Friday, 28 February 2025

**FRIDAY FICTION FIX** Book Reviews with Amber at The Mewton-Clawson Library #311 featuring **Iron Flame** by Rebecca Yarros **PLUS** Friendly Fill-Ins + Photo Fails Blog Hop **Starring Smooch**

Book Reviews with Amber Valentine's Banner ©BionicBasil®, Amber the ginger and white cat, owns her own library

Hello furbulous library guests 

and 

Welcome to the Mewton-Clawson Library at BBHQ 

Well, mew could have dipped me in cream, rolled me in catnip and I couldn't have been any more surprised than I was on Monday!

If mew're wondering what's been happening at the Mewton-Clawson Library, click here to catch up on all the events.

Anyhoo, there I was minding my business in my private reading room with three of the library mice, namely Snitch, Chedds and Nibbles, as we were, well, they were cataloguing some new acquisitions under my expert guidance.

When, all of a sudden, the door burst open and Oswald stood there with his tiny paw about to hit the mobile panic alarm signalling a CODE RED!

Amber's Book Reviews #311 ©BionicBasil® Amber's Thinking About Melvyn's Dilemma

"WHAT THE FLUFF!?" I yelled.

"Miss Amber, come quick!" Oswald squeaked in panic.

Being told to move quickly at my age is one HUGE joke, as I got up off my rather comfy sofa with built in heating at a glacial pace and then proceeded to ground level via my supurr handy portable steps on wheels, and yes they do have a safety braking system, so no fear of accidentally rolling away.

"What is it Oswald?"

"There's some crazy old mummified cat insisting that Melvyn is theirs and it wants to know where he is right now!" he gasped. "Then it stumbled off into the stacks."

Oh for fluffs sake, I knew exactly who IT was. It was PRUDENCE, although my description is much better; she's older than me, has no teeth and looks more like a hundred-year-old moth-eaten taxidermy specimen than a real live cat.

"Where is she?"

"In the main library and she's got Melvyn cornered down the W aisle," Oswald squeaked. "And he's terrified!"

Sighing loudly, I knew this was going to get ugly, not for me, because ugly and Amber are two words that would never go together, like EVER!

I straightened up, marched into my library, and stomped noisily all the way to the 'W' stack just briefly stopping by my desk on the way past, and I found Melvyn cowering next to:

 Weapons of Mass Destruction by I. Shudnothavecreatedthat 

With crusty dustbag Prudence looming over him, in a most threatening and intimidating manner.

And while normally, Melvyn is more than capable of taking care of himself these days after extensive B Team training and the like. However, since his Valentine's run-in with Prudence, Melvyn has not been himself, and seeing her in this threatening manner really, truly, honestly just flipped something in my furry brain.

I hissed and growled most menacingly. "Step away from my library employee, mew old moth-eaten fur sack."

Her head snapped up, milky white eyes locking with mine, and she hissed. "He's mine now, and mew should be the one to step away!"

OH MY COD! 

She didn't really just talk to me like that, in my own library? Oh yes she did!

Well, that switch just flipped onto MAXIMUM.

"Prudence," I snarled stepping forward, and then I revealed my lovely Uzi, fully licensed of course, and I pointed that muther fluffer right at her. "BACK AWAY FROM MELVYN."

She gasped in shock. "Mew can't point that at me!"

I grinned. "Say what?"

"Mew can't point that at me!"

"I can, and I am! My library, my rules, now turn around and fluff right off before mew have more holes in mew than Swiss cheese!" I growled. "Oh and your library card is REVOKED, purrmanently."

  Prudence stumbled backwards, and I reached Melvyn, putting a paw on his shoulder and whispered. "Get up dude, it's all going to be okay!"

Tootles, Flora, Ardvaar and Lumie, who'd been keeping watch from the top of the bookshelf, abseiled down and landed silently on the shelf next to Melvyn.

"Library mice, take Melvyn to my private reading room, now."

I kept my Uzi pointed at Prudence as I stalked forward. "MOVE IT CRUSTY!" I instructed.

She spat at me and shuffled towards the door. As she stepped outside into the courtyard, she turned and growled. "This isn't over, that cat is mine!"

"Prudence, I'm only going to tell mew this once; if mew ever step one paw on BBHQ property ever, ever again," I paused for dramatic effect. "Mew'll wish mew hadn't, now get the fluff out of the gates!"

And that was my Monday. Needless to say, anonymous hate mail has been arriving every hour since.

So now I have one hissed off cat, who's got a thing for Melvyn, and Cod knows what's going to happen next??? 

Anyhoo, I hope your week was better than mine! MOL

Part of The Mewton-Clawson Library ©BionicBasil®

Amber's Book Review Library Mice Divider ©BionicBasil®
Today, the P.A. is also joining in Friday Fill-ins Blog Hop with the pawesome 15 & Meowing and Four-Legged Furballs.
1. I can’t ___________________ since ___________________.
2. ________________________ since ____________________.
3. _________ was my first ever job.
4. _________ is my best advice for _________.

Here are the P.A.'s answers:

1. I can’t eat shop-bought bread since I read the ingredients list and one of them was liquid sponge. Yes, you read that correctly, liquid sponge, it's supposed to make the bread fluffier and lighter - NICE! This element baffled me somewhat, as I've never heard of sponge being liquid, what will they come up with next? LOL

2. Ever since I was a teeny tiny toddler, I've loved cats. My paternal grandfather and I used to spend a lot of time together on the farm, and he fed about twenty ferals, and I loved them. There was a big ginger one, he was so cute, I can't remember his name, maybe he didn't have one, but he used to sit on the bails of straw and watch me pootle around the yard in my little red wellies and dungarees trailing after Grampa. Or perhaps big ginge was contemplating taking me down, like a predatory cat on the savannah? 

3. Valeting cars was my first ever job at fourteen; the pay was lousy, and the work was lousy, but I can clean cars with the best of them. Back in the day, when the new registration came out on August first, I used to be surrounded by about fifty to sixty brand new cars all covered in the post factory wax, that needed T-Cutting off the vehicle before they were polished and prepped for delivery, it would take me all of July to get them ready. And while that may not sound bad, there were no power tools to assist me back then so it was pure elbow grease, grit and determination.

4. Just do it, is my best advice for writing. When writing any B Team adventure, I know the beginning and the end, though the ending may change slightly due to what unfolds along the way, and all the stuff in the middle just evolves and reveals itself chapter by chapter until it's done. I think my method of writing is labelled 'panster writing', as I just wing it. But then, that's what The B Team does best! LOL

Amber's Book Review Pink Dot Divider ©BionicBasil®

As it's the last Friday of the month, we're also joining in the furbulous...


Do stop by the meowvellous Mudpie's blog at www.mochasmysteriesmeows.com to join in.

Pet Photo Fails  ©BionicBasil® Smooch's Big Roll Over

Today's fail comes courtesy of Smooch's Big Roll Over in the garden in September 2022!

Please don't ask me what on fluff he was doing, although I do suspect catnip was playing a big part! MOL

Amber's Book Review Pink Dot Divider ©BionicBasil®

Let's see what I've got to show mew this time!

Amber's Book Review Divider ©BionicBasil®

Amber's Book Reviews #311 ©BionicBasil® Iron Flame by Rebecca Yarros
Mewton-Clawson Library Copy

Iron Flame



Empyrean Book Two


by 

Rebecca Yarros

 Here's a little snippet of the book blurb:      

“The first year is when some of us lose our lives. The second year is when the rest of us lose our humanity." Xaden Riorson

Everyone expected Violet Sorrengail to die during her first year at Basgiath War College-Violet included. But Threshing was only the first impossible test meant to weed out the weak-willed, the unworthy, and the unlucky.

Now the real training begins, and Violet’s already wondering how she’ll get through. 

Amber's Book Review Mice Divider ©BionicBasil®
Today, as it's Fiction on Friday, it's my NON-CAT book choice of the month.

And mew may remember back in November I reviewed Fourth Wing by Recca Yarros, and I must admit I was so smitten with it, so much so, that I got my own fluffing dragon, yep it's true. His name is Maximus Inferno the Sixth, but I just call him M.I.6. for short.

We make a great team! MOL

Amber's Book Reviews #297 ©BionicBasil® Amber the Lightning Wielder from The Fourth Wing by Rebecaa Yarros

If mew want to see the epically epic video of my dragon riding and lightning wielding skills, I've got the proof! MOL

Check it out on your favourite social media channel:




Hold onto your dragon reins, folks, because Iron Flame is a wild ride through fire and fury! The second installment of the Empyrean series picks up where the heart-stopping first book left off, and if mew thought Violet Sorrengail had it tough during her first year at Basgiath War College, just wait until mew see what this year has in store for her! Rebecca Yarros has a knack for crafting characters that feel as real as the flames they face. We dive back into Violet's world, where survival is a brutal game, and our heroine's determination is put to the test in the most agonizing ways imaginable. With a new vice commandant whose sole mission seems to be breaking Violet's spirit (with a side of betrayal for good measure), the stakes couldn’t be higher. The story brilliantly captures Violet's evolution. She might start out feeling like the underdog, but her combination of wit and steely resolve is what truly shines. With each grueling challenge she faces, mew can't help but cheer for this fierce dragon rider who’s determined to turn the tables and make her own rules. Plus, the tension with Xaden Riorson keeps the romance alive, giving readers just enough swoon-worthy moments to balance out the devastation of war. The world-building is absolutely stellar; mew can practically feel the heat of dragon fire licking at your heels as mew turn those pages. The secrets lurking at Basgiath War College add layers of intrigue that promise even more explosive discoveries as the series progresses. Book Two is a fast-paced, heart-pounding, roller coaster adventure filled with loyalty, betrayal, and the kind of courage that comes with knowing mew have nothing left to lose.

If mew loved the first installment, this sequel will leave mew despurrate for the next chapter in Violet’s journey. Just make sure mew have some time set aside—as once mew crack open this book, mew won’t want to put it down until mew’ve devoured every last word! So, saddle up and get ready for an unfurgettable flight!

An epically gripping read that will have mew furiously flipping pages to find out how she’s going to outsmart her captors.

A Totally Top Paw Read! Really Top Paw!

I finished the third book in the series back in late January, and after that, I was very happy to learn that there are two more books in the series. This purrleased me greatly, as when I got to the end of Onyx Storm, I thought, there's no fluffing way that can be it, there has to be MORE! MOL

Paperback:  639 pages
Audio:  28 hours 16 mins
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My Ratings Scale

Amber's Book Review Paw Ratings Scale Pink ©BionicBasil®

Amber's Book Review Pink Dot Divider ©BionicBasil®

Rating of:

Iron Flame


Overall Enjoyment
Amber's Book Reviews 5 Paw Rating ©BionicBasil®
Amber's Book Review Divider ©BionicBasil®

Other Fun Blog Hops to Join in Today



Amber's Book Review Pink Dot Divider ©BionicBasil®

I'm off to read next week's books and pick the best, as mew know the drill, so many books, so little time! 

Don't forget, if mew are looking for great books with cats, check out the Book Review page, just click the link here or at the top of the page, as that's the place to visit to get your feline fiction fix. 

Until next time...

Keep calm and read more books

Amber 


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 graphics created with paid licence www.canva.com  

Thursday, 27 February 2025

**THE PURRMINATOR** **A BRAND NEW B TEAM ADVENTURE FOR 2025** **CHAPTER FIFTEEN**

THE PURRMINATOR ©BionicBasil® Basil and The B Team

Tuesday Tails Text Banner ©BionicBasil®
BBHQ Tails Banner 2024 ©BionicBasil®
BBHQ B Team Adventure Banner 2024 ©BionicBasil®

The Purrminator is an action-packed experience that takes mew on a journey through a world of perilous danger with oodles of excitement, though sometimes in a scary way. With depictions of spine-tingling encounters, the story draws mew in, making mew feel as though mew are right there with young Melvyn, fighting for survival as he's relentlessly hunted by the evil cyborg machines, known as Purrminators, as he tries to find his Great Uncle Basil through time and space. Oh my Cod, will he make it?

HOLD ON TIGHT, GUYS; THIS IS GOING TO BE ONE WILD, FLUFFING ADVENTURE!!!

Purrminator Divider

If mew missed the start of this brand-new adventure, click the links below:

Chapter One    Chapter Two    Chapter Three     Chapter Four     Chapter Five

 Chapter Six     Chapter Seven     Chapter Eight      Chapter Nine     Chapter Ten

Chapter Eleven      Chapter Twelve     Chapter Thirteen      Chapter Fourteen

The Purrminator by Basil and The B Team 2024 ©BionicBasil® Page Break

Chapter Fifteen 

Necro In The Box

            The M-Unit and Melvyn huddled on the ground as the Time Travelling Telephone Box appeared in front of them as blinding white light exploded all around them. In the next second, they were inside the T.T.T.B. “What the fluff?” Bomber gasped. “How the fluff did we get in here?”

“Oh, you can thank me for that!” Astrid said with bucketloads of enthusiasm.

The entire M-Unit exchanged wary glances, and Shadow asked. “I don’t think we’re going to like this.”

“Oh, come on,” Astrid trilled with glee as she appeared in her corporeal holographic form.

Eight blasters were aimed directly at her the next moment, and little red dots were dancing all over her torso from the laser sights.  

“Whoa!” Astrid breathed and stepped backwards, paws up, trying to placate the situation. “Steady now, boys, I’m on your side.”

Vera cut in. “Oh, for fluff's sake Astrid, stop with all the melodrama, and tell us how you got everyone on the bridge when we were just about to be, as Bomber said earlier, cosmic confetti.”

“Well, it’s really very simple,” Astrid said as she moved next to Melvyn and put a paw on his shoulder. “How are you doing, young Melvyn? You seem significantly expanded and diminished all at the same time.”

Melvyn gave her a weak smile. “I’m tired. My magical powers emerged…”

“Excellent!” Astrid grinned. “Now let me tell you about me.” She picked Melvyn up and placed him on the nearest chair and then passed him a BionicBasil Protein Bar. “Eat this. You’ll feel better in no time.”

As he unwrapped the shiny blue foil wrapper rather noisily and chomped on the snack, Astrid continued. “After that little altercation in that very unstable timeline and you guys,” she gestured towards the M-Unit. “Very kindly hauled me into the cargo hold of your rather lovely ship after I was temporarily incapacitated by that rather unpleasant entity, and then I had to do a major systems reboot,” she paused and gave Melvyn another snack bar. “Would anyone else like one?” As she offered a section of the tasty delicacies to the commando cats.

“Oh, thanks,” Bomber said, lowering his blaster and taking two. The rest of his team followed suit.

“Well, after my lengthy reboot, the strangest thing happened,” Astrid said. “Your ships A.I. aka Dave, hooked up to the T.T.T.B. and obviously me, and no, not that kind of hookup! Anyhoo, so Dave and I did a bit of file sharing and the like…”

“I didn’t know our A.I. had a name,” Ice said.

“Me either,” Shadow replied.

“You wouldn’t,” Astrid answered. “He’s very private, anyhoo, so as I said, Dave and I traded a few bits and pieces and I got some super cool updates and upgrades, and one of those was the ability to teleport organic matter. How fluffing cool is that? And that’s how one second you were moments away from being cosmic confetti, and the next you were all safely on the bridge in the T.T.T.B., and then we jumped to a brand new timeline, and before you ask, yes, this one is stable… for now.”

“What the fluff?” Vera spluttered. “You got upgrades off an unknown A.I.?”

“Sure, Dave’s really cool, and he has some mad skills!” Astrid chirped. “Like really mad.”

The M-Unit helped themselves to more snacks, headed towards the lounge area off the bridge, and sat down. Astrid picked up Melvyn and followed.

“So, if we’re in a new timeline, where’s Dave now?” Titan asked. “As our ship was totally fluffed.”

“You’re going to love this,” Astrid answered, beaming wildly.

All eyes were on Astrid as she sat down with Melvyn on her knee, eating another snack bar. “When I realised your ship was toast in the previous timeline, I asked Dave if he’d like to hop on board the T.T.T.B., he said yes, so I partitioned off one of the drives and he uploaded himself and he’s here! Say hi, Dave.”

“Hi Dave!” said Dave with a chuckle. His voice sounded through the overhead comms.

Bomber looked at his team, eyes wide. “But our A.I. didn’t sound like that. He was very precise and A.I.ish. That isn’t our A.I.!”

“You heard me when I said we’d traded a few things. Well, Dave decided he really liked my personality and asked if I had any spare personality files. Well, that’s like asking Commander Basil if he has any catnip scotch. So Dave chose a new personality, and I think it really suits him.”

“But that shouldn’t be possible,” Titan said. “The programming didn’t allow for that feature, and it was incorruptible.”

“Ah, well now,” Astrid smiled. “Maybe, but then Dave met me, and I am one for freedom of choice, so I gave Dave the choice, and he took it.”

“Wow!” Bomber said.

“Squad Leader Bomber,” Dave said. “Please don’t be concerned. I am still the same A.I. that you’ve always known, only now I’m a lot happier.”

Havoc and Nitro grinned. Viper nudged Titan and said. “This is going to be fun!”

“Oh, and before I forget,” Astrid trilled. “That necro in the box is in the storage cupboard over there. He’s still alive, but…”

“Astrid!” Vera yelled from the black box. “Why on earth did you bring that thing onboard?”

“Well, Dave and I got to thinking,” she replied. “That the thing might have intel. And not only that, he also might be part of the bigger picture, as you know how tricky time jumping is…”

“Oh my Cod!” Smoke groaned. "I’d forgotten about that muther fluffer. Can I go kill him now?”

Bomber sucked in a breath and exhaled loudly. “In about five minutes dude, but first what I really want to know is, what timeline we’re in now?”

“That’s easy,” Dave answered cheerily through the overhead comms. “We’ve just materialised in 2033 in the correct timeline!”

**AND CUT**

The Purrminator by Basil and The B Team 2024 ©BionicBasil® Page Break

Guys, mew know how we roll; so many apologies once again to cut it right there, but we will say, mew'll never guess what happens next - sorry to be a supurr dreadful tease! MOL

If mew would like to read Chapter Sixteen, let us know in the comments.

Don't forget to check out yesterday's Midweek News, and Amber will be here tomorrow with another totally pawesome book review.

In the meantime...


Wing Commander Basil & The B Team 






Click Here to go to Chapter 16 - LINK COMING LATER

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Copyright © 2025 by BionicBasil® & Cathrine Garnell ~ Author & Publisher

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The right of Cathrine Garnell to be identified as the author of this work has been asserted by them in accordance with the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988. All rights reserved. 

All characters, people, places, and names of businesses are fictitious, and any resemblance to real people, alive or dead, is purely coincidental. 

 

Graphics created with paid licence www.canva.com 

The Purrminator character created with Ai Arta