Thomas (The Deptford Histories Series #3)

( 2 )
Hardcover
$4.48
BN.com price
$17.95 List Price (Save 75%)

Overview

The final installment of the gripping Deptford Histories introduces Thomas, a grizzled seamouse haunted by the dark and deadly events of his past.
See more details below
Note: This is a bargain book and quantities are limited. Bargain books are new but may have slight markings from the publisher and/or stickers showing their discounted price. More about bargain books
Sending request ...

More About This Book

Overview

The final installment of the gripping Deptford Histories introduces Thomas, a grizzled seamouse haunted by the dark and deadly events of his past.

Editorial Reviews

Publishers Weekly
In a starred review of the series' launch title, PW called the Deptford Trilogy by Robin Jarvis "a spooky and enthralling animal fantasy just right for Redwall fans." Thomas, the third and final book of the Deptford Histories (prequels to the Deptford Trilogy), introduces the title seamouse, who is driven by a dark past to leave home for the high seas and a brighter future. Instead he is swept up in unforeseen storms and battles. The first of the Deptford Histories, The Alchemist's Cat, which chronicles how Jupiter (a "villain par excellence" according to PW) came to power, is now in paperback. Copyright 2006 Reed Business Information.
Children's Literature
Thomas, an aged seamouse, is finally ready to confront the memories of his youth. He and his best friend Wodget leave their little village and a girl they both love. Tricked onto the ship Calliope by an old mouse named Mulligan, Thomas and Wodget find themselves ensnared in a race to keep a talisman from falling into the wrong hands. Little do they know that one of their crewmates, the simple-minded Dimmy, is an agent of the dark forces they seek to foil. Through storms, shipwrecks, encounters with sirens, and sights beyond their wildest dreams, Thomas and Wodget's adventures finally culminate in a heart-breaking confrontation. This richly written, well-crafted fantasy will keep the reader immersed in Thomas and Wodget's world. The ending is absolutely heartbreaking, and is made even more so by Jarvis' amazing characters.
More Reviews (2) Fewer Reviews
VOYA
In this third of the Deptford Histories, best friends Thomas and Woodget get tricked into a dangerous sea voyage by old Mulligan, a mouse with a terrifying secret: He carries a fragment of a jade egg that would, were all its pieces rejoined, allow the dreaded snake-god Scarophian to return. Mulligan needs the friends' help to prevent the rejoining, but it is a perilous task, and when a mortally wounded Mulligan passes the fragment to Woodget, the mice are plunged into even deeper danger. Traveling to distant lands, they seek safety with other fragment guardians, but soon learn that the guardians will betray even their own people to prevent the snake-god's return. Their wisdom, it seems, has been "sundered from compassion." In the end, everything must be lost in order to win, and everyone must pay the price. Whether intentionally or not, this novel reads like a prose fantasy written in the stylized language of a Homeric epic, with mixed results. Although the lavish descriptions offer lyrical beauty, the floridly "archaic" language too often sounds stilted and melodramatic, particularly in dialogue. In addition, while it is a richly imagined world, new readers might be put off by the over-anthropomorphization of the animals (i.e. human-type hair and tattoos), and by the failure to explain the role or even existence of humans in this world. It is still a good story-full of action, blood, magic, evil, and indomitable small heroes-but readership may be limited to previous fans of the series.
Kirkus Reviews
A rousing tale of horror and heroism, this last prequel to the Deptford Mice trilogy stands well alone, as the doughty shipmouse Thomas Triton at last reveals his tragic past. Thomas, then surnamed Stubbs, and his best friend, the sensitive fieldmouse Woodget Pipple, are led through a romantic misunderstanding and a dockside scuffle into a wild seafaring adventure with the peg-legged Mulligan and the lackwitted Dimlon (neither quite what they seem). They are then drawn inexorably into the ancient battle between the noble Green Council and the vile Scale, plotting to restore the grisly domination of the serpent-demon Scaraphion. Deptford fans know just what to expect: overstuffed plots, dense with tragedy and treachery and true friendship, rife with occult allusions and an undercurrent of brooding menace. The heroes are stalwart and true; the villains sadistic and grotesque; and the nonstop action builds through gruesome gusts of shuddering violence to an apocalyptic climax and a bittersweet epilogue. Backwards are the sentences shaped, and deep the clauses piled; lush and vermilion are the adjectives thereof. The end result ought to be risible, but Jarvis pulls it off, to stunning effect. (Horror. 10-14)

Product Details

  • ISBN-13: 9780641971280
  • Publisher: Chronicle Books LLC
  • Publication date: 11/13/2008
  • Pages: 400
  • Sales rank: 201,707
  • Age range: 9 - 12 Years
  • Series: Deptford Histories Series , #3
  • Product dimensions: 6.30 (w) x 9.10 (h) x 1.50 (d)

Meet the Author

Robin Jarvis studied graphic design in college and worked in television and advertising before becoming a full-time author and illustrator. Mr. Jarvis resides in England.

Table of Contents

Customer Reviews

Average Rating 4.5
( 2 )

Rating Distribution

5 Star

(1)

4 Star

(1)

3 Star

(0)

2 Star

(0)

1 Star

(0)

Your Rating:

Review Guidelines
Add Recommendations
Your Name: Create a Pen Name or Leave Anonymously

Barnes & Noble.com Review Rules

Our reader reviews allow you to share your comments on titles you liked, or didn't, with others. By submitting an online review, you are representing to Barnes & Noble.com that all information contained in your review is original and accurate in all respects, and that the submission of such content by you and the posting of such content by Barnes & Noble.com does not and will not violate the rights of any third party. Please follow the rules below to help ensure that your review can be posted.

Reviews by Our Customers Under the Age of 13

We highly value and respect everyone's opinion concerning the titles we offer. However, we cannot allow persons under the age of 13 to have accounts at BN.com or to post customer reviews. Please see our Terms of Use for more details.

What to exclude from your review:

Please do not write about reviews, commentary, or information posted on the product page. If you see any errors in the information on the product page, please send us an email.

Reviews should not contain any of the following:

  • - HTML tags, profanity, obscenities, vulgarities, or comments that defame anyone
  • - Time-sensitive information such as tour dates, signings, lectures, etc.
  • - Single-word reviews. Other people will read your review to discover why you liked or didn't like the title. Be descriptive.
  • - Comments focusing on the author or that may ruin the ending for others
  • - Phone numbers, addresses, URLs
  • - Pricing and availability information or alternative ordering information
  • - Advertisements or commercial solicitation

Reminder:

  • - By submitting a review, you grant to Barnes & Noble.com and its sublicensees the royalty-free, perpetual, irrevocable right and license to use the review in accordance with the Barnes & Noble.com Terms of Use.
  • - Barnes & Noble.com reserves the right not to post any review -- particularly those that do not follow the terms and conditions of these Rules. Barnes & Noble.com also reserves the right to remove any review at any time without notice.
  • - See Terms of Use for other conditions and disclaimers.
Search for Products You'd Like to Recommend

Recommend other products that relate to your review. Just search for them below and share!

Create a Pen Name

Your Pen Name is your unique identiy on BN.com. It will appear on the reviews you write and other website activities. Your Pen Name cannot be edited, changed or deleted once submitted.

Your Pen Name can be any combination of alphanumeric characters (plus - and _), and must be at least two characters long.

Continue Anonymously

We're sorry, but penname is already taken.

Please select one of the following:
Your Pen Name can be any combination of alphanumeric characters (plus - and _), and must be at least two characters long.

Continue Anonymously

penname is available!

By visiting the BN.com website or marking a purchase on BN.com, a User is deemed to have accepted the Terms of Use.

Continue Anonymously

Welcome, penname

You have successfully created your Pen Name. Start enjoying the benefits of the BN.com Community today.

Sort by: Showing all of 2 Customer Reviews

  • Posted February 16, 2009

    Recommended for adults who like the Redwall series

    I read the Deptford Mice Trilogy and was about to pass it along to some young friends of mine when I learned of the Deptford Histories and began acquiring the three volumes. Now that I've read the Histories, I've revised my plans for passing along the six volumes. The author's prose is increasingly full of British vocabulary and his sentence structure has grown increasingly complicated. I have an M. A. in English, but I am not a Brit. I had to consult my Oxford English Dictionary a number of times as the words were not listed in my American college dictionary. I believe many young adult/independent readers would be put off by the prose, and have therefore decided to pass my copies to an adult friend who likes the Redwall series.

    Was this review helpful? Yes  NoThank you for your feedback.   Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.

  • Anonymous

    Posted July 1, 2010

    No text was provided for this review.

Sort by: Showing all of 2 Customer Reviews
If you find inappropriate content, please report it to Barnes & Noble
Why is this product inappropriate?
Comments (optional)
500 character limit