By: Diana Lang
Illustrated by: Rossana Pala
Publisher: Llewellyn Publishing
Number of cards: 78
Card size: 4.75 (just under) in x 2.75 in
Box size: 5 x 3 x 2 in
Guidebook pages: 128 (59 are in English, the rest are in other languages)
Release Date: September, 2023
Purchased or gifted?: Publicity copy gifted from Llewellyn Publishing

First card pulled: The Devil

Absolute favorite card: The star

My favorite cards: the lovers, judgment, nine of cups, the hanged man

First Impressions: This deck is weird but that’s also why I was attracked to it. I have always been attracted to strange decks, especially strange whimsical decks and this is definitely that. It's kind of like Nightmare Before Christmas meets Winx Club with a bit of Carnival Row tossed in. Funny enough, I started writing this review before I looked at the product listing on Llwellyn and it actually says the art was inspired by Tim Burton! It’s super cute but more like “oh this fairy is so cute” just before they bite your finger off.

That’s honestly ok with me. It kind of reminds me of the Ceccoli oracle and tarot, if you’re familiar with those which are also through Lo Scarabeo. The oracle was my favorite Halloween deck before I created Seasons of the Witch: Samhain oracle and when I first got my hands on Tarot of the Enchanted Garden my immediate thought was Samhain too. But then I sat with it and it felt more like a bridge between Samhain and winter. I think it’s the colors and the tone. It reminds me of those November days when it’s foggy, grey, and you can feel the cold rain or snow on the air that will arrive at any moment. And while garden is in the title, there are very few garden elements. If anything, it looks like a garden in quiet slumber during the last days of fall and into winter.

So here’s what I like about the deck. The first thing are the borders which connect between each card. I love to see that because it makes me feel like the artist was very intentional and thoughtful. I also love the court cards, especially the wands. I do want to note that the king and queen are quite androgynous and it’s almost impossible to tell them apart. But knight is always on a horse and the page is always youthful, just like the RWS decks.

There are no reversals in this deck although you can read reversals with any deck if you like. It doesn’t matter if the creators included them or not— that is a personal choice as the reader. The box is a really nice box. It’s compact so it won’t take up a lot of space and the lid lifts off. This is a nice surprise because a lot of Lo Scarabeo decks are think cardboard boxes whereas this one is nice and sturdy.

Ok so I have a bone to pick with Lo Scarabeo and these little guidebooks they’re still using. I understood ten years ago when pretty much everyone had small little books but tarot and oracle decks have evolved so much over the last decade and it seems Lo Scarabeo hasn’t gotten the message. The book is perfectly sufficient for a seasoned tarot reader or someone who is fine with not using the guidebook. But if you’re new or someone who enjoys using the guidebook, then you will need an additional book to fill in what’s missing here.

And honestly, I don’t recommend this deck for beginners. There are no names on the cards at all, in both the major or minor arcana. The artwork is more or less the same as the RWS (Rider-Waite-Smith) decks but the colors are so muted, they almost look monochromatic. It’s also very ethereal. Kind of reminds me of scenes in movies when they look back on a memory and the scene is hazy and subdued. Each card feels like that. Each card feels like a dream that you may or may not remember.

Now if you’re ready for a challenge then by all means, get this one. And as always, if the art or creators speak to you, then follow that urge and get this one. But if you are a beginner who isn’t used to pulling out symbols, isn’t familiar with the card’s various elements, or if you rely heavily on color to inform your reading, then this one is probably a pass.

The verdict for me? I didn’t love it but I don’t dislike it either and I’m happy to have it in my collection. I felt attracted to it so I’m trusting there’s a reason for that and my ego has to catch up to my spirit. For now though, I am much more excited about other decks, many of which you will see reviews for in the coming weeks.

Any decks you’d like a review on? Have any questions about decks at all? Leave me a comment and stay tuned for more reviews.