Dismissing the Greats.

The Princess and the Goblin. A disappointing read on any number of scores. Misleading on a few others.
First, there's no one goblin. There is, however, a slew with whom--outside of a failed kidnapping--the princess has...no connection. That's right. No real abduction. No years spent slaving in the mines. No arduous but inevitable change in her captors' affections leading to release and an eventual return 'cuz she loves 'em all so much. Just lots of rancor and a division that borders on racism.
There's an age problem. She's eight, the boyhero Curdie is eleven. This makes for some juvenile dialougue and nixes the potential for any romantic plot. (All hopes for rescue, elopement--possibly even a furtive makeout scene on a dusty mine floor, post-escape--all come to nothing). Booh.
No dragons. For some reason, I thought there would be. And why the hell shouldn't I have?
Add to this my growing suspicions, while reading, that the whole thing was the author's lameass attempt at witnessing, and you end with a piece that's hard to digest.

But the scenes between the Princess and the Nurse are fantastic, and worth a shake.