The Enchantress Returns
The Enchantress Returns is the second installment in Chris Colfer's "The Land of Stories" series, a middle-grade fantasy adventure book. It follows twins Alex and Conner Bailey as they embark on a perilous journey to the magical Land of Stories to rescue their kidnapped mother from the clutches of Ezmia, the notorious Enchantress who previously cursed Sleeping Beauty. The narrative immerses readers in a vibrant fairy-tale world filled with familiar characters, where the twins must collect magical items to forge a powerful wand to defeat the villain. Targeted at readers aged 8 to 12 or 10 and up, the book offers a fast-paced plot and explores themes of courage, family loyalty, and the battle between good and evil, while introducing some intense and magical elements.
Concerns
Violence
HighThe book contains numerous instances of intense violence, including direct attacks, graphic descriptions of injuries, threats of death, and a character's sacrifice. The villain, Ezmia, is particularly cruel, inflicting various forms of torture and destruction throughout the fairy tale kingdoms.
Ezmia condemns those who angered her to "various lives of torture — turning them into harps or beasts, or cursing them to death." During an attack on Sleeping Beauty's kingdom, Ezmia sends "vines to attack the people... Rumpelstiltskin could hear the screams of the wooden soldiers as their bodies thudded to the floor." Ezmia also threatens to throw Cinderella's baby and the Fairy Godmother into a fire if her demands are not met. Rumpelstiltskin ultimately sacrifices himself, diving in front of Alex to save her from Ezmia's spell and disintegrates.
Witchcraft & Occult
HighWitchcraft and occult themes are central to the narrative, as the story is set in a magical fairy tale world. Characters regularly use spells, curses, and magical objects for both benevolent and malevolent purposes. The main antagonist, Ezmia, is a powerful sorceress who utilizes dark magic to achieve her goals.
Fairies are depicted casting "spells to turn people into frogs, harps, gingerbread men." The Enchantress Ezmia "uses magic vines to crush buildings and hurt people." Both the Sea Witch and Ezmia are shown to "capture the souls of others and keep them as hostages." Conner also encounters "the ghost of a woman" during his adventures.
Scary & Intense Content
HighThe narrative contains highly intense and frightening situations. These include graphic depictions of attacks, threats of death and torture, life-threatening magical dangers, and the traumatic death of a sympathetic character. The villain's actions create a constant sense of peril.
Ezmia's vines attack Sleeping Beauty's kingdom, with descriptions of "villagers fall victim to the leafy monsters" and people being "dangling them hundreds of feet in the air." Ezmia also threatens to throw a baby into a fire and holds the Fairy Godmother over flames. Alex experiences "vivid nightmares of their mother" after she is kidnapped. Rumpelstiltskin's sacrificial death by disintegrating after being hit by Ezmia's killing spell is a deeply intense moment.
Romance and Sexual Content
MediumThe book includes mild romantic elements, primarily through implied relationships and brief, non-sensual kisses. There are also suggestive comments and mentions of out-of-wedlock birth in character backstories.
Charlotte and Bob share "several kisses," which are noted as "not described in any sensual detail." Mother Goose babbles a "rather suggestive rhyme that includes a line about rub-a-dub-dubbing with three men in a tub." Additionally, Ezmia's backstory for the Evil Queen, Evly, mentions that Evly's mother "had her out of wedlock."
Profanity
MediumThe book contains occasional mild to moderate profanity. These words are used sparingly but are present in the dialogue and narration.
Instances of profanity include the use of "oh my God" and "Good lord." Other mild objectionable words identified are "d–n," "darn," and "heck."
Substance Use
MediumThe book features instances of alcohol consumption, primarily by the character Mother Goose, who is depicted as frequently intoxicated. Alcohol is also used by the protagonists to manipulate her for information.
Mother Goose is described as being "constantly intoxicated," carrying a thermos of "bubbly" that slurs her speech and makes her drowsy. She attributes Humpty Dumpty's fall to him being unable to "hold his gin." In one scene, Alex intentionally gives Mother Goose a bottle of champagne, which Mother Goose drinks, to coax cryptic information from her.
Disrespect & Rebellion
MediumThe twins, Alex and Conner, exhibit elements of disrespect and rebellion. They defy their grandmother's wishes by venturing back into the Land of Stories. Additionally, they resort to manipulating an adult character, Mother Goose, by giving her alcohol to extract information.
Against the explicit will of their grandmother, the twins "must find their own way into the Land of Stories" to rescue their mother. Alex "later gives her alcohol until she becomes drunk and asks her for information, which she unknowingly gives," demonstrating a manipulative and disrespectful action towards an adult in a position of care.
LGBTQ & Gender Identity
LowFor "The Enchantress Returns" specifically, explicit LGBTQ+ representation or characters are not present in the main narrative. While the author, Chris Colfer, is openly gay, and later books in the series or fan discussions may feature LGBTQ+ elements or interpretations, this particular installment does not contain canon LGBTQ+ couples or overt themes. Fan discussions indicate some readers interpret flirting between female characters as a basis for 'shipping,' but this is not explicitly depicted.
A Goodreads review explicitly states, "There were no LGBTQIA+ couples or people, at all" in the context of this book. Additionally, some readers "push a lesbian agenda of shipping Goldi and Red because they are flirting without actually saying that they're flirting," indicating that any such content is implied or fan-interpreted rather than explicit in the text itself.
Anti-Christian Themes
LowThe book does not contain explicit anti-Christian themes. Christian references are minimal and presented neutrally, typically through characters' personal expressions of faith or reflections on theological concepts. The story primarily focuses on a magical fairy tale world rather than engaging with religious doctrines in a critical way.
The twins' mother states that she "prays she never has to experience the fear she felt when her children were lost in the Land of Shadows the previous year." Conner briefly wonders if it would be "awkward if his mother marries Bob and then is reunited with his father in heaven," indicating a natural childlike thought about Christian concepts of afterlife and marriage, without any critical or negative portrayal.
Other Notes
Target Demographic
Age 10 and up. This recommendation is based on the presence of intense violence, magical themes with dark elements, some suggestive romantic content, and depictions of substance use that, while mild, may be more appropriately discussed with older children. The complex plot and emotional intensity also align with a slightly older middle-grade audience.
Additional Notes
Parents should be aware that while the book is a fantasy adventure, it tackles themes of evil, loss, and sacrifice with a notable intensity for its target audience. The depiction of Mother Goose's alcoholism and the children's use of it for their advantage could be a point of discussion for families. The series progression might introduce new or intensified concerns in later volumes.
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