This is one of those decks that either pulls you in straight away… or takes a bit of time.

And I just want to say straight away what a like about this deck is the colors. It doesn’t hit you with bold colors or it’s more gentle and quieter than that. More muted. More… woodland, which I absolutely love.

But the longer you sit with it, the more it starts to feel like you’re stepping into something rather than just looking at it.

And that’s really the point of this deck. It’s not trying to impress you instantly, it’s trying to immerse you.

Theme & Overall Feel

The whole deck is built around a fairytale forest world, drawing heavily from Celtic folklore, nature magic, and classic storybook imagery.

You’ve got:

• animals (both real and mythical)
• fae, witches, and forest spirits
• scenes that feel like they’re pulled straight out of old stories

And here’s the important bit… This isn’t just “pretty forest vibes.”

There’s a real sense that:

• things can guide you
• but they can also mislead you
• and not everything in the forest is safe

That balance between wonder and danger is what gives the deck depth.

What Makes This Deck Different

1. The Renaming (and why it actually works)

This deck does rename a lot:

• The Fool → The White Hart
• Death → Black Shuck
• Judgement → Council of Animals

Even the suits change:

• Wands → Spells
• Cups → Visions
• Swords → Challenges
• Pentacles → Boons

But once you get the hang of that especially the new Major Arcana names, it still follows the Rider–Waite system underneath.

So once you realise:

“Oh… this is just the same structure in a different outfit”

…it clicks pretty quickly. And honestly, the new names pull you deeper into the world rather than confusing you.

2. This Is a Storytelling Deck (not just a reading tool)

Each card doesn’t just give you a meaning, it gives you a scene.

And the guidebook leans heavily into that by turning each card into a mini story. What ends up happening in readings is:

• you don’t just interpret
• you remember

Because your brain holds onto stories way better than abstract meanings. I’ve seen people describe it like this:

the cards give you the setting… and you build the meaning from there

That’s exactly how it reads in practice.

The Artwork (this is where it wins people over)

The artwork is detailed but not overwhelming.

It uses:

• soft greens, browns, and natural tones
• delicate, almost storybook-style painting
• borderless cards so the imagery fills the space

And something I really like here… Even though the scenes are detailed, they don’t feel cluttered.

So you can:

• read quickly when you need to
• but also sit and study when you want more

That balance is hard to get right, but this deck does it well.

The Guidebook (this is a big selling point)

This is one of those rare decks where the guidebook actually matters.

You get:

• full-colour images of every card
• detailed explanations
• extra sections that help you look deeper

And the key thing… It reads more like a book of stories than a reference manual. Which means you’re more likely to:

• actually use it
• actually enjoy it
• and actually learn from it

Strengths of the Forest of Enchantment Tarot

It pulls you into a fully realised world

This deck doesn’t just show you images, it places you inside a setting that feels consistent from start to finish. Every card exists within the same enchanted forest, filled with animals, folklore, and storybook-like moments.

Instead of feeling like separate, disconnected cards, everything feels like part of one larger journey. That makes readings feel more cohesive and, honestly, more memorable. You’re not just interpreting, you’re exploring.

And once you realize that, it changes how you read entirely.

The storytelling makes the cards stick in your mind

This is one of those decks where you don’t just learn meanings, you remember scenes.

Each card feels like a moment from a story rather than a list of keywords. That makes it much easier to recall what a card means, because your brain has something concrete to latch onto. You remember what’s happening, who’s involved, and how it feels.

Over time, that makes readings feel more natural. You’re not stopping to think, “What does this card mean again?” You’re recognising the situation playing out in front of you.

It turns tarot from something you translate into something you experience.

The guidebook actually adds depth

A lot of guidebooks feel like they’re there out of obligation. This one doesn’t.

The guidebook is detailed, thoughtful, and genuinely useful, especially with a deck like this where the naming and imagery aren’t always immediately obvious. It gives context to the cards, explains the world they belong to, and helps everything make more sense.

If you’re the kind of person who actually likes sitting down and learning a deck properly, this becomes a big part of the appeal.

It feels like an extension of the deck, not just an add-on.

It stays grounded in Rider–Waite structure

Even though everything looks and feels different, the underlying structure is still familiar.

The suits are renamed, the Major Arcana are re-imagined, but the core system hasn’t been thrown out. That means if you already know Rider–Waite, you’re not starting from scratch, you’re just learning a new layer on top of what you already understand.

And I really like this because it keeps the deck interesting without making it frustrating to use. Once you get past the new names, you can still recognize the patterns and meanings underneath.

The artwork is detailed without feeling cluttered

There’s a lot going on in these cards, but it never feels overwhelming.

You can glance at a card and get the main idea quickly, which makes it usable in real readings. But if you sit with it longer, there’s still enough detail to keep revealing more.

That’s a difficult balance to get right, especially with fantasy-style decks. But here, it works.

What I Didn’t Like About the Forest of Enchantment Tarot

The renaming slows your flow at first

Even though the new names fit the theme well, they do interrupt your reading flow in the beginning.

You’re used to seeing something like “Death” or “Judgement” and instantly knowing what it means. Here, you’re seeing names like “Black Shuck” or “Council of Animals,” and there’s a moment where you have to translate that.

That extra step might not sound like much, but in practice, it adds friction.

It does get easier over time, but if you value speed and instant recognition, this will slow you down at first.

It’s darker than it looks on the surface

When I first saw this deck it felt really soft and almost comforting.

But when you actually start using it, you realise it doesn’t shy away from heavier themes. There’s a real sense that not everything in this forest is safe, and not every situation is going to resolve neatly.

Some cards carry a weight that doesn’t match the gentle, storybook aesthetic you might expect at first.

For some people, that depth will be a strength. For others, it might feel slightly unexpected or even a bit unsettling.

The cardstock feels a bit underwhelming

Physically, the deck doesn’t feel as premium as it could.

The cards are on the thinner side, which makes them easy to shuffle but less sturdy overall. If you’re used to thicker, heavier decks, you’ll probably notice the difference straight away.

It’s not a dealbreaker, but it does slightly affect how the deck feels in your hands, and that does matter more than people think.

It’s not a deck for quick, direct answers

This is probably the biggest thing to be aware of.

If you like pulling a card and getting a clear, immediate answer, this deck isn’t really built for that. It doesn’t naturally give you blunt, straight-to-the-point interpretations.

Instead, it opens things up.

You’re given a scene, a mood, a situation, and you’re expected to sit with it and work through it. That can be powerful, but it also means it’s not ideal for quick readings or fast decision-making.

Numbering Doesn’t Match the Imagery

Sometimes the number on the card doesn’t match what’s shown.

For example, you might have the Six of Boons… but there are nine or ten rabbits in the image. It’s a small thing, but if you naturally look for visual cues, it can throw you off for a second.

It asks more from you than some decks do

This is definitely a “take your time” deck.

It works best when you:

• slow down
• pay attention
• let the meaning unfold

That’s where it shines.

But not every reading calls for that. Sometimes you just want something quick and clear, and in those moments, this deck can feel like it’s asking for more effort than you want to give.

So it’s not difficult, it just demands a different kind of engagement.

No Borders

There’s no border on the cards.

I get why, it makes the artwork feel more immersive. But when you lay out a spread, I found the cards don’t always stand out as clearly, especially on a certain surfaces.

Who This Deck Is For

This is where you can really connect with your reader.

This deck works best if you:

• like storytelling in your readings
• enjoy fantasy / folklore themes
• want something more immersive than standard decks

It’s probably not ideal if you:

• prefer blunt, straight-to-the-point answers
• get frustrated learning renamed systems

Should You Buy the Forest of Enchantment Tarot?

I think this comes down to how you like to read.

If you like pulling cards and sitting with them, really trying to understand what’s going on, this deck is going to feel very natural. It gives you something to work with rather than just handing you an answer.

But if you’re the kind of person who just wants a clear flow and answers that jump out at you, this might frustrate you a bit.

It’s not that it’s confusing. It’s just not in a rush to tell you anything.

Is the Forest of Enchantment Tarot Good for Beginners?

This one’s a bit of a “yes, but also no.”

I actually think beginners can get on with this deck. The imagery sticks in your head, and the guidebook does a lot of the heavy lifting if you’re willing to use it.

But the renaming is where it trips people up.

When you’re new, you’re already trying to learn what the cards mean. Then on top of that, you’ve got to learn what “The White Hart” maps to, or what suit “Boons” is supposed to represent. It’s just an extra step you don’t really need at that stage.

So if you’re a beginner who likes learning through stories and visuals, you’ll probably enjoy it.

If you just want to get the basics down quickly, I’d still say start with Rider–Waite and come back to this after. (And I’d definitely recommend the Star And Strength Tarot Deck for beginners)

What It’s Like to Read With This Deck

This is where you really notice the difference.

When you lay these cards out, it doesn’t feel like you’ve been given an answer. It feels like you’ve been dropped into a situation.

You’re looking at what’s happening, who’s involved, how it feels… and then you piece it together.

And I actually like that.

Because instead of the card just telling you “this is the outcome” or “this is the problem,” you start noticing things yourself. You start asking better questions.

But at the same time, there are moments where you just want something clear.

And this deck doesn’t always give you that straight away.

Sometimes you have to sit with it a bit longer than you’d like. Sometimes the meaning kind of builds rather than landing instantly.

So it’s great when you’ve got the time and headspace for it.

Not so great when you just want a quick answer before heading out the door.

Final Thoughts

I didn’t instantly love this deck.

And I think that’s worth saying, because it would be easy to pretend this is one of those decks that just clicks straight away. For me, it didn’t. It took a bit of time.

But the more I used it, the more it started to grow on me.

After using it for a few weeks, I could see I was understanding things a bit better, and it actually allowed me to sit with a reading longer than I usually would.

It slows you down just enough to actually notice what’s going on.

You’re not just pulling a card and moving on. You’re looking at it, thinking about it, questioning it a bit. And over time, that starts to feel less like effort and more like the point.

That said, I don’t reach for it all the time.

If I’m tired, or I just want something quick and clear, I’ll pick up a different deck without even thinking about it. This isn’t the one I grab when I want a fast answer.

But when something feels a bit more complicated… when I actually want to understand what’s going on rather than just label it…

That’s when this deck comes into its own. It’s not trying to be the easiest deck to use. It’s trying to give you something a bit deeper than that.

And if you’re open to that, it’s a really rewarding one to spend time with.