Suitabook

City of the Rats

Emily Rodda

Reading: If suspense is a concern, read in short sections and pause after cliff-hanger chapters. Invite the reader to solve the wordplay and predict how each apparent rule or warning might be tested.
Themes: Authority and coercive rules: Noradz is governed through extreme cleanliness, harsh punishment and a deceptive life-or-death decision; Reece’s authority is challenged through concealment and escape. The events present coercive rule and treachery as dangers the protagonists must expose or evade.
Courage and agency: Tira helps the imprisoned travellers despite appearing timid, Jasmine contributes decisively during the final confrontation, and Lief uses deductions and verbal skill. The narrative gives meaningful weight to assistance, initiative and problem-solving, rather than presenting survival as one person’s achievement alone.
Appearances, names and hidden connections: The travellers interpret warnings, disguises and unusual names while discovering links between Noradz, the Ra-Kacharz and the City of the Rats. The story rewards close attention to language and encourages questioning apparently obvious labels and explanations.
Worth knowing: Some scenes may merit preparation: threatened execution, whipping as punishment, imprisonment, poisonous fungus, a character’s mortal wounding, a killing by poison, a snake killed by throat-cutting, fire and attacks by ravenous rats.