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107 of 108 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Beautiful and imaginative tarot set, April 22, 2010
This review is from: Shadowscapes Tarot (Paperback)
The description isn't really clear, but this listing is indeed for both the full tarot card set of 78 cards and the accompanying 5x7 book with reference for meanings and other information on using the deck. The book is in fact softcover, not hardcover, though it is still a sizeable 264 page book compared to the small pamphlets some decks come with. It has an introduction and two pages devoted to the artists feeling and reading of each card. It also discusses several ways of using the cards for readings.
This tarot set is absolutely beautiful, and includes the major and minor arcana. The art was lovingly crafted over a period of many years and I've been waiting since I saw the first couple pieces for this set to be complete. I love her use of themes of her own for each suit in the cards.
My only minor complaint would be echoed the same as other reviewers- while the cards are a standard size, 2.75 x 4.5 inches, I wish they'd chosen a larger one. The art is still beautiful, but you have to look very closely to see some of the detail. There is also nothing included to store the cards in so you will have to come up with your own solution. It comes packaged in a large beautiful box but its not of a size to be good storage.
This is a worthy purchase for anyone with an interest in tarot or simply beautiful art. There is also a book available focusing on the art from the Shadowscapes website- "The Art of Shadowscapes Tarot - Major Arcana". The book goes into further detail about the creation of and inspiration for each card, as well as has additional sketches, making it a good companion purchase. I also recommend it if you'd like a collection of the art images at a larger size.
All the images for the cards are on the site as well if you would like to browse them first.
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61 of 64 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
Beautiful deck, lack of quality., May 21, 2010
This review is from: Shadowscapes Tarot (Paperback)
I awaited this deck's release for almost a year after discovering Ms Law's art website. The cards are absolutely breathtaking, and the beauty of Stephanie's paintings is not diminished because of the size. I have only had them for a short time, but they are very comfortable to work with, the card meanings are very clear, and the art inspires introspection almost immediately.
I know that it is no fault of Ms Law's, but this GORGEOUS deck is insulted by the low quality of card stock it is printed on. The cards are thinner than any in my other decks, and even thinner than my little brother's Pokemon cards! They are also very slippery, which can result in some awkwardness that does not befit artwork of this quality. I am absolutely in LOVE with this deck, but I fear that our relationship may be short-lived if the stock is as flimsy as it seems.
If these were ever to be republished by someone with more concern for quality I would definitely consider repurchasing them.
This is my first Llewellyn purchase, and most likely my last.
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32 of 33 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
A Long Time in the Making, April 29, 2010
This review is from: Shadowscapes Tarot (Paperback)
I never write reviews for anything on Amazon, but I felt compelled to do so for this tarot deck for a number of reasons. I have followed the development of this deck from its first inception until its release. I eagerly awaited the finishing of each card and marveled at the continued sophistication and beauty of each image. Seeing the cards in person, holding them, riffling through them, experiencing them without the intermediary of a computer screen, was a true pleasure and in my mind worth the many years of waiting. I collect tarot decks that are aesthetically beautiful and I have quite a few. I don't buy just any deck, the art has to speak to me for me to be interested, and as such I cannot give this tarot high enough praise. Stephanie Pui-Mun Law has achieved something truly unique with this deck and I know I will cherish it for the rest of my life.
To echo another review and go into slightly more detail concerning it, I don't think that Llewellyn does this deck justice. Not only are the cards much too small taking the detail and scope of each image into account, but the deck is very poorly packaged. I have acquired a number of decks that came in nothing so fancy as a pasteboard box with a little booklet and to be frank, I think that would have served this deck better. When I opened the box and found that the flimsy divider was actually some kind of poorly sized box for the cards, my heart sank a little. The publisher obviously doesn't have much respect for the deck beyond its commercial value to them. If they wanted the cards to have a fitted box, they should have provided one, not a box made of glorified paper that is far too large for the deck. Ironically the deck would probably have benefited from being large enough to fit in the box provided.
My own personal views regarding the accompanying book are a bit polarized, so I shall simply say that Ms. Pui-Mun Law's interpretations of the cards are at once beautiful and concise and I thoroughly enjoyed reading through them.
This is a deck I would recommend to absolutely anyone who has even a fleeting interest in tarot or in art. It is a singular and remarkable creation by an artist who continues to amaze me. The problems I have with the packaging and format are quickly forgotten when I pick the deck up again and experience the absolute joy of each and every card. I can only hope that in the coming years Ms. Pui-Mun Law will elect to have the deck re-published in a way that truly capitalizes on the stunning artwork she has created.
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