Deck Review: Tarot Decoratif

Ciro Marchetti (artist) and Lee Bursten (book author), Tarot Decoratif. Stamford, CT: U.S. Games Systems, 2021. ISBN: 9781646710478. (Link to publisher)

Genre: Tarot decks

Subgenre: Marseilles style decks, mashup

Format: Kit with companion book and 78-card deck.

Source: I own this one. 

 

La Papesse-II card 

I am not a fan of the Marseilles Tarot nor other "pip only" decks.  I can work with one if I have to do so, but it is not my preference. I got the Tarot Decoratif mostly because the art is done by Ciro Marchetti, and I have some of his other decks in my collection. Marchetti is one of my top artists when it comes to cartomancy decks. This deck is designed to be a sort of mashup between Marseilles and Rider Waite Smith (RWS). I first used this deck in December 2024. 

Lee Bursten writes the companion book. Ciro Marchetti writes a foreword for the book discussing the deck and sharing some artist notes on selected cards. The rest of the book goes over The Triumphs (Major Arcana), the pip cards (cards 1-10 in each suit), and the court cards. The book may feel a bit inconsistent. As often happens, you get a good amount of information on the Major Arcana. The material for the court cards is relatively minimal, a few keywords per card. The pip card entries are better in terms of content. 

Bursten emphasizes some numerology and suit keywords to figure out the meanings of the pip cards. Unlike RWS, some memorization of suit and number keywords is essential to read a Marseilles and/or non-illustrated deck. If this interests you, and you are willing to put in some work you can learn the system. The overall system is relatively well explained in the book. Bursten also includes a sample reading to help you learn. In the cards Marchetti added small images, vignettes, from RWS to the pip cards which can help with learning the Marseilles system, giving you hints. 

I started my Tarot journey with a basic Marseilles deck. I then switched to an RWS clone; by coincidence that clone was also a Marchetti deck: his Gilded Tarot. That switch helped my cartomancy craft flourish. I always wanted to go back and relearn or fully learn Marseilles. I am not letting those pips be the boss of me. For me, this book and deck work as a nice transition deck. If you want to learn Marseilles Tarot, but you need some hints, this deck can help. The book gives you the basics in simple language. Where some Marseilles Tarot books may appear a bit too esoteric, the companion book here gives you enough to start learning. Once you read the companion book, you can decide to read other books and learn more at your pace. For example, I have read Ben-Dov's The Marseille Tarot Revealed (link to my review). It is a good book but a bit dense at times. Now that I have read Bursten's book here and worked with the deck, I feel more confident. I can go back and re-read Ben-Dov's book and maybe start working with a basic Marseilles deck again. We'll see how that goes. 

The cards naturally are the reason to get this deck. Marchetti does an excellent job not just depicting the

Two of Coins (Deniers) card

Marseilles Tarot art but elevating it. The deck feels classic yet brings in some nice art deco elements. The "church glass" effect on each card's background just adds to the deck's beauty. The art is colorful with attention to detail. The figures are well drawn and expressive. I usually would not recommend a Marseilles deck for intuitive readers, but the art here may work for some intuitives, including the vignettes in the pip cards. The brilliant colors just pop. If already read pip decks, this can work for you. If you read RWS, this deck can work for you as well. 

The cards measure about 4 3/4 inches by 3 inches. The card art has a black border that works well. The card back art is reversible. The card stock is not too thin. It has a very soft glossy finish, and the cards shuffle with some ease. 

Overall, this is a beautiful deck, and I am glad to have it. This is one I would buy a back up copy. I will be using it again down the road, and I will use it to help me study Marseilles Tarot further. 

5 out of 5 stars. 

This kit qualifies for the following 2025 Reading Challenge: 

Deck Review: Tarot of the Vampires

Charles Harrington and Craig Maher, Tarot of the Vampires. St. Paul, MN: Llewellyn Worldwide, 2023. ISBN: 9780738766287. (link to publisher)

Genre: Tarot, cartomancy

Subgenre: vampires, horror

Format: Box kit with paperback book and 78-card deck

Source: I own this one. 

 

The Emperor-IV card

This is a Llewellyn deck kit that includes a full companion book and the 78-card deck in a box with a magnetic closure. Charles Harrington wrote the companion book. He also wrote the small companion book for the Tarot V deck (link to my review). When I saw he wrote the companion book for this deck, it drew me to the deck. 

The companion book, Codex of Vampires, is arranged as follows: 

• Come away with me...in the night. A short introduction to the deck's concept. 
• In the shadow of the vampire. A look at vampires in popular culture and how they can connect to Tarot. 
• A (mercifully brief) history of Tarot. The author does keep it brief. He also reassures readers not to fear. He does encourage us to read and learn widely: "Various books, teachers, and your own observations will blend to help you accumulate your own storehouse of meanings over your lifetime" (8-9).
• A deck of shadows. A description of the deck's structure, which is well within the Rider Waite Smith (RWS), and how it incorporates vampires and their symbols. It has a note on interpreting the vampire court cards. 
• Sinking your teeth into Tarot reading. Some brief instruction on how to read the cards. 
• A ritual to bless your new deck. This is an optional step, but it is a nice touch. You can bless, or not, your deck. This ritual is designed especially for the deck. I may consider doing it later. If you choose to do the ritual set some time aside. 
• Tarot spreads. In addition to suggesting doing a daily draw, you get four spreads. You also get a note on doing shadow work with the deck. 
• A grimoire of meanings. Here are the card entries for the Major and Minor Arcanas. Each entry includes a full illustration of a card and a page of text describing the card, its symbols, and meanings. Reversed interpretations are included. 
• The night is young...A short conclusion encouraging us to embrace the night and keep learning. 

You get a lot of value in this book. The text is very easy to read. Esoterica is kept to a minimum. Harrington's writing draws you in to the world of vampires, a world that is closer than many realize. Can you read the cards without the book? I can read cards without a book, and you could read these without the book, but I still kept the book handy when working with the deck. The color illustrations are a nice detail that also brings value. 

Seven of Cups card

Craig Maher does the art for the cards and book. The art draws you into the night and into the world of vampires. The setting is more within urban fantasy and horror rather than gothic. Fans of works like Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Anne Rice's vampire novels (some), and the Blade films may appreciate this deck. However, if you enjoy vampires in general and/or have an affinity for vampires, like I do you will enjoy this deck. I first used it in October 2024 for Samhain and Halloween season, but it is a deck you can use year round., especially if you want a darker deck. 

The art is very colorful and detailed. It feels immersive, and it draws you in. Colder colors predominate as vampires are creatures of the night, but you also find some bright and hot colors too. The expressive art can work well for intuitive readers. The art is well within the RWS system, so if you read within RWS you will do well. The art features some diverse elements. 

The cards measure about 4 1/2 inches by 2 3/4 inches. Card stock is your standard Llewellyn thin card stock, flexible. It has a light glossy coating, but the cards slide and shuffle easily. Card back features a rose and a lilly, a nice bit of art. It is not reversible. 

Overall this is a great deck, and it is a new favorite for me. If you like vampires and/or horror themed decks, I would say this is a must have deck. I am very happy to have it in my collection, and I would buy a back up copy. A great kit overall. 

5 out of 5 stars. 

This book and kit qualify for the following 2025 Reading Challenge: 

Deck Review: Initiatory Golden Dawn Tarot

Patrizio Evangelisti (art), Initiatory Golden Dawn Tarot. Torino, Italy: Lo Scarabeo, 2008. ISBN: 9780738713878. (Link to US Distributor Llewellyn).

Genre: Tarot decks

Subgenre: Golden Dawn, esoterica

Format: 78-card deck with little white book

Source: I own this one 

 

 

Justice-XI card

I first used this deck in November of 2024. It comes in a tuck box with a little white book (LWB). We get the typical Lo Scarabeo LWB in five languages: English, Italian, Spanish, French, and German. 

LWB includes a small history of Golden Dawn and their Tarot decks. Once the contents of the Liber T were revealed, various authors made decks interpreting the Golden Dawn card descriptions. Patrizio Evangelisti is the artist for this deck. He did not know about previous Golden Dawn deck versions, so he made the art for this deck based on Golden Dawn texts. The goal was to make a deck consistent with Golden Dawn tradition and that works for modern audiences. 

I can say the deck works pretty well for me. I was a bit intimidated initially, concerned the deck may be too esoteric for me. Once I started working with the deck, I found that it worked for me. The LWB states that the brief card meanings draw partially on the Liber T; the meanings are supplemented using works by Edward Arthur Waite, Aleister Crowley, and their disciples. Card meanings are brief, mostly keywords. Meanings are positive and negative (reversed). If you in the Rider Waite Smith (RWS) method, you can still do that with this deck; the cards can work for you that way. However, meanings in the LWB can and often do differ from RWS, so I do suggest reading the LWB. I think you may get some new insights and ideas to add to your repertoire if you read the LWB. 

The card art is fantasy realistic. It may be a bit reminiscent of some graphic novels. Art is colorful and expressive with good attention to detail. Some cards display emotional intensity. A few cards feature artistic nudity. As I mentioned, if you read within RWS, cards can work for you. It can also work if you read Thoth Tarot. For intuitive readers, the expressive art may provide enough for readings. 

Two of Cups

The cards measure about 4 3/4 inches by 2 1/2 inches. This is an older style of Lo Scarabeo deck, so the art has a white border with card name in multiple languages. The deck is fully illustrated. Note that knights in this deck are equivalent to kings in most other decks. The cards have a soft glossy finish, and they can be shuffled easily. 

This is a good deck overall, but I would not recommend it for beginners. If you are an experienced reader and/or want to explore a deck closer to the Golden Dawn's vision, this is a good and accessible choice. I really like this one, and I am happy to have it in my collection. While I can use it well know, I am curious and would like to read more on the Golden Dawn society and how they envisioned Tarot. 

4 out of 5 stars. 

Photos are mine from my deck.

Book Review: Star Wars (2020) Volume 2

Charles Soule, et.al., Star Wars, Volume 2: Operation Starlight. New York: Marvel, 2021. ISBN: 9781302920791.

Genre: comics

Subgenre; Star Wars, space opera

Format: trade paperback

Source: Eastside Branch, Lexington (KY) Public Library 

This volume includes issues 7-11 of the comics series written by Charles Soule. 

The Imperials have cracked the Rebel communication codes. When when one part of the Rebel fleet contacts another and the other responds, the Empire knows their locations to hunt them down. Leia and her group need to figure out a new code, and they attempt a daring plan to get an artifact that may help. The issue? They have to slip into the Imperial capital city Coruscant to get it. Meanwhile, Leia forms a new elite pilot team, Starlight Squadron. Their first task? To find the remnants of the Rebel fleet and warn them of the code breach before those ships communicate with each other. 

The story that started in the previous volume continues to develop here. Leia and the rebels need to stay a step ahead of Commander Zahra. In this volume, we learn Zahra is not just motivated as a loyal Imperial. She has a personal vendetta against Leia. 

Overall, I am still liking this series. The rare language to create a new code angle was interesting, a bit reminiscent of the World War II Navajo code talkers. The intrigues with Lando, who now feels the Rebellion will not protect him and Lobot, intensify.  This is where the suspense comes in. The reading pace is still fast and easy. It is a fun and light read, one mostly to borrow. Again, libraries already collecting Star Wars comics may want to add this one. 

3 out of 5 stars.

Book Review: Lies that kill

Elaine C. Kamarck and Darrell M. West, Lies that kill: a citizen's guide to disinformation. Lanham, MD: Brookings Institution Press, with Rowman and Littlefield, 2024. ISBN: 9780815740728.

Genre: information literacy, media literacy

Subgenre: political science, current affairs, media, technology

Format: trade paperback

Source: Hutchins Library, Berea College

 

For the record, I read this book before the election results of 2024 became known. Looking at the situation now, I feel this book is even more timely. It does take us right up to 2024 right before the elections.

In seven chapters the authors discuss the various ways that disinformation is not only dangerous but outright lethal. They then add one more chapter where they present a series of solutions. The authors wrote the book as a guide to help ordinary people learn about and understand what disinformation is and how it works. The authors discuss how disinformation works in the following areas: 

• elections
• climate change
• public health
• race relations
• war
• governance

 The authors combine case studies, analysis, and documentary material to present their points. The material is presented well with good organization and clear explanations. The preface provides a road map of the book's structure and basic thesis. The first chapter goes over the basics of disinformation and how it works. Chapters 2 to 7 look at disinformation in the areas listed. Chapter 8 provides their solution proposals. 

I felt some of their solutions were either a bit too optimistic or outright not right. For example, wanting universal real name registrations online is not only unrealistic, but it raises all kinds of privacy rights issues and security concerns that the authors seem to ignore in the interest of making a point. 

For the most part, the book is an easy read. Each chapter starts with a case study, then presents and explains the concepts in a clear way. The book does work well as a text for regular people. Jargon is kept to a minimum. For regular people wanting to learn what disinformation is and why it is dangerous, this is a good option. Each chapter includes endnotes for documentation. 

Overall, I really liked the book. I do recommend it for public and academic libraries. The book could also be a good selection for library schools and training librarians in information literacy. We ordered it for our library, and I will promote it locally. 

4 out of 5 stars.

Additional reading notes: 

What social media research shows:  

"Indeed, contemporary research on social media sites has shown that people who have extreme views and are deeply suspicious of experts and traditional media are the ones most likely to be influenced by false narratives and disseminate them to their friends and acquaintances" (8). 

Disinformation defined: 

"We define disinformation as material that is: 

• false
• organized
• intentional and malicious
• harmful
• fast" (8). 

 

A sampling of people you encounter in the book: 

"In this book, we will encounter people who have been accused of crimes they never committed or been pronounced dead of COVID but are still alive" (12). 

 

What AI has done for disinformation: 

"The result of this AI innovation has been a digital space that now has few safeguards in place, less active content moderation, and new tools to spread lies" (42). 

 

Best way to fight disinformation: 

"The best way to fight disinformation is to educate the public about ways to evaluate political narratives and be skeptical about information sources" (127). 

 As an information literacy librarian I do my part to teach these skills to our students (even as certain faculty rush right in to embrace AI, but that is another story).

 

Disinformation is big business, and it needs to be demonetized. I agree, but given the very large financial incentives I do not see it happening, especially in the U.S. where money is a god basically: 

"Practitioners find it easy to make money from subscriptions, ad revenue, and merchandise sales associated with false narratives. Some sites make millions peddling false content about elections, climate change, public health, government, and race. Unless we take significant action, we will never stop the flow of deadly information about these and other topics" (135-136). 

Knowing what I know and my skill set, if I had bad ethics or no ethics at all, I would would be making bank. The thought does occur to me now and then, but my decency and integrity are not for sale even if, as attributed often to P.T. Barnum, there is a sucker born every minute.