I loved the art style. but it seemed like the story progressed a lot in one volume, their companionship towards each other especially, It would be better if it was forced proximity that develops slowly into caring for one another.

I still enjoyed their dynamic of a disgraced girl, Freya who has nothing and teams up with someone who has done villainous stuff yet still feels remorseful and caring.

An interesting comic. I was drawn inside by the cover. Stylish artwork and colours, and a narrative that engages from page one. Once I started reading I couldn’t stop. Freya is haunted and vilified for losing other’s fortunes. Neneo is a condemned criminal. When Freya buys him to accompany as she travels in a cold world their lives will change. Because when you start to dig there is more to each of their stories. Maybe the warmth that is slowly found in each other’s company can give them both what they need. Thank you to Kodansha Comics and NetGalley for the comic ARC. The views expressed are all mine, freely given.

Under a dark background story, this manga is surprisingly wholesome. We have Neneo, the murderer, Freya the disowned heiress and Halvard. The romance between Freya and Neneo was really cute and I am looking forward to dive in their character development in the next volumes. Halvard is my favorite between them. He is just so weird which makes it hilarious.

Thanks to NetGalley, author, and the publisher for access to this title in exchange for my honest opinions and review!

I enjoyed this manga though I found the romance developed between the two main characters to be rushed though it was very sweet how they came to support each other emotionally and with physical proximity. It was intriguing to see the redemption of Neneo when the truth of what happened to the villagers is revealed through his flashbacks and I love how Freya wants to protect him and help him through his trauma. I do wish there was more development of both characters since we only see how they interact with each other and I don’t feel as if I was given a solid personality other than the “cold heiress” and “loud-mouthed guy” archetypes (which are revealed to not be very accurate in the later chapters). The pacing was a little off as well. The scenes did not flow together smoothly, it skipped around and it wasn’t clear how time is passing in the story. Lastly, I wish more of Freya’s backstory was given to the reader, instead of only knowing the rumors about her loss of inheritance and the volatile interactions with violent men in public. Freya did not have any flashbacks, even about her ex-fiance though we had very many through Neneo’s perspective.
I think it’s a good start to a series, though I want to see more characterization and a smoother story pacing, and I would be interested in reading the next installment!

The concept of this and the title drew me to this manga but it ultimately fell short. The story was okay but very, very fast paced and the two characters getting together happened too quickly for it to make sense. The characters themselves fell flat, with the initial intrigue falling away pretty quick as their backstories were revealed very early on. The end was not enough to convince me to continue with the series but I wish the author well!

I had a lot of problems with the story of this manga. What I didn't like:

The plot was non-existant, the characters had unclear motivations and unrealistic personalities and the pacing was so fast it was ridiculous. The main story is that a super rich girl gets estranged from her family and is in disgrace for some bad business management on her part and decides to buy a prisoner who is accused of mass murder on a whim. The two go from enemies to lovers in the span of just 35 pages, and while we're on the subject of tropes, here are a few more from the first chapter:
- man with a criminal past is actually a nice guy just misunderstood
- he is wounded and she has to tend to his wounds (and sees him shirtless in doing so!)
- its so cold out so they need to huddle together for warmth
- only one bed
- she's so innocent and naive he must protect her

Tropes aside, the pacing is whats really the problem with this book; the relationship progresses so fast I had to go back and re-read because I was convinced I was missing a whole chapter. They go from strangers to devoted couple in a few pages and it made them seem like totally different characters.

What I did like:

The art was drawn in a traditional manga style that was well done, aesthetically pleasing and clean. The formatting of the page layout was also well done and I never had any confusion or trouble knowing which text bubble to read next. These two points are what saved me from rating this a one star

Thank you NetGalley for a digital ARC!

This is the first volume in a manga series that follows a soft-hearted, disgraced, heiress headed north alongside an alleged murderer she bought to save him from his execution. This somewhat unlikely pair quickly (VERY quickly) fall in love as they travel north together and find refuge in a little house not far from the heiress’ ex-fiancé. There the three of them work together to help her ex-fiancée with his medical research.

In this first volume I would not say there’s much plot at this point but instead mostly character introductions and the super intense romantic feelings between Neneo and Freya.

This story started off pretty disjointed and the pacing felt very off as our two MCs traveled north. However, once they made it to their little house the pacing seemed to settle a bit.

I would read more volumes of this manga because I’m curious to see where it goes, but I can’t say that I’m super drawn to or connecting with the characters just yet.

You can find my full review on Storygraph!

This manga is both sweet and haunting. It is easy to see why it has taken Japan by storm. I was initially intrigued by the idea of an assassin or killer character playing bodyguard to an heiress. That premise set up some preconceived notions that were quickly subverted by the direction the story took. There are multiple twists on a classic romance tropes, which I think would make the manga appeal to adult romance readers. This first volume also sets up an adventure/road-trip, which is a good hook for the next volume. It's art style is lovely, and the characters are dynamic and interesting. I am looking forward to the next volume.

The art style and synopsis for this manga drew me in but unfortunately I think it missed the mark a bit for me.

The story features a disgraced heiress and a mass murderer. She buys him on a whim to accompany her into exile. The relationship between these two moves extremely quickly. In the span of one chapter we’ve gone from uncomfortable companions to being in some semblance of a relationship.

The pacing for this manga just seems extremely quick. And there’s not a lot of backstory or fluff to pad the story out. Which isn’t always a bad thing, but here it just makes the story look rushed and a bit sloppy.

The art style is quite lovely, however. Aesthetically it’s a great manga. I am not sure if I will continue with this series but who knows.

This manga had a brilliant idea behind it. Ultimately it didn't live up to my expectations. The plot was too quick with no time for character or relationship development, The art style is pretty but it doesn't make up for the lack of a real story. It feels as if these characters were just thrown onto the page without thought. Literally nothing in this whole first volume was fleshed out leading to the majority of the events having no reason behind them and honestly confusing me! It has the potential to be something good in the next volume but there needs to be a serious effort put into it!

Thank you to Netgalley for a copy for an honest review

Ok first volume but I feel the pacing was a little rushed but it was ok, the illustrations are nice but I don’t think I will be picking up volume 2

Star rating: 2 ⭐️⭐️

I like the tropes that were established in this book and I think it has a lot of potential. I think the characters are cute together and I want to see them grow together however I think the pacing was a little rushed and took away a lot of opportunity to see the two main character grow closer.

I thought the premise of this could be interesting, however it very quickly turned into something that did not really hold my interest. I loved the art style, but the conversations between the characters felt stiff and awkward. I also didn't enjoy the narrative and how sometimes we only got glimpses into what was going on. I think the biggest thing working against this volume is the pacing. The characters "fell in love" far too quickly, and the plot didn't seem well fleshed out. I recommend this to anyone who enjoys this trope/style of manga.

I thought the plot of this manga sounded interesting and was really drawn to it. Unfortunately I didn’t end up living it nearly as much as I hoped.

To start, I did love the art style and thought the characters were beautifully drawn. The plot was also interesting and unique. Unfortunately the pacing was so strange and rushed that it completely took away from the story. The main characters being in a relationship made absolutely no sense and there so no lead up to it. All of a sudden they are just in a relationship and you don’t even see how that happened.

I would consider reading the next volume and seeing if there are any improvements, but if not I wouldn’t continue with the story for a third volume.

This first installment didn't convince me that much, and I'm not really sure I'll continue reading this manga, even though in some ways it intrigues me.

Questo primo numero non mi ha convinto poi molto e non sono proprio sicura che continueró a leggere questo manga, anche se per alcuni versi mi incuriosisce.

I received from the Publisher a complimentary digital advanced review copy of the book in exchange for a honest review.

It took me a little bit to get into this one and then I fell in love with all the characters. I think it’s a great start to a story and I can’t wait to read more. The artwork is also really good. I really enjoyed this one! Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for a copy of the arc in return for an honest review!

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me the opportunity to read this manga. The manga is about a criminal and an heiress who buys him, and they fall in love. The art style is dynamic and appealing. However, I found the story too fast paced, meaning that the romance commenced far too quickly in the volume and it was difficult to empathise or engage with either of the main characters because of the fast pacing.

The Snow and Ink is an absolutely captivating read that left me spellbound from beginning to end. The author masterfully creates a rich, immersive world where magic and adventure leap off the page, and the depth of detail in the world-building is truly remarkable.

The protagonist, is a beautifully complex character whose journey of self-discovery and courage resonates deeply. Her growth throughout the story is both believable and inspiring, making her a heroine you can’t help but root for. The supporting characters are just as well-crafted, each bringing their own unique charm and depth to the narrative.

The plot is filled with twists and turns that kept me on the edge of my seat. Just when I thought I had figured out what would happen next, the author skillfully surprised me. The themes of friendship, sacrifice, and the fight between good and evil are woven seamlessly into the narrative, adding layers of meaning that will leave readers pondering long after they turn the last page.

Overall, is a must-read for fantasy lovers. I can’t wait for the next installment!

Thank you to Kondansha and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this volume.

This is the weirdest pacing I have experienced in manga. It’s incredibly rushed and the relationship between the FMC and MMC falls flat. Their instant love is not believable in the slightest.

It’s well drawn but that’s the only thing I enjoyed about it. This was a real struggle to finish.

I haven't read somrthing like this in a while and i really enjoyed it.
The characters had the much-needed depth in them and the story is really interesting.
The art is really good. The relationship between them is sweet. The way they defend each other is wholesome.
I look forward to the 2nd volume.