Review: Become an Exceptional Tarot Reader

Title: Become an Exceptional Tarot Reader: The Card Meanings & Skills You Need to Ace Every Reading
Author:  Ethony Dawn
Publisher:  Llewellyn Publications
Date:  December 8, 2025
Pages:  416 

A culmination of Ethony Dawn’s twenty-five years teaching tarot, “Become an Exceptional Tarot Reader” takes you through the steps to become confident and successful reading cards.  

The book is structured so that each chapter builds on the ones before it, therefore it is meant to be read in the order it is written. Information is presented in a logical manner beginning with basics such as myths, how the seventy-eight cards are grouped into segments, and various ways to pick cards. Practical exercises help you get to know your deck.

Chapter two introduces the major arcana and presents the Fool’s Journey from innocence to fulfillment. Chapters three, four, and five separate the twenty-two major arcana cards into three stages. Each card is pictured in black and white, and its imagery is explained. Astrological correspondences, an affirmation, keywords and meanings for upright and reversed cards are also given, and the wisdom the card brings to readings for love, money, and health. Thoughtful journal prompts assist the reader in relating the cards to their personal life. 

There is an introduction to each of the four suits and the court cards, a discussion about ethics when giving a tarot reading, and diagrams of sample spreads. A whole chapter covers weaving numerology into tarot readings, including the meaning of each number, how to find your own major arcana card, and the importance of recognizing patterns. Exercises throughout the book will develop skills, confidence, and proficiency without the need to memorize meanings. 

Beginners get an easy-to-follow, in-depth guide from a master teacher. Experienced readers can get perspectives they may not have considered before and the exercises may bring about a deeper connection to the cards. For me, the court cards are what has been most challenging, even after reading for more than twenty years, so I especially liked finding insights in the chapter devoted to them. 

While Ethony selected the Rider-Waite-Smith deck for this book, much of the information is transferable to other decks and even different systems. She concludes the book with charts of the upright and reversed meanings for each card and a dozen recommendations for other books on tarot to enhance your practice, including two others by her. 

About the Author:
Ethony Dawn has been reading the tarot for more than twenty-five years. Her first book, “Your Tarot Court,” was published in 2019, followed by “Tarot Grimoire” in 2024. She has created four tarot decks, including “Bad Bitches Tarot” and three oracle decks, including the “Awakened Soul Oracle.” She teaches the art of reading the tarot at the Tarot Readers Academy where she is the headmistress. Find her at Ethony.com.  

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.