XIII Tarot Nekro - black and white gothic with sharp colour accents
Not all tarot cards are inviting. Some hold up a mirror without softening the edges. The XIII Tarot by Nekro is that kind of deck: black and white as a base, colour as accent, and imagery that does not hide the shadow side of fantasy.
Published by Lo Scarabeo. 78 cards in a format of 63 x 120 mm. The images are digital compositions with baroque ornaments, photo manipulation and a dramatic design that leaves plenty of room for projection.
What you see on the cards
The imagery is gothic, rich in detail and often abstract. Nekro works with contrasts: black and white dominates, and then a red tone breaks through, or gold, or blue. These colour accents are strategically placed and draw attention to the symbol the maker wants to emphasise.
The ornaments are baroque, sometimes almost excessive. That suits the theatrical atmosphere of the deck. The cards do not read quickly. You have to look for a moment before the image settles.
The guidebook is compact and multilingual. Basic interpretations are included, but no extensive descriptions. The deck expects you to make the connections yourself.
How this deck behaves
The XIII Tarot is known for direct answers. No detours, no softening language. That comes partly from the imagery, which offers little room for gentle interpretations.
The deck works well for shadow work, for questions about hidden patterns, for readings in which you do not look away. Many readers reach for this deck during dark moon phases or when the question demands honesty.
Draw one card and let it sit for a day. The images are layered enough to return to several times.
About Nekro
Nekro is a Spanish illustrator who works primarily digitally. His style is characterised by a combination of photo manipulation, classical ornaments and a gothic colour palette. With the XIII Tarot he has created a deck that now has a permanent place in the tarot world.
His work is theatrical and macabre, yet it shows that darkness can have its own form of elegance.
Specifications
- Number of cards: 78
- Format: 63 x 120 mm
- Language: multilingual (English, Spanish, French, Italian, German)
- Publisher: Lo Scarabeo
- ISBN: 9780738745886
- Finish: durable coating
- Illustrator: Nekro
Questions we often get
Does this deck differ strongly from the Rider-Waite system?
Yes. The images are more abstract and less literal. The structure of the arcana is the same, but the symbolism asks for a different way of reading. Experience with tarot helps.
In which languages is the guidebook?
English, Spanish, French, Italian and German. The texts are brief and focus on basic interpretations.
