The Cloisters

⭐️⭐️⭐️🌟

I was intrigued by this book because it was marketed as being about a magical tarot deck. It really wasn’t magical at all and was more about the journey of the MC Ann as she becomes her own person through her internship at the Cloisters.

There were a lot of art references that I couldn’t appreciate, as I cannot say I’m an art history expert. Anyone that does love renaissance art, would probably love the extent at which various artists are mentioned throughout this book.

Ann was heavily manipulated from the moment she accepted to work at the Cloisters. I guessed that from the start and the larger question was always why? We have the owner Patrick obsessing about tarot and having an odd relationship with the other intern Rachel. And then Rachel never really revealing too much about herself, but wanting to help Ann in any way that she could. There was always something off with Rachel and the relationship she had with Ann. When Patrick and Rachel convince Ann to be part of their research into tarot, she became a believer in predicting the future with repeated use of a mysterious deck that she comes into possession of.

I liked the cute gardener Leo. He was intriguing at first but turns out he was just an aspiring creative, so his aloofness came with his personality. It was a bit of a slow burn to know what Rachel was all about. I think she just liked to manipulate people because she was bored. Patrick came off as a creepy sort of professor when it came to Rachel. I also felt like we didn’t really get to know him either.

The ending really wasn’t something I was expecting. It just seemed like it didn’t fit in with Ann’s character, so my reaction was along the lines of - oh that’s the ending you’re going with? Okayyyy

I can see why others may love this book, but I’m thinking it’s either going I’ve try head or it’s just not overly gelling with me. I really wanted to love it though!