RATING: The World!

It's not every day we have a chance to review a fictional book focused on Tarot themes. We were delighted to accept a copy of The Last Troubadour from publisher Kunati, although not with the highest expectations.

I was absolutely blown away by this novel, on a number of levels. Yes, it's definitely entertaining, as a novel should be. In fact, it's magnificent. Bawdy. Funny. Exciting. But that wouldn't earn a review in Wise Tarot Magazine. 

The Last Troubadour: Song of Montsegur
US Price $ 24.95
Canadian Price $26.95
Kunati Books
ISBN 9781601640109

The Big Story

So, how does this epic novel work as a tarot-themed novel? That's the big story here. In a recent interview on Tarotconnection.net, author Derek Armstrong explained he was inspired not just to write another "hero's journey. That's been done before." It is the hero's classic journey though, or more properly, the Fool's Journey. Armstrong wanted much more than a tarot-plotted novel. "I wanted to write characters right out of the Tarot in my epic. It took me eighteen years in the end, because I wanted these characters to be real people from history with real events used to demonstrate the archetypes."

This reviewer was thrilled. We have the Fool in Ramon Troubadour, the last living troubadour, on a quest to rescue the Dame of the Cathars, who is our High Priestess. Both are perfect characterizations. But with him we have a heroic but disenchanted Templar as the Chariot, various characters from the Baug Balar circus as other trumps. You've got to love the Baug Balar circus. Nevara the sorceress is our Magician, the twin Hun knife-throwers play Temperance, two mysterious rebels play the Lovers, and the leader of the Baug Balar, the Mother of them all plays the Empress. I felt the characters of the Tarot coming alive. Not only is this an entertaining and crafty way to convey Tarot archetypes, we delve deeper than a basic non-fiction book could have. This is equally a book for the tarot student. Instead of pictures, we have pictures in words, conveyed with actions. Wonderful.

Armstrong Knows His Tarot 

The Devil is a carnal Archbishop, a great character to hate, and the best of all is probably the Death character, a disfigured ex-Abott on a crusade to purge the south of heretics. Put it this way, you'll be entertained, you'll learn the cards, and it's clear Mr. Armstrong knows his Tarot. What a unique, visionary way to explore Tarot! 

Movie Rights?

Kunati indicated several companies are reading for acquisition and development. I can visualize a grand Lord of the Rings big-budget movie. The tarot archetypes would lend themselves to a wonderful movie treatment. 

And a Deck Too?

Next year I'll have an opportunity to review the Troubadour Tarot deck by Kam Wai Yu, a well known illustrator, winner of hundreds of International Awards. Under the guidence of author Derek Armstrong, the deck should be marvelous. 

The Novel Trailer

Just because I was so entranced with the video for The Last Troubadour: Song of Montsegur, I asked the editors to embed the trailer here. It's fun! 

Karen Moyers is the Review Editor at Films and Books Magazine and a freelance book reviewer and writer.

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Wise Tarot Ratings

Generally, "major arcana" card ratings trump Aces. Aces are the most likely overall best ratings, with slightly different "personalities" between the suites. Twos are typically very good, threes good, fours are fair and fives dissapointing.

World — The Ultimate Synthesis, a perfect rating!
Magician — The Ultimate rating for magickal applications!
Fool — The Ultimate rating for new seekers: bravely combines ease-of-use with artistry

Ace Wands — A near-perfect rating, a deck with real vibrant energy and force.
Ace Cups — A near-perfect rating, a pleasure in every way to use.
Ace Swords — A near-perfect rating, an inspired deck, revolutionary rather than evolutionary.
Ace Pentacles — A near-perfect rating, practical and successful in every tangible way.
Two Wands — A very good rating, successful and likely to do well (dominate competitors)
Two Cups — A very good rating, evokes an emotional and positive feeling
Two Swords — A good rating, but not entirely harmonious, somewhat contradictory or awkward
Two Pentacles — Pleasant and harmonious, but not perfect
Three Pentacles — Good, likely to succeed, but a little forced or unoriginal
Four Swords — Needs work,  incubation or meditation and development
Five of Cups — Dissapointing
Five of Pentacles — Unimaginative 

Lon Milo DuQuette again takes the complex and mystical and gives access to all seekers. Both the intermediate "beginner" and the advanced Thoth Tarot enthusiast will benefit from this precise, easy-to-use yet informative tool, arguably the best book yet written on the Thoth Tarot.

• Paperback: 352 pages
• Publisher: Weiser Books (November 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1578632765
• ISBN-13: 9781578632763

Review

This book is not quite for everyone, although nearly anyone will be able to benefit from the read if they are interested. Thoth Tarot enthusiasts will find this to be the best book yet written on the brilliant deck, a better sit-down read than Aleister Crowley's own Book of Thoth. In plain language, magickal bestseller Lon Milo DuQuette makes Crowley's methods and Lady Harris's imagery easy to comprehend. This is no "Thoth for Dummies", but for the first time an author manages to educate, illuminate and help move the seeker forward without unecessary jargon or incomprehensible theories. All of Crowley's theories and methods are contained more-or-less in this accessible book, without the broad assumptions of prior knowledge or the impenetrable cloud of mystical coding. Mr. DuQuette is not only an expert on Thoth, he makes the reader feel as if he or she can become an expert as well. And making the gorgeous imagery of the Thoth tarot accessible for everyone is a noble mission. Major kudos to Lon DuQuette. 

Rating MAGICIAN! 

Wise Tarot Ratings

Generally, "major arcana" card ratings trump Aces. Aces are the most likely overall best ratings, with slightly different "personalities" between the suites. Twos are typically very good, threes good, fours are fair and fives dissapointing.

World — The Ultimate Synthesis, a perfect rating!
Magician — The Ultimate rating for magickal applications!
Fool — The Ultimate rating for new seekers: bravely combines ease-of-use with artistry