How TV and Film Influenced the Magic Systems in Chronicles of The Otherworld

Raw Emotion and Unexpected Consequences: Magic That Reflects Character

October is my favorite month. I love the paranormal and supernatural, so every October I kick back, light a candle, and watch an array of spooky movies and shows.

One film I watch religiously every year is Beautiful Creatures. It's become something of a tradition, but it's not just for entertainment—it's for inspiration.

The way Lena casts magic in the film is exactly how I envision Daniella's abilities in Night Shade. There's no elaborate chanting, no conjuring, no waving of wands or complicated rituals. It's pure, raw magic that flows directly from the character.

The Appeal of Effortless Magic

What draws me to this type of magic system is its immediacy and emotional connection. When Lena uses her powers in Beautiful Creatures, it's an extension of herself—her emotions, her will, her very being.

This is precisely what I wanted for Daniella. Her magic isn't something she does—it's something she is.

The dinner scene in the film is one of my favorites. The way Lena's emotions affect the entire room, spinning the table and creating chaos as her frustration builds, perfectly captures what magical ability would feel like if it were tied directly to how she feels.

This emotional connection to magic creates natural tension in storytelling. When your power is linked to your feelings, maintaining control becomes far more complicated. It's not just about knowing the right words or movements—it's about knowing yourself.

The Charmed Influence: When Magic Goes Awry

The original Charmed series has been just as influential on my magic systems. Piper Halliwell is my favorite character from the show, and her journey with her powers mirrors what I wanted for Daniella.

There are countless scenes where Piper accidentally freezes something or, after gaining the ability to explode things, causes an absolute mess. This lack of perfect control is exactly what I wanted to capture in Night Shade, particularly during Daniella's anxiety attack in Greg's house.

What makes these scenes work isn't just the visual spectacle—it's the vulnerability they reveal in the character. Magic isn't always a solution; sometimes it's another problem to manage.

Character-Specific Magic: From Paige to Johanna

The influences from Charmed extend beyond Daniella to other characters in the Chronicles of The Otherworld series.

Paige's telekinetic orbing ability in Charmed—where she can call objects to herself or relocate them—resembles how I imagine Johanna's powers in Night Fury. While Johanna doesn't need to call objects to herself first (she can move them directly with her mind), Paige's tendency to throw objects at enemies is definitely something Johanna is capable of and enjoys doing.

Good vs. Evil: Beyond Black and White

Another thing I love from both these shows is how they handle good and evil. They don't make it simple. Both Beautiful Creatures and Charmed show how darkness and light can exist in the same person, the same family.

I wanted that same complexity in my books. I didn't want perfect heroes and clear-cut villains. I wanted characters with both light and dark sides, who make tough choices and sometimes blur the lines between right and wrong.

Daniella, Gregori, Johanna, and Luke all have this complexity. They're not perfect heroes, and their enemies aren't purely evil. They exist in shades of gray, making choices based on what matters to them.

From Inspiration to Creation

I took these influences and ran with them, creating something that feels totally my own in Chronicles of The Otherworld.

That's what I love about creative inspiration—you see something cool, it sparks an idea, and then you build it into something new that fits your world and characters.

If you haven't checked out the series yet, Daniella's story begins in Night Shade, where she discovers her powers while dealing with vampires, witches, and centuries-old conflicts. Johanna's journey comes to life in Night Fury, where her abilities are key to her survival and growth.

As the series continues, their magic evolves along with them—just like Piper and Paige's powers did throughout Charmed.

Do you have favorite fictional magic systems that have inspired you? I'd love to hear about them in the comments or on social media!