Tarot of Unknown Shadows

Got a new deck last week - The Tarot of Unknown Shadows made by Dark Synevr.  I have been following them on Instagram for a while as I am interested in the Victorian Freak Show tarot that I believe they are currently printing.  The cards above are a couple of my favourites.

Initially, I was quite impressed as the packaging looked really good and the deck is gilded on both the top and sides.  The guidebook has that rose petal feel and is gilded as well., a bit more on it later.

The cards feel a bit think but they are a good size and easy to shuffle.  A few cards were stuck together but no biggie.  I really like the back design, a bit distorted looking yet also a nostalgic feel to them. 

The suits are coins, swords, cups and wands like usual but the wands are umbrellas which make me think more of air than fire.  The suits in each card are outlined in gold which is pretty and the card name is written in a beautiful handwritten font in gold at the bottom. I really like the gold detailing, it makes the deck a bit more magickal.  The aesthetic of the deck is kinda haunting and vintage which is what drew me to it.  It is made using collage with old photographs.  I like the faded colours and frozen in time feel the images display.  If you like traditional symbolism and images then this deck doesn't really touch on those at all.  There are some small hints here and there but overall not traditional. 

The Major Arcana is also beautiful.  These are a few of my favourites.  The Magician's eye glitters at you and it just looks so cool.  There are gold details on all the cards - the other one that really stood out is the Devil card with the gold horns.  Strength is #8 and Justice is #11.

There are 2 extra cards in this deck - Light & Shadows.  They are a nice addition and I will incorporate them into my readings with the deck as oracle cards. 

Back to the guidebook. The writing id very small but that's to be expected.  Half is in English and the other half in Russian.  I haven't read through it all yet but there have been a few sentences that have been lost in translation.  

The tuck box has the same rose petal feel with gold detailing.  It is nice and sturdy and the cards inside were cello wrapped to protect them.  Again the writing on the back of the box is a bit disjointed but no big deal.

My main disappointment is that the gilding from the back of the cards has transferred to the front edges as if they were stacked when not fully dry.  It bugs me because it is really noticeable because it is shiny.  Like the writing on the cards, there is a chance it will fade with use but it is still something that irks me as I spent $65 on this deck.  

I don't normally keep my decks in their tuck boxes and this cosmetic bag works good as one side is black and the other side is a nice shiny gold.  I will still likely get the Victorian Freak Show Tarot once it is released because Victorian and Dark Circus are 2 of my fav things.  I had more hopes for this deck but overall it is a nice looking deck, just some of the quality is lacking. 

I did a 3 card reading with this deck and this is what I interpreted.
​I used the Fairy tale spread by @TarotontheMoon.  
Card#1: A wish: 5 of Coins = A change in life to help with health or the home.  I need to start making my house feel like a home rather than just a shell that I am trapped in.  Cooking more at home and organizing the chaos is a good starting point.  It will also in turn help with anxiety and general mental health.  
Card#2: An obstacle: The Sun - I should try and look for the positives in life as I am not letting much light in and as a result, things are getting darker and darker.
Card#3: A lesson: 9 of Coins - When I work with others who are supportive and want to lift others up, we all succeed.  Look for these people and they will also help me learn my worth.