A Tarot Reading for the Characters of the Raven Cycle

The deck, The Raven’s Prophecy Tarot, illustrated by the author, is filled with imagery from the books: hands, fire, roses, and, of course, ravens. Presumably, Stiefvater doesn’t get much sleep. Clearly, I had to have it.
I finished reading The Raven King in my bed on a gray morning, sobbing and feeling desolate that the adventure was over. It was, perhaps, the first time I had cried because of the pure doneness of something since the Harry Potter books. I’m going to miss these guys. At least, until I read the books over again.
But I am nosy, and thanks to Maggie Stiefvater I have the exact tools I need to peek into the future of these characters. Using the Raven’s Prophecy deck, I did a simple one-card reading for all my favorites, just to check in. As Blue’s mother, Maura Sargent, always tells her new clients, “this reading will be accurate, but not specific.” The same warning applies to this reading. Unless I’ve got that backward…
Blue Sargent – Ten of Coins
Coins! The most practical of the tarot suits for the most practical half-psychic/half-tree spirit that ever walked the earth. For Blue, this card shows a future where all this logistical living has come to fruition with an abundance of everything she ever wanted: travel, new experiences, financial comfort, and love. Now, having set foot on every continent with her true love, Blue’s challenge is to figure out how to put all this knowledge, experience, and freedom to use. She won’t be completely happy otherwise.
Richard Campbell Gansey III – Ten of Wands
How fitting that Blue’s true love receives her twin number, in the suit that represents magic, creativity, and growth. The Ten of Wands represents the realization of a goal, but more than that it represents the journey that comes after. I sense that Gansey is going to struggle in the near future, with the search for Glendower ended and the psychological burden of a second death and resurrection. However, the card also suggests that with the support of his friends, and his propensity toward curiosity, he’ll find a new quest to occupy him soon enough.
Ronan Lynch – Wheel of Fortune
Another ten! This time, the tenth card in the major arcana. I’m pulling these cards out organically, I swear! The Raven Cycle ends on Ronan, dreaming. He is a creator, a person with the ability to make things change, to make things new. What this card suggests is a future in which he has become comfortable, if not downright happy, with this role. He has loved hard, he has lost hard, and now he is ready to embrace the idea of a future that contains more of both. We don’t need to worry about Ronan Lynch.
Adam Parrish – Knight of Cups
The words Stiefvater associates with the Knight of Cups are whimsy, dreaming, romantic, and fanciful. So… pretty much the opposite of what we know about Adam Parrish. I take this as a sign that there is a future Adam who has learned to let his heart take the lead from time to time. An Adam who does things for the joy of it, and not just to achieve something. These things can happen when you live in a house of dreams, with a dreamer as your lover.
Noah Czerny
I tried to draw a card, but it fell on the floor face down.
Maura Sargent and The Gray Man – Seven of Wands
There are difficult times ahead for these lovers. What else can you expect when you start a war against some of the most violent, wealthy people the world has to offer? That battle will not be won quickly, but this hardship will not tear Maura and Mr. Gray apart. In fact, it will strengthen the bond between them, and that bond will be their defense against those who come to attack it. They will come out the other side stronger, and truer, for having faced these evils.
Henry Cheng – Eight of Wands
Henry Cheng will continue living his life in the way that works for him, fighting for the things he cares about, fighting for the people he cares about. He knows he can come on a little strong sometimes, but he also knows that for the right people that won’t matter. Henry has the rare talent of knowing what he wants to change in the world, and the people he wants to change it with. Life is going to be good to Henry Cheng.
Cabeswater – The Star
Hope. Cabeswater is in stasis right now. It’s possible it might remain that way for a very long time, a hope, a romance, and a dream. The important thing isn’t that it comes hurrying back into reality. For now it is enough that it remains a possibility to inspire the adventurers, the do-gooders, and most of all the dreamers.