Kuromasu by Eric Fox
or solve online (using our beta test of Penpa-Edit tools; use tab to shift between shading mode and the linex mode where left click+drag draws lines and right click marks X’s)
Theme: Even/Odd
Author/Opus: This is the 3rd puzzle from guest contributor Eric Fox.
Rules: Shade some empty cells black so that each number indicates the total count of white cells connected vertically and horizontally to that number including the numbered cell itself. Black cells cannot share an edge, and all white cells must belong to a single connected group.
Also see this example:
Difficulty: 3.5 stars
Time Standards (highlight to view): Grandmaster = 4:00, Master = 7:00, Expert = 14:00
Solution: PDF; a solution video is also available here.
Note: Follow this link for more Kuromasu puzzles.
Solved but with a lot of bifurcation, will wait for the logical way
Managed to get through it pretty smoothly except for one point somewhere in the middle of the solve path, which (rot13) vaibyirq n cerggl gevpxl qrqhpgvba eryngrq gb gur sbhe naq svir va gur prager. I’m curious to see if that’s part of the intended solve path.