How Does 'The Wishing Spell' End?

The ending of 'The Wishing Spell' is a rollercoaster of emotions and revelations. Alex and Conner finally collect all the ingredients for the Wishing Spell, but the twist comes when they realize it can only grant one wish. The siblings face a heartbreaking choice—Alex wants to stay in the fairy tale world forever, while Conner desperately wishes to return home to their grieving mother. In a touching moment of selflessness, Alex lets Conner use the spell. The emotional climax hits when the Enchantress reveals she manipulated their journey all along, planning to steal the spell's power for herself. The book ends with the siblings separated—Conner back in the real world, Alex trapped in the fairy tale realm—setting up the next book perfectly. The final scenes show Conner reading his sister's journal, realizing she left clues for him to find her again.

As someone who's read 'The Wishing Spell' multiple times, the ending always gives me chills. The climax isn't just about completing the quest—it's about the Bailey twins confronting hard truths about family, sacrifice, and growing up.

When Alex and Conner finally reach the Wishing Well, the scene crackles with tension. The well's guardian, the creepy Tinderbox Elf, makes them swear to use the spell wisely. What blows readers away is the realization that the twins have been played from the start—the Enchantress orchestrated their entire journey to reclaim her lost powers. Her dramatic entrance, with that iconic line about 'stories always having villains,' changes everything.

The most gut-wrenching moment comes when Alex tearfully lets Conner escape home alone. Chris Colfer writes this scene so vividly—you can feel Alex's loneliness as she watches the portal close behind her brother. The final pages show Conner struggling to adjust back home, secretly plotting his return while reading Alex's coded messages in her journal. That last image of Alex standing in the Fairy Palace, surrounded by characters we've come to love but cut off from her family, lingers long after you close the book.

What makes this ending special is how it balances closure with anticipation. Major threads get resolved—the spell's mystery, the twins' character arcs—while opening massive doors for the sequel. The Enchantress's survival, Alex's new role in the fairy tale world, and Conner's determination to rescue her create perfect hooks for 'The Enchantress Returns.'

Let me break down why 'The Wishing Spell' ending works so well. It subverts expectations—just when you think it's a typical 'mission accomplished' finale, the rug gets pulled out. The twins' victory turns hollow as the Enchantress reveals her masterplan, making readers question every event leading up to that moment.

Colfer plays with fairy tale tropes brilliantly here. The Wishing Spell itself becomes a metaphor for childhood ending—you can't have everything, and choices have consequences. Alex's decision to stay behind shows her growth from a bookish dreamer to someone willing to face reality (ironically, in a fantasy world). Meanwhile, Conner's return home forces him to mature quickly, dealing with guilt and responsibility.

The emotional core shines through the fantasy elements. That final image of Conner clutching Alex's journal gets me every time—it's not just about finding her, but preserving their bond across worlds. The subtle setup for future books is masterful too. The mentions of other magic portals, the Enchantress's cryptic warning about 'older magic,' and Froggy's unfinished character arc all tease what's coming without feeling forced.