(5) Tree Line
Listen up, kids, Stardust might be written in the style of a fairytale, but that doesn't mean it's going to take you by the hand and guide you through the woods, er, plot. While it's pretty easy to follow a story about going on a quest to find your heart's desire, that's a way oversimplified take on this story, and the reality is that there's moral ambiguity in spades, plus secret identities, plot twists, and irony.
You could read this book and get the most superficial level of what's going on pretty easily, but to understand more of the characters' motivations and connections, you're going to have to dig a little deeper. Don't worry, though, we're here to help.