I’ve always been fascinated with Tarot and this book is a great for first timers. Very informative too

Fun new look at each tarot card and its meaning. I think it would be good for a newcomer to tarot as there is so much explanation.

As a beginner in the tarot space, I found this to be extremely informative and fun. This is a great piece to add to any bookshelf if you have even the smallest interest in tarot.

As someone who has recently started my journey into the world of tarot, I couldn’t have asked for a more engaging guide than Alison Davies’ “The Tales Behind Tarot.” This book is truly a treasure, merging storytelling with tarot reading in a way that makes learning not just accessible but genuinely enjoyable.
From the moment I opened the pages, I was welcomed into a beautifully crafted narrative that vibrates with life and meaning. As a novice, I often felt overwhelmed by the intricate symbolism and multitude of interpretations that tarot cards hold. However, Davies’ approach transforms each card into a captivating story, allowing me to grasp the essence of the tarot without feeling lost in a sea of jargon. It’s brilliant how she connects the Major Arcana through the journey of The Fool, guiding us as he meets other iconic archetypes like The Magician and The High Priestess. Each chapter feels like an adventure, and I found myself eagerly turning pages to see where The Fool’s journey would lead next.
What I particularly love is how Davies dives into the Minor Arcana, shedding light on the stories behind everyday experiences and emotions. Learning about the three sisters in the Suit of Pentacles or the innovative idea in the Suit of Wands not only made the meanings of these cards more memorable but also made them feel relevant to my life. The narrative framework creates a context that I seldom find in other tarot books, and it has equipped me with insights that I can directly apply to my readings.

The layout of the book is also a visual delight. The illustrations and design elements enhance the experience, making it a joy to read rather than just a textbook reference. I often found myself flipping back to admire the artwork and find inspiration within its pages, which is a nice bonus for someone who appreciates the aesthetic aspects of tarot.
I genuinely feel like I’ve deepened my understanding of the cards and their meanings thanks to “The Tales Behind Tarot.” Not only has it made my readings more intuitive and fluid, but it has also sparked my creativity in interpreting the cards. I can see myself returning to this book time and time again, whether for study or to simply soak in the enchanting stories that Davies has woven together.
For anyone who is new to tarot, or even those who are seasoned but looking to rediscover their connection to the cards.

જ⁀➴ 3/5 ❄️
[💌] easy read with comprehensive guide to understand the meaning behind your own tarot deck

This book is based on the rider-waite-smith deck, giving highlight into the fools journey which is understandable enough for beginners to tarot & a quick refresher if you're intermediate. The book highlights each card individually & the stories behind the cards of both the major and minor arcana.

With wonderful layout & great link between the cards it's a great book for who wants to understand the links between the cards and get more connected to the deck. However the information is rather basic and not something new and innovative hence the 3 star rating. I recommend this simple guide to everyone who's new and intermediate to understand the cards even better. The book was really interesting and helped further my understanding of my own deck!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an e-ARC. This review is entirely my own.

This book helped with my basic tarot knowledge and has helped me understand tarot a lot better. Definitely recommend to anyone who uses tarot.

Perfect for beginners but also an interesting read for people who already work with tarot cards. As a tarot enthusiast myself I found it very entertaining and after reading the full stories behind the images I think it is even easier to understand and read tarot!
I am probably going to buy a physical copy of the book so I can reread it any time and refresh my memory on the stories.

This was pretty good for what it was. Each card has a short 1 1/2-2 or so pages outlining the story behind them. I would have liked a little more information. it didn't go very deep. Might be better for beginners.

This was so interesting to read. I am new to Tarot so this book gave me a great overview of thhe history and meaning of the cards!

The Tales Behind Tarot; Discover the stories within your tarot cards by Alison Davies was a fun tarot read. I cannot get enough of tarot books and this one was great! I was truly thankful to have gotten to read this before most people! I would like to purchase this one for my physical library!

What a great way to "learn" the meanings of the tarot major and minor arcana. Simply reading about the meanings and trying to remember them (or refer to a book) while doing a reading is super frustrating and slow going. But this book uses stories to explain the meanings, within the context of the Fool's Journey (major arcana) and a different story for each minor arcana suit. The happenings and characters in the stories help explain the meanings behind the cards, and make it so much easier to remember and understand.

This is a very interesting take on how to learn the meaning of the Tarot cards. Memorizing the meaning of the cards is the hardest task when it comes to learning how to read Tarot, and I picked this book up hoping it would help me with those tricky cards that I can never seem to remember. This method definitely helped, particularly by linking the cards together rin a single story rather than each having their own individual tale. It truly is taking a basic memorization technique and applying it to a very large number of cards. This book was not quite as helpful for me, who already had a basic understanding of a majority of the cards, but would be very helpful for a beginner. I would highly recommend this to those looking to pick up the cards for the first time.

I was not able to read this prior to it being archived but I was pleased from what I have seen so far since! This is such a great tool for anyone looking to dive deeper than superficial tarot meanings.

love this book! Not only is there the story of the Fools journey for the Major arcana but there is an different story for each suite and the stories are consecutively tied together from ace to king. Great for learning tarot.

This was such a fascinating and fun read! As someone who’s still learning all about tarot and trying to get the hang of all the cards and how they interact with each other this was a really fun and helpful book.

I love the way the author told the story of each card, it was really engaging and felt like I was reading an actual story with little snippets of how it all connects together thrown in. The art was also beautiful, It’s the classic deck which is always a joy to look at, but the colours and fonts and everything just made for a really nice reading experience.

I read this as an ebook and I do plan on purchasing a physical book if I can so that I can continue to browse and use this as a tool when I’m doing my readings.

Interesting concept, a different way to interpret the card with an example/story with themes. Add another layer to your learning if something like this helps.

"The Tales Behind Tarot" by Alison Davies is a fascinating exploration of the symbolism, history, and stories that make up the world of tarot cards. This book offers a comprehensive blend of knowledge, insight, and the intricate narratives that lie within the cards.

Davies' writing style is informative and engaging, guiding readers through the rich history and meanings behind each tarot card. The author's expertise shines as she delves into the origins of the cards and the significance of the imagery they contain.

At the core of the book is a captivating journey through the major and minor arcana, uncovering the layers of symbolism and interpretation that each card holds. The author skillfully connects the cards to mythology, history, and personal reflection, creating a well-rounded and enlightening resource.

"The Tales Behind Tarot" successfully balances educational content with a sense of wonder, allowing readers to deepen their understanding of the tarot while also appreciating the beauty of its narrative elements. The exploration of themes like symbolism, intuition, and self-discovery adds depth to the content.

In conclusion, "The Tales Behind Tarot" is an invaluable and enlightening book that offers a comprehensive guide to the stories and meanings behind each tarot card. Whether you're a seasoned tarot reader or a curious beginner, this book provides an engaging and insightful journey into the world of tarot symbolism and interpretation.

This book expertly shared the stories behind each of the tarot cards and their meanings/histories. I personally would have liked to see more explanation of those key meanings, in terms of supporting readings, but this book definitely achieved what it set out to do. Overall, an interesting read.

This was a NetGalley review.

This book is vital as most information out there is about how to read and interpret the cards and skips over this critical context to interacting with your cards.

A mixed bag. Not the best tarot book out there, but an interesting concept nonetheless. The Major Arcana should have been more engaging. I thought the author would use more creative liberty. I did pick up a few new insights and meanings from the stories. Overall, the book kind of serves as a dull reference that is trying to be a bit more spicy and unique. It's a bit hard to say on whether or not this works as a reference book. I've been reading tarot for a year now and I'm not sure I would have liked this when I started the craft. If anything, the meanings of the cards and the combined stories would have left me feeling more loss than before.
If you're a beginner or seasoned learner, you can give this ago. It might suit you better than it suited me. If you learned tarot mostly from YouTube videos and online forums, this might not be for you. If you learn better with books, then have at it!
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC in an exchange for an honest review.