Destined: A Novel of the Tarot

by Gail Cleare

This is the year Emily learns how to deliberately shape the future. She gets the courage to walk away from her safe routine and takes a job at the fabulous curio shop owned by Henry Paradis, an occult scholar. Recognizing her psychic talents as the valuable gifts they are, Henry teaches Emily to accept her magical nature and “look forward.” She chooses the path to light, finds lifelong friends, falls in love with an incredibly sexy man, learns the power of desire and intention, faces her worst fears and is swept toward awakening.

The mystical images of the Tarot’s archetypal trump cards chart the way, 22 sequential steps along the path to success known as “The Fool’s Journey.” Illustrated by images from the Payen Tarot of Marseilles (1713), which is the oldest surviving Tarot deck.

"Cleare's narrative follows Emily, a young woman on a path of self-realization and awakening...The novel is well plotted...offers a little bit of self-help and a little bit of chick lit, packaged together with a positive, make-your-own-destiny message: a pleasant, comforting read." - Publishers Weekly

"A thoughtful and much recommended novel of tarot. Through the unknown, we can find something magnificent. "Destined" tells the story of Emily, who takes a job at a curio shop and delves into the occult and mystery. A novel of romance and the life of the occult and the tarot, it's a fascinating break into this culture and the belief in mysticism." - Midwest Book Review

Genres: Romance, Paranormal, Ebooks, Fiction, Contemporary, Fantasy

352 pages, Paperback

First published August 18, 2010

About the author

Gail Cleare lives on an 18th century farm in Massachusetts with her family and dogs, cats, chickens, black bears, blue herons, rushing streams and wide, windy skies. She writes fiction and poetry, is into organic gardening and nature photography, and can often be found stalking wild creatures with a 300 mm lens.

Reviews

[Deb✨ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Uplifting fun read.

[☆Dani☆ ☆Touch My Spine Book Reviews☆ · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was fantastic! I know you might be thrown off a little by all the Tarot stuff but it's not all about Tarot. It's about a girl who goes through a new journey and experiences everything that the Major Arcana of the Tarot can explain. I love how the chapters are titled after the Major Arcana of the Tarot and she surely goes through her share of experiences. There is so much more to the main characters then what first meets the eyes. Sure she works in a bookstore and it has a swoon worthy romance but it also has depth and I was able to finish it within a day. I loved this novel and it was a treat to read and I can't wait to read the author's other works. Highly recommended!😁📚❤

[Fanny Rothschild · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Destined" is truly a magical book, from beginning to end. It is so much more than a story about one woman; it is a journey into a world in which we all learn about listening to our intuitive sides and about coming together as a community to bring about friendship and love in our lives and to revive the health of our planet. There are surprising twists and turns along which we also gain knowledge about the tarot, herbs, organic cooking, positive visualization and permaculture, a way that we can sustain this earth that is intrinsically and symbiotically tied in with nature. The novel is thus quite a tribute to the power of community, of karma, and of love - pure and simple. The protagonist Emily asks her friend what is this "happiy-ever-after pie" that she has baked. Her friend's answer: "Oh, bees' dreams and hummingbird kisses, babies' laughter and sweet, sweet love." This is just one example of Cleare's writing composed of brushstrokes that depict stunning and fluid portraits of the intermingling of our natural, spiritual and romantic worlds. You gotta read this one!! (from Fanny Rothschild)

[Donna · Rating 1 out of 5]

Boring! I don't know who left these other reviews but they are incorrect. It gives you the impression of being a type of paranormal romance.but it definitely is not. I was so bored reading this book. It was like a lecture on going green to save the earth and using the technique of positive visualization from the book "the secret". I got this book for free so I don't feel too bad I wasted my time reading this. But I would seriously reconsider buying this book. The other other reviewers were not being honest. It's an awful book.

[Louise · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very good and realistic view / interpretation of the Fools journey. A gentle pace and hard to put down. Slightly predicable in a few places if you know the Tarot, but if you do not, it's a good introduction to the Major Arcana.

[Julie Barrett · Rating 5 out of 5]

Destined by Gail Cleaire
Wasn't sure I was going to like this book but loved the writing style of another of the author's books.
A bit out of my comfort zone as I know nothing about Tarot cards and the fortune tellers but enjoy reading and learning.
What I loved about this book was Emily who is trying to be strong and powerful walks away from a job where they want her to do things she really wasn't hired for. Bravo for just walking out the door.
Which leads her to more job interviews where she comes across a curio shop and is hired on sight. Henry and her seem to have a bond through visions and other events although they've never met.
She's now the manager and in charge of getting the rooms in shape so they can open the shop or rare and antique things to be sold. She goes above and beyond while meeting his other clients and associates.
Love that she is able to help others in need and works with others she doesn't get along with to benefit the shop. Love the festival of sorts as the whole community work together in that feat and many other things to help one another make a success of their businesses.
Like clash of some as they do come together. Especially love the discussions of different kinds of power and are able to implement them and that the discussions are so today concerns of climate changes.
There are so many the book follows, male love interests, shop owners and their families and the spirit world. Didn't care for sex scenes, seemed to be a bit rushed and not that deep of a relationship.
Love how each chapter starts out with a step or symbol and it's described in words that you can use in today's world although they may not have been in the original 1700's tarot card decks (the way I understand it).
Received this book from the author and this is my honest review.

[Corina · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was going to be a two star review but I gave it an extra star because of the use of the Tarot to tell the story, because the Tarot is what drew me to the book.

What is wrong with the book? It has a story and a vague plot but it has no conflict. It's basically the linear story of a year in woman's life in which she gets a new job, new friends, new boyfriend, and a new way of life. But there never seems to be any conflict that lasts more than a couple of pages and what little conflict there is, is quickly solved and tied up with a bow on it.

Interesting idea to tie it all in with the Tarot but it doesn't quite make it. The author goes off in directions that don't seem to fit the action/point of the novel. Some of the conversations between the women just don't seem to fit in and most of the time, after taking the reader on a journey to some philosophical discussion between the characters, we are left wondering what it had to do with the story. She, the author, seems to fill in what should not be filled in while she leaves out what should not be left out.

There are also a number of references to political ideas and personalities, which while not negative in and of themselves, leave the story in a dated state. Instead of a timeless story, we are left with things that are very specific to a person or time in history, such as more than a few very specific references to Bill and Hillary Clinton, for example.

There were good points in between the not so good and I would like to read something else by this writer. However, as far as recommending this book, I would not.

[SueK · Rating 2 out of 5]

Eh. What I thought was going to be a chick-lit novel based around the Tarot ended up feeling like I was reading a 20 year old's journal after she discovered all kinds of New Age stuff to tell her friends about. Gratuitous name dropping (Starhawk and Oprah in a single chapter) for no real purpose.

[Tammy Mohr · Rating 2 out of 5]

I didn't finish the book. It was boring. And everything was so perfect. There wasn't anything to keep me interested.

[Kim Eley · Rating 1 out of 5]

I wanted to like this book because I find Tarot to be interesting, but the writing is atrocious! It felt forced. Bummer.

[Janis Hill · Rating 3 out of 5]

I would like to thank the author Gail Cleare for providing me with a free electronic ARC of this book in exchange for an open and honest review. I approached her via a book reviewing newsletter I get so no sneaky deals done. Just me simply wanting to read a book as it looked interesting.

Okay, so I will say I felt ‘Destined: a novel of the Tarot’ was going to be a lot different than it was. Like other reviews I’ve read, I was thinking it would be more an urban fantasy romance mystery than the… ‘women’s fiction’ it turned out to be. But hey, I read it, enjoyed it to some extent and so am not disappointed I requested or read it.

But, yeah, if you were looking for something with a plot, mystery, adventure - don’t read this book. It is more a constant rambling journey of someone thinking out loud as they find themselves. It’s more about love, life, learning how to be who you are and all in all - that girly affirmation stuff we sometimes need to read to help us reconnect with who we truly are.

So, if you can’t tell yet, I have mixed feelings on ‘Destined: a novel of the Tarot’. It wasn’t what I had hoped and expected… but it was an entertaining, feel good, brain fairy floss book type book I enjoyed all the same.

I will admit to being a bit annoyed by the inconsistencies of belief. One moment the main character is in touch with people, their auras, spirits, etc… the next she is saying she has no true belief. Meditates and knows about her chakra, then later on needs to have it all explained to her.

But, other than that, it was still a feel good book suited to my eco green hippy Pagan ways. Those who have left bad reviews for this book simply didn’t get it. They expected something and closed their minds off to all other options. I expected something different than what the book is, but enjoyed the rambling, plotless, feel good journey all the same.

‘Destined: a story of the Tarot’ to me was like a fictional story of the perfect world, people and friends - there to help create a positive affirmation of life. Telling the reader that this sort of thing may indeed be possible and, if not, hopefully the read was at least entertaining. Mind you, I read this mostly while listening to my new downloaded album of ‘Zen Meditation’ music so maybe I just found the blend of the two worked well together and allowed me to enjoy what was there rather than get annoyed that it wasn’t what I had wanted?

Oh, and although I didn’t use my Tarot while reading this book - I do indeed own a deck (rune stones too) and with some pretty major things happening in my life right now I feel ‘Destined: a novel of the Tarot’ has really helped reinforce my belief and need in using these tools to help find guidance from within myself. A shove in a direction I haven’t been for a while. So, although no Tarot cards were touched during the reading of this book, I can see myself grabbing my deck soon to ask a few important questions and seek guidance. ;-)

Would I recommend this book to others?

This is a tough call as I really don’t know. Why? As this is a genre I usually don’t enjoy and avoid like the plague. Feel good women’s fiction with HEA endings and all that. I am just surprised the main character wasn’t a vegetarian - as it seems that most of them are vegetarian or vegan when I read characters like this of late.

So, yeah, as much as I enjoyed this book, after stumbling into it being something I didn’t expect, I really don’t know if I could recommend it as it’s just not something I usually read and so don’t know who I would really recommend it to.

Would I buy this book for myself?

No, I can’t say I would. Please realise though that this is due to me simply not being a fan this genre and not a comment on the quality of the book. The quality is not bad, just not really my thing.

In summary: A feel good story of female affirmation on love, life and finding one’s own path in life.

[Valentina · Rating 4 out of 5]

What caught my attention with this book was the idea of using the Tarot’s Major Arcana to tell a story. As a Tarot reader myself, this really called to me as an inventive way of incorporating a bit of mystical atmosphere into a book.
The beginning was really well done. From the first page, the story and the narrator immediately grab on to the reader, making us want to read on. There is a good balance of internal and external action which lets us connect well to the narrator. This lasts until about half way through the book. Then, the narrative seems to lose steam. The incorporation of the Tarot cards becomes a bit forced, with some preachy paragraphs which are not really necessary to keep the story going, and there’s not any true tension in the plot. Everything seems to work out for the main character, so we lose interest. For example, she thinks at one point that her boyfriend might be cheating on her, which would have made for a good number of tense chapters, but instead it’s resolved too quickly and too easily.
The writing itself is comfortable, allowing the story to flow. It is a simple, yet pleasing story. I would recommend this to all of you who like some mysticism with your fiction. 4.

[Carol Kean · Rating 3 out of 5]

I love the information on tarot - the best novels don't just entertain; they teach. The dialogue about spirituality was fascinating, but other dialogue was a little too "chick lit" for me. Some reviewers call the novel plotless, but it's refreshing to see a writer violate that old rule about torturing the protagonist and upping the ante, page after page, to keep conflicts and obstacles going and going. Too often, plots are contrived just to make them seem interesting. While Cleare's prose is so wordy I had to skim rather than read every word, I stayed with this book, and that alone is a tribute to the author. Most ebooks, I drop after page one. Read enough books, you begin to understand how agents and editors get to where they know after one sentence or page if there's any hope for the manuscript. I'm confident that Gail Cleare has the right stuff to write, especially if an online writing workshop tackles the wordiness issue with her.

On a more subjective note, I'd purge Al Gore and any praise of his global warming video from a novel. The ecovillage (permaculture) would be a great subject to explore in a future novel.

[Loki · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is not the type of book I would normally read, and having done so I am reminded why this is not the type of book that I would typically read.
I picked it up solely For it being set in Northampton Mass, and because the tarot connection. On both counts I was disappointed.

Firstly, if you are going to set a story in a town like NoHo and not utilize the character of the town itself, then you are committing a disservice to the town, to your story, and to your readers. To refer to locations in a generic manner "the mall movie theater", "The University", "the college" (the two educational institutions not being the same place); and also getting geographic locations wrong all conspire to make the book blander than it needs to be.

Secondly, the subtitle "a novel of the Tarot" would seem to imply a supernatural bent to the tale... This is not the case. Rather you get a lot of fluffy-bunny-new-agey-ness with "going green" shoehorned in.

This book fails to really be about anything.

[Sara · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. I have been interested in the occult for many years, and the Tarot has always fascinated me, but the meanings and interpretations for real life have eluded me. Until now.

The story follows the main character through life's ups and downs, towards a path of happiness and wisdom. I like that each chapter reflects one of the Tarot cards, and you see how the lesson with each card can affect daily life. I also really enjoyed the rest of the characters. They were very well-developed, with each one having a very distinct personality. I would recommend this book to anyone looking for a good read.

[Jody · Rating 2 out of 5]

Sorry I just could not finish this. Great idea and foundation, but the poor editing if there was editing even done killed it. This story turned into long scattered thoughts like one would find in a daily journal. I have no problem with a personal journal type story, however the sentences are not smooth and do not flow every well. However, I do like the idea and the foundation of the story this author started out with she just did not continue along the original lines. I gave it a 2 just for the idea but that is all there is in this book for me.

[Mindy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this book, the characters, the town they inhabit. I wanted to live with them and was so sad when it ended, waiting for more adventures. THe blend of tarot reading, and depth of communication between the characters, and the interest of mysteries that were curious but not criminal created a page turner.

I like books with character development, people I wish I could know and spend time with, relationships I could model and learn more from sharing.

Read this book for relaxation, uplifting fun, and the feeling of great community, friendships, hope and love.

[Lady · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love Tarot cards, and enjoyed the author's unique take of using each card as a specific chapter and tailoring that chapter to revolve around the meaning of the specific card. The stories of each of the characters was good, and I liked the friendships made in this book. I wish I could give it more stars, but the environmental/Gore topic in this book was just too unnatural and was starting to get annoying when talking about light bulbs and energy sources, etc. It added nothing to the story and just seemed like the author wanted to interject her own feelings about this topic.

[Gene Komaromi · Rating 5 out of 5]

I started to read this book on my Kindle and couldn't put it down. I finished the book at3:30 in the morning. The author uses a Tarot card to set a theme for each chapter in a story of trust, faith in the future and love.

A new job causes a total change in the life of Emily Ross. She makes the famous "Fools Journey" of the Tarot ending up with the world. The story involves warm characters in a colorful and friendly neighborhood setting that nurtures a true "Circle of Friends".

[Linda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Gail has cleverly combined the green theme along with back to basics. First getting in touch with self and then other. People coming together to help one another and becoming friends in the neighborhood. The use of the Tarot Cards in each chapter is educational and enjoyable. Add some romance and you have an interesting novel. This is compassion and love wrapped with care in a giant
bow.

[Doreena · Rating 4 out of 5]

Smooth, easy, feel good read. I was kind of disappointed when it was over, but the ending was perfect. I like stories where everything is tied up in a nice, neat package and I am not left hanging. Loved it!

[Christine · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fun story, showing the growing closeness of a community as its books and antiquities shop is brought back to life. If you have an interest in the tarot, the author bases each chapter on a card from the major arcana.

[Lilly · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a light breezy happy story, nothing too complex or emotional, just a very uplifting book that encourages you to look at the positive side of life.
And as it was free on amazon, I really recommend this book.
I do hope the author writes more of the same.

[Aileen Lundeen · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very good read. This novel is about Emily, and her journey to happiness. The tempo, and style of writing left me fulfilled without the highs and lows of many contemporary authors. If the author writes another book, I will read it.

[Jms3 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Seven chapters in, and I definitely like this intriguing tale with a very good writing style

[Lisa Crowe smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

good book the author got to rambling way of topic at time but it was all in all an awesome read

[Gail Hartsfield · Rating 5 out of 5]

Awesome read

A Very enlightening read. Very thought provoking and inspiring. Caused me to look within myself, for the negative emotions that may be lurking and letting them go.

[Book-Lover-49 · Rating 3 out of 5]

The premise of this book is very interesting. The main character, Emily story unfolds as it follows each card in the major arcana of the Tarot.

But the build up is slow and filled with details. This book reads more like a memoire than a novel.
There's no real conflict or plot. The entire book is filled with metaphysical references, from ghosts, to astral travel, to positive thinking and everything in between. It also takes a strong stand on going green. It felt preachy at a times and while it dabbed on all different parts of new age ideas, it didn't go deep into any.
As someone who has read and studied the metaphysical my entire life, I'm very familiar with all the concepts in this book, but I imagine that much of it will entirely new to a lot of readers.

Like I said before. This book doesn't read like a novel. But a memoire. If readers go in with that idea, they might get more from this book.

[Faye Rudisill · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent read

Very insightful, showing clear ways to change and improve our lives. Positive thinking goes a long way. This book is for anyone wanting to learn to think positively.

[Tracy · Rating 3 out of 5]

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