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Alex L Criddle

@alexlcriddle

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Reader and Sometimes Writer
Book Reviews | Book Love | Writing Updates
Mom 👦🏻👧🏼 • Wife 💍 • Libra ⚖️ • INFJ ☺️

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It’s fall break and my kids are home for a long weekend!!! They recently got into Minecraft and are more than a little obsessed. They love playing together and when Letty had to leave for an activity the other day, Kal stopped playing and when I asked him why, he said, “It’s more fun with Letty.” I love how close they are!! 🥹

While they play, I get to do my own thing and finally cracked open Threshing Day. I’m loving it so far!!!

How is your October going?

Mine has been quite eventful and will be even busier over the next couple weeks 😅 But the weather is cooler; the trees are finally starting to change; and, there’s that extra special holiday feeling in the air that gets stronger as the ‘ber months go on ☺️

Shout out to Letty for helping me with this reel!!! She picked the font, the background color, and the music 🙌🏻

#threshingday #rebeccayarros #reading #minecraft #mykidsarebestfriends by @alexlcriddle

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2 days ago

☺️Me According to My Husband☺️

I’ve seen this trend floating around and wanted to see what my husband would say about me. I’m usually way behind on trends, but I think I’m only a little late with this one 😆

And I had to add a bookish question!! I have told him a lot about Feyre over the last few years and how I relate to her, but I was still surprised when he said her name. And he is not just basing his choice off my commentary. He has read the first two books in the series, so he does know Feyre quite well. One of these days, I need to find some of his reaction texts and post them!!

What fictional character do you think you are most like?

The Feyre art is from:
@rinamoart
@magicnaanavi
@bxromance
@meiflowersketches

The rest of the photos are from Unsplash (except the two I’m in 😄)

#meaccordingtomyhusband #trends #bookish #bookishcharacter #myhusbandplaysalong by @alexlcriddle

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3 days ago

🧪Build Your Own Potion🧪

@mermaid_mama_reads tagged me in the #buildyourownpotion challenge a couple Octobers ago and I’m finally getting to it!!! 🤭

☠️ Deadly Nightshade: a book both beautiful and deadly
Belladonna by Adalyn Grace

🦄 Unicorn Tears: a book that brought you to tears
Beg, Borrow, or Steal by Sarah Adams

🦊 Foxglove: a book you would protect/defend ‘til the end of time
Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen

🌑 Chasm Creeper: a book that you have on your TBR due to its intimidating size
Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy

🌙 Nightbane: a book that led to some spooky nightmares
Sunrise on the Reaping by Suzanne Collins

🐺 Wolfsbane: a book that changed you
A Court of Mist and Fury by Sarah J. Maas

Pick a potion ingredient and tell me about a book that matches the description for you!!

#bookstagramchallenge #bookstackchallenge #bookstack #octobervibes by @alexlcriddle

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9 days ago

🥳It’s My Birthday and 800th Post🥳

36!!! Last year, my birthday photo had mountains in the very far background and this year, I was actually able to be right next to the mountains ⛰️😍 My husband had some time off work last week so we went to find autumn colors for photos on the first day of October. There was almost no fall color 😭 However, we still found some beautiful spots and he took this photo that turned out so pretty!!! And yes, I brought a backpack full of books that he carried the whole time 😂 Thanks babe!!! 😘

This year has been tough for several reasons, but through the challenges, I have grown so much. I am learning to let go of perfection, to recognize when I need to take time for myself, to live more in the moment, to appreciate the small things in life. I have taken several posting breaks this year because of so much that has happened to me and my family, but I am finally in a place where life has slowed down (knock on wood) and I am hoping to be back to posting regularly. I have been reading through all my rough patches and have found some amazing books which I’ve managed to share slowly but surely over the last few months. Books continue to be a lifeline and I am so happy to have them in the trenches of life.

800 posts!!! Thank you for sticking around despite my sporadic absences. I still find so much joy in this beautiful community of book lovers and even if I haven’t posted as much, I am usually on here (more than I should be 😅) liking and commenting. I am so grateful for all of you and your friendship and book recommendations. Yes, my TBR is still growing almost daily 😂

Sending you all so much love and wishes for your current reads to be 5 stars!!! 💜💜💜

Tell me about a book that helped you through a difficult time 🫶🏻

#itsmybirthday #october #octoberbaby #800thpost #booklover by @alexlcriddle

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11 days ago

🔪Build Your Own Slasher Movie🔪

@missbeckagee tagged me to make a #buildyourownslashermovie stack and October seemed like the perfect time to finally do it!!

Who is the main character?
Geekerella by Ashley Poston

Where does it take place?
In Your Dreams by Sarah Adams

Who are they running from?
The Swan’s Daughter by Roshani Chokshi

What’s the catalyst that started it all?
The Scorpio Races by Maggie Stiefvater

What’s the weapon?
Shadow and Bone by Leigh Bardugo

How does your slasher film end?
Lost in a Book by Jennifer Donnelly

As much as I love reading, I’m not sure I would want to be lost in a book forever. But maybe it depends on the book?

Do you like horror movies?
I don’t. Not one bit 😂 My husband told me about one he watched recently and I ended up having a nightmare just based on hearing a brief synopsis. I don’t do well with horror at all 😅

#bookstagramchallenge #bookstack #horrormovies #buildyourownslasherchallenge by @alexlcriddle

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12 days ago

👑Relishing a Reread👑

Things ramped up significantly in this book!!! The first half was a bit meandering, but once an inciting incident occurred, the plot flew by and I was finished before I knew it. For some reason, I thought that particular incident happened towards the end of the book, so I was taken by surprise when it happened well before. There was so much story afterward and I was here for all of it. The emotions felt throughout the last half were just so raw and real.

I loved the expansion of POVs and how we had a brief look into some characters’ perspectives that played even very small roles in the story. The one with that particular character no one hears from again is a scene I remember from the first time I read this book and still think about fairly often. The tragedy remained heavy upon reading it again and I was reminded of just how much I love SJM’s writing and how she builds her worlds not only through the main characters, but through those who are simply living their lives and making an impact, often unseen by others.

I thought the beginning of the groundwork had been laid in the previous book, but that was nothing compared to Crown of Midnight. There were SO many things that stood out to me this time around which made me even more eager to get to certain books because my goodness, this book had so many nods to what is to come!!! And I can’t forget to mention Fleetfoot. What a sweetheart 🥹

Mort was a favorite again and I thought the accent Elizabeth Evans chose for him was quite funny. I continued to enjoy listening to her narration and have gotten slightly used to her pronunciation of certain words, though I still correct them in my mind 😂

This is a series that gets better and better as it goes and I am itching to continue. My hold for Heir of Fire is only a couple weeks out, but then I have to figure out what to do because my library doesn’t have the rest of the series on audio. I may have to revert to my Kindle or physical copies, which means a much slower reading pace. Regardless, I am so excited to continue and can’t wait to be reintroduced to some of my favorite characters in the upcoming books!!! by @alexlcriddle

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12 days ago

✨ARC Review✨
⭐️⭐️⭐️.5/5 📖
Threads of Red
by Julie Wright

This was such an interesting retelling mash-up of Red Riding Hood and Goldilocks. The fairytale vibes were on point and I loved that there were little nods to other fairytales too.

I did not find any of the characters likeable in this story, yet I couldn’t help but come to care for them and hope that their stories ended well. They were all flawed, making them more realistic. And there was something about the characters that felt more reminiscent of original fairytales.

The magic was intriguing and the laws and misconceptions around those who had magic made the story more compelling.

I knew all the twists well before they happened, and maybe part of that is because this story is YA, but I did still enjoy the journey and especially liked the character growth and Red’s and Goldi’s eventual understanding of one another.

The overall tone of this retelling was quite dark and would be a perfect read for this season.

Thank you so much @shadowmountainpub for sending a copy!!!

Threads of Red will be available tomorrow, October 6, 2026!!!

What are two fairytales you think would make for an interesting mash-up?

#arcreview #threadsofred #fairytaleretelling #redridinghood #goldilocks by @alexlcriddle

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13 days ago

⚔️Relishing a Reread⚔️

This is why I love rereading!!!

I was reminded just how much I love these characters and this world. There were so many little details that stood out to me while I listened to Throne of Glass. The connections to other SJM books were even more evident to me and the fact that so much of the foundation was laid this early kind of blew my mind!!! While the world-building is more minimal in this one, I loved remembering things that will happen and can’t wait to see what stands out to me in the other books.

This is only the beginning of such a long journey and even though a while ago I said I was happy to slowly reread this series, I am now very much invested and will probably be reading it as soon as I can 😂

This was my first time listening to a Throne of Glass book and I really enjoyed it. Elizabeth Evans is a great narrator, but the way she pronounced a couple things did make me cringe a bit 😬😂 Aside from that, I thought her character voices were fantastic!!!

Do you like rereading fantasy series? What is one you would like to reread?

#reread #throneofglass #sarahjmaas #throneofglassseries #fantasyseries by @alexlcriddle

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16 days ago

✨ARC Review✨
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5 📖
The Christmas Dove
by Kate Lee

Kate Lee’s minimalistic watercolor illustrations spoke to my soul while I read this picture book to my kids. They were both so attentive and didn’t look away once. Now, that might not seem like much of a feat for an 11 and an 8 year old, but believe me when I tell you they can be distracted very easily 😂 When I asked them what they liked about the book, they exclaimed, “Everything!”

After reading, I was left with a sense of peace and comfort in a time when my life has been very stressful. It was a tender mercy to be able to sit down with my kids and to accompany a sweet, little dove along the journey that led to the birth of Jesus Christ.

This beautiful depiction of the Nativity story would be a perfect Christmas gift for children young and old.

Thank you so much @shadowmountainpub for sending me a copy!!!

The Christmas Dove will be available October 6, 2026!!!

#arcreview #thechristmasdove #katelee #thenativity #shadowmountainpublishing by @alexlcriddle

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17 days ago

✨ARC Review✨
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5/5 📱
The Wretched Divine
by Adalyn Grace

Humans have found themselves fighting in a war waging between angels and demons. The question is, who is the real enemy?

There was so much to love about this book!! I loved reading from multiple characters’ points of view. I loved the interludes that revealed the past as the story progressed. I loved the tension. I loved the romance. I loved the exploration of who is actually on the side of “good” and “evil.” I loved the unique powers and the way bonds worked. There was so much beauty in the writing, in the reminder that battles can be won without swords and bloodshed, that truth is not always what it seems.

This was definitely an adult book. There was profanity, spice, and when you have the seven deadly sins involved, you’re bound to have some scenes that might make you feel uncomfortable, which absolutely happened to me. However, the story was gripping and I really loved the characters and think most of those scenes could easily be skimmed/skipped if you also find yourself feeling discomfort.

While I suspected many of the ways the story would unfold, I was still drawn in by the characters and loved my time in this world. And despite sensing a lot of what was to come, I was still surprised a couple times and even though I suspected something major that happened in the end, I was audibly gasping with excitement and OMGs. It’s been a while since I’ve finished a book that made me want to immediately pick up the next one and I am SO excited to see where book two takes us. I want Adalyn Grace to take all the time she needs to write, but I also wish I could have the next book right now 😂

I honestly found it difficult to get my thoughts down for this one because I just have so many. I am still thinking about it days after finishing, so it left a mark. It is not a book for everyone, but I hope it finds the right audience because it was a fascinating read and an interesting exercise in reflecting on which side of the war you would choose.

Thank you so much @netgalley for providing an eARC!!!

#arcreview #thewretcheddivine #adalyngrace #angelsanddemons #netgalley by @alexlcriddle

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25 days ago

✨ARC Review✨
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5 📖
A Magical Christmas Collection
illustrated by Dan Burr

Dan Burr’s beautiful illustrations brought five short stories to life in this Christmas collection. His Norman Rockwell-inspired style expressed so much emotion, contained details I am still discovering, and celebrated the magic of the holiday season on every page.

The tales of kindness, service, miracles, and giving captured the spirit of Christmas and made me quite emotional while I was reading. I loved that a couple of them were based on true stories and all of them made me feel like I could be more generous and help make someone’s miracle happen this upcoming Christmas season.

This would be a wonderful addition to any Christmas book collection. I look forward to reading these stories again and again with my kids for years to come.

Stories included:

The Christmas Train by Thomas S. Monson

The Christmas Apron by Rachelle Pace Castor

Sam’s Christmas Wish by George D. Durrant

The Christmas List of Richard Lindsey by Bruce Lindsay

The Mansion by Henry van Dyke

Thank you so much @shadowmountainpub for sending a copy!!!

A Magical Christmas Collection will be available tomorrow!!!

#arcreview #amagicalchristmascollection #danburr #christmasbooks #shadowmountainpublishing by @alexlcriddle

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9

a month ago

✨Book Review✨
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5 🎧
To Love the Brooding Baron
by Jentry Flint

“Shakespeare was always the answer.”

Arabella Latham has been searching for her spark, a true love worthy of marriage. Lord Northcott has secretly been falling in love with Arabella, his friend’s sister, but knows he cannot pursue her because of his family’s past. Will true love win out?

I loved this book so much!!! The slightly darker, more Gothic vibes gave it an interesting twist. Yet, the romance and humor radiated through the gloom that could have weighed down the story, but didn’t. I laughed out loud a few times and swooned a few more. Arabella was a breath of fresh air. She was vibrant, determined, and compassionate. Her quoting Shakespeare was brilliant and proves just how applicable his work is in basically any situation 🤭 Lord Northcott was indeed brooding, but also thoughtful and caring. And when his teasing nature made an appearance, I was a goner. Their relationship was genuine, and the tension in certain scenes was 🔥🔥🔥

Once again, Jentry Flint wrote a book that addressed rather dark, heavy themes, but did so in a way that did not divert from the romance. I was fascinated by the attention given to mental health in the Regency era. There was also a bit of mystery woven into Henry’s past that added another dimension to the story.

Mary Jane Wells was an incredible narrator. Her voices were diverse and fit each character flawlessly. The emotion she imbued into her delivery carried so much weight. I could listen to her for hours on end!!!

It was so fun to see returning characters from Games in a Ballroom and I am even more excited now for Bradbury’s book in November!!!

#bookreview #tolovethebroodingbaron #jentryflint #maryjanewells #regencyromancebooks by @alexlcriddle

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8

a month ago