Really enjoyed the storyline of this book. I downloaded it to my kindle and I have to admit that probably wasn’t the best idea because the formatting is all over the place.
The characters, places, people and storyline were enjoyable, if some what a little predictable.

I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoyed adventure, magic and romance

Book Report for The Vermilion Emporium by Jamie Pacton

Cover Story: Fancy
BFF Charms: Yay, Eventually?
Talky Talk: Fantasy Draft
Bonus Factor: Magical Shop
Relationship Status: Support System

Cover Story: Fancy
Did y’all ever get a silhouette from Disneyland when you were little? That is what this cover reminds me of. Especially with the castle at the bottom of the filigree frame.

The Deal:
Quinta and Twain know they’re cut out for more than their lives currently provide; Twain, living in a shack, makes a dangerous living by climbing cliffs to gather highly sought-after feathers while Quinta is an assistant to a photographer who specializes in faux sorcery images. They don’t know each other, but when Twain discovers a strand of starlight, a rare—and valuable—magical good, they begin an adventure the likes of which neither could have ever imagined, starting at a mysterious shop called The Vermilion Emporium.

BFF Charm: Yay, Eventually?
Twain’s a sweet, loyal boy with a heart of gold and brains to match. He’s got some baggage—he says his mother told him that they named him Twain because he came “twain” his parents, which, awful—and he is grieving the loss of his younger brother, which he feels is his fault. But he’s a genuinely good dude, and would make for an excellent BFF. Especially when it’s revealed who he is near the end of the book and what comes with that. (I’m a sucker for friends with magical benefits, what can I say?)

Quinta’s a fascinating young woman with an interesting history and a promising future. She wasn’t all that nice, however, when we first met, and her assurance that she leaves people before she can catch feelings (she’s a one-night stand kind of gal) has me hesitating to want to attempt a relationship with her, even if ours would be purely platonic. By the end of the book, she shows a good amount of growth, and it’s clear that her “love ’em then leave ’em” mentality was more about protecting herself and her heart than actually not wanting to care. Would it be worth my time and mental effort to attempt to be her friend from the start, though? I’m not so sure.

Swoonworthy Scale: 4
Twain and Quinta hit it off from their first meeting, but their relationship is hindered by Quinta’s reluctance to let people in and Twain’s goal of leaving their city as soon as he can get the funds. The more time they spend together, however, the more they begin to rethink their positions. That said, their feelings really never felt all that real to me, as much as they tried to assure me that they were. It’s instalove with a side of “oh no, we mustn’t” dramatics that had me rolling my eyes.

Talky Talk: Fantasy Draft*
The Vermilion Emporium is an entertaining book that needs some more time in the oven. The copy I read is an ARC, so I’m not sure if the final version will be more cohesive, but the plot I read was a bit disjointed—the first two-thirds felt very different than the last third, and then the ending was rushed—and both the worldbuilding and characters could use some work. The book felt very “tell, don’t show,” which is a hard thing to review on because it can be pretty subjective but makes for a clunky read.

*I’m not talking about American football here, obvs, but if your mind went there—I hope your team’s doing well!

Bonus Factor: Magical Shop
The idea of The Vermilion Emporium itself is a wonderful element of the book. The shop is a TARDIS—larger on the inside—with an infinite number of strange and unusual rooms. The rooms also frequently house the exact thing you need, even if you didn’t realize you were needing anything. There’s a sentience to the store that is a little unnerving, but it seems to be harmless … for the most part?

Bonus Factor: Radium Girls
In her author’s note, Pacton says that she was inspired in part to write this story because of learning about the Radium Girls. Their story is definitely worth telling, and even in this fantasy-ized manner, it gets the point across that there are some jobs that just aren’t worth doing. I won’t go into detail on how or what is similar in the book to the painting of watch dials with radioactive paint, but it might be even more gruesome than reality.

Relationship Status: Support System
You have a lot of promise, Book, and a great story to tell. You could perhaps benefit from a bit of editing to truly make your story shine (pun intended), but only a bit! You’re nearly there.

What I Loved:
· An instant connection between the two main characters takes the tension away from the fear of a love triangle. The reader can simply relax into the relationship.
· The Vermillion Emporium, itself. I love the magical shop trope (Nowhere Emporium, Bookshop of Dust & Dreams) but Jamie Pacton’s vision of this magical shop is enchanting and eccentric. I would love to visit in real life ;)
· In Starlight lace, Jamie Pacton has laid out a perfectly whimsical idea as an end goal for the characters.

What I didn’t love
· It took a very long time getting to the action. The characters seemed to spin a bit early on and the plot did not move ahead enough.
· One of the characters has a destiny to fulfill: “You are meant for great things.” Ok, we get it. We don’t need the phrase repeated so very often.
· While the threat of a love triangle wasn’t present, the sexual tension between the characters was bludgeoned with the often-discussed rule of “no kissing.”

Take Note, Readers
· While it is “justified,” there is some behavior that is physically self-harming.
· In the beginning, there is some discussion of same-sex relationships and promiscuity.

The Most Thought-Provoking:
· Jamie Pacton wrote this book as an homage to the “Radium Girls” but she admits to writing a story with more hope than that of reality. And for that, in addition to the whimsy of the Vermillion Emporium and Starlight lace, I would recommend reading this tale.

{3.5 stars round up to 4}

Thank you to the publisher Peachtree, the author Jamie Pacton, and NetGalley for the e-ARC of this book.

This was a thrilling fantasy with wonderful, unique magic! The characters were wonderful and I was definitely rooting for them! I love the "doors to a new world" trope and this definitely hit it. I'd love to visit the Vermilion Emporium myself! It sounds amazing. I would've loved to have a bit more information about the world, I feel it's written as if the reader already knows it. I also felt the relationship went too fast and the beginning of the book went too quickly. However, it was a brilliant book and I'd love to see more from this world and author!

Fun and whimsical magic plus likable characters made for an enjoyable read. I liked the emporium and the starlight magic, though I would have liked to see more of the emporium. A bit too insta-love, and the writing felt a little young for some of the content, but still a sweet, magical story.

Jamie Pacton’s The Vermillion Emporium is a lush and enriching young adult fantasy!

It all starts with a discovery…

Twain spends his days taking risks to fill the gap loneliness has left within him.

Quinta follows her dreams of continuing the magical legacy of her mother.

By chance, their two worlds coincide. However, they never imagined what would happen next…

In a turn of events neither of them would have predicted, the ruler of Severon sets her sights on Twain and Quinta. Remember the day they met? Together, on that day, they discovered the secret of starlight. Little did they know that what they unlocked together would shake their very ground. Tasked with sewing a dress of starlight, the two realize their discovery might be a curse in disguise. Starlight wasn’t lost… it was destroyed.

The Vermillion Emporium is a high-stakes fantasy that will keep you on the edge of your seat!

Every chapter leaves readers begging for more, as we witness Twain and Quinta’s story unravel.

Quinta has eyes only for Twain, making their romance instant love. While many people prefer to avoid this trope, it does not feel rushed. In fact, it is quite the opposite! Instead, Pacton writes attraction at first glance. It is a new approach to instant love that creates great impact. Inspiringly, readers will follow Twain and Quinta on their course of falling in love. Their romance is starlight!

Themes of grief, loss, and trauma are given proper time and depicted with respect. Pacton does not gloss over the imperfections that make us human. Instead, she illustrates overcoming even the hardest of struggles and finding one’s place in the world.

Overall, Jamie Pacton’s fantasy debut is unforgettable! It is a rare mix of words that come together lyrically. I have pre-ordered a copy for myself. I recommend you do as well!

For anyone whose life lacks the spark of whimsy, what is stopping you? The Vermillion Emporium will bring reverie into your life! It did for me! I found myself lost within Pacton’s depiction of fantasy - a refreshing reprieve from a life jam-packed with business as of late.

Emporium

With such an interesting and unique premise, and comps to Howl’s Moving Castle, I just knew this would be a whimsical read, and it absolutely was. The story isn’t like most fantasy reads that feature a huge expansive world, instead, it’s a bit slower and grounded more in the two main leads, Twain and Quinta. Each of them was interesting for different reasons, but I loved how they complimented each other well. Both of them had this magnetism with each other, the chemistry truly being executed well even from their first meeting.

The love story is slow and steady, but folds in depth as both prickly characters learn to trust and fall with each other. Like Howl’s Moving Castle, you’ll have to be ok with knowing there’s some fantastical magical elements, but not having them fully explained in a system with rules. Likewise, some of the side characters are over the top and often quite dramatic, but it’s still fun and manages to endear readers to the story instead of knocking them out of it and giving us some hard eye roll urges.

What I didn’t love as much was the second half of them book which I felt dragged out the conflict for too long and introduced characters I think we’re meant to like almost too late in the game to matter. I also didn’t love the ending — we literally have someone DIE but the first thing Quinta and Twain want to do is brew some magic tea and eat…while the body is like…there…It just didn’t make any sense at all and didn’t see aligned with their characters. The fact that there’s zero resolution with the other kingdom also seemed like an odd choice. Just a few sentences could have neatly tied it up.

All in all, this was fun and whimsical, if you can be ok going with vibes and fun storytelling over a set world and magic world, this is a great book to get lost in. Thank you Peachtree Teen and Netgalley for my galley! Rating: 3.5/5, rounding up to 4.

Inspired by Radium Girls, The Vermilion Emporium is magical and heart wrenching all at once. Using a background of desperation driven by poverty amongst the dangers these girls faced, Pacton infuses this setting with fantasy and magic. With magical shops, bargains with consequences, and mystery. The Vermilion Emporium begins with grief and loss. The pains of losing the ones we love and how different our lives become. But The Vermilion Emporium then becomes a story about magic, perserverance, and intrigue.

***Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an electronic copy of this book.***

I didn't get a chance to finish this book but will after the busy holiday season so I can leave a better review

Twain has found a thread of starlight--the first anyone has found in over a century. When he and his new friend Quinta discover the wonder that is the Vermillion Emporium, Quinta unlocks the secret to weaving starlight--something nobody has been able to do since her ancestor two hundred years ago. When the ruler of their country discovers the two have found--and woven--starlight, she commissions a dress, which sets Twain and Quinta on a path neither of them ever expected.

The Vermillion Emporium is a wonderfully soft book about magic, and love. Most of the book is fairly quiet in a really lovely way, and though there are some pretty intense moments (like torture), those tend to happen off-page. It's full of wonder and that aching feeling of wanting more--more magic, more love, more understanding of how you fit into the world.

If you like Erin Morgenstern's writing, I would definitely recommend this book--the prose is similar, and it strikes a similar balance between quiet, every day life, and the inherent adventure that comes with mysterious magic. I'll definitely be thinking about this book for a long, long time.

I didn’t know what to expect when I got approved for The Vermilion Emporium. It seemed a little like The Night Circus to me (some would probably also say Caraval since they are often comped, but I haven’t read Caraval yet!). I was so pleasantly surprised and delighted by the story and appreciate so much having been approved for it. The Vermilion Emporium reminded me of movies like Mr. Magorium’s Wonder Emporium or The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus. So I was definitely curious what I would discover along with Twain and Quinta. I found a world full of magic and starlight, literally! And a love so wholesome and unconditional I was surprised how deeply I was touched by the pure simplicity of it.

I give this book 5 stars because it never felt like the plot lagged and characters were so lovable. I will say Twain and Quinta do seem a little bit younger than they are meant to be, than their lives thus far in the story should have them feeling. But this can easily be explained by the world in which they live, we cannot expect all fantasy characters to grow the same way from life experiences since not everyone in our world does either! Anyone who loves The Night Circus will absolutely adore this book.

This is a world I would be so happy to return to, and apparently Jamie Pacton is writing a return to Twain and Quinta’s world, set 25 years after Vermilion Emporium, called THE ABSINTHE UNDERGROUND, set to release in spring 2024! I will absolutely be preordering that (as well as stalking NetGalley to see if I can get my hands on a review copy). I think I have found a new auto-buy author and I cannot wait to see what Pacton delivers next!

"It's not what you know that makes you a good person, it's how you act when things get hard that determines who you are."

This was an enchanting, heartwarming and captivating read. I was hooked from the first page and loved exploring the richly imaginative world and discovering the characters as they grew closer closer. The whole plot was fascinating and I loved the little magical elements that added so much to the story. The mystery of the starlight and moonshadow and the slow build up of action.
While the romance was very quick and insta-lovey the plot took some time to build up, it was still interesting as the characters discovered new things, however it got really exciting towards the end of the book.

I loved the depth of the side characters and the bond the main characters formed with them. The ending was perfect and I loved all the action and suspense that came before it. I never saw the plot twists coming and it made for such an exciting read!

Overall this book had beautifully written world building with the first part of the book was a cozy and magical romantic mystery tale that quickly became full of action, danger and plot twists that will keep you guessing.

Thank you to Netgalley and Peachtree Teen for the eARC in exchange for my honest review.

***Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an electronic copy of this book.***

Fantastic. 5+ stars! I actually bought myself a copy of the book because I need it on my shelves, I liked it that much.
Without giving any spoilers, we follow the story of Quinta and Twain and how they discover magic and love.
It was action packed, with very imaginative world and magic. Not everything was explained, but it didn’t need to.
I’m waiting for a movie now. Totally recommend it!

I have such mixed feelings on this book. I will preface and said most of my dislike is just personal preference. I hate the insta-love trope and have only found it done well a couple of times. Unfortunately, this story wasn't one of those examples. While the characters' romance did eventually grow on me, I didn't like it for most of the beginning and this threw me out of the story. My main issue was that it felt really difficult to get to know them as their own characters outside of their romance. This story really did have a great potential, but this just ruined it for me; and, again, this dislike is just personal preference. I will say that the author did really well with the plot twists in the story! They were genuinely surprising and that helped move this story from 2.5 stars to 3.

Thank you Jaime Pacton and Peachtree teen for the opportunity to read an ARC of The Vermilion Emporium. All the opinions that follow are my own.

Rating: 4/5 ⭐️

I really enjoyed this book! Quinta and Twain were both such interesting characters. I loved the world building and the magic that brought them together.

My only critique is that the pacing was a bit slow in certain places and the instant-love was a little too YA for me. Other than that, I loved it and I hope you do too.

Comparisons to Howl's Moving Castle and The Night Circus were apt indeed. This novel follows two characters, Quinta and Twain, and their interactions with the Vermillion Emporium, a magical shop that appears and disappears with no warning. I really enjoyed the world in which this novel is set, cobbled streets, wooden shop fronts and stone palaces. It is definitely my fantasy sweet spot. I enjoyed both Quinta and Twain as characters, but personally I would have liked for them to be aged up slightly. In this novel, Starlight takes physical form and can be woven into clothes, or any other kind of fabric, and the concept of that was really intriguing and original. The way that both Quinta and Twain get drawn to the starlight, which had been thought lost for centuries, and how it leads them and their knowledge to be the object of many people's desire for power, was the start of quite the adventure. With adventure, magic, and romance, there is definitely something for all fantasy fans in this novel.

I did find the writing a tad stiff in places, but overall I really enjoyed this. I had previously read The Life and (Medieval) Times of Kit Sweetly by the same author, but this was, in my opinion, the superior read, and I enjoyed the world and characters way more. I'm excited to see what Jamie Pacton decides to write next, hopefully it's more fantasy!

Loved the coziness of the first half! Definitely see the NIGHT CIRCUS inspiration. The second half reminded me a lot of MADELINE: LOST IN PARIS

DNF 58%

For someone else this book could be really magical, but for me it fell short. I thought the basis of the story was really good and the author had a lot of cool ideas but the execution left me wanting. In particular it was the coincidences, repetition, and pacing that threw me off. That being said, I mostly enjoyed it while reading it but was never racing to pick it up again which is part of why I DNF'd it in the end.

Convenient "coincidences"

When picking up a YA book, we all generally agree to accept a certain number of coincidental, but unlikely, happenings (The main characters being in the right place at the right time, finding the secrets to save the universe when they've given up hope, ect.) At the start of this book it's done really well. So well in fact that it feels almost organic. Then, later on, it's a bit more convenient. This is especially true when it comes to finding starlight.

No one has seen it in hundreds of years but they manage that find that much in one night? And with limited to no complications at that?

The easiness with which its acquired and the casual way they discuss the downfalls of it, makes it seem like there are no real stakes in this book. Which is reiterated by the fact the person looking for a magical dress basically only wants it because its pretty - so what is the point of any of this?

Repitition

Instalove is another common YA trope and the author tries to combat that by having the characters acknowledge how absurd it is to have feelings for someone they just met. It was a refreshing change from the norm. Then they repeated it, again and again and again. Until, eventually, it wasn't refreshing and just pointed out how absurd instalove really is (as if readers weren't aware).

One of the reasons they weren't allowed to fall in love right away is because Quinta is a "one night girl". Now I'm not the delusional sort of person who thinks 17 y/o's don't have intimate partners, but I can't help wondering how many one night stands a person needs to have to characterize themselves that way - which she does. To me, it was just odd. Taking into consideration her upbringing and her general avoidance of people (or so it seems), it doesn't mesh with how the character is presented when not talking about being a "one night girl". It mostly seemed like an excuse to build tension but she had enough reasons in her past not to trust falling in love. Her being a "disappointment" and leaving the next day only comes up when she's trying to explain why she can't kiss Twain. This particular title doesn't connect well with Quinta as seen over the rest of the story.

Pacing

The first 18 chapters of the book encompass three days. The characters and world are introduced, Twain and Quinta meet each other, they explore the eponymous Vermilion Emporium, and their challenge is set. This is the part of the book I liked a lot, right up until the challenge came into play. I know its mentioned in the synopsis but, for whatever reason, the story felt like it took an abrupt turn at this point.

Chapter 19 skipped a week and then Chapter 20 skipped two more. This is where they started to lose me. A lot of their exploration of the Vermilion Emporium (arguably the most interesting part of the book) happens off page and is mentioned after. The focus at this point is split between making the dress and the romance. We see some hesitation from the main characters about what they're doing but again its met with general indifference. There's no genuine tension.

Based on the synopsis the Scholar's Ball seemed like the climax of the book and yet it takes place almost squarely in the middle. This is probably because the book is a standalone and starlight lace is likely to cause conflict, so there needs to be time to resolve said drama. But again, because of the inconsistent pacing, this hugely prominent event that (by the synopsis) appears to be the center piece of the story, took up one chapter. 3+ if you count the bit where they're leaving (which I don't).

At this point, I knew without question the book was not for me and put it down for good. I think it will work well for the right person but I was not that person. I'm rating 3 stars since I didn't totally hate it but I certainly didn't love it either.

This book was provided to me by NetGalley in return for an honest review. All opinions expressed here are my own.

I just finished the beatiful, magical Vermilion Emporium! I loved this book. I'm not entirely sure what type of fantasy that this book falls under, but it's my favorite!
I really like the nod to The Radium Girls. It seemed like a clever, and sweet way to memorialize those women who went through such horror.
I wish I could have a chance to see that Starlight! Will definitely be recommending this one to everyone I know!