City of the Rats
Third novel in the Deltora Quest fantasy series.
Bernard Sharp · CC BY-SA 2.0
City of the Rats is the third book in the eight-part fantasy series Deltora Quest, by Australian author Emily Rodda. Scholastic first published it in 2000, with a United States release following in 2001. The story follows Lief, Barda, and Jasmine as they continue searching for the seven lost gems of Deltora, facing dangers and guardians in each volume.
After retrieving the Ruby from the Lake of Tears, the trio heads for the next gem in the City of the Rats. On the way, they spot signs for a shop run by “Tom,” a concept unfamiliar to Jasmine, but are ambushed by the remaining eleven children of Sorceress Thaegan, who want revenge for Thaegan, Jin, and Jod. Noticing the children arguing over how to divide their captives for a meal, Lief and Barda provoke them into fighting among themselves over fairness, killing all but the strongest, Ichabod. The group escapes thanks to Filli. After wounding Ichabod and leaving Thaegan’s territory, they enter Tom’s shop and buy supplies. There, a scarred stranger draws the Ralad sign of freedom in dust on the counter, earning a discount from Tom. They try to buy horses, but Tom refuses, claiming the horses are reserved, and sells them three-legged Muddlets instead. Tom warns them to avoid a certain path, but Lief ignores this, thinking Tom—unaware of their destination—was trying to steer them away from the City of the Rats. The Muddlets bolt, knocking the trio unconscious, and they are found by the people of Noradz.
Noradz is ruled by the Ra-Kacharz, who enforce extreme cleanliness and serve lavish meals to citizens and guests. Lief befriends a serving girl named Tira after taking the blame for her accidental spill, a crime punishable by whipping in Noradz, though Lief is spared as a guest. When Filli emerges from Jasmine’s shirt, the people believe she brought the creature to destroy him and try to kill it; Filli escapes, and the trio is imprisoned. Reece, the Ra-Kacharz leader, orders Lief to pick a card labeled “Life” or “Death” from a cup to decide their fate. Tira warns Lief that both cards say “Death,” so Lief pretends to accidentally burn one, leaving the “Death” card behind. The other Ra-Kacharz, unaware of Reece’s trick, believe Lief drew the “Life” card. Though spared, they are imprisoned without food. Tira visits, revealing Reece claimed they would be cared for.
- Author
- Emily Rodda
- Nationality
- Australian
- Published
- 2000 (first published by Scholastic)
- Series
- Deltora Quest
- Volume
- 3 of 8
- Genre
- Fantasy
Lore & Background
In City of the Rats, Lief, Barda, and Jasmine leave the Lake of Tears after retrieving the Ruby and head toward the City of the Rats. They encounter Sorceress Thaegan's remaining eleven children, who seek revenge for the deaths of Thaegan, Jin, and Jod. Lief and Barda provoke the children into infighting, resulting in all but the strongest, Ichabod, being killed, while the trio escape with the help of Filli. They later visit Tom's shop, where a scarred stranger draws the Ralad sign of freedom, and Tom sells them tri-legged Muddlets after refusing to sell horses. Ignoring Tom's warning about a certain path, Lief leads the group into Noradz, a city ruled by the Ra-Kacharz who enforce extreme cleanliness. There, they are imprisoned after Filli is spotted, but Tira helps them escape through 'The Hole,' a tunnel with poisonous fungus. They eventually reach the City of the Rats, where Lief takes the opal embedded in Reeah's head, not from a crown. After placing the opal into the Belt of Deltora, Lief receives a vision of the Shifting Sands from the belt itself, not from the opal alone.
Reader's Guide
City of the Rats advances the overarching quest for the Belt of Deltora's gems, introducing the opal and deepening the series' lore about the Shadow Lord's manipulations. The novel reveals the homophonic names 'Noradz' (No Rats) and 'Ra-Kacharz' (Rat-Catchers), showing how the Shadow Lord conspired to displace the city's inhabitants and install the snake Reeah as guardian. This entry in the series continues to develop the characters of Lief, Barda, and Jasmine, with Lief's deductive skills and Jasmine's bond with Filli proving crucial. The book also expands the world-building through locations like Tom's shop and the Broad River, and introduces elements such as the Water Eaters and Fire Beads. As part of the Deltora Quest series, City of the Rats contributes to the cumulative narrative of restoring Deltora's rightful rulers and defeating the Shadow Lord.
Did You Know?
- City of the Rats was first published by Scholastic in 2000 and released in the United States in 2001.
- The name 'Noradz' is a homophone of 'No Rats,' and 'Ra-Kacharz' is a homophone of 'Rat-Catchers.'
- Lief takes the opal from Reeah's crown, which gives him a vision of the Shifting Sands, the location of the next gem.
Gallery
Frequently Asked Questions
What is City of the Rats?
City of the Rats is the third book in Emily Rodda's Deltora Quest fantasy series, first published by Scholastic in Australia in 2000. It continues the adventure of Lief, Barda, and Jasmine as they work to recover the seven lost gems of Deltora.
Who is the author of City of the Rats and where was it published?
Australian writer Emily Rodda penned the novel, with Scholastic handling the initial 2000 release before a United States edition appeared in 2001. It sits as volume three within the eight-book Deltora Quest series.
What is the main plot of City of the Rats?
After securing the Ruby from the Lake of Tears, the three companions set out to find the next gem located in the City of the Rats. Along the way they are ambushed by a group of eleven children and must navigate the perils guarding that particular gem.
Who are the main characters in City of the Rats?
The story centers on Lief, Barda, and Jasmine, the same trio who have been searching for Deltora's lost gems since the first book. They face a range of antagonists and guardians specific to the City of the Rats arc.
Where does City of the Rats fit in the Deltora Quest series?
It is the third installment out of eight, meaning readers have already followed the heroes through the first two gem retrievals before picking up this volume. It bridges the earlier books with the later, more dangerous portions of the overall quest.
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