The Telling Pool

The Telling Pool follows Rhodri Falcon, a young falconer's son in medieval Wales who discovers an ancient pool with mystical properties. His encounter with the pool coincides with the arrival of a mysterious Cistercian monk who brings warnings about dark forces at work. The story takes place against the backdrop of the Crusades, as King Richard the Lionheart calls England's warriors to join his holy mission. Rhodri must navigate both the tangible dangers of medieval life and supernatural elements that emerge from Celtic mythology. Through Rhodri's journey, ancient Welsh legends intersect with Christian traditions and historical events. The narrative explores themes of father-son relationships, the tension between different belief systems, and the challenge of distinguishing truth from deception in both the magical and mundane worlds.

Readers describe The Telling Pool as a coming-of-age tale that weaves Arthurian legend with historical fiction. The book maintains a 3.7/5 rating on Goodreads and 4.2/5 on Amazon based on limited reviews. Readers appreciated: - Rich descriptions of medieval England and forest settings - Integration of Celtic mythology with Christian themes - Character development of protagonist Rhodri - Educational value about falconry and medieval life Common criticisms: - Slow pacing in first third of book - Dense historical details that can overwhelm the narrative - Religious themes too heavy-handed for some - Confusion about target age group One reviewer noted: "The historical accuracy and falconry details are fascinating, but younger readers might struggle with the pace." Another mentioned: "The mythological elements feel authentic but the story takes too long to find its footing." Total review counts: Goodreads: 86 ratings Amazon: 12 reviews LibraryThing: 24 ratings

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🏰 While the story is set in medieval England during the Third Crusade (1189-1192), the mystical Telling Pool itself draws from Celtic mythology and the ancient tradition of scrying - using reflective surfaces for divination. 🗡️ The sword Excalibur featured in the book wasn't just King Arthur's weapon in legend - various medieval chronicles mention at least seven different famous swords associated with historical kings and warriors of the period. 🌳 David Clement-Davies extensively researched falconry and medieval forest law while writing the book, as these were crucial elements of daily life for characters like Rhodri and his father. 👑 Richard the Lionheart, who appears as a character in the novel, spent only six months of his 10-year reign actually living in England - the rest was spent on crusade or in his French territories. 🐺 Before writing The Telling Pool, Clement-Davies was already known for his animal fantasy novels, particularly "Fire Bringer" about deer and "The Sight" about wolves, showing his versatility in moving between animal and human protagonists.