Tales from the Cryptic

Cryptic Mini #000000046:   "Orange Pulp and Egg" obscuration level: 🌔 (mostly sweet, with a lil kick) Another oblong puzzle! Can't get enough. And finally, after weeks of drought, we've finally hit another 🌔. Did a bunch of easy puzzles this past week and enjoyed them quite well, so I was inspired to move things to the lighter side. Enjoy!

Cryptic Mini #000000045:   "Owner of the Vatican" obscuration level: 🌒 (a healthy dose of trouble) So this puzzle has some uncommon answers, but I tried to balance them out by making their clues less obscured. So for some, this may be harder than your average 🌒. Do let me know if anything is beyond the pale (side of the moon)!

Cryptic Mini #000000044:   "Like Satan Under a Full Moon" obscuration level: 🌓 (right under your nose & right over your head) Happy solstice! To celebrate, here's Satan under a full moon. Wish I could've made it a 🌕 but the Satan on my shoulder dragged it into the darkness.

Cryptic Mini #000000043:   "Gross Old Soap" obscuration level: 🌑 (smothered, covered, and extra crispy) Not the darkest of 🌑s, but definitely some patches of dense fog. Bring a flashlight!

Cryptic Mini #000000042:   "Fire Sale" obscuration level: 🌒 (just a soupçon of darkness) Happy National Pop Goes the Weasel Day ! This puzzle has nothing to do with weasels (or pop), just wanted to honor the classic bop. Enjoy!

Cryptic Mini #000000041:   "Babes on Testosterone" obscuration level: 🌓 (small but cute, a real short king) For once, I tried to make a tough puzzle, but the clues ended up *easier*! I guess the angel on my shoulder has some pull after all. Hope it still tickles your fancy!

Cryptic Mini #000000040:   "Flying Creature Paws" obscuration level: 🌓 (naughty 'n' nice) I almost trashed this entire grid because I couldn't get one of the clues working. I felt it was 97% there, but I couldn't bring it home, even after days of working on it! In a moment of weakness, I actually uploaded it, thinking I would give you, my loving and faithful audience, a slightly broken clue. Sigh . I apologize. I even started writing the clue's hint — and that's when it hit me! A completely different angle that was way more fun, and fit together perfectly... with a saucier definition to boot! I scrapped the original clue, and within 60 seconds, the puzzle was finally done! Huzzah!

Cryptic Mini #000000039:   "Thicc Bottom" obscuration level: 🌒 ( Gollum voice Tricksy Clueses!) This started as a 🌔 but I kept finding little bits of delightful misdirection that I had to include. Before I knew it, the moon was barely a sliver. Devilishness (devilocity?) is a slippery slope! 😈