Friday, 5 December 2025

Book Reviews with Amber at The Mewton-Clawson Library #340 featuring **Hemlock & Silver** by T. Kingfisher **PLUS** Friendly Fill-Ins

A digitally illustrated promotional graphic for The Mewton-Clawson Library at BBHQ features Amber, a white and orange cat wearing a light blue scarf, seated in front of bookshelves filled with colourful books. Decorative elements like holly leaves, a mouse, a quill, and a thimble add festive charm to the top of the image. The bottom text reads "Book Reviews with Amber," indicating Amber is the host of the library’s book review segment. The overall design is cozy, whimsical, and holiday-themed. At www.bionicbasil.com

Hello, gorgeous library guests 

and 

Welcome to the Mewton-Clawson Library at BBHQ 

Thank you for joining me in the stacks today. 

Gosh, I miss the heat from my summer jollies, and to be honest, I may have to flee the U.K. if the cold weather keeps looming!

Are mew ready for more of my Egyptian adventures? Of course, mew are! MOL

Amber, an orange and white tabby cat, sits regally in front of the colossal statues of Ramses II at Abu Simbel. She wears a flowing scarlet robe with a sapphire sash, a crescent-moon pendant, and a wide golden headdress adorned with lotus motifs. Her blue sunglasses add a touch of feline glamour. The sandstone temple glows in the rising sun, with warm hues and dramatic shadows casting across the ancient carvings. The scene blends majestic Egyptian architecture with whimsical feline elegance.

๐Ÿ› My Egyptian Adventure #7: Colossal Cats & Ramses Rendezvous ๐Ÿพ

Location: Abu Simbel, gazing up at Ramses II’s monumental temples

Time: Sunrise, when the desert blushes gold, and the statues awaken in light

Dahlings, today I traded moonlit ripples for monumental stone. My paws padded across the sands of Nubia until the colossal guardians of Abu Simbel loomed before me, four towering effigies of Ramses II, carved with such audacity that even the sun itself pauses to admire them.

“I was expecting colossal cats? Clearly an oversight. Luckily, I’ve corrected it.” 

I arrived at dawn, draped in a flowing scarlet robe with a sapphire sash, my crescent‑moon pendant gleaming against the rising sun. A new hat, of course, a wide golden headdress adorned with lotus motifs, because one must match the grandeur of the gods.

The air was crisp, tinged with sandstone and history. As the first rays pierced the temple’s inner sanctum, I sipped a chilled catnip espresso from a gilded chalice and whispered, “Amber, mew are eternal.” The statues didn’t blink, but I swear one smirked.

My Morning Essentials Included:

๐ŸŸ A platter of Nile perch pรขtรฉ with pomegranate glaze

๐Ÿท A sparkling nip‑tonic infused with desert herbs

  ๐Ÿ“œ A scroll of Ramses’ victories annotated with my paw‑written commentary (“Too much ego, dahling, but fabulous execution”)

  ๐Ÿพ A silk fan painted with Bastet’s likeness, fluttered dramatically at key moments

I wandered through the temple halls, hieroglyphs dancing in the dawn light, cats carved into eternity alongside pharaohs and gods. The grandeur was overwhelming, yet I remained composed. After all, I am Amber, head librarian of BBHQ, and I, too, command legacies (and snacks).

The desert may hold echoes of kings and conquerors, but today it held me: a cat of legend, strutting beneath colossal stone, sipping cocktails, and rewriting history with impeccable taste.

Mood: Majestic, monumental, and slightly smug (but only because my hat was bigger than Ramses’ crown).

Quote of the day: “Grandeur is not measured in stone, but in the paws that walk among it.”

A stylized illustration of two black cats sitting back-to-back, facing opposite directions. Each cat is adorned with gold accents on the ears and eyes, red and gold collars, and gold hoop earrings, evoking the aesthetic of ancient Egyptian art. Their symmetrical pose and regal detailing suggest inspiration from Bastet, the Egyptian goddess of protection and home. The image blends cultural symbolism with elegant feline design.

✨ Next week, I’ll be surprising mew with a mystery location. Expect masks, mystery, and more cocktails. ๐Ÿ˜ธ๐ŸŒ™๐Ÿธ

Anyhoo, let's look at this week's top book pick.

Two views of The Mewton-Clawson Library at BBHQ showcase a beautifully organized home library. The top half reveals a long wall of white bookshelves filled with colorful books, magazines, and decorative items. A chair and a cat add a cozy touch to the aisle. The bottom half features another section of the library with shelves lined with older, leather-bound volumes, suggesting a collection of classics or historical texts. The caption in the center reads: "Part of The Mewton-Clawson Library ©BionicBasil®"
A black and white illustration shows two mice interacting with a trio of vertically standing books. One mouse stands atop the middle book, appearing to speak or observe, while the other mouse is on the ground facing the books, as if listening or approaching. The book spines feature decorative horizontal bands, and the overall scene evokes a whimsical, storybook charm with themes of curiosity and learning.
Today, the P.A. is also joining in Friday Fill-ins Blog Hop with the pawesome 15 & Meowing and Four-Legged Furballs.

1. The easiest one on my Christmas shopping list to buy for is _________________________.
2. The toughest one in my Christmas shopping list to buy for is _____________________.
3. I try to spread Christmas cheer by _________.
4. When it comes to _________, I’m a bit of a Scrooge.

The P.A.'s answers are...

1. The easiest one on my Christmas shopping list to buy for is all of The B Team; catnip, toys, treats… basically anything that crinkles or jingles.

2. The toughest one on my Christmas shopping list to buy for is my parents, who somehow need nothing and everything at the same time.

3. I try to spread Christmas cheer by avoiding festive, crowded, heaving places. Nothing kills my holiday spirit faster than being trapped between a stressed shopper and a rogue tinsel display.

4. When it comes to sharing my blanket on the sofa, I’m a bit of a Scrooge. Unless it’s one of The B Team, in which case I become a human heated cat bed.


A black-and-white illustration features a vintage typewriter at the center with a paw print symbol on its paper holder. On either side of the typewriter are neatly stacked piles of four books each. A small mouse figure sits atop the left stack, while a tiny elephant figure perches on the right. The scene blends literary charm with whimsical elements, evoking themes of storytelling, imagination, and creativity.

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

A cozy library scene features a large orange and white cat sitting on a chair in the foreground. Around the cat are a desk lamp, a feather quill in an ink pot, a stack of books, a wooden sign that reads "SHHHHH!!!", and a small mouse perched on another stack of books. Green potted plants flank the cat, and behind is a warmly lit library with wooden floors and bookshelves. At the top, a sign reads "THIS WEEKS TOP BOOK PICK!" with the website www.bionicbasil.com. In front of the cat is the featured book: Hemlock & Silver by T. Kingfisher, with a cover showing a red apple, flowers, and a green snake-like creature. At www.bionicbasil.com
Mewton-Clawson Library Copy

Hemlock & Silver


by 

T. Kingfisher

A symmetrical cartoon-style illustration featuring four mice and two pieces of Swiss cheese. The mice are arranged in pairs on either side of the cheese, all facing toward the center. Each cheese wedge is illustrated with classic holes, and the playful layout creates a balanced and whimsical visual.

๐Ÿ“š This Week’s Paw‑Approved Top Pick: Hemlock & Silver

Curl up in your cosiest nook, tail tucked, and ears perked, because this week’s read is a whisker‑quivering fairy‑tale retelling that proves cats aren’t just companions, they’re sharp‑tongued familiars who can claw their way right into the heart of dark magic.

❓What's the Genre?

This is a darkly whimsical fantasy stand‑alone that blends fairy‑tale retelling with gothic humour and a dash of feline mischief.

๐Ÿ•ต️ What’s the Story?

Anja, a healer with a knack for poisons and stubborn courage, finds herself tangled in a deadly curse tied to a mirror and a queen. Alongside her unlikely allies, including a sardonic, talking cat who refuses to be mere background fluff, she must navigate a world of enchantments, secrets, and shadows. What begins as a quest to save lives becomes a battle against the twisted reflections of power itself.

⚔️ What I Loved:-

๐Ÿ”ฅ The Vibes: Imagine Snow White meets Practical Magic, but with more poison bottles, more wit, and 100% more feline commentary.

๐Ÿพ The Cat: Grayling the talking cat is sly, sarcastic, and scene‑stealing, the kind of companion who’d roll their eyes at your potion ingredients but still save your life when it counts.

๐Ÿธ Anja: A heroine with grit, compassion, and a refusal to bow to fate. She’s the kind of woman who’d heal your wounds, hex your enemies, and still have time to argue with her cat.

๐ŸŽฌ The Fairy‑Tale Twist: The author takes the bones of Snow White and reshapes them into something darker, funnier, and far more unpredictable.

๐Ÿš The Setting: A world of cursed mirrors, shadowed castles, and dangerous magic, painted with a blend of eerie atmosphere and sly humour.

๐Ÿ“– My Final Thoughts:-

This is a fantasy that purrs with wit, hisses with danger, and sparkles with fairy‑tale menace. Anja is the kind of heroine mew’ll want to follow through every poisoned apple and shattered mirror, and Grayling is the purrfectly snarky sidekick #epic! I read it faster than a kitten chasing a laser pointer, and it’s a magical, mischievous tale that’ll leave mew yowling for more enchantments! MOL

Available in audiobook and print, so grab your catnip cocoa or nip gin, a blanket, and let the magic and the cat sarcasm begin!

A Top Paw Read!

**And at the time of posting, the Kindle edition is available for 0.99p**

Paperback: 368 pages

Audio: 11 hours & 50 mins
A black and white illustration shows two mice interacting with a trio of vertically standing books. One mouse stands atop the middle book, appearing to speak or observe, while the other mouse is on the ground facing the books, as if listening or approaching. The book spines feature decorative horizontal bands, and the overall scene evokes a whimsical, storybook charm with themes of curiosity and learning.
My Rating Scale
A whimsical graphic featuring a triangular arrangement of light blue paw prints on the left side, forming a downward-pointing triangle. On the right side is a playful rating scale for reading material, themed around fluff and animal humor. The five levels are: 1. 	TOTALLY TOP FLUFF — READ IMMEDIATELY 2. 	FURRY GOOD FLUFF — READ AS SOON AS 3. 	ENJOYABLE FLUFF — PUT IT STANDBY 4. 	NOT FLUFFING BAD — EMERGENCY READING 5. 	FLUFF OFF — GO NAP INSTEAD The design is lighthearted and imaginative, perfect for a fun, informal book review setting. At www.bionicbasil.com
Pale Blue Dots Banner ©BionicBasil®

Ratings of:

Hemlock & Silver

 
This one’s got claws in all the right places, a TOTALLY TOP FLUFF read that’ll enchant mew from page one!

Overall Enjoyment

Amber's Book Reviews ©BionicBasil® 5 Paw Rating - Pale Blue

A black-and-white illustration features a vintage typewriter at the center with a paw print symbol on its paper holder. On either side of the typewriter are neatly stacked piles of four books each. A small mouse figure sits atop the left stack, while a tiny elephant figure perches on the right. The scene blends literary charm with whimsical elements, evoking themes of storytelling, imagination, and creativity.
   
Other Fun Blog Hops to Join Today

A colorful collage of six square graphics representing themed blog hops and social media events. Each graphic features unique designs and text: 1. 	"Brian's Thankful Thursday Blog Hop" with a cat and the URL "brianshomeblog.com". 2. 	"The Cat Blogosphere" with the URL "catblogosphere.com". 3. 	"Feline Friday" with a playful cat theme. 4. 	"Nature Friday Blog Hop" featuring nature-inspired elements. 5. 	"Friendly Fill-Ins" with the URLs "15andmeowing.com" and "Four-Legged Furballs". 6. 	"Friendship Friday" with the tagline "Create With Joy". The image celebrates community-driven online events centered around cats, nature, and friendship.

Pale Blue Dots Banner ©BionicBasil®

I'm off to read next week's books, 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  

4 comments:

  1. You do look very grand, Amber, truly majestic! That sounds like a very good book and I will add it to my TBR list. I am a big Stephen King fan, but I couldn't get into the last book of his that I was reading. I decided I needed something a bit lighter, but still on the same sort of lines and this should fit the bill.

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  2. Amber, so jealous of the perch pate! And this book looks spell binding. We gotz da -12 C and snow on da ground.

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  3. Oh yeah, cats can share the blankie but no one else!
    I've enjoyed T. Kingfisher books.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Fantastic adventures in Egypt, Amber, and great review! Sounds like an interesting book!

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