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Deltora Quest #3
City of the Rats
Lief, Barda, and Jasmine must venture into the terrifying City of the Rats in the third action-packed Deltora adventure--now with an amazing lenticular 3-D cover
Lief, Barda, and Jasmine--three companions with nothing in common but their hatred of the enemy--are on a perilous quest to recapture the seven lost gems of the magic Belt of Deltora. Only when the Belt is complete can the evil Shadow Lord be overthrown.
They have succeeded in finding the golden topaz and the great ruby. The two gems' mysterious powers have strengthened them and given them courage to move on in their search for the third stone. But none of them can know the horrors that await them in the forbidden City of the Rats.
Lief, Barda, and Jasmine--three companions with nothing in common but their hatred of the enemy--are on a perilous quest to recapture the seven lost gems of the magic Belt of Deltora. Only when the Belt is complete can the evil Shadow Lord be overthrown.
They have succeeded in finding the golden topaz and the great ruby. The two gems' mysterious powers have strengthened them and given them courage to move on in their search for the third stone. But none of them can know the horrors that await them in the forbidden City of the Rats.
120 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published June 1, 2000
125 people are currently reading
1848 people want to read
About the author
Emily Rodda
297 books2,115 followersEmily Rodda (real name Jennifer Rowe) was born in Sydney, Australia and graduated from the University of Sydney in 1973 with an MA (Hons) in English Literature. Moving into a publishing career, first as a book editor, and finally as a publisher at Angus & Robertson, Rodda's first book was published in 1984.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 288 reviews
June 26, 2017
هیجانانگیز و اسرارآمیز.
لذتبخشترین قسمت داستان برام تو مغازهی تام و آشنایی با وسایلی که داشت بود. یاد فرد و جرج تو هری پاتر میافتادم ولی حتی از مغازهی اونا هم هیجانانگیزتر بود!
شخصیت جاسمین رو خیلی دوست دارم همچنان.
-------------------------
یادگاری از کتاب:
ظاهرا احتمالش وجود دارد که کسانی که تازه به دنیا میآیند تاریخشان را کاملا فراموش کنند و از روی وظیفه از اصول احمقانهای پیروی کنند.
...
این را هم بدان که همیشه حق انتخابی وجود دارد و قید و بندها را میتوان کنار گذاشت.
لذتبخشترین قسمت داستان برام تو مغازهی تام و آشنایی با وسایلی که داشت بود. یاد فرد و جرج تو هری پاتر میافتادم ولی حتی از مغازهی اونا هم هیجانانگیزتر بود!
شخصیت جاسمین رو خیلی دوست دارم همچنان.
-------------------------
یادگاری از کتاب:
ظاهرا احتمالش وجود دارد که کسانی که تازه به دنیا میآیند تاریخشان را کاملا فراموش کنند و از روی وظیفه از اصول احمقانهای پیروی کنند.
...
این را هم بدان که همیشه حق انتخابی وجود دارد و قید و بندها را میتوان کنار گذاشت.
December 6, 2020
3.75 Golden Stars
I never liked this one, comparing to the constant run & riddles in 2, the events & scenes became fewer. but now, in my re-read that I missed them, almost 5 years, found it mysterious & thrilling & love it.
the places named ingeniously!
the trouble
& the way they escaped
smart Lief!
& the revelation of the truth
& finally the City of Rats
-
Plot: ★★★(★)/5
World Building: ★★★★/5
Characters: ★★★★/5
Written style: ★★★★/5
General idea: ★★★★/5
-
you can find my more detailed review about this series in the review of the Forests of Silence or even more in Full-Deltora reviews
I never liked this one, comparing to the constant run & riddles in 2, the events & scenes became fewer. but now, in my re-read that I missed them, almost 5 years, found it mysterious & thrilling & love it.
the places named ingeniously!
the trouble
& the way they escaped
smart Lief!
& the revelation of the truth
& finally the City of Rats
-
Plot: ★★★(★)/5
World Building: ★★★★/5
Characters: ★★★★/5
Written style: ★★★★/5
General idea: ★★★★/5
-
you can find my more detailed review about this series in the review of the Forests of Silence or even more in Full-Deltora reviews
October 9, 2021
This was always my least favourite in the series but I’m so excited because from here on out I remember the books just getting better and better!!
December 6, 2018
با تردید چهار :)
البته باید در نظر بگیریم که با یه کتاب کودک و نوجوان طرف هستیم و شاید خوندنش برای سن حالای ما کمی دیر باشه
البته باید در نظر بگیریم که با یه کتاب کودک و نوجوان طرف هستیم و شاید خوندنش برای سن حالای ما کمی دیر باشه
January 24, 2023
Our heroes continue their journey on their quest to collect the next lost gem of the Belt of Deltora.
Along the way they meet Tom, a neutral, money-hungry shopkeeper who will sell profitable goods to anyone for a price, a cult civilization who Lief, Barda, and Jasmine encounter - oh by the way, they REALLY don't like rats, considering the name, Ra-Kacharz means rat catcher.
These people traded their freedom for power to the Shadow Lord and they have to provide food to the Shadow Lord and his allies in Deltora. They don't seem that upset about selling their freedom for immortality and seem subservient to the Shadow Lord, however, the Nine have kept their extended community in the dark of their everyday lives to blindly follow orders without question.
What I'm wondering is, how did the snake at the end have mental control over Leif? I really wish that ability was explored further and explained, it was just there unless it was the beasts' natural ability to subconsciously project themselves mentally to their victims to exercise control, or perhaps it was the possibility that Reeah, somehow managed to actually use the lost gem, or the Opal's abilities to his own means, which I found interesting.
Overall I was feeling underwhelmed with this book, it didn't grab me as the other two did, maybe it was due to the plain conveniences to keep the plot moving but it would've been awesome to see more intrigue and adventure play out.
Not only that, every final foe that our heroes face seems only to be defeated by pure luck up to now, it would be nice to see just ONE of their plans work out for once instead of running blindly into danger and just hoping it works out for the best.
Either way, I think young readers would love this and I'm still curious enough to keep reading on and finding out what happens next.
Along the way they meet Tom, a neutral, money-hungry shopkeeper who will sell profitable goods to anyone for a price, a cult civilization who Lief, Barda, and Jasmine encounter - oh by the way, they REALLY don't like rats, considering the name, Ra-Kacharz means rat catcher.
These people traded their freedom for power to the Shadow Lord and they have to provide food to the Shadow Lord and his allies in Deltora. They don't seem that upset about selling their freedom for immortality and seem subservient to the Shadow Lord, however, the Nine have kept their extended community in the dark of their everyday lives to blindly follow orders without question.
What I'm wondering is, how did the snake at the end have mental control over Leif? I really wish that ability was explored further and explained, it was just there unless it was the beasts' natural ability to subconsciously project themselves mentally to their victims to exercise control, or perhaps it was the possibility that Reeah, somehow managed to actually use the lost gem, or the Opal's abilities to his own means, which I found interesting.
Overall I was feeling underwhelmed with this book, it didn't grab me as the other two did, maybe it was due to the plain conveniences to keep the plot moving but it would've been awesome to see more intrigue and adventure play out.
Not only that, every final foe that our heroes face seems only to be defeated by pure luck up to now, it would be nice to see just ONE of their plans work out for once instead of running blindly into danger and just hoping it works out for the best.
Either way, I think young readers would love this and I'm still curious enough to keep reading on and finding out what happens next.
February 27, 2017
This is one of my favorite books of the series. For one thing, I completely adore Tom, and always have. His playing both sides of the war for the sake of money is just so great. And I think it's pretty clear where his true loyalty lies, whatever he may say.
Then we get a cameo of my favorite character!! We don't even learn his name, but he's there and he's beautiful. I just love him so much!
Noradz has always been the most interesting place in Deltora to me. The fact that the people are so brainwashed, and that the craziness that rules their lives started with good reason (though evil was always behind it) is so intriguing. And I love Tira. I like that she's not some crazy rebel who wants to fight the Ra-Kacharz, but simply someone who has always lived this life but still doesn't like injustice when it stares her in the face.
Have I mentioned yet that I love these books? Because I really love these books.
Then we get a cameo of my favorite character!! We don't even learn his name, but he's there and he's beautiful. I just love him so much!
Noradz has always been the most interesting place in Deltora to me. The fact that the people are so brainwashed, and that the craziness that rules their lives started with good reason (though evil was always behind it) is so intriguing. And I love Tira. I like that she's not some crazy rebel who wants to fight the Ra-Kacharz, but simply someone who has always lived this life but still doesn't like injustice when it stares her in the face.
Have I mentioned yet that I love these books? Because I really love these books.
August 17, 2024
Weird cult, cool shop, lots of rats. Awesome.
November 17, 2016
Another great fantasy for 8-11-year olds. Full of interesting events and action. In each book, the three protagonists need to find one of the Deltora stones. Three are on the belt now. Onto the forth.
January 18, 2017
*سه و هفتاد و پنج*
از هر لحاظ که بخوای نگاه کنی پیشرفت داشت. اما نه به اندازه ای که بخواد چار بگیره و نه اندازه ای بود ( نسبت به جلد قبل ) که بخواد سه و نیم بگیره.
از هر لحاظ که بخوای نگاه کنی پیشرفت داشت. اما نه به اندازه ای که بخواد چار بگیره و نه اندازه ای بود ( نسبت به جلد قبل ) که بخواد سه و نیم بگیره.
November 12, 2022
This is the third book in the Deltora Quest series. Following the retrieval of the topaz in The Forests of Silence and the ruby in The Lake of Tears.
Props to Emily Rodda for continuing to find ways to incorporate characters and storylines from the previous books in the series into this one. A good example would be Thaegan's children, or what remained of them. As soon as Lief mentioned the number of enemies that they had been surrounded by, I remembered the bridge guardian's riddle.
The most notable character from this book was definitely Tom, who can be best described by the following quote from the book itself.
Another good addition to the series.
Props to Emily Rodda for continuing to find ways to incorporate characters and storylines from the previous books in the series into this one. A good example would be Thaegan's children, or what remained of them. As soon as Lief mentioned the number of enemies that they had been surrounded by, I remembered the bridge guardian's riddle.
The most notable character from this book was definitely Tom, who can be best described by the following quote from the book itself.
Tom’s name looks the same, whichever side you are on. It is the same whether you approach from the west or the east. It is the same whether you are inside his shop, or outside it, whether you see it in a mirror, or with your own eyes. And Tom himself is like his name. It is a matter of business.Tom's philosophy stood out to me, not because of his chameleon nature, but because this is philosophy is no longer representative of businesses nowadays. Hence, it sticks out.
Another good addition to the series.
March 20, 2012
I think the book was magnificent! A bit scary at some points but not as scary as the first time I read it. Clever twists and turns increased the tension, making it really exciting. I loved it.
May 18, 2021
دیدن آینده همیشه هم یک موهبت نیست .ادامه دارد ...
October 22, 2024
جزییات داستان نسبت به دو جلد قبل خیلی بهتر شد اون سرعت بالای اتفاقات که قبلا اذیت کننده بود خیلی کم شده بود که نکته مثبتی هست
و فعلا شخصیت جاسمین به نظرم از بقیه شخصیتها بهتر هست
و فعلا شخصیت جاسمین به نظرم از بقیه شخصیتها بهتر هست
May 5, 2013
My brilliant son found the anime cartoon, Deltora Quest, and has been watching each episode (on his phone) in order up to the part in the books that we're reading; how cool is that?! He missed his chance to test on this one Friday but he still watched the corresponding anime episodes AND (we)jumped immediately into the next installment in the book series, The Shifting Sands! I'm so thankful to Mrs. Maples (the school librarian) for suggesting this series, I haven't seen Seth this excited about reading in a very long time!
June 30, 2020
Here we expand even further in the world of Deltora. Tom the neutral (but money-hungry) shopkeeper and his shop full of marvels are enough to satisfy the most imaginative of children, and I wouldn’t say no to a muddlet myself.
CotR is, as you might have guessed, not for the musophobic. It’s a pretty middle-of-the-series DQ book, not as eerie as The Shifting Sands perhaps, or as packed full of adventure as The Lake of Tears.
CotR is, as you might have guessed, not for the musophobic. It’s a pretty middle-of-the-series DQ book, not as eerie as The Shifting Sands perhaps, or as packed full of adventure as The Lake of Tears.
March 19, 2020
SN: I remember loving this series when I was a kid but I don't remember if I actually finished it. I might have moved on to another series by the time the last book was published. So here goes my attempt at rereading the entire thing!
This one was one of my favorites when I was a kid and I have super vivid memories of it. Thankfully, my memories held up pretty well! One of the things that I'm noticing now as an adult is how realistically the story introduces new characters.
This one was one of my favorites when I was a kid and I have super vivid memories of it. Thankfully, my memories held up pretty well! One of the things that I'm noticing now as an adult is how realistically the story introduces new characters.
February 16, 2023
4.5 stars. I liked it more than the first and second books of the series.
February 17, 2020
Seperti dua buku pendahulunya, buku ketiga ini pun membuatku sangat excited. Dimulai dari toko ajaib TOM yang barang-barangnya beneran bikin hatiku melonjak-lonjak. I mean, siapa yang enggak mau piring yang bisa mencuci dirinya sendiri??? Siapa???
Adegan-adegannya sungguh menegangkan bahkan sebelum mereka mencapai final boss yang tergambar di kover buku ini. Saking menegangkannya, durasi adegan melawan final boss yang sangat singkat tidak terasa aneh, malah melegakan.
Masih banyak yang mau kuceritakan soal buku ini. Insyaallah disambung ke lain waktu. Untuk buku keempat dan kelima kayaknya kudu nyari bahasa Inggris dari openlibrary nih. Semoga ada. Bismillah.
Adegan-adegannya sungguh menegangkan bahkan sebelum mereka mencapai final boss yang tergambar di kover buku ini. Saking menegangkannya, durasi adegan melawan final boss yang sangat singkat tidak terasa aneh, malah melegakan.
Masih banyak yang mau kuceritakan soal buku ini. Insyaallah disambung ke lain waktu. Untuk buku keempat dan kelima kayaknya kudu nyari bahasa Inggris dari openlibrary nih. Semoga ada. Bismillah.
August 1, 2022
4 stars - English Ebook
Review follows later.
Review follows later.
August 11, 2018
In the third book of the Deltora Quest series we see Leif and co travel from Thaegan’s lands into the Plain of the Rats (...Which is very aptly named).
It was intriguing to have their first battle of the book be the remainder of Thaegan’s children, being captured and almost killed - in fact if Thaegan’s children didn’t dislike each other so much, and they weren’t so easily misled, they might indeed have defeated Leif and co! By the end of the confrontation it appears that all of Thaegan’s children (with the exception of Ichabod) were defeated and potentially killed, and Ichabod was just injured and very pissed off. I’m curious to know whether he will appear later in the series in an attempt to finally defeat our heroes...
The Ra-Kacharz were curious villains, having gone from being the Rat Catchers (get it?) in the city to making a deal with the Shadow Lord - immortality in exchange for doing his bidding. I’m not sure they really got the best deal out of that tbh. I mean sure, they’re immortal (though not unkillable, as our heroes - accidentally - found out) but they don’t really get much freedom or anything. Sure they’re in charge of a city, but they’re basically still slaves and just keeping the Shadow Lord in good food *shrugs*
I really DID NOT like the rats in this. Just the sheer number and size of them described and the way they are EVERYTHING?! No thank YOU. I’m so glad that that’s over @.@
The giant snake was interesting, though I’m not sure how it was able to mind control Leif... and it did seem to be defeated pretty quickly XD
Curious to see what the next book holds - hopefully not another plague of rats ._.
It was intriguing to have their first battle of the book be the remainder of Thaegan’s children, being captured and almost killed - in fact if Thaegan’s children didn’t dislike each other so much, and they weren’t so easily misled, they might indeed have defeated Leif and co! By the end of the confrontation it appears that all of Thaegan’s children (with the exception of Ichabod) were defeated and potentially killed, and Ichabod was just injured and very pissed off. I’m curious to know whether he will appear later in the series in an attempt to finally defeat our heroes...
The Ra-Kacharz were curious villains, having gone from being the Rat Catchers (get it?) in the city to making a deal with the Shadow Lord - immortality in exchange for doing his bidding. I’m not sure they really got the best deal out of that tbh. I mean sure, they’re immortal (though not unkillable, as our heroes - accidentally - found out) but they don’t really get much freedom or anything. Sure they’re in charge of a city, but they’re basically still slaves and just keeping the Shadow Lord in good food *shrugs*
I really DID NOT like the rats in this. Just the sheer number and size of them described and the way they are EVERYTHING?! No thank YOU. I’m so glad that that’s over @.@
The giant snake was interesting, though I’m not sure how it was able to mind control Leif... and it did seem to be defeated pretty quickly XD
Curious to see what the next book holds - hopefully not another plague of rats ._.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 8, 2024
I don't remember why I gave this one a 2 Star but mehhh probably because it's not as good as the last 2
September 20, 2023
Please, this book is SOOOOO funny. The way the book is called “City of the Rats” and the blurb is like “But none of them can know what horrors could possibly await [the heroes] in the forbidden City of the Rats” and there’s a whole half a chapter where they canonically IN UNIVERSE are like “what awful horrors could be lurking in the city?!?!” (paraphrase) and then they stumble upon a city of people who are deathly terrified of tiny rodent-esque animals and have the harshest punishments for leaving food uncovered and dropping it on the floor and GREET EACH OTHER BY SAYING “no rats here!!” and their town is called “no rats” and their leaders are called “rat catchers” and Lief Barda and Jasmine are somehow STILL SHOCKED TO DISCOVER THAT THE CITY OF RATS IS FILLED WITH…….. RATS………. Honestly, the most iconic piece of comedy I’ve read in ages. A++++++++++.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 6, 2023
Probably my favorite of the series so far. Part of that may be bias, as this was the first one I read as a kid, but I do think it’s quite good in its own right. I really enjoyed this one for the way it expands on the world presented in this series. There are some fun new characters and an interesting new culture that are explored—also a little bit of character development and conflict, which was good to see. However I do think the ending came a bit quickly, which I assume will probably be the case for the whole series.
Overall this was a fairly significant step up from book two and even a small step up from book one. I really enjoyed this entry.
Rating: 9/10
Overall this was a fairly significant step up from book two and even a small step up from book one. I really enjoyed this entry.
Rating: 9/10
December 21, 2023
this was probably the NASTIEST baddie yet. Like not the baddie itself but the side baddies. Like imagine being engulfed by RATS i could HURL. 🤮 Listening to the audiobook hella gave away the mystery tho cause a lot of the hints are given away in the names of the places but otherwise, this was a slay, as usual.
May 23, 2020
Read- May 2020 for Believeathon II and 24 Hour Raedathon (hosted by JadeyRaeReads)
- I really wish I was enjoying these more than I actually am, it's especially sad because I know I would have adored these as a child.
- I really wish I was enjoying these more than I actually am, it's especially sad because I know I would have adored these as a child.
July 26, 2024
Once again, our protagonists used friendship and wits to outsmart the enemy with just a dash of (justified) homicidal tendencies from Jasmine. Leif’s monarchical propaganda continues but I’ll let it go because he’s just a boy.
Every single one of these will be a 5 star read regardless of that’s in them.
Every single one of these will be a 5 star read regardless of that’s in them.
November 22, 2024
Tom innocent
April 10, 2022
A great little 3hr audiobook listen while driving. Nice.
November 5, 2023
was fun to have forgotten all the tricks and follow the clues again. fuck rats
October 5, 2024
ok emily be honest with me rn. are u putting crack in these
Displaying 1 - 30 of 288 reviews