I am thrilled to have Irena Brignull on the blog today. The Hawkweed Legacy is an addictive fantasy romance full of heart stopping moments that will have you on the edge of your seats. Inspired by the book, Irena is kind enough to share some of her favourite film and TV shows.
As a hopeless decision maker, narrowing this list down to five was a tough one. But here are my top five movies and TV shows to watch after you read The Hawkweed Legacy.
The Handmaid’s Tale
Watching a screen adaptation of a beloved book can be a let-down, but this tv adaptation of one my favourite novels really lived up to its source material. Beautifully shot and acted, this story of an oppressed group of women finding inner strength reminded me of the so-called witches that were persecuted so terribly in the past. Their stories as well as Offred’s inspired the coven in the Hawkweed books.
True Blood
I love the idea that the supernatural could be right beneath our noses. True Blood offers a bold and heady mix of fantasy and the real world. Likewise, the Hawkweed stories combine the magic of witches with the life of ‘chaff’ (non-witch) characters. The coven lies hidden in the forest beyond an unsuspecting town. No one knows it exists until two girls meet on the edge of the wood and a friendship forms that threatens the witches’ secret.
Thelma and Louise
The ultimate movie about female friendship and sisterhood. These themes were so important to me when writing The Hawkweed Legacy. In the witches’ coven, I describe a female-only society – the benefits and the sacrifices. Poppy, Ember, Charlock and Betony are all determined to put sisterhood first but find this is far harder than they thought.
MacBeth
The weird sisters were very much in my mind when writing about the Hawkweed witches. Shakespeare’s play also inspired the idea of the prophecy which ignites the story, and the curse it places on the central characters. Check out the recent film adaptation directed by Justin Kurzel and starring the fantastic Michael Fassbender and Marion Cotillard.
The Breakfast Club
This movie was probably my first experience of what’s now the novel genre of YA. Revealing the characters beneath the stereotypes, John Hughes showed that each of these teens had vulnerability in common. The Hawkweed Legacy is very much about belonging – finding connections beyond those expected.
∼ Irena
About the Book
The Hawkweed Legacy (Hawkweed Prophecy #2) by Irena Brignull
Publication Date: August 15th 2017 by Weinstein Books
Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy, Paranormal, Romance
Find: Goodreads | Amazon
Official Synopsis
Poppy Hooper doesn’t want to be the queen of the witches.
But some problems can’t be left behind.
Some love stories can’t be forgotten.
Some friendships won’t be broken.
And some enemies won’t stay dead …
The battle for the throne isn’t over yet.
Poppy has only just discovered her position and her power as queen of the covens. Tormented by the loss of her would-be lover Leo to her best friend, Ember, and a past that’s shadowed by secrets, she’s left her dangerous world of witches and flown to Africa. But Poppy never stops longing for Leo and, when she feels his magic begin to spark, she will do anything to be reunited with him.
Now as the girls come of age and Poppy’s powers grow stronger, her mother, desperate for her daughter’s return and forgiveness, sets into motion a plan that puts Poppy and Ember, the boy they love, and the world as they know it at risk.
About the Author
Irena Brignull is a successful screenwriter. Since working on the screenplay of The Boxtrolls, Irena has been writing an adaptation of The Little Prince directed by Mark Osborne and starring Jeff Bridges, Rachel McAdams and Marion Cotillard. Previously, Irena was a Script Executive at the BBC and then Head of Development at Dogstar Films where she was the script editor on Shakespeare in Love, Captain Corelli’s Mandolin and Bravo Two Zero to name a few. Irena holds a BA in English Literature from Oxford University.
Which TV show/film would you recommend for your favourite book?
My Midnight Musing 