Gr 6—8—Cecily Perryn expects to celebrate the morning of her 13th birthday collecting eggs in the dirty barnyard of Montacute House, where she is in service to Sir Edward Mortain. She doesn't expect to find a jeweled portrait necklace under one of the laying hens or to come to the attention of Viscount Drax Mortain, the master's son. The historical aspects of the story are well researched and firmly rooted in Elizabethan history (Visitors can tour the house and many of the places mentioned in the story.) Interwoven with the historical details are the stories of Cess's friend William and other village boys who have disappeared, and Cess's friendship with Edith and Alathea, two women who are known to be involved in witchcraft. Jago keeps a variety of story lines moving: William's whereabouts, Drax's plotting, family secrets, scheming cousins, hidden passages, coded lists of spies, and a conspiracy to poison the queen. When Edith and Alathea acknowledge Cess's magical powers and initiate her into the covey, she finds herself facing choices that will mean life or death for those she loves. The final chapters answer questions, tie up loose threads, and leave Cess contemplating a future inside Montacute House instead of in the barnyard. Some readers will find that the story gets bogged down in the period details, but it will appeal to fans of historical romance (if they don't mind some fantasy overtones).—Maggie Knapp, Trinity Valley School, Fort Worth, TX
In sixteenth-century England, thirteen-year-old Cess embarks on a dangerous journey to save her best friend William, the latest victim in a series of kidnappings. Along the way she uncovers a treasonous plot and an evil presence that only she can thwart. An intriguing blend of politics, religion, and witchcraft form a well-paced story that's bolstered by strong characterization.
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