This is one of the most beautiful sets of tarot cards I have come across. They absolutely shimmer and reflect light off of them. They might actually be a little blinding in bright light. They are made of some type of material that does not quite feel like paper that would be really hard to bend, and they are a little slippery, but they are easy to shuffle otherwise, and I have no problem using them. The book that comes with them is a tiny booklet that is not the best, but I prefer and would suggest others use various books or other sources to compare meanings or go with your own anyway. They are just standard cards that would make a nice gift.