I have both cards and book and this book is truly a wonderful help in helping read the cards. It is illustrated and the explantations are straight and to the point. I highly advise a novice to get the book, since it is much easier to use than the small inserts given with the decks of cards. I personally just won't purchase one without the other if it is available. Enjoy!
The cards as well as the book are artistic, and strike the imagination. You can compare the meanings to the cards as well as the story lines of the Arthurian Legend for further insights along with the Tarot. While I think that the author should have been a bit more accurate with the elements relating to the cards, I still think that one can certainly begin to appreciate the art, imagination, and accuracy of the Tarot.