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The Lost Tarot
A lost tarot card is the key to unravelling decades of secrets in this dazzling novel about art and deception, from Governor General's Award–winning author Sarah Henstra.
Theresa Bateman, a struggling junior art historian in Toronto, receives a single tarot card in the mail. The image is unmistakably the work of celebrated avant-garde artist Lark Ringold, and its discovery would mean a breakthrough in Theresa's career. But the legendary Ringold Tarot doesn't exist. . . . Its paintings were lost in a fire that claimed Lark's life along with dozens of others—the final, horrific implosion of a notorious cult called the Shown.
Sixty years earlier in England, Lark and his twin sister Nell join a bohemian commune led by their charismatic uncle. While Lark settles happily into his work on the tarot project to aid in his uncle's occult teachings, Nell finds it harder to adjust. Just beneath the Shown's golden surface she uncovers secrets that, if revealed, threaten to erupt into chaos.
Why was the tarot card sent to Theresa? How can she prove its connection to Ringold when her art-world superiors declare it a fake? And who has been holding onto it for all these years—and why? As Theresa follows the trail of the lost tarot, she is drawn into the deeply entwined mysteries of Nell, Lark and the Shown. What begins as the tale of one artist and the battle over his legacy unspools into a web of passion, violence and deceit. In twist after startling twist, and in vibrant, exquisite prose, The Lost Tarot is a landmark novel about love, creativity, power and perception.
Theresa Bateman, a struggling junior art historian in Toronto, receives a single tarot card in the mail. The image is unmistakably the work of celebrated avant-garde artist Lark Ringold, and its discovery would mean a breakthrough in Theresa's career. But the legendary Ringold Tarot doesn't exist. . . . Its paintings were lost in a fire that claimed Lark's life along with dozens of others—the final, horrific implosion of a notorious cult called the Shown.
Sixty years earlier in England, Lark and his twin sister Nell join a bohemian commune led by their charismatic uncle. While Lark settles happily into his work on the tarot project to aid in his uncle's occult teachings, Nell finds it harder to adjust. Just beneath the Shown's golden surface she uncovers secrets that, if revealed, threaten to erupt into chaos.
Why was the tarot card sent to Theresa? How can she prove its connection to Ringold when her art-world superiors declare it a fake? And who has been holding onto it for all these years—and why? As Theresa follows the trail of the lost tarot, she is drawn into the deeply entwined mysteries of Nell, Lark and the Shown. What begins as the tale of one artist and the battle over his legacy unspools into a web of passion, violence and deceit. In twist after startling twist, and in vibrant, exquisite prose, The Lost Tarot is a landmark novel about love, creativity, power and perception.
352 pages, Paperback
First published June 18, 2024
37 people are currently reading
2393 people want to read
About the author
Sarah Henstra
5 books239 followersSARAH HENSTRA is the author of the instant national bestseller The Lost Tarot (Doubleday Canada, 2024) and The Red Word (Grove/ECW/Tramp), which won the 2018 Governor General’s Literary Award for Fiction and was nominated for the Dublin International Literary Award. She is also author of the young adult novels Mad Miss Mimic (Penguin Teen, 2015), a CLA Best Book for Teens and a finalist for the Geoffrey Bilson Award for Historical Fiction for Young People, and We Contain Multitudes (Little, Brown/Penguin, 2019), which was the 2022 Vermont Reads program title and was nominated for the White Pine Award. Sarah holds a PhD in English and is a professor at Toronto Metropolitan University in Canada.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 101 reviews
January 22, 2025
I’m having some mixed feelings about this book…
On the one hand, Hestra is a very talented prose stylist, who excels at creating atmosphere and vivid settings: from the U of T art department to the squalor of the Shown, she brings the reader right in the room with her and gives a palpable sense of time and place. She also uses her story to tackle an important topic, that of men taking credit for women’s work, especially in the art world. We’ve seen in recent years a strong push to reclaim the work done by wives and partners that is often attributed, either by mistake or deliberately, to a more famous male artist – and I love to see this topic tackled in fiction as well.
On the other hand, there were some narrative inconsistencies that confused me, and as much as I love art, the academic art talk was pompous and irritating. I was also a bit disappointed that the tarot card paintings that are so central to the plot are not described and discussed more than they are…
Theresa is an art historian who specializes in the Surrealist movement working at the University of Toronto, in 2000. Just as her academic career seems to be stalling, she receives a mysterious Tarot card in the mail, from someone who claims it’s part of the allegedly ‘lost’ Ringold Tarot, a series painted by famous Surrealist Lark Ringold under the instruction of his uncle, Corvo, who was the leader of a strange cult in Britain, between the wars. Intrigued by the possibility that the art might be authentic, Theresa decides to go meet the man who sent her the card. In a parallel story line set in 1937, Lark Ringold’s twin sister, Nell, moves into her uncle Corvo’s strange commune, known as the Shown, along with her brother. Their uncle is especially eager to bring Lark into the fold, as he wants to use his notoriety as an artist to create a Tarot deck that would help him spread his teachings and gather more followers. The two storylines collide eventually to show that much like a good Surrealist painting, the closer you look, the more you see that the image in front of you was not what it seemed at first glance.
This was such an intriguing premise, and it checked a lot of my boxes: family mysteries, art, cults, academia… But I was less than halfway through the book when I figured out one of the major spoilers of the story, and I found some of the narrative structure to be just a tad confusing. I also struggled a bit because there seemed to be something muddled about what Hestra wanted to talk about. Is this just historical fiction or does it have a fantastical undertone? Is the connection between the twins meant to be supernatural? It just felt like there was a lack of clarity about some elements, and that the world-building, while interesting, hadn’t been given enough breathing room. We get glimpses and flashes where I would have loved a more expansive exploration. Corvo’s cult, for example, was left to vague descriptions of him and his followers taking over an abandoned estate, taking hallucinogens and having a lot of sex, but no other details about his ideas or teaching is ever explored, which has the unfortunate side-effect of making the entire cult element feel hollow. Every cult story is about drugs and orgies, what else have you got?
And then there was the element of the Tarot deck. I know this is a weird little niche interest, but I am a Tarot nerd: I’ve studied it for almost twenty years at this point, with people who have a very deep knowledge of its history and symbolism and how the system fits with Qabala and astrology. I wouldn’t call myself an expert per se, but I know enough to know Hestra drew I inspiration from Aleister Crowley’s Thoth Tarot, which was illustrated by Lady Frieda Harris, with beautiful surrealist paintings, and deeply impacted the way Tarot is studied nowadays. Actually, the real story of how that deck came to be would make for great historical fiction, though much less melodramatic than this novel, I suppose. I was hoping Hestra would describe the cards’ illustrations, talk about their meaning more. It just felt like for a book titled “The Lost Tarot”, there wasn’t quite enough Tarot…
The way the two women at the center of this story connect felt very moving and probably kept this book from just being disappointing. I was very moved by the way they crossed distance and age gap with a shared love of art, which is what I love the most about art itself, it’s ability to help people connect with a wordless language that reaches a place deep within us.
I ended up landing on 3 stars because I enjoyed it well enough, but I don’t plan on re-reading it.
On the one hand, Hestra is a very talented prose stylist, who excels at creating atmosphere and vivid settings: from the U of T art department to the squalor of the Shown, she brings the reader right in the room with her and gives a palpable sense of time and place. She also uses her story to tackle an important topic, that of men taking credit for women’s work, especially in the art world. We’ve seen in recent years a strong push to reclaim the work done by wives and partners that is often attributed, either by mistake or deliberately, to a more famous male artist – and I love to see this topic tackled in fiction as well.
On the other hand, there were some narrative inconsistencies that confused me, and as much as I love art, the academic art talk was pompous and irritating. I was also a bit disappointed that the tarot card paintings that are so central to the plot are not described and discussed more than they are…
Theresa is an art historian who specializes in the Surrealist movement working at the University of Toronto, in 2000. Just as her academic career seems to be stalling, she receives a mysterious Tarot card in the mail, from someone who claims it’s part of the allegedly ‘lost’ Ringold Tarot, a series painted by famous Surrealist Lark Ringold under the instruction of his uncle, Corvo, who was the leader of a strange cult in Britain, between the wars. Intrigued by the possibility that the art might be authentic, Theresa decides to go meet the man who sent her the card. In a parallel story line set in 1937, Lark Ringold’s twin sister, Nell, moves into her uncle Corvo’s strange commune, known as the Shown, along with her brother. Their uncle is especially eager to bring Lark into the fold, as he wants to use his notoriety as an artist to create a Tarot deck that would help him spread his teachings and gather more followers. The two storylines collide eventually to show that much like a good Surrealist painting, the closer you look, the more you see that the image in front of you was not what it seemed at first glance.
This was such an intriguing premise, and it checked a lot of my boxes: family mysteries, art, cults, academia… But I was less than halfway through the book when I figured out one of the major spoilers of the story, and I found some of the narrative structure to be just a tad confusing. I also struggled a bit because there seemed to be something muddled about what Hestra wanted to talk about. Is this just historical fiction or does it have a fantastical undertone? Is the connection between the twins meant to be supernatural? It just felt like there was a lack of clarity about some elements, and that the world-building, while interesting, hadn’t been given enough breathing room. We get glimpses and flashes where I would have loved a more expansive exploration. Corvo’s cult, for example, was left to vague descriptions of him and his followers taking over an abandoned estate, taking hallucinogens and having a lot of sex, but no other details about his ideas or teaching is ever explored, which has the unfortunate side-effect of making the entire cult element feel hollow. Every cult story is about drugs and orgies, what else have you got?
And then there was the element of the Tarot deck. I know this is a weird little niche interest, but I am a Tarot nerd: I’ve studied it for almost twenty years at this point, with people who have a very deep knowledge of its history and symbolism and how the system fits with Qabala and astrology. I wouldn’t call myself an expert per se, but I know enough to know Hestra drew I inspiration from Aleister Crowley’s Thoth Tarot, which was illustrated by Lady Frieda Harris, with beautiful surrealist paintings, and deeply impacted the way Tarot is studied nowadays. Actually, the real story of how that deck came to be would make for great historical fiction, though much less melodramatic than this novel, I suppose. I was hoping Hestra would describe the cards’ illustrations, talk about their meaning more. It just felt like for a book titled “The Lost Tarot”, there wasn’t quite enough Tarot…
The way the two women at the center of this story connect felt very moving and probably kept this book from just being disappointing. I was very moved by the way they crossed distance and age gap with a shared love of art, which is what I love the most about art itself, it’s ability to help people connect with a wordless language that reaches a place deep within us.
I ended up landing on 3 stars because I enjoyed it well enough, but I don’t plan on re-reading it.
September 6, 2024
Author Sarah Henstra uses a dual timelines, one set in 1938 in a cult's commune in England, and the second set in 2000 in Toronto.
1938: Lark and his twin sister Nell Ringold begin living in a commune, called the Shown, started by their uncle. He's charismatic and controlling, and has unusual ideas his followers must live by. Nell has trouble adjusting to life in the commune, but does begin a relationship with one of the followers, while Lark is commissioned to paint images for tarot cards their uncle plans to use as part of his teachings.
2000: Theresa Bateman is a junior art historian whose working at the Centre for Studies in Surrealism (a.k.a the Vortex). Her supervisor Russell keeps her busy at the Vortex, but Theresa needs a better paying and more satisfying position as her financial situation is pretty rocky. When Theresa receives a single tarot card from the famed Shown tarot deck, she is fascinated and thrilled. Russell is intrigued, as he had written a paper about Ringold's work that made his name years earlier.
It's not clear why the card was sent to Theresa, but she begins investigating, and gradually unearths a messy story of jealousies, abuse, manipulation, and a startling talented artist. Who gets to manage the artist's legacy leads Theresa from her crummy apartment to a secluded house far from Toronto, and a series of revelations that will change her life.
Henstra shows us that not all villains are obvious. Instead, they can twist words, or steal opportunities, or harm the bodies and minds of the people they find threatening in their lives. Theresa and Nell are both manipulated and lied to repeatedly, in each case by men who needed them to support them rather than build lives of their own.
The writing is great, and each timeline comes alive beautifully. I found it easy to divine the identity of the creator of the tarot paintings, but that was really less interesting than the way the two timelines connected, as well as the wonderful atmosphere created, particularly in the 1938 time period, and way nature and art are described.
Thank you to Netgalley and to Penguin Random House Canada for this ARC in exchange for my review.
1938: Lark and his twin sister Nell Ringold begin living in a commune, called the Shown, started by their uncle. He's charismatic and controlling, and has unusual ideas his followers must live by. Nell has trouble adjusting to life in the commune, but does begin a relationship with one of the followers, while Lark is commissioned to paint images for tarot cards their uncle plans to use as part of his teachings.
2000: Theresa Bateman is a junior art historian whose working at the Centre for Studies in Surrealism (a.k.a the Vortex). Her supervisor Russell keeps her busy at the Vortex, but Theresa needs a better paying and more satisfying position as her financial situation is pretty rocky. When Theresa receives a single tarot card from the famed Shown tarot deck, she is fascinated and thrilled. Russell is intrigued, as he had written a paper about Ringold's work that made his name years earlier.
It's not clear why the card was sent to Theresa, but she begins investigating, and gradually unearths a messy story of jealousies, abuse, manipulation, and a startling talented artist. Who gets to manage the artist's legacy leads Theresa from her crummy apartment to a secluded house far from Toronto, and a series of revelations that will change her life.
Henstra shows us that not all villains are obvious. Instead, they can twist words, or steal opportunities, or harm the bodies and minds of the people they find threatening in their lives. Theresa and Nell are both manipulated and lied to repeatedly, in each case by men who needed them to support them rather than build lives of their own.
The writing is great, and each timeline comes alive beautifully. I found it easy to divine the identity of the creator of the tarot paintings, but that was really less interesting than the way the two timelines connected, as well as the wonderful atmosphere created, particularly in the 1938 time period, and way nature and art are described.
Thank you to Netgalley and to Penguin Random House Canada for this ARC in exchange for my review.
May 18, 2024
She discovered that love didn’t always mean an urge to crush and bruise. She discovered that love could be breathless and open-mouthed without the struggle for air.
Although it was very different from what I normally read, this book hooked me and made me feel a broad range of emotions. I would recommend for readers who like feminist literature and topics like art and cults.
Note: I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for honest feedback.
❤️ Evocative and captivating writing style
❤️ Atmosphere and imagery
❤️ Skillful depiction of patriarchy, trauma, and resilience
❤️ Women empowerment and collaboration/sisterhood
❌ Very slow start
❌ Inconsistent main character
❌ Pretentious and frustrating artspeak
Trigger warnings: cults, fraud, death and grief, fire (including fire injury and death), injury and injury detail, blood and gore, violence, abuse of power, emotional and physical abuse, drugs, gaslighting, manipulation, incest, plagiarism, sexual abuse.
Plot:
When she receives a tarot card made by a celebrated avant-garde artist who died in a mysterious fire that also destroyed most of his life’s work, Canadian art historian Theresa Bateman undertakes research that could lead to a breakthrough in her career. Sixty years earlier, twins Nell and Lark leave Canada to join a bohemian commune led by their uncle in England. As Theresa follows the trail of the lost tarot, she will uncover dark secrets and frauds that will shake the ground beneath her feet.
When reading the synopsis, I thought I’d dive into a story of a cult and the occult. And while these topics were broadly discussed, I was surprised (and delighted) by how themes like women’s oppression, patriarchy, abuse and trauma, resilience, manipulation, and women empowerment and collaboration were seamlessly woven in both storylines. We follow two very different women who suffer abuse and manipulation from men they admire, trust, and love… and who seem to think the breadcrumbs are the best they’ll ever get. It felt so good to watch them rise from positions of power imbalance and take control without in turn using oppression or violence.
Throughout the book, I went like “this timeline is superior to the other” and then “no, this one is better!” about ten times. By the end, I really couldn’t say which one I preferred. I feel like this balance between dual timelines is very hard to achieve, and Henstra absolutely nailed it. However, I thought the story was a little slow to start and some major plot twists came too late in the story. By the time I got to these twists, I was expecting them.
Characters:
I think Henstra did very well in showing that the worst villains don’t necessarily yield magic or weapons. They can be women who cower before men and engage in female rivalry, men who place career blocks because they feel threatened by their female counterparts, abusive siblings who use love as a tool to control and manipulate. Nicely done. (Also, Van is so precious and should be protected at all costs!)
Writing:
Henstra’s writing was sharp and evocative, atmospheric and captivating. However, the artspeak got on my nerves very early on, with too many paradoxes, adverbs, pompous words, syntactically complex prose, and endless phrases. Also (and this is a personal pet peeve), I was a little disappointed to read a story written in American English by a Canadian author.
Follow me on Instagram: @bibi.reads.writes
Although it was very different from what I normally read, this book hooked me and made me feel a broad range of emotions. I would recommend for readers who like feminist literature and topics like art and cults.
Note: I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for honest feedback.
❤️ Evocative and captivating writing style
❤️ Atmosphere and imagery
❤️ Skillful depiction of patriarchy, trauma, and resilience
❤️ Women empowerment and collaboration/sisterhood
❌ Very slow start
❌ Inconsistent main character
❌ Pretentious and frustrating artspeak
Trigger warnings: cults, fraud, death and grief, fire (including fire injury and death), injury and injury detail, blood and gore, violence, abuse of power, emotional and physical abuse, drugs, gaslighting, manipulation, incest, plagiarism, sexual abuse.
Plot:
When she receives a tarot card made by a celebrated avant-garde artist who died in a mysterious fire that also destroyed most of his life’s work, Canadian art historian Theresa Bateman undertakes research that could lead to a breakthrough in her career. Sixty years earlier, twins Nell and Lark leave Canada to join a bohemian commune led by their uncle in England. As Theresa follows the trail of the lost tarot, she will uncover dark secrets and frauds that will shake the ground beneath her feet.
When reading the synopsis, I thought I’d dive into a story of a cult and the occult. And while these topics were broadly discussed, I was surprised (and delighted) by how themes like women’s oppression, patriarchy, abuse and trauma, resilience, manipulation, and women empowerment and collaboration were seamlessly woven in both storylines. We follow two very different women who suffer abuse and manipulation from men they admire, trust, and love… and who seem to think the breadcrumbs are the best they’ll ever get. It felt so good to watch them rise from positions of power imbalance and take control without in turn using oppression or violence.
Throughout the book, I went like “this timeline is superior to the other” and then “no, this one is better!” about ten times. By the end, I really couldn’t say which one I preferred. I feel like this balance between dual timelines is very hard to achieve, and Henstra absolutely nailed it. However, I thought the story was a little slow to start and some major plot twists came too late in the story. By the time I got to these twists, I was expecting them.
Characters:
I think Henstra did very well in showing that the worst villains don’t necessarily yield magic or weapons. They can be women who cower before men and engage in female rivalry, men who place career blocks because they feel threatened by their female counterparts, abusive siblings who use love as a tool to control and manipulate. Nicely done. (Also, Van is so precious and should be protected at all costs!)
Writing:
Henstra’s writing was sharp and evocative, atmospheric and captivating. However, the artspeak got on my nerves very early on, with too many paradoxes, adverbs, pompous words, syntactically complex prose, and endless phrases. Also (and this is a personal pet peeve), I was a little disappointed to read a story written in American English by a Canadian author.
Follow me on Instagram: @bibi.reads.writes
June 19, 2024
4.5/5
I really enjoyed this book. This book switches between two timelines, the first being the year 2000 when art historian Theresa receives a tarot card purported to be the work of famous artist Lark Ringold and is asked to authenticate it. The second timeline is in 1938 when Lark and his twin sister Nell arrive at the commune of their Uncle.
I was hooked from the first chapter. I will admit that I found the 1938 timeline more interesting until about halfway through the book. The writing is beautiful and does an amazing job invoking the artwork discussed throughout the book. I truly wish the Ringold Tarot and paintings actually existed because they sound incredible.
I really enjoyed this book. This book switches between two timelines, the first being the year 2000 when art historian Theresa receives a tarot card purported to be the work of famous artist Lark Ringold and is asked to authenticate it. The second timeline is in 1938 when Lark and his twin sister Nell arrive at the commune of their Uncle.
I was hooked from the first chapter. I will admit that I found the 1938 timeline more interesting until about halfway through the book. The writing is beautiful and does an amazing job invoking the artwork discussed throughout the book. I truly wish the Ringold Tarot and paintings actually existed because they sound incredible.
July 10, 2024
This book is such a testament to Surrealism that it took me a few chapters to really grasp the story and understand the characters. Even as I finish it, I’m not 100% sure I understood everything correctly…
But then, again, « there is no right with art »!
Once I decided it was okay if I didn’t understand everything that was said on Surrealism, it got exponentially better :)
This is a book smartly written, with a lot of love for art and the occult in it.
I feel like this book is also very feminist, since the female characters had to be very strong to survive in their very male environment.
To be honest, I hated the male characters! Because they were so well written and so incredibly HORRIBLE to the FMCs, that is. I wanted to strangle them so many times because of the way they were gaslighting and using the FMCs 😫
This really is the story of Theresa and Nell, and how they come together eventually for the art and the place of women in that world.
**This book was given to me as an ARC, thanks to Netgalley, Doubleday Canada and the author. All opinions are my own**
But then, again, « there is no right with art »!
Once I decided it was okay if I didn’t understand everything that was said on Surrealism, it got exponentially better :)
This is a book smartly written, with a lot of love for art and the occult in it.
I feel like this book is also very feminist, since the female characters had to be very strong to survive in their very male environment.
To be honest, I hated the male characters! Because they were so well written and so incredibly HORRIBLE to the FMCs, that is. I wanted to strangle them so many times because of the way they were gaslighting and using the FMCs 😫
This really is the story of Theresa and Nell, and how they come together eventually for the art and the place of women in that world.
**This book was given to me as an ARC, thanks to Netgalley, Doubleday Canada and the author. All opinions are my own**
July 17, 2024
Taken at face value, The Lost Tarot by Sarah Henstra is an enchanting story about the art world, but an ever-present cult thread creates remarkable depth within this novel.
Two interconnected timelines shape this story: one from Theresa, a Toronto-based art historian, and one from Nell, who, along with her twin brother, Lark, arrive at a commune sixty years prior. Themes of finding, trusting, and revealing your true self take this story even deeper; the concept of identity being featured in many different aspects.
This book is written as a love story to both the beauty of nature and the feelings art evokes! Henstra's voice narrating this audiobook adds an additional layer of tranquility to the story with her incredibly soothing voice!
The Lost Tarot would be a perfect choice to read, dissect, and discuss for your next book club pick!
Thank you Doubleday Canada and Penguin Random House Canada for the complimentary copy to read and review.
Two interconnected timelines shape this story: one from Theresa, a Toronto-based art historian, and one from Nell, who, along with her twin brother, Lark, arrive at a commune sixty years prior. Themes of finding, trusting, and revealing your true self take this story even deeper; the concept of identity being featured in many different aspects.
This book is written as a love story to both the beauty of nature and the feelings art evokes! Henstra's voice narrating this audiobook adds an additional layer of tranquility to the story with her incredibly soothing voice!
The Lost Tarot would be a perfect choice to read, dissect, and discuss for your next book club pick!
Thank you Doubleday Canada and Penguin Random House Canada for the complimentary copy to read and review.
June 18, 2024
(3.5/5) Part historical art mystery, part philosophical journey, this novel traverses the politics of the art world both modern and past, exploring ideas around artistic ownership and legacy through a Surrealist lens.
Theresa Bateman, a struggling art historian, has just been denied a tenure-track job. When she receives a tarot card in the mail, purported to be part of the fabled Ringold Tarot, she is immediately captivated. More enigma than man, Lark Ringold's life – and his legendary works – ultimately went up in flames. Her supervisor is insistent that it must be a fraud, but if Theresa is able to uncover the truth, this discovery could change her career forever.
Meanwhile, in the 1930s, twins Nell and Lark first arrive in a remote homestead in Kent, England after their mother's death. Captivated by Lark's art, family friend Corvo Ringold is keen to take Lark under his wing. While Lark immediately takes to life in the cult, Nell is the only one who isn't taken in by Corvo's teachings. As Lark falls deeper under Corvo's thrall, Nell is forced to confront the truth about her brother and the reality of their sibling dynamic.
Alternating between these two timelines, this novel explores concepts of the seen and the unseen, the things that people willfully overlook – secrets that live in the open, hidden only by people's willingness to stay silent. From pre-war England to modern-day Toronto, this is an excoriation of the men who are quick to belittle the accomplishments of women, yet are happy enough to take credit for them.
While I'd generally prefer a faster-paced plot, I was captivated by the description of life in the Shown. The contrast between bacchanal decadence and stark loneliness, Nell's complex emotional state and her experiences of profound joy, awakening, fear, and disillusionment. Overall, if you prefer literary fiction with a hint of intrigue, you might enjoy this one.
This ARC was provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
Theresa Bateman, a struggling art historian, has just been denied a tenure-track job. When she receives a tarot card in the mail, purported to be part of the fabled Ringold Tarot, she is immediately captivated. More enigma than man, Lark Ringold's life – and his legendary works – ultimately went up in flames. Her supervisor is insistent that it must be a fraud, but if Theresa is able to uncover the truth, this discovery could change her career forever.
Meanwhile, in the 1930s, twins Nell and Lark first arrive in a remote homestead in Kent, England after their mother's death. Captivated by Lark's art, family friend Corvo Ringold is keen to take Lark under his wing. While Lark immediately takes to life in the cult, Nell is the only one who isn't taken in by Corvo's teachings. As Lark falls deeper under Corvo's thrall, Nell is forced to confront the truth about her brother and the reality of their sibling dynamic.
Alternating between these two timelines, this novel explores concepts of the seen and the unseen, the things that people willfully overlook – secrets that live in the open, hidden only by people's willingness to stay silent. From pre-war England to modern-day Toronto, this is an excoriation of the men who are quick to belittle the accomplishments of women, yet are happy enough to take credit for them.
While I'd generally prefer a faster-paced plot, I was captivated by the description of life in the Shown. The contrast between bacchanal decadence and stark loneliness, Nell's complex emotional state and her experiences of profound joy, awakening, fear, and disillusionment. Overall, if you prefer literary fiction with a hint of intrigue, you might enjoy this one.
This ARC was provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
November 17, 2024
The first thing I noticed about this book was its cover. It is so unbelievably pretty! Pair that with a story about the tarot and I was sold.
Before I continue on with my review, I want to say that this would be an absolute winner for the right audience. I would recommend this to anyone who adores dark academia and is not afraid of a more complex reading experience.
This book was beautifully written and had a captivating story, but I struggled a bit to get through it. The pretentiousness of the characters was frustrating, and some of the language made me feel muddled and confused while reading.
I also felt that the story often dragged. I was so invested in Nell’s story and her time in the Shown (a cult), but it was often bogged down with portions of the book that I feel could’ve been omitted entirely.
All that to say, I enjoyed some aspects of this book, but the style wasn’t really for me. I still recommend that you check this one out if it sounds like something you would enjoy.
Thank you to Doubleday Canada and Penguin Random House Canada for my gifted copy!
Before I continue on with my review, I want to say that this would be an absolute winner for the right audience. I would recommend this to anyone who adores dark academia and is not afraid of a more complex reading experience.
This book was beautifully written and had a captivating story, but I struggled a bit to get through it. The pretentiousness of the characters was frustrating, and some of the language made me feel muddled and confused while reading.
I also felt that the story often dragged. I was so invested in Nell’s story and her time in the Shown (a cult), but it was often bogged down with portions of the book that I feel could’ve been omitted entirely.
All that to say, I enjoyed some aspects of this book, but the style wasn’t really for me. I still recommend that you check this one out if it sounds like something you would enjoy.
Thank you to Doubleday Canada and Penguin Random House Canada for my gifted copy!
July 23, 2024
This one started slow (for me), so slowly in fact that I almost gave up. But slowly and steadily it built to become a novel I just had to finish, with a satisfying ending. It’s worth the read, especially if you have an interest in family drama, cults, tarot, or surrealist art.
June 19, 2024
Thank you to Netgalley, Penguin Random House Canada, and Doubleday Canada for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest review
Theresa is a junior art historian living in Toronto, just trying to survive. In the mail she receives a single tarot card. The sender claims it is an authentic Lark Ringold, and surreal artist who died before WW2 in a fire at the cult commune of The Shown, that claimed his life, a lot of his work and the lives of countless others. The discovery of the lost tarot deck would make her career but all signs point to it being after his time but undoubtedly his work.
On her search to find out the truth she uncovers secrets long buried between the Lark twins, the going ons in the cult, and art thought to be lost.
This is the second novel I have read from this author and it did not disappoint. The dual timeline narrative worked so well and felt so seamless. The stories come to a head so satisfyingly and also mirrored each other so well. The prose was so beautiful, the author has such a strong distinct voice. I really enjoyed the characters and they felt so real. Cults fascinate me, and do does explorations of tarot, and this was such a niche book that appealed to me. Also it being set partially in Toronto and about Canadian characters was another aspect that really made the reading experience for me.
Theresa is a junior art historian living in Toronto, just trying to survive. In the mail she receives a single tarot card. The sender claims it is an authentic Lark Ringold, and surreal artist who died before WW2 in a fire at the cult commune of The Shown, that claimed his life, a lot of his work and the lives of countless others. The discovery of the lost tarot deck would make her career but all signs point to it being after his time but undoubtedly his work.
On her search to find out the truth she uncovers secrets long buried between the Lark twins, the going ons in the cult, and art thought to be lost.
This is the second novel I have read from this author and it did not disappoint. The dual timeline narrative worked so well and felt so seamless. The stories come to a head so satisfyingly and also mirrored each other so well. The prose was so beautiful, the author has such a strong distinct voice. I really enjoyed the characters and they felt so real. Cults fascinate me, and do does explorations of tarot, and this was such a niche book that appealed to me. Also it being set partially in Toronto and about Canadian characters was another aspect that really made the reading experience for me.
December 16, 2025
3.5⭐️
Henstra set the scene with very precise descriptions of the various settings of the novel, and I found the descriptions of the actual artworks to be pretty vivid, so I could imagine what they looked like. I do wish that she had described the Tarot paintings a bit more in depth, as well as got into the lore surrounding the cards. While I could level with most of the characters, I did find that there were some gaps within the narrative, and if the book was just a bit longer, I could've gotten more from its characters. I enjoyed the relationships between the women in the novel, and Theresa's development was very satisfying. Overall, I enjoyed this novel!
Henstra set the scene with very precise descriptions of the various settings of the novel, and I found the descriptions of the actual artworks to be pretty vivid, so I could imagine what they looked like. I do wish that she had described the Tarot paintings a bit more in depth, as well as got into the lore surrounding the cards. While I could level with most of the characters, I did find that there were some gaps within the narrative, and if the book was just a bit longer, I could've gotten more from its characters. I enjoyed the relationships between the women in the novel, and Theresa's development was very satisfying. Overall, I enjoyed this novel!
September 20, 2025
4/5
TLDR;
If you like a book with intriguing characters about art and finding yourself with a bit of occult thrown in, this book will captivate you.
Characters: ★★★★★
Authentic and real; I enjoyed all of them.
Atmosphere: ★★★☆☆
Typical contemporary setting—nothing fancy—but beautiful prose.
Plot, Pacing, and Premise: ★★★★☆
Intriguing, unique, and well paced but could have used a heavier focus on tarot.
Tone: ★★★★★
Lyrical, academic (sometimes), and helped the book stand out.
Intrigue: ★★★★★
Art, tarot, cults, and a woman struggling in her career? Say less.
Versus (Strengths and Weaknesses):
Henstra builds amazing characters that you'll enjoy, and focuses on the worlds of art and academia beautifully. The book had one sagging moment but overall the story is robust.
Audience:
Anyone who likes cults, art, academia, interesting characters, and strong female leads.
Theme: ★★★★★
An exploration of finding your voice, love, power, art, believing in yourself, and perceptions (personal and otherwise).
Ending: ★★★★★
Strong and worth the read.
Characters
Theresa Bateman is floundering in her career, but not for lack of trying. She has realistic flaws and doubts about herself and her path, we've all been in her shoes. I found her to be strong and gentle in all the right spots. I admired her drive and her humility, even if it takes her a while to piece everything together.
Nell and Lark are twins and I found them interesting. Nell's POV is told throughout the story but I am quite curious about Lark's. Nell seems quite codependant on her twin, but Lark has his own issues and it was enthralling following the two through the Shown. I find the twin bond so interesting, but Nell does veer into the unhealthy, obsession with Lark. She is flawed, young, and not in a good place. Their journey is the most interesting part of the book.
Russell Horber and Corvo Ringold are interesting and do evolve throughout the story. I found the men of each timeframe to be dynamic and charasmatic, very different from their female counterparts. I liked this dichotomy and how the story unfolds around each of them.
Henstra wrote intriguing characters that I enjoyed reading about. I loved Nell instantly but I often still find myself thinking of Theresa. You'll find yourself admiring, loathing, hurting, and being frustrated with all of the characters and that's the best part of reading.
Atmosphere
This book isn't atmosphere heavy. It's set in Toronto, Ontario, Canada and in England, United Kingdom. I enjoyed the parts set in the Shown and England more as it did feel more like I was there than the parts in Toronto. This is probably because the Toronto scenes are all mainly at the Vortex and little else is shown of the campus that Theresa works.
I will say that the way Henstra describes the art is beautiful and gracefully. The art is a big part of this and I believe it ties into the atmosphere of the occult, academia, and the other themes of the book.
Plot, Pacing, and Premise
The plot starts in present day Toronto with Theresa and flips back sixty years to Nell and Lark's story in the Shown in England.
Each chapter is named after the cards in the Major Arcana, starting with the Fool. There is no indicator as to whose chapter it is other than they alternate. The first sentence always grounds you.
Pacing is steady, I didn’t feel like it lagged, although I did prefer the chapters based in the Shown more at first. By the end I was thoroughly enjoying the present.
I didn't feel like the pacing ramped up when the timelines converged, but it was a treat to get to see the characters interact.
The premise is along the lines of: A woman struggling in her career is given a golden ticket to revive it. But why her and why has the card been kept secret? How can Theresa manage this huge task alone if she doesn't have a job and leading experts believe it's a fake?
Tone
The tone of this book is quite lyrical. Theresa's Feeling is intriguing and raw. Theresa describes numerous pieces of art and their meaning, drawing you into the heart of the art world and helping you see.
There is light, love, and hope, but also their opposites. The tone is sometimes reflected in the Tarot card of the chapter, sometimes in the art, and sometimes in the scenes being depicted.
I enjoyed the academia settings and their structure, mystery, and rituals. The same as the Shown and all its mystery, ritual, and secrets. Both places are eerily similar and vastly different.
Intrigue
I was interested in the academia and art world, I have never read a book about art or the study of it. I love Tarot and the mystery of art and the occult combine into something I could fall in love with.
Twins and sibling relationships are always interesting to me. The connection of Nell and Lark being twins but the dichotomy of their relationship with and within the Shown and their respective parts can only lead to an exploration of identity and belonging. It was full of every emotion, some I wasn't expecting as the novel wound down.
It ended up being more art heavy than occult related, but it's more about Seeing and perceptions than spooky, taboo things. You will still find joy and interest regardless of your knowledge of the Tarot and Henstra does a wonderful job of describing the cards. I just expected more true occult but ended up with just a typical love and light cult and very little tarot correlation to the plot.
Versus (Strengths & Weaknesses)
I didn't find this book dry. It was well written and the prose was smooth. I liked how Henstra describes the art and Theresa's Feeling. I believe anyone could connect with that feeling if they have something they absolutely love and would dedicate their life to.
Henstra writes authentic, flawed female characters that I wanted to follow and root for. I never found any character to be too much. Theresa and Nell act, react, and reflect in ways that made me feel numerous emotions. Russell and Corvo were just the right amount of jerk to reflect the issues of power and gatekeeping without being fake.
The ending is solid, I felt like everything was wrapped up nicely and there was nothing left hanging. It was satisfying and hit all the points I needed.
The pacing might have been the only small weakness. I felt like there was a short time where things got stagnant as a way to further develop Theresa, but I wanted more action instead. The writing sometimes was a little too academic (she is an art historian) and sometimes a little too purple and I would glaze over what I was reading. The blurb claims "twist after startling twist" but I didn't find it to be that dramatic. There are some interesting twists in the story, but none that were jaw-dropping or life shattering. They evoked emotion, but it wasn't like I was getting hit over and over by them. This isn't a bad thing though, I liked how they came about. It's just a silly thing marketing slapped on there. This book is quite solid and overall I did enjoy it.
Audience
This book can appeal to a wide variety of adults. Anyone who is interested in the occult or tarot, strong female leads, and anyone who likes surrealism will end up loving this book. I think even people who can relate to Theresa in her struggles in her career will want to pick this up.
Theme
The themes in The Lost Tarot explore finding your voice, love, power, art, believing in yourself, and people's perceptions.
Theresa is young and the epitome of a junior, non-tenured professor compared to her peers. She's constantly undermining and doubting herself and this ties into her issues surrounding her career. This character flaw is very clear to Nell and Van, which they find endearing but others, like Russel, easily realise it makes her an easy target.
Love is explored in different ways. Nell's relationships with Lark, Oceanie, and herself are all different depictions of first love, familial duty, the bonds a twin shares, and toxic love. Theresa's love of art, especially her Feeling shows how deeply art resonates with her. Both women take huge risks and make mistakes in trying to understand and keep love. I found it very interesting that a dominant male figure was at the crux. Nell's relationship with Lark unspools with nostalgic love, but ends with some hard truths finally realized. Nell fights herself and hides for decades because she believes she deserves to be and has always been invisible. Theresa's relationship and adoration of Russell is carefully peeled back until Theresa finally realizes her worth and the truth of weak men.
Love and power are entwined. Power gets confused for as love by naïve characters. An act of love might start out as pure but then turns into a twisted ploy for power. Corvo twists love into hideous things in his quest to maintain power and control. Power is also explored in Theresa's career, centering around those in power and how they gatekeep or harm the emerging generations of artists. Furthermore, how history matters to those at the top and the circular frustrations of academia being an old boys club.
Art is a central theme in this, specifically Surrealism. I tried hard to "get it" and I just never really did. Henstra does an amazing job of explaining paintings and how Theresa sees things, but I believe you'd get a lot deeper of a respect from this book if you enjoyed Surrealism. Still, art and its importance is the core of this book and fuels Theresa to never give up.
Both women lack a strong belief in themselves. Nell believes she is invisible and is somewhat content to remain that way until her beliefs are changed. Theresa has been used, lied to, and put down by her peers and her mother to create her inner turmoil. It also ties into the dominant male characters forcing their realities and suppressing women where they see fit.
Perceptions run through the whole book. Corvo creates the Shown based on a proper way of Seeing and then twists and creates how the world will perceive them. Nell's perceptions about herself are negative and get tested. Theresa's perceptions of Russell and herself are at war throughout the whole book. Russell's perceptions are key, as they determine his career and Theresa's. It also touches on the perceptions of the art world, both critics and historians, and questions the validity of it all. Are you what you perceive or what others see; which is right and why; and in the end, does it matter?
Ending
Henstra writes a satisfying and well paced ending. It hit all the marks in what I wanted for the ending. All ends were tied up nicely and surprisingly, I wasn't left with any lingering questions. You get to sit back and see the growth of the characters and how they handle the closure of their efforts.
TLDR;
If you like a book with intriguing characters about art and finding yourself with a bit of occult thrown in, this book will captivate you.
Characters: ★★★★★
Authentic and real; I enjoyed all of them.
Atmosphere: ★★★☆☆
Typical contemporary setting—nothing fancy—but beautiful prose.
Plot, Pacing, and Premise: ★★★★☆
Intriguing, unique, and well paced but could have used a heavier focus on tarot.
Tone: ★★★★★
Lyrical, academic (sometimes), and helped the book stand out.
Intrigue: ★★★★★
Art, tarot, cults, and a woman struggling in her career? Say less.
Versus (Strengths and Weaknesses):
Henstra builds amazing characters that you'll enjoy, and focuses on the worlds of art and academia beautifully. The book had one sagging moment but overall the story is robust.
Audience:
Anyone who likes cults, art, academia, interesting characters, and strong female leads.
Theme: ★★★★★
An exploration of finding your voice, love, power, art, believing in yourself, and perceptions (personal and otherwise).
Ending: ★★★★★
Strong and worth the read.
Characters
Theresa Bateman is floundering in her career, but not for lack of trying. She has realistic flaws and doubts about herself and her path, we've all been in her shoes. I found her to be strong and gentle in all the right spots. I admired her drive and her humility, even if it takes her a while to piece everything together.
Nell and Lark are twins and I found them interesting. Nell's POV is told throughout the story but I am quite curious about Lark's. Nell seems quite codependant on her twin, but Lark has his own issues and it was enthralling following the two through the Shown. I find the twin bond so interesting, but Nell does veer into the unhealthy, obsession with Lark. She is flawed, young, and not in a good place. Their journey is the most interesting part of the book.
Russell Horber and Corvo Ringold are interesting and do evolve throughout the story. I found the men of each timeframe to be dynamic and charasmatic, very different from their female counterparts. I liked this dichotomy and how the story unfolds around each of them.
Henstra wrote intriguing characters that I enjoyed reading about. I loved Nell instantly but I often still find myself thinking of Theresa. You'll find yourself admiring, loathing, hurting, and being frustrated with all of the characters and that's the best part of reading.
Atmosphere
This book isn't atmosphere heavy. It's set in Toronto, Ontario, Canada and in England, United Kingdom. I enjoyed the parts set in the Shown and England more as it did feel more like I was there than the parts in Toronto. This is probably because the Toronto scenes are all mainly at the Vortex and little else is shown of the campus that Theresa works.
I will say that the way Henstra describes the art is beautiful and gracefully. The art is a big part of this and I believe it ties into the atmosphere of the occult, academia, and the other themes of the book.
Plot, Pacing, and Premise
The plot starts in present day Toronto with Theresa and flips back sixty years to Nell and Lark's story in the Shown in England.
Each chapter is named after the cards in the Major Arcana, starting with the Fool. There is no indicator as to whose chapter it is other than they alternate. The first sentence always grounds you.
Pacing is steady, I didn’t feel like it lagged, although I did prefer the chapters based in the Shown more at first. By the end I was thoroughly enjoying the present.
I didn't feel like the pacing ramped up when the timelines converged, but it was a treat to get to see the characters interact.
The premise is along the lines of: A woman struggling in her career is given a golden ticket to revive it. But why her and why has the card been kept secret? How can Theresa manage this huge task alone if she doesn't have a job and leading experts believe it's a fake?
Tone
The tone of this book is quite lyrical. Theresa's Feeling is intriguing and raw. Theresa describes numerous pieces of art and their meaning, drawing you into the heart of the art world and helping you see.
There is light, love, and hope, but also their opposites. The tone is sometimes reflected in the Tarot card of the chapter, sometimes in the art, and sometimes in the scenes being depicted.
I enjoyed the academia settings and their structure, mystery, and rituals. The same as the Shown and all its mystery, ritual, and secrets. Both places are eerily similar and vastly different.
Intrigue
I was interested in the academia and art world, I have never read a book about art or the study of it. I love Tarot and the mystery of art and the occult combine into something I could fall in love with.
Twins and sibling relationships are always interesting to me. The connection of Nell and Lark being twins but the dichotomy of their relationship with and within the Shown and their respective parts can only lead to an exploration of identity and belonging. It was full of every emotion, some I wasn't expecting as the novel wound down.
It ended up being more art heavy than occult related, but it's more about Seeing and perceptions than spooky, taboo things. You will still find joy and interest regardless of your knowledge of the Tarot and Henstra does a wonderful job of describing the cards. I just expected more true occult but ended up with just a typical love and light cult and very little tarot correlation to the plot.
Versus (Strengths & Weaknesses)
I didn't find this book dry. It was well written and the prose was smooth. I liked how Henstra describes the art and Theresa's Feeling. I believe anyone could connect with that feeling if they have something they absolutely love and would dedicate their life to.
Henstra writes authentic, flawed female characters that I wanted to follow and root for. I never found any character to be too much. Theresa and Nell act, react, and reflect in ways that made me feel numerous emotions. Russell and Corvo were just the right amount of jerk to reflect the issues of power and gatekeeping without being fake.
The ending is solid, I felt like everything was wrapped up nicely and there was nothing left hanging. It was satisfying and hit all the points I needed.
The pacing might have been the only small weakness. I felt like there was a short time where things got stagnant as a way to further develop Theresa, but I wanted more action instead. The writing sometimes was a little too academic (she is an art historian) and sometimes a little too purple and I would glaze over what I was reading. The blurb claims "twist after startling twist" but I didn't find it to be that dramatic. There are some interesting twists in the story, but none that were jaw-dropping or life shattering. They evoked emotion, but it wasn't like I was getting hit over and over by them. This isn't a bad thing though, I liked how they came about. It's just a silly thing marketing slapped on there. This book is quite solid and overall I did enjoy it.
Audience
This book can appeal to a wide variety of adults. Anyone who is interested in the occult or tarot, strong female leads, and anyone who likes surrealism will end up loving this book. I think even people who can relate to Theresa in her struggles in her career will want to pick this up.
Theme
The themes in The Lost Tarot explore finding your voice, love, power, art, believing in yourself, and people's perceptions.
Theresa is young and the epitome of a junior, non-tenured professor compared to her peers. She's constantly undermining and doubting herself and this ties into her issues surrounding her career. This character flaw is very clear to Nell and Van, which they find endearing but others, like Russel, easily realise it makes her an easy target.
Love is explored in different ways. Nell's relationships with Lark, Oceanie, and herself are all different depictions of first love, familial duty, the bonds a twin shares, and toxic love. Theresa's love of art, especially her Feeling shows how deeply art resonates with her. Both women take huge risks and make mistakes in trying to understand and keep love. I found it very interesting that a dominant male figure was at the crux. Nell's relationship with Lark unspools with nostalgic love, but ends with some hard truths finally realized. Nell fights herself and hides for decades because she believes she deserves to be and has always been invisible. Theresa's relationship and adoration of Russell is carefully peeled back until Theresa finally realizes her worth and the truth of weak men.
Love and power are entwined. Power gets confused for as love by naïve characters. An act of love might start out as pure but then turns into a twisted ploy for power. Corvo twists love into hideous things in his quest to maintain power and control. Power is also explored in Theresa's career, centering around those in power and how they gatekeep or harm the emerging generations of artists. Furthermore, how history matters to those at the top and the circular frustrations of academia being an old boys club.
Art is a central theme in this, specifically Surrealism. I tried hard to "get it" and I just never really did. Henstra does an amazing job of explaining paintings and how Theresa sees things, but I believe you'd get a lot deeper of a respect from this book if you enjoyed Surrealism. Still, art and its importance is the core of this book and fuels Theresa to never give up.
Both women lack a strong belief in themselves. Nell believes she is invisible and is somewhat content to remain that way until her beliefs are changed. Theresa has been used, lied to, and put down by her peers and her mother to create her inner turmoil. It also ties into the dominant male characters forcing their realities and suppressing women where they see fit.
Perceptions run through the whole book. Corvo creates the Shown based on a proper way of Seeing and then twists and creates how the world will perceive them. Nell's perceptions about herself are negative and get tested. Theresa's perceptions of Russell and herself are at war throughout the whole book. Russell's perceptions are key, as they determine his career and Theresa's. It also touches on the perceptions of the art world, both critics and historians, and questions the validity of it all. Are you what you perceive or what others see; which is right and why; and in the end, does it matter?
Ending
Henstra writes a satisfying and well paced ending. It hit all the marks in what I wanted for the ending. All ends were tied up nicely and surprisingly, I wasn't left with any lingering questions. You get to sit back and see the growth of the characters and how they handle the closure of their efforts.
December 24, 2024
I didn't know quite what to make of this one. On the one hand, it theoretically had everything I like: Surrealism, weird cult, tarot, art history, beautiful prose. On the other hand, it included some strange choices. I'd give it 4/5 for the modern storyline, 3/5 for the historical one.
I was compelled by Teresa's modern-day storyline and her struggle to be taken seriously as a female academic—or even as an academic at all, given the precarity of academic labour. I found the 1938 storyline less strong, though. It's probably a case of me having a particular special interest and this story depicting said special interest in ways that I find difficult to reconcile.
I think for me the history of Surrealism is so collective and political in nature that I find it hard to believe that someone could be considered part of the movement in isolation the way the artist in this was. I wouldn't have been quite so annoyed by this choice if the book had centred around a different movement, or even an artist who was doing their own, indescribable occult-adjacent early-20th-century thing (the beauty of prose being that you can just be evocative without needing to depict the art itself). Not to mention the weird dismissal of Claude Cahun, who I adore and who exemplifies the engagement with the real world that the Surrealists had and that the artist in this story did not.
There was also the issue of
Anyway, I thought the writing was beautiful and the story had great promise and I'd probably have loved it if I wasn't so obsessed with the art movement it was about.
I was compelled by Teresa's modern-day storyline and her struggle to be taken seriously as a female academic—or even as an academic at all, given the precarity of academic labour. I found the 1938 storyline less strong, though. It's probably a case of me having a particular special interest and this story depicting said special interest in ways that I find difficult to reconcile.
I think for me the history of Surrealism is so collective and political in nature that I find it hard to believe that someone could be considered part of the movement in isolation the way the artist in this was. I wouldn't have been quite so annoyed by this choice if the book had centred around a different movement, or even an artist who was doing their own, indescribable occult-adjacent early-20th-century thing (the beauty of prose being that you can just be evocative without needing to depict the art itself). Not to mention the weird dismissal of Claude Cahun, who I adore and who exemplifies the engagement with the real world that the Surrealists had and that the artist in this story did not.
There was also the issue of
Anyway, I thought the writing was beautiful and the story had great promise and I'd probably have loved it if I wasn't so obsessed with the art movement it was about.
March 24, 2024
*3.5* stars
Dark academia-ish with accurate descriptions of the the despair sometimes induced by Robarts Library stacks.
Dark academia-ish with accurate descriptions of the the despair sometimes induced by Robarts Library stacks.
July 1, 2024
I just finished The Lost Tarot by Sarah Henstra and here are my musings.
Theresa is a junior art historian but she isn’t doing well in her position but all that changes when she receives a single tarot card in the mail… A card that is undoubtedly painted by the celebrated artist Lark Ringwold. This could mean big things for Theresa’s career. Nothing of Lark’s artwork survived from the fire that not only destroyed all the art but also took Lark’s life along with many others. It also meant the end of a horrific cult called the Shown.
What Theresa doesn’t understand is why she was sent this card. How did it survive? Who had it all this time and why does someone want the card declared a fake?
This book straddles two timelines. Current day and 60 years in the past. In the past we follow Lark and his sister Nell where they live with their uncle in the commune where things Nell doesn’t want to know or see happen right in front of her. She struggles to settle in and the longer she is there, the more she can see just how dangerous her and Lark’s situation is.
Theresa in the present ends up in search of who sent the tarot card and why it has come to light now. I love anything to do with art so this book really set my imagination ablaze!
There is a heck of a lot to unpack. So Uncle Corvo is the cult leader pushing occult teachings and he wants a tarot deck painted to help push his darkness. Lark has the unpleasant task of painting these cards. Nell wants to get as far away from the cult as she can get. She is one of few people who made it out alive.
I think the story had more going on than it needed. There were a lot of threads to pull together and while I loved how it ended, I think the story could have been less complex to really make it a truly epic read. Someone trying to stop the truth coming out in the future and all the stuff that happened in the past… It could have easily filled 3 books.
I actually did enjoy how much was going on but I can see why some people would have preferred less.
4 stars. I would have loved more about the occult and the cult and less about the twins. The things with the cousin could have been left out. I don’t think it added value.
Thank you @netgalley and @penguinrandomca for my gifted copy
June 26, 2024
I saw this on the shelf, purchased it and began readong it all within 3 minutes! I was so excited for another Tarot themed story (after devouring and loving The Cloisters). Perhaps that excitment got the best of me, because my expectations were high for this one. As I turmed the pages and the plot thickened, the story kept getting more and more "academic" and less and less mystical, and in turn, I lost interest. While the "tarot" is at the core of the story, it felt like an afterthought to everything else that unfolds (read: more art theory and art academia).The cult aspects were interesting, yet at times insufferable and I just wanted more. I didn't really care about a single character and hoped the tarot would have shined more. A missed opportunity.
July 29, 2024
I happened to be in Canada (and in a bookstore, which when am I not at this point?) and found this sitting on a shelf. After doing some research with a friend I noticed that it wasn't really available in the US, so I picked it up.
I read this book in one day.
The Lost Tarot reminded me of a book I really liked (which is The Cloisters by Katy Hays), and honestly it didn't disappoint. It certainly had its weird moments, but when you're dealing with a mystery of a fictional(?) surrealist painter it's to be expected. It's a shame that as of this review it's really only available on Amazon in the US, so I hope they bring it to American bookstores soon.
I read this book in one day.
The Lost Tarot reminded me of a book I really liked (which is The Cloisters by Katy Hays), and honestly it didn't disappoint. It certainly had its weird moments, but when you're dealing with a mystery of a fictional(?) surrealist painter it's to be expected. It's a shame that as of this review it's really only available on Amazon in the US, so I hope they bring it to American bookstores soon.
August 25, 2024
This book was everything I could’ve asked for, I don’t know how any review could do it justice. I love dual pov stories where we slowly uncover the truth so this story was truly meant for me. Add a cult and art history set against academia and it couldn’t have been any more perfect. I felt incredibly connected to both women narrating this story. I don’t know how Henstra managed to paint such a vivid picture of both the Shown and the UofT campus, but I feel like I’ve just lived an additional lifetime. Simply brilliant.
May 9, 2025
This book was just “okay.” The premise of the story was so intriguing, and I love reading books by Canadian authors. The cult stuff was fascinating and I really enjoy a story where two stories in different times eventually connect. Nell and Theresa were both equally interesting in their own respects as FMCs.
The art stuff and the whole art world was cool and I did learn a lot, but sometimes it was hard to follow and was a touch pompous and annoying. And, as other reviews have said, the tarot part of the story wasn’t as prominent as I had hoped.
⭐️⭐️⭐️ 3/5
The art stuff and the whole art world was cool and I did learn a lot, but sometimes it was hard to follow and was a touch pompous and annoying. And, as other reviews have said, the tarot part of the story wasn’t as prominent as I had hoped.
⭐️⭐️⭐️ 3/5
August 10, 2024
A book about twins, art, and cults. Accidentally the second twin/cult book I've read this year.
The prose was a bit flowery for my taste at first and it took me 175 pages to decide I was enjoying the story and actually interested in finishing the book. The back half was more interesting than the first half for sure, though on the whole I still found it to be anticlimactic.
The prose was a bit flowery for my taste at first and it took me 175 pages to decide I was enjoying the story and actually interested in finishing the book. The back half was more interesting than the first half for sure, though on the whole I still found it to be anticlimactic.
January 19, 2025
3.5 stars. It took me a long time to get into this book. I enjoyed the current day story a little more than the past one, although the abundance of talk about surrealism went mostly over my head.
April 17, 2025
Christ I hate men
September 4, 2025
The first thing I loved about this book is the quality of the writing. Every word, every phrase is to be savoured, rich with meaning and atmosphere and resonating deeply for me. And then the story gathered momentum and my fears of this being too academic or literary for me were swept away: this is a powerful novel with deep roots and wide relevance. And it is extremely readable!
The story is rich and intricate, taking place in two separate but linked eras and locations: England around 1938 and Toronto in the present day. And its relevance is universal.
It's such a pleasure to read a novel where I am confident that it all ties together in a solid way. The author has clearly thought through a much wider tapestry of the characters' lives and the plot than she actually writes. I felt that meticulous care as I enjoyed the ride. It was like driving across varied terrain where the route and immediate surroundings are exciting and engaging. At the same time the glimpses of the back country one catches between the trees and farmhouses look equally rich and interesting even if not shown in full detail.
Not only is the expanse of the terrain rich and exciting, but it is also deep. I realized this when the twins played a game that
Perhaps because I am a man, or because that is how it is in real life, it took a while for the central theme of the book to emerge around women being denied and eventually reclaiming their power. Quite a long way into the modern-day half of the story, Theresa both venerates her boss
The big value in this theme for me is the detailed way she explores the slow unfolding of awareness in her female characters that they are the victims of abuse of power. And the slow processes they work through to claim and reclaim their power enough to speak for themselves, challenge the status quo and be recognized for their own agency and brilliance. For example, the way she traces the sense of shame "the prickling skin, the stuttering heartbeat" along with self doubt, and belief that she wasn't good enough.
And for Nell, almost her whole life was caught up in diminishment.
I also love the deep connection with nature that helps counterbalance the academia and art history: "Simon ... knew all the paths made navigable by deer, the sunny clearings good for resting in, the icy freshets good for slaking thirst."
The story is rich and intricate, taking place in two separate but linked eras and locations: England around 1938 and Toronto in the present day. And its relevance is universal.
It's such a pleasure to read a novel where I am confident that it all ties together in a solid way. The author has clearly thought through a much wider tapestry of the characters' lives and the plot than she actually writes. I felt that meticulous care as I enjoyed the ride. It was like driving across varied terrain where the route and immediate surroundings are exciting and engaging. At the same time the glimpses of the back country one catches between the trees and farmhouses look equally rich and interesting even if not shown in full detail.
Not only is the expanse of the terrain rich and exciting, but it is also deep. I realized this when the twins played a game that
had to do with circumventing not only the eyes but also the mind and the willFor all the key characters, there was a depth to their interior lives including eyes, mind and will and well beyond those. It felt as if we, the reader and her characters, were exploring together the deep mysteries of life, desires, compulsion and the strange complex changes that unlock us from our shackles.
Perhaps because I am a man, or because that is how it is in real life, it took a while for the central theme of the book to emerge around women being denied and eventually reclaiming their power. Quite a long way into the modern-day half of the story, Theresa both venerates her boss
Theresa loved this about Russell, that he had selected this poorly lit, windowless space for his personal workstation- and at the same time challenges him
If you are asking whether I think you're a snob, then yes. A thousand times yes.I think the point is that many power differentials in the world have been around so long that they seem "normal" even when they are unfair.
The big value in this theme for me is the detailed way she explores the slow unfolding of awareness in her female characters that they are the victims of abuse of power. And the slow processes they work through to claim and reclaim their power enough to speak for themselves, challenge the status quo and be recognized for their own agency and brilliance. For example, the way she traces the sense of shame "the prickling skin, the stuttering heartbeat" along with self doubt, and belief that she wasn't good enough.
And for Nell, almost her whole life was caught up in diminishment.
All this time Nell believed she had been invisible. For the sixty-odd years since the fire, she had believed that not a single person knew who she really was, except for the dead.Not only was a large part of her identity stolen by another person but she actually became complicit in the coverup.
I also love the deep connection with nature that helps counterbalance the academia and art history: "Simon ... knew all the paths made navigable by deer, the sunny clearings good for resting in, the icy freshets good for slaking thirst."
May 21, 2024
The Lost Tarot is an occult mystery about the seen and unseen and the power of art to perceive and deceive.
The Lost Tarot is a dual timeline story that follows Theresa Bateman, an junior art historian in Toronto who receives a mysterious tarot card in the mail and becomes embroiled in a decades old mystery about a legendary artist named Lark Ringold and the obscure cult called the 'Shown' he was rumoured to be a part of.
In the other timeline, set 60 years before, Lark and his twin sister Nell go to stay with their controversial uncle Corvo in England, who is the leader of the Shown, where he requires Lark to paint a tarot deck that will eschew his occult teachings to the world. The pagan and twisted teachings and practices at the cult disturbs Nell who sees beneath its seemingly innocent facade and that of her uncle Corvo, while her brother Lark becomes lost in its tantalizing promises. As Theresa begins exploring the origins of the Lark Ringold tarot, she discovers a heart wrenching truth about the tarot paintings, the Shown, and Nell which will completely shatter her perception of the past.
This story takes the reader on a journey through the Major Arcana and the process of individuation which will lead to the truth about Lark, Nell, and Corvo, with each character and event reflecting the archetypal meanings of the cards. With explorations about perception and deception, a good portion of the plot involves discussions around surrealism and art criticism and how everything we perceive is influenced if not controlled by the unconscious. The duality of life and how everything has a good and bad expression was a metaphor used throughout the story with twins, the sun and moon, and the eyes common symbols used in the plot. Sex, desire, and identity were the cards both upright and reversed, offering different interpretations for the characters who never had clear answers themselves. The role of women in the art world was also a big part of the story and how their respect and credibility is still questioned today.
There are many layers to this story as there are combinations of tarot cards, and how we choose to interpret their messages is up to the eye of the beholder.
Arcane and suspenseful, The Lost Tarot is the perfect read for fans of The Cloisters by Katy Hays.
Thank you to the publisher for providing me with a free arc via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
The Lost Tarot is a dual timeline story that follows Theresa Bateman, an junior art historian in Toronto who receives a mysterious tarot card in the mail and becomes embroiled in a decades old mystery about a legendary artist named Lark Ringold and the obscure cult called the 'Shown' he was rumoured to be a part of.
In the other timeline, set 60 years before, Lark and his twin sister Nell go to stay with their controversial uncle Corvo in England, who is the leader of the Shown, where he requires Lark to paint a tarot deck that will eschew his occult teachings to the world. The pagan and twisted teachings and practices at the cult disturbs Nell who sees beneath its seemingly innocent facade and that of her uncle Corvo, while her brother Lark becomes lost in its tantalizing promises. As Theresa begins exploring the origins of the Lark Ringold tarot, she discovers a heart wrenching truth about the tarot paintings, the Shown, and Nell which will completely shatter her perception of the past.
This story takes the reader on a journey through the Major Arcana and the process of individuation which will lead to the truth about Lark, Nell, and Corvo, with each character and event reflecting the archetypal meanings of the cards. With explorations about perception and deception, a good portion of the plot involves discussions around surrealism and art criticism and how everything we perceive is influenced if not controlled by the unconscious. The duality of life and how everything has a good and bad expression was a metaphor used throughout the story with twins, the sun and moon, and the eyes common symbols used in the plot. Sex, desire, and identity were the cards both upright and reversed, offering different interpretations for the characters who never had clear answers themselves. The role of women in the art world was also a big part of the story and how their respect and credibility is still questioned today.
There are many layers to this story as there are combinations of tarot cards, and how we choose to interpret their messages is up to the eye of the beholder.
Arcane and suspenseful, The Lost Tarot is the perfect read for fans of The Cloisters by Katy Hays.
Thank you to the publisher for providing me with a free arc via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
August 14, 2024
vaguely recall seeing The Lost Tarot by Sarah Henstra on a summer reading list somewhere in my scrolling, so I figured it would be a light read that’s best done sooner rather than later. Henstra is also an award-winning Canadian author who I hadn’t read before, so her latest release coming out this past June seemed like a good place to start. I know some people are sick of dual timelines in historical fiction, but it worked well in this novel as it drew me closer into the dramatic unfurling of these characters’ lives.
Plot Summary
It’s 1938, and Lark and Nell are adult twins who have just moved from Canada to England to live in a nature commune led by their larger than life Uncle Corvo. Lark is a painter, and Corvo plans on displaying his works in much-anticipated London showings, certain he will find fame. Nell follows Lark everywhere, happy to let him do most of the talking, but always defends his artistic sensibilities, even when he turns violent. Corvo is famous for being the leader of this commune (which is more like a cult) and once there the twins realize that all the members are somewhat high all the time, taking a special tincture together that helps them ‘see’ better. Within the first few pages of the book, we learn that this famous commune ended in disaster, with a giant fire wiping it all out. Sixty years later, Nell sends one of her brother’s paintings to a young art historian in Toronto, Theresa Bateman, who is desperate to find full-time work but overly devoted to her professor and advisor, another charismatic man named Russell Horber. Horber’s academic career has been dedicated to Lark’s paintings, and although Theresa has continued this work and defined her own theories within it, she doesn’t seem to be advancing her own reputation or name. The narrative switches back and forth between Theresa’s present and Nell’s past, telling the story of the commune, the kinship between Nell and Lark, and the fatal fire that ended their relationship.
My Thoughts
This book started off slow for me, simply because it felt like it was a complicated premise with a few competing elements for attention; the paintings, the tarot cards, the history of Uncle Corvo, etc. But once the overall arc was established, I didn’t allow myself to get too caught up in the details and timelines of the characters, instead focusing on their relationships to one another, and the secrets that hid within these interactions. At its heart this book is really about manipulation, and using other people for one’s own ends. In most cases, it is men being propped up by women, and the disservice women do to each other to continue propping up these vibrant, charming men that don’t deserve the attention and accolades they are paid. It’s not until the women draw on their inner strength and confidence that things begin to turn around for them, but arguably, we take the entire narrative to get to that point.
I’ve read a few literary books about artists, their work and their temperaments, the best and most recent example being Tom Rachman’s The Italian Teacher which I reviewed here. There is a scene in the book where Theresa is feeling disillusioned with working with art and academics, but attends a pottery show with a friend. Here, she is so completely drawn into the work that she loses all sense of physicality, and she remembers why she chose this discipline in the first place. It’s a peculiar moment of the book because it not only reveals an important part of Theresa’s personality, but it also puts into words a very otherworldly feeling that only a few people can truly say they identify with. But for those of us who love the arts (in all its different forms), it’s a nice reminder of why we put up with the complications of art, artists and the seemingly obtuse world it sometimes forms around itself. We all deserve to experience that feeling, I think it’s just a matter of which art form will elicit that in each person. Books, paintings, pottery – there are many different art forms that are celebrated in this book, but I appreciated Henstra’s dive into, and eventual resurfacing through their complexities.
To read the rest of my reviews, please visit my blog:
https://ivereadthis.com/
Plot Summary
It’s 1938, and Lark and Nell are adult twins who have just moved from Canada to England to live in a nature commune led by their larger than life Uncle Corvo. Lark is a painter, and Corvo plans on displaying his works in much-anticipated London showings, certain he will find fame. Nell follows Lark everywhere, happy to let him do most of the talking, but always defends his artistic sensibilities, even when he turns violent. Corvo is famous for being the leader of this commune (which is more like a cult) and once there the twins realize that all the members are somewhat high all the time, taking a special tincture together that helps them ‘see’ better. Within the first few pages of the book, we learn that this famous commune ended in disaster, with a giant fire wiping it all out. Sixty years later, Nell sends one of her brother’s paintings to a young art historian in Toronto, Theresa Bateman, who is desperate to find full-time work but overly devoted to her professor and advisor, another charismatic man named Russell Horber. Horber’s academic career has been dedicated to Lark’s paintings, and although Theresa has continued this work and defined her own theories within it, she doesn’t seem to be advancing her own reputation or name. The narrative switches back and forth between Theresa’s present and Nell’s past, telling the story of the commune, the kinship between Nell and Lark, and the fatal fire that ended their relationship.
My Thoughts
This book started off slow for me, simply because it felt like it was a complicated premise with a few competing elements for attention; the paintings, the tarot cards, the history of Uncle Corvo, etc. But once the overall arc was established, I didn’t allow myself to get too caught up in the details and timelines of the characters, instead focusing on their relationships to one another, and the secrets that hid within these interactions. At its heart this book is really about manipulation, and using other people for one’s own ends. In most cases, it is men being propped up by women, and the disservice women do to each other to continue propping up these vibrant, charming men that don’t deserve the attention and accolades they are paid. It’s not until the women draw on their inner strength and confidence that things begin to turn around for them, but arguably, we take the entire narrative to get to that point.
I’ve read a few literary books about artists, their work and their temperaments, the best and most recent example being Tom Rachman’s The Italian Teacher which I reviewed here. There is a scene in the book where Theresa is feeling disillusioned with working with art and academics, but attends a pottery show with a friend. Here, she is so completely drawn into the work that she loses all sense of physicality, and she remembers why she chose this discipline in the first place. It’s a peculiar moment of the book because it not only reveals an important part of Theresa’s personality, but it also puts into words a very otherworldly feeling that only a few people can truly say they identify with. But for those of us who love the arts (in all its different forms), it’s a nice reminder of why we put up with the complications of art, artists and the seemingly obtuse world it sometimes forms around itself. We all deserve to experience that feeling, I think it’s just a matter of which art form will elicit that in each person. Books, paintings, pottery – there are many different art forms that are celebrated in this book, but I appreciated Henstra’s dive into, and eventual resurfacing through their complexities.
To read the rest of my reviews, please visit my blog:
https://ivereadthis.com/
January 22, 2025
Overall, delightful. I recently tried to read The CloistersThe Cloisters and couldn't finish it; in contrast, The Lost Tarot was everything I had been hoping for in terms of tarot cards and cozy academia vibes, but with a (mostly) delightful backdrop of art history. I did feel a sense of frustration as an artist, but that had less to do with Sarah Hestra and more to do with my annoyance with the discipline of art history itself. I took Art History 101 in undergrad, expecting to love it, but ended up hating it. I adore going to art galleries and museums, but see that as seeking inspiration rather than wanting to participate in the 'understanding' of art. My impulse is to respond with creation and I fundamentally cannot relate to Theresa's impulses throughout the narrative as an art historian. Again, not Sarah Hestra's fault. I found Nell's POV more relatable (at least in some ways). I didn't love Theresa as a protagonist but I did appreciate her arc.
I thought Hestra did a fantastic job of setting the scene, and loved the small details she included throughout her prose to bring the story to life. And more than anything, I loved this homage to the the art of tarot decks and engaging with tarot. I had no idea the Salvador Dali created a tarot deck as well, and loved reflecting on the relationship between high brow art and the 'low brow' art of tarot decks / the occult. This read was a lot of fun and I relished almost every minute of it. I stayed up till 3am finishing it, so that certainly says something.
I thought Hestra did a fantastic job of setting the scene, and loved the small details she included throughout her prose to bring the story to life. And more than anything, I loved this homage to the the art of tarot decks and engaging with tarot. I had no idea the Salvador Dali created a tarot deck as well, and loved reflecting on the relationship between high brow art and the 'low brow' art of tarot decks / the occult. This read was a lot of fun and I relished almost every minute of it. I stayed up till 3am finishing it, so that certainly says something.
December 20, 2024
Meh. This was OK, though there were parts that I really enjoyed.
I liked the Theresa plotline way more than the Nell/cult one. I couldn't get into that at all. Every time we switched, it felt like a disruption. It did pick up at one point, but then by the end, I had lost interest again.
I think the latter half of the book - everything after Russel shows up at the farm for the second time, held no interest for me. The whole Eyeopener thing is a waste of time, and when you find out what happened with the Shown, it wasn't that interesting. It had already been hinted at, and hearing the actual details was underwhelming.
Theresa was the only character I really found interesting. The others - including Nell - were all kind of bland. I felt the cult aspect wasn't really developed - you hear that Corvo is this magnetic cult leader, but you never really see it. Lark is kind of two-dimensional - Nell keeps talking about the twin connection that they have, but it seems to be entirely one-sided.
It's funny how reviewing a book can make you rethink it and change your opinion. I just knocked a star off my original score.
The book is basically about powerful men taking credit for the work of others, usually women. Charismatic men are particularly problematic, although Van seems to fit that description but isn't like that.
The 18 months late epilogue was a waste of paper as far as I'm concerned, although I find I often hate epilogues. It's like writers don't know when to end a book, so they throw in a bunch of filler at the end.
I thought I enjoyed it more than I did, but looking back, it seems very mediocre. Oh well, at least most of Theresa's story was interesting. I would have been happy with a book that focused on her rather than all the other stuff.
I liked the Theresa plotline way more than the Nell/cult one. I couldn't get into that at all. Every time we switched, it felt like a disruption. It did pick up at one point, but then by the end, I had lost interest again.
I think the latter half of the book - everything after Russel shows up at the farm for the second time, held no interest for me. The whole Eyeopener thing is a waste of time, and when you find out what happened with the Shown, it wasn't that interesting. It had already been hinted at, and hearing the actual details was underwhelming.
Theresa was the only character I really found interesting. The others - including Nell - were all kind of bland. I felt the cult aspect wasn't really developed - you hear that Corvo is this magnetic cult leader, but you never really see it. Lark is kind of two-dimensional - Nell keeps talking about the twin connection that they have, but it seems to be entirely one-sided.
It's funny how reviewing a book can make you rethink it and change your opinion. I just knocked a star off my original score.
The book is basically about powerful men taking credit for the work of others, usually women. Charismatic men are particularly problematic, although Van seems to fit that description but isn't like that.
The 18 months late epilogue was a waste of paper as far as I'm concerned, although I find I often hate epilogues. It's like writers don't know when to end a book, so they throw in a bunch of filler at the end.
I thought I enjoyed it more than I did, but looking back, it seems very mediocre. Oh well, at least most of Theresa's story was interesting. I would have been happy with a book that focused on her rather than all the other stuff.
May 25, 2025
This was a gifted copy.
I took a very long time to get into this story. I’m not a fan of dark academia and so this was not in my usual genre.
I usually enjoy a dual timeline but I like to spend more time in the beginning in each to really get a feel for the story within. This one sped too quickly through each and went back and forth too often at start. As the story unfolded it was fine that the timeline switched even mid chapter.
I’m not a connoisseur of art nor have I any schooling around the subject. So a lot of the academia was a bit slow for me. It was informational about how art history profs and galleries work -ish.
The other timeline featured a cult in 1938 between wars and was a typical rendering of that.
I’m not sure if it was meant as a twist or reveal but what came to be known was so obvious to me from early pages that my frustration was palpable at how long it took everyone to sort it out. This was true in both timelines.
Misogyny was rampant and that was another point of frustration. The fact that the revelations were so closely aligned with misogyny made it clear to me early on.
Anyhow this was just okay and I wouldn’t normally pick something like this up but the author penned one of my favourite YA books ever and so I figured that was worth a try.
I took a very long time to get into this story. I’m not a fan of dark academia and so this was not in my usual genre.
I usually enjoy a dual timeline but I like to spend more time in the beginning in each to really get a feel for the story within. This one sped too quickly through each and went back and forth too often at start. As the story unfolded it was fine that the timeline switched even mid chapter.
I’m not a connoisseur of art nor have I any schooling around the subject. So a lot of the academia was a bit slow for me. It was informational about how art history profs and galleries work -ish.
The other timeline featured a cult in 1938 between wars and was a typical rendering of that.
I’m not sure if it was meant as a twist or reveal but what came to be known was so obvious to me from early pages that my frustration was palpable at how long it took everyone to sort it out. This was true in both timelines.
Misogyny was rampant and that was another point of frustration. The fact that the revelations were so closely aligned with misogyny made it clear to me early on.
Anyhow this was just okay and I wouldn’t normally pick something like this up but the author penned one of my favourite YA books ever and so I figured that was worth a try.
July 22, 2024
3.5 stars. This is a slow paced and quiet book - the stakes are fairly low, nothing explodes, there are no car chases. There are a couple of sections that take place in the past that have higher stakes, but not much since it's well established early on in the novel that there's a fire.
There are also a few esoteric sections in the past timeline that are a little weird. Kind of like a fever dream, without the fever... or the dream.
In modern timeline, I wanted more of a mystery. I had figured out fairly early on who painted the Tarot and why they were painted. It became a bit of a let down when the reveal happened - and that mystery is central to the plot. I found Theresa terribly naïve in places, especially when it came to those she perceived as knowing more than she did (they don't), but she did get a bit of a backbone by the end, so that lifted the book a little.
Overall, not bad. Both timelines are of equal quality, which is hard to do since I find most books with more than one timeline that one is stronger than the other. Not so with this book.
There are also a few esoteric sections in the past timeline that are a little weird. Kind of like a fever dream, without the fever... or the dream.
In modern timeline, I wanted more of a mystery. I had figured out fairly early on who painted the Tarot and why they were painted. It became a bit of a let down when the reveal happened - and that mystery is central to the plot. I found Theresa terribly naïve in places, especially when it came to those she perceived as knowing more than she did (they don't), but she did get a bit of a backbone by the end, so that lifted the book a little.
Overall, not bad. Both timelines are of equal quality, which is hard to do since I find most books with more than one timeline that one is stronger than the other. Not so with this book.
February 21, 2025
Who doesn't love an academia and art history filled mystery laced with occult themes? I think that's what this book is on the surface, but it has deeper themes too. One of the big ones is the ways that feminized labour is often exploited for the bettering of mediocre men.
This book really had a deep impact on me. There were far too many uncomfortable similarities between one of the protagonist's post-PhD life and my own, with parts in set in my own city and my university. It's one of those books, that even when I figured out the plot twist (fairly early I'd say), I couldn't put it down and I couldn't stop thinking about it. I got the distinct impression the author wants the reader to figure it out before Teresa.
Also as a lifelong tarot nerd, I can see where Henstra took influence from the lives and works of Pamela Coleman Smith and Lady Frieda Harris. I feel like it could have gone deeper on that front, but overall, this was an intriguing read. I appreciated how it blurred genres.
This book really had a deep impact on me. There were far too many uncomfortable similarities between one of the protagonist's post-PhD life and my own, with parts in set in my own city and my university. It's one of those books, that even when I figured out the plot twist (fairly early I'd say), I couldn't put it down and I couldn't stop thinking about it. I got the distinct impression the author wants the reader to figure it out before Teresa.
Also as a lifelong tarot nerd, I can see where Henstra took influence from the lives and works of Pamela Coleman Smith and Lady Frieda Harris. I feel like it could have gone deeper on that front, but overall, this was an intriguing read. I appreciated how it blurred genres.
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