might I butt in?
I appreciate everybody's kind comments and excitement about the THL book! It has been a long time since I've stopped in here, so it is gratifying to learn that we are not entirely forgotten.
Yes the book has more to it than the apps do. The apps explain what is printed on the faces of the cards, but don't touch on the astro-alchemy and angelology that also ride along behind and below the visible message. I intended the deck and the books to reveal the esoteric considerations built into the Tarot outline according to the constants of Renaissance magic. That's been my goal from the beginning, and I think by the time both books are out, you'll see why I am so willing to put my life work and reputation on the line in this way.
In the meanwhile, though, I think the cards "hold their water" even without my elaborate exegesis, and the proof of that is the many positive remarks we get from professional readers who have added it to their collections. You have already seen Benebell Wen's extremely careful review.
Here's what Rachel Pollack said at Facebook the other day: "A couple days ago I got Christine and Michael Dowers's book for The Tarot Of The Holy Light. this is one of my favorite Tarots in recent years, and i am delighted to have this superb book to go with it. congratulations!"
Also Adam McLean gave us this shout-out at FB after his copy came in: "Christine Payne-Towler recently sent me a copy of her companion book to her Tarot of the Holy Light. What a massive task she undertook in writing this. 492 pages of densely written and clearly constructed original insights. Definitely not a tired rehash of other peoples' ideas, but full of esoteric and alchemical references. A substantial piece of writing."
I hope this tempts a few of you to check it out!