Scan barcode
A review by justinkhchen
The Puzzle Master by Danielle Trussoni
3.0
3.5 stars
An engrossing, but uneven piece of brain teaser, The Puzzle Master is simultaneously doing the most, and not enough, enticing the readers with layers of mysteries and fascinating factoids, but overestimates its ability to actually assemble them towards a cohesive, compelling resolution.
I love the premise of a puzzle designer accidentally gotten himself involved in a murder case (side-note, the visual of puzzles scattered throughout is a neat, immersive touch), and the first third of the novel borrows heavily from gothic horrors, which immediately has me hooked (a particular location reminds me of a level in Resident Evil Village). But as the scope expands, going back in time and beyond centuries, the plot starts to lose me with its nosedive into quantum mechanics, forbidden spells, and knowledge on immortality. While the short chapters still keep me turning pages, I start to care less as the story trying to find its way out of the abyss of riddles it has generated. Not only do I find its progression convoluted (a lot of legwork, yet things always work out with the least amount of effort, and the characters find answers very easily), but also question the inclusion of romance (it was just... weird in an unflattering way) .
The Puzzle Master turns out to be more silly, fantastical National Treasure than I expected; granted I should've guessed when the ultimate riddle is called a 'God Puzzle'—so the rating is perhaps more of a reflection on personal preference (and my lack of enthusiasm has possibly made the story's flaws even more apparent). But objectively speaking this is a solid page-turner, and definitely packed with entertainment value (just don't over-analyze it).
**This ARC was provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Much appreciated!**
An engrossing, but uneven piece of brain teaser, The Puzzle Master is simultaneously doing the most, and not enough, enticing the readers with layers of mysteries and fascinating factoids, but overestimates its ability to actually assemble them towards a cohesive, compelling resolution.
I love the premise of a puzzle designer accidentally gotten himself involved in a murder case (side-note, the visual of puzzles scattered throughout is a neat, immersive touch), and the first third of the novel borrows heavily from gothic horrors, which immediately has me hooked (a particular location reminds me of a level in Resident Evil Village). But as the scope expands, going back in time and beyond centuries, the plot starts to lose me with its nosedive into quantum mechanics, forbidden spells, and knowledge on immortality. While the short chapters still keep me turning pages, I start to care less as the story trying to find its way out of the abyss of riddles it has generated. Not only do I find its progression convoluted (a lot of legwork, yet things always work out with the least amount of effort, and the characters find answers very easily), but also question the inclusion of romance (it was just... weird in an unflattering way) .
The Puzzle Master turns out to be more silly, fantastical National Treasure than I expected; granted I should've guessed when the ultimate riddle is called a 'God Puzzle'—so the rating is perhaps more of a reflection on personal preference (and my lack of enthusiasm has possibly made the story's flaws even more apparent). But objectively speaking this is a solid page-turner, and definitely packed with entertainment value (just don't over-analyze it).
**This ARC was provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Much appreciated!**