Lief, Barda, and Jasmine have succeeded in finding the golden topaz and the great ruby gems of the magic Belt of Deltora. The gems have strengthened them and given them courage to move on to find the third stone. But none of them knows the horrors that await them in the forbidden City of the Rats ...

"Aboard the Star of Deltora with her three rivals for the Trader Rosalyn Apprenticeship, Britta knows that she has to keep her wits about her. She desperately wants to win the contest, but of course Jewel, Sky and Vashti feel the same, and one of them, she knows, is a ruthless enemy who will stop at nothing to succeed. Britta is ready for trouble, but as the voyage fails to go as planned, and rumours of evil magic sweep her beloved ship, she starts...

Lief, Barda, and Jasmine must save the land of Deltora from the evil powers of the Shadow Lord by restoring all seven gems to the magic Belt of Deltora.