So - I pre-ordered this awhile ago and finally got around to opening it up - and I was hesitant because so many people have been hating on this deck.  

I can sort of understand why - a small reason is the cardstock is very soft and fragile feeling. But I have other decks of the same material and I just shuffle carefully.

The main reason is one that perplexes me to no end.  The Minor Arcana are not labelled at all. Just numbered.  And since they re-named them anyway, it is very confusing to say the least. Sort of.
Strength = Wands
Intelligence = Swords
Wisdom = Cups
Charisma = Coins

Obviously they renamed them for D&D attributes and I agree with 2 of them LOL  Intelligence and Wisdom work perfectly as Swords and Cups.

But I have some issues with Strength and Wands and Charisma as Coins. Some work but most would actually fit better if they were swapped.  

That aside, I like this deck. A lot.  The more I think on it, I can either use a gold sharpie to make a small mark at the bottom of the Minors to denote suit - or use the deck to tell a story, which is what Tarot is, is it not?

I mean, yes, you should absolutely learn the card meanings and symbolism - just go do that with a regular RWS deck first.  Then come play with this one because the art is gorgeous and as a D & D nerd, it just makes me heart happy.

I did an interview with it - photo above. It was SPOT ON.
1: What work are we meant to do together?
The World - Endings and Beginnings - Coming to a place of completion and power both internally and externally. (Perfect)

2: What am I ready to embrace and step into with our partnership?
Nine of Intelligence (Swords) -  Looking at how thoughts can create turmoil and finding a way to observe them from a dispassionate space of stillness.  (I Love This)

3: How do you offer and deliver wisdom?
The Fool - Follow your heart with innocence and wonder. (Excellent advice)

4: What card in this deck will be a deep teacher for me?
Judgment - Our capability to discern what is truly important and to use it to weed the garden of our life. (Spot on again and so where I am right now in life)

Because I do know how to read the cards in both the RWS and Thoth traditions, I think this deck will be a bit of a different reading experience.  I am pretty much going to use the cards to simply tell me a story - I have found that even just looking at a card will pretty much get you close enough to the "accepted" meanings anyway.

This deck will be a very excellent campaign adventure.
If you are looking for a deck with and easy RWS type read, don't get this one.  But seriously, if you can deal with the Minors being unlabeled and are willing to work at it a bit, I think it will make a great deck to own.

Some cards I quite like the art on:

The Santa Muerte Tarot....Fabio Listrani

I like it.  I usually use my Halloween Oracle cards for that festive Fall season I love so much, but I remembered this deck was in my wish list and has been for awhile.  I wanted to get it early, so I could work with it properly before using for readings. I had read mixed reviews about the deck and decided as usual to ignore them because I make my own mind up thank you.

And I am glad I ignored the negatives because this deck is just lovely.  It isn't over the top skeletons and wonky halloween type imagery. It is very well done and often the cards show a lot of humor too. The Hierophant is reading a Ouija board, which made me giggle.

The card stock is nice, glossy but shuffles well.  The imagery is gorgeous and very layered. Sometimes that can be a detractor but in this case, I think it works well. Some of the meanings vary from the usual RWS meanings but not too much and it is explained in the book and matches the imagery in the card so it is, for me, intuitive. 

One thing I wasn't sure I liked at first was that all the minor arcana 10's are butterflies. Then I realized that butterfly = transformation and decided it was well done after all!

The cards and images celebrate all who have gone before us. It is in their memory and our collective unconsciousness that we will continue to nourish and which we can tap into with Tarot. Death represents transformation and rebirth in the present. We all face death and in death we are all equals. (from the book)

The cards are almost borderless which really makes them pop. I could add this to my list of decks that I use daily, they are that well done. I love a good intuitive deck and this one is very intuitive. Very much worth the $25.

The Vice Versa Tarot Deck

I spent literally all of yesterday studying this deck and I love it. The cards are based on the RWS images but they add so much more to them. One side shows the usual scene but when you flip it over it shows a second scene, not a dark or reverse side, just a different aspect of the original scene.

I quite like the art, which is well balanced with symbols and colors and people. Adding the flip side really does open up readings and gives me a lot more to look at and think about. Another thing I love is that the Major cards actually show symbols and items from other cards that come before them or sit above/below them when they are set into 3 rows of 7 cards. (see below and please ignore my desk mess, I was too excited to tidy up)

The Court cards are slightly different in that instead of showing 2 sides or aspects, it shows the Outer Self and Inner Self, again not reversals or dark and light, just a different aspect which I absolutely love.

I have been thinking about how awesome it would be for someone to create a virtual reality type of app for the Tarot deck, one that you could actually STEP INTO and walk around in, explore the various bits of the cards, and while this deck isn't in VR, it does give that feeling of seeing more that is there.

There was another deck, similar to this one, The After Tarot Kit, which shows action that may have happened AFTER the front side image, but that one didn't feel as "at home," as this one did. I will probably still get that one since *HELLO, CARD COLLECTOR* but I am already loving how the Vice Versa Deck feels in my hands.