By Neil Gaiman

Finished 5/7/25

Pure fantasy, through and through.

This one had all the ingredients of a charming fairy-tale adventure, but for whatever reason it felt like a bit of a slog for me. The world is whimsical and imaginative in the way Gaiman does best, but it almost felt too enchanting—like everything was wrapped in velvet and moonlight without much bite underneath.

The story centers on Tristran Thorn, a young guy from a small town who promises a girl he’ll retrieve a fallen star for her. If he succeeds, she says he can have whatever he desires. So off he goes beyond the wall into the magical land of Faerie to find it.

Of course he’s not the only one searching for the star. There’s an ancient witch who wants it to restore her youth, and there are rival brothers from the royal family of Stormhold who need the star as part of their claim to the throne. The Stormhold storyline was probably the most fun part for me. The brothers slowly getting picked off one by one—and then returning as ghostly observers commenting on events—is a clever and funny touch.

The witches plotline, on the other hand, felt a little more predictable. It’s the kind of fantasy trope you’ve seen before, and it never quite rises above that.

Eventually Tristran does succeed in finding the fallen star, though things don’t unfold the way he expected. The journey ends up reshaping what he actually wants out of life. There’s also a late reveal about Tristran’s own lineage that ties everything together in a pretty classic fairy-tale way.

For me, the biggest strength of the book is its tone. It reads like a story someone might tell you by a fireplace—playful, strange, and full of little magical detours. But that same dreamy quality is also what made it drag a bit. I kept waiting for something sharper or darker to cut through all the whimsy.

Still, there are moments of cleverness and charm throughout, and you can see why it’s such a beloved Gaiman book.

Probably my least favorite of his so far—or maybe my tastes have shifted a bit since the last time I was deep in his stuff. Hard to say.

Rating: 7.25/10