Deviant Moon Deck Review

​Deck Title – Deviant Moon Tarot, Borderless Edition
Creator/Artist – Patrick Valenza
Publisher - U.S Games Systems
Date purchased - 2018

Introduction

The Deviant Moon is a strange little deck with tall narrow cards with weird and unusual characters on them. On first glance it may look a bit spiky and scary but when you use this deck you may find a connection that creates a whole different feeling. I must admit that I purchased this deck because it was one of those "you've got to have it/lemming list" decks. When I flipped through the cards, I wondered what I had been thinking. I could barely make out what was going on with these unusual creatures. But once I'd spent a bit of time with the deck, I found that the readings are very clear and the range of messages far greater than even the fabulous coffee table companion book offers.  So here's what's worth knowing if you're considering purchasing the Deviant Moon Tarot. 

What's Good?

• There are different versions of this deck, one with borders and one without. I have the borderless and the images are so clear and easy to see
• The strange world of the Deviant Moon is created from original artwork by Patrick Valenza. His art style is unique and not something that you'll see repeated on other decks
• The colour saturation is good, the deck has a darker feel but leaning more toward jewels colours, not grey and black
• The deck comes with a LWB which has original and helpful content but there is also a separate companion book that you can purchase. It's a coffee table style book with full page colour pictures of the card images and a lovely introduction to how the whole deck was created and the influences behind the deck
• Some of the images are RWS inspired which make it easy to read

What's Bad?

• The cards are a little taller and narrower than standard (13 x 6.75cm) so they can be a little bit more difficult to shuffle 
• The card stock is standard U.S. Games with no edging. It seems fine however once I felt a connection to the deck, I wished it was a little better quality. There is a Premier Edition but as far as I can see that is just the bordered version
• Packaging is a standard tight fitting tuck box 

Stand Out/Favourite Cards

Strange but beautiful pairings in the cards depict the human relationships and emotions very well despite how weird the creatures look. The companion book helps point out the little details that you might miss, such as the barrier of the low wall between the angry wife and her little husband. It also draws your attention to the golden door in the 10 of Pentacles radiating light.  

The minor cards have just numbers while the majors, courts and aces also have a footer with the title on. The range of colours all set against a brown background make this deck beautiful to look at. 

The Deviant Moon appears on almost every card either waxing, waning or full. The deck is also diverse with different ages, sizes, physical abilities and skin colours. 

The companion book can be purchased separately but I would definitely recommend it. The full page colour prints of the images on the cards are stunning. The card backs are in a dark brown colour and are fully reversible. 

Summary

This is the best deck for…anyone who wants something a bit different. With the supporting materials available this could easily be suitable for a first time user as well as a seasoned reader. The key to this deck is to spend time using it and the sharply pointed edges of the strange creatures will soften and reveal much more than you expect.

Where to Buy?

Amazon www.amazon.co.uk/s?k=deviant+moon+tarot&crid=XWU1MTFG6E7&sprefix=deviant+%2Caps%2C158&ref=nb_sb_ss_i_1_8
or from the Creators website deviantmooninc.com