Tales from the Cryptic

Cryptic Mini #000000020:   "Old Arrakis" obscuration level: 🌔 (a quickie for hump day) Haven't done a 5x5 in a while, so here's a breezy lil number for you today. Cheers!

Cryptic Mini #000000019:   "Hot Feet" obscuration level: 🌑 (bring a flashlight) This started as 🌒 but again, my inner sicko steered the bus right into the abyss. These aren't the *most* misleading clues I've ever written, but I think for the scale of this blog, they're as tough as I'll make 'em. Hope they bring you despair & delight!

Cryptic Mini #000000018:   "Y2K-era Search" obscuration level: 🌔 (cute, but not too cute) This started as 🌕 but my inner sicko got the best of me, I couldn't help but throw *some* trickiness in. Hope it makes you delightfully frustrated!

Cryptic Mini #000000017:   "San Diego Zoo" obscuration level: 🌔 (friendly neighborhood misdirection) Weird shape, I know. I played around with this one a *lot*, but I think it's settled into a nice place? Hope it's not too hard for the newbies, or too easy for the experts!

Cryptic Mini #000000016:   "Very Legal" obscuration level: 🌔 (goes down smooth) Happy (belated) Pi Day! I forgot to make a pi(e)-related puzzle, but hopefully this one is just as scrumptious & irrational :)

Cryptic Mini #000000015:   "20 Cents" obscuration level: 🌒 (some toughies, and some softies!) Okay, this is really a 🌑 that's been watered down with some 🌓s and maybe even a 🌔. I have a feeling some of you are going to frown at some of these clues... but hopefully more of you will smile! 🌝

Cryptic Mini #000000014:   "Spirit of Victory" obscuration level: 🌕 (easy breezy beautiful... cryptic girl) Another one for the beginners out there! Though I admit there is a *pinch* of obscuration here. But I think you can handle it! If not, don't forget the hints :)

Cryptic Mini #000000013:   "Pastrami in New York" obscuration level: 🌓 (maybe a shade darker) A weird shape today, I just had some 6-letter answers I wanted to fit in. Hope you like 'em!

Cryptic Mini #000000012:   "IP Freely" obscuration level: 🌔 (some are 🌕, some 🌓) I tried to make this one clear and easy... but sometimes I couldn't help himself! The cryptic devil made me do it!