Deck Review: The Vampire’s Tale Tarot

• Author: Sasha Graham (Sasha Graham)
• Artist: Abigail Larson (Abigail Larson)
• Publisher: Llewellyn The Vampire’s Tale Tarot | Llewellyn Worldwide, Ltd.
• Publication Date: September 2026
• Recommended Retail Price: $28.99 USD
• Reviewer: Cadence (IG: @temperanceandtruth)

When I sat down to write this review, I realized that I have every single one of Sasha Graham’s decks! The Vampire’s Tale deck is the creator’s second project with artist Abigail Larson; their first deck is called Dark Wood Tarot. These two decks definitely share the same dark fairytale space with a touch of campy horror trope thrown in. They also have a similar look with the same color story, distinct borders, and Abigail Larson’s signature comic-book style dark fantasy art.

The Dark Fairytale tarot is unique in that it centers around the story of character Octavia Lucia Dellacroce (see: campy fun!), which unfolds as a complete narrative throughout the novella-like guidebook. Octavia begins her story as a young girl who is, naturally, locked up in a dark room in a castle by her father. Her imprisonment is both because she is blamed for the death of her mother and because of her unusual condition: her eyes turn red in the sunlight and she has extreme sun sensitivity. Her Fool’s Journey is her escape from the castle and her encounters with various creatures and characters as she moves through the Major Arcana and understands herself to be a half-human/half-vampire. While the narrative doesn’t quite continue as a story through the Minor Arcana, we become more acquainted with the characters and the circumstances Octavia meets as she travels the vampire world with her wolfy-looking dog, Morel.

You see Octavia and Morel in the Fool card at the beginning of their escape. Next, she meets Shem Alarie, the Magician of vampires, who introduces Octavia to the idea of vampires and blood as food. Shem explains the quest of Octavia’s journey, which centers around her red feather quill and a sacred scroll that will save the vampires from eternal unrest. It’s a great romp through the Major Arcana in a way that is fun for experienced readers while also being accessible to beginners.

In the guidebook, each Major Arcana and Court entry has six sections: keywords, name, description, meaning, hidden factor (inversion), and secret question. In the Major Arcana, the description section is the storyline we follow. The Minor Arcana has the same guidebook format apart from the name section. The Minors, Octavia tells us, are the four kingdoms (“houses”) of the vampire world: House of Flame (Wands); House of Depth (Cups); House of Thought (Air); and House of Form (Pentacles). Each section begins with a description of the Houses as they align with the elemental suits.

I love the image for the Two of Wands, depicting a girl seeing her transformation to a vampire in a mirror, with a crystal ball and a tarot deck on the table. The Meaning section provides: “Unlocking the door to who you are and who you are meant to become…[S]elf-reflection in the throes of metamorphosis”. The planning nature of the Two of Wands is indicated by her tools of tarot and the crystal ball. She is looking in the mirror rather than the typical RWS image of a figure looking out at the horizon; in this way, the emphasis is more on curiosity and self-growth, as she embarks on her new journey as a vampire. The mirrored candles are the two wands. It’s a unique take on the Two of Wands imagery, and it absolutely works.

Another favorite image is the Four of Swords, depicting a woman levitating in her sleep: “Cohesion of the mind…Mental and emotional rest.” The creep factor is great, especially given the description which explains that the woman is a young mother who has begun foaming at the mouth, speaking in tongues, and performing nightly rituals (!), much to the horror of her husband (and the delight of her daughter). I love the levitating mother as a replacement for the usual resting figure in RWS imagery. The whole scene reminds me of ‘light as a feather, stiff as a board’, the slumber party activity of choice for witchy preteens.

Most of the imagery stays enough in the RWS wheelhouse to be recognizable. While I usually relate vampire-themed decks to Halloween and the darker months of the year, I really think this feels like a year-round deck. The dark fantasy art that Abigail Larson is known for really shines in the imagery. My one production gripe is that because Abigail’s art is so detailed, for once I am wishing for a larger card size or at least a thinner border. Those of use with older eyes may have issues making out all of the fantastic details in the artist’s line work.

The production is otherwise top-notch. The magnetic box is in Llewellyn’s new-normal smaller size, which is well-loved in the tarot community. It is decorated beautifully and is a treat to look at, with ends that resemble a book spine. My card nest was a little damaged upon arrival, but this doesn’t affect the function at all. The guidebook is full color and fantastic quality. The cards are glossy, flexible, and have a lovely matte black edge that perfectly aligns with the deck theme. Shuffling is a dream. Also included is a two-sided card with information about the creators and a card stand.

If you are attracted to darker themes, fantasy, vampires, and gothic story-telling, this deck is for you. While I embrace the dark, so to speak, fantasy and story-as-tarot are not the themes I am usually drawn to, but this deck is a solid winner for me. I love the author’s other decks, so I expected to love The Vampire’s Tale tarot, and it did not disappoint. Highly recommend! Thank you to Llewellyn for the review copy of this deck.

More on the Creators:

Sasha Graham is a tarot expert and best-selling author of 12 books and several tarot decks, including Tarot of Haunted House, Dark Wood Tarot, and Tarot of the Witch’s Garden. Sasha teaches tarot classes and hosts tarot events. In addition to her work in the tarot world, Sasha is an actress in indie horror films.

Abigail Larson is a mixed-media artist specializing in a dark fantasy. She has illustrated several other tarot decks, including Dark Wood Tarot, The Nightmare Before Christmas Tarot, Horror Tarot, and Beetlejuice Tarot. In addition, Abigail has worked in character design for several television shows.

The Vampire’s Tale Tarot is now available for pre-order here: https://www.llewellyn.com/product.php?ean=9780738775128 and from all good online bookstores, and will be available from early September 2026.