While I enjoyed the art style, it's more of an art book with some four panel stories sprinkled in. But, there wasn't a fleshed out story already established before the panels. I wasn't sure if they were in a relationship a few pages in or just friends.

There was no backstory or introduction to the characters, so it was virtually impossible to tell what the hell was going on. So while the art was interesting, the story was pretty much non-existent.

This graphic novel is absolutely stunning. I can't wait to go buy physical copies for my bookshelf. The story is endearing and wholesome. The art is amazing and so gracefully done.

There was he - an-on duty police officer in the city. There was she - a runaway heiress. An early morning, a chance encounter, and like the unspooling of a classic film, there is now He and She. As She looks for work, He offers her a position as the police station's telephone operator, and what follows is Their everyday lives, told in snippets and vignettes - Their story, and the delicate and unseen spaces in between.

If you're chronically online like me, you've probably seen the art for this series before - it's striking, elegant, decadent, and in a few short pictures the artist manages to capture a million emotions, creating spaces for questions, for longing, and for a voracious appetite for more of our He and She. This is the first time "Veil" is available in English translation and print as far as I know, and I soaked up every page - this is a rather untraditional manga and "book", in the sense that the story is as much in the seen as it is in the unseen (PUN INTENDED). While lacking a solidly linear timeline and progressive plot, we get instead intimate shots and occasional landscapes of He and She as they meet, work together, and otherwise get tangled up in the thin veil between friendship and romance as they carry out their daily lives. It's truly unique, beautiful, and refreshing in a way I haven't seen in a long time. I crave the next volume and those to come!

Thank you very much to NetGalley, Udon Entertainment, and Kotteri for an Advanced Reader's Copy of this title!

I have mixed feelings about this one. If you’re looking for absolutely stunning, soft, and expressive art, this is the book for you. Visually, it’s breathtaking. Every panel feels like a painting, and the style alone makes it worth flipping through.

That said, if you’re looking for a strong, cohesive storyline... this might leave you wanting more. The characters are interesting - he’s a city police officer, she’s a runaway heiress—but their story is told in fragmented glimpses rather than a clear narrative. You’re dropped into little moments of their lives, and while some are sweet or intriguing, not all of them feel connected or meaningful. It left me feeling a bit ungrounded, like I never quite got to know them the way I wanted to.

That being said, I really appreciated the care taken in representing her disability. It’s portrayed thoughtfully, and the way the love interest treats her, with respect, admiration, and even more love because of it, was genuinely touching. Their interactions had a softness that gave me all the feels, and I just wish we’d gotten more depth to their overall story.

This is one of those reads where the visuals do most of the heavy lifting. It’s beautiful, gentle, and emotionally resonant at times, but narratively, I was left wanting more.

Lovely art (beautiful, really) and story! This manga is also easy to read, since the chapters are quite short.
So, what is it about? Emma, a sheltered, blind woman, and Alexander, a police officer, meet by chance and develop a beautiful relationship. He helps her get a job at his police station and changes her boring and stagnant life into a more lively one. She, on the other hand, brings colour into his and helps the stoic man live a little more, I'd say!
I don't want to spoil too much, but both characters are super likeable, too, and I'm already excited to read the second volume!
Please check it out, if you can, even if you're normally not into mangas. This one is for everyone.

Loved both volumes so much and am happy that Udon entertainment sent me this. The story was easy to follow and very enjoyable. I definitely recommend to manga fans.

An artistic delight of charming characters and romantic chemistry! Phenomenal!

I can't believe Veil has an English translation now! I'm over the moon! I've heard so much about it and even considered buying the French or Japanese versions (even though I don't speak either language). But now I can fully enjoy the story!

It's a very straightforward 10/10 for me on all accounts. The art style took me off guard for a second because it's more sketch-like than the iconic, gorgeous covers, but I quickly grew fond of how much personality even the art alone has. Then, in the prologue, I immediately fell in love with the characters. There was more character-building and romantic chemistry in 12 pages than I've seen in many full romance novels.

Each chapter (scene) is short and episodic. I can't believe how skilled the mangaka is at smoothly building and resolving interest in each small snapshot of their lives. The daily life intimacy between the main characters is lovely and warm. By the 3rd scene, they were so comfortable with each other that I was surprised they weren't together yet (I thought there was a big time skip), but I love this pacing because the slow burn and flirting just gets more and more delicious. It's a very mature kind of romance, like fine wine.

Occasionally, the unique art style confused me a bit--for one or two panels I couldn't tell if some characters' hair colors changed or if a new character was being introduced. Overall, though, the artsiness is such a treat. I didn't realize it was full-color and that there would be fashion sketches and illustrations, like an art book! There were also some pages that showcased artsy writing POVs, so creative! Truly such a wonderful moment for English-speaking manga fans. I'm going to rave about it and recommend it to all my friends who like manga, graphic novels, art, romance--basically everyone!

This is a weird little manga. A blind girl encounters a security officer on the street. She goes to work with him and the rest of this is a romantic drama. It’s a storyline I’ve seen before normally watching independent movies. The artwork is highly unusual for a manga. I believe it’s Russian or supposed to be reminiscent of Russian styling. Or at least that what it what it feels like. It also feels like it’s a step at a time like this should be the 50s. With the way the characters dress and talk. It’s hard to say I enjoyed this, but I am intrigued. I do want to read the next volume because I’m hoping to see a love story progress.

I wasnt expecting what I read, but I loved it nonetheless. This is a mix of mixed media from written stories, mainly comics strips, between the two main characters in their day-to-day lives. I really fell for this couple the way they act with each other and the way they just glide into each others space the adoration is seen within the drawing and it is very captivating.

[Gifted a copy on NetGalley in exchange for an honest review]

Veil by Kotteri is one of the most romantic and lovely things one can pick up to read. Volume 1 crafts a world so enchanting and comfortable that works as very few similar stories do.

She is Emma, a blind rich girl who runs away from home. He is Alexander, a policeman she just bumped into. This is about them.

A weaker, more predictable version of this story would then go through the beats of Emma finding her place while Alexander comes to terms with his feelings and while that’s not not happening, Kotteri is confident you are already aware of that type of story. Instead the manga is a series of short vignettes as we follow our protagonists through work events, early mornings, coffee dates, and short walks. A romance simmers between them, but a heartracing intimacy is prioritized over more conventional story beats. Anyone familiar with Hays Code-era films, or Darcy’s infamous hand scene, will be aware of how a held hand or gentle smile can be as thrilling as any kiss.

Interwoven are sketches and written sections that add further meat to the bones of this world. There’s not much of a story here, at least not much of a traditional one, but our two characters are so charming and this world so instantly lovable that it's hard not to want to stay as long as possible.

Veil Vol. 1 by Kotteri is a colorful and beautifully illustrated manga that presents two charming main characters, Emma and Alexander (mostly referred to by “Her” and “Him”).

The story is told through vignettes rather than a continuous linear timeline. The art truly is beautiful but the relationship between the two is what is truly captivating. It’s so ambiguous and definitely gives off slow-burn tension. It’s so much more than a friendship but less than a full relationship. They both seem so comfortable with each other, and intimate without it being sexual, that its heartwarming. It’s a soft and quiet manga, but the character dynamic build the more you read.

Thank you to NetGalley and Udon Entertainment for the Arc.

Like a warm hug, a beautiful autumn day, a hot coffee and a chit chat with a long time friend.

The story follows the life of a blind heiress and a cop. Don’t pay too much attention to it, just take in the atmosphere and enjoy the small slice of life moments between the characters.

Some of the best art I have ever seen in a manga, with beautiful illustrations added after every chapter.

Very little words are used to convey the story, and the art shines brightly and brings immense joy.

Definitely a book I would want in my collection.

This was such a deliciously sexy read. They didn't even kiss but the atmosphere was exquisite. The art too is very beautiful and elegant. At first I was dissatisfied with the vignette style - Scenes, as they're referred to in the manga - but at some point I bought into it. Reminds me of 19 Days. It's slice of life in the best way possible. I love the 2 characters as well, their personalities come across strongly. I think it's good for what it set out to be; a low stakes story, with not much of a plot but just a general feeling and setting.

Thanks to NetGalley and the author for granting me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.


If a classic Julia Roberts movie was just vibes. 10/10

I really enjoyed this cozy manga! I’d been waiting for the translation of Veil for a while so I immediately requested it once I saw it on netgalley.
I’m absolutely in love with the drawings, they’re adorable but so fashionable and coquettish at the same time!
My only complaint is that sometimes I struggled to understand what was going on from one page to the next, but i think that was the intended purpose and I’ll definitely be reading the following volumes.

Thank you to Udon Enterteinment and Netgalley for an early copy, all opinions are my own!

I like the art and I get the concept, but I would love for the snippets to show a coherent story.
Sometimes I get confused because of that but maybe that's a me thing.

Veil 1 is the dazzling debut of Kotteri, an appreciated Japanese illustrator. We will live a new kind of story for the medium, a josei entirely based on the idea of a little tension among a huge amount of cozy segments. We will follow a blind girl meeting a member of the Police Security Department, watching them fall in love with each other and observing their doubts for a life they feel unexpected in a way we can't even imagine. The sensation that something strange is in the air is constantly behind the huge additions to the medium: monologues, artbook-like subdivision of the chapters, arriving at a mix of art deco, parisian ambiences full of vibrant and lifeful people. Little things of common life will assume an epic catharsis as seen in huge pieces of literature as James Joyce novels, with a true strength represented by the beautiness of the single panels, and the character design I find absolutely charming. I am truly curious about the development of Veil, as a fantastic exercise of style so hypnotic that the simpleness of the rest is not important.

[THANK YOU UDON ENTERTAINMENT AND NETGALLEY FOR THE COPY!]

FINAL VERDICT: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

This manga is not exactly what I expected from what I heard about it from other manga readers, but it was enjoyable. It’s an artsy kind of manga that’s composed of vignettes with pages of fashion illustrations (which do have a purpose) and is interspersed with written monologues from the leads. I’ll keep reading because it’s something different.

Thank you Udon Entertainment for the drc via NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

The artwork is beautiful and different from most other manga I've read. The full color definitely adds to the beauty and having the two main characters be the most colorful pieces of each scene makes them stand out even more. I like the light quick interactions/scenes throughout the volume and the way Him and Her interact. It's just very wholesome. I would definitely continue reading to see how their relationship grows and changes.