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on May 17, 2016
Imagery is beautiful, but what a shame the card stock is. Which means wear and tear on these won't last very long unless you keep the cards in a safe place. Furthermore, since it doesn't come with a cardboard box for storage of your deck like most decks do, I would recommend a wooden box, as does the book. The book is very detailed, and also just as beautiful, which is a plus. The Amazon price is of worth of the deck, under 20$ is a good sell. If I was spending more, I wouldn't recommend this to anyone.
on May 31, 2016
First of all, Siolo's art is undeniably beautiful and fits the tarot cards perfectly. She brings a unique and whimsical voice to her deck and it works beautifully when reading. Her guidebook is amazing and I love that she adds info on Plants and animals as well as gives examples of the way different cards interact in a reading. This deck would be a perfect beginners deck, but as an intermediate reader I found new and insightful info in this book and when working with Siolo's images. Her writing is also funny and I laughed quite a bit while reading her book. I can tell she put alot of love and hard work into her deck which is why I'm so disappointed to give a poor review. It has nothing to do with Siolo's vision, She did an aboslutely fantastic job.
The product that Llewellyn has published doesn't even begin to do justice to Siolo's incredible artwork. I was so disappointed to see that when i pulled out my deck the cardstock seemed both unpleasantly thick and flimsy at the same time. It has a terrible papery almost cardboard feel to it and does not feel nice in the hands. Almost every card had chips peeling off of the back corners and because of this i ordered a replacement only to find the exact same issue with the new deck and I've also heard others say they had the same damaged cards in their decks. The finish on the cards is also quite bad, I can tell with just a few shuffles it will begin to scuff the surface of the cards and the deck will get worn out very fast, with some decks I don't mind this but with artwork like this, its important that the cards stay clean looking and thats just not going to last long at all on cardstock like this. This was just the worst choice of stock for this particular deck, being that the cards are mostly white on both sides you can see every scuff, scratch and chip on the surface of the cards.
When I first heard that Llewellyn had changed their cardstock to a thicker version, I was overjoyed thinking that they were finally making the switch to the same stock they used in the recent Tarot of the Hidden Realms and Victorian Fairy Tarot decks. This cardstock was perfect. It was sturdy and thick but not too thick and it had a lovely laminate coating on the cards that protected them from damage and made for a nicer color saturation in the imagery. You can even peek at the reviews for both of those decks and see that they all comment on the nice quality of the cardstock and both those decks cost the same as this one, only they will last you about 20 years longer than this deck.
I have no idea why Llewellyn would make this kind of change. Yes, I was disappointed by their earlier stock which was very thin and flimsy and also easily damaged with use and it was obvious that they needed to make a change but this was such a step backwards.
I would have loved to see this deck printed on a cardstock worthy of its beauty, one like Tarot of the Hidden Realms that would have complimented and protected the gorgeous images and felt nice in the hands while shuffling. I do not like having to replace a deck after only using it for a short time and I won't be doing that until Llewellyn improves this issue.
We see our decks as an investment, something we can grow with and turn to for years to come... unfortunately, this deck will likely only be usable for a few months before it begins to fall apart.
Do I recommend this deck? Sure, if you feel very pulled to work with it I think you might find a way to see past these physical issues but there is NO WAY i would tell someone to pay the full price for this, $30 is basically the same cost as an independently published deck and you can bet that those decks will be printed on durable, beautiful quality stock and will last you for a lifetime. So please do yourself a favor and don't purchase this deck at full price, either order it here on Amazon or save your money and use it to purchase something with better quality.
Llewellyn has some major competition in these new deck creators who put love and care into their decks production and ensure that the reader has a beautiful experience when using their cards. Not to mention, Llewellyns Boxes are entirely useless. We have companies like Blue Angel who tend to cost less than a Llewellyn deck and they manage to produce a perfect product that is lovely from the packaging to the guidebook and the deck itself.
I feel really bummed out for Siolo because I don't think shes going to see as much success with this deck as she deserves simply because Llewellyn botched the publishing and I really, REALLY hope to see Llewellyn fix this issue. I am not going to buy another decks from them until they do because I'm not willing to spend money on something I know will be a disappointment. Tarot and the artists who create Tarot deserve better and so do we as readers. I know Llewellyn can do better because I have seen them do better, and I really hope this new "Improvement" wasn't made just to cut corners and save costs at the expense of their customers and the artists they work with.
There is just far too many publishing houses producing top quality product for the same price point or lower for Llewellyn to expect that we will continue to accept this. I am not asking Llewellyn for something spectacular like The Wild Unknown, at this price point I wouldn't expect that but its clear that they are capable of much better and if not, then their competitors are and thats where I will be purchasing decks until Llewellyn sorts this out. This is so disappointing because I love the decks that Llewellyn publishes, I am such a huge fan of the artists and the guidebooks that they choose to publish and I truly want to see them improve because I think they could be great with just the slightest tweaking. I hope to see them begin making decks like Tarot of the Hidden Realms again, now thats a product I am happy to shell out $20-$30 for... Unfortunately this is not worth that kind of money.
The product that Llewellyn has published doesn't even begin to do justice to Siolo's incredible artwork. I was so disappointed to see that when i pulled out my deck the cardstock seemed both unpleasantly thick and flimsy at the same time. It has a terrible papery almost cardboard feel to it and does not feel nice in the hands. Almost every card had chips peeling off of the back corners and because of this i ordered a replacement only to find the exact same issue with the new deck and I've also heard others say they had the same damaged cards in their decks. The finish on the cards is also quite bad, I can tell with just a few shuffles it will begin to scuff the surface of the cards and the deck will get worn out very fast, with some decks I don't mind this but with artwork like this, its important that the cards stay clean looking and thats just not going to last long at all on cardstock like this. This was just the worst choice of stock for this particular deck, being that the cards are mostly white on both sides you can see every scuff, scratch and chip on the surface of the cards.
When I first heard that Llewellyn had changed their cardstock to a thicker version, I was overjoyed thinking that they were finally making the switch to the same stock they used in the recent Tarot of the Hidden Realms and Victorian Fairy Tarot decks. This cardstock was perfect. It was sturdy and thick but not too thick and it had a lovely laminate coating on the cards that protected them from damage and made for a nicer color saturation in the imagery. You can even peek at the reviews for both of those decks and see that they all comment on the nice quality of the cardstock and both those decks cost the same as this one, only they will last you about 20 years longer than this deck.
I have no idea why Llewellyn would make this kind of change. Yes, I was disappointed by their earlier stock which was very thin and flimsy and also easily damaged with use and it was obvious that they needed to make a change but this was such a step backwards.
I would have loved to see this deck printed on a cardstock worthy of its beauty, one like Tarot of the Hidden Realms that would have complimented and protected the gorgeous images and felt nice in the hands while shuffling. I do not like having to replace a deck after only using it for a short time and I won't be doing that until Llewellyn improves this issue.
We see our decks as an investment, something we can grow with and turn to for years to come... unfortunately, this deck will likely only be usable for a few months before it begins to fall apart.
Do I recommend this deck? Sure, if you feel very pulled to work with it I think you might find a way to see past these physical issues but there is NO WAY i would tell someone to pay the full price for this, $30 is basically the same cost as an independently published deck and you can bet that those decks will be printed on durable, beautiful quality stock and will last you for a lifetime. So please do yourself a favor and don't purchase this deck at full price, either order it here on Amazon or save your money and use it to purchase something with better quality.
Llewellyn has some major competition in these new deck creators who put love and care into their decks production and ensure that the reader has a beautiful experience when using their cards. Not to mention, Llewellyns Boxes are entirely useless. We have companies like Blue Angel who tend to cost less than a Llewellyn deck and they manage to produce a perfect product that is lovely from the packaging to the guidebook and the deck itself.
I feel really bummed out for Siolo because I don't think shes going to see as much success with this deck as she deserves simply because Llewellyn botched the publishing and I really, REALLY hope to see Llewellyn fix this issue. I am not going to buy another decks from them until they do because I'm not willing to spend money on something I know will be a disappointment. Tarot and the artists who create Tarot deserve better and so do we as readers. I know Llewellyn can do better because I have seen them do better, and I really hope this new "Improvement" wasn't made just to cut corners and save costs at the expense of their customers and the artists they work with.
There is just far too many publishing houses producing top quality product for the same price point or lower for Llewellyn to expect that we will continue to accept this. I am not asking Llewellyn for something spectacular like The Wild Unknown, at this price point I wouldn't expect that but its clear that they are capable of much better and if not, then their competitors are and thats where I will be purchasing decks until Llewellyn sorts this out. This is so disappointing because I love the decks that Llewellyn publishes, I am such a huge fan of the artists and the guidebooks that they choose to publish and I truly want to see them improve because I think they could be great with just the slightest tweaking. I hope to see them begin making decks like Tarot of the Hidden Realms again, now thats a product I am happy to shell out $20-$30 for... Unfortunately this is not worth that kind of money.
on January 3, 2017
Really wonderful deck with a GREAT guidebook. I'm a tarot newbie; I ordered this and the Wild Unknown deck but I almost passed on this one because of the reviews about the card stock quality. After initially unwrapping, the cards were a bit stiff, but with some shuffling they've definitely become much easier to work with! The cards feel nice in my hands and are actually a lot better quality than other decks I've purchased since. As others have mentioned, it doesn't come with a box.
Additionally, though I had heard this was a bad "beginner" deck, I've found it incredibly easy to read. It's one of my favorite decks to work with because it speaks to me so strongly. The artwork is beautiful and clear. The guidebook is extremely helpful and gives keywords as well as several different interpretations, examples of different combinations of cards to watch for, even offering possible interpretations of reversals. I even use it to help guide my readings of other decks. I ordered a beginner tarot book separately but I've found I use the Linestrider book much more often.
Additionally, though I had heard this was a bad "beginner" deck, I've found it incredibly easy to read. It's one of my favorite decks to work with because it speaks to me so strongly. The artwork is beautiful and clear. The guidebook is extremely helpful and gives keywords as well as several different interpretations, examples of different combinations of cards to watch for, even offering possible interpretations of reversals. I even use it to help guide my readings of other decks. I ordered a beginner tarot book separately but I've found I use the Linestrider book much more often.
on June 20, 2016
I love these cards! The art is absolutely beautiful. I really resonate with this deck. I have NO complaints about the quality of the material. Yes, it's a little different. It has more of a matte finish than the slippery almost laminated feel of other decks, but I find them to be plenty sturdy. Like other reviewers, I too was hesitant to buy these based on the negative feedback about the quality, but I am not disappointed at all. They're awesome. And the book! I've never read such a thorough book that comes with a tarot deck. These descriptions are seriously thought out, flow with the card art, and are straight forward and easy to understand. Most of the other decks come with little paper booklets with descriptions that leave me perplexed at their overly-flowery, too poetic wording, making me have to cross check with other more standard books. Not so with this one. It stands alone as a great description book for this deck, but if you already have a different go-to book, I'm sure these cards will flow nicely with it as well.
on May 28, 2016
As others have stated, the artwork is beautiful. The book it comes with is great. However, the material is so terribly poor that I hardly think it's worth owning. Feels cheap to hold, and they seem as if they'll tear, crease, and warp at any moment. Can't recommend given the material, despite everything else being nearly perfect.
on December 27, 2016
Unlike many others who have reviewed these cards, I found the card stock to be just fine. The finish, however, leaves something to be desired. It is a super matte finish that feels almost gritty--like an extremely high grain sandpaper.
The art is superb. I find almost every image captivating and it contains just enough Rider-Waite imagery that an intermediate reader shouldn't struggle much.
Should one struggle though, there is a delightful companion book AND an app (available in the Google playstore for $3.99). The app, albeit this should really be a separate review, is fantastic and I am not generally an advocate for electronic decks. The app allows you to read a short description of each card, or the full description from the book, has the full book in the app, a journal, and many spreads to choose from.
Tarot cards, as I see them, are really more about the reader than the deck as far as accuracy goes. I will say that the messaging and imagery spoke keenly about each query straight out of the box. The same keenness applies to the electronic format.
The shipping was as expected and the price was above average.
The art is superb. I find almost every image captivating and it contains just enough Rider-Waite imagery that an intermediate reader shouldn't struggle much.
Should one struggle though, there is a delightful companion book AND an app (available in the Google playstore for $3.99). The app, albeit this should really be a separate review, is fantastic and I am not generally an advocate for electronic decks. The app allows you to read a short description of each card, or the full description from the book, has the full book in the app, a journal, and many spreads to choose from.
Tarot cards, as I see them, are really more about the reader than the deck as far as accuracy goes. I will say that the messaging and imagery spoke keenly about each query straight out of the box. The same keenness applies to the electronic format.
The shipping was as expected and the price was above average.
on June 27, 2016
In brief. These cards are gorgeous! I was very excited about ordering the cards but when I saw the early reviews about the card stock I was hesitant. But after having purchased The Linestrider Tarot App and loving it I knew I wanted these cards in my hands. So I went ahead and ordered them.
I'm so glad I did! I have dozens and dozens of tarot cards and oracle decks. I've been using and collecting tarot for over twenty years. The card stock is fine. Perhaps a little thicker than some card stock but in no way a detriment to the use and handling of the cards.
I love this deck and look forward to using it. As far as I'm concerned the quality of this product is definitely five stars!
I'm so glad I did! I have dozens and dozens of tarot cards and oracle decks. I've been using and collecting tarot for over twenty years. The card stock is fine. Perhaps a little thicker than some card stock but in no way a detriment to the use and handling of the cards.
I love this deck and look forward to using it. As far as I'm concerned the quality of this product is definitely five stars!
on December 4, 2016
This tarot deck is very pretty and feminine, which is why I love it. The book that comes with it is very nice and I refer to it often. The cards are probably not for the beginner as most of the pictures on the cards are read by intuition derived from the pictures, at least that has always been my experience. Since I'm not an experienced tarot reader yet, I'm still learning from variations of the Rider Waite decks. But I'm glad I got this one because the artwork is so pretty. I know I will use the cards someday but for now, I use the book quite a bit to help me learn.
on January 30, 2017
Very beautiful. This deck is my first tarot deck ever, and I have been loving it. However, after using it for almost 3 months, I realize that this deck is not a good deck for beginners, unless you are very sensitively creative. Since I'm not a creative thinker, I need to rely a lot on the image to draw connection to the keywords in the book. However, for this deck, since the artist just highlights one or two primary meanings, not all, I find it harder to read the cards when comparing with other decks with more detailed symbols and images. So, if you are new and have the same brain like I do, consider twice when purchasing this deck. I still love it, though.
One more thing, be extremely careful in the moistful season when you bring the deck outside with you. The deck could be damaged!!
One more thing, be extremely careful in the moistful season when you bring the deck outside with you. The deck could be damaged!!
on April 24, 2017
I absolutely love this deck. It's my fist one, and I find it intuitive and pretty easy to use. The illustrations are simply stunning, the colors are gorgeous, and the book that comes with it is very clear and gives exhaustive explanations about every single card. I don't find the cards to be made of a bad quality as some reviews say: yes you have to treat the gently or else they'll be ruined, but that's to be expected. I've used lots of cards of different purposes and they are made of the same quality. The package arrived on time in perfect conditions.
I couldn't be happier with my purchase.
I couldn't be happier with my purchase.
