Queen Red Riding Hood's Guide to Royalty

The Land of Stories #Companion

by Chris Colfer

Fairy tales are just the beginning.
The Masked Man is on the loose in the Land of Stories, and it's up to Alex and Conner Bailey to stop him... except Alex has been thrown off the Fairy Council, and no one will believe they're in danger.
With only the help of the ragtag group of Goldilocks, Jack, Red Riding Hood, and Mother Goose and her gander, Lester, the Bailey twins discover the Masked Man's secret scheme: He possesses a powerful magic potion that turns every book it touches into a portal, and he is recruiting an army of literature's greatest villains!
So begins a race through the magical Land of Oz, the fantastical world of Neverland, the madness of Wonderland, and beyond. Can Alex and Conner catch up to the Masked Man, or will they be one step behind until it's too late?
Fairy tales and classic stories collide in the fourth adventure in the #1 "New York Times "bestselling Land of Stories series as the twins travel beyond the kingdoms--now in paperback!

Genres: Fantasy, Middle Grade, Fiction, Fairy Tales, Retellings, Young Adult, Childrens

128 pages, Hardcover

First published November 24, 2015

About the author

Chris Colfer is an Emmy-nominated and Golden Globe-winning actor best-known for his portrayal of Kurt Hummel on the FOX television series "Glee".

He is also a New York Times bestselling author whose books include the first three novels in the "Land of Stories" series ("The Wishing Spell", "The Enchantress Returns" and "A Grimm Warning") as well as "Struck By Lightning: The Carson Philips Journal" which is a novelization based on the script he wrote for the film "Struck By Lighting" (Colfer also co-produced and starred in that movie).

Reviews

[Thibaut Nicodème · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm a sucker for Colfer's humor, what can I say.

[Mimi 'Pans' Herondale · Rating 5 out of 5]

'Queen Red Riding Hood's Guide to Royalty' was an amazing book, and definitely one of my favorite books of all time.

I absolutely loved every part of it, and I would totally recommend it to Land of Stories lovers, such as myself!

[Sir Readalot · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really can't wait to read this book. When I read the First three land of stories Queen Red was one of my favorite chacters. And she has pretty messed up ways of being Queen.

[Rylynn S]

OMG I WAS QUEEN RED FOR HALLOWEEN AND I JUST LOVE HER!

[Claire · Rating 1 out of 5]

This is just ridiculous and I am tempted to call money spinner on this.

I didn't feel like the voice is Red's. The book isn't even funny. I did not laugh at all while reading this. Also the messages in the book are confusing and contradictory. I liked that she encouraged you compliment yourself but then goes on the state that everyone will judge you no matter what and be wary of others complimenting you. It's true people will judge but why should that bother us regular folk?

The biggest issue I have with this book is regarding the relationship of Froggy and Red. Basically, the book raises the fact that Red is dating Froggy in a "cross-species" relationship. This is a relationship that I have always just accepted as something that simply is. That fact that it is a frog/human never really occurred to me as something I should be worried about. However, this book calls it into question and forces us to look at it. And it is a non too subtle stance on gay equality.

Have people been discussing this? That a frog and a human have fallen in love? Froggy is technically human but was cursed by a witch and is now more comfortable as a frog. No one ever questioned the love the Kermit the Frog and Miss Piggy or Gonzo and Camilla?

[Hazel · Rating 1 out of 5]

Now that I know what Queen Red Riding Hood is really like, like, under the hood, I can BARELY stand that stuck snobb.

[Feyre · Rating 2 out of 5]

I would hope by now they're sophisticated enough to realize love is love.

1.5 stars
As much as I love TLoS, this companion was not for me. Turns out I cannot stand Red for longer than a short mention in the original series. This book made me dislike her even more. The half star is simply for Chris Colfer's writings style and the quote above.

[Maggie · Rating 5 out of 5]

5⭐️ ~ A fun, quick read! It’s been a few years since I read The Land of Stories series, but I remembered enough to get most of the references, and I think it still would’ve been entertaining even if I hadn’t read The Land of Stories series!

Red’s hilarious, and if I ever end up running a kingdom, I know which book I’ll consult first 😂

[Liz · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pretty hilarious. I mean, one of the chapters is called "Peasants Are Like Pets"... I think some of the "praise" on the first page sums it up:
"Red uses her unique voice to share clever political insight in a style no one else but the queen can get away with." -Froggy
"I didn't think Red could write, but she definitely wrote this." -Conner
"Just like Red, her book is a piece of work." -Goldilocks
"Red never ceases to amaze me." -Jack

[Lady Darcy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hilarious! It was short but sweet, and definitely one that will make you laugh, cringe, and for sure mentally facepalm. But none the less, Chris Colfer has impressed us once again! And to quote Queen Red, "You can't please everyone, so make sure to please yourself!" Please yourself and read this book!

[Stephanie Jones · Rating 1 out of 5]

My kid and I hated Red Riding Hood. It just felt like a book of her constant entitlement. It is supposed to be funny but my 7 year old and I just did a hard pass after we finished her story and put down the book before getting to the end.

[Parker (Paperback Parker) · Rating 3 out of 5]

3/5 stars.

This was alright! Definitely a quick, entertaining read. But Red has never been my fave character in “The Land of Stories” universe, so I didn’t love this unfortunately.

I think there are some good bits in it! I will say that my absolute favourite part was whenever she referred to William Shakespeare as “William Shakyfruit” 😂😂😂

[hajar (free palestine) · Rating 5 out of 5]

i love red sm

[Lanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Red Riding Hood is definitely my most favorite character out of the enter series. Out of a large cast of kooky and colorful characters, her voice rings the clearest. She's outrageous & ridiculous.

Red is an oblivious, narcissistic and idiotic twit.

At first glance.

But seriously, folks. Red is honestly a lot less of a vain idiot than she appears.

If she was truly as vain as she first seems, then could she have really have moved passed Froggy's outward appearance & come to love him for his heart? & if she were so dumb, she would have tried to run EVERYTHING by herself, yes? Instead, she actually gives important jobs to people and animals who actually seem to know what they are doing. Such as the 3 blind mice as the judges. (Which is also fucking hilarious. Cause justice is blind, get it?) it takes smarts & a dash of humility to actually admit and accept help from others. & in her own odd way, Red is actually rather considerate. Her attempts to accommodate her fellow royals at her party were hilarious in their absurdity, but I do think she had their well being and feels at heart.

& oddly enough, she actually had some decent leadership advice sprinkled throughout her book.

Such as a monarch needing to look the part, because the ruler will be the very face of the nation & that no one will take a ruler seriously if they look like a slob.

Or that, as a leader, you will be blamed for the bad things you're people do, even if you personally didn't do anything wrong.

Or that if you don't know how to do something, hire people (or sheep and pigs) who do.

& some more personal things can be learned from Red as well. Like, you can't please everyone. So at least please yourself. And, it's ok to flatter yourself & boost your own confidence. :)

& the absolutely beautiful & not so subtle message about how love is love & it's beautiful no matter what. Totally talking about lgbtq+ marriage equality there. :D it's actually handled pretty well, getting the author's personal ideas across using Red & Froggy's relationship as a basis without making it to awkward or preachy like in the mother goose book.

I also absolutely love the part where she talks about how she spent so long going after jack, thinking he was perfect for her, but eventually finding love in the exact opposite of what she was looking for. "He's not perfection, but he's perfect for me."

It's actually a very sweet thing. Learning that happiness & love can come from the most unlikely places, and we should never limit our searches.

All in all, this book was fucking adorable. :) the style was so perfectly "red"! From the beautiful illustrations, to the praise her friends gave her book, to the reading suggestions, this book was delightfully funny and surprisingly insightful.

I highly recommend this to anyone who loves humor and "the land of stories."

[✧ hayley (the sugar bowl) ✧ · Rating 4 out of 5]

➳ 4 ⋆ ˚｡⋆୨୧˚

╰┈➤ ”i had 12 of my favorite portraits of me hung so we would have something pleasant to look at while we ate.”

i have always loved red and this was so much fun!! i love that she got a happy ending (who needs jack right lol) and she’s just so hilarious.

red has always been my favorite character in this series (with the exception of mother goose obviously) and i just love her personality. she’s such a simple but also very complicated character and honestly i relate to her a lot.

we stan a basket-loving queen 👑 ✨


୧ ‧₊˚ 🍓 ⋅ ☆

[ella · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was honestly 2.5 stars. Red was just too... irratating. I didn't find much of a point to the book and only liked at least one chapter.

[Cora · Rating 5 out of 5]

Try to read this with a serious face. I dare you.





You won't make it past the first page.

[emilia carreño · Rating 4 out of 5]

Este libro me gusto mucho, nunca te aburres. Siento que fue un poco corto, pero aun así me encanto porque era de comedia y además era muy entretenido. Es un libro que le entiendes muy bien y es perfecto para leerlo en poquito tiempo.

[Lauren Conner · Rating 4 out of 5]

Super fun and easy read! I am impressed with how authentic and real the author makes Queen Red Riding Hood be with the words he uses and the way he writes. I feel like I can picture what she is truly like and how she would act/behave if this were a true story.

[maysri??? · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was funny and shows you the inside of the crazy,self absorbed, Queen Red Riding Hood

[sophia · Rating 5 out of 5]

She's so funny. "Peasants are like pets" oh my gosh. Loved it. Great companion.

[Lindsay · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really liked this book. It is from the perspective of a spoiled queen and she says a lot of funny stuff. This book was really short and it made me laugh so I would recommend it to anyone.

[Kylie Olive · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pretty sassy for a queen but good

[Elinor Loredan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Colfer cleverly and hilariously gives us more of Red--one of my favorite characters despite her glaring flaws. She offers some good advice, but her execution and examples are, of course, horrendous. Very funny and enjoyable.

The only thing that annoyed me (as it often does in Colfer's recent books) is that Colfer tries to integrate current issues, particularly ones that address his own personal life. Just leave it alone! Especially for a kid's series. I don't need more "real life" in the books I read.

[Tamara · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not quit what I expected.

I never really liked Red in the “Land of Stories” to begin with but reading this made me hate her even more and I actually like the tale of Little Red Riding Hood.

It is good for younger kids though & written very well.

Reading it though made me not like Red and just not like this overall. I don’t like putting the star ratings in my reviews but giving it 3-Stars (at least for me) is quit generous.

[Katniss10 · Rating 3 out of 5]

Expectation - Just reading for fun while bored.
Verdict - It took true tenacity to write the word 'verdict' in a review of this book. And tenacity is something Queen Red does not lack. Yep, this was exactly as I expected. It spent time and I had fun reading it. I'm happy.
Reread - Nope.
Recommendation - Sure.

[BrUcEq · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really liked the book but the thing I like most about red's book is how she says Shakespeare is called shakyfruit. It made me laugh really hard.

[River · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a delightful companion, though I don’t think I would reread it along with the series when I do that eventually.

[Chloe Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

she’s funny i like her. i read this in like an hour

[Vivienne Jolliff · Rating 4 out of 5]

Funny and after reading the 6 Land of story books it is delightful to see how the posh Queen Red runs her kingdom.