You may only know him from his award-winning role of Kurt Hummel on “Glee,” but Chris Colfer is also the author of the bestselling series, “The Land of Stories.” The first book in the series, “The Wishing Spell,” came out in 2012, and since then five other books have come out, making it a beloved series of six books. You may know the story – maybe you’ve read the series – about the Bailey twins, Alex and Connor, and their adventures in the fairytale world, where they meet fugitive Goldilocks, a frog prince, Queen Red Riding Hood, and many other loved fairytale characters. Whether it is fighting villains, learning about their magical family history, or travelling through the different kingdoms, the adventures of Alex and Connor are wonderfully written and extremely entertaining. The books are best for older elementary and middle schoolers, but if you are in the mood for a great fantasy novel, check out this series.

What you may not know, however, is that Chris Colfer started a prequel series. It started with a “Tale of Magic…,” which came out in 2019. The book has a different feel than the original series but is still perfect for fans of “The Land of Stories.” The main character, Brystal Evergreen (who connects to the main series), lives in a world where women are forbidden to read. When Brystal finds out she is a fairy (magic is also forbidden), she finds herself wrapped up in a world she never expected to be in. A mysterious lady named Madam Weatherberry takes Brystal and a group of young fairies to her academy of magic, where they can practice their craft.

“A Tale of Magic…” became a #1 New York Times Bestseller, and a year later Chris Colfer wrote a sequel, titled “A Tale of Witchcraft…,” which also did extremely well. The book covers themes of mental health, specifically depression – an important topic amidst the COVID-19 pandemic.

On Sept. 28, the third and final book in the series, “A Tale of Sorcery…” came out, wrapping up the series. SPOILER ALERT: read on if you’ve read the other books in the series! The third book starts off with Brystal running out of time, after making her deal with Death. She has about two weeks to live. On top of that, the Righteous Brotherhood and their Army of the Dead continue to rule one of the kingdoms and plan on attacking the others. Meanwhile, a mysterious fire is spreading, one that can chase people through the streets and even go over water. Xanthous Hayfield is the main suspect, and if he’s not proven innocent, he might be put to death.

Brystal, her friend Lucy, and an interesting group of warriors from all the kingdoms go on an adventure to find a magical book that might solve all their problems…or at least some of them.

As a fan of the “Land of Stories” I was excited when I found out about “A Tale of Magic…,” especially since it connected to the “Land of Stories” in the coolest way. I love when book series have connections to earlier books in the series, or when prequel books have connections to the main series. “A Tale of Magic…” had a different feeling than the original series, but I really liked it. A year later, when “A Tale of Witchcraft…” came out in the middle of the pandemic, I was able to dive back into the world of witches and fairies, and I really liked the book.