oh fuck this is so cool. cracks my tarot-reading knuckles... you're probably about to wish you never wondered what other people see in them
strength (nom) -> my absolute favourite detail here is that the infinity symbol is formed by birds!! i guess that's a reference to his deal with the creaking king, and that he died shortly after reneging on said deal (ie, the birds & the life they represent flying away)?
in the rider–waite deck, strength shows a woman gently closing the mouth of a lion with a chain of flowers around its neck. strength in general is such a flowery card (again, representing life, but also as a grounding force), so it's super cool that the only flowers are the crown (of lilies!!) in nom's hair.
even his posture implies this total subversion of the traditional interpretation of strength as being strength through contemplation & faith. nom isn't trying to subdue a lion, he's got one hand on a dragon, as though he's warning them to hold off attacking for another minute.
the fool (katie) -> ooh this one might be my fav. the fool skips into a brighter future, & katie marches from the blue kingdom into red, head held high!
i think there's something to be said for the dog in the fool card representing companionship & loyalty in the face of change. katie didn't have either, at first - her brother didn't try to bring her home, so she was left completely alone among strangers. but, of course, she eventually makes friends in the red kingdom. & her best friend is kitty!
death (scott) -> as it is, death has such an opposite meaning to actual death. the horseman on the card bears a banner with the mystic rose (again, symbolising life!). i feel like it should be counted as a double reversal when the card goes from the literal incarnation of death holding a symbol of life, to someone whose power is life & nature holding a symbol of death.
the hermit (4c) -> the card representing roguery & treason for a rogue! love love love. the hermit's "lamp of truth", guiding his treacherous path to enlightenment vs 4c's flaming torch, illuminating the terrible situation he's found himself in.