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Book Review of Stardust

Stardust
Stardust
Author: Neil Gaiman
Genre: Science Fiction & Fantasy
Book Type: Paperback
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Stardust (1998) is the first solo prose novel by Neil Gaiman. Stardust has a different tone and style from most of Gaiman's work, more in the style of Tolkien. The story begins in the English city of Wall, and tells of the life of Tristran Thorne.
Wall is named after an old rock wall to its east, in which there is a small opening leading to a forest. This opening is a portal to the magical world of Faerie. It is carefully guarded by two watchmen at all times, except once every nine years on May Day, when a market comes to the meadow just past the wall.
Tristran crosses into wall to retrieve a fallen star, for his sweetheart Victoria. He discovers the star to be a woman named Yvaine, who he attempts to bring back to prove his love to Victoria. On the way back to Wall they are pursued by one of three sisters that are the witch queens, who want to cut out and consume Yvaines heart to regain their youth. Using magic counteracts the effects of the star; therefore with each spell cast by the witch-queen, she grows older and uglier as the magic of the last star dwindles.
This story has a new take on the fantasy genre and well worth the read. Thought there are a few places, one quite early on, that are not for younger readers this was a story for most ages.