First published 2001
Parzival grows up sheltered by a mother consumed with grief after losing her husband in battle. She keeps the boy ignorant of his royal blood and knightly heritage. But destiny calls, and Parzival must leave his protected world to discover his true purpose as a knight. His name means "to pierce through the middle," and his quest will take him from ignorance to understanding. Along his journey, he encounters King Arthur and the mysterious Fisherman, a failed guardian of the Holy Grail. Parzival must find the sacred cup and unite it with the earth, transforming himself from a naive youth into a healer. His swashbuckling adventures lead him through wounding toward insight, as he learns what it truly means to be a knight. The story follows his evolution from innocence through trials to wisdom, as he fulfills his destiny in a quest that will heal both himself and the world around him.
Genres: literary-fiction, historical-fiction, adventure, fantasy
Vibes: atmospheric, emotional, thought-provoking
Tropes: chosen-one, quest, transformation
Setting: Heaven
Period: Medieval
240 pages · Hardcover · Thorsons