Game of Thrones Tarot (HBO) Cards – March 20, 2018

**Art, kit, and quality**This kit is an absolute steal and worth every penny. As a HUGE Game of Thrones/Song of Ice and Fire fan, I was prepared to be pleased with the cards themselves even though I figured the low cost might mean that they would be majors-only or illustrated with pips. I was surprised to find that every card is gorgeously illustrated AND the cardstock is not only sturdy (and *great* for riffle shuffling) but textured to give it that earthy, world-beyond-time feel. Furthermore, I figured for the price the guidebook would be a booklet or softcover at best. Once again I was wrong! I was absolutely blown away by the quality of the cards, art, and guidebook. For the most part, I even like the choice of characters for each card. For example, some people might not like the decidedly non-magical Littlefinger as The Magician, but to me that makes perfect sense. I do wish some characters were represented more (such as the Dornish) instead of having some characters on several cards--Jon Snow and Daenerys spring to mind--but I can also understand wanting to give more space to the fan favorites, as well.**Reading**But none of that is why this is one of my top 5 favorite Tarot decks of all time. I can honestly say that this isn't just a great-looking Game of Thrones deck, but it is one of the most accurate decks I've ever used. Who would have thought? This is my "surgeon" deck. It cuts right to the heart of the matter and does not BS around. When I work with this deck, I know I will get the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth. It doesn't futz around or nice-wash (and I love a good nice-washing, believe me!). Its answers are clear and concise.**Summary**Because of the kit's quality, the attention to detail, and gorgeous artwork, this deck earns 5 stars in my opinion. Personally, it reads like a dream when I use it. I would caution that not everyone will necessarily have the same experience working with this deck; of course your personal preferences and style of reading will play a large role in how you work together. However, if you're already a GoT fan and looking to expand your deck collection, this is definitely worth the price.

I have been reading tarot cards for years, for my own enjoyment. As an avid Game of Thrones fan, I was hoping I would connect with this set, and I can already tell I do. (I have bought tons of decks only to revert to my favorite; I think I may actually be using these frequently.) The cards are very well done with beautiful art that really evokes the world presented by the books and HBO series. I highly recommend this deck whether this is your first deck or you have more experience reading.The cards are of a size for traditional shuffling, which I appreciate. The box the cards and hardcover Guidebook come in is of nice quality and suitable for permanent storage of the cards. The four suits used are spears, swords, cups, and coins. Interestingly, the same character represents multiple "people" in the deck - for example, Daenerys is both The Empress and the Queen of Spears. I would think they could have added more characters, but perhaps thought the major characters embodied the idea behind certain cards more than other characters they could have chosen, or thought fans would rather have more of their favorite characters present. The only text on the minor arcana is what they are, i.e. Ace of Cups, which is different from my favorite deck The Enchanted Tarot: 25th Anniversary Edition, which has, for example, "Love" as a description on the Ace of Hearts. When I first started reading, I found those one-word descriptions quite helpful, but it no longer bothers me not to have them. It just may mean for a beginner, you need to consult the Guidebook more, or rely on your own intuition or knowledge of the books & show. I sometimes view tarot reading as similar to a Rorschach test, where you are really simply getting in touch with your own feelings - there is no "wrong" way to read the cards.To learn some of the cards' traditional meaning, you must consult the Guidebook that comes with the cards, as the images may seem incongruous for some cards. For example, the Fool and the Hanged Man do not on their face show their traditional meanings; the Fool is Tyrion and the Hanged Man is Bolton's Flayed Man flag. (The Fool often represents idealism or innocence; it does not mean a fool in the traditional sense. Similarly, the hanged man generally represents a period of limbo in one's life, a period of waiting or feeling stuck or out of control.)The Guidebook that comes with the cards is very helpful and one reason I rate them so highly. The Guidebook begins with a typical introduction to tarot readings generally. It also has, rather than the traditional Celtic Cross spread, for example, Game of Thrones specific spreads, including The Red Keep, Old Gods of the North, Faith of the Seven, I Drink and I Know Things, and Spread of the Maesters. I look forward to testing these out and seeing if they are helpful. For each card, the Guidebook explains what the card represents both upright and reversed (should you choose to read reversed meanings). It also explains how each card ties into Game of Thrones, i.e. how the tower Bran was pushed out of relates to the traditional meaning of the Tower in tarot.

I was very excited to get this deck as a tarot reader as well as a Game of Thrones fan. I was not disappointed.The deck is packaged in a hinged box. The cards are normal size for tarot cards (larger and longer than playing cards, but not oversized like oracle decks) and though the card stock appears thin, it is the same texture and durability as a good set of playing cards. I riffle shuffle my decks because I feel it helps clear the energy and resets it for the next question, and this deck I feel will have no problems with that.The artwork is well done if stylized (i.e. some may like it, some may not, but it is well rendered). More importantly, it matches the meanings SO very well to traditional Rider-Waite. This would, I feel, be a great deck for someone just picking up tarot who is a Game of Thrones enthusiast because they did an excellent job of capturing moments that really express the meaning well. So many times as I flipped through I had to grin because of how well it fit.Still unsure? The guidebook may look small, but has a wealth of imformation. It will tell you what the scene/character from the show on that card is and then give the overview, upright, and reversed meanings. There are a few GoT themed spreads included, some which tarot readers may be familiar with and others that seemed new to me.All in all I am extremely pleased with this purchase and can't wait to start using it!