Veil Volume One is a subtle and sweet romance manga that follows “him” and “her”, two strangers from very different backgrounds after a charming meet-cute in the city streets. “Him”, a police officer in the big city, “Her” a runaway heiress who lived a very sheltered life. They parallel each other in a very unique way that is captivating and enchanting. You won’t want to stop turning the page to see what they navigate through next.

There are several pages throughout the manga that share the authors art process and little doodles along the way. You do, at some point, learn the characters names but it was such a pleasant surprise that I will save that for this audience to experience.

Overall, my rating is a 4 but this is only because I would personally call this more “slice of life” than romance. The romance is certainly implied, and maybe Volume Two will develop that more. This is a feel good kind of manga that I could see myself picking up and re-reading on a bad or rainy day.

Bonus:I loved the monologues throughout, the one from the teapot and cup was so silly and sweet

‘Veil’ was very different from what I usually read. There was no real narrative in the traditional sense. Instead, the volume was like a selection of Vignettes from the lives of these two characters from two different worlds. I kept feeling like I was missing whole chunks of background and the how’s of their developing relationship. But once I got used to the narrative style, it actually felt relaxing and weirdly reflective as you try and tease out details of their relationship from the scenes.
The artwork played a big part in my enjoyment. I loved the vintage look and the rich colours of the pages. They reminded me of fashion spreads in a good way.

Cute and colorful vignettes about a policeman and a runaway heiress who's blind and wants to be allowed to live a life outside of her gilded cage. There's not really much of a plot here, just seeing these characters be cute in colorful outfits. I'd be lying if I said I wasn't comparing this to "The Invisible Man and His Soon-to-Be Wife," which IMO does a better job of scratching the itch for a cute romance with a blind FMC, but this is cute enough that I think it's worth a look.

First things first-the artwork is stunning. Veil has a vintage aesthetic, reminiscent of old newspaper comics or high-fashion magazine spreads. The light, simple color palette enhances the elegance of the illustrations, making every panel feel like a work of art. Visually this manga is everything. Unfortunately, that's where the pros end.

For a story marketed as romance, there's surprisingly zero chemistry between the leads. Even their first encounter feels awkward, lacking the charm or intrigue you'd expect from a romance surrounding a runaway heiress and a police officer. The description of this manga promised "witty banter", but really there's none of that. Maybe it got lost in translation-but honestly i doubt it.

The plot (or lack thereof) is another issue. Instead of a flowing narrative, the manga reads like a collection disconnected one-shots. Normally, that wouldn't be a dealbreaker, but the scene transitions are abrupt and awkward, making it hard to stay engaged. We barely learn anything about the main characters' personalities through the actual story-ironically, the only bit about their likes and dislikes we learn about them come from the name cards section at the end rather than being revealed naturally.

That said, the monologues were a highlight. They added a poetic touch, which paired really well with the vintage visuals and gave the story a certain vibe which i really enjoyed. But with a premise like this, i expected so much more.

In the end, Veil is the definition of wasted potential. A romance story about the day-to-day lives of a runaway heiress and a police officer? This could've been so good. Instead, we got a collection of pretty panels with no depth to back them up. A story like this could've been something unforgettable- but instead, its just forgettable.

What I like about the stories how you don’t get to know the names of the characters until the very end. Each chapter is a different adventure. The both of them go on. You get to see just how close they grew throughout the story. I enjoy the fact that you get monologues from both of them and then you get what people think of both of them as well. The art style is beautiful. I like the fact that you get many different pieces throughout the whole manga.

I am in love with this manga i literally finished it in less than 30 minutes and admired every scene. The art is gorgeous, and the fashion statement, I wanted to own everything she wear lol. It’s made me feel so good for some reason. And it’s very 80/90s so it’s literally the best. I would 110% recommend. I want more !!!
I would love to get it and literally frame it🤍

**ARC provided by NetGalley for honest review**

Veil, volume 1 by Kotteri was a romance(?) manga following a blind runaway heiress and a police officer relationship. It was a different type of manga than I expected. Instead of the usual storytelling style, this volume came across more as short vignettes, or snapshots, of the story. I loved the classic look of the art style, the French and Russian influences, all the outfits, and the premise as well, I just wish I had gotten more of the full story than I did. It was a bit confusing for me to read that way.

Dear Self,

READ THE BLURB!

Signed,
Myself

I went in blind, which I don't recommend, read the blurb first cause it will save you any confusion!

Anyways, this was such a unique story and quite liked it! Honestly, I don't even know how to explain my feelings, but I just loved this and the characters. The art is stunning and overall, just something that I haven't quite read before.

My feelings for this book is akin to me laying on the ground, hands below my chin, and fluttering my legs in glee. I can't wait to dive into volume 2 to immerse myself in this beauty!

★ ★ ★ ★
Length: 127p
Source: ARC - NetGalley, Udon Entertainment
Release Date: March 11, 2025

This is one of the most unique and visually stunning books I’ve ever read. Just look at the blurb and you’ll see what I mean.

I went in blind and I was CONFUSED ASFFFFF. I had no idea what was going on. And then I read the blurb and was stunned because WOW.

The story is part prose, part manga, and part artistry. Some scenes are just images. Some are POVs from inanimate objects. It’s wild and a bit twisted and utterly addicting!

♡ graphic novel / manga
♥ contemporary romance
♡ small life moments
♥ police officer x rich girl

{I was gifted a complimentary copy of this book. All reviews are my own.}

This is a review for both the first and second volumes of Veil, partly because there is no ‘linear’ story to the manga and partly because it just feels right to put them together.
Veil follows the story of Her, a young bling woman, and Him, a police officer, who meet by happenstance and become close friends (and maybe more).
Veil gives the impression of 20-40’s, retro East-Europe in an idealistic sense. The bright color palette, the beautiful clothing, and the dreamy way the characters are drawn draws the reader in, wanting to know more and more about Him and Her. It’s almost like watching a colorized vintage film. The calm, quiet sense of the story is something I could easily get lost in. I thought it was interesting that the mangaka said in the notes that their relationship is undefined—it could be romance, but it could also be they’re just close friends, and honestly I like that ambiguity. ‘Him’ and ‘Her’ have a precious relationship I would love to see more of.
Overall, Veil is perfect for lovers of all things retro.
NOTE: I received a complimentary copy from the publisher via NetGalley for review purposes only. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

The vintage art style was stunning and that was what initially drew me in. I was also impressed by the lightheartedness of the writing and how adorable the main characters were with one another. All in all, it was super cute and perfect for reading in between heavy reads.

The vintage art style is unique and elegant, with short chapters and a sweet character dynamic. It feels like drifting through an odd, romantic daydream.

I absolutely loved the illustrations in the manga! The art was so bold and beautiful, it felt like you were staring at a masterpiece. The entire experience was like looking at a living work of art, with vibrant colors that truly brought the story to life. It was a perfect blend of slice-of-life elements paired with striking, vivid visuals that made every page feel captivating.

Emma is 21, a runaway heiress and blind, altough it’s never quite clear if it’s real or affected, as she just goes around her eyes closed. Alexander is 23 and a police officer. We only learn this information at the end of the volume though, and they go nameless. He encounters her by chance, offers her a job at the police station and a place to stay with him. Scenes revolve around this. He behaves like a gentleman; she likes to push a bit.

The setting is maybe 1930s and slightly east-European in feel. Art is very retro, art deco with muted hues. Panels are small and read in manga order, but there are many large art pages between stories. There are also snippets of text in between where most of the background story comes from.

This was more of a concept than a story. Art is the main selling point and the story consists of short scenes that don’t really form a whole, or really make much sense either. But it was interesting enough to continue.

This is just such a beautiful story both visually and thematically. The art is stunning, yes, but also the structure is unique with it being different “scenes” between our main characters Emma, a blind runaway heiress, and Aleksander, a police officer. The whole story is summed up in small glimpses into the lives of these two characters together and I was honestly kicking my feet and giggling the entire time.

There’s something so beautiful about these moments of platonic intimacy; Aleksander doing Emma’s hair or helping her put on her lipstick, the light touches like Emma’s fingers slipping under Alexander’s gloves. There’s a movement to the art; both characters always caught in the middle of these moments of acts of service.

I suppose that’s the point, isn’t it? The veil between platonic and romantic closeness. We see that these two care deeply for each other but it’s never specified whether their interactions are romantic or platonic. This setup and structure make for a compelling story and I can’t wait to continue reading!

Veil Volume 1: Temperature of Orange
⤷ ⭑⭑⭑.𝟳𝟱

❝ The voice was at my feet, but then in the next instant, I heard it from the sky. Gentle and soft, like a blanket. And sincere. ❞ ⋆˚࿔


⟢ In a moment that felt like something out of a classic film, their paths crossed unexpectedly. He was a dedicated police officer, committed to serving his city, and She was a blind runaway heiress, seeking freedom from her family. When she< stumbled upon him while looking for work, compassion moved him to invite her into his life. thus began their journey together—a tender exploration of everyday moments, a growing friendship, and the gentle blossoming of romance.

the experience reminds me of wandering through a lush, vibrant garden where the flowers are stunning, but the path is unclear. it's like being entranced by a visually beautiful story that lacks a cohesive narrative flow—you can admire the artistry, but you're still searching for the connections that make the journey meaningful.

i was immediately struck by the stunning art style! the visuals alone managed to hold my attention despite not knowing what the story was about. however, after finishing the first volume, i've noticed a lot of text but not a lot of context, which i'm not entirely used to. a lot of the scenes felt a bit short, skipping over certain events and making it challenging to follow along.

i know the review should focus on the translation but i guess this can also be an area of improvement to the publisher for future books. there’s a portion of the monologue where 'she' receives her first call as the police department's phone operator about a cat, and i think it would have been nice to have seen that moment instead of it just being mentioned to enhance the story. at this point, the scenes were mostly filler scenes, and the monologues seemed to take precedence over the main storyline. there may be people who like these types of graphic novels and some who don't. it may just need a bit of getting used to, especially if you are being served beautiful artwork.

also, a particular point of confusion was the characters' names; it struck me that they never introduced themselves, and in fact, their names weren't mentioned on-screen at all, and i thought i missed it for some reason. the font used also took a bit of time to get used to and i eventually found it charming in a way that complimented both the art style and story.

thank you Udon Entertainment and Net Galley for providing me an arc of the English-translated copy of the first volume of this beautiful graphic novel!♡

Thank you to Udon Entertainment for the early access copy of this manga! I was utterly transported by the vintage aesthetic art style and the compelling story. The story includes vignettes of a man and a woman (the man is a police officer who helps the woman get a job at his station answering the phone). I like that we learn the story in bits and pieces with little “monologues” in between — it’s an interesting way and it reeled me in quickly. Overall, I would rate it 3.75 stars 🌟

A blind runaway rich girl meets a kind police officer in an adorable meet cute and it only gets better from there.

It's amazing how a great story can be told in vignettes that only show tiny moments but give you everything. Add the fact that the art is gorgeous and the interactions between him and her (Alexander and Emma) are downright adorable, and I loved everything about this.

Delighted thanks to NetGalley and Udon Entertainment for the great read!

This is a collection of cute little vignettes about these two characters mundane life and the ways in which they are dancing around their feelings for each other. It takes a second or two to get invested in the characters but overall it is a sweet way to pass the time just nothing super special or remarkable.

⭐⭐½ (rounded up to 3 stars)

Veil Volume 1: Temperature of Orange, translated by Jocelyne Allen, is undeniably gorgeous—each page feels like a high-fashion sketchbook, with delicate, dreamlike illustrations that make it a visual delight. However, as stunning as the artwork is, the storytelling left me feeling lost. The dialogue flow was often unclear, and I struggled to follow the narrative. Perhaps something was lost in translation from the original Japanese. I gathered that a police officer meets a beautiful blind woman and that their relationship slowly unfolds, but beyond that, the story felt vague and elusive.

I’ll read Volume 2 because the artwork alone is worth admiring, and maybe the story will become more cohesive. But as of now, Veil is more of an aesthetic experience than a gripping or clear narrative. If you love beautiful art and don’t mind ambiguity, this might still be worth a look—but if you’re hoping for a strong plot, you may come away feeling frustrated.

Thank you to NetGalley and Udon Entertainment for the preview. Veil Volume 1: Temperature of Orange is set to be released on March 11, 2025.