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Established by H.P. Lovecraft in the span of a few short stories, the Cthulhu mythos has been incorporated into popular culture and contemporary fantasy production, most recently in HBO’s hit series Lovecraft Country. Made by connoisseurs and lovers of Lovecraft, Abrams is honored to present the first tarot deck solely dedicated to this special universe.
From the Cthulhu Dark Arts Tarot product description
H. P. Lovecraft is a much-loved author, so it’s no surprise that a tarot deck honouring his works appeared on the market eventually. Cthulhu Dark Arts Tarot is a gorgeously illustrated work that pays homage to the feel of the original material. Flipping through the cards makes me want to read more of Lovecraft’s books, as, unfortunately, I haven’t had time to read many, even though they’ve been on my next-to-read list for years. Still, even a novice like me can get a lot out of the atmosphere of the deck. In this blog post, we will take a closer look at what this deck is all about, so let’s get started!
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| + Larger than standard cards + Beautiful art | – Pip cards are not fully illustrated – The guidebook should have included more lore |
About the Creators
The company behind this deck is Bragelonne Games, a leading publisher in France’s fantasy and science fiction genre for decades. They have published works from international authors like David Gemmell, Raymond E. Feist, Patrick Rothfuss, and many others. Additionally, they have tie-ins to popular franchises such as D&D, Minecraft, and Assassin’s Creed and have a list of books aimed at young adults and children. In 2018, they released a few titles under the brand name Castelmore. In 2019, Bragelonne collaborated with Hachette to create a new board game brand called Bragelonne Games.
The deck’s artwork is created by Førtifem, a collaborative effort between Jesse Daubertes and Adrien Havet. Before joining forces in 2012, both artists worked as graphic designers. They specialise in illustration, mainly on paper, and their collaborative style reflects a blend of striking tattoo designs and intricate ancient engravings. The author of the texts is Maxime Le Dain, and the design is from François Vesin.
Cards and the Artwork
Deck cards are larger than standard-size cards, measuring 95x175mm or 3.75×6.875 inches, and there are 78 cards in total. The paper chosen is a robust 315 gsm, striking the perfect balance between durability and flexibility. The cards have a good feel and are surprisingly high quality for their size, instilling confidence in their longevity and performance.
The back of the cards are illustrated with scales or pebbles of every monster. However, you want to interpret it. It fits the deck’s theme, but a skull and pentagram from a guidebook, for example, would look great, too, especially in gilded form.
The front of the cards is bordered by a white frame. The deck is described as trying to imitate an old-fashioned Tarot de Marseille deck, and I think it fits well. The chosen shade is indeed reminiscent of old playing cards, and the font chosen supports the desired atmosphere.
Annoyingly, the number cards do not have story-related art. Instead, they depict items related to the card’s suit. For example, the chalices have a chalice, and so on. So, within the same suit, the cards are basically the same, but the number of items changes. It was certainly an easy solution, but unfortunately, it affected the end result.
Instead, the cards with unique artwork are stunning and form the heart of this deck. The art style has something of a woodcut feel to it, and the illustrations could be from an old book. The images draw you into their world and make you wonder what is happening in the story right at that moment. I haven’t read enough of Lovecraft’s books, but I would imagine that the things in the pictures are easily recognisable.
The Guidebook of Cthulhu Dark Arts Tarot
The guidebook shares the same dimensions as the cards, allowing it to fit snugly into the card box. The covers mirror the tactile feel of the cards, and the thin yet durable pages further enhance the user experience. The binding facilitates easy page-turning, making it a practical companion to the cards.
The guide begins with a brief overview of what you can do with tarot cards. A few paragraphs long description is nothing to write home about, but it is more than some decks have. After the introduction, there are a few spreads to get a beginner started on the deck. The explanations are short but clear.
As for the cards themselves, the guidebook does not give anything more than keywords and reverse keywords. In my opinion, this is the biggest problem with the deck, which can potentially ruin the deck for at least some people. If a pack is strongly linked to a particular theme or world, the guidebook should reflect that. I don’t know if it’s a copyright issue, but a short snippet of a story related to each card would have done a lot. If that wasn’t possible, then at least it could have told what story or characters each card was about.
I discovered a missed opportunity after visiting the Cthulhu Dark Arts Tarot Kickstarter page. The page showcased a 160-page book that delved into the full story of Isaac Jefferson’s research, interpretive poems, the iconography of each card fully explained, and their connections to Myth. This comprehensive guidebook could have elevated this deck to one of the best. However, the exclusivity of this content to Kickstarter backers was a disappointment for those who joined later.
Conclusion
Cthulhu Dark Arts Tarot is a beautifully illustrated work that transports you into the world of H. P. Lovecraft. The fully illustrated cards are gorgeous, but the number cards will sadly leave you wanting more. The lack of a proper instruction book is my biggest gripe, so if you missed out on the Kickstarter campaign, you probably won’t get the full experience out of this deck. However, I can recommend the kit to any Lovecraft fan interested in tarot, as the quality is good, and thankfully, the price is not eye-watering.
