Realms Review: 'Stardust'

Imagine that the magical world of Faerie was next door to your village and the only thing separating the two was a wall. That's how the village of Wall got its name, and no one is allowed past the wall except once every nine years during the market. This is the story of Stardust, a novel written by Neil Gaiman. Would you go in search of what's beyond the wall?
          Tristran Thorn, a boy who's half fairy and doesn't know it, has no interest in what's beyond the wall until he and Victoria, the girl he's in love with, spot a shooting star. Tristran offers to find the star for Victoria in exchange for whatever he desires. She agrees, thinking Tristran would never go beyond the wall, and that even if he did, he'd come back shortly. But Tristran is in love and determined. He just didn't expect his months-long journey to be filled with quite so many fantastical things, like man-eating forests, candles that transport you miles in the direction you walk in, murderous witches, and treacherous princes. And, of course, the biggest shock comes when he realizes that the star isn't a lump of rock, but a young woman.
          A promise to a loved one leads to a perilous journey, the uncovering of Tristran's real identity, and the fate of Stormhold hanging in the balance. We give Stardust 4 out of 5 stars. The story and the world are incredible, and the magic lasts with you long after you've turned the last page. The characters motives are something we can all identify with, though we felt there was room for more development. Nonetheless, it's a fun tale we recommend to anyone over the age of fifteen.
          Stardust came to our attention after watching the beloved film adaptation starring Robert De Niro and Michelle Pfeiffer, which adds new life and depth to the characters (and a lot more humor!) than what was portrayed in the book. Still, the novel offers more perspective into the story that the film was unable to touch on. Both version are enjoyable and we recommend them both to you.

For a look at the film adaptation, view the trailer below: