Content levels
Trigger warnings
Hero archetypes
Protagonist archetypes
Themes
Synopsis
It starts when Cal gets off the train at the wrong stop in the middle of the night, in the middle of nowhere. He's stranded. Following a muddy path leads him to a castle that appears to be deserted. But inside is Corbenic, a magnificent hotel filled with rich people preparing for a banquet—and Cal is their guest of honor. During the meal, he experiences a disturbing vision, but when he is asked to talk about what he has seen, he denies it. What if he's becoming crazy, like his mother? When Cal wakes the next morning, the elegant castle turns out to be nothing more than an abandoned ruin. But something inside him has changed—he now knows he needs to right the wrongs in his life. It will be a difficult journey, and if Cal achieves his goal, it will not be without cost. The first step—he must return to Corbenic.
Is Corbenic appropriate for my child?
Suitable for most readers 13 and up.
This YA fantasy explores mental illness themes through an Arthurian-inspired journey. Cal worries about inheriting his mother's mental health struggles while experiencing visions in a mysterious castle that may or may not be real.
What to know going in
This book has mild violence, no sexual content, and mild language. Content notes include mental illness and anxiety.
Who'll love this
Teens will connect with Cal's journey to understand himself and fix his mistakes through a mysterious castle that appears and disappears.