Women in the Arts, the Magazine of the National Museum of Women in the Arts :
"Complete with gilded edges and marbled pages, Kris Waldherr's The Lover's Path plunges readers into the mysterious and exhilarating world of sixteenth-century Venice . . . the artistry of the book is delightful—passionate love letters are placed in tiny enevelopes, fantastical drawings accompany the stories from the journal, and brilliant tarot-card-like imagery flashes across each page. The Lover's Path is an easy read and a visual adventure."
The Endicott Studio for Mythic Arts:
“. . . a gorgeous new book, The Lover’s Path, from artist and author, Kris Waldherr. This is the tale of Filamena Ziani, a 16th century singer from Venice (and sister to Tullia Ziani a well-known courtesan at the time. The book is sumptuous from the rich Florentine end papers, to Kris lovely illustrations, and all the wonderful little surprises within the book: envelopes with Filamena’s letters and smaller illustrations. It is a treasure trove of art and literature. Do visit The Lover’s Path website which has an excerpt from the book, examples of the interior art, a short flash animation film on Venice of the 16th century, and more. This is a really splendid book.”
The Alburquerque Journal:
"With this illustrated novel, Waldherr has spun a wondrous story spilling over with mythological figures, with tarot cards and personal letters. You're pulled into a vortex of a 16th century romance centered on Filamena Ziani, the younger sister of a famous courtesan in Venice . . . Filamena becomes a singer, a composer and independent, which was unheard of for women of that time. Waldherr, who based her novel on a real-life courtesan, also created the illustrations for her book. Grazie, Signora Waldherr, per La Via dell' Amante."
WNBC/B(u)y the Book:
"Voluptuous illustration and enthralling narrative are accompanied by fun-to-open letters, maps, and tarot cards in this extraordinary testament to the strength of the feminine spirit."
Romance Reviews Today:
"The novel is gorgeous, every inch a work of art. Bound in hardcover with gilded page edges, it's heavily illustrated in the manner of the period. On the inside, an occasional page has a pocket or fold-out pasted in. Interspersed within Filamena's fictional fiabla, are reminders of storied tales of the past. Filamena's relating in her own words where following the lover's path leads her has a mythical aura . . . So well is the whole thing rendered that it all has the ring of truth."
THE LOVER'S PATH TAROT
New Age Retailer:
"When doing tarot readings, I have found that the most frequently asked questions involve love and relationships. The Lover’s Path Tarot Set by artist and writer Kris Waldherr not only answers queries about partnership issues, it also offers insights into how our relationships with others mirror our relationships with ourselves.
Waldherr’s deck interprets familiar tarot themes as famous couples: Isis and Osiris represent the lovers; Persephone and Pluto depict transformation (death in most decks); and Merlin and Vivianne portray magic. Other mythological figures appear on the court cards. Hera is the queen of coins, and Cupid is the prince of arrows. Their triumphs and struggles are told on the pip cards.
The 162-page companion book, richly illustrated in full color, explains the meanings of the individual cards and takes readers on a journey through the myths and legends of many cultures. By showing users the cards through the experiences of fabled lovers, Waldherr deepens understanding of the tarot. Queen Isolde’s boredom with her marriage and her longing for Tristan, for instance, aptly describe the discontent inherent in the four of cups. A 7.5-by-21-inch, full-color scroll featuring different spreads is included with the kit. In this appealing set, the tarot truly becomes a guide for self-discovery.
Handsomely packaged in a red box with a Velcro closure. The Lover’s Path Tarot Set is one of the prettiest presentations I have seen — a delightful and unique set to give or to own. Whether your customers are tarot experts or novices, this gorgeous deck is sure to captivate them."
Tarot Passages:
"The Lover’s Path Tarot comes to us from the creator of the Goddess Tarot, Kris Waldherr, and while the highly acclaimed Goddess Tarot is a tribute to the talented painter and storyteller, Waldherr outdid her own formidable reputation with this latest. She had to be immersed in the creative artists’ “zone” every minute of the 10 years it took to create The Lover’s Path Tarot.
My head can’t stop saying, “how wonderful!” and my heart echoes, “how beautiful!” when I look at these cards. I can’t help myself -- I am in book-lover’s ecstasy, too, over the find of a new “Precious” for my substantial hoard.
The book mentions an official Web site for The Lover’s Path Tarot, as well as Waldherr’s personal Web site, where you can find out more before you buy. A limited edition of this deck and book set is available online, which includes an extra card and a numbered print. Waldherr’s Internet site reveals she and her team are not without marketing acumen -- you’ll discover quality in her online presence, too, that exceeds the ordinary.
If romantic themes, mythology and beauty intrigue you, The Lover’s Path will be winding its way into your tarot collection very soon."
The Swashbuckling Mind of the Queen of Swords:
"First of all, the presentation of this deck is absolutely gorgeous. You can have a virtual look at the artist's website. The outside box is made of a very sturdy cardboard and has velcro closure on the side. This is meant as a lovely and enduring way to house the deck, not as a cheap throwaway. When the box is opened, you will find that it is printed on the inside as well. The deck is in its own decorated well, but it also has its own box. This is a very nice feature for those who want to carry the deck without bringing along the whole package. Overall, this is a very well-designed and presented package.
The deck and book definitely live up to the promise of the packaging. Initially, I wasn't sure about the whole idea of illustrating major arcana with couples, but Kris's attributions are well thought out and add new dimensions to the card meanings. For example, I love Shahrazade as the High Priestess. She spins out her tales, one section at a time to save her own neck. A very unique secret-keeper! Her lover, Shahriyar, seems to represent us, sitting on the edge of our seats, waiting for the wonderful knowledge we seek to be revealed a bit at a time. I also love Romeo and Juliet as Tradition (Hierophant). The card depicts Romeo and Juliet with the Friar. What is more important - the tradition of family conflict or the promise of love fulfilled, as represented by the Friar? Their choice is clear. The illustrations are beautiful and passionate.
The Minor Arcana are equally beautiful. I find them to be richer in content than the Goddess Tarot, which Kris Waldherr also illustrated. Each suit shows the love story of one of the Major Arcana couples. Cups show Tristan and Isolde, Staves show Siegfried and Brunhilde, Arrows (Swords) depict Cupid and Psyche, and Coins (Pentacles) show Zeus and Danae. Once again, Kris's choices add layers of meaning to the cards. I especially like the 7 of Cups, in which Isolde considers all the choices she might make while also imagining a kiss from her lover. The 4 of Coins shows a daydreaming Danae in her tower. One of the pentacles covers her genital area (not blatantly), keeping her closed off from having a lover. Although she is not closed off by her own will, this card elegantly conveys the same idea.
The book is of the same high quality as the deck. The pages are all in color on a thick glossy paper. Each page contains a smaller full-color version of each card. Descriptions of each major take up 2 pages each, while the minors get 1 page each. There are spreads to try in the back, along with a quick reference guide. The spreads are replicated with less description on the spread scroll included with the set.
This deck is a wonderful addition to anyone's tarot collection. Though I suspect it would be most effective for relationship and love questions, I think that it would do well for any kind of reading. The presentation can't be beat, and the artwork is lovely and well-planned. I highly recommend this deck.
