This is a young-adult book about a young girl called Cecily who lives in Montacute village in Somerset and works as a Poultry Girl at Sir Edward Mortain’s estate of Montacute House. She is illegitimate and she and her mother are scorned by most of the villagers, having been cast out by their family because of the shame of Cecily’s birth. They are forced to live very lowly on the edge of the village and Cess is very lucky to have a position at the big house. She does have one loyal friend - a young boy called William who is also viewed with suspicion due to his affliction of a club foot.

On her thirteenth birthday, Cess discovers something valuable in the hen house, and worried that if she hands it in she’ll be accused of theft (for who would believe the word of a lowly servant?), hides it on herself and ponders what to do. The body of a young boy is discovered on the estate and then William goes missing. Cess heads to Yeovil to try to find him and there gets caught up in a dangerous quest. She must overcome her fears and together with the help of a boy she meets in Yeovil and a woman called Edith who is also an outcast, Cess must try to stop events that could have devastating consequences not only for her beloved Montacute, but also for her country.

I very much enjoyed this book. It’s fast-paced and very well written and the characters, though not all very likeable, are believable. I went to Montacute House in July and it is simply beautiful. The novel isn’t factual and so although the location exists and is accurately written, the people who really lived there don’t feature in the book - the characters are entirely fictional. I have since discovered that this the first of what will be a three-part story of Cess and her life - I shall very much look forward to the next one. ( )

I was disappointed with Montacute House by Lucy Jago, finding it a disjointed, incoherent and unbelievable story of witchcraft in the late Tudor period. The story centers on Cess, a fatherless child that works as the poultry girl on the estate of Montacute House. Shunned as a bastard by the villagers, and barely tolerated by the other Montacute House servants, she finds acceptance from William, a club-footed boy and from the local healing woman, thought to be a witch.
She and her friends learn of a convoluted plot to kill the queen, and the story takes a complete downturn with the inclusion of witches, sorcerers, and this strange murder scheme. I didn’t realize that this book was a YA read, but even that fact doesn’t excuse the ridiculous storyline.

I picked up this book expecting a good historical read that explores the fate of people accused of witchcraft in the Tudor period, but the story I read was far more fantasy based. Unfortunately, I didn’t even find it a good fantasy, and I really can’t recommend Montacute House on any level. ( )

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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! ( )

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. ( )