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The Vermilion Ribbon

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A garment maker’s daughter becomes an ice-cold killer stalked by her own doubts, grief, and guilt.

Corelle’s simple life becomes indistinguishable from her nightmares after a chance meeting with a woman who becomes her lover. A dark, violent history casts a shadow over their relationship, and Corelle is drawn down a path of death and self-loathing. Betrayed to the authorities, she makes a choice that will haunt her for the rest of her days.

Corelle flees south, pursued by men who wish her dead, but fate does not release her from its grip. A rainy night brings a woman with a sinister connection to Corelle’s past, one from whom unpalatable truths must be hidden. Inevitably, the two women’s histories collide, portentous decisions are made, and Corelle’s pursuers draw ever nearer.

The Vermilion Ribbon is book one of The Vermilion Saga, a secondary-world sapphic low fantasy series with sprinklings of other genres such as romance, mystery, and adventure that add to its complexity.

Content advisory – Non-consensual sex (SA), Violence, Mild sex, Suicide ideation

320 pages, ebook

Published May 1, 2024

11 people are currently reading
100 people want to read

About the author

Hayley Price

7 books18 followers
Hayley Price has always been a storyteller. Throughout her life, she has told her story through songs as the principal songwriter in several bands, most recently Adventures With Alice, whose songs feature in many of her books.

A New Zealander, Hayley currently lives in Canberra, Australia with her long-time partner and a grumpy, bossy cat called Rosie. She loves baseball and suffers eternal torture as a fan of the San Francisco Giants. Music has been a major part of her life, and outside of her own compositions, she is an enormous fan of Christopher Cross as well as Daryl Hall & John Oates and underrated 80s UK prog-rock band Voyager, who once named her their #1 fan.

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Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews
Profile Image for readingwithmissbec.
155 reviews33 followers
April 29, 2024

The Vermilion Ribbon - Hayley Price

My rating:
⭐️⭐️⭐️ ⭐️

Summary:
Corelle's journey from innocence to cold-hearted killer leaves a trail of bodies from one end of Dur to the other.
With her enemies in relentless pursuit and another woman's life in her hands, Corelle cannot relax for a heartbeat.
Despair and vengeance compete for her attention as death dogs her footsteps, leading to a thrilling climax that will leave you breathless.

My review:
Corelles journey of love and passion is strong! She learns to love twice; she goes through losing a lover and gaining another, Corelle began in a small town and fell in love, her story was a bit slower then the pace picked up, I do wish the story had a bit more spice 🌶️ and delved a bit more in into Deineike’s story. Over all I enjoyed the story, learning about the FMC! plus Assasins are cool!

Would I recommend: absolutely already have!
Profile Image for Reader Views.
4,847 reviews347 followers
September 30, 2024
The Vermilion Ribbon” by Hayley Price is a fantastic entry into the realm of sapphic fantasy with a feeling of low fiction. It takes place in a secondary world, similar to our own, yet set far in the past. The protagonist Correlle lives in this world that is perilous to her because of her attraction to women. For the sake of love, Correlle gets drawn into the life of a skilled assassin who is part of a secret deadly guild. She suffers greatly for this. Suffering a huge loss, she soon finds herself on the run from the people in her very own guild. Before long she is joined by a companion from whom she desperately tries to hide her secrets. Correlle is committed to doing whatever it takes to keep them both alive.

Book One in the Vermilion Saga, “The Vermilion Ribbon” offers a thrilling exploration of trust, betrayal, and the pursuit of freedom. The protagonist Corelle is well-crafted in that she embodies the traits of both strength and vulnerability. Readers are drawn into her internal struggles as she navigates the treacherous path that she must take to stay ahead of her former allies who are now her enemies. Readers are drawn into her internal struggles as she tries to overcome her secret past while trying to stay alive.

Being of small stature, she must rely solely on her skills rather than physical strength. She cannot revert to who she used to be, before she became an assassin, while she still needs those skills to defeat the ones who are chasing her. The author skillfully illustrates Corelle’s dilemma of her need to use her lethal skills while she longs for connection and safety. Having to keep secrets from her love, while trying to keep them both alive, makes for a compelling story.

The world-building is excellent. It is set in a secondary world that is not unlike our own. It takes place far in the past, where there is no technology. People must rely on their skills and special abilities to survive. This place is ruled by leaders who operate out of the need for power and greed. Readers will find that this land feels both foreign and familiar.

The forbidden sapphic elements are seamlessly woven into the narrative. Corelle’s relationships with other female characters add a great deal of depth to her journey. A love of this kind is especially complex in this world. This adds to the stakes involved with a life on the run.

Overall, “The Vermilion Ribbon” is a thrilling yet heartfelt saga that resonates with themes of survival, self-discovery, and the search for belonging. The blend of action, suspense, and emotional depth make this an exceptional read. Readers will eagerly anticipate Corelle’s next adventure in this series, as I do.
Profile Image for Sudeshna Banerjee.
1,328 reviews39 followers
January 27, 2024
The cover photo and title оf the book immediately piqued my interest, drawing me іn with their uniqueness. As I delved into the story, I approached іt with an open mind, devoid оf any specific expectations. Perhaps this open-mindedness allowed me tо truly appreciate and enjoy the book, as іt effortlessly weaves together elements оf fantasy and romance with a captivating sense оf adventure.

The author's adept writing skills are evident throughout, and I found the occasional use оf old English tо be both charming and accessible.

Overall, I relished the experience оf reading this book, often finding myself immersed іn its pages while savoring a cup оf coffee. Without hesitation, I would wholeheartedly recommend іt tо others.
Profile Image for Grace.
981 reviews12 followers
January 16, 2024
this book is very difficult to understand and it totally detracts from the enjoyment of the book. and it’s not the fact that it’s written in old english either because it’s understandable. but the plot is so convoluted while also having nothing happening. this book is so slow.
Profile Image for KMart Vet.
1,562 reviews83 followers
did-not-finish
December 8, 2024
DNF at 36%, not rating it because I didn't finish it.

I LOVE the sapphic rep, but could NOT bond with these characters as much as I tried. The pacing and writing style aren't for me. And there are two episodes of sexual coercion before 30% so I'm throwing in the towel.
199 reviews1 follower
September 23, 2024
The Vermilion Ribbon by Haley Price - wow where do I start? This book was so captivating! I literally got drawn in by the cover and blurb and stayed for the awesome adventure…and spice 😉🤣
Corelle’s journey from simple talented seamstress to badass assassin was intense! I could not put this book down and eagerly followed along for the storyline, the action, the heartbreak from losing her first love and the new love which absolutely shocked me at first but soon jumped on board with 😉 there was just so much to like about this book. I can not wait to see what happens next in The Vermilion Cross!!
Profile Image for Randee.
46 reviews1 follower
July 6, 2024
I received an ARC for the second book in this series The Vermilion Cross and I was SO excited to get started. I immediately went and purchased the digital copy of The Vermilion Ribbon. The book is written in old English which added some fun little quirks to the book. The plot however is so difficult to follow as none of the authors thoughts are followed through on. Instead of beautiful story telling of how Corelle got from point A to point B, it's very cut and dry. Corelle did this. Then she did this. Now she's doing this. This happened over here. I was dying inside as I can tell the author has a great story it's just so poorly developed on the page.

The worse part is that while no thought was properly developed, some of the plot line just dragged on forever. I think Hayley Price has a great story in her head and would benefit from explaining why certain things are happening, did happen and how it happened, instead of just jumping from one thought to the next.

Pros:
📚There is character development for Corelle & Deineike and a little bit for Wilash.
📚The Old English adds a fun twist and I even had to look up some of the phrases which I enjoyed immensely.
📚There is a great world here, it just needs to be properly developed.
📚The artwork is beautiful.
📚This is the authors first book and you can tell she has a good story to share and as she develops more as an author I feel like we'll see good stories from her.

My favourite character in this series was actually Rukaal. I enjoyed his addition to the story and the little bit of a fantasy/whimsical feel the author added to the story by introducing him.

I do plan on giving The Vermilion Cross a try because I feel absolutely spoiled to have received an ARC. Crossing my fingers Hayley Price has decided to give the world and characters a little bit more oomph in book 2. 🤞
Profile Image for Bianca.
192 reviews10 followers
November 4, 2023
3.5 stars

This is not my normal reading genre, but I did enjoy this book.
The book has an old english like dialogue that I found fun to read. The storyline was good, but I feel it could have been padded out more in some areas.
I appreciate how Hayley has written her interaction between the females when it come to the love scenes as it is written in a way that even if its not your thing, you can still read the book and appreciate it.

It is the first of a series, but I believe it could be read on its own as the ending allows for the reader to decide if the FMC gets a happy ending or if they continue to see what the author has install for them

The FMC is a stubborn, angry young lady who excels in dress making and killing. She does grow throughout the novel, and I love that the author has written it as killing is not something she can just forget.

This is the authors first novel, and I can not wait to see how she grows
Profile Image for Lauren Griffiths.
347 reviews14 followers
January 29, 2024
This book comes with a few trigger warnings so be sure to check them out first if you have any triggers.

This book was definitely different from my usual reads. I went in blind and wasn’t really sure where the story was heading. I would say it was a very unique story and nothing like I’ve read before. I found it quite difficult at times to read the way it was written but at the same time I couldn’t not read on and had to continue to the end. Some parts of the book felt a bit dragged out so I feel that the book could have been made a bit shorter. However, I stuck with it and overall, I enjoyed the story. This is the first book in a series and I’m interested to see where the author takes this story next.
Profile Image for Sonja Charters.
2,765 reviews140 followers
February 2, 2024
I wasn't sure what to expect from this one and went in completely blind and I have to admit that I found it a little slow going to begin with!
It took me quite some time to really get into it and I found it quite a heavy going with it being fantasy based and there were times when the language just bogged me down a bit.

But, having said that, you all know that fantasy is a weakness of mine. I often struggle with everything else that's going on and find it hard to relate to the storylines - so definitely do not be put off by my review.

The storyline was intriguing once I was able to get past the initial pace and once I got more used to the language style.
I could tell that this was really well written and found that there were some sections that had me immersed for food chunks of the book.

The characters were well thought out and presented and although not totally relatable, there were some elements of their development that endeared them to me.

An interesting read that would be perfect for fantasy fans.
Profile Image for Jess.
18 reviews6 followers
May 24, 2024
I rate this book 4/5 stars.

This was my first for a sapphic romance novel. And I can tell you now I absolutely loved it and cannot wait for the next.

Correlles story is so captivating and intriguing. Learning to love twice. Experiencing hardships and always pushing through.

Such an amazing story

Definitely recommend!!!!
Profile Image for Nicole.
392 reviews54 followers
did-not-finish
June 5, 2024
I am going to DNF at 20%. I don't feel invested. Everything is being told in such a sterile way. Some terrible things are happening, and I am not interested enough in the outcome to endure them.
Profile Image for Hayley mum.of.five.reads.
20 reviews1 follower
June 10, 2024
Really enjoyed, the passion and love, incredible story. I look forward to book two. A definite recommend read.
Profile Image for Emma book blogger  Fitzgerald.
640 reviews23 followers
January 27, 2024
My Review Thank you @hayleypricebook @KellyALacey @lovebookstours #Ad #LBTCrew #BookTwitter #LGBT #IndieAuthor #TheVermilionRibbonfor letting me review this book and be part of this tour. The Vermilion Ribbon is an adventure genre and I have never read anything from Hayley Price , and I am glad I did. The Vermilion Ribbon is very different to what I normally read, but I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book and I read it in two days. I liked the characters Corelle, Deineike and Arella a lot, they were very brave, and I enjoyed following their story. While reading this book, I was on the edge of my seat because I didn't know what was going to happen to Corella. I found her to be brave, and I did feel sorry for her because she had to do things she didn't really want to but did them for love. I hope there is a book 2 because I would like to know what happens to them next. I was hooked and found the story very easy to get into. 5 stars
Profile Image for Stacy Bradley .
216 reviews1 follower
September 24, 2024
Action pack live story

I did struggle to get into the vermilion ribbon. But then got a part where some things made sense. It was like she was running away from her pain and guilt did count on meeting someone else and having to go on the run. I read this to be caught up for a read along for the next book with live book tours
Profile Image for Christine.
124 reviews3 followers
December 21, 2024
I was very privileged to receive an ARC of book two in this series, and so tracked back to begin my journey here. This book was a little outside of my comfort zone, and I will admit that I struggled with the old English language style to begin with.
That said, I really enjoyed seeing Corelle's development as the book progressed. The insight into her psyche as her path takes some unexpected twists was intriguing.
The book was a slower burn in terms of plot development than I was expecting, but it is set in a time where even physical journeys take longer than in the books I usually read. As a result, it taught me to be patient with the plot and the characters.
I look forward to seeing where The Vermilion Cross takes us!
Profile Image for kirsty.
1,286 reviews85 followers
January 22, 2024
I wasn't sure what to make of this book and I didn't know what to expect, so, I went in with an open mind, and, after reading it, it was definitely better than I expected, but, I don't want to say too much because I think everyone should go in blind as I think that made the book for me.

This is definitely an original novel, I don't think I have read anything else quite like it and it definitely piqued my interest and kept me intrigued all the way through. The writing is good although some parts of it such as old language and so forth did take some getting used to but then that is to be expected and I didn't let that put me off. Once I got used to it it got very easy to make my way through.

I did find some parts of the story to be a bit long for my liking, however, that didn't take away the enjoyment from the book. Overall I enjoyed it
Profile Image for Roberta R. Carr.
Author 9 books52 followers
June 23, 2024
Hayley Price is a gifted storyteller. I very much enjoyed her writing style and how she used graphics within chapters to let readers know who was on stage next. She created a dire, heartless world where women–especially lesbians–were treated harshly by society.

The cat-and-mouse game between Corelle/Jorinda and her Guild nemesis, Styrrach, made this book a page-turner—until the ending. Instead of resolving their conflict, Price lets Corelle/Jorinda avoid capture yet once again, putting her on a ship to fight another day (in book two, naturally). Every story deserves a thoughtful closure.

Although this book is well edited, I wish Price's editor would have noticed her overuse of the word “mayhap”. I stopped counting after twenty and tried not to let every new one drive me crazy.
Profile Image for Katie B.
119 reviews3 followers
January 24, 2024
Stepping outside my usual genre, "The Vermilion Ribbon" by Price proved to be a rewarding experience. Despite the old language, Price's skilful storytelling made it an easy and enjoyable read. As a debut novel, it showcases potential for the author's growth and promises more compelling works in the future.

The narrative boasts a fantastic storyline, though I did find certain segments to be a tad lengthy. Nevertheless, this minor concern didn't overshadow the overall enjoyment I derived from the book. Eagerly anticipating the next instalment in the series, I believe Price has set the stage for a captivating literary journey that readers, including myself, will eagerly follow.
Profile Image for Sam.
842 reviews113 followers
September 27, 2023
This book is out of my comfort zone, but I hoped I’d like it nonetheless. I fear that is not quite the case. This book sure is different from my usual, which I don’t mind one bit. It’s just the storytelling, and the story itself, that makes it not the most enjoyable read for me. I feel like this story never really goes anywhere. The dialogue is a bit stilted and repetitive. The story long winded and flat.

I give it some pluses for originality and setting, but that’s just about it. I guess if this is a book that’s more in your comfort zone you’d find more enjoyment in it.
Profile Image for Mystic KT.
493 reviews26 followers
September 17, 2024
This was a good introduction to the series that Hayley Price is creating and I loved her writing style which is flowing and intricate at the same time. I loved the way that she describes the world and the characters lives. She has managed to create something that is different from other fantasy series which is sometimes hard to do in this genre. The characters are fully formed and we follow them as they develop during the course of the story line surviving the environment and situations that they are found in. I can not wait to pick up the next book in the series.
Profile Image for K.J. Johnson.
Author 6 books38 followers
May 29, 2024
Not my usual genre but this book is so well written (once you adjust to the language style), it will suck you in and hold you captive until the very end! You'll laugh, you'll cry, your eyebrows will disappear into your hairline while you mouth 'WTF' several times, but you'll love every minute of it!

And come on, there are assassins... need I say more.

Okay, just one more thing... that cover though... how amazing is it?!?

Definitely recommend!
Author 1 book17 followers
July 1, 2024
Very decent read. I liked Corelle's story, and the plot moves along pretty well. I do feel like the world building could be a bit more in depth. Yes the story needs to move, but explaining WHY for some things would be nice....
Profile Image for gj indieBRAG.
1,795 reviews96 followers
July 24, 2024
We are proud to announce that THE VERMILION RIBBON (The Vermilion Saga Book 1) by Hayley Price has been honored with the B.R.A.G. Medallion (Book Readers Appreciation Group). It now joins the very select award-winning, reader-recommended books at indieBRAG.
Profile Image for Charlotte.
567 reviews21 followers
February 2, 2024
I loved the characters right from the start! Corelle,  Deineke and Arella are strong women who really prove that we don't need men! Their stories are sad, and their love is forbidden, but they somehow find the strength to keep going. 

Despite being set in a fantasy world, it was easy to get to grips with places, customs and names that are unfamiliar.  The world building was great,  and I really felt that it could be a real place. 

I'm excited to see what book 2 brings. 
Profile Image for Corinne Anderson.
303 reviews13 followers
October 5, 2024
A spicy FF fantasy romance, Corelle follows love across the ocean, and finds herself bound to a murderous guild. When things go sideways in a male dominated assassins organization, Corelle is left with a heartful of loss, rage, revenge and a special set of skills.

On the run, and hoping to seize vengeance, she finds a little more love and a lot more to lose.

Full of spice and murder, this femme fatale will keep you turning page after page. The novel is broken into a few different perspectives, keeping Corelle as our main storyteller, but getting glimpses into some of the unsavory characters out to get her, simply for her preference for women.

I’m looking forward to the sequel, as I feel like the first book was really establishing relationships, building the world and really driving home the fact that lesbian relationships were taboo, and garnered a lot of hate, which is the driving factor behind the assassins guild hunting Corelle down.

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫/5
Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️/5
Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews

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