The Phantomwise Tarot: A 78-Card Deck and Guidebook (Tarot Cards)

This deck just speaks to me. I haven't read the any of the books. The stock is fairly thick but a little warpy. The skin of the cards is amazing. The linen feels nice in the hands, not too sticky, just right. The art is beautiful, if not a bit melancholy. The true gem of this deck you will need to discover for yourself. For my part it holds a spirit that is true to me. The readings have been spot on.

If the cardstock of a deck is a deal breaker for you, you will possibly want to pass on this one. The cards have a pleasant linen finish and are well printed but they don't, or so far won't, stay flat. Mine arrived with a bend in the deck from new, which is not as major an issue as it might be since the cards can be bent in the opposite direction, even as a whole pack. But once straight, they won't stay that way as you use them. They are going to flex and warp a little in use, and they can be straightened up with little or no effort but will tend to bend again. It doesn't seem to be an issue of quality or durability, these feel like they'll last, they just don't return to their initial flatness of their own accord. I don't mind this, myself, it's not a problem for me but it will be for some so be aware, if you want no flexibility in your cards you will want to look elsewhere. I find they shuffle just fine as they are, the linen surface is just grippy enough to provide friction while allowing the cards to slide. A slight bend doesn't bother me at all.The designs are based on RWS but don't expect exact correspondences in all the cards. The author suggests that they be used not merely or only as a classic tarot deck but to allow yourself to interpret them in your own ways, so the RWS meanings are there but the images are often loose enough to leave you free to add your own interpretations. Oh, and there are bunnies.

I’ve been waiting for this ever since she posted images of some cards on her site years ago and promised to finish the deck one day. She did not disappoint.Erin Morgenstern, author of “The Night Circus,” designed this deck while she was writing the book and it shows, with a definite “circusy “‘feel to the images. The color scheme is mostly black and white, in a nod to the aesthetics of the book, with a black and red box. The images are simple, elegant and charming, with a sort of “Edward Gorey but cheerful” feel to them.And the cards themselves feel amazing. Heavy linen stock, they have weight and substance to them and shuffle wonderfully. This is a well-made deck.You definitely don’t need to know the book to enjoy the deck but if you do, you’ll find nods here and there. Well worth buying.

I have been eagerly waiting for the release of this deck and it's finally here! The cards came in a beautiful box and are elegantly presented. The box could have been slightly bigger as the insert the cards set in allows the first two or three cards to slip out, but this is a minor issue. The artwork is gorgeous and the cards are thick. They feel like thick cardstock with a coating of pvc on the front and back. The pvc is textured rather than glossy, which is both good and bad - when shuffling, they're not going to go flying everywhere like glossy pvc (which is good), but at the same time the texturing may be a bit off-putting to those with tactile sensitivities or nerve problems. The texturing also slightly takes away from that gorgeous artwork, but not so much that it's a huge deal. This is literally the only (minor) issue with these cards and it's not even enough to take any stars off. All in all, this is already one of my favorite decks I've seen in the past decade or so. And the dark circus-style theme is exquisite. I can't recommend this deck enough, and I haven't seen such sturdy, thick, and beautiful cards in a long time. Buy it...you won't regret it!

Adore these tarot cards. The black and white design is beautiful and fun (I especially like the nod to Alice in Wonderland). They're easy to read intuitively. I really like when the pictures tell a clear story. And I LOVE the textured finish to the cards. They feel good in your hands. Are easy to shuffle and have a really good energy to them.

I enjoy Erin Morgenstern's books, and loved the few tarot cards she created for The Starless Sea, so I was really looking forward to this deck. It's easy to shuffle, and the cards have a nice linen finish. She's based them loosely on the Rider Waite Smith deck, and has written a nice, easy to read LWB. I really like the several spreads she has created such as the “Celestial Navigation Spread”. Be aware that this is designed for young folks. All of the people in both the major and minor arcana are young, if not actually children. Some of them even appear to be dressing up as adults or elders (e.g. the Hierophant) as if they are in a high school play. This not a criticism, because the deck reads well, just an observation. I would definitely use this deck with young people.

I bought this deck because it looked so cool. Did I need tarot cards? Not really. Did the deck hold up to my anticipation regarding illustration style? 100%The cards are a little big for my hands when shuffling, etc. which turns me off a little in regard to every day use. I am completely in love with the card illustrations and look of the box. No regrets about getting them.

I was very impressed with the quality of these cards for the price! The box is even nice! 10 stars! Great purchase!