MattS
Canada
After 45 minutes staring at the puzzle, painstakingly checking every single clue, I give up, click on the info icon at the top in hopes that the wordplay blog has some insight, and only then discover that there is a setter's note. A crossword with un-crossed blocks, inscrutable without some additional explanation? Next time give me the explanation first please. My "error", of course, was that "Block (up)" can be both DAM and JAM.
Oof, rough solve. The rebuses don't check their cross entries, so it ended up just being a guess at the end.
I was definitely confused getting the "Puzzle complete" with MANGONADE (there are recipes online) crossing MONGPIRE (no evidence whatsoever of recipes or Khans). This blog at least helpfully explained the real answer. Figured out DEMON and OGRE but still not sure what the fourth rebus was. Somehow the puzzle is still complete.
What an absolutely fantastic puzzle, probably my favourite of the year. So many clever clues and unexpected phrases. A real Christmas gift and a treat, thank you.
@Nora I had CRESCENt and didn't even notice TEAtEY before it solved itself. Wow. Still a fun puzzle though I didn't get a chance to tease out the theme entries.
@OboeSteph I knew what was wanted in the top right corner early on but still couldn't fill it until I had 80% of the cross entries. Kind of defeats the purpose of a crossword when you can't even use the across to solve the downs.
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