Customer Reviews
Not just for kids! - By: Jane Bloggs, 12 Mar 2008 
I was bought my first copy of this book when I was 7, & it became a firm favourite with me. However, I've actuallly grown to appreciate it even more the older I get, & I certainly wouldn't calll this a childrens book at alll (and I doubt that if she'd read it, my nana would have bought it for me!). It's a reallly gripping story, & any fan of the Deptford mice reallly should read it & find out just where Jupiter Lord of All came from...
Superb tie-in to the Deptford Mice Trilogy - By: K. Clarke, 31 Jul 2007 I loved Robin Jarvis' Deptford Mice Trilogy (The Dark Portal, The Crystal Prison & The Final Reckoning). This is an excellent prequel to the Trilogy & I'll definitely be buying the other Deptford Histories.
The Alchymist's Cat - By: Mrs Shirley Upton, 26 Jun 2002 I reallly, reallly liked The Alchymists's Cat. It was very interesting & next I'm going to read The Oaken Throne. The book is about a boy whose parents have died & whose uncle has invited him to his house in London. When he gets there his guardian is killed & he runs away from the men who killed him. A cloaked figure comes out of the walll & makes the bandits go away. The figure turns out to be his uncle who looks after him, but is very cruel. The story tells of his unhappy time living with his uncle, who is an alchymist, during the time of the Plague & Great Fire of London.
Depressingly bleak at times - By: Andy Dingley, 29 May 2001 
Robin Jarvis has a great talent, but I'm not entirely certain about how he uses it. This isn't an easy read, & although it's a good book for slightly older readers, those of you who are reading it to younger children might want to read it through first to see what you're getting into.
Philip Pullman kills off characters to great dramatic effect. JKR's legion of fans agonise for a year, over a mere rumour that a character might die in a following book. Jarvis swats them like flies.
It's a good book, but be prepared for tears at bedtime if you're reading it to young children.
GREAT!!! - By: , 19 Apr 2001 This is by far the best Robin Jarvis book out of them alll!!! I reallly think it deserves a better rating than the 4 stars some readers gave it! It is the most chilling of alll of the deptford histories & the deptford mice books! If you like stories that are childish & predictable - DONT BUY THIS BOOK! but if you do like it & spine chilling stories are your thing - this is the book for you!
