Dark Side of Tarot

Dark Side of Tarot - monochrome deck for shadow work and confrontation

Some tarot cards soften the answer. This deck does not. Dark Side of Tarot is built on black-and-white contrast, with no colour to ease or distract the eye. Artist Corrado Roi draws with the precision of a comic book illustrator and the shadow work you know from film noir. Tarot writer Sasha Graham wrote the guidebook.

The deck contains 78 cards, both Major and Minor Arcana. All illustrations are monochrome. Where classic RWS cards use colour accents to set mood, this deck asks you to focus on composition, light fall and facial expression. That makes the symbolism more direct.

What you see on the cards

Roi draws figures stepping out of darkness, or disappearing into it. Faces are sharp, body language is charged. There is no decorative border or gradient to soften the gaze. Each card is built like a film still: one moment, high contrast, emotionally loaded.

The 128-page guidebook describes the cards from a psychological perspective. Graham writes about shadow work, duality and confronting hidden patterns. No fixed meaning lists, but interpretations that assume inner truth.

How this deck behaves in readings

The absence of colour puts emphasis on form and symbolism. That works well for questions where you need a clear answer, without nuance that softens the message. The deck reads less easily for light daily draws. It is built for readings where you want to understand something deeply.

Many readers use this deck specifically for shadow work: examining suppressed emotions, hidden patterns or aspects of yourself you would rather not see. The cards lay that bare, without detours.

Draw a card at New Moon and place it in front of you without interpreting. Look at what is there for a full minute. That works better than reaching for the guidebook straight away.

About Corrado Roi and Sasha Graham

Corrado Roi is an Italian comic book artist, known for his shadowy, atmospheric style. He works mainly in black and white and has a background in graphic storytelling. You can see that in the way each card is constructed: as a scene, not a still life.

Sasha Graham writes about tarot and has several books to her name. She works regularly with publishers and artists on thematic decks. For this deck she wrote texts that address the psychological layer of each card.

Specifications

• Number of cards: 78 (Major and Minor Arcana)
• Card size: 70 x 120 mm
• Guidebook: 128 pages
• Language: English
• Finish: Matte
• Card stock: High-quality, sturdy cardboard
• Illustrator: Corrado Roi
• Author: Sasha Graham

Questions we often get

Does a black-and-white deck work as well as a coloured deck?
It works differently. Without colour you fall back on form, light and symbol. That can be clearer, but also more confronting. Whether that works better depends on what you are looking for in a reading.

Can I use this deck if I am just starting with tarot?
Yes, the guidebook explains the cards and the images are clear enough. But the register is heavy. If you want to learn tarot with gentle guidance, a classic RWS deck is a more comfortable start.