Deck review: Horror Tiny Tarot by Minerva Siegal, Aria Gmitter and Abigail Larson

Add an element of horror to your tarot experience with this spooky and unique take on the traditional 78-card tarot deck. Featuring both major and minor arcana, the set also includes a helpful guidebook explaining each card’s meaning and simple instructions for easy readings. This alluring tiny tarot deck (based on the full-size Horror Tarot and Guidebook) is packaged in a beautiful custom tin and features iconic characters and motifs from classic horror literature, films, and beyond in gorgeous and original illustrations.

COMPLETE TAROT EXPERIENCE: This deluxe set of 78 cards consists of both major and minor arcana, perfect for anyone beginning their tarot practice, as well as for experienced practitioners.

DETAILED GUIDEBOOK: Includes a 128-page guidebook with explanations of each card’s meaning and simple spreads for easy readings.

GREAT GIFT: With a sturdy and decorative tin, this is sure to intrigue fans of horror and tarot practitioners alike.

You can see the complete flickthrough on Tiktok or youtube. I posted two interviews, an interview spread and the Hiding in Shadows spread.

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Horror Tiny Tarot is part of a series published by Insight Editions and Titan Books. Sturdy, cute and easy to carry around, will these decks suit you? Read on to find out!

📌 Specs & Quick Summary

• Deck Name: Horror Tiny Tarot

• Publisher: Insight Editions / Titan Books

• Deck Size: 78 cards (Major & Minor Arcana)

• Card Dimensions: Mini deck (fits in a small tin)

• Card Stock: Red-gilded, durable, smooth shuffle

• Guidebook: 128 pages, upright/reversed meanings, spreads included

• Spreads Included:

  • Hiding in Shadow

  • Exorcise the Demons

  • Deal with the Devil

• Artwork Style: Gothic, dramatic, inspired by classic horror literature & films

• Special Features: Reversible card backs, mini elastic for storage, tin packaging (no plastic)

• Skill Level: Beginner-friendly for those with some tarot familiarity; ideal for intermediate or advanced readers

• Great For: Horror fans, tarot collectors, travel-friendly readings

Quick Verdict: Tiny but mighty. Stunning visuals, durable construction, and fun, thematic spreads make this a gem for both readings and collecting. 

I. First Impressions

Unboxing Experience
The deck arrives in a small tin - refreshingly, with no plastic anywhere. The tin isn’t shrink-wrapped, and the cards are simply held together with a piece of elastic. It’s just large enough for the deck and a mini version of the guidebook (LWB).

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💡 Tip: When putting the cards back in, slide them straight down rather than at an angle - they can jam if not perfectly aligned.

Artwork Style
The art is deliciously gothic and melodramatic, drenched in blood reds, sickly greens, and inky blacks. I’d love to see the full-size deck someday, but even in this tiny form, the illustrations are striking and atmospheric.

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II. The Cards

The backs feature a reversible design - I love the cobweb detail in the corners!
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Major Arcana
Based on the Rider–Waite–Smith system, with Strength at VIII and Justice at XI. Titles appear across the bottom, with Roman numerals at the top, all framed neatly within the image. My short-sighted eyes found the font a bit small, but most readers won’t have trouble.

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Minor Arcana
Fully illustrated and labelled - intriguingly, with Roman numerals too. I wondered at first whether the imagery referenced specific horror stories, but it’s more about tropes and moods than direct references. That makes the deck far more flexible and open to interpretation.

Card Stock & Size
The cards are red-gilded and glide smoothly in the hand. I’ve used them heavily for a few weeks now, and there’s been no chipping, tearing, or bending.

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III. The Guidebook

Writing Style & Readability
As with the cards, the print is a bit small - understandable for a mini deck - so I used a magnifier for some passages. The writing itself, though, is excellent: clear, accessible, and to the point, consistent with Minerva’s other decks.

Card Meanings
Majors get two pages each - a full-page image, an explanation of the art, and upright/reversed meanings. Minors get one page, with a smaller image and the two meanings listed. The interpretations are easy to follow and not overly esoteric.

Spreads & Techniques
The guidebook includes three themed spreads designed especially for this deck:

• Hiding in Shadow

• Exorcise the Demons

• Deal with the Devil

They’re clever, cohesive, and genuinely fun to read with!

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IV. In Use

Intuition & Connection
At first glance, the deck’s color palette and imagery felt a bit strange - eerie, even. Some cards puzzled me (why does The Empress have a flower bursting from her chest?). Then it clicked: that’s fertility and life in its rawest form. Once I saw that, the deck started to bloom for me. It just needed that small shift in perspective.

Clarity of Readings
Readings have been surprisingly gentle and insightful. My usual querent liked the artwork and commented that the messages felt softer than expected for such a darkly themed deck.

Suitability for Different Skill Levels
With its twists on traditional symbolism, I wouldn’t recommend this as a first deck. But for readers looking to deepen their intuition and explore shadow work, it’s a perfect fit.

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Final Thoughts

I’ve really enjoyed working with this deck - it’s a practically perfect mini. The tin keeps it safe for travel, the cardstock is durable, and the readings flow beautifully. My only quibble? I have to squint sometimes!

💀 If this deck were a card, it would be The Moon.
Mysterious, haunting, and full of shadowy allure, The Horror Tiny Tarot invites you to step beyond the familiar light of day and explore what lurks in the half-seen corners of intuition. Beneath the dripping reds and ghostly greens, it’s not fear that lives here, but revelation - the kind that comes only when you’re brave enough to walk through the dark.