Unearthing The World Of Laurance King Puzzles With The Tale Of Dracula.

Let's enter the world of Laurance King puzzles! In this video, I will be unboxing and solving the 1000 piece jigsaw puzzle called The World of Dracula. I picked up my very first set at Barnes & Nobles during my last "shop with me" trip, and I must say, I want more.
See my video where I picked up this puzzle: • My Epic Search For Fan...
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The Puzzled Mandy
PO Box 587
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Kool Kats by Kevin MacLeod is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license. creativecommons.org/licenses/...
0:00 The Puzzle
3:35 Unboxing
6:40 The Beginning
10:18 The Progression
14:18 The Finish
15:44 Final Thoughts

[@simonebourque1061]

Laurence King is actually a publishing company and they make my favourite coloring books by the Illustrator Leila Duly. The books are of exceptional quality, made of the best paper.

[@thepuzzledmandy]

Oh wow, I need to look into this. I love coloring books! Thank you for sharing 🤩

[@sstevenson9181]

I just recently did The World of King Arthur which is the new Chinese manufactured version and the quality was fabulous. Variety of piece shape and plain cardboard backs. The pieces hold together as well. So much better than their older Chinese manufactured version. The back of your Dracula box shows the old Chinese 2 prong version on the back of the box. King Arthur is by the same artist as Dracula. They changed the manufacturing process in China almost a year ago. So there are technically three different versions of LKP now! 😊

[@kathleensmith]

Thanks for the info on the different Chinese versions. The one I have is from May 2023. Hope it is the second version. I really like the LK puzzles and looking forward to working others. Thanks again - Kathy

[@thepuzzledmandy]

Thank you so much for this info! It's crazy to think that now I must try two other versions of this brands LOL. At least the newer China version is much better. I gotta compare all three now!

[@thepuzzledmandy]

I swear this community is awesome! I learn so much from you guys 🤩

[@kathleensmith]

The Dracula puzzle looks great. A couple months ago I brought the World of Virginia Woolf from the same brand. Need to work on it soon! I also noticed that Hobby Lobby has their 40% sale starting tomorrow. Going to take a look and hopefully stay within my $ 30 budget. I really appreciate how you go over the puzzle in detail and your sorting of the pieces (you have more patience than me). Happy Puzzling!’

[@thepuzzledmandy]

Virginia Woolf sounds awesome. I wouldn't mind collecting every single puzzle from this collection, it's amazing. But oh boy, now that you say that Hobby Lobby is starting that sale again, now I'm fumbling through my calendar trying to figure out when I can make the trip out there 🤣 Hope you stick to your budget. Hopefully you won't find TOO many good ones so that you don't go overboard LOLOL💸💸💸

[@sybilwinfield538]

Enjoyed your excitement about this puzzle

[@thepuzzledmandy]

I honestly couldn't help it, this puzzle was just too good 🤩 I must get more!

[@judithmoore7892]

As an English major who studied Jane Austen I loved doing the Austen puzzle. The posters for the Austen, Dickens, and Sherlock Holmes puzzles came with posters that showed individual characters from the books that you could find on the puzzle in a kind of like Where's Waldo game.

[@thepuzzledmandy]

Oh wow I love that! I had Where's Waldo books when I was a kid and loved them. I can't wait to get those puzzles 🤩

[@clarkkent7973]

I love doing sky! It is always the first thing that I finish in a puzzle. The sky is almost always the easiest color/pattern to sort. Also, I can really see the different shades of blue. (My struggle is green. I do not see the different shades of green. All green pieces look the same to me)

[@thepuzzledmandy]

Wow, I couldn't picture myself working on the sky first. I'm too worried to get stuck early on LOL. But you are right in terms of sorting. I just really struggle when colors start to blend together.

[@Marlene7388]

I am glad you enjoyed the LK Dracula puzzle and also glad you got the Netherlands version! Loved your excitement about this puzzle experience!! I don't mind doing the sky, a lot of the time I build it first. Thank you for sharing and looking forward to the next one!! 🦇🦇🦇

[@thepuzzledmandy]

I'm amazed that you do the sky first. I'm going to have to try that out one day and see how happy/sad it makes me in the beginning 🤣 I was so relieved when I saw my set was from the Netherlands. I would've been annoyed if it wasn't, especially for the price I paid. I will definitely add more of these puzzles to my collection.

[@LaTonyas_Library]

I have an Agatha Christie puzzle from this company I haven’t done. Just checked and it was manufactured in the Netherlands so you’ve got me looking forward to this for the puzzle quality. I did pay a decent bit for it so I’m glad it’ll be worth it. The illustration for it is pretty cool.

[@thepuzzledmandy]

Oh good! You're in for a real fantastic experience 🤩

[@Jacquelyn1621]

I just got the Frankenstein one from a thrift store! I'll have to check where it's made!

[@thepuzzledmandy]

Hope you have one from the Netherlands! I'm starting to wonder though if they have multiple versions of the same puzzles though.

[@scientistforscience]

Well the made in China info explains why my newest L. King "The Tudors" was a step down in quality. Pieces did not hold together at all. My other Sherlock Holmes was incredibly good. Loved the video! That Barnes and Nobles was like heaven.

[@thepuzzledmandy]

It's interesting, the more I think about these sad versions, the more I think about how many people may have gotten completely turned off by the brand just because of their poor experience. I don't understand why they would carry two differently produced versions for this collection.

[@scientistforscience]

I should say it was still a fun puzzle but buyer beware you can't even move two pieces together, only a slight annoyance to me, overall. Also the freakin' posters are sooo good and adds to the experience. @@thepuzzledmandy

[@thepuzzledmandy]

@@scientistforscience The posters are definitely a real nice touch 🤩

[@puzzlepiece9509]

Phew, thank goodness you had the Netherlands one! You obviously thoroughly enjoyed doing that puzzle. I've never done a Lawrence King puzzle but I had heard that the China one is rubbish. I quite often do the sky first to get it out of the way and then I can move on to the rest of the puzzle. The puzzle I shall be doing next is Ravensburger's Puzzle People which was one of the jigsaws from Worlds last year.

[@thepuzzledmandy]

I was so relieved when I looked at the back of the box, I would've been so annoyed LOL. I can't believe the number of puzzlers who complete the sky first. I seriously need to give it a try at least once and see how good/bad I do 🤔

[@Momandmepuzzle]

Love your puzzles choices and delivery

[@thepuzzledmandy]

Thank you so much 🤗

[@Momandmepuzzle]

@@thepuzzledmandy 🥰

[@ThirzaTumTum]

Ooooooooh Dracula!! What an awesome puzzle! There's so much happening 😁😁😁😁😁🧡🧩💚🧩💜🧩💜🧩💚🧩🧡🧩🎉🧩💜🧩💜🧡🧶

[@thepuzzledmandy]

It was soo good! I can't wait to pick up more of these puzzles, they are so worth it. 💸💸💸

[@puzzlesbypam2442]

I’ll have to check that brand. Love all those qualities!

[@thepuzzledmandy]

As long as you get one that was produced in the Netherlands, then you're in for some real good stuff.

[@maryjaneellinger1783]

I enjoy doing the sky and usually do it first

[@thepuzzledmandy]

Wow, I'd probably get stuck and discouraged too early on if I started with the sky first 😅that tends to be my weakness so I never do it first. But now you got me thinking if I should try working on it first next time and see how I fair with it. We shall see!

[@kathleensmith]

I just checked and the Virginia Woolf puzzle I have from the LK group and it to was made in China. It was never been opened, so I am going to see if Barnes and Noble will do an exchange for another puzzle. Thank you for the heads up about the quality issues. By the way I do the sky at the end also, unless there is quite a bit of contrast, like heavy clouds.

[@thepuzzledmandy]

I'm curious, did you buy your Virginia Woolf China puzzle from Barnes & Nobles? I hope they are not selling both versions and charging the same price or something like that. Now I really need to do some investigating.

[@kathleensmith]

@@thepuzzledmandy Yes I did get it at Barnes and Noble during their Jan sale. I was going to see if they would exchange it for another puzzle. I was actually there today and the only LK puzzle they had from Netherlands was the Dracula one.. After thinking about it I decided just to keep the one I have. I know they would just put it out to sell someone else and I did not feel right about that…maybe it will work out in the end.. now I know better going forward.

[@thepuzzledmandy]

@@kathleensmith Now I'm starting to wonder if it actually depends on the puzzle image. Perhaps certain ones are only produced in either China or Netherlands???...🤯questions questions!

[@alicenwonderreadsbooks]

I did the Jane Austen in that brand. It was great.

[@thepuzzledmandy]

That's a puzzle I'd love to get as well. Actually, I'd love to get all of them 😅

[@tess5747]

I bought the Tudor one from a charity shop. The image was great but the fit was terrible. After a google search I found out about the two versions and yes I had the China one. I’m just glad it was cheap and I’ll be definitely checking the box on my next Laurence King purchase.

[@thepuzzledmandy]

We need to start checking our puzzle boxes like the way we should be checking the food ingredient labels at the supermarket 🤣

[@nightvampire1]

Was looking forward to Dracula since the purchase video. The poster is a nice touch. Good to have hope that spending a little extra sometimes is truly worth it.

[@thepuzzledmandy]

Yes so very true. You definitely get what you pay for. It's also nice to splurge every once in awhile and feel all fancy about it 😎

[@randee719]

Thanks! I have had this puzzle for a while and if I wasn’t in bed I’d go look if mine is China or Netherlands. I like watching you put it together. It’s a great puzzle choice!

[@thepuzzledmandy]

Thank you so very much! I appreciate your support! 🤗

[@erniesulovic4734]

Great looking puzzle. Just added it to my Save for Later in Amazon :-)

[@thepuzzledmandy]

You won't regret it Ernie, it's fantastic!

[@erniesulovic4734]

@@thepuzzledmandy I believe you. if it was anyone else saying it......(wink) :-)

[@erniesulovic4734]

@@thepuzzledmandy Yeah, absolutely looks like it. I also ordered for later, teh World of Sherlock Holmes jigsaw puzzle, so looking fwd to both of them once i buy them :-)

[@kathylynn1375]

I also love this puzzle....hope I run across this brand......I also will pay the price for quality pieces and no glare..and a poster !!!!! ..love the info on the back of the poster. Dowdle also does that adding to the joy of the puzzle... not sure if this was filmed before you got your new puzzle table. I noticed you did not use it..... for me the table and trays are great but no where to sit the trays while doing the puzzle.. I noticed while on the floor , plenty of room to access your trays with ease and able to view all the pieces....still pros and cons of a table. enjoy the next one!!

[@thepuzzledmandy]

You can probably find this brand in Barnes & Nobles online store, just make sure you get a Netherlands version😂. I'm not really sure what other brick and mortars carry this brand, but I need to find out. This was filmed the same time I filmed the puzzle table review, and I was using the super large puzzle board for this puzzle. I'm currently working on another puzzle, but I've actually laid my original table on top of the table with legs 😂it looks a bit silly, but I much prefer my usual neutral non slip surface. The floor definitely gives me much more room to lay out my trays though, but my body can't take it anymore LOL. It's all still a work in progress!

[@LadyKitsunetsuki]

I am so happy that you loved this puzzle.

[@thepuzzledmandy]

It truly was fantastic. I'm now keeping an eye out for the next Barnes & Nobles sale so that I can get more of them.

[@SueN1965]

I usually prefer to do the sky first, I find it easier than the rest of the puzzle, for most of them anyway

[@thepuzzledmandy]

I think I'd become discourage too early if I started with the sky first 😂but then again, I think it's something that I may need to try out very soon. Maybe I might surprise myself, we shall see!

[@Momandmepuzzle]

this may be a good one for Halloween

[@thepuzzledmandy]

It surely would! But I knew I wouldn't be able to wait till then 😂But then again, it's definitely a puzzle I wouldn't mind working on again, so maybe round two will be during spooky season.

[@Momandmepuzzle]

@@thepuzzledmandy I agree ☝️

[@RaijaAlatalo]

I like doing sky but only when there is a shade variation (like in Kinkade). When the sky is solid blue... not so much.

[@thepuzzledmandy]

Ooo I also tend to struggle with Kincade skies. My eyes can struggle with the blending of colors. But now you got me wanting to work on a Kincade puzzle 😂

[@themopie]

I have done Jane Austen (China) and I loved the image but not the quality... and got Poirot and the Tudors from a puzzle exchange. Gotta find a Netherlands one!

[@JymmiF]

I too have the Jane Austen one and the quality was so bad. I am guessing I may have the China variant.

[@thepuzzledmandy]

I feel like I'm now going to start reading the back of all the puzzle boxes while shopping like the way I read food ingredient labels in the supermarket 🤣🤣🤣

[@thepuzzledmandy]

I don't understand why Laurance King would have two very different quality experiences for the same collection. I need to learn more about this company and figure out what their deal is.

[@JymmiF]

@@thepuzzledmandy Let us know if you learn anything. Until this video, I didnt know there were two versions and I have had a negative view of the brand. I guess I need to check the back of boxes and try another one.

[@themopie]

@@thepuzzledmandy it is very strange! I was in England this summer and saw one in the Shakespeare bookshop and it was the China one! I was like - but we're not that far from the Netherlands, why isn't it the good one?!? It is quite strange.

[@natalieyoutsey3421]

Thanks for posting this. I’m looking at the Frankenstein one and this is helping me decide.

[@thepuzzledmandy]

I'm definitely getting Frankenstein on my next shopping trip! It just better be from the Netherlands though.

[@natalieyoutsey3421]

@@thepuzzledmandy I was so happy to hear that but of information.

[@javand215]

I love this video. I have a copy of this, and I can't wait to do it!

[@thepuzzledmandy]

Awesome, you're going to love it!

[@missjanet111]

I have The Bridgerton puzzle and the Jane Austin puzzle and sadly neither were made in the Netherlands. I did the Bridgerton puzzle and the quality was just okay. I do enjoy the characters and information on the HUGE poster. The Dracula image is so much better than I was expecting. Just added ( a Netherlands version) to my list! Darn you! 💕

[@thepuzzledmandy]

Good thing you got the Netherlands version for Dracula! (sorry 😅). I want to pick up the Jane Austin puzzle as well, but I'm hoping I don't only find the China version.

[@initiate22000]

I recommend a large glass of tomato juice to get in the mood for this puzzle. Cheers!

[@thepuzzledmandy]

Oooo yes, that would've been very fitting! 😉

[@Gail_Pr468]

Thanks!

[@thepuzzledmandy]

Thank you so much for your support!!! 🤗

[@1jackieworcs]

I’ve got The World of Agatha Christie and also The world of Hercule Poirot - they were both amazing - so fun and great quality 😊 I’m hoping The world of Miss Marple will be released later this year

[@thepuzzledmandy]

I really need to find out how many different puzzles are in this "World of" collection. I just hope they continue putting out new ones all the time.

[@susanmorris3822]

Good job Mandy as usual!! What's next?

[@thepuzzledmandy]

Thank you! Got a puzzle from SpinMasters coming up. Hoping I can finish editing in the next couple of days.

[@ericfajardo9787]

The first LK puzzle I ever pieced together was Alice in Wonderland and I loved everything about that puzzle that I ordered another puzzle from LK online. I ordered the trees of the world and was looking forward to doing the puzzle based on the previous experience. That LK puzzle was the worst puzzle I have ever put together. Every piece had suck a loose fit and it seemed that every 3 pieces or so, you would have a false fit. I was angry. However watching your video, it makes sense that the puzzle I picked up at a brick and mortar store was made in the Netherlands and the one I purchased on Amazon was the China version 🥴

[@thepuzzledmandy]

I'm going to have to look up the Alice In Wonderland puzzle, sounds amazing! But it's sad that your second experience was so terrible, especially since you were so looking forward to having the same experience. Those China versions shouldn't even exist. The differences are too big. I wonder why LK let's this be the case. I'm sure many people have dealt with terrible first experiences and never bothered buying their brand again. Makes no sense.

[@stacyssassystyles]

Mandy, do you think maybe for puzzling you like that style of art better than the normal art you pick up? I have found that there is art I love to look at and it's very different that what I truly enjoy doing in puzzles!!!

[@thepuzzledmandy]

That's a great question. It certainly is an art style that I could look at all day. I think the characters look so darn cute.

[@stacyssassystyles]

@@thepuzzledmandyI know it's deff not your norm and I do wonder how it would change struggles youve had!!

[@thepuzzledmandy]

@@stacyssassystyles So far with this particular image/artwork, I found it to feel a lot easier to solve.

[@stacyssassystyles]

@@thepuzzledmandyyes, exactly that- easier with those "hard" lines and colors!!

[@joethepuzzler111]

What’s the super large puzzle board that you did the puzzle on? What brand is it? How big is the board? I use a super large board to do my puzzles on too. The board that I use for my puzzles is the Jigboard 2000 by Jigthings. The Jigboard 2000 is 40 inches by 28 inches big.

[@thepuzzledmandy]

The puzzle board is from Vevor, and it's 40 inches x 29 inches. In my last video (Tackling Puzzle Time Pains: Testing the Vevor Puzzle Table And Board), I did a full review on it and I'll have a link in the video description if you want to look more into it.

[@sandrachauvin6697]

The Chinese ones are not horrible, they just don’t hold a candle to the ones from the Netherlands. There’s also at least a couple of different kinds of the ones from China, one of which is a little better than the other. The printing on all is great and the artwork is fabulous in all. The Chinese ones can be all standard 2s, thinner with a plasticy backing. Here is my summary: After doing 10 Laurence King Puzzles with 2 more in the hopper, I think I qualify as an expert on the brand. Conclusions, if your particular puzzle was manufactured in the Netherlands, you are in for a premium puzzling experience, but if your puzzle was manufactured in China, your puzzle will be of premium quality, maybe a great puzzling experience, maybe a slow infuriating experience with mostly crumbly fit if it has a white backing, and if you order online, you won’t know which one you will get, as I have seen the same Image manufactured in different places and cuts. My recommendation is to only buy a Laurence King puzzle in person where you can read the back of the box to see where it was manufactured. I am determined never to buy another one online and only buy in person where I can see the actual pieces. Newer ones have white paper envelopes , making that difficult.

[@thepuzzledmandy]

Very interesting, thank you so much for sharing your experience. This is very insightful. It's interesting how LK seems to carry an array of different quality levels for the same collection. It can make it tough for collectors who very much appreciate the overall quality and experience of the Netherlands puzzle, and want nothing but that. But this very much makes me want to try more of these puzzles and see what they're all like.

[@lianepalm158]

I Love to make the Sky and I Always do it first😂😂😂.

[@thepuzzledmandy]

😂I'm super surprised at how many puzzlers work on the sky first! This is craziness...🤔I need to try working on the sky first next time and see what happens to my sanity🤣

[@50sRockChick]

Honestly, don’t waste your money on a Chinese made one, it was awful. Bits were plasticky and slippy. Didn’t stay together well at all. I gave up, it was a rubbish puzzling experience.

[@thepuzzledmandy]

Thank you for sharing your horrific experience with the sad version, it sounds too terrible. But now I REALLY have to try it out 🤣

[@connier1722]

I have a very crumbly, Made in China “World of Agatha Christie and would be glad to send it to you if you like. Prepare to be frustrated!

[@thepuzzledmandy]

Oh wow, I'd be very willing to get frustrated for a comparison video! That'd be awesome, thank you!

[@connier1722]

@@thepuzzledmandy Mailed to you yesterday, April 2nd, from California. Enjoy🤨

[@thepuzzledmandy]

@@connier1722 You are too awesome, thank you so much!

[@lovespuzzlestoomuch]

Thanks!

[@thepuzzledmandy]

Thank you so much for your support! 🤗🤗🤗

[@lovespuzzlestoomuch]

@@thepuzzledmandy You are so welcome!