July 23, 2020 Ally Aldridge TV, What have I been watching?, YouTube

My favourite redheads from cult TV

I’ve been busy lately, not that I have much to show for it. And, I realised it’s been a while since I shared a What To Watch list.

Here are my favourite redheads from popular TV Series.

Jessica from True Blood

At first I found this show difficult to watch because of the strong accents and I wasn’t prepared for all the sex. But, the show grew on me and Jessica was such an awesome character.

She starts off as a sweet religious girl, forced into the vampire world. As she adapts to her new life, and power, this good girl discovers her bad side…

Cheryl from Riverdale

This show is based on the Archie comics. The series starts with Cheryl and her twin brother dressed in white, going out onto the lake in a boat. But tragedy awaits the siblings when a soggy Cheryl makes it to shore but her brother is dead.

During the show Cheryl has many more iconic moments, like walking out of her home she’s set on fire and helping her friends armed with a crossbow.

Lydia from Teen Wolf

Lydia is popular, beautiful and intelligent. Who wouldn’t want to be her? Usually these characters are made to be a bitch but Lydia got a great story arc.

This redhead is a banshee and the storyline was great. Popular, beautiful, intelligent and now powerful too – what’s not to love?

Sanza from Game of Thrones

Sanza’s character went through a lot of challenges. She was forced to marry awful men as a lady – she was raped and physically and emotionally abused.

Don’t worry, by the end she is reunited with her siblings and they raise up against their enemies. Sanza now had power and realises she doesn’t need a man.

Willow from Buffy the Vampire Slayer

Willow started out as Buffy’s geeky friend. She was the sidekick. As the series progressed, Willow decided she needed a way to fight demons too and learnt witch craft.

Willow’s magic kept getting stronger and when her girlfriend is shot, she becomes the most powerful witch ever! It’s awesome! If only she could have tapped into her potential without such a great loss.

Claerie from Shadow Hunters

Clary thinks she’s an ordinary girl. She’s into her art and draws symbols in her pictures. She has no idea she’s destined to become a Shadow Hunter.

The Shadow Hunter’s are kind of like the police of the underworld (a bit like Buffy). The other characters in the series really compliment Clary and I love the werewolf, vampires and faeries.

Good Girls

Beth and her friends are just regular women trying to get through life and raise their kids. But, unfair things are screwing with their lives.

The girls take drastic action to fix their desperate financial woes… and rob a store. This act gets them wrapped up with a dangerous gang. Now they’re in deep with noway out and trying to keep their criminal records squeaky clean.

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March 24, 2020 Ally Aldridge Book Genre, Books, Contemporary, Fantasy, Review, Romance, Young Adult

Book Review: Wiccan Romance – Amelia’s Story by Nicola Hebron

This book was on my to buy list and then I won a signed copy in a completion on Twitter. There is something special about a physical signed book and I will treasure it forever.

The Beginning

Amelia is a quadruplet and a hereditary witch. In their garage, their dad teachers her and her brothers the history of their kind and how to control their powers. Each of them will master an element.

Amelia is crushing on Aiden, her brother’s best friend. During some sibling fallout over dog walking duties, Aiden offers to accompany her as he has to walk his dog.

The Middle

It doesn’t take Amelia and Aiden long to figure out their chemistry. With the blessing of her brothers, Aiden asks her out…

But, just as things are going well, the family receive a guest demanding the family honour an ancient promise. Edward believes that their families are to be joined in marriage and he strongly believes he is supposed to fulfil that promise by wedding Amelia.

The family then try to figure out away out of the promise, however, Edward is extremely persistent. His sister Emily is the complete opposite and when she starts Amelia’s school they quickly become friends.

Meanwhile, a rival Wiccan family plot to steal Amelia’s and her brother’s magic. They believe it was originally theirs and want it back. The rival witches are stalking Amelia and attack her whilst walking the dogs with Aiden. Amelia has to use her powers to fight them off.

Amelia has to lie to Aiden about what happened as he can’t know about magic unless they all agree to tell him. Aiden knows Amelia is not being honest with him. He learns about the Edward situation and gets jealous. They break up. Aiden then hooks up with the rival witch (he has no idea about witches). Amelia finds out and it breaks her heart.

Now Amelia is single, Edward gets more pushy. In the end, things get violent and her brothers have to throw him out their home. One of the brothers realises that the prophecy says nothing about who should marry who and maybe one of them could marry Emily to join the families.

Aiden realises what an idiot he is and begs her brothers to let him make up with Amelia. At first they won’t let him anywhere near her but seeing her so upset, they give in. Amelia and Aiden make up and the siblings reveal their magical secret.

The End

Aiden is captured by the rival witches and taken to a cave. The siblings work together on a plan but Amelia can’t wait and sneaks off alone to rescue Aiden. Amelia discovers it is a trap to force her to surrender her powers in return of Aiden’s release. Amelia is about to give up her magic for love when her brothers arrive. Together the siblings use their magic together to fight the rival witches and free Aiden.

Afterwards, Aiden realises how much Amelia loves him to surrender her magic. They have a happy ending.

Final Thoughts

This novel was a sweet romance, it has a very innocent feel of first love. The world building of magic is very subtle and natural. Nicola has woven the magic into the story and made it a natural part of their life. It makes it easy to embrace and follow.

Whilst reading this I picked up on a few Riverdale vibes. If you like Riverdale look out for those Easter Eggs. It was fun to spot them.

This novel is written in third person which isn’t my preference but I think it is useful as a writer to read different styles as you can learn a lot from other authors and how they deliver their stories.

I am curious to discover what’s next in the series and heard that book 2, Sam’s Story, was released at the end of February.

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July 15, 2018 Ally Aldridge Personal, What have I been watching?

What to watch if you love witches!

This month, I thought I would share with you some of the best TV series and movies to watch if you love witches.

Movies

Practical Magic

Genre: Fantasy Romance

This film is based on a novel by Alice Hoffman, a best selling author. If you haven’t checked out her novels, I recommend them.

The film is about the sisters overcoming a curse to find true love and keep their man. It is just as much about the bond of sisters as it is about magic, curse and romance.

The Craft

Genre: Fantasy/Teen Drama

The main characters are the girls that don’t fit in and I think we have all felt like that which makes them instantly likeable. They become ‘sisters’ and unlock the secrets of witch craft enabling them to make their biggest wish come true.

This is the sort of story I would love to write. Maybe, one day…

Hocus Pocus

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2UUMsInka2s

Genre: Childrens

This film is by Disney so you know it is going to be good. The three sisters are absolutely hilarious and today you can find memes online from the film. “Sisters!”

Kiki’s Delivery Service

Genre: Childrens/Anime

This is from Studio Ghibli famous for their brilliant Japanese animation films. This film is about a young witch finding work at a small seaside town. She makes friends becomes part of the community and improves her broomstick flying skills. It’s a sweet story about believing in your self and trying your hardest.

The Witches

Genre: Childrens This is based on a Roald Dahl novel. As a child the book was terrifying and I found the film scary in parts too. The child hating witches are from children’s nightmare but do not fear, as it is a children’s film, the brave little boy (or mouse) and his grandma, will stop their wicked plan!

Televison

Witches of East End

Genre: Fantasy/Drama

The mother has kept the truth from her daughters that they are witches but it is about to come out. This series follows the daughters discovering and learning their powers and all the trouble that comes with it. Family secrets are uncovered and deadly truths.

American Horror Story (Season 3)

Genre: Horror

Of all the American Horror Story seasons I have watched, this one of my favorite as I loved the magic of the witches. Each season is a new story so you don’t need to watch the previous seasons to watch this one. It is a horror series aimed at adults so you can’t watch this with the kids.

The Secret Circle

Genre: Fantasy/Teen Drama

This series was great. The main character doesn’t know she is a witch as her mother has tried to keep her away from it all. When her mum dies, she goes to live with her grandmother and discovers she is a witch. With her return the circle is complete and the local teen population’s powers are fully awoken and now, others are coming for them.

Salem (series)

Genre: Historical/Horror

This period drama is about witches hiding in plain sight. It is gory, nasty and twisted. These are not your sweet love potion witches, these are the ones that manipulate and have the power. It’s gory in places but has a lot of the traditional nastiness of witches like demon worship and familiars like reptiles (toads, snakes, etc).

Bewitched

I loved this show. It is a little dated as it’s set in a time when the dutiful housewife runs around after their husband but there is a very wholesome sweetness about this show. There’s the meddling mother, the nosy neighbour and crazy aunt Clara.

A few years later, a film with the same name based was created based on the TV show starting Nicole Kidman.

Just add magic

I started watching this when I had Amazon Prime but never finished it. First impressions, it is a great series for young girls (and those that enjoy kids shows). The main character discovers a ’cookery’ book. It turns out to be a spell book. The friends start using the ’recipes’ to help although often something goes wrong. Magic is so unpredictable.

Many more…

There are many more TV series and films with witches in and I’ll probably kick myself later when I remember those I should have included.

My all time favourite witch has to be Willow from Buffy but that isn’t until towards the end of the series. At the start she is just the nerdy best friend of the slayer. She’s also a redhead so she gets extra points for that.

There is also Charmed but although I watched it I wouldn’t say it made my favourite list.

Quite a few films based on fairy tales like Hansel & Gretel or The Huntsman (Winter’s War) that all feature witches are films I love but my list was getting long so I may make a fairytale list another day.

Do you love any of the above? Can you think of any witch films that I’ve forgotten or you think I’d love, please do recommend.