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Title: Grim Tales Tarot
Creator: Fiona Edgewood
Publisher: Llewellyn Books
Number of cards: 78
Card size: 4.5 x 2.75 in
Box size: 5 x 3.5 x 1.75 in approx
Guidebook pages: 200
Purchased or gifted?: Review copy provided by Llewellyn Books
Absolute favorite card: Death
Other favorites: (in order from most beloved): Five of Cups, The Tower, The Hermit, Seven of Cups, Strength, Two of Cups, Three of Wands, The Moon, Ten of Pentacles, The Emperor, King of Pentacles, Four of Swords, Three of Pentacles, The Hierophant
Notable detail: Greenish blackish grey sides
Season: Autumn
Sabbat: Samhain
Sign: Scorpio
Element: Earth
Deck compliment: Ceccoli Oracle
Collective Pull: Three of Cups

Indulge Yourself

First Impressions

I first saw this deck just after my illustrator for Seasons of the Witch, came to me with the most BRILLIANT idea for a deck. Come to find out, we share an interest in a very specific kind of storytelling that is quite similar to Grim Tales. The idea she has is so unique and something I’ve never seen before but so aligned with me. And then immediately after, I saw this deck which I know will be the companion for the oracle deck Tijana and I are now working on. I LOVE stuff like this. I love what I call “hauntingly beautiful” art and stories. I love things that are dark and twisted but also beautiful and elegant. Call it the scorpio in me but I just love this sort of vibe and have been looking forward to reviewing the deck. So let’s dive in because there’s lots to talk about.

The Packaging

Packaging is the one thing I’m going to complain about because it’s a much smaller box than what Llewellyn Books usually does for a tarot. I’m curious about why they went with the smaller box. It’s still really good packaging don’t get me wrong but, the book is so much smaller than they normally have and that’s a bit of a bummer. I like the size they’ve been using in more recent months so I guess I was just surprised with this one.

Having said that, the box is still plenty sturdy and printed in full color inside and out. There are gloss elements to highlight certain details throughout the box and a brown ribbon to lift out the cards and guidebook. Unfortunately, the cardstock is thin BUT, the sides are sprayed!!!!! OMG, this is the second deck I’ve gotten from Llewellyn Books with colored edges and I couldn’t be happier. I’ve been complaining about this for nearly two years now and finally, FINALLY the colorful edges have arrived.

And it's a great color too. So unusual. It’s like a greenish, blackish grey color. It looks very aged and antiqued. Like aged brass maybe. I really like it. It’s so earthy and moody and fits the deck perfectly. The back of the cards feature flying monkeys with lanterns and a floral motif. It’s all just a little weird and eerie and I love everything about the look and feel of the packaging.

The Guidebook

The guidebook is beautiful but small as I mentioned. It’s full color with full page images of the cards. Inside of the guidebox you will find:

An Introduction
Today’s Grim Tales
How to use the deck
Getting started with a reading
Two spreads and daily draw inspiration
And then the card meanings

I loved the introduction. It told a story of a deck of cards once belonging to the Brothers Grim, a story I had never heard before which I’ll explain why in just a bit. I’ve been obsessed with the Brothers Grim for years, ever since I was a child. I had learned very early on that the stories told through Disney were not the original tales. The true stories were dark, twisted and definitely did not have happy endings. Something about that resonated with me from such a young age and I became obsessed with learning about the original stories and other folk tales that weren’t scrubbed clean.

But the story about this deck of cards was a fun read. The creator is clear that the cards in this deck are not necessarily taken directly from the cards that the Brothers had but there is a definite parallel. I only wish the guidebook had more information beyond that cool story. Perhaps a list of common characters in the Grim stories and what they mean or spreads that are made specifically for certain characters.

It’s always a struggle as a deck creator. I’ve said this before but if you’re new around here, know that we don’t get an unlimited amount of space to write whatever we want in the guidebook. We have a word count which of course, the vast majority of it goes to the card meanings. But It’s always nice to have a good amount of information in the front of the guidebook. Especially because Llewellyn usually has really in-depth guidebooks so I was surprised to see this on being on the slimmer side. One thing I love about Llewellyn is that the guidebook cover is a different image from the box. Most publishers, including my own, put the same image on the box and guidebook and while it’s fine, I think it’s just a bit more intentional to have two separate images. A little bit more elevated.

As for the meanings, they are just what you need to do a proper tarot reading. They aren’t especially groundbreaking nor do they offer any kind of new perspective that I’ve seen so far. They are pretty much in alignment with the traditional tarot making this a solid deck. You’ll easily be able to pick these up and read them if you’re familiar with the Rider-Waite-Smith deck.

Though considering the meanings are somewhat minimal, I would’ve loved to see a description of the images. I don’t always care for that but because these decks are inspired by fairytales, I think it would’ve added a lot of value to the meanings to explain the images and how they relate to the meanings.

Theme

There is a note that the story about the Brothers Grim cards is “more myth than fact.” So while a cool and interesting story, it doesn’t sound as though it’s actually real. Therefore, the theme seems to be more about common themes and characters one would find in fairy tales rather than being totally inspired by a real part of history. The author’s point was to bring light to how much stories impact cultures all around the world. To encourage readers of this deck and to open their minds to their imagination and to possibilities. The back of the guidebook says “create your own real-life fairy tale” and I think that could’ve been a really cool thing to dig into. Maybe if there had been a fairy tale spread or some specific practice related to making your own fairy tale, the theme would’ve been more clear.

The Artwork

Ok, now to the star of the show: the artwork. It’s dark, it's earthy, it's moody and it’s fabulous. I especially love the Death card featuring a giant Venus flytrap. It reminds me of Little Shop of Horrors which is a favorite of mine. I love the venus flytrap because it is literally death and life at the same time. This plant is clearly thriving so I’m sure it’s sucking up all of the flies. It’s a perfect illustration of how the death of one thing can support the life of something else.

I love the little ghosts throughout this deck. I’m kind of obsessed with ghost art. Check out (jjj) for a really incredible ghost artist. Some of my favorite ghost images are the five of cups and the ten of pentacles.

“Your soul is the Great Tale from which all dreams, ideas, journeys, and relationships originate. My deepest wish is that you’ll use this deck to further your relationship with your own soul in any way you find empowering”

But I have an entire stack of favorites from this deck. There are so many cards that really capture the meanings of the traditional tarot. And you see all of your favorite characters from witches to ghosts to the reaper to skeletons. There’s even a card which references Baba Yaga, one that looks like a baby Krampus, a little boy version of Edward Scissorhands and of course a nod to the Wizard of Oz with the flying monkeys. Also, is it me or does the Six of Wands (see images below) look like Rihanna? I’m pretty sure that it is because the six of wands is the image used for the cover and notice how the faces are different on the box versus on the card.

It’s a shame this deck comes out on November 8th because it has such a Samhain vibe. It’s the perfect deck for the autumn season. Grim tales are perfect for this time of year but the color and aesthetic choice is so perfectly Halloween. I can’t wait to pull this deck out on October 1st next year.

Own Grim Tales Tarot

Reading With this Deck

I found reading with this deck to be pretty accurate. The more I do these reviews, the more I think there is no such thing as an accurate deck. I have years of tarot reading experience and I think that has more to do with how accurate a deck is rather than the way it was made. So keep that in mind. Good readings come with time and practice and your willingness to take in what the cards are telling you without being judgmental or upset.

Having said that, I pulled the Fool for my deck’s personality which I do believe fits the deck’s theme of creating your own fairy tale. I mean what is tarot but a story? It’s an adventure through the human psyche and all of the different experiences life has. So pulling the fool for the personality felt right. I pulled the Chariot when I asked the deck to tell me more about myself which also makes sense for where I am right now. Lots of changes have been in the air as I gain more clarity about myself and my path forward. And now that I feel like I genuinely know who I am and what I want, I’m moving full steam ahead.

Collective Pull

I pulled Three of Cups for you. There’s celebration in the air, but it’s not the loud, champagne-soaked kind. This is the quiet kind of communion—the clinking of glasses in a dimly lit room, the soft laughter that breaks through a long silence, the knowing look exchanged between those who’ve walked through the same hardships with you.

The Three of Cups reminds you that even in seasons of descent like grief and heartache, joy can exist. It’s the fragile kind, the kind you handle gently because it’s born of what you’ve survived. Maybe this week isn’t about dancing in the sun but raising a glass with those you love the most—honoring the people who stayed when things got strange, who understood your silences more than your explanations.

There’s medicine in that. In gathering with those who’ve seen your shadow and chosen you anyway. The Three of Cups asks you to remember that celebration doesn’t always mean forgetting the darkness—it can mean finding light within it, together.

Season, Sign, Element and Sabbat

I went with Autumn for this deck. The color palette is very clearly autumn. It just wouldn’t fit any other season in my opinion. But besides the looks, I think the characters and the connection to the Grim stories makes it perfect for Autumn and Samhain. These are not your fun, bright, jolly fairy tale characters. There is an eeriness to this deck that kind of tingles your spine in the same way a halloween horror movie might. The kind of energy that makes you question your inner darkness and makes you anxious to explore the taboo.

Which of course makes this a perfect Scorpio deck too. Darkness, the taboo, power, and depth are all Scorpio energies. I can’t say this deck offers depth in terms of the card meanings but it definitely does in the artwork. Go through this deck and pick out your favorite and sit with it. Contemplate why you like that card so much and what it says about you and any connection you might have to darker energies. Do the same with your least favorite card. I think this is a great deck to this practice with and to work with through the Scorpio season to explore these more mysterious themes.

Finally, I went with earth for the element. All of the artwork is very earthy. I wanted to say water since that’s Scorpio’s element but that isn’t the right energy here. All of the characters are connected to nature in one way or another.

Who is this deck for?

This deck is for the ones who find beauty in the eerie. The ones who like to play in the morally grey area where shadow and wonder meet. If you’ve ever preferred the original endings of fairy tales over the Disney versions, or if the phrase “hauntingly beautiful” makes your heart beat a little faster, this one’s for you.

Grim Tales Tarot isn’t meant for sugar-coated readings or love-and-light platitudes. It’s for those who crave an atmosphere, who want their readings to feel like walking through an old forest at dusk—unsettling, a little spooky, and full of mysterious whispers.

It’s an especially good fit for readers who value mood and symbolism as much as straightforward accuracy. For collectors who are drawn to decks with personality and for anyone who believes that beauty and darkness can coexist—that one makes the other more honest.

Deck Companion

I choose the Ceccoli Oracle. Besides Seasons of the Witch: Samhain Oracle, Ceccoli Oracle and Tarot have been my favorites for Samhain for years. They’re eerie but also sweet and beautiful. You think it’s this fun deck of little kids but then you realize some are holding knives covered in blood or ripping the heads off of dolls. It very much matches the eeriness that Grim Tales Tarot has even if aesthetically they aren’t quite the same. The energy is there and that’s what counts.

Buy Ceccoli Oracle

Thanks for reading all the way through. If you found this review to be helpful, informative or entertaining in any way, please be sure to leave a comment down below. It really helps me know what you’re enjoying so that I can provide more content based on what you love. In the meantime, please enjoy a variety of photos from this deck.

And of course, if there is something you’d like me to consider reviewing, please comment below or email me at hello@spiritelement.co