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Darkside Skeleton Tarot
Yury Skorohod’s Darkside Skeleton Tarot is published by Da Brigh, who are well-known for their selection of esoteric tarot decks. The deck is, of course, well up to the standard I would expect from them.
Yury has produced a really interesting tarot deck that is sure to appeal to many tarot readers both amateur and professional.
The version that I bought is the standard edition (there are two other versions: premium and foil) so that is the version I am reviewing. So on with the review!
Darkside Skeleton Tarot Review
Artwork
The Darkside Skeleton Tarot’s artwork is truly a mesmerizing sight to behold. The deck’s monochromatic color scheme, with intricate detail drawn using stippling and pointillism techniques, creates a unique and captivating visual experience for the viewer.
Stippling, a method of drawing where tiny dots are used to create areas of light and shadow, adds depth and texture to each card in the deck. This meticulous approach to illustration results in a hauntingly beautiful collection of images that draw the observer into a world of mystery and intrigue.
Dimensions
The cards are 4.71″ by 2.74″ (119.8mm by 69.7mm) which makes them somewhat bigger than standard poker playing card size which is 3.5″ by 2.5″ (89.1mm by 63.5mm).
Production Quality
The production quality is exceptionally high. The card stock is thicker than usual and is weighted at 350gsm which translates to a thickness of 0.4mm.
Durability
The cardstock is high quality and I would expect this deck to stand up to professional use without any problem at all. That doesn’t mean it will last forever as professional use is really hard on any deck of cards.
I would expect the cards to last for at least a year used professionally. Amateur or occasional use and I would think they could last for years.
Darkside Skeleton Tarot in Use
How good a deck is does not just depend on how accurate it is. To be truly useful it needs to be easy to use when it comes to shuffling and dealing.
Shuffling
Although significantly longer than standard playing card size the cards will be easily held by just about anyone. If you have abnormally small hands you might struggle a little but overall these are easily held for shuffling.
Shuffling any deck of brand-new cards is nearly always a little problematic because the cards themselves are so new. This deck is no exception and to start with you will find the cards a little “blocky” when dealing. Once they have been worn in the shuffling becomes easier as the cards separate more quickly.
Dealing
Dealing is relatively straightforward, but the surface of the cards is somewhat slippery to start with. You need to take it slowly so that the cards will deal as they should rather than your thumb sliding off the card.
Again, this is very much a “new card” thing and will become easier with use.
Darkside Skeleton Tarot Accuracy
How good a tarot deck really is does not depend on how well the cards are made or who has made them etc. If the cards do not perform accurate readings, it really does not matter how high the quality is.
So, a critical part of our review is just how well these cards perform in the wild.
Methodology
What we usually do is duplicate known questions/readings that have already been answered using a deck that we know is accurate. Both Charis and I perform separate readings using the deck under review and the opinion section which follows this is a summary of our results.
Opinion
I am pleased to report that we both agree that this deck is accurate. I performed several readings concerning career and finances, and Charis did a number of readings concerning love and relationships.
Although the cards drawn were not identical to those in the original readings the overall conclusion reached was the same for each reading that we did.
Darkside Skeleton Tarot Guidebook
Some tarot decks come with a guidebook, and some don’t. This is one of those decks that does have a guidebook, but it doesn’t actually come with the cards. Instead, you have to download it using a QR code which can be found on the reverse of the box, or (in some cases) on the online listing.
As guidebooks go, this one is actually pretty good. Whereas I think Psychic Revelation’s definitions are the best (I’m biased!!) the meanings given will not lead you astray. There is an explanation for each card with a brief word summary for both upright and reversed cards.
The guidebook is much more useful than that provided by some far more expensive decks I have purchased in the past.
Darkside Skeleton Tarot Conclusion & Recommendation
Overall, I fully recommend this deck. Both professional and amateur readers will be able to use it to perform accurate readings. For amateurs and beginners alike, the symbology on each of the cards will be familiar even though the characters in each of the cards is a skeleton.
Additionally, this deck would make a great addition to any collection!
“Darkside Skeleton Tarot Review” by Talisman
