The Land of Stories: The Enchantress Returns by Chris Colfer
(Format used for this read: Audiobook)
Remember when I told yall I was gonna try and take better pics of my audiobook reads?
Yeah…well…I’m kinda over that task. 🤣
I’m just NOT creative with photos yall….it just AIN’T ME no matter how hard I try.
And I think my hand looks kinda weird when I do these pics… I kinda get this bird like claw grip holding my phone and IDK…aesthetically pleasing it is NOT.
So…. snapshot of my screen is what yall get for awhile until I get some kind of marvelous divine creative inspiration from Instagram or something (which I STILL haven’t figured out…yall may as well give up on me in that area too 😆)
ANY WHO…. on to book talk….
This was the second book in Chris Colfer’s Land of Stories series.
I read the first one back in June and just ADORED IT.
(If you are interested in my review on that one, click here: https://brainglitterwithdani.com/the-land-of-stories-the-wishing-spell/ )
Yes yall…he narrated it again….and yes he even SANG A LITTLE BIT again too!
FABULOUS doesn’t even come close 😍
I straight up fangirled out on Chris Colfer on my review about the first book…and I can not promise that I will not do it again on this one.
Because he is just so friggin’ entertaining yall…..and so so so expressive.
I love the unique voices he gives every single character.
And his magical harp singing is just beautiful and also hysterical!
He really makes this SUCH an enjoyable audiobook reading experience.
Here is the official summary of book two:
“After decades of hiding, the evil Enchantress who cursed Sleeping Beauty is back with a vengeance.
Alex and Conner Bailey have not been back to the magical Land of Stories since their adventures in The Wishing Spell ended. But one night, they learn the famed Enchantress has kidnapped their mother! Against the will of their grandmother, the twins must find their own way into the Land of Stories to rescue their mother and save the fairy tale world from the greatest threat it’s ever faced.”
All the things I love in YA Fantasy books were there again just like in the first book: fairy tale characters, adventure, romance, thrills, humor and LOTS of magical things.
And I still think this reminds me of the Magic Treehouse books, except reimagined for older kids.
I do think that since Alex and Connor are getting older, the story does visit a few darker and more serious themes than the first did.
Kinda reminded me of what happened in the Harry Potter series as they progressed…..except “lighter”.
I feel like the author did dig a little deeper into the concept of what makes a “villian” who they are….he humanizes traditional “bad” characters we know from fairy tales (like Cinderella’s stepmother and Rumpelstilskin) by telling their back story and their heart’s true motivations. Is anyone truly “bad”….or “good” for that matter?
He has the reader wondering that age old question that seems to come up in so many books….and honestly just in LIFE….. “Are a person’s actions driven by their biological makeup OR their enviornmental influences?”
I really appreciated how the theme of redemption was woven thru many character’s storylines too.
Now don’t get me wrong…..some of the “evil” characters stay pretty dang evil….but he gives you glimpses into what things look like when we freely extend grace and forgiveness to others…and to ourselves.
But don’t worry…..this book isn’t all seriousness and contemplation about classic storybook characters…..
There is still TONS of fun magical adventures in the pages…along with snarky humor as well (the character of prissy Queen Red had me CRACKING UP)
Definitely as enjoyable as the first in the series….and I’m looking forward to continuing on with the third!