Wow. This book completely swept me away. I was very moved by it. It's the third book I've read by Catherine Fisher, after "Darkhenge" and "Incarceron" and I think it might just be my favorite. Fisher deftly retells the Grail legend in a contemporary setting and the results are incredible and unforgettable. I love how she uses mythology in such an ambiguous, startlingly original way through symbolism and dream-like apparitions throughout the story. I know I'll have to check out all of her other books now. Highly, highly recommended. ( )

Catherine Fisher has a catalogue of fantasy fiction that explores Greek, Egyptian, Norse and Celtic mythology in just the half dozen or so volumes I've read, so it comes as no surprise to find that Corbenic turns out to be her contribution to Arthurian fantasy. The Grail Quest is tackled in a way reminiscent of The Owl Service's approach to the story of Blodauwedd: A teenager escaping from a life of poverty and early responsibility, looking after her alcoholic and possibly psychotic mother, finds himself getting off the train to freedom at the wrong station, Corbenic.
The next day, after a night of visions, he returns to his familiar Wales, but finds it impossible to just ignore his time in a place he cannot find on a map - and is drawn reluctantly into a quest to heal himself and the Waste Land.
Another high quality work from Fisher, though not perhaps at her absolute best, has added resonance for me as it is set in Wales, with a brief interlude in Bath - places I love and know well. The train journey from Bangor to Newport is also familiar to me and I can assure the less familiar reader that there is no Corbenic Station on the line. ( )

Cal leaves home to work for his uncle, believing he has left the squalor and his alcoholic mother’s psychotic visions behind him. However, he accidentally gets off at the wrong train station, and finds himself with no option but to stay at Castle Corbenic with its elaborate medieval décor. The people he meets are perplexing, and the castle's owner, Bron, claims that Cal can heal him. When Cal is shown things which remind him of his mother's visions, he denies what he sees. The following morning, the castle is a ruin, and Cal is left with a sword and the feeling he has failed more than just himself.
Cal resolves to dispose of the sword, and in the process meets Arthur’s Company, an odd medieval-battle re-enactment group. They confuse Cal with their talk of being immortal, and the extent to which they have embraced a life of medieval legends, but they are also prepared to help him.
Cal realises that his mistakes have hurt people, including himself and as he attempts to distance himself from his past, he finds that it has more to do with his future then he ever imagined. His quest becomes more than a simple search for the Holy Grail; it is an emotional quest for self discovery which challenges his values and forces him to confront his fears.

I love the way Corbenic merges modern-day British life with the centuries-old legends surrounding King Arthur, the knights of the round table and the Holy Grail. The characters, especially Arthur’s Company, are vivid and intriguing, with believable depth and humanity. I am frustrated by things regarding minor characters which are alluded to and left unexplained, but I love how I am left free to wonder. It makes them seem real. Cal is not always an easy character to relate to, but his motivations and experiences are well explained. Even when his determination turns to desperation, I felt sympathetic, and he really grows throughout the novel.

Corbenic is a wonderful and slightly unusual story about about growing up, family bonds, human endurance, forgiveness, the waste land and the Holy Grail.
Some years ago, I said that it was "mature and complex, suspenseful and heart-warming". I have since read other books which have been all of these things and more so, yet Corbenic is still something I want to read again. It stills feels like an original retelling of familiar legends, and continues to makes me wonder. It remains my favourite novel by Catherine Fisher. ( )

Teens who have an enthusiasm of mystical worlds will be enthralled with this story. Fisher, the author, combines modern themes with the legendary themes of magic and mysticism.

A contemporary retelling of the Fisher King legend, and Percival's search for the Holy Grail, this story confronts several dark themes in a deeply moving and emotional story.

Cal has been looking after his alcoholic, mentally unstable mum for all his young life. He jumps at a chance to go stay with a rich uncle, and ruthlessly severs his ties with his mum. However, he gets off the train at the wrong station, and finds himself in Corbenic, taken in by Bron (the wounded Fisher King), and sees a vision which he later denies.

Cal has been deeply wounded by his difficult upbringing, and his coping mechanisms work against him, leaving him lost in a pain filled wasteland. It's not until he accepts that he must face his past, acknowledge the way it has shaped him, and forgiven his mum and himself, that he can finally have a chance at gaining his Grail.

An excellent book - the dark themes are explored with confidence, and the mix of contemporary and legendary symbolism is nicely handled. I wonder though, how a reader not familiar with the source material would find the story...I feel that they may not be as drawn in as I was. ( )