You’re standing in the middle of a bookstore, or maybe you're staring at a chaotic Amazon listing, and you’re trying to figure out why there are suddenly twenty different books with "Land of Stories" on the cover. It’s a mess. Honestly, the Land of Stories book series order isn’t as straightforward as a simple 1-to-6 list anymore because Chris Colfer—the Glee star turned powerhouse author—decided to build an entire multiverse.
It started with two twins, a magic book, and a fall into a world where fairy tales are real. Simple, right? Not really.
If you mess up the order, you’re going to spoil huge plot twists for yourself. You'll find out who the Masked Man is before you’re supposed to, or you'll miss the emotional weight of why Alex and Conner are so stressed out about their grandmother. Most people just grab the first book they see. Don’t do that.
The Core Hexology: The Backbone of the Series
This is where everyone has to start. No exceptions.
The main series follows Alex and Conner Bailey. They’re twins. They’re grieving their dad. They get sucked into a literal book given to them by their grandmother. It’s classic portal fantasy but with a gritty, modern edge that makes the original Grimm tales look like Disney movies.
The Wishing Spell is book one. It sets the stage. You meet the twins, you realize the Fairy Grandmother is their grandmother, and you see the Land of Stories for the first time. It’s a scavenger hunt across the kingdoms.
Then comes The Enchantress Returns. This is where the stakes get real. The woman who cursed Sleeping Beauty is back, and she’s not messing around. This book is darker. It’s where the series starts to grow up with its readers.
Third is A Grimm Warning. This is my personal favorite because it brings in the Napoleonic army. Yes, French soldiers from our world invading a magic kingdom. It’s wild.
Beyond the Kingdoms is the fourth entry. This is where the "multiverse" aspect kicks in. They aren't just in the Land of Stories anymore; they’re jumping into other literary classics. It’s meta, it’s fast-paced, and it sets up the final arc.
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An Author’s Odyssey is book five. Conner basically enters his own short stories to recruit an army. If you haven't read his "Starwatch" or "Galaxy Queen" spinoff ideas, some of this might feel a bit fast, but it’s crucial.
Finally, Worlds Collide wraps up the main journey. It’s the big finale in New York City. Magic meets the modern world. It’s loud, emotional, and honestly, a bit of a tear-jerker.
The Prequels: When Should You Read Tale of Magic?
Here is where the Land of Stories book series order gets tricky. Chris Colfer wrote a prequel series called A Tale of Magic.
- A Tale of Magic...
- A Tale of Witchcraft...
- A Tale of Sorcery...
Now, these take place centuries before Alex and Conner were even born. They follow Brystal Evergreen. She’s the one who basically discovers magic is real in a world where it’s illegal.
You could read these first. Technically, it’s a chronological timeline. But I wouldn’t recommend it. If you read the prequels first, you lose the "wow" factor of discovering the history of the Fairy Council in the main books. It’s like watching the Star Wars prequels before the original trilogy. You know too much too soon.
Read the main six books first. Then, dive into Brystal’s story. It provides the "origin story" context for the world's laws and the tension between fairies and witches that permeates the main series.
The "Extra" Stuff You Can't Ignore
Colfer is a machine. He’s released picture books, journals, and "manuals" that actually contain canon information.
The Mother Goose Diaries is hilarious. It’s basically Mother Goose being a chaotic drunk (well, "bubbly cider" drinker) throughout history. It’s not essential for the plot, but it fills in the gaps of her character.
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Then there’s Queen Red Riding Hood’s Guide to Royalty. It’s written in Red’s very distinct, very narcissistic voice. It’s a fun afternoon read if you’re obsessed with her character arc, but you can skip it if you just want the hard lore.
The real treasure is Trollbella's Guide to Whateva. If you know, you know. Trollbella is the breakout comedic star of the series.
Why the Order Matters for the Lore
If you jump straight into A Tale of Sorcery, you're going to be confused about the significance of the Council. The world-building in the Land of Stories book series order is additive. Colfer assumes you know the geography of the kingdoms by the time you hit book four.
He builds a complex political landscape. The Red Shoe Rebellion isn't just a funny name; it's a legitimate socio-political movement within the books. The struggle between the humans and the "animals" (who were cursed humans) is a running theme that gets deeper the further you go.
Common Misconceptions About the Series
Some people think these are just "kid books." They aren't. Not really.
By the time you get to A Grimm Warning, characters are dying. There is real loss. There’s political intrigue. Colfer doesn't treat his young audience like they can't handle big themes. He tackles abandonment, the burden of legacy, and the idea that "villains" are usually just people who were hurt and never healed.
Another mistake? Thinking the graphic novels are just repeats. The Wishing Spell: The Graphic Novel is a different experience. The art by Alessandro D'Urso brings a specific visual language to the Land of Stories that your imagination might not have captured. It’s a great way to revisit the story, but don't use it as a replacement for the prose if it's your first time through.
The Ultimate Reading Path
If you want the most impactful experience, follow this specific flow:
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- The Wishing Spell (Main Series 1)
- The Enchantress Returns (Main Series 2)
- A Grimm Warning (Main Series 3)
- Beyond the Kingdoms (Main Series 4)
- An Author’s Odyssey (Main Series 5)
- Worlds Collide (Main Series 6)
- A Tale of Magic... (Prequel 1)
- A Tale of Witchcraft... (Prequel 2)
- A Tale of Sorcery... (Prequel 3)
- The Land of Stories: A Treasury of Classic Fairy Tales (Companion)
This path lets you experience the mystery of the world first, then satisfies your curiosity about how it all started with the prequels.
Dealing with the Spinoffs
You might see Goldilocks: Wanted Dead or Alive. This is a standalone graphic novel. It fits best after book two or three. It gives Goldilocks—who is basically an action hero in this universe—the backstory she deserves. She isn't just the girl who ate porridge; she's a sword-wielding fugitive.
There's also the Adventures from the Land of Stories series, which includes things like The Mother Goose Diaries and Queen Red Riding Hood's Guide to Royalty. These are "flavor" books. Read them when you're feeling a "Land of Stories" withdrawal after finishing the main series.
The Legacy of the Land of Stories
It’s been over a decade since the first book dropped. Why does it still rank?
Because Chris Colfer understands fairy tales better than most. He realized that the original stories were meant to teach children about the dangers of the world, not just to give them happy endings. By mixing modern sarcasm (Conner’s specialty) with deep mythological reverence (Alex’s specialty), he created a bridge.
The Land of Stories book series order is more than just a list of titles. It’s a roadmap through a world that grows more complex as you age. It starts with a wish and ends with a realization that we create our own magic.
If you're buying these for a kid, start with the 1-6 box set. If you're an adult looking for a nostalgia hit or a deep dive into fairy tale deconstruction, don't sleep on the Tale of Magic prequels—they are arguably some of Colfer's best writing, dealing with much heavier themes of prejudice and systemic change.
Next Steps for Readers
To get the most out of your reading experience, start by acquiring the original hexology. Focus on the core six books before exploring the prequels or companion guides. If you are a visual learner, consider picking up the graphic novel version of The Wishing Spell to see how the character designs match your mental images. Finally, keep a map of the kingdoms handy; the geography becomes increasingly important for understanding the military movements in the latter half of the series.