Customer Reviews

The Dark Portal: Book One of the Deptford Mice Trilogy

5 star:		(21)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Obviously not as lengthy as Redwall at 240 pages but is just as good of a story! Unlike Redwall, the story takes place in a human world, and only three different creatures (mice, rats, and two bats are main characters). The rats living in the sewers under Jupiter, thier never-seen-before god, are described very .......well. The rats, always working in the mine, with, obviously, no place to clean any part of their body, stay stinky and smelly the whole story. The story is somewhat spooky because the plot keeps on practically forcing the mice to go back into the dark sewers over and over (including kid mice). Also, the evil powers of Jupiter far surpass the often violence found in Redwall. Lovers of David Clement-Davies, Brian Jacques, Avi, and J.K. Rowling, (or any other fantasy author) if you haven't discovered this series yet, you won't be dissappointed.

The Dark Portal

Envision a book that will take you beyond the eyes of humans to the world of mice, who discover many secrets and mystifying adventures.
The Browns are just one family in an old house in Deptford, England. This house contains many dangers and secrets, such as the wise bats in the old attic. But the most worrisome thing in the house is the Grill, the entrance to the sewers. This is a Deptford mouse's worst nightmare. There are many dirty things there, such as the water, the air, but most of all, the rats. These are the foulest creatures in Deptford. Rude, fierce, and blood thirsty, these rats necessitate mice and murder and are so fierce they kill each other for food.
Audrey Brown seeks vigorously for her father but he cannot be found. Audrey hasn't seen him in days. There is but one place she hasn't looked: the sewer!
Robin Jarvis exceeds expectation astonishingly in this book, and his writing compelled me to read more and more until my eyes became bloodshot. Robin Jarvis's area of expertise in this book in particular is how he takes me into the eyes of a mouse and how they see the world. For example, "It was an old stone wall close to the riverbank. It was very thick and parts of it were hollow, making wonderful shelters inside. It was near the ground and partially hidden by grass."
Robin Jarvis has an excellent talent for creating monsters and rats that are so gruesome and terrifying, they wanted to make me scream. With that talent I think Robin Jarvis made the Deptford Mice Trilogy even more exhilarating than just a trilogy that usually keeps you on a slow pace through each book.
Robin Jarvis is particularly known for his first-rate skill in use of vocabulary, taking ordinary words and transforming them with other words to fill them with awareness and thrill. For example, "The rat leaped up and grabbed the owl's other leg bringing him sprawling to the ground with an astonishing screech." The characters speak in an English accent, and it is regularly that you get a little lost in the words.
Robin Jarvis has written many books including the other two of the Deptford Mice trilogy, The Crystal Prison and The Final Reckoning. He has written an award-winning book called the Whitby Witches. One thing that is very important to know about this author is that he mostly writes fantasy and science-fiction.
I mostly recommend this book to fantasy readers and that love suspense and action-packed books. I myself wish I had discovered Robin Jarvis's books earlier because I've always been looking for an author who writes high-quality adventures, first-class story, and a slight amount of romance to give the book a little spunk. This is a kind of book that you will read over and over and enjoy it every single time.

A friend of mine in Scotland got me hooked on these books and shipped them over to me two years back as a Christmas gift.

Here is a story full of suspense and thrills so intense that I could not put down the book.

You will meet brave Audrey and follow her on her journey to find her missing father against terrible odds and horrible evil. You will be reminded of the Redwall books, but at a more mature and intense level.

At the time I read this I was amazed that it had not found its way to the United States yet and I am so glad someone finally threw it over the pond for the young adults here. This will definitely be a classic in children's fantasy and fiction!

This book is about some mice and their plan to destroy Jupiter and all he stands for. One of the mice gets caught and they have to rescue her twice. How many times and how far will they go to save her from the rats? This book is filled with adventure, deceit, and wondering. Every corner reveals a new adventure. They also hold a life and death struggle. If the mice do not stop him no one will.
I thought this was a good book because it was filled with adventure. It picked up kind of slow but after chapter one it kicked into high gear. The rats are very mean and hide a lot from their fellow rats. Beliefs, food, and other items are hidden from sight, and only the owner knows where to find them. This book will keep you on the edge of your seat but only after it picks up.

In the time when the earth was green and blessed by the lord of the mice- the green mouse, a young mouse called audrey is shocked at the dissapearence of her father. On what supposed to be the most important day for a mouse, turned into a quest to find her father- and the truth. In her way stands the thing all mice fear most- the Grail and the lord of rats, a half god, half demon that is held within it. The Dark Portal is definitley a book I would reccomend all people to read. This book is not only superbly written, but it also has a great story line. This story portrays a mouse who shows true bravery, and burning desire for loved ones, in the face of uncertainty and danger lurking benind every corner. This story has adventure, fantasy and a lot of emotions in it, blending together to make a masterpiece and I think is destined to be a definite classic.

The Dark Portal by Robin Jarvis is 5 stars for excitement and survival.
Albert's life is on the line and his daughter Audrey would risk her life to save him. Albert is very kind hearted and is near death in the scariest place that any mouse would want to go! Will Audrey be able to save her father or will they be eaten by those horrific rats?
I life this book because it shows us that mice have a life that is just like ours.
This book is recommended for all kids that love excitement and really dark places.

This is one of the most amazing books I've ever read!! Robin Jarvis does an excellent job of writing a gripping story about a small group of mice confronting an evil band of rats in the sewers under Deptford. It may also please you to know that the main character (and the hero) is a girl. It has lots of action and the climax is genuinely scary! If you like animal fantasy you will LOVE this book (though I should warn you that it gets near-impossible to put down!)

This book is very different. It reminds me of Watership Down. Very exciting and quite a page turner. I could not wait to read the next book.

This review is written by my daughter who loved this book: "Thrilling! Fantastic! Absalutely amazing! When a young mouse, Albert Brown,finds his way into the Grill,where thousands of rats can peel a mouse and eat it for supper. But Albert is brave and soon finds himself another mouse named Piccadilly. Piccadilly wants to help Albert reach his goal, Jupiter, the god of the sewers. When Albert gets to the alter chamber, Morgan, Jupiters hunchman catches Albert and kills him. Audrey, Albert's daughter,expects her father to be at the Mouse-brass ceremony. But he isn't there. So she, Arthur, Twit, Piccadilly, and Oswald go beyond the Grill to destroy Jupiter. But will they make it?!"

Wow. This book is ace, you even begin to feel for the characters! All my family and friends have taken my Robin Jarvis books to read, and wont give them back! Not only is Robin Javis a good writer, he also does excellent illustrations. I recomend this book to everyone!