About my ratings

Perhaps because of my day job, I'm a tough rater. Everything 3/5 and above I consider worth the time and money. If I purchase on Etsy or a similar platform and the puzzle is as expected, I will give a top rating on the platform because of how seller ratings work, but here "as expected" is probably a 3/5 in most cases.

Thursday, March 19, 2026

Bearly There

 Fathom, 200 pieces. I was a bit hesitant because it's dark, but it's excellent, like every Fathom puzzle I've done. I wonder if Fathom could do the bit of curving on the edges of certain pieces that creates tiny little dropouts on the similar Stave Tormentors. 4/5





Christmas Stocking

 Twigg, 97 pieces. A cute tidbit; I like the derpy Santa. Whimsies noticeably larger than regular pieces. 3/5




We Can Do It!

 Puzzlapy, 63 pieces. Color line cut, which isn't my favorite, but the small size & solid frame prevented real frustration. And obviously a great image! 3/5





Tuesday, March 17, 2026

Jammin' All Around

 Rebel Puzzles/Chestnut & Hemlock, approx. 200 pieces. I didn't even realize this was an infinite scroll puzzle (in one direction) until I was done! Laser-cut; nicely done. 3/5






Erin Hanson, Sunset Reflections

 Artifact, 795 pieces. This was a big one! A lot of similar color eventually emerging into its proper place. A number of interacting/multipiece whimsies mostly on an outdoors theme. 4/5












Faery Tales

 Stave, 445 pieces. (Plus a Valentine's Day tidbit.) Unsurprisingly, lots of fairytale references in the whimsies as well as the image. 6/10






wizard hat

dish running away with spoon at top; swan on edge (plus frong)

Cinderella with broom and shoe; cow jumping over moon; figure climbing tower (in image)

bear on chair; fairy with book; witch with apple


2 + ewe + B+leaf + question mark: do you believe?


Wednesday, February 25, 2026

Snowflake Puzzle

Nervous System, 121 pieces. I liked the interaction of the more regular snowflakes with the curvier Nervous System style. 3/5





Vikram Madan, Robot Creation Myth

 Artifact, 382 pieces. This one had a lot of dark blue in it that started out hard to differentiate, complicated by the very irregular edge; eventually some distinctions became more visible. Liked the dropout stars! 3/5






Surinam Caiman & South American False Coral Snake, Maria Sibylla Merian

 Turning Taxis, 243 pieces. Another small-piece challenge with some subtle color changes in the caiman body! 3/5





Tuesday, February 24, 2026

Peking Opera #1

 Turning Taxis, 255 pieces. Very small pieces make this an assembly challenge, along with the irregular edge/protrusions! 3/5



finger for comparison



Dee Rogers, Haven of Halos

 Nonie Made Me, 67 pieces. Fun teaser puzzle! 4/5





Owl-Woodland Flower, Jena DellaGrottaglia

Liberty, 540 pieces. Impressive cut with multipiece flowers centered on the flowers in the image, though hilariously I don't seem to have retained a picture of the front! 4/5