Puzzles & Perils: The Crystal Quest

by Gareth Moore, Gareth Moore

Genres: Fantasy, Mystery

320 pages, Paperback

Published March 3, 2026

Reviews

[Alyssa · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is unlike anything I’ve ever read! You go on a quest and have to physically solve the different puzzles to move forward in the story. I LOVE puzzles so I was very intrigued by the structure of this book. Overall, it was really fun! My one complaint is the type of puzzles got a bit repetitive. For how many puzzles there were, I would’ve liked a little more variety in the type of puzzles we had to solve.

I would highly recommend for parents with kids that are learning to do logic puzzles! This would be such a fun way to practice brain games and reading comprehension!

Thank you NetGalley, St. Martin’s Press, Laura Jayne Ayres and Dr Gareth Moore for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

[Christine · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars
This book is described on the cover as "a Novel in 100 Fantastical Puzzles." The book is a light Fantasy/Mystery story about two teenagers yearning for adventure who find themselves on a life-changing quest. As Miralda and Orien face new experiences and unexpected danger, the reader will solve a variety of puzzles that cleverly fit in with the story and move the plot forward. It's the perfect combination of an easy-to-read story with humor and fun puzzles.

My favorite puzzles are the logic and deduction puzzles and the wordoku puzzles. I love these types of puzzles and when they are connected with an ongoing story, they are even more fun. I didn't enjoy the mapping/drawing puzzles as much, but that is just my preference. I love that there are so many puzzles in the book, but there is a bit too much repetition of the same types of puzzles. However, I still enjoyed the puzzles and the story which has a great ending. The book would be great for the whole family. I think both the content of the story and the difficulty of most of the puzzles is suitable for middle grades through adults. I've enjoyed other puzzle books by these authors and look forward to more.

I received a copy of this book from St. Martin's Press, but my review is voluntary and unbiased.

[Ashley Osborne · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received a advance reader's copy via a Goodreads giveaway.

This is a REALLY neat idea! I love the concept of a novel that includes puzzles for the reader to complete as they go, picking up pieces of information and learning more about the world the characters are moving through. I could definitely see this being really fun for kids, especially if there were illustrations or different types of puzzles involved.

I think doing a new puzzle per page for a 250+ page book is ambitious and will naturally lead to repeating types of puzzles (there are only so many types). That's my main complaint - I think it could have worked better with fewer puzzles and more written narrative, throwing in a few illustrative puzzles like maps or find-it pages, some simpler puzzles every so often like a word scramble or riddle, or to be a shorter book overall. Some of the puzzles were confusing to the extent that I had trouble understanding what I was supposed to be doing. I got bored and didn't actually finish every puzzle in the book.

However, I REALLY like this idea and would love to see it further developed and other books published with this format. Thank you to the publisher for my copy!

[Zoe · Rating 4 out of 5]

As someone who absolutely loves novels and puzzles, this 𝐏𝐔𝐙𝐙𝐋𝐄𝐒 & 𝐏𝐄𝐑𝐈𝐋𝐒 is the perfect book for me.

The fantastical story is told through both narration and a variety of puzzles, and I thoroughly enjoyed working my way through it.⁣

[Patti · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’m not a huge puzzler, but every now and then I’m really in the mood for them
They’re an excellent way to keep a brain busy, avoid doomscrolling, and fill time between other tasks (In my case today, that would be waiting for bread to rise. Repeatedly.)

This book has a fantasy story split up by a hundred puzzles that you’ll need to solve to help the adventurers on their way
There’s all sorts of puzzles - some are basic logic, others remind me of things like soduku, minesweeper, murdle

I LOVE how the story flows in between the puzzles, with them moving the plot forward
The puzzles are complex enough to make you think, but not so hard you want to give up (and the solutions *are* in the back if you do get stuck, or just want to check your answers)

I’m not sure if it will be for sale both ways, but if so I would highly recommend a physical copy over digital
Since I have an eARC, I’m trying to work my way through by copying the puzzles into a notepad to solve
It *works* but it’s slowing me down, and with every puzzle I’m thinking more and more that I need to wait and grab a paper copy before continuing!

Thank you to St Martins Press/Griffin for the ARC

[Sam · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thought this was a cool concept for a book. Liked the fact that there was a bit of a story to go along with each puzzle. Some of the puzzles did get a bit repetitive as far as the type of puzzle and some were easier to figure out than others, but nothing was overly difficult and was a fun easy way to spend some free time

[Erin Clemence · Rating 4 out of 5]

Special thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a free, electronic ARC of this novel received in exchange for an honest review.

Expected publication date: March 3, 2026

“Puzzles & Perils: The Crystal Quest: A Novel in 100 Fantastical Puzzles" by Dr. Gareth Moore and Laura Jayne Ayres is a quirky, clever adventure story of two young orphans who must reclaim a crystal in order to save their world from eternal darkness. At the end of almost every chapter is an engaging and challenging puzzle that readers can solve alongside the protagonists, with everything from number puzzles like Sudoku, to word puzzles and mazes.

“Puzzles” is a bit like the “Choose Your Own Adventure” books from my youth, where the story pauses at the end of each chapter to allow for readers to choose their path (or in this case, solve a puzzle), which makes the story a really quick read. I read this as an electronic copy, but for those who read a physical copy, the grids that are required for each puzzle, as well as the mazes and squares, etc., are all ready to be filled in, to help readers solve each one.

The solutions to all of the puzzles are at the end of the story, and the plotline continues right where you left off after the puzzle break. It is not necessary to solve the puzzle accurately (or at all), as the story will continue, but each puzzle provides a clue that moves the storyline along.

“Puzzles” is unique and will appeal to a wide range of readers. The orphans, Orien and Miralda, live in a land threatened by eternal darkness if their quest is unsuccessful, which makes the plotline fantastical and magical, while the puzzles provide a nice break from the story and allow the reader to figure out the next steps in the protagonists’ journey.

This book is an easy read and the story itself is engaging. It reads more like a fairy tale, with dragons and trolls and an adventurous quest, so every page is entertaining. I enjoy puzzles, especially word puzzles, (although I can say with all honesty, I skipped the number puzzles completely), but whether or not I was successful at a puzzle, or skipped it completely, I was able to follow along with the storyline either way.

“Puzzles” is a novel reading experience, perfect for fans of fantasy that are looking for a quick adventure story, while testing their brain in creative ways.

[Tessa Talks Books · Rating 4 out of 5]

One-word review: Inventive

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (4 stars)

⸻

My Thoughts:

First of all… the creativity behind this book? Absolutely wild. I cannot even imagine the level of planning it took to weave 100 puzzles into a cohesive fantasy quest. That alone deserves applause. 👏

We follow Miralda and Orien, two orphans pulled into a classic save-the-kingdom storyline involving wizards, ancient sorcerers, goblins, dragons—the whole fantastical lineup. But here’s the twist: you don’t just read their journey. You actively participate in it.

And I have to admit… I had so much fun.

Most of the puzzles were right in my wheelhouse—logic, pattern recognition, hidden symbols. The kind that make you feel just smug enough when you crack them. I flew through many of them, and there’s something deeply satisfying about solving a puzzle that directly moves the story forward. It makes you feel essential. Like the fate of Ellamir truly does rest in your hands.

That said, the structure is both the magic and the limitation.

Because the puzzles are embedded directly into the narrative, the flow of the story naturally stops and starts. For me, that interrupted immersion a bit. Just as I’d settle into the fantasy atmosphere, I’d shift into problem-solving mode. It creates a different reading rhythm—less emotional sweep, more interactive engagement.

Which brings me to an interesting question: who exactly is this for?

The fairytale-style quest feels middle grade. The complexity of some puzzles feels older. It lives in that in-between space, which could be a strength (broad appeal!) or slightly confusing from a marketing perspective.

Also—and this is my practical brain talking—I kept wondering about a digital version. If this is on Kindle, how are readers meant to solve the puzzles easily? My best workaround would be screenshotting and marking them up in Photos on an iPad… which works, but it’s not seamless. A built-in annotation tool would make this experience next-level.

Still, as an interactive fantasy experiment? It’s genuinely impressive. It feels like a love letter to classic quest tales blended with brain-teasing escape-room energy. And for puzzle lovers especially, this will feel like play.

⸻

Who I’d Recommend This To:
• Readers who love logic puzzles and brain teasers
• Fantasy fans who want something interactive
• Families looking for a collaborative read
• Anyone who misses the magic of choose-your-own-adventure vibes

⸻

✨ Vibe Check:
Storybook quest meets tabletop game night.

[CYIReadBooks (Claire) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Puzzles & Perils: The Crystal Quest by Laura Jayne Ayres and Gareth Moore is a delightful fantasy puzzle book presented as a novel told through 100 puzzles. In this immersive story, a group of unlikely outcast heroes bands together on a perilous quest to retrieve the powerful Crystal of Divinair from the clutches of the ancient sorcerer Nefaron. Their journey is filled with thrilling challenges—dodging dangers, navigating mystical mazes, cracking cryptic codes, and outwitting foes—to prevent their kingdom from plunging into eternal darkness.This book is an absolute gem for puzzle lovers and armchair sleuths! The clever integration of a compelling storyline makes it far more engaging and immersive than a standard puzzle collection.

I read it as an e-book, and while the content is fantastic, the format isn't ideal for a puzzle-heavy experience (scribbling notes and flipping back for clues can be tricky digitally). It would be fantastic as a physical book, where you can truly dive in with a pencil in hand.Highly recommended for anyone who enjoys clever puzzles wrapped in an exciting adventure. Can't wait for more from this talented duo!

I was invited to read a DRC from St. Martin's Press through NetGalley. This review is my own and reflects my honest thoughts and opinions.

[Sam B · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

"Puzzles and Perils: The Crystal Quest" is a unique reading experience. On one level, it's a fun middle grade fantasy adventure featuring two orphans with mysterious pasts who stumble into a destiny they could never have imagined. On another level, it's a book of mazes, logic puzzles, Sudoku games, and secret codes that the readers need to solve alongside the characters in order to uncover routes, new characters, and spells. At the end of every chapter is a game to solve before moving on to the next. I really enjoyed reading it, and I would love to see more interactive stories like this in fantasy and sci-fi going forward. I really liked how the puzzles felt more advanced as you got further through the book. I did feel that the puzzle-to-story ratio felt a little skewed, with a new puzzle every 2 pages or so, which somewhat interrupted the momentum of the plot. There also isn't really much character development, but there is a fun quest that covers many different fantastical settings including haunted forests, jeweled caves, cozy taverns, and treacherous rivers. I definitely recommend this as a cool and engaging reading experience; I would not recommend reading it on a kindle or other e-reader, as the puzzles ended up on different pages than the instructions and couldn't be filled out when reading it in e-book format.

My thanks to NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Foxx Writer · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Charming puzzle book with a little story to go with it! i want to preface this by saying that this is NOT a novel. not in the slightest. your not going to be Sherlock Holmsing it through this book getting frustrated and annoyed by the puzzles. This is more like a children's fairy-tale, riddled with clever puzzles to keep you engaged and your mind sharp! the puzzles are challenging but not impossible, and i had a great time solving everything and piecing together the solutions to the not just the puzzles, but the story itself! it's cute, it's cozy, and it keeps your mind sharp! if your reading the E-book version of this though, i highly recommend keeping a pad of paper on hand so you can copy the puzzles onto paper. solving them on an E-reader isn't easy at all. for paperback users, I'd recommend using a pencil, not a pen, so you can erase as needed and never feel guilty if you have to peek at the answers to move on! the wide variety of puzzles means that there's a puzzle for everyone to enjoy. from sudoku, to line connect, to minesweeper, and even a nonogram! it was a very fun challenge, had a cute story that got surprisingly intense, and puzzles that get harder as you go along.

thank you to Netgalley and St. Martin's Press | St. Martin's Griffin for this ARC!

[Clarice · Rating 3 out of 5]

As someone who loves my morning crosswords, wordle and sudoku, and as an avid fantasy reader, this is a perfect mashup of both.

A cozy fantasy following Miranda and Orien, who get swept up in an unexpected quest to find the Crystals of Divinair and to save their kingdom from a wicked sorcerer.

While I felt like the story was geared towards middle schoolers (which I am most certainly not) I enjoyed it, as I did the puzzles. That said, with so many of them, format and type did become somewhat repetitive. For that reason, I found I had to space out my reading time to remain engaged.

I received this as an eARC and so it was a bit onerous to be recreating and working through it on a notepad.

This was a completely new concept to me and overall certainly has me looking forward to more.

Thank you to NetGalley, St. Martin’s Press, Dr. Gareth Moore and Laura Jayne Ayres for the opportunity to read and work this cozy adventure.

[Karci Feldner · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review of advance copy received from Netgalley

This is a cute puzzle book, perfect for a cozy activity or roadtrip. The story is told in small increments throughout, so the plot is revealed as puzzles are solved.

I managed to solve all of the puzzles, which were challenging but not impossible. There were several types of puzzles and I especially liked how they became more challenging as you went along. They occur every couple of pages, so I would recommend this for people who are looking for more puzzle, less story. Personally, I would have liked for the puzzles to be spread out more, allowing me to become more invested in the plot and reducing the repetition of puzzle types.

I would definitely recommend a physical copy of the book, as it is quite difficult to work through without pencil and paper.

Thank you to Netgalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review!

[Rory · Rating 3 out of 5]

received an ARC copy in exchange for an honest review

This is such a fun concept! 250+ pages of puzzles that tie in with the storyline is a lot of fun, but along with that means that puzzle types will be repeated because there's only so many unique kinds of puzzles. I do think that one puzzle per page was a bit much though, I personally would have liked to have read a few pages, then do a puzzle, then read a few more pages. A puzzle a page kind of made it feel like it was focused more on the puzzle aspect than the story itself, and dispersing the puzzles a bit more might have given the story a bit more balance. The way its set up now made it feel like the story was accessory to the puzzles, rather than the puzzles accessory to the story, if that makes sense. Overall a very cool concept that I think should be used more, interactive stories are so few and far between.

[Caity · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you St. Martains for this ARC book.

I really enjoyed this book. It's a great concept and I found the mix of puzzle types to be a nice challenge by working some different puzzle skills; while still being easy enough puzzles that i could do a few while I enjoyed a cup of coffee. The story is a bit simplified in order to fit the format, and it did sometimes make me laugh that the premise for why we have to solve the puzzle is that despite how vitally important the information they were being told is, the heroes of the adventure also weren't totally paying attention. So the story is a little goofy but it's also a really fun and cozy little adventure and I enjoyed the heroes and the friends they met along the way. Overall i found the story to be a fun and unique premise to add a little more fun to the classic puzzle book.

[catherine ♡ · Rating 3 out of 5]

*I received a physical ARC. This is an honest review.

Love the concept and really fun for puzzle lovers! I do think this is more of a puzzle book than a novel — the writing style is relatively simple and middle-grade, and the amount of puzzles (one per page) often halts the momentum, but I found the puzzles themselves pretty fun.

Puzzle types include but aren't limited to:
- Letter sudoku
- Battleships
- Mazes
- Minesweeper
- Logic matrixes
- Ordering
- Connecting dots/numbers
- Nonograms
- Substitution systems

They're quite standard and don't increase much in difficulty as the book progresses, so if you can solve one you can probably solve them all; there are quite a few different types of puzzles in here — I don't love all of them but there's enough variety to make it not feel too repetitive.

[Niki McDowell · Rating 3 out of 5]

I love a good word puzzle, so I was really excited to have received this one in the mail. I really liked the story that carried on throughout the book, kept it interesting and engaging, like a little quest. I DID find myself a little disappointed that the puzzle difficulty didn't seem to advance as much as it should have towards the end. Could have also used a few more puzzle types, as the repetition was a little too much for my liking. I still overall had a great time with the puzzles. I breezed through a tom of them in short order. If you are looking for a bit of an easier puzzle book, this is a great one for you!

[Ali Bunke · Rating 4 out of 5]

Puzzles & Perils: The Crystal Quest is a unique fantasy story told partly through the solving of the 100 puzzles in the book. The story follows a group of unlikely heroes who are on a quest to retrieve a crystal. As the story progresses, we learn the of their adventures and details as we solve puzzles along the way. Readers should try a physical copy of this one to help make puzzle solving easier. I found the puzzles fun and challenging making my progress feel earned.

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin's Griffin for the advanced reader copy. This is my honest review.

[Zzzannie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you Goodreads and St.Martins Griffin for the ARC! This was SO FUN!!! I really enjoyed this book, especially at a time I was travelling! This is the Perfect book to bring on a trip!

Games are fun, easy at time, hard at time. Story is cute. I would not read again (solved all puzzles) but would but another title for my next trip.

While all those games are available online, i loved doing them on paper… :-)

[Alyssa · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fantastic idea for a novel! This reminded me of a cross between a Highlights puzzle magazine and a choose-your-own adventure book, but infinitely better. The writing was in bite-sized chunks, so there was a strong anticipation for the next part of the story. The only downside is that once you are done with the book, it is difficult to redo the puzzles or reread the story. However, it is a fun way to get out of a reading slump by trying some brain-teasers and being rewarded with a cute story!

[Jacklyn B · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a fantasy story based puzzle book - it was so unique and interactive and has over 100 puzzles in it. I thought it was fun and I liked the variety in the puzzles.

It’s a story that is told through both written text and fully integrated puzzles and as the reader we get to follow Miralda and Orien and also join in on their quest!

I do recommend grabbing a physical copy so you can grab a pencil and work on the puzzles a little easier!

[lauren Amelia]

Hi!
I just read your story, and I’m obsessed! Your writing is incredible, and I kept imagining how cool it would be as a comic.
I’m a professional commissioned artist, and I’d love to work with you to turn it into one, if you’re into the idea, of course! I think it would look absolutely stunning.
Feel free to message me on Discord (laurendoesitall) if you’re interested. Can’t wait to hear from you!
Best,
Lauren

[Fran Lewis · Rating 4 out of 5]

Puzzles and Perils: The Crystal Quest by Dr. Gareth Moore and Laura Ayres

Reading a fantasy book and doing Word puzzles along the way is a lot of fun . I’ve done the first few chapters and I really enjoy enjoying this.

Thank you to @stmartinspress , @netgalley , @drgarethmoore , @laura.puzzles for the gifted ebook. I loved it so much I bought myself a physical copy.

#puzzlesandperils #puzzlesandperilsthecrystalquest #smpinfluencers #puzzlebooksforadults

[Krista Kimball · Rating 3 out of 5]

What I loved about this was how casually I read through and I didn’t lose interest. With this book being a story but mostly logic puzzles I took my time. I did a few puzzles and storyline at a given time. I was not interested in binging and finishing it in a day but neither do I want to set it down and never do it again. Plus it was fun having by my students help with some puzzles. I would enjoy reading more like this book.

[Jackie OneMoreChapterJp · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you to St Martin Press and Netgalley for the ARC in return for the honest review.

DNF’ing at 20%. I really love the concept of doing puzzles to help on the quest but I found it really difficult to do that on my kindle. I did try to draw some of the puzzles out but I think that took a lot of time for me and I am a terrible artist lol. I will say that I’m only DNF’ing at this time due to that fact and that I would likely pick up a physical copy and try again. The premise of the story seemed fun and I liked trying to figure stuff out. To be honest some of the puzzles felt way too complicated for me personally. Those I skipped lol. I would still recommend this book if you’re into puzzles and quests!

[Janette VanZanen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun book! Giving it to my niece for Xmas - she's a major puzzle fan and is going to love the story that goes with them!

[Michelle Pulignani · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book.

[Southern Lady Reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is SO fun! I loved this while I was on a roadtrip and my husband was driving! Great for keeping your mind occupied with a lighthearted read!

[Roberta · Rating 3 out of 5]

I REALLY wanted to like this more but it just didn’t do what I wanted it to do. The puzzles felt unnecessary and while doing the puzzles I forgot what was happening in the story.

[Melissa (honeybee.reads) · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is definitely a fun book. The puzzles are a lot of fun to complete, not too difficult and the story is also fun.