Royal Mischief Deck Review

​Deck Title - Royal Mischief Transformation Playing Cards
Creator/Artist – Patrick Valenza 
Publisher - U.S. Games Systems, Inc.
Date purchased - 2019

Introduction

We have something a little different from the usual Tarot deck reviews, this is a playing card deck. I don't have the skills or talents of a cartomancer who can read playing cards but I've noticed that in general media, playing cards are having a revival as a popular pastime. Even YouTuber, Alfie Deyes, has brought out a deck of cards. The Royal Mischief Cards are from Patrick Valenza's Fenwood Asylum where they are cellmates to the well-known Deviant Moon Tarot Deck. If you're already fond of the asylums inmates and you're looking for an interesting deck to revive your gin rummy skills, here's what the Royal Mischief has to offer. 

What's Good?

• This is a 54 card deck with 3 court cards: jack, queen and king per suit, ace through to ten and two joker cards. All cards have different images on there, the pip cards have the suit symbol worked into each image
• Card stock is great, thin, smooth and easy to shuffle with a shiny graphite edging
• The packaging is a two piece box, strong and protective but easy to open 
• The cards are traditional playing card size, 6.5x9cm, so smaller than Tarot decks which makes them even easier to both shuffle and transport 

What's Bad?

• There are no numbers on the cards so you have to count the symbols and although they do stand out, the business of the imagges might slow you down a tad if you're playing snap! 

Favourite/Stand Out Cards

The courts are a little bit bloodthirsty, even in the suit of hearts. I'd like to think the Queen is putting the heart back in that little blue birds chest, not pulling it out! 

The images have a sense of humour and a romantic side as well as being a bit, well, deviant (just as you would expect from the Asylum). 

Can a Devil be cute? Well, he can when he's tucked up in bed with his teddy devil. A less than somber funeral in the 9 of spades. That would relate to the 9 of Swords in Tarot and usually shows an image evoking a nightmare scenario. I guess it depends on your point of view!

Summary

This is the best deck for...getting into playing cards! If you want to branch out from Tarot, this would be a great way to get into reading playing cards as they add some interest on top of the basic suits and symbols. Or if you just want a deck to take along for playing card games with friends, the sweet, strange and naughty images will raise a smile (and possibly an eyebrow or two) among your group.

Where to Buy?

You can purchase direct from the Deviant Moon site deviantmooninc.com or check them out at Amazon www.amazon.co.uk/Royal-Mischief-Transformation-Playing-Cards/dp/1572819596/ref=sr_1_1?crid=3DJQCXMRTKFRF&keywords=royal+mischief+transformation+playing+cards&qid=1570032464&s=gateway&sprefix=royal+mischief%2Caps%2C150&sr=8-1
If you want to pick up Alfie's deck, check it out at www.futureselfshop.co.uk/products/linen-playing-cards