The Land Of Stories: The Enchantress Returns By Chris Colfer

This book is one of the most thrilling and exciting books that I’ve read in a very long time. Alex and Conner’s second journey through The Land Of Stories is amazingly teaching and inspiring as we watch the twins go on outstanding adventures with love, hope, courage, strength, and wisdom. It has twists and turn that will leave your mouth agape, heart-pounding action, and emotion that makes you really relate with the characters. In the end, we learn that adventures are better when you are with those who you love and to always put your loved ones first.

The Land Of Stories: The Enchantress Returns, by Chris Colfer, takes place partly in the real world (America) and the other half in a fairytale book (The Land Of Stories). 14 year old Alex and Conner have just returned from The Land Of Stories and are finally getting back into the swing of things, aside the fact that their grandmother has completely lost contact with them and is ignoring all of their attempts to reach her. This is concerning, but one day they come home to see flowers for their mother at home. They’re from one of her work “friends” and the twins don’t like it. With all the stress of the grandma M.I.A and Dr. Bob getting them a puppy and asking to propose to their mom and it seems like nothing could get worse, they come home to find their grandma saying that their mom has been kidnapped! After setting up guards around the twins’ house, their grandma leaves them to hunt for their mom. The twins object, wanting to come, but their grandma refuses to let them come and leaves a baby sitter: Mother Goose! While under the influence of “sparkling water”, Mother Goose lets it slip from her lips that Ezmia the Enchantress has kidnapped the twins’ mom. Both furious and eager, Alex sets out on her bike to her grandmother’s house to find a way to her granny’s house. Her brother soon follows her and they find themselves in yet another portal to the fairytale world. Will they be able to stop the enchantress and get their mom back? Read the book to find out!

Since The Land Of Stories takes place partly in a fairytale world, it’s bound to have sickening twists and turns. Frequently I found myself just staring at the book with my eyes wide, not believing what I just read. One example is when the twins figure out that their mom has been kidnaped. Since she is such a beloved character, we feel bad for her and are equally as terrified as her. “‘Children, what I’m about to tell you is going to seem very frightening,’ she said. ‘But I need you to be strong and trust that many qualified people are handling the situation.’ The twins nodded impatiently. Any news was better than no news. ‘I believe your mother has been kidnapped,” their grandmother informed them. They were wrong; having no news was much better than knowing this,”(page 74). At this part I was so shocked like the twins and I felt really bad that their mom was missing.

In all of his novels, Chris Colfer makes sure to put in heart pounding action to keep up the excitement for the readers, and this skill is especially shown in specifically this book. At many times I found myself reading the most exciting action that makes it incredibly hard to put down. One example of this is when the twins go to their grandma’s house to find a portal to the fairytale world and they ended up having a Narnia experience, meaning a painting flooded their house. “‘I was worried for a second that water was going to spill out the-’ CRASH! A tidal wave of water crashed through the windows by the front door. The twins screamed and ran to the back of the cottage. CRASH! Another tidal wave came rushing toward them from the back. CRASH! Water came gushing through every door and every window and flooding the cottage.[…]They felt like they were sinking-and sinking fast. They were already waist-deep in water.[…]He took a deep breath and dove underwater. Alex was quick to follow him. They swam across the cottage to the front door.[…]They pulled themselves past the front door and discovered the cottage was no longer in the mountains, but in a large, murky body of water. It sank below them and into the dark, watery depths,”(page 125-126). As you can see, this part is very exciting, and it made me feel really stressed. I didn’t want them to sink their grandma’s house, but I wanted them to find a way to the fairytale world.

Last, the book has emotions that make you relate to the characters. Constantly I would find myself either having pity for one of the characters or being scared for them. One example of emotion in this book is when Ezmia, The Evil Enchantress, “kills” Alex and everyone in the fairytale world who cares about her witness it, including Conner. “The Enchantress pointed her finger at her, and with a bright violet flash, Alex was blasted out of the coliseum and into the sky. ‘ALLLEEEXXX!’ Conner screamed, as did everybody else, from on the wall. It happened so fast Alex wasn’t even sure what had happened. The last thing she heard was her brother’s scream; the last thing she saw was a bright flash and then the coliseum suddenly becoming smaller and smaller as she soared farther and farther into the air,”(page 465). At that part I was overcome with emotions. I was feeling sad and needing like Conner for Alex; while also feeling terrified for what to come for Alex.

Throughout the book, Alex and Conner (and the rest of the characters) were frequently teaching me lessons about loyalty, love, courage, honesty, and trust. We learn to cherish moments with your loved ones and to always put friends and family first. Overall, I give The Land Of Stories: The Enchantress Returns a 5 out of 5 stars: a must have!

Llego muy rápido y mi hija está encantada leyéndolo

‘The Land of Stories: The Enchantress Returns’ by Chris Colfer

“As long as someone remains standing with a noble heart there will always be a way for good to triumph over evil.”

Upon finishing this book, one simple fact dawned upon me: Chris Colfer, much like his main character Conner, was born to write. He is a gifted story-teller, and a respectable writer. More often than not, it seems that celebrities who establish themselves by a means other than writing and then attempt to write fail miserably at it. But Chris Colfer is a definite exception to this rule. We know he can act. We know he can sing. We know he is brilliant. We know he inspires people. And now we know he can write. Is there anything this guy cannot do?

These books represent a fresh approach on some of our old, favorite stories. When reading ‘The Land of Stories: The Enchantress Returns,’ I am instantly welcomed by characters that I know – characters I grew up loving: sleeping Beauty, Cinderella, Little Red Riding Hood to name just a sampling. I instantly feel at home. But then I am introduced to Conner and Alex, two characters I have only recently just met, and I somehow feel as if I’ve known them forever. The fact that I can feel so at home in a world that is always changing is nothing short of magic itself.

I love that this story enabled me to get reacquainted with my old fairytale friends. But I learn that there is much more to their stories. Chris Colfer reignites my love of these stories as he forces me to use my imagination and see things I never before had seen. His take on the stories we all grew up with is so enlightening; and his ability to creatively master the interconnectivity of each story is remarkable. Magical. Sure, every child always imagined there was more to these stories, these characters, and that the worlds must all somehow be connected; but, taking this adventure with Conner and Alex was just as thrilling for an adult. It brought me back to a time when I believed anything was possible. And the story made me realize this is a feeling I need to hold on to – a feeling I will cherish.

This book has aspects inspired by all of our favorite stories – even ‘Harry Potter.’ And just like with J.K. Rowling, Chris Colfer has a true knack for story-telling. But it is more than that. He does something no other author has done so well: he manages to – successfully – combine all of the greatest fairytales into one universal, magical world. I can understand why main characters Alex and Conner were so fascinated by The Land of Stories. Even the darkest times would feel somehow more hopeful – more alive – with the knowledge that magic exists. In fact, the energy I felt when reading this book – the true entertainment and happiness – could be called an act of magic. Or maybe it was just impeccable story-telling. : )

Either way, the only thing I regretted about this book was that it eventually ended. I can’t wait for the next story. Thank you, Chris Colfer, for helping me believe in magic all over again.

I recommend this series to anyone who likes fairytales, adventure, or fantasy. It’s a great read aloud, too. There are lots of strong female characters. Magic and stories intertwined and a sibling duo who work together to save the world/s. The only thing I can say critically is there’s not much representation: most human characters are white, there’s no lgbtq characters so far, no disabled people, etc. But, this was the writer’s first series and he was young. I’m hopeful future books are more inclusive.