#like i highly recommend it if you enjoyed chilling adventures of sabrina

[chasecordelias]

This is what Riverdale should have been the whole time. Season 1 was a very competent whodunnit murder mystery and then from season 2 onward it just kept getting more and more ridiculous. And the thing that makes it most ridiculous though - they always lean a little bit into how “oh it’s demons, oh it’s flying babies, oh it’s magical cults, everyone’s disappearing” but then they always explain it away like “well actually it was all just jingle jangle and it was the special paint they were using in the school and he didn’t come back from the dead, it’s actually his secret cousin’s twin who we just found out about who looks exactly like him”. With this miniseries, it’s like "La Llorona shows up, yeah the devil shows up, yeah ghosts are real, Sabrina’s real, magic’s real" it was actually like almost more believable because in a world today where everything’s superheroes and vampires and werewolves I kind of wish Riverdale was just that. The fact that they’ve been trying to keep everything realistic just makes it more ridiculous. Like I kind of wish it was just like “yeah demons are real dude” it makes it so much more easy to digest.

Alex Meyers

[alittlepudge-neverhurtnobody]

are you into any horror media (movies, shows, etc.) ?

some! i'm trying to branch out more bc i think it's such a cool genre and i LOVE spooky shit, but i am also a huge weenie who hates jump scares and hits the ceiling at any sound i don't expect, so i haven't really watched a whole lot of horror movies/shows. i do love some Gothic horror though!! i've really enjoyed Penny Dreadful (OBVIOUSLY lmao), Crimson Peak, The Haunting of Bly Manor, Midnight Mass, The Conjuring, Hush, The Invitation ... stuff like that -- that gives you more a creeping sense of dread that builds and builds -- is more my speed? like, the experience i look for in horror is the escalating sense of "WHAT THE FUCK!!!" more so than slasher/gore/jump scare kind. i also really enjoyed the CW Nancy Drew, iZombie (which I still need to finish), and Los Espookys, which aren't like HORROR horror but have horror elements to them. i am eternally on the lookout for stuff like that so PLEASE send recommendations if you have them!!

i've started a few things, like The Chilling Adventures of Sabrina and The Order, and also have a bunch of stuff on my watchlist, so if any of these are worth my time, pls let me know!!

The Order

Hemlock Grove

Santa Clarita Diet (which I think I WOULD like tonewise, but i have been told there's a lot of v*miting, which i struggle with)

Brand New Cherry Flavor

What We Do in the Shadows (also sure I would enjoy, I'm just not really into vampires)

Wolf Like Me

Evil

Outer Range (not sure if it's horror but def looks creepy and holy shit have you seen Noah Reid in the trailer)

Archive 81 

Ghosts (doesn't look scary but I love ghosts)

i'm slightly more adventurous with READING horror, but still haven't read a lot of it. in the past year i've really enjoyed The Book of Accidents and Wanderers by Chuck Wendig (one million trigger warnings for both, please look before reading!!), The Death of Jane Lawrence by Caitlin Starling, The Ghost Sequences by A.C. Wise, Summer Sons by Lee Mandel (ESPECIALLY if you loved The Raven Cycle and specifically Pynch), Empire of Wild by Cherie Dimaline (tho it had more than a few incidences of fatphobia :\), The Family Plot by Megan Collins, and Skin Shows by Jack Halberstam (which is queer/critical theory but his work is wall to wall bangers and I highly recommend). i have a bunch more loaded up on my kindle app (Extasia by Claire Legrand, Wake the Bones by Elizabeth Kilcoyne, Within These Wicked Walls by Lauren Blackwood, The Year of the Witching by Alexis Henderson, Witches of New York by Ami McKay...) but just need to ... actually read them.

so uhh yeah! tl;dr i DO but i am a big baby and would love recommendations if something sounds like it would fit my tastes!! i especially love ghosts/werewolves/hauntings so hit me up!

[sarahreesbrennan]

How come between Season of The Witch and Daughter of Chaos, we skipped Sabrina's dark baptism and Tommy being resurrected/killed and went straight into the Greendale 13 threat? Loving the books so far, just curious. 🖤🖤

That’s a great question and I’m so happy you’re enjoying! I’m so sorry this reply is late, I am on unexpected deadline but I know I have a few Sabrina, Fence and In Other Lands answers owing and I am delighted the questions were asked!

There is a confusion that often arises because the category of media tie-in novels (books set in the world of a media property) has two main subcategories. They are similar and have much in common, but aren’t the same.

A) One is novelizations, which is basically a book that tells the same story as the movie/TV show/graphic novels, but through a different medium. The story covers the same space of time, and includes much of the same dialogue. It’s the same story told in a different way.

B) Two is tie-in books, which tell different stories that fit in before or after, or in the spaces between the story. Often tie-in books start with prequels, telling the tale of how the characters get to the place before the story began. It’s a different story but it’s crafted specifically to tie in with the larger story.

Both subcategories are set in the specific story world. Both offer insight into the characters, their thoughts and feelings, and secret motivations, but they are different kinds of story.

I had no idea of these distinctions before I started to write tie-in books myself, so I explain here because hey, knowledge is always useful. I’ve now read a lot of them, because I wanted to teach myself how to write them and because they’re fun, so I thought discussing examples might illustrate the difference.

The Iron Man novelization by Peter David is widely considered especially good. I’ve read it and I like it a lot: great echoes, perfect story beats. (I discuss it pretty technically because I was reading it in order to teach myself to write a novelization, as opposed to a tie-in novel. I have written a novelization, but not in the Sabrina universe and not under my name for contractual reasons!) It tells the story of the first Iron Man movie, how Tony Stark became Iron Man. A novelization means a lot of the (in this case funny and great) dialogue from the movie must be used, but then with a novelization you have to get pretty specific about why the characters said what they said, and how they felt when they said it. One thing I liked a lot in the novel was the insight offered that Tony Stark’s actions at the beginning of the story were frequently driven by sheer boredom--that he was a genius who wasn’t given enough scope for his genius, and was acting out. 

An example of a fabulous tie-in book is Tess Sharpe’s The Evolution of Claire, a book that ties in with the Jurassic World movies, a prequel of how the heroine Claire gets involved in the dubiously moral world of dinosaur park creation. So it happens before the events of the movies, but by reading it you understand Claire better, her ambitions and frustrations. Another such is Leigh Bardugo’s Wonder Woman novel, Warbringer, showing Diana’s much earlier years, and making you understand more deeply how Diana evolved her moral philosophy and her secret insecurities. 

There’s a great article in the Guardian about tie-in novels: https://www.theguardian.com/books/booksblog/2018/jul/17/tie-in-novelisations-star-wars-jurassic-world

To add to the confusion, stories can have both novelizations and tie-in novels. 

Star Wars famously had absolute masses of tie-in novels. The Star Wars universe is so popular it even has junior and adult novelizations--two different novelizations of the same movie. Patricia C. Wrede, a rather fabulous YA/MG SFF writer, wrote the junior novelizations of the Star Wars prequels. (I’ve read them but if you want to get started on Patricia C. Wrede I would recommend her Enchanted Forest Chronicles. Nothing to do with Star Wars, I just love them.) 

Star Wars also has category B, the tie-in novels. For instance, Resistance Reborn by Rebecca Roanhorse, which is a story that takes place in between the events of the movies The Last Jedi and The Rise of Skywalker. I have also read this book. Very cool interstellar war and spies action, but also... for them that like that kind of thing, among which I would include myself... Poe ties Finn’s tie. Thank u Rebecca Roanhorse.

Similarly, there’s a novelization of Maleficent 2 (Maleficent 2: Mistress of Evil by Elizabeth Rudnick), but there’s also a tie-in novel set between Maleficents 1 and 2 (Heart of the Moors by Holly Black) telling you what happened in between the events of those movies. Significant things can happen in those spaces--deaths, courtships, mysteries solved and secrets told. A dungeon scene between Prince Philip and Maleficent is in Heart of the Moors. It’s very important.

So in a novelization, a retelling of a story through a different medium, you get the same events as in the story. But you might get extra scenes that cast a different light on the story, and you will get access to the inner thoughts and motivations of the characters.

And a tie-in book is usually set in between the seasons of a TV show/movies/issues of a graphic novel. It’s a story made to fit into a liminal space, and meant to shed light both on what happens in between the stories, but to cast light before itself and behind itself--so you might learn more about the characters’ pasts, or learn things about their feelings that will illuminate why they behave in a certain way in the future.  

For the Chilling Adventures of Sabrina, I was hired to write tie-ins, so I wrote a prequel (Season of the Witch) which shows the summer before Part 1, the autumn when Sabrina turns sixteen and has to sign her soul away. It’s an adventure with a rusalka, but also shows us how Sabrina came to be 100% certain her wild witch cousin Ambrose would have her back, why she was insecure enough to do memory spells on her boyfriend (Harvey), and it’s an opportunity to know how the witch world works before our heroine does.

Then I wrote Daughter of Chaos, which happens over mortal New Year’s, right after the Christmas episode that ends Part 1, and before Part 2--because the show didn’t have mortal New Year’s. That was a new adventure that could also tell us how people felt after the events of Part 1, and why people might act the way they would in Part 2. It’s about bad luck spells and enchanted towns, but it’s also about coping with a break-up and how that can put you on a different path, about bereavement and trauma caused by magic, and about longing for affection. Plus it provides us the first hints about hell, before our heroine sees the sparks fly. 

Same deal with book 3, Path of Night, which happens between Parts 2 and 3, in the early spring while Sabrina’s boyfriend (Nick) is in hell. It’s a quest for an item of power to release your beloved from suffering, but it’s also about what happens when you ask a lot (too much?) from your friends, how you can climb out of trauma toward loving relationships (between mean-girl witches and wicked-witch cousins), and how trauma can take someone apart (nobody in hell is having a good time). Plus it provides knowledge about hell before our heroine gets it in Part 3, and glimpses pertaining to heaven.

This month my tie-in novel with C.S. Pacat’s Fence graphic novels comes out (September 29!) and it’s set after the events of volume 4, though the book Striking Distance also works (like Season of the Witch) as an entryway into a new world and an introduction to the characters (in this case a fencing team at an elite boarding school). You try to make every book a possible gateway, but a book 1 definitely should be. (Still, I read Vampire Diaries Book 4 first and caught on just fine, and I recall one reader who read Daughter of Chaos/Chilling Adventures of Sabrina Book 2 and was like, ‘I do not watch this show and did not read Book 1, but I get everything and also Nick Scratch can get it.’)

Another person reading the Sabrina books was like, ‘Sabrina talks a lot about her Dark Baptism in Season of the Witch but then it never happens, Sarah Rees Brennan!’ And this is true, because it happens on the show, and I wasn’t writing novelizations. I think writing Sabrina’s Dark Baptism and Tommy’s death would have been cool and heartbreaking, but I wasn’t meant to retell a lot of scenes from the show. I did snabble a few scenes, but only ones I could use specifically for the purposes of telling the new, in-between stories.

For both novelizations and tie-ins, you get the scripts of the media property you’re working with. Sometimes you get several versions of the scripts. Sometimes you don’t know until you watch the filmed version that scenes got cut. (There were several scenes I read about in the Sabrina scripts, which were cut later, that I used to inform the books. Plus sometimes it’s just fun to watch something and be like, I KNOW WHY e.g. SHE HAS THIS ACCENT/HIS SHIRT DISAPPEARED.) For both you get insights into the story, and especially insights into points of view, that I think you can really only get with books.

For both novelizations and tie-ins, you consult with the writers for the media property, are told things to do and things not to do, and have opportunities to do other optional research. (Things I have done in pursuit of better tie-in novels: written to Sabrina actors and asked them their character thoughts and how they played certain scenes. Forced C.S. Pacat to play with my kitten on a skype call while I took her notes about fencing and feelings.)  

For both novelizations and tie-ins, you have to write them fast, and you have highly specific contracts. Christopher Golden, who’s written many Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Daredevil novels, discusses some details here: https://iamtw.org/from-daredevil-to-buffy-christopher-golden/

So, that’s Options A and B. There’s also Mystery Option C, stories that blur the lines between the two, such as the events of a story told from the point of view of supporting characters, so you see both behind the scenes, the scenes and often before-and-after for the story proper. Tom Stoppard’s play Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead, focusing on Hamlet’s pals from uni. I don’t know what you’d call them. I just wanted to say that they exist too.

Thank you for reading! (Both this and the books.) I hope this was informative and not too dull. :)

[yhereandthere]

TV shows & cartoons for (and about) women

A list of quite new TV shows and cartoons that you will probably like if you’re a woman (that doesn’t mean that you won’t enjoy them if you’re a man). I included only those that I’ve already watched and enjoyed.

1.  Fleabag (2016 - 2019, 2 seasons)

Fleabag is a British drama-comedy show about the life of a young woman after the traumatic experience. Sounds boring, hah? Actually, these series are funny, clever and touching. They’re all about how to be a girl ‒ tough, and scary, and hilarious, ‒ all at once. You may not like British humor but I’m sure you’ll like this extremely modern and complicated story. Also, you just mustn’t miss Moriarty Andrew Scott in the role of the priest in the second season.

2.  Aggretsuko (2017 - 2018, 2 seasons, Netflix)

I was looking for some crazy enough anime and discovered Aggretsuko. This cartoon is cute and so truthful. Main events are happening in the office but it’s more than anime about office life. The main character ‒ Retsuko the Red Panda ‒ is 25 years old, she is cute, single and frustrated about work most of the time. She is questioning her dating life, trying to find a soulmate, a hobby, friends, and just deal with all grown-up shit. And when she is stressed and wants to give vent to her emotions (read: every day), she is going to KTV karaoke and singing metal songs (what could be more crazy and cute than the red panda singing the death metal songs?)

3. Tuca & Bertie (2019 - ..., 1 season)

This cartoon has a similar mood to Bojack Horseman (though I’m not a fan). ‘Tuca & Berties’ is about the friendship between two bird women who live in the same building. They’re both 30-year old, and this is almost the only thing that they have in common. Tuca is single, free-spirited and unemployed, her friend Bertie has a good job and a nice boyfriend, and anxiety. It’s a women-led cartoon about funny stuff in life, relationship, mental health and pitfalls of adults.

4.  Why Women Kill (2019 - …, 1 season)

‘Why Women Kill’ is a comedy-drama. It tells the three stories about three women ‒ from the 1960s, 1980s, and 2019 ‒ and problems in their marriages. Here’s everything I like ‒ good cast, witty dialogues, overall positive mood. This show made me laugh in my room in the middle of the night because it’s so addictive that I didn’t want to sleep. One of the best shows I watched recently, strongly recommended.

5. Big Little Lies (2017 - ..., 2 seasons)

These TV series are based on the book of the same name by Liane Moriarty (I highly recommend to read). It’s a great crime drama that is funny, smart and scary. I like all characters and cast of the first season but the second one is more weak in terms of almost everything. One of the best roles of Reese Witherspoon in my opinion, beautiful sceneries, and keen dialogues won’t leave you indifferent.

6. Killing Eve (2018 - ..., 2 seasons)

The spy drama mostly about the relationship between the officer and the killer that I watched because everybody was talking about it. I couldn’t say that I liked it a lot. Yes, the tension between two women is interesting, and both actresses are good but for me, these series are missing something important. Still recommend watching, at least because it’s not a male-centered thriller and it will make you laugh at some moments.

7.  Chilling Adventures of Sabrina (2018 - …, 2 seasons)

Sabrina the teen witch should choose between the world of normal people and the world of witches on the eve of her 16th birthday. I’d describe these series as “young adult” because of all elements of the genre: first love, rebellion against the adult world, a lot of emotions and rash acts. The first season is really cool, with an interesting story and due amount of magic but the second one was more about feminism and girl power in a kind of annoying way. I recommend watching just one season. And these series have a great opening!

[imaginedanganronpa]

I love?? You so??? Much????? Can I ask you a question? What other fandoms have you recently joined? Also this blogs aesthetic is so pretty, for some reason having a pretty blog beside the writing makes the writing even better and sksksk.

Thank you! I love aesthetics so I tried making my blog visually appealing, at least to me, and I agree 100%! I love aesthetically pleasing blogs so much, especially imagine blogs. 

Anyway, I kind of wonder about this question because I’m not entirely sure what counts as a fandom. Like, do I have to be an active member in the community or simply enjoy something? Anyway, I’ll try to answer this in the best way I know how lol.

As far as general fandoms, I’ve recently delved back into Horror Anime as a whole. I specifically got really into Another, which I think is my favorite Horror Anime I’ve watched recently. I’m also almost finished with Angels of Death and I freaking love it. I highly recommend both.Otherwise, I’ve recently gotten into the Disastrous Life of Saiki K and Kakegurui which are two of the more popular series I have recently finished and I LOVE them both so much. I know Saiki K is finished and I’m sad, but I can’t wait for the new season of Kakegurui. Also, I got really into the Sword Art spin-off based around Gun Gale Online and I enjoyed that a lot, too!

I’m also late to the party but I also recently got into Boku no Hero Academia (I’m still at the start of Season 1 so please no spoilers) and I love it, I’m really understanding all the hype. I’m also SUPER late to the party but I actually just recently finished both Future Diary and Assassination Classroom with my boyfriend not too long ago, and that was the first time either of us ever watched those. I’m not sure why I haven’t watched them sooner, maybe because I only recently got Hulu, but I adore them both a lot.

My friend also introduced me to K-Pop a few months ago but I don’t know if I’m super into it yet, I like the music but I don’t know how involved I am in the community just yet lol. I haven’t gotten into too many fandoms recently, but I’ve been a part of other fandoms like Game of Thrones, Grey’s Anatomy, and the Walking Dead for a long time now. I also recently got into some video game fandoms like Hollow Knight. And two more non-anime fandoms I’ve recently joined are the Chilling Adventures of Sabrina and the Umbrella Academy!!

And I love you, too!

[nerdishfeels]

February wrap up!

This month, I thought I'd do something different. As some of you may know, I asked if I should include TV shows in my wrap ups. And I decided to include them! So this is what I read/watched in February.

What I read:

A Curse So Dark And Lonely - 5*

I got this book based on @books-and-cookies 's recommendation (best choice ever lol).

I love fairytale retellings (my favourite being beauty and the beast) and this book didn't disappoint!

I loved that it was different to the original, especially with the curse having some different and interesting conditions.

Harper is an AMAZINGLY STRONG AND INSPIRING character! I found it interesting learning about her condition, Cerebral Palsy. Regardless of her condition, I loved how strong willed she was, how she never let anything make her feel conscious or weak. I found it cute how excited she was when she learnt how to shoot arrows and throw knives.

You wouldn't expect a character whose background involves loan sharks to be in a fairytale so that was refreshing.

I also loved that the author wasn't afraid to show how flawed characters, such as Rhen, are.

At first you can't exactly trust him (or Grey) considering the circumstances that Harper meets him. He comes across as frustrated and distant at first. But the more you get to know Rhen, the more you understand why he is the way he is.

I feel like Rhen has multiple layers to his character, from a spoiled prince to a man with a lack of self-esteem and purpose.

Grey appears stoic at first, but it's sweet to see him warm up to Harper. You ain't gonna get someone as loyal as Grey, I can tell you that.

I really feel like playing King's Ransom now with a deck of cards.

Harper and Rhen were savage to each other in the beginning and I enjoyed it 😂

I'm impressed by the way the author dealt with the romance. It could have easily become problematic if it was not handled carefully. There was no insta-love in this, which made me adore the romance more.

There's this scene I love between Harper and Rhen where they're both vulnerable after an attack. I can't describe why I love it but it's like they saw the true side of each other and the way they tried to comfort each other just clenched my heart.

THE ENDING! 😲 It took me by surprise. I'm curious about the direction the series is going 😃

What I watched:

The Chilling Adventures of Sabrina - S1

When I was younger, I used to watch some episodes of Sabrina the teenage witch (Salem was such a funny, sarcastic cat back then). I've always been into witch stuff (like charmed) so I wanted to check this out.

I loved watching this! I heard some people say it's too dark but that's what you're gonna get with witches and Dark magic (and of course, them worshipping Satan lol).

Be warned. This show is a bit on the creepy and gory side so if that's not up your alley, you should probably avoid this.

"Un-holy shit" 👌

I really liked Sabrina, although she was a bit naive when she thought magic could solve all her problems. I am all for her standing her ground against giving her freedom up to Satan.

I think Hilda is my favourite aunt out of the two. She's so bubbly and British, even though she organises funerals for a living. You just wanna have a cuppa with her ☕

At first glance, the other aunt, Zelda, seems more harsh and cruel to her sister but after a certain episode, you realise that she actually does care for her sister. She just has a funny way of showing it.

Sabrina's cousin, Ambrose, is awesome. I felt he really stood out as a character. He's funny and charming and gay. Great LGBT rep here 👏👏

No, Salem isn't a talking cat in this but regardless, I still enjoyed it.

Sabrina's friends were cool too, especially with their feminist power and love for books (especially banned books). I thought Sabrina and Harvey were cute too.

Of course, how can you not enjoy a TV show without spells? I've had a deep love for spellbooks and magic and this satisified that. I enjoyed learning about the world, history and traditions of the witches.

At times, the show is aesthetically pleasing, with all the different colour filters for different scenes.

I can't wait to watch the next season this April!

Elementary- S6

I know I haven't mentioned this TV show before, but I've been watching this since it first started (back in 2012). And there is not one episode that made me want to stop watching this show. This season was filmed to be the last one but apparently, we're getting a seventh season (which is the final one).

I ADORE SHERLOCK AND WATSON! Their partnership is what makes the show. For me, the love between them is more platonic than romantic.

What I loved about this show is that both Watson and Moriarty are female!

We have Lucy Liu as Watson. And she is badass. And has awesome outfits.

I think Sherlock is an asexual character based on how he sees sex as a means of exercise (please correct me if i'm wrong).

Jonny Lee miller is also awesome as Sherlock. He just suits the character so well. Seeing Sherlock's change in character throughout the whole show makes me want to give him a hug.

I highly recommend this series, if you love Sherlock or just mystery in general!!

And that's my wrap up! If you liked me including TV shows, let me know so I can make it more of a routine! What books did you read this month? Any TV shows you enjoyed? 😃

[nigelspookerjee]

for the ask! - 32, 50, 62, 84

32. Do you like rollercoasters? Actually, I’m terrified of them but love them at the same time if that makes sense? Haha. I’ve seen Final Destination 3 wayyyy too many times so it screws with my head while I’m standing in line to hop on one. But once I’m actually on the rollercoaster, I love the adrenaline, especially the ones that twist you upside down 😂

50. How are you doing today? I’m actually doing really good today! Work wasn’t bad (for once) and then I came home and took a nice long bath with a CBD bath bomb which I HIGHLY recommend. It was extremely relaxing 😌 thank you for asking this one, it was sweet ♡

62. List all the tv shows you’re watching: I consider myself a chronic binger so here it goes 😂 Schitt’s Creek, Lovecraft Country, Chilling Adventures of Sabrina, Ozark, Dexter, Weeds, The Good Place, Never Have I Ever, Better Call Saul, Marianne, New Girl, Slasher, Bates Motel...there’s a lot more but I think it’s best I stop there 😛 I also really enjoy the CW’s Nancy Drew series too!

84. If you could time travel, would you back to the past or to the future? I would definitely time travel back to the past for so many reasons, some including to relive some of the best days of my life I’ve ever had, to spend more time with my grandfather who was my best friend and passed when I was 17, to perhaps right some wrong decisions I regret making, to reread my favorite books again for the first time, and of course to replay the ND games all over again for the first time 😂

You’re a sweetheart and I appreciate you asking me these questions ❥

[saramisuu]

Shows I highly recommend you to binge-watch - Part II

Let’s get into business and start with one you actually might find useful during these quarantine times; I’m talking about “Tidying up with Mary Kondo”.

In this reality show, Marie Kondo (international tidiness expert, best-seller author, and creator of the Konmari Method) and her interpreter visit American families in need of decluttering their houses and, in some way, also their lives. It’s incredible how a little organization here and there has such a positive impact on the relationship and well-being of all members of a family. The thing I liked the most about it is that even though organizing your whole house can be overwhelming, Kondo gives specific and easy-to-follow tips that you can actually put into practice. You learn everything: from how to correctly fold your shirts to how to display items in your kitchen. So, if you’re looking for some inspiration to get out of the couch and transform your house into a temple during this quarantine, there you have it.

The next show I’d like to recommend is “Sense8″. It follows the stories of eight people from different countries who are an advanced species of humans. They have a sensorial connection that allows them to astral project and visit each other, feel what the other members of their cluster are feeling, use each other’s abilities, speak each other’s languages and even have sex with each other (WARNING! If you are under 18 this show is not for you). Seeing a show that depicts people from different nationalities, genders, backgrounds, and sexual orientations was so refreshing. The story, the mythology, the characters, and the chemistry between them, the diversity, everything about this series was so captivating and beautiful. I was truly devastated when I knew that it was not going to be renewed for more seasons. 

The premise of “Lucifer”, my next recommendation, might be a little quirky. So, the Devil (a.k.a Lucifer Morningstar) got tired of his job in Hell and decided to come to Earth with Mazikeen, a demoness, and open a night club in L.A. Then, he partners with local detective Chloe to solve crimes. This series combines two genres: fantasy and police thriller (and comedy thanks to Lucifer himself). Sometimes, the series can get monotonous because it relies on the same old resource that many other series and movies in Hollywood have used for years: to make a couple of detectives with opposite personalities team-up. What I really enjoyed about the show though was the supernatural part because I’m all about spooky things. Another thing that I liked was how charismatic the characters were, especially Lucifer who is just so charming and handsome #fangirling

Let’s continue with another supernatural/fantasy show: “Chilling Adventures of Sabrina”. This one, besides, includes some teenage drama and horror and it’s super different from the 1990s Nickelodeon’s adaptation: this one is much darker and not so comedic. So, Sabrina Spellman is a half-witch/ half-human teenager (we later find out she’s actually much more than that)  who, at first, struggles to keep the balance between her two worlds but later transforms into a very powerful woman while she discovers her true origins. I love spooky things, trust me, but sometimes this series was a bit too much for me (I was raised Catholic and the whole Satanist thing made me feel that I should not be watching the show at all lol 😅). Despite this, I actually liked the show a lot because it has a cool aesthetic and the mythology, rituals, and beliefs depicted were very complex and interesting. A good show to binge-watch on Halloween.

The next series is kind of a cheat because it is not on Netflix now, but it was there when I watched it. “Hannibal” is a new retake on the famous doctor/cannibal from the books and movies. Despite the show being named after the fore mentioned character, I would say the true protagonist of the story is detective Will Graham. He is not your typical macho man tough police guy; he has a different masculinity. He is sensitive and empathetic and that’s, precisely, what makes him so good at his job. Even though it kind of follows the classic crime-solving formula of many other police thrillers, this series goes beyond. It is so aesthetically pleasing that, literally, makes murder, dismantled bodies, and cannibalism look like art. Getting to know the psychology of the characters and how intricate it is also makes this show involving and that’s why I recommend it 100% (unless gore makes you super uncomfortable or you are under 18).

Last but not least, a Colombian limited series that blew my mind: “Green Frontier” 🤯. It might look at first sight as another police and crime-solving plot but, believe me, it is so much more than that! The story takes place in the Amazon rain-forest and that alone makes it so beautiful because of how magnificent la Manigua is. The jungle here is like another character and, besides, it makes the aesthetic so different from the urban setting that most police series usually have. This amazing show has so many things: magic, wormholes, indigenous cosmogony, and even Nazis... I don’t even know how to describe it so you better watch it yourself. You’re not gonna regret it!

Some of these shows I watched a long time ago so it was a bit difficult for me to remember details but I do remember how much I enjoyed them and that’s why I wanted to recommend them. I hope you give these series a chance and like them as much as I did. I will probably be writing another post on some other Netflix’s recommendations soon.

Sara.

[namor]

do you have any indie comic recs?

Uh recently I’ve been pretty out to date with comics because of college, specially with new comics coming out now, but I’ll try my best.

I’m gonna suppose Archie Comics are “indie”:

Archie

Jughead

Kevin Keller* 

Afterlife With Archie*

Chilling Adventures of Sabrina*

(*their release schedule is pretty random)

DC’s Young Animal titles are pretty neat:

Cave Carson Has a Cybernetic Eye

Doom Patrol

Mother Panic

Shade the Changing Girl

Other current books (or recently published):

East of West 

I’ve been meaning to check this out for a while, I kinda trust Hickman.

Clean Room

Same thing than before

Freelance

Fresh Romance

GOD I LOVE THIS ONE

Huck

I read it but it’s kinda forgettable, also it’s by Mark Millar ugh

Injection

Warren Ellis stuff is always goood stuff

Memetic

This is a bit old? (3 years wow) but it was nice

Paper Girls

Started reading it but I forgot how to read eventually

Ragnarök

If you’re a norse mythology fan and you like Walter Simonson like me, you’re gonna enjoy this

Saga

I really need to start reading this because it’s always heavily recommended

Supurbia

Yeah this one is a lil bit older, but it was a fun ride

The Fix

I mean, yeah if you enjoyed Superior Foes of Spider-Man (which I highly recommend), it’s the same shit. But now Nick Spencer is a demon, so I wouldn’t touch it with a 10 foot pole if you’re not really really into Superior Foes.

The Infinite Loop

It was good and now it has a sequel whoop whoop

The Woods

I need to read this but its almost 40 issues are killing me

Trees

Very good and very interesting, Warren Ellis in the house

We(l)come Back

Short but good

That’s all I have in my Indies folder pal, I know it’s disappointing but I hope it helps!!

[puddygeeks]

This months favourites might be a little lacking, as I haven’t had much time to try new things or spend money on new products whilst dealing with moving house. However, I’ll do my best to still include some bits.

Beauty

Avon Christian Lacroix Bijou for Her

It’s a little bit naughty to include this in here because this has been my favourite perfume for quite some time. I am going to throw it in as I used it recently for a little boost of confidence on my first day at a new job (more on that later) and it reminded me how much I love it. I’m not really a huge fan of perfumes in general, I much prefer natural scents like vanilla or orange blossom, and I’m especially not a fan of designer perfumes as they honestly just cost too much for my liking. It doesn’t help that I’m not keen on the general perfume smell, to me most smell very chemically and similar. This one is the exception to the rule, I absolutely adore it. I got it in a set with a full size bottle of perfume, a tube of scented body cream, a mini purse spray and a matching cosmetics bag for £25 from Avon a few years ago when I used to work as a representative for them. I must admit, I’ve been treating it like gold ever since and rationing it out because I honestly don’t know what I’ll do when I run out.

PHOERA 24HR Matte Oil Control Concealer Liquid Foundation

So I will be doing a full review post on this at some point so don’t want to give too much away, but thought I’d give it a quick shout out here. I’ve been using it a fair bit and overall have been quite impressed especially for the price. As with all makeup, it has pros and cons, but on the whole I’m very happy with this.

Body Shop Aloe Vera Soothing Moisture Lotion SPF 15

Another quick cheeky inclusion, as I said I haven’t had a chance to trial new things this month, but I wanted to mention that I have once again repurchased the Body Shop moisturiser. This stuff works absolute wonders on my skin, far better than other more expensive things I have used in the past. It also does not cause any irritation or reaction from my skin, which is incredible considering that even brands that claim to be hypoallergenic have caused me issues in the past. This is perfect for first thing in the morning after washing my face, before my makeup and I’ve seen many benefits to my skin for using it. In my case, I’m seeing less redness, less grease and overall increase in the smoothness/texture of my skin. Absolutely could not recommend this highly enough!

Food

Malteasers Buttons

These were only recently released and originally I believe were only available in Tesco. I’ve noticed they are starting to pop up absolutely everywhere now, I can even get mini packets in the cafe in my new office block. This is very dangerous for me as I have been openly addicted to them for a while now.

Green Tea

Okay, I never thought I was going to say this, but I am now drinking a cup of green tea every morning as part of my morning routine. I’ve been meaning to do this for several years, mainly for the benefits to my skin and digestion, but I’ve mostly just found the stuff vile. If you’ve been reading my blog for a while, you’ll know that I’ve been experimenting with teas for about the last 3-4 months, only as simple as Breakfast Brew, Biscuit Brew etc from Yorkshire Tea. I don’t know if this has contributed to opening my taste buds a little, but I mostly thank my wonderful friend Helen for teaching me how to make green tea bearable. It consists of a brand that does a mild tasting tea, sugar and brewing it just right. Thanks Helen, as per usual you are a babe.

Movies and TV

The Chilling Adventures of Sabrina – Season 2

I know I’ve talked about Sabrina here before, but I’m gonna rave about it some more. I was so hype for season two and I was absolutely not disappointed. This season was just as good, if not better than the first, which is unusual in my experience. I was surprised to find it went even darker, which I wasn’t sure they could do after the first season, but felt it was done tastefully and was a great direction for the show. On the whole, this show has fantastic character development that actually feels like it is done naturally, rather than forced, and by the end of Season 2 I can happily say that the Spellmans are one of my favourite TV families.

Black Summer

I was recommended this by several people at my last job and probably wouldn’t have given it a try otherwise. Karl and I are big fans of zombie films, and generally will give most apocalyptic type things a try. This was one of the best I’ve seen in a while, and had several storylines and ideas which I hadn’t seen before, which is very unusual nowadays. It was tense all the way through and very bingable, in fact we watched the entire thing in one day. There were several moments that I had to hide behind a cushion and occasionally yelled at the TV, but I couldn’t stop watching.

The Silence

Again, this was recommended by several people at work and so we thought we would give it a try. It was helped by the fact it had a fantastic cast (Hello Sabrina and Zelda it was lovely to see you after finishing season 2!) and Stanley Tucci who honestly is just a babe and is enjoyable to watch in anything. As with Black Summer, this was immensely tense all the way through, but also was far more individual. It was a very unique concept and I highly enjoyed seeing characters react to scenarios in a believable way and not behaving like clueless idiots. It’s refreshing in any apocalypse story to see characters be able to think, plan and adapt and I honestly think this is what made this movie so enjoyable.

Tidying Up With Marie Kondo

Just to throw in a wild card, I have been weirdly obsessed with watching this as my chill out show. It’s just so easy to sit in bed with a cup of tea to watch, and it makes me feel strangely relaxed. I feel like lots of others have felt this too as it’s super popular at the moment, and I love getting organisation inspiration from it too.

Music

  Malibu – Miley Cyrus

Drops of Jupiter – Train

Never Enough – Boyce Avenue

Letting Go For A Little While – Ryan McMullan

Walk Alone – Rudimental, Tom Walker

Rude – MAGIC!

And that’s a wrap for April! Thanks for stopping by, leave me a comment with some of your favourites from the month, I could always do with new things to try out for May!

Peace

Kit xx

April Favourites! This months favourites might be a little lacking, as I haven't had much time to try new things or spend money on new products whilst dealing with moving house.

[perfectlygreatzombie-blog]

Must Read Zombie Comic Books

Got a hankering for the undead but don’t know where to start? Here’s five of the best comics out there to sate your need for brains!

5.) Revival Ongoing – Horror, Science-fiction, Mystery

Publisher: Image Comics Writer: Tim Seeley Art: Mike Norton Colorist: Mark Englert

I admit I’m not fully caught up with this series and it has been a while since I have read the first few issues, but what I have read of it I really enjoyed. In this unique take on zombies, rather than the dead coming back to life and attempting to feast on your brains and various other parts, we have people who have experienced death and survived (–and I’m using the word ‘survived’ very generously) to tell the tale. They are still functioning (for the most part) and have retained most of their memories from their previous life. The most interesting part is these zombies — or ‘revenants’, as the book calls them — start to lose control of their actions, and in turn their loved ones die because of it. However, the scariest part is that these revenants don’t even realize that they’re doing this! If you are looking for an action-filled adventure, you’ve come to the wrong place with this series — but if you are looking for good art and amazing character development as well as a different take on the traditional, you will be in for a fun ride.

4.) Hack/Slash Meets Zombies vs. Cheerleaders One-Shot – Horror, Comedy, Action

Publisher: Moonstone Writer: Steven L. Frank Artist: Ben Glendenning Cover Artist: Tim Seeley Letterer: Bill Maus Colorist: Joseph Barker

Hack/Slash alone is one of my favourite comic book series, but this time we have a one-shot titled Hack/Slash Meets Zombies vs. Cheerleaders. What really drew me into this one was the cover artwork (which is done by the ever-amazing Tim Seeley, also known for Revival – see above.) In this story, Cassie and Vlad go undercover at a local high school where there has been several disappearances of students. Things begin to go all Archie’s Weird Mysteries on our collective asses when our crew begins to discover what is causing the disappearances… but it might not be quite what you think it is. I can’t think of a single Hack/Slash comic that I wouldn’t recommend to any horror fan, and this is one for the ages. Packed full of hilarity and craziness, I highly recommend this stand-alone issue to anyone — even if you haven’t read any of the series prior.

3.) Army of Darkness: Ash Gets Hitched (2014) 4 Issues – Horror, Comedy

Publisher: Dynamite Entertainment Writer: Steve Niles Artist: Nacho Tenorio Cover Artists: Jae Lee and Lucio Parrillo

What do you think of when you think of chainsaws, a twelve-gauge double-barreled Remington, Kandarian demons, the Necronomicon, and an army of darkness? Why, weddings, of course! Wait… were you thinking of something else? Our saviour Ashley Williams is at it again with his crazy antics and his stumbling, bumbling idiocy — but this time we hear the sounds of wedding bells and the undead, as he is about to get married to the love of his life, Sheila. Will the army of darkness’s undead leader, The Faceless Man, be the one to finally defeat Ash before he gets to say ‘I do?’

2.) Marvel Zombies vs. The Army of Darkness (2007) 5 Issues – Superhero, Horror

Publisher: Marvel Comics in association with Dynamite Entertainment Writers: John Layman Artists: Fabiano Neves, Fernando Blanco, and Sean Phillips Letterers: Randy Gentile and Rus Wooton Colorist: June Chung

Alright, true believers! It’s time for alternate universes, Deadites, and zombie superheroes to collide in one action-packed epic adventure. In this mini-series, the love of my life (Ashley Williams, of course) meets face-to-face with many of Marvel’s most successful superheroes like Daredevil, Spider-Man, and Scarlet Witch. Ash makes a few poor choices (as per usual) and winds up in a self-made mess after accidentally turning several superheroes into zombies. To fix his mistakes, he must begin his search for this universe’s Necronomicon to help rid the world of the Deadite superheroes and return things back to the way they once were. This series mixes together two of the things that I love most – Evil Dead and superheroes. Although I am not as well-educated on the backstories of some of the characters in the Marvel expanded universe, (Howard the Duck, Doctor Doom and Dazzler, to name a few) this story is a hell of a good time and I never found myself lost or confused. If you have little to basic knowledge about who everyone is, you should be able to read and enjoy this series with no problem at all. And if you love Ash Williams, zombies, superheroes and dark humour, then you will absolutely love this series!

1.) Afterlife with Archie Ongoing – Horror, Post-Apocalyptic

Publisher: Archie Comics Writer: Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa Artist: Francesco Francavilla Inker: Francesco Francavilla Letterer: Jack Morelli Colorist: Francesco Francavilla

This is where I have to depart from Ash Williams and move onto something else I enjoy (I’m sorry baby, you know I still think you’re groovy) but come on. I can’t compile this list of only the Evil Dead and Army of Darkness comics. Well, I could… but perhaps we’ll save that for another article. Here we have another alternate universe story — this time not set in the Marvel universe, but rather in the beloved town of Riverdale, home to Archie and the gang. In this unexpectedly dark and gruesome series, our story begins when my favourite character Sabrina the Teenage Witch, at the request of a distraught Jughead, brings his dog Hot Dog back from the dead. However, it’s not all rainbows and Frankenweenies in this tale as instead Hot Dog returns as a flesh-eating zombie and kills his owner and best friend the first chance he gets. Patient Zero—err… I mean… Jughead then rises from then dead, and instead of his regular Pop Tate’s burgers and shakes he turns his insatiable appetite on the good people of Riverdale, creating a horde of the living dead! This comic’s success spawned a ton of other horror-related Archie comics – and even a new imprint strictly for Archie Horror – with titles including The Chilling Tales of Sabrina and another of my personal favourites Archie vs. Sharknado. I highly recommend giving this series a read, because even if you aren’t an avid comic reader everyone knows who Archie, Jughead, Betty and Veronica are. It’s a thrill seeing the old gang be put in a position that most people would have never expected to see them in. The atypical colour palette consisting of shades of reds, blues, purples and oranges was absolutely genius, and that alone really drew me in to reading this series. With Afterlife with Archie, they stayed away from the ‘50s-era neat lines and bright colouring and went with something a bit more messy, dark and full of shadows — which was a brilliant direction to head in. Whether you are a fan of the classic series or not, this series is a lot of fun and a much more gruesome then you could ever imagine. And that’s not to mention this is written by the executive producer and showrunner of The CW shows Riverdale and the upcoming Chilling Tales of Sabrina, both of which borrow their dark theme from this series!