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Molly Tanzer
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Vermilion: The Adventures of Lou Merriwether, Psychopomp Kindle Edition

by Molly Tanzer (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
4.0 out of 5 stars 493 ratings
Gunslinging, chain smoking, Stetson-wearing Taoist psychopomp, Elouise "Lou" Merriwether might not be a normal 19-year-old, but she's too busy keeping San Francisco safe from ghosts, shades, and geung si to care much about that. It's an important job, though most folks consider it downright spooky. Some have even accused Lou of being more comfortable with the dead than the living, and, well... they're not wrong.

When Lou hears that a bunch of Chinatown boys have gone missing somewhere deep in the Colorado Rockies she decides to saddle up and head into the wilderness to investigate. Lou fears her particular talents make her better suited to help placate their spirits than ensure they get home alive, but it's the right thing to do, and she's the only one willing to do it.

On the road to a mysterious sanatorium known as Fountain of Youth, Lou will encounter bears, desperate men, a very undead villain, and even stranger challenges. Lou will need every one of her talents and a whole lot of luck to make it home alive...

From British Fantasy Award nominee Molly Tanzer comes debut novel Vermilion, a spirited weird Western adventure that puts the punk back into steampunk.
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  1. Print length
    469 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Accessibility
    Learn more
  4. Publication date
    April 15, 2015
  5. File size
    2.4 MB
  6. Page Flip
    Enabled
  7. Word Wise
    Enabled
  8. Enhanced typesetting
    Enabled
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Editorial Reviews

Review

Tanzer's first novel is a splendid page-turner of a Weird West adventure. ... This hugely entertaining mixture of American steampunk and ghost story is a wonderful yarn with some of the best dialogue around. -PUBLISHERS WEEKLY (Starred Review)

About the Author

Molly Tanzer is the Sydney J. Bounds and Wonderland Book Award-nominated author of A Pretty Mouth (Lazy Fascist, 2012), Rumbullion and Other Liminal Libations (Egaeus, 2013), Vermilion (Word Horde, 2015), and The Pleasure Merchant (forthcoming, Lazy Fascist 2015). She lives in Boulder, Colorado, with her husband and a very bad cat. When not writing, she enjoys mixing cocktails, hiking in the Rocky Mountains, experimenting with Korean cooking, and (as of recently) training for triathlons. She tweets @molly_the_tanz, and blogs--infrequently--at mollytanzer.com.

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B00VN8UZPI
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Word Horde
  • Accessibility ‏ : ‎ Learn more
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ April 15, 2015
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 2.4 MB
  • Simultaneous device usage ‏ : ‎ Unlimited
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 469 pages
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1939905109
  • Page Flip ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Best Sellers Rank: #1,259,984 in Kindle Store (See Top 100 in Kindle Store)
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.0 out of 5 stars 493 ratings

About the author

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Molly Tanzer

Molly Tanzer

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Molly Tanzer is the British Fantasy and Wonderland Book Award-nominated author of Creatures of Will and Temper and the forthcoming Creatures of Want and Ruin, as well as the weird western Vermilion, among other titles. She is also the co-editor of Mixed Up: Cocktail Recipes (and Flash Fiction) for the Discerning Drinker (and Reader). For more information about her critically acclaimed novels and short fiction, visit her website, mollytanzer.com, or follow her @molly_the_tanz on Twitter or @molly_tanzer on Instagram.

Customer reviews

4 out of 5 stars
493 global ratings

Customers say

Customers find the book's plot fascinating, with one noting how history is woven across the mystical in interesting ways. Moreover, they describe it as a wonderfully imaginative romp with remarkable characters, particularly appreciating the unique main Chinese character. Additionally, the world-building receives positive feedback, with one review highlighting how it integrates Chinese and European fantasy elements. However, the writing style receives mixed reactions, with some praising its quality while others find it a bit choppy, and several customers mention pacing issues at the beginning of the book.

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PlotReadabilityCharacter developmentInterestWorld buildingDepthWriting qualityPacing
35 customers mention "Plot"26 positive9 negative

Customers enjoy the plot of the book, describing it as fascinating with an interesting premise, and one customer notes how history is woven into the mystical elements in an engaging way.

"...Great concepts, fascinating plot, lots of twists and turns that weren't predictable at all...." Read more

"...I enjoyed this story and look forward to more from this author." Read more

"The book was really engaging and it did keep me going! The ending felt rushed, almost like there should be a sequel...." Read more

"An original, enjoyable story that kept me hooked until the end. I am going to go hunt for more Lou!" Read more

26 customers mention "Readability"26 positive0 negative

Customers find the book highly readable, describing it as a great page turner that is fun to read.

"...No big deal. This was a fun read. There was plenty of humor, good romance, and a lot of action...." Read more

"Good read, good adventure...." Read more

"This was a pretty good read. Well paced and easy. The premise was unique and handled well. Some nice twists, but some predictable...." Read more

"So much fun to read! Crazy and out there, yes, but who cares when you have talking bears and monster hunters...." Read more

23 customers mention "Character development"19 positive4 negative

Customers appreciate the character development in the book, particularly noting the unique main Chinese character and the protagonist's distinctive voice.

"Lots of ideas - maybe too many. And while the characters are interesting, their actions are frequently story-dumb to advance the plot." Read more

"...Action and character growth and description are all woven together masterfully...." Read more

"...I liked the main character, Lou , who dresses as a man so she can be taken seriously in her profession...." Read more

"...The characters were endearing, for the most part, but spend a good bit of the book whining...." Read more

22 customers mention "Interest"19 positive3 negative

Customers find the book engaging, describing it as a wonderfully imaginative romp, with one customer noting how Lou's world is super interesting.

"An original, enjoyable story that kept me hooked until the end. I am going to go hunt for more Lou!" Read more

"...She is absolutely riveting. I loved reading about her and her adventues. I also apreciated how important Chinese culture is to the story...." Read more

"Great page turner! I love the way Molly Tanzer writes. She is very captivating and has an outstanding imagination...." Read more

"...The character Lou was introduced in such a strong and interesting way, so I was incredibly sad to see how weak of a person she actually was once..." Read more

16 customers mention "World building"16 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the world building in the book, describing it as fascinating and well-realized, with one customer noting how it integrates Chinese and European fantasy elements.

"A fascinating world, complicated characters, and strong social commentary--what's not to love?" Read more

"Tanzer’s world building was excellent, but the plot didn’t really have much pay off following an interesting first chapter...." Read more

"...like to call the weird west and for the most part it was an interesting setting even if I am still am not on the clear with the whole sealions and..." Read more

"...She is simply good at her job, which is a fine thing. Very interesting world for a place setting as well I hope to read more adventures of Lou..." Read more

9 customers mention "Depth"8 positive1 negative

Customers appreciate the depth of the book, finding it well-researched with great concepts, and one customer particularly notes the exquisite descriptions of Wyoming and Colorado mountains.

"...There is some good insight into how the Chinese population were treated near the turn of the previous century and the fallout from all the prejudice..." Read more

"This book had me riveted within the first few pages. Great concepts, fascinating plot, lots of twists and turns that weren't predictable at all...." Read more

"Fantastic premise. Well researched. Distractingly clumsy writing." Read more

"...and language are integral to the story, and Tanzer did an excellent job researching and incorporating Chinese elements...." Read more

15 customers mention "Writing quality"10 positive5 negative

Customers have mixed opinions about the writing quality of the book, with some finding it extraordinarily well written while others note that the style can be a bit choppy.

"Molly Tanzer is a phenomenal writer. She has a straightforward storytelling style, but, she touches on exactly the right details to paint a scene...." Read more

"...same time have such great writing and at the same time have the worst writing. I just dont understand." Read more

"...fantasy/mystery with some intruiging choices and likable and well-written characters makes Vermillion a great read for any fan of the fantastic." Read more

"Cleverly written, and a refreshingly unique take both on fantasy settings and lead characters." Read more

14 customers mention "Pacing"4 positive10 negative

Customers find the pacing of the book problematic, with several noting issues at the beginning, and one customer describing it as feeling like trudging through quicksand.

"It was ok. But it dragged in places and got cartoonish." Read more

"...Strong female leads. CONS: Uneven pacing, stale and predictable characterizations, anachronisms that tarnish the suspension of belief,..." Read more

"This was a pretty good read. Well paced and easy. The premise was unique and handled well. Some nice twists, but some predictable...." Read more

"I did enjoy the story overall. It bogged down in several places or this may just be the author's rhythm and I never got used to it...." Read more

Top reviews from the United States

  • Heather Rose Jones
    4.0 out of 5 stars Adventures in the Weird West
    Reviewed in the United States on March 4, 2016
    Format: KindleVerified Purchase
    If I understand the term correctly, I think Vermillion falls in the “weird western” sub-genre. Angry ghosts and psychopomps, vampires and Sasquatches, bears as military allies and sea lions who provide water taxi service. Lou Merriwether, a woman of Chinese and British heritage who prefers masculine clothing (just because it’s more comfortable and practical, you know) carries on her late father’s profession of psychopomp: a professional who helps restless souls move on, rather than hanging around to annoy and imperil the living. Late 19th century San Francisco is not always a safe or comfortable place for people of Chinese descent, and when Lou’s mother brings her a case involving both the unexplained disappearance of members of the community, but also the unexplained re-appearance of one of their corpses, Lou is pressured into turning detective and following the clues of promises of employment somewhere in the Rockies to see if she can solve the riddle.

    This is part action-adventure story (including, toward the end, some disturbing scenes of violence, torture, and murder), part mystery, and part fun world-building. It barely skirts the edges of steam-punk in some elements, but not closely enough that I'd identify it as such. The story includes a solid scattering of queer characters, including the strong suggestion that there is a same-sex romance in Lou’s future, and absolutely no Tragic Queer motifs. (That is, some bad things happen, but not disproportionately to queer characters or in ways that imply causation.) The plot is full of ethical and moral ambiguities and even the villains aren’t painted in absolutes. I personally found the handling of the Chinese elements of the plot to be well done (perhaps over-explained in some cases, but the average non-Chinese-American reader probably wouldn’t find them so). But this is with the caveat that I’m reading those elements as a cultural outsider and nuances will pass me by.

    The writing is rich and detailed and goes down smoothly. The protagonist’s voice is delightfully individual and her interactions with the other characters, as a young woman who is still figuring out her place in life, ring true. And the climax wraps up satisfyingly (including enough loose ends for a continuation, should the author choose to do so). The one aspect of the world-building that had me a little on edge was the way in which the sentient non-humans (the aforementioned bears, sea lions, Sasquatches, etc.) seemed to fill the historic niche belonging to Native Americans. There are passing references to Native American communities and individuals later in the book, so my initial fears were eased, but NA representation in this novel’s Wild West feels very slight and this may bother some readers.

    Given all that, a solidly satisfying read, particularly recommended for those looking for queer characters of many sorts, as long as you aren’t completely averse to graphic violence. Likely to appeal to people who enjoyed Elizabeth Bear's Karen Memory.
    5 people found this helpful
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  • Amanda Roberts
    5.0 out of 5 stars Vermilion by Molly Tanzer is an amazing book. It was the one I have spent ...
    Reviewed in the United States on December 30, 2015
    Format: KindleVerified Purchase
    Vermilion by Molly Tanzer is an amazing book. It was the one I have spent years looking for. I read a crazy amount of mystery novels, but as I mentioned in my review of the Red Princess Mysteries by Lisa See, when it comes to historical mysteries, the protagonist is always the same – a white widow of means. I even read two mystery series set in San Francisco this year, and in both of them, Chinese characters are relegated to the sidelines, if they are present at all. Vermilion finally breaks out of this mold. Tanzer has created a fascinating story with a unique main Chinese character that appeals to almost all readers.
    The main character of “Lou” (short for Elouise) is completely different from most mystery novel heroines. She is half Chinese, half white, a girl who passes as a boy, is mostly attracted to boys but certainly appreciates lovely females and works as a Taoist exorcist in 1800s San Francisco. She is absolutely riveting. I loved reading about her and her adventues.

    I also apreciated how important Chinese culture is to the story. Chinese people and Chinese culture are not simply there to give San Francisco “color” or to fill the sidelines. Chinese culture, people, and and language are integral to the story, and Tanzer did an excellent job researching and incorporating Chinese elements.

    The story is set in America, though, which is highly influenced by European culture. The way she integrates Chinese and European fantasy (specicially vampires) was facinating. I’ve never read a book before that uses both. Usually authors focus on either one or the other, as if they are mutually exclusive and cannot exist in the same realm. The way Tanzer integrates all of these elements together is brilliant.

    The only criticism of the book I have is that the prologue is terribly boring and is not a good introduction to the story. Honestly, I think the prologue might even turn some readers away. My advice is to keep reading or just skip it. The prologue is not integral to the story at all. The first chapter, however, is brilliant, and once you start reading it, you won’t want to stop.

    I really loved this book and I hope Tanzer has plans for more adventures for Lou.
    5 people found this helpful
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  • DJO
    3.0 out of 5 stars A Good Read that needs just a pinch more...
    Reviewed in the United States on July 4, 2015
    Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase
    PROS: A good example of the Weird-Western/Steampunk or Alt History genres. Explores cultures and events that are different with unique perspectives. Strong female leads.

    CONS: Uneven pacing, stale and predictable characterizations, anachronisms that tarnish the suspension of belief, and an over-reliance on character motivations intended to seemingly "shock" rather than propel the plot.

    Overall a good book, if not great. Looking forward to a sophomore effort that expands and shows the author's growth.
    12 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

  • Paul Sarjue
    5.0 out of 5 stars Ripping good read...
    Reviewed in Australia on February 23, 2019
    Format: KindleVerified Purchase
    Fantastic book, couldn't put it down. I can't wait to see what other adventures await.
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  • Danyl
    5.0 out of 5 stars A spaghetti western supernatural thriller romp through the 19th century Rockies
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on July 15, 2015
    Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase
    Vermilion is annoyingly difficult to put down; indeed, I managed to read it in two days worth of reading, sneaking in chapters during lulls in work shifts and reading when I should be sleeping - like now, at 4am. Alas, this book is as strangely captivating as it's antagonist surely must be. There's something oddly comforting about slipping into the boots of Elouise, who is competent at her job, but hopeless in so many other areas. A true delight to read about, I find myself empathising with her more often than I would have expected. Lou suffers no fools, which is probably my favourite thing about her, but oh my is she a sweet and naive character. There is something heartwarming about her attitude, and the journey that she embarks upon in the pages of this little piece.

    There is a charming feel of the spaghetti western feel laden in her character, as though you can feel the character's she emulates in her dress and attitude. The book leads you through the story at the perfect pace, teasing and hinting with it's plot points to keep you guessing. Whenever you think you have a handle on it, you feel the rug tugged out from under you in a joyfully fun way. The author, much to my own personal delight, pulls no punches in treating her main character exactly as one would expect. She gets no free pass by want of being a main character, and in fact her fool-hardy decisions bite her buttocks rather amusingly and realistically.

    Despite it's fantastical setting, Vermilion is well grounded and pays attention to it's own lore, giving the reader enough to immerse themselves in the book without the fear of being bogged down by pages and pages of needless exposition. A solid read and one I heartily recommend.
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  • Heather
    4.0 out of 5 stars Weird and wonderful
    Reviewed in Germany on May 9, 2015
    Format: KindleVerified Purchase
    If you like alternative histories this is a fun one. If you like the intersections of gender and race and how it all relates to identity and self-acceptance, this is also good. It's weird in the best possible ways, and I look forward to seeing more from the world that Tanzer has created.
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  • Michael Kelly
    5.0 out of 5 stars Mr Vampire's Nemesis
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on June 11, 2015
    Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase
    After enjoying 'A Pretty Mouth' and 'Rumbullion', I had very high hopes for Molly Tanzer's debut full length novel. Those hopes were not to be dashed.

    Set in an alternate American history, our heroine is Lou Merriwether, a young lady who dresses unlike a young lady, and whose job is to persuade (by compulsion, if necessary) reluctant spirits to pass on into the realms of the dead.

    Persuaded by her mother to travel across country to investigate the disappearance of young men from San Francisco's Chinatown who were supposed to be working on a railroad that apparently doesn't exist, Lou sets off on her travels without the slightest notion of what she is letting herself in for.

    During her journey, Lou - who has never left San Francisco before - discovers herself to be a fish out of water. She prides herself on her quick wits, but discovers she isn't nearly as smart as she thinks she is.

    There's hardly a single person in this book who's what they appear to be on the surface, it's a very rich experience as truth leapfrogs expectation several times.

    The climax of the novel manages to be both bloody and horrifying and yet camp and comical at the same time.

    A most charming and delightful read, occasionally macabre, sometimes vicious, often funny. One to go in the pile to be reread at some future date, and deserving of a sequel.
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  • Book Lover
    3.0 out of 5 stars It almost annoyed me; I was really excited by the premise
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on August 31, 2016
    Format: KindleVerified Purchase
    I had a hard time getting into Vermillion, and kept having a hard time reading it. It almost annoyed me; I was really excited by the premise, really wanted to read it, but…I’d read a few pages and I’d put it down, go do something else. It was frustrating, and unfortunately, it now means I’ve given up on it. It’s rare that I do give up on books, but I plodded as far as Part Two and just thought, “I’m not enjoying this”.

    The story just wasn’t engaging. I wanted to warm to Lou, wanted to get into her world…but I just found myself skimming the details without any interest. I love the psychopomp details and the mix of alt universe and ghost/spirit ideas; the animal-folk and alt San Francisco. But the writing just didn’t catch me. I couldn’t keep focused on the story, despite the well-drawn characters, the plot that looked fairly interesting…

    It’s frustrating. I wanted to like this. I wanted to be engaged. I know other people have read it and liked it; I can see that it’s nice writing and a wonderful setting. I’d suggest that anyone who’s into adventure or steampunk gives it a go; it’s got a nice Wild West (with several twists) theme. But for me…meh.
    One person found this helpful
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