Book Review: Tarot Card Companion

Title:  Tarot Card Companion: Master the Art of Tarot Reading
Author:  Victoria Maxwell
Publisher:  Rockpool Publishing
Release Date:  August 12, 2025
Pages:  355 pages

Victoria Maxwell packs a lot of information into “Tarot Card Companion: Master the Art of Tarot Reading.” Her deck, “Your First Tarot” was released along with this book, but is not part of this review. Because that deck closely follows the Rider-Waite-Smith deck, this guide can pair with any tarot deck based on that 78-card system.

Each card has a two-page spread with a picture of the card and a description of its imagery, a short paragraph of key words and phrases, correspondences, meanings upright and reversed, questions to meditate on or journal about, affirmations, and a ritual.

Maxwell introduces a wide variety of topics including the elements, numerology, crystals, and herbs. There are sections on general spreads, court cards, developing intuition, shadow work, and helpful advice for reading scary cards. A troubleshooting section – with help when readings do not make sense – closes out the book.

This guide to the tarot will take beginners through all the steps from choosing a deck to reading the cards. For experienced readers, Maxwell offers tarot spells, a pathworking practice, and a spread for each of the twenty-two cards comprising the fool’s journey.

Maxwell’s style is relaxed, friendly, and encouraging. She tells readers, “There is no right or wrong way to read tarot,” and “You do not need to know everything before you start reading for yourself.”

“Tarot Card Companion” is an easy-to-follow resource. The breadth of material presented is vast, giving readers a basic understanding of many aspects that contribute to mastering the tarot. It’s all you need to begin reading confidently.

About the Author:
Victoria “Vix” Maxwell is the best-selling young adult fiction author of the Santolsa Saga series, author of “Witch, Please: Empowerment and Enlightenment for the Modern Mystic” published by HarperCollins, and the “Angels Among Us Oracle” published by Rockpool Publishing. She is the creator of New Age Hipster, a spiritual home for good witches, lightworkers, starseeds, and spiritual seekers. A priestess for present times, modern mystic, and spiritual teacher in Converse sneakers, Maxwell supports her worldwide community in reconnecting to their own light, inner guidance and power through readings, classes, workshops and mentoring.

About the Reviewer:
As an eclectic solitary practitioner, I travel the country in a converted school bus and share magick with those I meet. Find me at https://thewitchonwheels.com/ and on Facebook.