Cryptic crossword No 1,841

Thanks Ozpiper. If your goal was to write some very clever clues you succeeded quite well. But if your goal was to set a 'novice-friendly' crossword I'm afraid you might have scarred some newbies for life! This was not easy and I eventually revealed five clues. My top picks were 9a, 25a, 4d, 7d, 21d, 23d, 24d, and 28d. Spoilers in reply.

Echoing Gennaro, I found this quite hard in parts, needing two sittings, even though some clues were novice-friendly. So quite enjoyable for me, but I imagine a newbie would get stuck. Favourites 10a, 25a, 4d, 7d, 21d, 24d, 29d....

I guess I’m meaning a bit beyond complete beginner - ‘novitiate’ maybe. But point taken about it being a bit more difficult than I thought it might be. Can be quite hard to judge on the writing side…🙄

Enjoyable but actually pretty tough overall - I had about 75% in OK after a few passes but the last quarter resisted for a while. As a wise person once said, they’re all easy when you know them 😆 a couple of minor quibbles / ‘discussion points’ in the reply 😁

Thanks OzP. Interestingly, I turned to this immediately after doing the Guardian quiptic which is aimed at the same solver category. This was considerably harder and I, too, had to reveal one at the close as well as using Check a few times. Faves include 17a, 32a, 19d (though no need for 'two'), 28d and 29d (though I agree the self-referential aspect is tricky but I did smile when I got it so it's joining the list). Thanks. PM

Thanks OzP. Good fun and, as others have said, considerable more difficult than it seems you were aiming for! Favourites: 10a, 4d, 21d (which I *think* works ok), 24d and 28d. Spoilers …

Yeah, a bit on the tricky side for me, but much to like in what I did manage. I like 29d, and 5d only needs a bit of work to hint at the backwards nature of the clue. Ticks also for 8a, 9a and 14d. I had 4d in with the wrong homophone, which is probably my mistake, but without crossers for the first and fifth letter it *could* be ambiguous? Kicking myself for missing 25a - well hidden!

I found this a kinder ride than most, apart from the SW, which held me up longer than the rest of the puzzle. I have exactly the same difficulty gauge trouble as you, so I sympathise! Others have quibble the particulars, so I'll note some structural things that up the difficulty. This grid has low connectivity: it's really four separate quadrant with two shared letters each, so if you're stuck in one there's not much help. That ups the toughness. And also...

Thanks OzP, also found tricky in places, I think for same reasons others have already mentioned, took me a while, but completed with a few checks :) favourites included 8a, 9a, 13a, 31a, 4d, 7d, 28d, cheers!