Stardust Summary: Plot, Characters and Ending
Stardust follows Tristran Thorn, a young man from the English village of Wall, who promises the girl he loves that he will bring her the star they see falling beyond the wall, into the land of Faerie. He finds the star is a young woman, Yvaine, and an ancient witch and a trio of ruthless princes are also after her.
Gaiman wrote it as a fairy tale for adults, in the style of Victorian fantasy.
| Character | Who they are |
|---|---|
| Tristran Thorn | Young man from Wall |
| Yvaine | The fallen star |
| Victoria Forester | Village beauty Tristran loves |
| Dunstan Thorn | Tristran's father |
| Lady Una | Enslaved princess, Tristran's mother |
| The Lilim | Three ancient witch queens |
| Septimus | Prince of Stormhold seeking the throne |
| Madame Semele | Witch who keeps Una captive |
What is the village of Wall?
The village of Wall stands beside a stone wall with a single gap, guarded day and night. Beyond it lies Faerie. Every nine years a market is held there, and on one market day young Dunstan Thorn meets a woman with cat's ears, enslaved by a witch. Nine months later, a baby is left at the gap for him: Tristran.
↑ Back to the topWhy does Tristran go into Faerie?
Years later, Tristran is in love with Victoria Forester, who scorns him. When they see a star fall beyond the wall, he promises to bring it to her in exchange for anything she asks. Victoria laughs and agrees. Tristran slips through the gap into Faerie.
↑ Back to the topWho else is hunting the star?
The star is Yvaine, a young woman with a broken leg, furious at being dragged around. In the kingdom of Stormhold, the dying ruler threw a topaz into the sky that knocked her down, and whichever of his sons recovers it will be king; the brothers kill each other one by one. The eldest of the Lilim, three witch queens, wants to eat Yvaine's heart to regain her youth. Tristran's journey with Yvaine is full of danger, and slowly the two fall in love.
↑ Back to the topWhat happens when they return?
When they reach Wall, Tristran tells Victoria he loves Yvaine instead; Victoria, relieved, has meanwhile fallen in love with someone else. Tristran learns that his mother is Lady Una, the lost daughter of the ruler of Stormhold, enslaved by the witch Madame Semele. As the last male heir, Tristran holds the right to the throne. Yvaine cannot cross the wall into our world, or she would turn to stone.
↑ Back to the topHow does Stardust end?
The witch queen confronts Yvaine, but Yvaine forgives her and reveals that her heart already belongs to Tristran, so the witch gives up. Tristran and Yvaine travel for years before he becomes ruler of Stormhold. When Tristran dies in old age, Yvaine rules Stormhold. She never ages, and on clear nights she climbs to the highest tower to look up at the sky where she once belonged.
↑ Back to the topMore about Stardust
This summary reveals the whole plot, including the ending.