess has something to do with the disappearing children.
They claim that she is the one that is making the children disappear! They believe that she bewitched them and that Cess may be the culprit. The only way she can prove her innocence is if she finds her best friend and proves that she had nothing to do with him or the other children that are disappearing. Will something stop her? Will something get in her way of proving her innocence? Keep reading and you will find out...
Cecily Perryn has visions, that doesn't make her a monster or a witch! She's a normal thirteen year old girl but she doesn't have a father or friends. She goes by the name of Cess, she knows she's lucky to be employed by a grand estate, even if it was like a poultry girl.
On her birthday Cess found a precious locket in a chicken coop. It was a strange discovery that quickly overshadowed by her best friends disappearance two days after she had found the locket. There is news of other children going missing and there is lots of panic around but not only that but rumors of the "story that comes behind that." The villagers believe that Cess has something to do with the disappearing children.
They claim that she is the one that is making the children disappear! They believe that she bewitched them and that Cess may be the culprit. The only way she can prove her innocence is if she finds her best friend and proves that she had nothing to do with him or the other children that are disappearing. Will something stop her? Will something get in her way of proving her innocence? Keep reading and you will find out...
July 27, 2011
When I started reading this novel I really felt for Cess. She was poor, fatherless, and almost friendless, except for William the other town outcast. Throughout the story she develops into a strong and fierce young women. I am proud of her defiance against the ignorance of others. She stood up for her beliefs in a time when that was not done and for that is a hero in my book.
During her quest to find William, she meets Jasper. I really like Jasper and Cess's relationship. It is cute and natural. There was no instant love connection, more of a friendship turned into a crush kind of relationship.
The Coven's Daughter had an intriguing storyline, but that actual story feel a little flat for me. I think one of the things I didn't enjoy was knowing who the bad guy was right away. I would have liked a little more mystery and some more guessing games.
What about you? Do you like knowing 'who did it' at the beginning or would you rather have the mystery slowly unfold throughout the story?
During her quest to find William, she meets Jasper. I really like Jasper and Cess's relationship. It is cute and natural. There was no instant love connection, more of a friendship turned into a crush kind of relationship.
The Coven's Daughter had an intriguing storyline, but that actual story feel a little flat for me. I think one of the things I didn't enjoy was knowing who the bad guy was right away. I would have liked a little more mystery and some more guessing games.
What about you? Do you like knowing 'who did it' at the beginning or would you rather have the mystery slowly unfold throughout the story?
December 7, 2011
This book is set at the last part of the 16th century during the reign of Elizabeth the 1st, in a place called Montacute in Somerset. I was born and raised in Somerset so you can imagine how excited I was to read this, and rightly so; it was really good! The protagonist, Cecily, is a poultry girl who was born out of wedlock so she is looked down upon by the rest of the village. Cecily finds a jewel which was hidden in the chicken coop, and then her best friend William goes missing after the body of another boy is found dead. Cecily goes on a dark and dangerous journey to find William, and on the way we are introduced to interesting characters; a group of witches who help her on her journey, and a boy called Jasper who reluctantly joins Cecily, and together they uncover a deadly conspiricy to kill the queen.
To summarise?
If you're a fan of historical fiction, and you like mystery, suspense, romance and strong characters, then I recommend this book!
To summarise?
If you're a fan of historical fiction, and you like mystery, suspense, romance and strong characters, then I recommend this book!
February 22, 2017
I had a feeling it wasn't very well researched on historical things that were portrayed. After reading a few other comments it seems this it more true than I thought. It was a fun read, but I can't put it in my line up of historical fiction to use as a teaching tool.
July 27, 2011
Cess is the oultry girl at the grand estate, Montacute House. All hell breaks loose when she turns 13. She finds out that she is a witch. The woman who heals people is a witch and part of a coven. The queen is coming to Montacute House. There is a plot against the queen that involves monks kidnapping boys and trying to infect them with the plague. Her father is the son of the lord of the house. The depiction of the beliefs of witches is well done. And the mystery, politics and intrigue make this a great page-turner. The author is well into the period having written 2 precious non-fiction works on the period.
Highly recommended - by Sandy Hoyt.
Highly recommended - by Sandy Hoyt.
May 29, 2012
Cecily Perryn is a fatherless, lowly servant girl in the Montacute House and has only one friend. Days after her 13th birthday, Cess is accused of witchcraft. The only way to prove her innocence is by finding her best friend, William, and finding the real culprit of the recent kidnappings.
I was intrigued by the plot, but in the end the story really fell flat for me. There were some elements of the story that were too forced and others that were too unbelievable. The characters were well developed, but I still struggled to make a connection. Definitely not a buy-worth book.
I was intrigued by the plot, but in the end the story really fell flat for me. There were some elements of the story that were too forced and others that were too unbelievable. The characters were well developed, but I still struggled to make a connection. Definitely not a buy-worth book.
September 19, 2012
When a young boy is found dead it is not a single occurence. Quite a few young boys bodied have been found damaged and bruised and no one knows who is doing it or why. When our main character Cess's friend goes missing she begins to try and search for him which brings her in the path of more danger then she could have ever dreamed possible. Cess has a strong character and is very independent which really helps in all the trouble she will come up against and the bad guys she will meet.
Read
October 20, 2011I stopped reading at 53 pages in. Nothing is really wrong but I just don't feel like reading more. And the book is literally giving me a headache because the pages smell dusty. I just wasn't captured in the story and nothing really made me want to stay. I'm really sad about that but these days I really don't have the time for a story i don't want to read. I may revisit it in the future though that's not likely. Just not for me. :(
May 7, 2011
What can I say? I love this book! The author keeps up a fast paced plot, but still gives you time to know the character. Set in Somerset in the 1500's, this is a lovely story for fans of The Gemma Doyle series, a melting pot of witchcraft, coming of age, politics, and society, MUST READ!
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