Specific question for YA book readers who are also into Tarot

[Jessica]

So I recently read The Raven Boys series and there are a few references to tarot cards sprinkled throughout the series.

I’m not super well versed in card meanings and usually rely on a lot of Google searches, but it seemed as though the cards in the story didn’t really link with the narrative?

Maybe I missed something/did anyone else run into this?

Discussion

[deadstorybookheroes]

Common tarot misconceptions put into popular media are abundant, usually of the Major Arcana (especially Death). Authors usually get free reign when it does happen, as some play it off as “their world”. Most readers aren’t familiar with tarot, so it goes unnoticed.

[bluestonebrine]

Maggie Stiefvater created both the Raven’s Prophecy tarot (which is very gently based on her Raven’s Boys books) and the recently released Scorpio Sea Tarot (based on her Scorpio Races novels) so she certainly knows the tarot.

Based on my memory of the Ravens Boys books, I felt it was a combination of Maggie’s own interpretation of the cards mixed with narrative creative licence. I don’t know if she got into tarot via researching for the Raven’s Boys or if she got into it beforehand (the intro to the book for the Raven’s Prophecy tarot kinda suggests she got into tarot whilst researching). But either way, I think she knows her stuff. I think the cards in the books are a more gentle interpretation rather than overly specific.

You’ll have to excuse me, because I haven’t finished the books yet (I’m part way through Blue Lily, Lily Blue – as often with these kinda books I get too scared to finish the stories ‘cos then the story will be over!!)

My memory of the cards, at least in the first book… Adam get’s the two of swords? And I guess that links with the fact he has a choice to make. Ronan doesn’t get a card. Blue’s card is always the Page of Cups and I guess that’s because she’s new on her journey to relationships and such so that ties in. And in that particular scene Gansey picks Blue’s card twice (?) which links with the plot. Gansey gets Death which, ya know…

Whelk gets a reading, and my foggy memory is that it wasn’t out of the ordinary in terms of interpretation.

If there are other readings later in the books, then I can’t comment on those (one day I will build up the courage to finish the books!!)

[MischiefMeownaged]

I also felt this way with Mexican Gothic if anyone has read that book recently.

Loved the book but had a hard time analyzing the tarot card references with the story line.

[ToWriteandDream]

I read the books a really long time ago and have only recently gotten into tarot, but I was under the impression that the author actually did tarot herself? I might be imagining that, I just feel like I read it in some interview. It’s totally possible I’m wrong, though.