A review by cryptarch
The Princess and the Goblin by George MacDonald

adventurous funny hopeful lighthearted mysterious reflective fast-paced

• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

This, and its sequel The Princess and Curdie are classics of my childhood. Make sure you read an unabridge copy, as the abridgements make the books flat and drab.
George MacDonald is a master of the magical fairy-tale, and that is exactly what this is. But it is a fairy tale with more thought and depth than one can find in the Brother's Grimm or Hans Christian Anderson.  

I've read these multiple times, and every time I get something new from them which, to me, is a mark of masterful writing.  The Princess and the Goblin is a coming of age story for the title character. 

They are beautiful, and surprisingly deep. Both of the main characters grow and change, the titular Princess has layers and is heroic in her own right. There is a spiritual level of the books, not at all dogmatic, but in keeping with MacDonald's own spirituality. There is a purity and goodness to the book that manages to avoid being saccharine, and instead brings its own mystery and depth. 
These books, while fast paced, are also not for those who get annoyed by rich descriptions and tangents. Personally, I love both of those things, so to me, they're perfect.