“My most educated analysis, with all means of science and technology in mind, is that it’s magic!”
—Alex Bailey.[1]
The Land of Stories: The Wishing Spell is the first children's fiction novel in The Land of Stories series written by Chris Colfer. The book was first published on July 17, 2012 by the publishing company Little, Brown and Company (a division of Hachette Book Group, Inc.), New York.
The Wishing Spell follows the journey of Alex and Conner Bailey after they plummet through their grandmother's storybook into another dimension where all the infamous fairy-tale characters reside.
On February 15, it was announced that in honor of the book's 10th anniversary, the illustrated edition would be published and released on October 11, 2022.[2] This edition will include 20 full color illustrations from series illustrator Brandon Dorman, as well as a new author's note. [3]
Publisher's Summary & Jacket Interior Summary[]
Publisher's Summary[]
"Through the mysterious powers of a cherished book of stories, the twins Alex and Conner leave their world behind and find themselves in a foreign land full of wonder and magic where they come face-to-face with the fairy tale characters they grew up reading about."
Jacket Interior[]
"Alex and Conner Bailey's world is about to change. When the twins’ grandmother gives them a treasured fairy tale book, they have no idea they’re about to enter a land beyond all imagining: the Land of Stories, where fairy tales are real. But as Alex and Conner soon discover, the stories they know so well haven’t ended in this magical land—Goldilocks is a wanted fugitive, Red Riding Hood has her own kingdom, and Queen Cinderella is about to become a mother! The twins want to get back home. But with the legendary Evil Queen hot on their trail, will they ever find the way?"
Dedications, Epigraphs & Acknowledgements[]
Dedication[]
"To Grandma, for being my first editor and giving me the best writing advice I’ve ever received: "I think you should wait until you’re done with elementary school before worrying about being a failed writer."
Epigraph[]
"Some day you will be ol enough to start reading fairytales again." -C.S. Lewis
Acknowledgements[]
"I’d like to thank my family, Rob Weisbach, Alvina Ling, Brandon Dorman, the Little, Brown team, Glenn Rigberg, Meredith Fine, Alla Plotkin, Erica Tarin, Ashley Fink, Pam Jackson, Jamie Greenberg, the cast and crew of Glee, and last but certainly not least, Hans Christian Andersen and the Brothers Grimm."
Synopsis[]
Prologue: The Queen's Visit[]
The story begins with a mysterious figure in a cloak walking down the stairs of a prison, who turns out to be Snow White. Now Queen, she is visiting her stepmother known as the Evil Queen in the dungeons. Snow White tries to find the real reason behind her stepmother's actions, not believing somebody could just be pure evil. At first, the Evil Queen refuses to tell Snow White anything, not wanting sympathy. As the young queen insists, the Evil Queen agrees to tell her story.
Chapter 1: Once Upon a Time[]
The twins are introduced, they are in a 6th grade class, taught by Mrs. Peters, and are learning about fairy tales. Alex seems to be the only one interested in the class. Meanwhile, Conner keeps falling asleep in class. Miss Peters talks to Conner about his family situation.
Chapter 2: The Longer Walk Home[]
The twins discuss the meaning of fairy tales and find out their old house is sold, which brings them deep emotions. It is then revealed that the twins father, John Bailey, passed away a year ago. Charlotte Bailey, the twins mother, is then introduced. The Bailey's reminisce John.
Chapter 3: A Birthday Surprise[]
The twins' grandmother comes over for their 12th birthday and brings gifts, among which is The Land of Stories Storybook. The book had been with their grandmother for many years and was being passed down to the twins. They were astonished.
Chapter 4: The Land Of Stories[]
Alex and Conner discover that the Storybook is a portal to another dimension. Alex falls in the book after being surprised by Conner, and Conner hops in to join his sister.
Chapter 5: From the Mouth of a Frog[]
"I've learned that the more people embrace their disadvantages, the less disadvantaged they become! Please, call me Froggy. I'd prefer it." - Froggy
Having fallen through the book to an alternate dimension, Alex and Conner find themselves along a dirt path surrounded by trees, in the Dwarf forests. Once the situation is calm again, Alex notices a poster hanging to a nearby tree. The wanted fugitive's name is Goldilocks.
This clue helps them to make the stunning realization that they are inside of the Land Of Stories book.
They are startled by a frog man - later nicknamed Froggy by Conner - who asks if they need help. At first, Alex and Conner are skeptical and scared, but the sound of wolves howling and Froggy's promise that he has no intention to harm them convinces them to follow him to his home in the forest. Once they arrive, they find out that Froggy collected many of Alex's books when they fell into the The Land Of Stories and that they are currently in the The Dwarf Forests. Froggy tells them a part of his own story and shows them a map of all the kingdoms of the fairy-tale world. He tells them about the Happily Ever After Assembly and when he finds out Alex and Conner are from a different world, he also tells them about The Wishing Spell, a spell which could transport them back to their own world. He then gives them a journal he found that was written by a man who described another world and gives directions on how to gather the items for the wishing spell.
Alex and Conner spend the night at Froggy's home as his guests, having decided to begin their journey to collect the items the next day.
Chapter 6: The Dwarf Forests[]
The twins try to get out of the dangerous Dwarf Forests but unfortunately run into the Gingerbread House Witch, The Big Bad Wolf Pack, and Goldilocks on their way out. The twins are able to outwit the witch by making her a vegetarian. Later they aid Goldilocks in fighting the Big Bad Wolf Pack. She gives them a weapon to protect themselves.
Chapter 7: Rapunzel's Tower[]
Alex climbs the tower and Conner reads the journal to find out how to start collecting items for the Wishing Spell. There, they find the first item for the spell: a lock of Rapunzel's hair.
Chapter 8: A Hidden Place[]
The Evil Queen meets with her Huntsman and his daughter and commands them to retrieve the Wishing Spell items so she can use it before Alex and Conner do, since the Spell can only be activated one more time. The Magic Mirror warns her that the spell can only be used twice and was already used once before.
Chapter 9: The Charming Kingdom[]
Alex and Conner run into a Bridge Troll, try to sneak into Cinderella's castle, are discovered, meet Cinderella, and leave without taking her glass slipper, which they came for. Later, they discover one of the slippers in their backpack, and assumes that someone put it in.
Chapter 10: The Red Riding Hood Kingdom[]
The twins meet Jack and Queen Red Riding Hood and manage to get a piece of her basket for the Spell. The Huntsman's daughter retrieves a piece of the basket for the Evil Queen as well, and Red's castle burns down after the Huntsman's daughter intentionally knocks over a lamp. They learn that Jack and Goldilocks are secretly lovers but due to Goldilocks life as a fugitive they meet in secret.
Chapter 11: The Troll and Goblin Territory[]
Alex and Conner are caught and enslaved by a troll and a goblin and brought to their territory. Over there, they meet The Travelling Tradesman mentioned in the journal. The twins manage to escape with the help of Trollbella, daughter of the Troll King, in exchange for a kiss from Conner. They decide to help the other slaves escape as well. The territory falls apart, and through the mess, the twins find one of the items for the spell (the Troll & Goblin Crown).
Chapter 12: The Fairy Kingdom[]
In order to get ahead with the spell, the twins find a distraught fairy named Trix and collect one of her tears for the Wishing Spell. They then help her at her trial before the Fairy Council and clear her name, while also addressing the problems with the Council's methods. Later they see the walking fish from their father's story who turns out to be the pink fairy Coral's pet.
Chapter 13: A Wolf Pact[]
The Evil Queen and and the leader of the Big Bad Wolf Pack, Malumclaw, make a pact to exchange the twins for Red Riding Hood.
Chapter 14: The Sleeping Kingdom[]
Alex and Conner meet Queen Sleeping Beauty. She allows them to borrow her spindle for the Wishing Spell, if they promise to bring it back.
Chapter 15: The Northern Kingdom[]
The twins find Snow White's castle. After nearly drowning in the river to get there, they find out that her glass coffin was moved to the dwarf mines. While on their way to the dwarf forests, they see the curvy tree, which again happens to be in one of their father's stories.
Chapter 16: Through The Mines[]
After a narrow escape from Malumclaw and his pack in the dwarf mines, Alex and Conner are almost taken captive by the trolls and goblins again. Conner leads Malumclaw's wolf pack back onto their trails to attack their captors. The twins escape by jumping into Mermaid Bay.
Chapter 17: Goldilocks, Wanted Dead or Alive[]
On the run for justice, Goldilocks ends up hiding in an abandoned barn that has a magic mirror. The Evil Queen talks to her through the mirror and tells her it was Red Riding Hood who set her up with the Three Bears. Goldilocks is enraged and decides to take revenge on Red.
Chapter 18: The Mermaid's Message[]
Underwater, the twins meet the Seafoam Spirit who reveals the last item they need -- her dagger, which is in the Thornbush Pit. She also asks them to destroy the dagger once they're done with it, revealing that the last man who asked for the dagger failed to do so. She gives them magical necklaces for protection from the thorns, since they pull anyone who goes near them into the pit.
Chapter 19: The Thornbush Pit[]
Alex and Conner find the dagger in the pit, but nearly perish when Conner's magic necklace breaks. Froggy saves them and tells them the Fairy Godmother is looking for them. Goldilocks has captured Red Riding Hood and wants to throw her in the pit, but the Huntress captures Red instead. The Wolf Pack then captures the twins and Goldilocks. Froggy manages to escape and goes to seek help.
Chapter 20: Heart of Stone[]
The Wolf Pack brings their captives to the Evil Queen, who tells her life story to Alex and Conner. Alex becomes emotional from hearing such a sad story. She cries; the Evil Queen collects her tears, and the spell is activated - implying that Alex and Connor are actually fairies themself.
Chapter 21: The Mirror[]
Evly performs the Wishing Spell. She wishes for her beloved Mira to come out of the Magic Mirror. Her wish is granted, but it is too late for Mira to live normally again. He is taken out of the Mirror, but immediately dies in the Evil Queen's arms. Then the castle is attacked by the Northern Kingdom army, led by Froggy and Jack. After the battle, the twins, Red and Goldilocks are free. The Magic Mirror falls on top of the Evil Queen, trapping her inside of it like Mira was. The Queen's Huntsman dies, his daughter is killed from falling off of the castle's roof while in a duel with Goldilocks, and Malumclaw is killed by a Northern Kingdom army cannonball that was fired at the castle and hit him directly. Goldilocks is pardoned for her crimes by Queen Red, but arrested in name of the Northern Kingdom anyway.
Chapter 22: Snow White's Secret[]
Queen Snow White confesses to having freed the Evil Queen out of pity. Queen Red Riding Hood reluctantly frees Goldilocks from prison and Jack, the love of her life, decides to go on the run with her.
Chapter 23: A Royal Invitation[]
Alex and Conner are invited to celebrate the birth of Cinderella's daughter, Hope, and meet with the Fairy Godmother -- who, upon meeting them, reveals that she is their grandmother.
Chapter 24: A Fairy's Tale[]
The twins learn about their family history and find out they have fairy blood, which explains Alex's tears activating the Wishing Spell for the Evil Queen. Their grandmother then sends them back to their own world.
Quotes[]
“Be Brave. Courage is one thing that no one can ever take away from you.” - Goldilocks
"A villain is just a victim whose story hasn't been told.' - The Evil Queen
“Right now, we're living in an ugly chapter of our lives, but books always get better!” - Charlotte Bailey
10th Anniversary Illustrated Edition[]
On the 15th of February, 2022, Chris Colfer announced on his Twitter that the 10th Anniversary Illustrated Edition of The Wishing Spell would be published in October, 2022 along with the cover of the illustrated edition.[2]
This special edition includes twenty plus new, fully-colored illustrations to accompany the words on the pages.
Reception[]
"It will hit big with its combination of earnestness and playful poise." (The New York Times Book Review).
"It's hard not to love [the book]...Colfer gets off many good lines [and] the nifty ending ties the plot's multiple strands up while leaving room for further fairy tale adventures." (Publishers Weekly).
"A magical debut." (Family Circle).
"Captivating." (Teen Vogue).
"In The Land of Stories, Colfer showcases his talent for crafting fancifully imaginative plots and multidimensional characters." (Los Angeles Times).
"There's more in Colfer's magic kingdoms than Disney has dreamt of." (USA Today).
Editions[]
Gallery[]
