Magician and Fool
Susan Wands
Publisher: SparkPress
Genre: Historical Fantasy, Magical Realism
Pamela Colman Smith, newly arrived from New York to her birthplace of London, is received as an oddball in Victorian society. Her second sight helps her in her new job: illustrating tarot cards for the Golden Dawn, a newly formed occult group. But when Pamela refuses to share her creations with Aleister Crowley, a controversial magician, he issues a threat: give up the cards’ power, or he’ll harm her muses.
In the midst of this battle, two of Pamela’s idols, the actors Henry Irving and William Terriss, take her under their wing. Henry, who tutors her as the leader of the Lyceum Theatre, becomes the muse for her Magician card. William Terriss, teaching her by examples of instinct and courage, becomes the muse for her Fool card. As Pamela begins to create the tarot deck, she is almost overwhelmed by the race to possess the magical power of her cards. In order to defeat Aleister, Henry and William will have to transform into living incarnations of the Magician and the Fool, and Pamela will have to learn how to conjure her own magic.
Awards:
- 2024 American Legacy Book Awards Winner – Visionary Fiction
- 2023 International Book Awards Winner – Fiction (Visionary)
- 2023 IPPY Awards Gold Medalist – Visionary/New Age Fiction
- 2023 IAN Book of the Year Awards Finalist – Fiction: Paranormal/Supernatural
“Susan Wands’ Magician and Fool tells the intriguing and little-known story of Pamela Colman Smith, creator of one of the most famous Tarot decks in history. With meticulously researched period detail, Wands brings nineteenth-century London to life. From the secret chambers of the Golden Dawn society to private screenings of ancient Egyptian texts and artifacts, Wands takes the reader on a journey through not only history, but also the compelling beauty and danger of the dark arts.”
—Melodie Winawer, author of Anticipation and The Scribe of Siena
My Thoughts
Magician and Fool has already earned some serious recognition, 2024 American Legacy Book Award winner, plus multiple other honors, and honestly, it’s easy to see why. I don’t devour books the way I used to, mostly thanks to time constraints and a body trained to fall asleep the second I start reading (thanks, decades of bedtime books). But this one pulled me in from the first few pages and I couldn’t put it down until I finished the entire book. It reminded me why I love historical stories steeped in mystery, magic, and real women’s lives.
As a Tarot reader myself, this book gave me a deeper, richer understanding of the cards, not just the symbolism, but the creative soul behind them. Seeing Pamela Colman Smith not as a footnote but as a living, breathing artist changed how I connect with the deck. Her inspiration, her artistry, and her spiritual sensitivity come alive in these pages. Magician and Fool doesn’t just tell a story, it awakens something deep inside. I can’t wait to dive into the rest of the series.
If you love historical fiction with a magical twist, or you’re fascinated by the hidden stories behind the Tarot, you’ll love this book. Fans of esoteric mysteries, creative women’s history, and lush theatrical settings will find Magician and Fool completely enchanting. It’s perfect for readers who enjoy authors like Paula Brackston, Deborah Harkness, or Madeline Miller, but wish their stories came with more velvet capes and talking cards.
