Stardust

Title: Stardust
Author: Neil Gaiman
Pages: 288

(NON-SPOILER INFO)
What would you do for love? When young Tristan Thorn promises the beautiful Victoria Forester anything she wants for her hand in marriage, she asks for the impossible, the fallen star that she just saw. And so Tristan must cross from his world of Wall into the realm of Faerie. But Faerie is a magical land where anything can happen including; talking trees, pirate lightening catchers, witches, evil lords, humans trapped in animal form, and a fallen star that is really a woman. Can Tristan protect the star and make his way back home to Wall?

(SPOILER INFO)
The story starts out with young Dunstan Thorn getting ready for market day, the one day every nine years when the citizens of Wall cross the boundary into Faerie. When Dunstan offers a strange man his own home, the man promises Dunstan anything his heart desires. The next day Dunstan crosses over Wall and finds a beautiful young slave girl and they share one magical day together. Nine months later Dunstan Thorn finds a baby next to the gap in the wall with a note naming him Tristan Thorn. At the age of 17 Tristan promises his love, the lovely Victoria Forester anything she wants, if she will give him her hand in marriage. At that moment Tristan and Victoria see a falling star and Victoria requests that Tristan bring her the exact star they just saw. So Tristan sets off into Faerie. But he is shocked to find out that the fallen star is actually a girl named Yvaine. Meanwhile, the three lords of Stormhold are also looking for the fallen star. For which ever surviving member of the Stormhold king finds the star will inherit the kingdom. But the lords of Stormhold aren’t the only ones looking for Yvaine. Three witch sisters, want to find the star and cut out its heart so that they can revive their youth. And so the race is on. And Tristan must protect the star and get her back to Wall so that he can claim the hand of Victoria.

(VERDICT)
4 out of 5 stars! I really liked this book BUT I think I would have absolutely LOVED it, if I hadn’t already seen the movie. My favorite bits were the part not included in the movie like the Unicorn and the talking tree! So go read this book, and then rent the movie.