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haffina's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Moderate: Death, Murder, and Blood
Minor: Injury/Injury detail, Gore, and Fire/Fire injury
chrisljm's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
I also listened to the audiobook narrated by the author as a companion to reading it physically and Neil Gaiman is such a talented reader. He truly brings the story to life by giving it another layer of depth.
I can't wait to watch the movie after this, and then maybe after that the illustrated story.
Graphic: Violence, Animal cruelty, Blood, Fire/Fire injury, Animal death, Gore, and Murder
Moderate: Slavery, Racial slurs, Sexual content, Injury/Injury detail, and Alcohol
Minor: Grief and Racism
miss_misfit's review against another edition
Graphic: Gore and Blood
Moderate: Sexual content
macliffe's review against another edition
Moderate: Gore and Sexual content
annamorgan27's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Graphic: Gore, Sexual content, Slavery, and Fire/Fire injury
leona's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
I've seen many mixed reviews for Stardust, and although I can understand a lot of criticisms it has faced (this book definitely has some flaws / points of controversy), I greatly enjoyed this story.
It did take me quite a while to get through this relatively short book, although I am not sure if that is inherently a fault of the book, or because I've been struggling in / out of a reading slump for something like 3 months. I sometimes find it hard to distance myself between assuming that a book was only good or enjoyable if I read it as quickly / in as short a time as possible. However, for the rest of this review I will attempt to talk about it with disregard for the time I took to read it.
TO START: I definitely think this is a case where you should read the book before watching the film. I haven't watched it, which I think probably aided in my enjoyment because I had no expectations based on the film - which I believe is a lot more family friendly. This story is not for kids.
I know everyone talks about Gaiman's prose, but in this book especially, I really enjoyed the way it was written. I find Gaiman's prose incredibly digestible but it is also very engaging, and really helps to build an atmosphere in the story. I also enjoy how unusual and kind of absurdist the plot is, for instance
Tristran isn't the most interesting protagonist, and I can't say I really loved (or for the most part even liked), or related to any of the characters. I did find many of the side characters and their quirky personalities incredibly entertaining to read about though, such as the hairy man, the heirs, and even the witch-queen. I found Yvaine (the star) rather unlikeable however. SPOILER RANT INCOMING:
RANT TWO: I kind of dislike the main driving plot of bringing back the star in the first place because there is literally one scene where Tristran even talks to Victoria, and it is literally him being incredibly entitled and refusing to take NO for an answer. Several times. The whole thing is presented in a 'things you do for love', 'boys will be boys', 'young, dumb love' kind of way that I believe is potentially a bit problematic when it comes down to it. Especially how we are told that Tristran, as well as other boys and much older men, stare at Victoria, and attempt to watch her undress. In this one scene as well, Victoria is also kind of presented as rather a manipulative b*tch, because she's 'oh so attractive', because she said no, and because she 'sent' Tristran on this dangerous quest! She was just trying to make him leave her alone because he wouldn't take f*ckin NO for an answer! It's not romantic at all! It's all a bit :/
I do think that Tristran does improve significantly by the end but in a slightly annoying self-righteous way. The 'romance' between him and the star was also kind of unbelievable. (IS IT BAD I HATE YVAINE TOO??)
Really liked the ending though when he is reunited with his mother.
Although when I hesitantly moved passed the issues I bring up in my spoiler-y rant, I found myself completely attached and engrossed by this story. I loved the world of Faerie. There are many dark / gruesome scenes in this story, as well as a relatively graphic sex scene near the start, which do feel a bit out of place with the rest of the whimsy of the story, however I actually really enjoyed some of these darker elements. The witch-queen especially really felt very threatening
Overall though, for my fourth Gaiman novel, this probably won't be my favourite, but for the most part I quite enjoyed it nonetheless.
Graphic: Animal death, Blood, Death, Gore, Murder, and Sexual content
Moderate: Fire/Fire injury
amanda_mh's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.5
Moderate: Violence and Gore
Minor: Death
planetshelf's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Graphic: Blood, Death, Gore, Violence, Animal death, Fire/Fire injury, Injury/Injury detail, and Murder
Moderate: Kidnapping
Minor: Pregnancy and Sexual content
bi_n_large's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Graphic: Violence, Blood, Gore, and Animal death
Moderate: Sexual content
bibeanenergy's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Graphic: Blood and Gore
Moderate: Slavery
Minor: Racial slurs and Sexism