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    David and the Phoenix
    David and the Phoenix
    David and the Phoenix
    Audiobook3 hours

    David and the Phoenix

    Written by Edward Ormondroyd

    Narrated by Edward Ormondroyd and Full Cast

    4/5

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    About this audiobook

    When David finally has a chance to climb the mountain behind his new home he has no idea he is about to meet a fabulous mythical creature. Even if he had known, who could have guessed that a Phoenix would turn out to be so stuffy, so pompous - and so utterly endearing? (To say nothing of its fondness for Aunt Amy's sugar cookies!)

    When the Phoenix decides to take a hand in David's education the adventures - and the hilarity - really begin. Alas, the wonderful visits to griffons, sea monsters, and banshees will come to a crashing halt if the scientist stalking the Phoenix is successful.

    A tale filled with high humor and deep humanity, this much-beloved classic springs to new life in a full cast recording that features the author himself as narrator.

    ©2000 Edward Ormondroyd; (P)2002 Full Cast Audio

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherFull Cast Audio
    Release dateJan 1, 2002
    ISBN9781932076820

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    Reviews for David and the Phoenix

    4/5

    102 ratings37 reviews

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    • 3/5
      While this is not an expertly crafted story, it is a pretty children's tale. I enjoyed its whimsical nature. I would definitely recommend it to anyone.
    • 5/5
      Wild Magic is the first book in Tamora Pierce's Immortals Quartet and I must say, it sets the bar high. Here we meet Daine, a young orphan with a dark past who is taken in by Onua, the horse keeper for the Queen's Riders. Though Daine does not possess the Gift, it is quickly apparent to Onua and the warrior-mage Numair that she has more Wild Magic than either one of them has seen in a single person before. This gift manifests is self most clearly in her ability to speak to animals and it comes in handy when the beastly Immortals, previously sealed into the Divine Realms, break out and begin preying on humans. With her Wild Magic, Daine is an asset to Tortall, but will her and her magic be enough to save them all?Based on only the first of four books, I like this series even more than the Song of the Lioness Quartet. Perhaps I'm just a bit jealous of her magic, though :) Being a lover of animals, actually speaking with them is something I can only dream of. I think it's great to include this in youth fiction. It shows a younger audience that an animal, though it may not think like a human, does indeed feel things and for me, a vegan, it resonated strongly with my own morals.I love the relationships between characters and the emotions in this book as well. There was just the right amount of character angst, heartfelt pain, fear, silliness, and joy. I laughed out loud more times than I remember and I got teary-eyed at the end. I love being touched by books like this and I can't wait to read the rest of this series.5 stars!
    • 4/5
      Even in a world filled with magic, Daine Sarrasi's gift with animals stands out, and between her unusual gift and having to hide the secrets from her past, it's easier for her to connect with animals than people. It takes time (and some gentle and not-so-gentle coaxing from friends and mentors) for Daine to come to trust her new acquaintances.I really enjoy these books and always like the strong women characters that Pierce writes, but she does have a tendency to do things like pound us over the head with the idea that something bad had happened in her past, long before we find out what it is. A few fewer - or more subtle - mentions of how she can't trust these new people with her secret because they'd surely hate her would have been just as effective, if not more so. But things like that aside, it's a good story and a fun, easy read.
    • 5/5
      Tamora Pierce wrote "Wild Magic" as the first installment of her second set of books in the Tortall universe. It offers a perspective on Alanna's world from the other side, that of an illegitimate foreign peasant, who has a completely different magic about her which does not follow the formal rules of the "Gift" of Alanna and her type. Where Alanna was stubborn and brash, Daine is shy and...also stubborn, but with her own quiet way about it. The book also opens up the world of Tortall and its neighbors into a much more lush, diverse landscape. Whereas the Tortall of "Song of the Lioness" served as sort of a medieval stand-in (with magic), in "The Immortals" series, Pierce broadened her scope to other countries, while introducing truly original magical what-nots. By what-nots I refer to the cascade of immortal creatures flooding into the human world due to some sort of rip in the division between their world and that of the gods and chaos.This book is a marvelous follow up to her first quartet of books in that it firmly establishes Tortall as a complex, fascinating fantasy setting that can indeed evolve and show many different colors, with plenty of room to encompass all different kinds of characters and stories.
    • 4/5
      I like Daine. She's a bit of an idiot, hiding her secret from her friends - but I can see why she does it, too. And it had a happy ending, too - that could have been a complete ending (orphan finds her place), but works well as a step along the way of her path. It's been a long time since I read these books for the first time - I know Daine's future - so it's hard to see only what goes on in _this_ book.
    • 5/5
      This is one of my most favorite books of all time! I've bought this book twice, the first time which was fantastic! The second not so much because I had read the first so many times it just up and fell apart on me - something I have never done before.The story of Daine just grabs me up from the very first sentence and no matter what I do I can't bring myself to put it down. It is my inspiration, something to bring me up when I am down, and everything in between. Reading this book makes me want to right something equally amazing as well as read more and more. Daine is headstrong, speaks to animals, and makes friends of which I envy her of so I am very happy that I can live in the world she does for even a fraction of my time. I can't help but wish for Tamora Pierce to write many more books so I can live in that world with them more often with new adventures.
    • 1/5
      Such a disappointment! I don’t even have the heart to write a decent review, and believe me when I say I’m hurting inside---this was my first Tamora Pierce book and I had such high expectations, but the poor darlings came all tumbling down as the story progressed. I just couldn’t get into it. It’s… it’s all over the place, to the point that I had no idea whatsoever of what, who, when, where… I just---I just---it’s not for me.
    • 3/5
      Tamora Pierce was recommended to me by a friend when I need to get the bad taste of Twilight out of my mouth. I started with Alanna and The Lioness Quartet, which I greatly enjoyed. Like that series, The Immortals is set in Pierce's imaginary and magical land of Tortall, although this is focused on a completely different set of characters: in particular Daine, who raised by wolves has an ability to communicate with any animal. This isn't my favorite Pierce series or character: I find the environmentalist themes not just not to my liking, but heavy handed. But then I read these as an adult, not in the 12 to 16 age group recommended. But like all Pierce's books, the world-building is well-done and the storytelling strong enough I was completely sucked in. And I loved Numair, Daine's magical mentor. Lots in these books is fun and quotable, and had I read this as a young girl, I'm sure I would have eaten up the girl-who-can-speak-to-animals plot. I was less taken with the next book, but then the last two books I think were kicked up a notch.
    • 5/5
      I just LOVE this book! It's the one book i can say that I hve read 25 times and be honest! That's probably kinda sick and I should know it by heart by now, but oh well. I acctuly do know most of it by heart ( I can recite the first chapter for you if you want) but i still love it. This is a YA book but i believe that most people can read and enjoy it. If you haven't read it yet i hope you do, it's really worth it!
    • 2/5
      After raiders destroy her happy village, a young peasant girl named Daine joins up with the Queen's Own hostler. They travel to Tortall, having dangerous adventures along the way. Once in Tortall, Daine discovers she has Wild Magic, which enables her to communicate and control all animals. Despite the many attacks by monsters, this book lacks any narrative tension, probably because I actively dislike Daine.
    • 5/5
      I totally loved this -- Daine is a sympathetic, spunky heroine, and Pierce does a good job of illustrating the difficulties that accompany Daine's phenomenal magical talents.
    • 5/5
      This was the first Tamora Pierce book I ever read, and I was hooked from then on. Wild Magic brings us back to Tortall and introduces the character of Daine, who is looking to find work and to escape her past. Her skill with animals gets her a job as an assistant to Onua, a horse buyer for the Queen's Riders. They journey together to the capital and meet a couple old friends on the way. This starts Daine on the way to mastering her wild magic and integrating into palace life. Adventures await and soon only Daine's magic can help when enemies of Tortall attack the royal family.I loved this book for it's characters, and for the continued world building. I would love to visit Tortall! Daine is pragmatic and smart, Numair is fun and caring, and the whole cast seem REAL, which can be hard in YA fantasy. Definitely a must read, especially for young/teen girls. Pierce's "sheroes" are great for boys too.
    • 4/5
      Read the book multiple times and just listened to the Full Cast Audio production - both are highly enjoyable.
    • 3/5
      A young girl with the ability to speak to animals comes to Tortall.I can see why Tamora Pierce's books have gained such a strong readership. Daine, this book's central character, feels like an outsider. Throughout the course of the book, she comes to realize that she's found a home for herself, despite an unusual talent that has caused problems for her in the past. It's a solid scenario that a lot of readers, (especially young people), can really relate to.Unfortunately, I found it impossible not to compare Pierce to Mercedes Lackey, an author who I feel has done a much better job with the whole outsider-finding-acceptance theme. It's all a matter of taste, I know, but I found Pierce's narrative just a little too simplistic for my tastes. Despite the strong themes she's working with, nothing goes very deep. I know this is a children's novel, but I don't think that's really an excuse. I wouldn't exactly say that Pierce has written down to her readers, but there's definitely room for more than she's giving.I can see why others have really enjoyed the Tortall books, but this one just didn't click for me. I might try the rest of the series at a later date, but it's not a priority.
    • 5/5
      Daine Sarrasri, an orphan girl from Snowsdale, arrives in the magical kingdom of Tortall and becomes assistant to the royal horsemistress. Her gift for calming horses is almost magical, even though Daine tries to hide it. As well as horses, all animals seem to understand Daine as she seems to understand them. They come to her when injured, scared or ill.Daine communicates and trusts animals better than she trusts humans, it seems. She was run out of her village after her family was killed by raiders when she was thirteen. She discovers that she has an ability to speak to animals with her mind. Now she has to trust her new human friends enough for them to help her control her magic before war breaks out in Tortall. Even though this is a young adult fantasy novel, I loved Wild Magic and give it an A+!
    • 4/5
      Perfectly charming story of a 13 year-old, Daine, who discovers that the talent for which she's been excoriated is a kind of wild magic. True to fantasy tropes, we have a journey, a discovery of self, triumph over evil and a discovery of where Daine fits in the world. Yet it all seems quite fresh, and as a reader, I shared Daine's exhilaration and fear as she grows into an assured young woman. I recommend this.
    • 3/5
       The setting is a comfortable mock-medieval world of small towns and feudal holdings, familiar to those who have read the preceding four-novel set (which I have not), and not markedly distinct from any other such fantasy world. As the central character, a recently-orphaned teenager called Daine, encounters a woman horse-merchant, the scene is rather transparently set for a book designed to appeal especially to horse-loving girls. (I was a little irritated by a heroine who must not only have a preternatural knack with animals but also be a phenomenal archer: one special power seems enough!) As the journey commences, there is more than enough of the domestic minutiae of camping to answer the charge that questing fantasy heroes never seem to go to the toilet or wash the dishes.Daine has a secret "bad thing" about which hints are dropped. When we find out what it is, it seems a little odd that she was so reluctant to tell her new friends, though she had curiously failed to spot that Numair the mage was a shape-shifter. It also clashes rather with her polite and well-groomed persona. Pierce has deprived herself of a cracking novel by dealing with the preceding part of Daine's life (running wild with wolves) entirely in flashback; but perhaps the different tone required would have stretched either the author's skill or (less likely) the reading skills of her target audience.The older characters are fairly enough drawn, if a little same-ish. Daine's repeatedly exressed surprise at the informality displayed by Tortallan nobility does make me sneakily wonder whether the author can actually do formal dialogue: easier to follow Terry Brooks and have all your folk talk as though they lived in the 20th-century. (There were hints of the faults of David Eddings, too: I do not think that adult queens should ever giggle!) But Daine's perception of her wild magic is beautifully described, and the insertion of meditation into the regime of a mage was an interesting notion. The story builds to a magical siege, and there are some basic but thoughtful issues about whether animals should be persuaded to assist in human conflict or discouraged. Daine expends some effort in trying to dissuade small, vulnerable creatures from getting involved, and is suitably nonplussed when the whales from whom she does seek help turn out to be pacifists and refuse to intervene! The help that does come is from a being so powerful that it takes some effort to dismiss -- an old trope (remember The Worm Ouroboros?) but a good one.All in all, a pleasant read, if a bit girly in places.MB 11-ii-2011
    • 4/5
      When I'm dog tired and distracted, this is my kind of escapist fiction. Sometimes you just had a long week. You met all the obligations on the list and for some reason it was a long list, and you're fighting some sort of a minor virus and mostly winning, and those new shoes are needing to break in a little more than you thought so now your feet hurt a bit and all the batteries in all the battery operated things chose now to run out, and apparently the drivers had a bad case of Friday afternoon lunacy and were pulling out in front of you and stopping for no damn reason and then honking at you as if it were your fault, and there's no damn milk in the fridge!!! and so it goes. You are just a bit worn and a bit ready to be in a big soft chair with a nice cold drink and something to read that isn't going to be all that demanding because you've had enough demands just now thank you very much. But at the same time, please don't insult my intelligence. Please don't be mean spirited and stupid and tawdry. Ahhh Tamora Pierce, welcome to my tension headache, and thank you very much.
    • 4/5
      I really like Tamora Pierce's books. Her characters are real people and they hold up well as they grow up and move into new roles (and new books). I think her best is the Trickster's Queen duo, but they're all fun reads.
    • 3/5
      In the first book in this series, Daine, a 13 year old girl is capable of communicating with animals. Although this sounds interesting, the way the author handled it was more annoying than anything else. Daine is an orphan, who is trying to develop her skills while a war is going on. In her journeys, she becomes an apprentice to a mage, who helps her develop her magical skills. Using her skills, Daine senses new beings known as immortals trying to break into her world. Her and her friends now must fight these immortals and defend their world.I liked the general concept of this novel, but there was also a lot not to like. For one is the dialogue, which I found to be subpar. Another is the characters, which generally speaking I didn’t find very appealing. At the top of the list is Daine herself, who comes off as whiny and not particularly interesting. The plot and action were pretty solid. This was only a so-so novel, not something that would get me excited about reading additional installments.Carl Alves – author of Blood Street
    • 4/5
      I am very partial to Pierce's heroines. There's just something about them that I love. Alanna will always be my favourite (I think subconsciously I avoided this series because I worried I would be let down), Daine now holds another special place in my heart, probably because of her connection to animals. I know the writing isn't exactly deep, but the characters are beloved, as well as the realm of Tortall, and reading this book feels just like coming home. I love Numair & his cheekiness, and reading about Alanna again feels like being united with a dear old friend. I have the rest of the series coming in the mail quite soon ^^ I believe no young girl should be without Tamora Pierce's wonderful quartets.
    • 3/5
      I probably would have loved this book if I'd read it as a kid, but as an adult I noticed that there was really no conflict at all in the whole book. Daine grows and learns but really things keep getting better and better for her without many surprises. I'll be interested to see if this continues in the rest of the series. Even so, I read it quickly and definitely enjoyed it. It's got all the right pieces, a tough spunky heroine who can talk to animals, a supportive cast of colorful friends, monsters and mythical creatures, even the badger god, and a big battle.
    • 4/5
      Orphaned and with only her pony as companion, Dane finds employment as stable hand for the Queen’s Riders. Though Dane is happy in her new life, she is also uneasy because she has a secret no one can know, a secret that has already threatened her sanity once. Dane’s newfound happiness is threatened when creatures straight out of legend begin attacking the kingdom and her secret begins to show. As always Tamora Pierce is wonderful. Dane is the main character in the ’Immortals’ series, which happens to be one of my favorites. Dane’s character is creative, interesting and human. Supporting and secondary characters are given just as much consideration, which is part of what makes a Tamora Pierce books so great. Add to that talented writing, imaginative stories and vivid description and you can’t go wrong with Pierce.
    • 2/5
      I listened to the audiobook and it ruined the book. The "full-cast audio" was done by what sounded like a junior high school English class. The main narrator's pace was set to a metronome - never wavering even during the fight scenes. Ms. Pierce really needs to respect her work and get a better production company.
    • 4/5
      Meet Daine. Orphan, alone in the world and not sure what in the world is happening to herself. Her gift with animals is a wonderful addition to the facets of this world Tamora Pierce created.
    • 4/5
      I read this one a long time ago, so I don't remember all the details, but I do know this series was one of my favorites for a long time. This particular book was an amazing read. The type of natural magic the characters possess is fascinating as are the characters themselves.
    • 3/5
      I liked this book, but it was not brilliant. The story is relatively simple, a bit childish I'd say, but entertaining.
    • 3/5
      A friend told me that she couldn't bear to re-read this as she was afraid of spoiling the memory of her enjoyment. It's certainly a book for a younger audience. Daine, the heroine, is skilled with animals, brave, and friendless - an excellent basis for the main character of a fantasy novel. The world is well-evoked, even though the 'good' characters merge together rather in their excessive niceness. Following Daine and Onua on their journey with a herd of horses is exciting as they manage dangers of all kinds and find out more about Daine and her powers. We don't dicover why Daine is all alone, or how it is that the animals do all that she asks, until quite far into the book, and that keeps the interest going nicely. I want to read the next volume.
    • 4/5
      I honestly do not know how this book came to be on my kindle. It is a mystery since I am the only person who ever adds books to it. I decided to read it despite not knowing how I came to possess it. It is a charming fantasy story of a boy and a phoenix. I enjoyed the stories very much, particularly the wry sense of humor displayed by the Phoenix, who seems to know everything and promises to give David an education - a promise that he keeps. David also helps to protect the Phoenix from the Scientist. Being a scientist myself, I felt bad about the negative connotations in this book but alas, it could not be helped. Unfortunately, my copy did not contain the images that were in the original book, which would have improved it, but I still enjoyed the story.
    • 4/5
      Reading children's literature as an adult is a tricky venture, when the object is to perceive what makes it magical in the memory of fellow adults who read it as a child. This instance proved easier than most. It's been too long since I read Nesbit's phoenix story to recall it well, but other than this one's too abrupt ending I think it would bear up under a quality comparison.David moves to a new home with his family, one that features a too-tempting mountain in its backyard. Near its summit he meet with the phoenix, and it's the phoenix's august personality that really makes this book shine. He's a proper English gentleman, but one that speaks to David on an equal level. Rather than ponderous adult wisdom he offers an education in the form of adventure, and they enjoy several together. The phoenix acquaints David with a great many other mythical beasties who turn out to be just as real, though not always a match for their myths. With the exception of an exploding cigar gag (who knew that would ever get old?) this novel has aged very well and I'd read it to any child today with expectation of success.