What do you think?
Rate this book
Tarot: The Magician
After discovering an ancient tarot deck, Kassandra Troy's life takes a thrilling and frightening turn. She triggers The Magician card and releases the mysterious and captivating Luke Rykell.
Luke has a dark secret. He wants the magical deck for himself. To save herself and her friends, Kassandra is forced to journey into the Tarot cards. But can she find a way out of the deck unscathed or will the darkness which follows her destroy them all?
Luke has a dark secret. He wants the magical deck for himself. To save herself and her friends, Kassandra is forced to journey into the Tarot cards. But can she find a way out of the deck unscathed or will the darkness which follows her destroy them all?
- GenresFiction
243 pages, Unknown Binding
First published May 26, 2014
13 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
June 10, 2014
I’ve always been a big fan of paranormal fiction, and this YA Paranormal Fantasy fits right in with the books I first discovered as a younger reader. I still enjoy revisiting the YA paranormal genre, and Tarot: The Magician is a great addition to my collection. If you’ve ever read any of Lois Duncan’s paranormal YA novels, this book has the same type of feel.
Kassandra has had a rough year; she’s starting a new school year in a new city with little more than the clothes on her back. Her mom isn’t around much, and Kassandra depends on her offbeat Aunt Jo (not her real aunt, but a family friend) for guidance and direction. Recent tragedies have hurt Kassandra deeply, and she struggles to fit in at her new school. And then the mysterious Tarot deck finds her, and things start to change…
The story itself is well-written and engaging. Each chapter begins with a quote from a Romantic poet (Keats, Byron, Wordsworth, etc.), as Kassandra is a poetry lover. As a fan of the Romantics myself, I liked this added insight into the character and her interests (and her emotional state). This book is a page-turner; it’s fast-paced and the author keeps the action moving. I especially enjoyed Kassandra’s journey through the cards as she tries to solve the problems she’s faced with and find her way out. And the ending gives me hope for a sequel (or a series?)
This book touches on some sensitive topics – suicide, cutting, the loss of a parent, drug abuse, bullying (although “tormenting” would be a more appropriate word). They’re not the main focus of the book – Kassandra’s experiences with the Tarot cards and the lessons she learns from that experience is the main story – but these real-life topics add realism to the paranormal adventures, and the author handles them admirably.
Kassandra has had a rough year; she’s starting a new school year in a new city with little more than the clothes on her back. Her mom isn’t around much, and Kassandra depends on her offbeat Aunt Jo (not her real aunt, but a family friend) for guidance and direction. Recent tragedies have hurt Kassandra deeply, and she struggles to fit in at her new school. And then the mysterious Tarot deck finds her, and things start to change…
The story itself is well-written and engaging. Each chapter begins with a quote from a Romantic poet (Keats, Byron, Wordsworth, etc.), as Kassandra is a poetry lover. As a fan of the Romantics myself, I liked this added insight into the character and her interests (and her emotional state). This book is a page-turner; it’s fast-paced and the author keeps the action moving. I especially enjoyed Kassandra’s journey through the cards as she tries to solve the problems she’s faced with and find her way out. And the ending gives me hope for a sequel (or a series?)
This book touches on some sensitive topics – suicide, cutting, the loss of a parent, drug abuse, bullying (although “tormenting” would be a more appropriate word). They’re not the main focus of the book – Kassandra’s experiences with the Tarot cards and the lessons she learns from that experience is the main story – but these real-life topics add realism to the paranormal adventures, and the author handles them admirably.
April 1, 2017
As both a writer and a professional Tarot reader, I'm always eager to see more Tarot-positive fiction enter the market. Tim Kane's "Tarot: The Magician" rewarded my cautious optimism with a likable heroine and a wonderfully original take on the Tarot.
Through the first third of the book, I wasn't so sure. It seemed Kassandra let the story happen to her rather than actively participating. But once she grasps how powerful the cards were, the book really picks up.
By the 3/4 mark I even wished for more description and more reflection from our protagonist. For example, I love her observation of her mother: "She was kind of like Bigfoot. There was proof she existed, but sightings were rare." More pages in the meat of the book would have given me the chance to really savor the magical world Kassandra explores.
It's clear the author knows his way around a Tarot deck. I appreciate the lack of cliches or rote repetition of card meanings. Instead, Kane imagines an original deck, including the artist who created it, and uses it with great flair. The idea of entering the cards and traveling from one to another would have been cool enough, but Kane goes even further, making the lesson of each card a pivotal experience for Kassandra. (In my experience, Tarot's Major Arcana are like that—they're the punctuation in the sentences of our lives.)
The ending seemed rushed after the big climax. However, the climax itself worked for me. We see a greatly-changed Kassandra courageously challenge the villain in a battle of wit and wills. The stakes are high, and even if she wins, she'll have to sacrifice the one thing she's wanted all along. In other words, she's become a true hero. After that, I was willing to forgive the hurry-up-and-finish feel of the remaining few pages.
Full disclosure: I received an ARC of this book as part of a prize package awarded by the author.
Through the first third of the book, I wasn't so sure. It seemed Kassandra let the story happen to her rather than actively participating. But once she grasps how powerful the cards were, the book really picks up.
By the 3/4 mark I even wished for more description and more reflection from our protagonist. For example, I love her observation of her mother: "She was kind of like Bigfoot. There was proof she existed, but sightings were rare." More pages in the meat of the book would have given me the chance to really savor the magical world Kassandra explores.
It's clear the author knows his way around a Tarot deck. I appreciate the lack of cliches or rote repetition of card meanings. Instead, Kane imagines an original deck, including the artist who created it, and uses it with great flair. The idea of entering the cards and traveling from one to another would have been cool enough, but Kane goes even further, making the lesson of each card a pivotal experience for Kassandra. (In my experience, Tarot's Major Arcana are like that—they're the punctuation in the sentences of our lives.)
The ending seemed rushed after the big climax. However, the climax itself worked for me. We see a greatly-changed Kassandra courageously challenge the villain in a battle of wit and wills. The stakes are high, and even if she wins, she'll have to sacrifice the one thing she's wanted all along. In other words, she's become a true hero. After that, I was willing to forgive the hurry-up-and-finish feel of the remaining few pages.
Full disclosure: I received an ARC of this book as part of a prize package awarded by the author.
March 31, 2015
arot: The Magician was written by one of my Twitter buddies, @timkanebooks and is a truly original Paranormal Fantasy.
This YA Paranormal Fantasy was a delightful story to explore. It merges poetry by the Romantics and modern troubles to create a unique reading experience.
First off, the plot was incredibly cool. Magical tarot cards? I was hooked since I saw the awesome cover!
My favorite character was actually the bad guy, Luke. He was just very interesting and had a great back story. He was a surprise baddie too, because at first we think perhaps he is her love interest. Another favorite character of mine was her nightingale.
Some parts did feel a little rushed. While I enjoy a fast-paced story, the ending was left a little blurry. But the climax was told well and felt satisfying. It was clear either Mr. Kane did his research on the tarot cards or was already an expert. While I missed some references not knowing much about the world of tarot, some reviewers on Goodreads who did confirmed that the tarot cards references were accurate.
I also enjoyed that the imagery within the tarot cards were almost poetic, especially the nightingale creature, as it reflected the poems that opened up each new chapter. So even if you aren’t big into tarot cards, poetry fans would enjoy this story as well.
Kassandra was an interesting character because she had to deal with the recent death of her father, move to a new town and deal with not having many friends (if any at all), and dealing with a bully Queen Bee. Not to mention, suffering from a dark addiction of cutting and putting up with a mother who seemed to move on too fast from their fallen father.
During all these personal crisis, she also has a magical deck of tarot cards to figure out before a dark soul plans to use the magic for evil.
I’d recommend this book for anyone who enjoys a unique new fictional world, diverse characters and anything to do with tarot cards.
The reason I gave the book 3.5 stars was for me there was a bit too much darkness. I know that’s what makes Kassandra interesting, but since I lost a couple of friends to depression, it was a subject a bit too close to home. Although this book is a nice Young Adult read, I might caution parents before giving to younger teens, as suicide and cutting are some topics discussed. However, what I enjoyed was that Mr. Kane treated them as an illness and took the matter seriously. He didn’t just make the main character a cutter to fit the “emo” stereotype, he treated the subject with the respect that such dark habits deserve.
Since the book is more about the tarot cards, and less about her addiction, I was still able to enjoy this high-action packed novel. This was a quick read as it was truly a page-turner and I was able to finish it in only a couple of weeks…which for me is really good lol.
So YES I would recommend this book to anyone who doesn’t mind a slightly dark Paranormal Fantasy. The tarot cards themselves were a great world to explore, and Kassandra was a great guide through them.
The book left with a hint there might be a sequel, and I believe a sequel would be a welcome addition! I hope this debut author continues this series and continues writing even more books! I would buy the sequel as well if it is planed to be continued as the ending suggests!
This YA Paranormal Fantasy was a delightful story to explore. It merges poetry by the Romantics and modern troubles to create a unique reading experience.
First off, the plot was incredibly cool. Magical tarot cards? I was hooked since I saw the awesome cover!
My favorite character was actually the bad guy, Luke. He was just very interesting and had a great back story. He was a surprise baddie too, because at first we think perhaps he is her love interest. Another favorite character of mine was her nightingale.
Some parts did feel a little rushed. While I enjoy a fast-paced story, the ending was left a little blurry. But the climax was told well and felt satisfying. It was clear either Mr. Kane did his research on the tarot cards or was already an expert. While I missed some references not knowing much about the world of tarot, some reviewers on Goodreads who did confirmed that the tarot cards references were accurate.
I also enjoyed that the imagery within the tarot cards were almost poetic, especially the nightingale creature, as it reflected the poems that opened up each new chapter. So even if you aren’t big into tarot cards, poetry fans would enjoy this story as well.
Kassandra was an interesting character because she had to deal with the recent death of her father, move to a new town and deal with not having many friends (if any at all), and dealing with a bully Queen Bee. Not to mention, suffering from a dark addiction of cutting and putting up with a mother who seemed to move on too fast from their fallen father.
During all these personal crisis, she also has a magical deck of tarot cards to figure out before a dark soul plans to use the magic for evil.
I’d recommend this book for anyone who enjoys a unique new fictional world, diverse characters and anything to do with tarot cards.
The reason I gave the book 3.5 stars was for me there was a bit too much darkness. I know that’s what makes Kassandra interesting, but since I lost a couple of friends to depression, it was a subject a bit too close to home. Although this book is a nice Young Adult read, I might caution parents before giving to younger teens, as suicide and cutting are some topics discussed. However, what I enjoyed was that Mr. Kane treated them as an illness and took the matter seriously. He didn’t just make the main character a cutter to fit the “emo” stereotype, he treated the subject with the respect that such dark habits deserve.
Since the book is more about the tarot cards, and less about her addiction, I was still able to enjoy this high-action packed novel. This was a quick read as it was truly a page-turner and I was able to finish it in only a couple of weeks…which for me is really good lol.
So YES I would recommend this book to anyone who doesn’t mind a slightly dark Paranormal Fantasy. The tarot cards themselves were a great world to explore, and Kassandra was a great guide through them.
The book left with a hint there might be a sequel, and I believe a sequel would be a welcome addition! I hope this debut author continues this series and continues writing even more books! I would buy the sequel as well if it is planed to be continued as the ending suggests!
June 13, 2014
My rating:3.5 out of 5 Stars
My Review:
This book has taken me through a journey with Kassandra... that I may or may not forget. Nonetheless, I was happy I got to go.
Starting with positive, the events in the book were very memorable. They are slightly creepy, although it might just be me. But if you are very easily scared (like thou) then you should take this into consideration. I haven't read a book dealing with a Tarot deck (that is, if The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones doesn't count). So for reading my first, it was pretty exhilarating! I think this is a perfect first. I've always been interested in astrology, tarot cards, and even paganism (though I would never practice it!). I have a deck of tarot cards but it is "the garden variety type" and I know little about them. I'm also glad the cover resembles the book, and the features of the girl on the cover are similar Kassandra.
On to the negative, I didn't feel sad for the main character when negative things happened. She seemed human but it didn't seem right. I felt like Kassandra might have been leaning towards the flat side of the character rather than being rounded. We didn't really learn a lot about her, though fragments showed up throughout the book. Gabriel (who I absolutely loved) seemed more rounded than Kassandra did, despite his short appearance in the book. And the end was poorly written. That character was the worse. She showed no compassion, she was very annoying. And it ended up leaving a bad feeling for me.
My Review:
This book has taken me through a journey with Kassandra... that I may or may not forget. Nonetheless, I was happy I got to go.
Starting with positive, the events in the book were very memorable. They are slightly creepy, although it might just be me. But if you are very easily scared (like thou) then you should take this into consideration. I haven't read a book dealing with a Tarot deck (that is, if The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones doesn't count). So for reading my first, it was pretty exhilarating! I think this is a perfect first. I've always been interested in astrology, tarot cards, and even paganism (though I would never practice it!). I have a deck of tarot cards but it is "the garden variety type" and I know little about them. I'm also glad the cover resembles the book, and the features of the girl on the cover are similar Kassandra.
On to the negative, I didn't feel sad for the main character when negative things happened. She seemed human but it didn't seem right. I felt like Kassandra might have been leaning towards the flat side of the character rather than being rounded. We didn't really learn a lot about her, though fragments showed up throughout the book. Gabriel (who I absolutely loved) seemed more rounded than Kassandra did, despite his short appearance in the book. And the end was poorly written. That character was the worse. She showed no compassion, she was very annoying. And it ended up leaving a bad feeling for me.
July 15, 2014
I found this story to be a unique tale, nothing like I've read before in the YA paranormal genre. It takes the idea of a tarot deck and basically brings it to life when a teenage girl (Kassandra) comes across it-though not necessarily in any kind of way you might expect.
The characters are interesting and quirky (I love Kassandra's Auntie Jo), but don't assume you have them figured out when you first meet them. My favorite was Gabriel, I found him to have the most depth and the most interesting backstory.
The story moves along smoothly and at a good pace, making for an easy read. There's plenty of action to keep your interest, especially during the last third of the book. My only wish would have been for better closure at the end...though the way it ended does leave the possibility of another book-and I would love to see more of what happens for Gabriel.
This book does touch on a few sensitive subject areas such as cutting and suicide, and does contain quite a bit of symbolism...so while it is classified as YA, I would probably recommend it for 15+ due to the subject matter and the more complex themes that you normally see in books aimed at older teenagers.
A very good read, one that I give 4 stars (and I'm sending out wishes to the author to continue the story :-) ).
The characters are interesting and quirky (I love Kassandra's Auntie Jo), but don't assume you have them figured out when you first meet them. My favorite was Gabriel, I found him to have the most depth and the most interesting backstory.
The story moves along smoothly and at a good pace, making for an easy read. There's plenty of action to keep your interest, especially during the last third of the book. My only wish would have been for better closure at the end...though the way it ended does leave the possibility of another book-and I would love to see more of what happens for Gabriel.
This book does touch on a few sensitive subject areas such as cutting and suicide, and does contain quite a bit of symbolism...so while it is classified as YA, I would probably recommend it for 15+ due to the subject matter and the more complex themes that you normally see in books aimed at older teenagers.
A very good read, one that I give 4 stars (and I'm sending out wishes to the author to continue the story :-) ).
September 6, 2015
I'm not usually one for teen fiction, but a journey through the tarot cards, how could I resist!?
It took me a bit to get into this, but once the action picked up, it got me in.
There were quite a few grammatical errors, this book could have definitely used some editing, but the story made up for it, and overall, I enjoyed it.
It took me a bit to get into this, but once the action picked up, it got me in.
There were quite a few grammatical errors, this book could have definitely used some editing, but the story made up for it, and overall, I enjoyed it.
June 27, 2014
This was one of those “don’t judge a book by its cover” kind of book. Looking at the cover I didn't expect much but I was pleasantly surprised by the book.
You can find my full review here:
http://myreads.booklikes.com/post/916...
You can find my full review here:
http://myreads.booklikes.com/post/916...
July 6, 2014
4.5 stars. The review will be uploaded during the blog tour.
August 26, 2014
I fell in love with Kassandra's voice from the first chapter. Following her through her trials and self-journey was a pleasure. This is a YA book that adults can enjoy.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews