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calisbookishpage's review
5.0
What an imagination. This is a retelling of Alice in Wonderland that has it all!! I loved each of the characters and felt their pain, joy, betrayal and more. I highly recommend this book
tifany's review
5.0
The Cursed Tarot by Killian Wolf is the first book in the Chronicles of Tarotland series.
Soren has been known to cause trouble, and when she steals a beautiful golden tarot card off the fortune teller at the carnival, things go awry. Suddenly, a portal sends her on board a pirate ship, captained by the devil. But Soren needs to get back home to protect her sister, and she can’t do that if she’s a prisoner on a ship in a new land. How will she escape?
The Cursed Tarot is a dark Alice in Wonderland retelling. The world building in this book is vivid and detailed. The magical system is, well, suppressed, as the Empress pretty much outlaws the use of it (unless it serves her, of course!)
Soren is equal parts stubborn and sassy. The character development is truly wonderful. I really loved getting to know all the characters — especially Gari and his magic cookies! And the bond shared by the crew was especially heartening.
If you want to jump into a lush world of suppressed magic, tragic backstories, and found family make for a most compelling read. I’m looking forward to reading the second book in the series once it’s out!
Soren has been known to cause trouble, and when she steals a beautiful golden tarot card off the fortune teller at the carnival, things go awry. Suddenly, a portal sends her on board a pirate ship, captained by the devil. But Soren needs to get back home to protect her sister, and she can’t do that if she’s a prisoner on a ship in a new land. How will she escape?
The Cursed Tarot is a dark Alice in Wonderland retelling. The world building in this book is vivid and detailed. The magical system is, well, suppressed, as the Empress pretty much outlaws the use of it (unless it serves her, of course!)
Soren is equal parts stubborn and sassy. The character development is truly wonderful. I really loved getting to know all the characters — especially Gari and his magic cookies! And the bond shared by the crew was especially heartening.
If you want to jump into a lush world of suppressed magic, tragic backstories, and found family make for a most compelling read. I’m looking forward to reading the second book in the series once it’s out!
constant2m's review
5.0
I didn't know anything about tarot cards when I picked up this book, and I probably still don't, but the world that was made via the cards was very cool. Alice, whose name is actually Soren, is a foster kid. Her current family lives at a circus and utilizes her skills as a thief. But when she is caught, or more likely set up, she manages to create a portal into another world using the tarot card she swiped from the local fortune teller she had been visiting earlier. And the rest of the book is spent with her trying to get back to her own world.
But that's only the beginning. Soren discovers a world in which magic is constantly changing. At some point it was controlled by the three fates, but as they traveled to other worlds, they brought back other magical objects, like a tarot deck, and the world absorbed the new magic. So it's kind of hard to figure out all the rules...or how to get back home.
Before she knows it, Soren is caught up with pirates, undead, soldiers, queens, merfolk, and even talking flowers - this is Alice in Wonderland like you've never seen it, larger than life, full-color, and easy to lose yourself in. And it's a fantastically beautiful world. It also has its moments of darkness. Her captor is rather cruel at times, as is the queen who harms people for sport. And even those who are kind to Soren one minute, turn on her the next. It's hard to know who to trust. Which is why she really shouldn't risk falling in love. She has to get back to her sister!
I loved all the twists and turns in this story. It was easy to get lost in it because you really couldn't predict what would happen next and I love that kind of surprise. I also love the sort of stories that take you from place to place meeting all different sorts of people. And this book definitely took me on that kind of a journey. The magic was unique and interesting. People had marks based on tarot cards that determined their roles and potentially their abilities. And different cards had different types of power. Or power might have developed in a person as a teenager. Or they could be born with it. You just never really know. It really makes me want to keep reading to see where the story goes and what kind of powers Soren gets, because she has to!
I received an early copy of the book for editing purposes and have reviewed it willingly. And also, isn't the cover just so pretty?
But that's only the beginning. Soren discovers a world in which magic is constantly changing. At some point it was controlled by the three fates, but as they traveled to other worlds, they brought back other magical objects, like a tarot deck, and the world absorbed the new magic. So it's kind of hard to figure out all the rules...or how to get back home.
Before she knows it, Soren is caught up with pirates, undead, soldiers, queens, merfolk, and even talking flowers - this is Alice in Wonderland like you've never seen it, larger than life, full-color, and easy to lose yourself in. And it's a fantastically beautiful world. It also has its moments of darkness. Her captor is rather cruel at times, as is the queen who harms people for sport. And even those who are kind to Soren one minute, turn on her the next. It's hard to know who to trust. Which is why she really shouldn't risk falling in love. She has to get back to her sister!
I loved all the twists and turns in this story. It was easy to get lost in it because you really couldn't predict what would happen next and I love that kind of surprise. I also love the sort of stories that take you from place to place meeting all different sorts of people. And this book definitely took me on that kind of a journey. The magic was unique and interesting. People had marks based on tarot cards that determined their roles and potentially their abilities. And different cards had different types of power. Or power might have developed in a person as a teenager. Or they could be born with it. You just never really know. It really makes me want to keep reading to see where the story goes and what kind of powers Soren gets, because she has to!
I received an early copy of the book for editing purposes and have reviewed it willingly. And also, isn't the cover just so pretty?
chrystalclearwpg's review
adventurous
funny
hopeful
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
5.0
Wow!!! I want to say so much but don't want to spoil your journey with reading this spinning tale. Soren is a child who had to make her way through life as a thief with her foster family while living with the circus. She comes across a tarot card that was like no other and ends up finding herself in a world which is designed after the tarot deck where magic is one with the world but outlawed. You will encounter many types of people, creatures and adventures within this non stop tale of power, loyalty and family. I was absolutely engrossed within the story and can't believe I came to the end....until I realized there is another to follow. Kilian has an amazing way of taking a classic tale and putting a dark spin on it. This was my first retell story to read and I am glad it was Killian's writing. A five star was an easy give for this tale and I anxiously wait for the next.
I was given an ARC through Killian and this is my honest opinion.
dvester's review
4.0
I liked the book. I do feel it circled itself in some spots and I didn’t like when Soren would say something and then be like ‘but I didn’t.’ The adventure was great. I loved the addition of the pirates, kind of gave me a Pirates of the Caribbean feel. All of the characters were great, only one I have an issue with is Dimitri, he felt a little too random for me. There’s not enough about him for him to be a villain. Overall I think this book is great for anyone who enjoys YA, adventure, and retellings.
bluebell499's review
adventurous
emotional
sad
medium-paced
3.75
Content Warnings
Moderate: Abandonment
Minor: Death of parent
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