THE TELLING POOL

In his newest ponderous, superficially mystical fantasy, Clement-Davies links the “betrayal” of Guinevere and Lancelot to the corruption of the Christian church in Albion, as well as the general rise in lawlessness brought on by Richard the Lion-Hearted’s crusade and subsequent imprisonment. Raised by devoted parents, young Rhodri grows up with enough love in his heart to survive a climactic attempted seduction by Homeira, a transplanted Persian enchantress. This after many long sessions gazing into the titular magical pond, which is a sort of Wiccan History Channel where he not only learns that he’s a descendant of that star-crossed Arthurian couple, but follows the adventures of his father, who has gone off to fight with Richard’s army in the Holy Land, then later lose his heart (literally) to the aforesaid enchantress. Chucking in a malicious rival who skulks about overhearing every damaging conversation, a wise old hermit connected to a certain merlin (get it?), a cameo by Excalibur and stereotypical Jews and Gypsies, the author eventually winds his tale to a happy close in which Arthur’s Sword of Peace cleaves Homeira’s stony heart on Christmas Day, just as news of Richard’s return arrives. No, it’s not a send-up. Would that it were. (Fantasy. 11-13)