This book was written by George MacDonald, a Christian theologist who was famed as one of Tolkien's main influences and the mentor of Lewis Caroll. Both referred to his influence numerous times throughout their lives. Caroll even stated that he would have never published a certain Alice book without MacDonald's encouragement. I can only imagine what the world of art and stoners would have been without it.

Despite being a devout Christian, he had a knack for synthesizing folkloric and scientific views, Christian motifs of floods, and the connections between comfort and severity. He was one of the first to use fantasy to explore the human condition, influencing generations of authors, novelists, cartoonists, and filmmakers.

After publishing the book, he wrote to his wife, 'I know it is as good a work of the kind as I can do, and I think it will be the most complete thing I have done.' Thirty illustrations by Arthur Hughes also followed the first publication. Each edition thereafter included illustrations, some new, some old.

The story is rather simple yet follows all the exciting beats of a classic adventure book. A young princess and a young lad from a lower class are intertwined by fate and adventure and, in the end, defeat the evil threat by relying on one another. Today might sound cliche, but at least for me, the best stories were written with individuality and interhuman connection in mind, where two individuals overcome their faults to become better for themselves and for one another.

Of course, I won't spoil the story any further. If you love old Disney cartoons, fairy tales, and folk tales, you owe it to yourself to read this one, too. Or just read another Enemies to Lovers book—I heard four new ones were released today!