You’re standing in the middle of a bookstore or scrolling through a digital library, and you see it. A cover with a massive green bird, two kids, and a look of pure chaos. That’s how most people meet Alex and Conner Bailey. But then you realize there are prequels. And picture books. And spin-offs about a "Tale of Magic." It’s a lot. Honestly, the land of stories order isn't as straightforward as just counting one to six, especially if you want the full emotional payoff of Chris Colfer’s massive universe.
Most readers just grab the first book they see. Don't do that.
Chris Colfer didn't just write a series; he built a multi-generational history. If you read the prequel series first, you’ll spoil the mysteries of the main books. If you skip the "manuals" like the Treasury of Fairy Tales, you miss out on the gorgeous lore that makes the Land of Stories feel like a real place rather than just a movie set.
The Core Six: The Spine of the Story
Start here. No exceptions. The main series follows the Bailey twins as they fall into a literal book and realize their grandmother isn't exactly who they thought she was. It’s classic portal fantasy, but with a weird, modern edge.
The Wishing Spell is the catalyst. It’s the simplest of the books, mostly focused on a scavenger hunt through the fairy tale kingdoms. You’ve got Red Riding Hood (who is a total diva), Goldilocks (a wanted fugitive), and Cinderella. It feels like a Disney movie on a sugar high.
Then things get dark. The Enchantress Returns introduces a villain who actually feels threatening. By the time you hit A Grimm Warning, the stakes aren't just about getting home; they’re about an actual Napoleonic-style invasion of the fairy tale world. Colfer leans heavily into his love for history here.
👉 See also: New Movies in Theatre: What Most People Get Wrong About This Month's Picks
The back half of the series—Beyond the Kingdoms, An Author’s Odyssey, and Worlds Collide—basically turns into an Avengers-style crossover. The characters start jumping into other stories entirely. It’s meta. It’s loud. It’s very fast-paced. If you try to read these out of order, you will be hopelessly lost within three chapters.
Does the Prequel Series Matter?
The "A Tale of Magic" series is a prequel. It’s set way before the twins were born. It follows Brystal Evergreen.
Some people say you should read these first because they happen first chronologically. Those people are wrong. Reading A Tale of Magic before the main series is like watching the Star Wars prequels before the original trilogy. You’ll understand the mechanics of the world, sure, but you’ll ruin the sense of wonder.
Brystal’s story deals with much heavier themes—social injustice, legal battles, and the literal outlawing of magic. It’s more "grown-up" in its writing style than The Wishing Spell. Honestly, it’s where Colfer really found his voice as an author.
The Specific Prequel Timeline:
- A Tale of Magic...
- A Tale of Witchcraft...
- A Tale of Sorcery...
If you've already finished the main six books, these are a breath of fresh air. They explain why the Fairy Council is so dysfunctional in the future.
✨ Don't miss: A Simple Favor Blake Lively: Why Emily Nelson Is Still the Ultimate Screen Mystery
The "Middle" Books and Add-ons
Here is where the land of stories order gets messy. There are a bunch of "companion" books. Most are skippable. Some are essential for superfans.
The Ultimate Book of Secrets is basically a scrapbook. It’s fun, but it’s not a narrative. However, The Mother Goose Diaries is a legitimate goldmine. If you like the sassy, gin-drinking version of Mother Goose that Colfer created, this is a must-read. It’s hilarious. It fills in the gaps of her adventures through history, from the 1920s to ancient times.
Then there are the "Adventures from the Land of Stories" picture books and chapter books. These are mostly for younger readers. Trollbella Throws a Party is exactly what it sounds like. If you love the character of Trollbella, go for it. If not, you won't miss any plot points by skipping it.
The Best Way to Experience the Journey
If you want the "Expert" experience, follow this specific path. It balances the main plot with the lore drops.
- The Main Series (Books 1-6): Build the foundation.
- The Mother Goose Diaries: Read this after Book 6. It feels like a "cool down" after the intense finale of Worlds Collide.
- A Tale of Magic Trilogy: Dive into the past. It will make you look at the Fairy Council characters in the main series in a completely different light.
- The Land of Stories: A Treasury of Fairy Tales: This is a big, beautiful hardcover. It contains the "actual" fairy tales of that world. Reading this last is like looking at the historical documents of a country you just visited.
Why Order Actually Matters Here
You might think it’s just kids' fiction. Why be so picky about the order?
🔗 Read more: The A Wrinkle in Time Cast: Why This Massive Star Power Didn't Save the Movie
Because of the world-building. Colfer uses a "soft" magic system that slowly becomes "hard" magic as the series progresses. In the first book, magic is just... magic. It happens. By the time you get to the Brystal Evergreen books, there are rules. There are consequences. There are political ramifications for every spell cast.
If you start with the complex political landscape of the prequels, the "whimsy" of the first book might feel a bit shallow. But if you grow up with the twins, the evolution of the world feels natural.
Practical Steps for Your Reading List
Don't buy the "Complete Collection" until you’ve read the first two. Some people find the twins' bickering in the first book a little grating, but it settles down as they mature.
Go to your local library and check out the physical copies if you can. The Land of Stories is one of those series where the internal illustrations and map layouts actually add to the experience. Brandon Dorman’s art is iconic for a reason.
If you're an audiobook fan, Chris Colfer narrates them himself. Since he’s an actor (Glee, obviously), he does distinct voices for every single character. It’s basically a one-man radio play. It’s the best way to consume the Mother Goose segments specifically.
Your Action Plan:
- Acquire The Wishing Spell. Do not worry about the other 10+ books yet.
- Track the "Mirror" themes. Colfer loves symmetry. Notice how the twins' relationship mirrors the historical figures they meet.
- Save the prequels for the end. Even if you see them on sale, let them sit on your shelf until you've finished Worlds Collide. The payoff is significantly higher that way.
The series is finished now, so you don't have to wait for new releases. You can binge the whole thing. Just keep the maps handy; the geography of the kingdoms changes more than you’d think.