The Telling Pool [Paperback]

David Clement-Davies (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 1, 2007

A haunting story of destiny and magic in the time of the Crusades

In this compelling fantasy from cult favorite David Clement-Davies, a boy learns his fate is caught up with that of a king. When Rhodri Falcon has his fortune told at the village fair, he learns about the Telling Pool, a mystical spring in the heart of the forest that shows great secrets of the past, present, and future. What he glimpses in the pool will set him on a quest to free his father from the grip of an enchantress and to save his country from an old curse, dating back to the time of King Arthur.

Expertly told, The Telling Pool transports young readers to the days of the Crusades, a time of conflict that mirrors our own.

Praise for The Telling Pool

“A satisfying and well-crafted story” —Booklist

“A satisfying and well-crafted story that through Arthurian lore, brings a steadfast young boy to manhood and adult understanding.” —Booklist

“An intriguing tale . . .”—

“Adds some new facets to Arthurian legend . . . An action packed suspenseful battle of wills . . .”—BCCB

“Clement-Davies draws you into his story and holds you there firmly with itsconstant intrigue and fantastic descriptions.”—The Santa Fe New Mexican

“Interweaving this historical fiction with a liberal dose of Arthurian legend, Clement-Davies creates a rich mixture of themes and metaphors.”—School Library Journal

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

David Clement-Davies is the author of three highly acclaimed and bestselling novels. His books have been called “intricately crafted” (The Boston Globe), “a hurtling ride” (Kirkus), and a “masterpiece” (Booklist). Young readers are equally enthralled: His Amazon.com and Barnesandnoble.com kid reviews number in the hundreds and include such praise as “an instant classic,” “too cool for words,” and “absolutely stunning.” David travels extensively and has trekked across a desert, swam with dolphins, and skydived on assignment for various travel magazines. He lives in London.

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 12 and up
  
• Paperback: 382 pages
• Publisher: Harry N. Abrams (September 1, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0810992574
• ISBN-13: 978-0810992573
• Product Dimensions: 8.2 x 5.7 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #839,581 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #62 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Children's Books > Literature > Fairy Tales, Folk Tales & Myths > Arthurian

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Bert's Book Review, May 1, 2008

A Kid's Review

This review is from: The Telling Pool (Paperback)

The book The Telling Pool by David Clemet-Daives, is a great medieval themed book for young adults. The book starts off with a boy named Rhodri speaking to a fortune teller who tells him his fortune; that he is to undergo a quest to save the kingdom. Rhodri's father tells him to get away from the teller and stay with him. Rhodri, of course, wanders off and finds a blind black smith who tells him the true tale behind Excalibur the Sword of a Thousand Tears. The smith then tells Rhodri of a wondrous telling pool where only to special people the pool reveal its secrets. Rhodri's father gets called off to the Holy Wars and is gone a long time. Rhodri one day is practicing his falconine skills when his bird gets lost. He wanders through the woods and finds the blind black smith and looks into the pool and sees horrific things. When Rhodri comes back to reality, he remembers that his mother is getting sick, and when his father comes back furious for some reason, he turns to the telling pool, and heads on a quest.

This book starts off slowly with the carnival, but gradually gains speed, as the reader progresses into this new world. There is much description in this book, especially with the telling pool scenes. The reader may have to reread the telling pool scenes to get the full picture. The book itself is a good-sized book for seventh through tenth grade. Not too long, not too short, but just right. The book's action could have started earlier and focused more on the quest part, instead of leaving only three chapters for the quest out of a sixteen chapter book. Fortunately the action builds up before the quest. Best of all, you feel Rhodri's emotions through out the whole book, which always makes a good book.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great and Unique Read, December 26, 2008

By 

Bobby Cole (Mississippi) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Telling Pool (Paperback)

It makes me sick to hear of all these people who didn't like this book.. I thought it was a very unique read and action set. I couldn't put the book down. It tells the story of Rhodri Falcon, a boy living long ago. His father is sent to war, and young Rhodri creates a friendship with a strange old man who tells him of dark secrets and magical swords and pools. Rhodri grows up to be a young man when his father returns, an angry, bitter man who is nothing like who Rhodri remembers. Rhodri sets out to save his father's heart, and keep his mother's from breaking. Great read, I highly recommend it.

1 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Read The Sight and The Firebringer; what was he thinking?, September 13, 2008

By 

U. A. Holm - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Telling Pool (Paperback)

The Telling Pool is not of the same stature as the author's other books. His faults:
1. The book aims itself at twelve year old boys (and their interests)
2. There are some passages in the book (such as the main character inventing snow-boarding) that could have been taken from the Disney Channel (I mean that as a sneer)
3. It is another one of those tales about King Arthur
4. Slow and boring
5. All-around unoriginality
6. The ending
7. It is a poor follow up to his previous successes

I ask anyone who was interested in The Telling Pool to instead look up The Sight and The Firebringer. They are heavy reads, confusing at times and complicated, but well worth the read.