The Enchantress Returns
Here's what we found in The Enchantress Returns. Every family is different — get a report that reflects yours.
Screen for YOUR familyParent's Guide to 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.
Things to Consider
Violence
The 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
Witchcraft 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.
Scary & Intense Content
The 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.
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Additional Context
Best For Ages
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.
Good to Know
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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