Thank you to the author/artist and publisher for the ARC I received.

This was a fun one to read. It’s definitely for a unique setup/plot compared to other mangas I have read before. The art style is also gorgeous. Not only are the people drawn well, but their clothes are done very nicely, and there have been a few really gorgeous landscape drawings as well that I loved. The story and characters are really interesting and I’m curious where the story will go. Both of the main characters have a really sad backstory that I’d like to know more about. But also I just want them to live in peace away from the drama. The one downside is that the pacing feels off in the beginning. It seems like they fall for each other very fast but I read online that the authors says they actually spend a few months together, it’s just not shown. I really wish we got to see a bit of that time period, because as-is, it appears to be almost insta-love, which I am not a fan of. Otherwise, it’s a really interesting story that I would recommend checking out! I would give this a 3.25/5 stars, maybe a 3.5/5. It’s a little hard to rate because I really like some parts but I don’t like the pacing.

3 stars

I had some mixed feelings about this graphic novel.

Snow & Ink had some interesting ideas and a unique premise, but ultimately fell short of it's potential. The characters felt a little flat and underdeveloped, making it difficult to connect with them emotionally. The plot, while intriguing in the beginning, felt a bit rushed and lacked depth in my opinion.
The writing itself was decent, but nothing particularly noteworthy.

I do like the cover, it's appealing to see. The artwork is very pretty. The concept of a world without emotions was certainly a unique concept.

Snow & Ink is a decent read with some interesting ideas, but it's not a must-read if u ask me. If you're open to exploring a unique world, you might enjoy it.

The synopsis and the start of the manga made want to dive into the story. When I did, though, I felt it was full of clichés.

A woman buys a hateful criminal and wants him to be her bodyguard (which he hardly is at first). They go north to a hut where they live and start their life together as a couple? The manga went from a potential dark setting and characters to a fluffy romance in the span of two chapters.

There is more to it than it seems to the characters. I get that you can have good reasons for doing certain things but that doesn't make it okey...and all the story does is redeem their doings.

Sentenced to death for the brutal massacre of his village, Neneo faces certain execution—until he is unexpectedly purchased by Freya, a wealthy yet emotionally detached heiress with her dark past. Together, they embark on an exile to the far north, where they are forced to confront their inner demons. As they navigate the icy wilderness, an unlikely bond begins to form between the condemned killer and the wounded heiress. But their shared solace is fragile, as the shadows of their pasts threaten to destroy any chance of redemption.

Tropes
- Grumpy vs. emotionally numb dynamic
- Unlikely companions
- Redemption through love
- Healing past traumas
- Found family in unexpected places

It delivers a gripping tale of love, redemption, and survival against the harshest of landscapes—both external and internal. The story’s emotional depth is matched only by its stunning, atmospheric artwork, which brings the icy northern wilderness to life and underscores the isolation and fragility of its characters.

Neneo and Freya are masterfully crafted protagonists, each burdened by a traumatic past. Neneo’s stoic acceptance of his dark fate contrasts with Freya’s quiet numbness, creating a dynamic that is as fascinating as it is poignant. As they journey together, their relationship evolves slowly and naturally, giving weight to each moment of trust and vulnerability. Their connection is not just romantic but deeply human, reflecting the universal need for connection and understanding in the face of suffering.

The plot is intricately woven with moments of mystery, tension, and introspection. Readers are left questioning the true nature of Neneo’s crimes and the extent of Freya’s hidden pain, drawing them deeper into the story. The twists and revelations are subtle yet impactful, ensuring the narrative remains as compelling as it is thought-provoking.

With its richly drawn characters, emotionally resonant storytelling, and breathtaking visual style, Snow & Ink is a perfect choice for fans of My Happy Marriage and historical fantasies that explore the complexities of love and redemption. It is a poignant start to what promises to be an unforgettable series.

**ARC provided by NetGalley for honest review**

Snow & Ink, Vol. 1 by Miyuki Unohana was a swift-moving dichotomy of light and dark themes following an ex-heiress and her murderer slave. This was a strangely beautiful manga volume switching between despair and hope as the couple finds a friend and a future in unexpected places. This is so different than anything I've read, and I'm excited to continue with volumes in the future.

I enjoyed it more than I expected!

The initial impressions of the main characters changed when I learned more about their back story. It has a nice blend of romance but rather fast-paced. Art is nice though!

Reviewed for School Library Journal. This is a fast-paced romance with the two leads falling straight into their relationship, which is refreshing given how many slow-burn stories are out there. Unohana creates an emotional connection to both leads very quickly in this volume.

Original concept and great art! I enjoyed this first volume in the manga and can’t wait to continue this series!

I have been trying to branch out into new genres of manga lately and I’m really glad I have. Snow and Ink is a wonderful manga with a melancholy edge and beautiful art style and story. I was quickly engrossed by the tale and despite their oddness I really like Neneo and Freya. I will definitely be following this one. It’s the perfect mix of good story, brilliant characters and unique plot.

As always thank you to Netgalley and Kodansha Comics for the copy to review, my reviews are always honest and freely given.

Please see my full review in Booklist for a full analysis of this work. Thank you! I appreciate the opportunity to review this manga professionally.

I really loved this story. It's already got me hooked and I can't wait to learn more. Thank you for the arc.

The story is good so far. I can’t wait to find out what happened to Neneo people. I also can’t wait to see them grow so much closer together. I love how they open, accept each other, and how they protect each other. Neneo will follow Freya until the end of days. The art style is amazing. I can’t wait to read next volume.

While the premise sounded very promising and the artstyle is beautiful, the pace of this story is weird at best and too fast in my opinion. The center of the story are Nanao and Freya, but their relationship developed too fast and too much time passed between chapters and none of it was shown. They are interesting characters individually, and they make sense togehter, but there was absolutely no build-up to their relationship. I did find their life situations interesting, especially the way they affect them still.
I will be continuing this series because I'm curious to see how the things turn out.

First a big thank you to NetGalley, the Author and the Publisher for giving me a change to read this lovely story.

At first I wasn't exactly sure of what was happening but I might have been reading to much at once and therefor might have mixed up my stories.

I enjoyed the narrative and the graphics of the story and I feel like it has potential.
So I am curious to where it is going and how they will further adapt to one and another.
The romance could have used a little more build-up, but all in all this was a cute and fun read.

For a first volume, this a good intro to our pair of couple. Its interesting so far and I'm intrigued how they gonna solve the mystery. Although, i think they falling in love is too abrupt just because they are living together. I want to see them yearn, learning about each other more before falling in love. The insta love is what pulled me a bit away from their story but other than this, they are quite cute together. I love her fiancee, he was so understanding and also clever. He doesnt let his feelings get in his way and was objective in achieving what he wants rather than being possessive but let the couple be.

Snow & Ink is set in a sort of pseudo Victorian-ish other world (they can make phone calls but there doesn't seem to be cars, that sort of thing) that follows a man accused of murder, on the brink of execution, bought by a young woman who's the disgrace of her town due to apparently running the economy into the ground (this is never really explained or expanded upon, at least in volume 1). It's a romance, and while the title is explained as "snow and ink are said to be two opposite things' after the first part of the story there's no real opposites here-- but they do like each other, and are traveling to perhaps? Find out the mystery of what happened to the man's village? Either way, the girl's ex-fiance is taking them there to investigate.

This was okay - the art was pretty standard and the story was a little fast (what do you mean suddenly they're in a relationship) with a lot of unanswered questions. I'm not sure if I'll continue on, but I might pick it up if I see a further volume out in the wild.

Thank you to NetGalley and Kodansha for the eARC in exchange for review!

This was very interesting. A young woman is outcast because she has ruined her family business and cost employees their jobs. She is now the black sheep of the family and she decides to leave.

On her way to the train station she comes across an execution that is about to happen, she rescues the man who is to be executed and they travel together.

He is a man who killed his family, she is a woman who killed her families business. As they travel together their story becomes a quest to find out what happened to his village.

Great story which unfolds gradually , accompanied by great artwork.

Snow and Ink follows Neneo and Freya, two people who are hated by society and met each other through unorthodox means. We learn a bit about their backstories as they, especially Neneo, are different from what they're perceived to be by society. I found it cute how they fell for each other fast (although I wonder if it was too fast). Things seem to start picking up in the next volume so I am excited to read that.

I really liked this story with really pretty art and complicated, layered characters.
Neneo is a murder sentenced to death who is bought by a heiress for some reason. Freya brings him with her to live in exile in the cold north.
The story felt a little rushed and the relationship between the characters developed faster then I expected. But I am curious to see where this story goes.
Thank you to Kodansha and Netgalley for my review copy.

Thank you Netgalley and Kodansha Comics for the e-ARC for review. All opinions are honest and my own.

I love reading manga and watching anime, but do not often review it so this felt like a treat!. The story was refreshing, because we start off with a heiress assisting a convicted criminal, and then we simultaneously see her get shunned. Everything felt abrupt, and we were slowly being fed some, but not all, obviously, as this is volume 1, of the information of their pasts. I appreciated that while there was attraction this didn't feel like insta-love and that Neneo didn't complete change his character because there was a budding attraction.. He stays pretty rigid and harsh throughout, and I hope their character development develops over time in an authentic manner. Both Neneo and Freya are layered, flawed, and compelling characters and this volume truly packed a bunch.

The only thing I did not love was the art style, do not get me wrong there was nothing wrong with it. However, for me, when reading manga I value the story and the art as they work in tandem, as the art is a huge part of the experience. While I do think the art style did a good job relying the tone of the story, it just was not to my personal taste. This didn't detract from my enjoyment and I didn't knock a star because of it, but wanted to make note. Overall, I left feeling intrigued and frustrated that I did not have five (or more) volumes available for me to binge. I can definitely see why this is popular in Japan and I look forward to reading more. If you're sensitive to violence, mature themes, and gory depictions this maya not be the manga for you.