Deck Review: The Dark Mansion Tarot

I admit it - I am a bit behind the trend... I had the deck originally when it came out, but circumstances had me rehoming several decks for a bit of extra cash. I recently re-purchased the deck from Taroteca Studios and I wanted to share my thoughts on this deck in case you were on the fence about it.

What I love...

Where to start with what I love? The packaging for this deck is absolutely incredible, and it is worth every penny that the deck costs. The deck is contained inside a box that flips open much like a book, holding the deck safe and secure. The image in the front of the box is unique to the box, unlike some decks that just use an image from one of the cards. And it isn't just the outside of the box that gets the love - the inside of the box is well detailed too!

The card stock is so buttery soft to the touch, and is clearly a good quality. It reminds me a lot of the thickness and sturdiness of the Hay House decks. Each card has a black border - I usually dislike borders on my cards, but here they really work well. The cards are a comfortable size for my tiny little Hobbit hands.

The images are fantastic too - especially if you really like Tim Burton. There is a very Nightmare Before Christmas type vibe to the people on the cards - complete with spindly limbs and kind of big heads. Sticking largely to RWS meanings this deck is easy to interpret. 

These two cards are some of my favorites. The Chariot reminds me of Victorian London and there is so much detail here in the cards - right down to the texture on the chariot and the cobblestones on the street. The Knight of Swords is something that really grabbed my attention as both a history and an art lover. It is very similar to the famous painting of Napoleon crossing the Alps. This is perfect as the Knight of Swords is someone extremely ambitious and charges in boldly, kind of a shoot first and ask questions later.

What I don't love...

There isn't a lot that I dislike about this deck, so my list is a bit more about what sorts of things I know people find important for a deck. The first is the lack of any sort of guidebook. If you are a seasoned reader you shouldn't have any issues, but newbies may struggle a bit as they get to know the deck. The next potential issue that people may have is that there is a lack of diversity. There are a variety of ages and mobility types, but ultimately all the people in this deck are light skinned. The final issue that people may encounter is the fact that this deck comes from Poland, and especially in COVID times the shipping journey to you can take several weeks. For people who are used to super fast shipping this could be hard for them.

At the end of the day, this deck is a worthwhile addition to any tarot collection and worth every penny. Grab a copy here: www.taroteca-studio.com/Tarot-Decks/The-Dark-Mansion