While I found the art absolutely breath-taking and the story quite interesting for the most part, there's a couple of things that left me (more than) disappointed, enough to make me give this manga only two stars.

First of all, the most relevant to the average reader I guess: there just isn't enough information about the historical and political landscape. Yes, perhaps I should have thought twice before picking an historical drama set on a place and time period I know nothing about, but I still would expect a bit more information (infodump if you want) about it, to sort of "catch up" with it. As it is, the story is interesting and you can sort of follow what happens and the "characters" but it gets a bit tiring because of russian naming conventions and titles.

Second: While probably accurate to how royalty behave, the reveal at the end of the manga was frankly disappointing, boring, it just fell flat and made me think "they had to suffer all of that just for this reason?" It just wasn't very satisfying on a narrative plane.

Lastly, and my biggest complain: What's up with calling this an erotic manga when the only "erotic" content is compromised of multiple rape scenes of a character that is a minor for the most part??? That's just fucked up in so many ways I can't even process what went through the mind of the author and the publishing house for them to greenlight this as erotic?? And then they had the gall to go and make the girl that was raped forgive her rapist?? (And it was even sort of implied that she liked him?? Insane)

I say grab this manga only if you have previous knowledge about the historical and political landscape and are okay with rape apologist narratives because this one sure reek of it.

Somehow I feel like this one is a weird one to rate. I really enjoyed Blade of the Immortal, so I wanted to read Snegurochka of the Spring Breeze (especially after seeing it had won the Excellence Award in Manga a while back)-- I like Hiroaki Samura's sketchy style, especially the way he draws women's faces, and going in it was clear he'd done a BOATLOAD of research on Bolshevik Russia even confined as it was to mainly the one house and the things that went on around it. It also had some of the same horrors you'd see in Blade of the Immortal only no one's immortal here, including several instances of coerced sexual situations.

But the development of the story was interesting, especially the twist on the Romanovs being a little left of center than the usual way those sorts of stories go.

I did laugh at the afterward that was basically, "I set out to make a story about a 95% tsundere character but actually it ended up a middle aged bald man."

Thank you to Kodansha/Vertical Comics and NetGalley for the eARC!

The starkness of this black and white graphic novel masterfully conveys the desolate reality of 1930s Soviet Union providing a historical view of a time fading evermore into the past without sacrificing the intrigue of the story. As the narrative unfolds, it hints at the identity of the protagonists in a way that keeps readers engaged albeit at a slow pace. Although fantasy is my primary genre, I found Snegurochka of the Spring Breeze, engrossing, keeping me flipping pages until the end. Note: I would caution parents that this graphic novel has themes and scenes appropriate only for mature readers.

I received a complementary copy of this book in return for an honest review.

I requested this manga after being captivated by its compelling description and striking cover art—and I’m truly delighted that I did.

First and foremost, the artwork is exquisite. Not only are the chapter covers visually stunning, but each panel is meticulously crafted, enhancing the reading experience with its aesthetic appeal. The artistry alone is enough to draw readers in, compelling them to continue just to appreciate the next beautifully rendered scene.

Beyond the visuals, the narrative is deeply engaging. The well-developed characters, their intricate backstories, and their dynamic interactions create a story that is nearly impossible to set aside. In particular, the evolving relationship between Bielka and Shchenok stands out—their nuanced dynamic, especially as they navigate the challenges of living together, adds a compelling layer to the plot.

I eagerly anticipate the release of future chapters and look forward to seeing how the story unfolds.

Published by Kodansha and available June 24, 2015, Snegurochka of the Spring Breeze combines my love of manga with my fascination with Russian history (though my name is Russian I'm not actually Russian myself, but I've long been something of a slavophile). This standalone volume by the creator of Blade of the Immortal follows two mysterious Russians who go by Bielka (squirrel) and Shchenok (puppy). Bielka is in a wheelchair, having lost both legs, and Schenok has an eyepatch and is in constant need of medicine. Both have even more mysterious connections to the major players of the Bolshevik Revolution, which occurred nearly twenty years before. The art is gorgeous and almost makes you forget you're reading a manga. My main issue with Snegurochka is that some of it is hard to follow. Scenes sometimes change from page to page, and there's nothing that clearly delineates the passage of time. The result is a beautifully drawn but disjointedly written and paced story. Another issue is with some of the content-- it depicts sexual assault of a disabled person, and the person who commits it becomes a sympathetic character later on without anyone addressing what he did. This will probably not sit right with a lot of readers. Overall, I did enjoy this manga, especially towards the end when the writing and pacing comes together better. I'd recommend it to fans of Russian literature, especially works like Pasternak's Doctor Zhivago, and fans of the mangaka's series Blade of the Immortal.

Thank you to Netgalley and Kodansha/Vertical Comics for the opportunity to read and review this manga. This was not what I was expecting, but for someone who appreciates Russian history on occasion and more plot than in something like Veil, for instance, this was still an intriguing story. There is, though, some rape, torture, and violence that occur, so if that does not interest you, do not read this. Because of these points, I have to give this 4 out of 5 stars

Spring Breeze is a fascinating tale of Stalinist era tragedy and intrigue, featuring compelling real-life characters. It is also quite a beautiful and sophisticated story of unconventional love and devotion. Full review here: https://www.jbspins.com/2025/06/snergurochka-of-spring-breeze-manga.html

This was such an interesting one shot manga that focuses on 1930s Russia. I will be honest I wasn’t sure I would like this one but I absolutely loved it. It had a mixture of intrigue, alternative history and espionage. This mixture was created in a wonderful read that I couldn’t put down. At times dark and with moments of light as well I really enjoyed this one and think any history manga fan will enjoy it too.
As always thank you to Kodansha Comics for the advanced copy to review, my reviews are always honest and freely given.
#SnegurochkaOfTheSpringBreeze #HiroakiSamura #Netgalley #KodanshaComics #ARC #ARCReview #BookReview #FreeReview #AdPR #Gifted

This one shot manga explores the very distinct time period of 1930s Soviet Union and deals with certain historical events in that period. It was an interesting read as you try to understand the backstories and motivations of the two leads- Squirrel and Puppy. This is a great book for fans of dark historical fiction, or of Samura's other works, like "Blade of the Immortal"

Thank you NetGalley and Kodansha for this ARC. I would love say this is wonderful manga, the art is superb, and the references spark curiousity. But the implied rape makes me think a lot why the guy in the end didn't get punished a lot or the girl could be super rude to him instead of acting like he's her father.

The plot twist in the end regarding the pair tho. I was like wow. Nice read but well there's that thing i can't accept

Two seemingly lost young Russians at the beginning of the Bolshevik era find themselves more or less indentured as servants at a large home, though one must utilize a wheelchair and the other has a serious medical condition. Both are each other’s lifeline, and they stay close to the home despite the hardships it brings them because they are looking for something very valuable from before the fall of Tsar Nicolas II. They endure terrible treatment, endentured servitude masquerading as work for The Party, and much more to achieve their goals.

Though it’s nice to focus on a Romanov story outside of Princess Anastasia, the pacing of this story marred the overall delivery. There beginning was methodical and set a slower development of scene and relationship between the two leads, but the second half became a sprint of information overload and reveals that hardly lets the absorption of information happen before another important fact is cresting and threatening to overwhelm. There's a three-year time jump that sets off a deluge of information and action. If that transition were a bit smoother, this story would have been better overall.

There is nudity and repeated sexual assault, so this title would be better for adult audiences if there is a need for more historical fiction stories.

Sara's Rating: 6/10
Suitability Level: Adult

Samura's art is lovely as always, I'm a big fan of the way he draws expressions. This story was very engaging and I love the historical setting. I eagerly look forward to the next volume of this series.

Snegurochka of the Spring Breeze is a poignant historical manga set in post-World War II Soviet Russia. Through restrained dialogue and atmospheric artwork, it explores the psychological aftermath of war, loneliness, and unlikely companionship. The narrative follows a former sniper and a mysterious young girl, unfolding slowly but powerfully against a stark, wintry backdrop.

The manga excels in subtle storytelling, emotional nuance, and a distinctive visual tone that mirrors its themes of isolation and memory. Though minimalistic in structure, it leaves a lasting emotional impact.

Thank you to Kodansha for the e-arc of this manga. Wow, this manga blew me away! Set in 1930s Russia, it follows two individuals, Bielka and Shchenok, who are bound together by a tight bond. They travel on a mission in Russia (but what mission, we aren’t aware of), encountering potential allies and foes. This was a very dark story, but a compelling read. Rich with historical background and a detailed art style, I felt transported to a Russian winter of the 20th century. I had no idea who to trust and was surprised by the slow reveals. I would recommend this to dark historical fiction lovers. Please check trigger warnings!
4.25 🌟

I vaguely understand the storyline, however you need to be knowledgeable about the setting of the story beforehand to understand when jumping in. I'm unsure if this was originally written in english or translated, but it felt a bit choppy at the beginning. It was an interesting read, but not one I felt too strongly about. Personally, I'd give it a 4/10

There are a lot of things wrong with this story. Especially the stuff related to certain threads... it was hard to read. I didn't have a TW, and I think that made me constantly fear what was going to happen after a certain moment. It's a shame that some situations were so graphic (either they're warned or they're made a little lighter and less graphic) because the story and plot are interesting and have some really cool twists.

(Although it says it's for people over 18, there's another issue that should have been mentioned.)

Thank you so much, Kodansha Comics, for the ARC I received through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing this advanced e-copy.

This... was not for me.

While I love me a good twist on the Anastasia Romanov storyline, this was too much. Too violent. Too twisted. We follow Bielka and Schenok in 1930s Russia. This provides a very sparse background for anyone not familiar with the different political parties in Russia during this time and it can be overwhelming with the info dump at the beginning, the nuances between ideologies. Bielka is wheel-chair bound and Schenok is her assistant, helping her move through the world. They are looking for some kind of artifact that is currently in a party member's possession. Secrets about both of these characters are revealed as the story moves, but it feels very detached. I didn't care for either of the characters. They were very one-dimensional.

Now, I could have gotten behind the twisted storyline if there hadn't been two things: Bielka (a double amputee) is raped by a party member. Repeatedly. As part of a torture tactic in the house she and Schenok are staying in. And then, when they return to this house as part of there artifact-seeking mission, she opens her arms to her rapist and hugs him. This... just doesn't make sense to me. She willingly returns and greets him like a long-last friend. It made my stomach roil and I cannot condone this.

Snegurochka of the Spring Breeze is super interesting, dark and nasty. Samura is very good at those. The story is set in the early 20th century after the revolution in Russia. The main characters are Bielka, a girl in a wheelchair, and Shchenok, the guy with just one eye, that helps her. They are on the run and the CCCP's agents are after the pair and the country is in turmoil. It takes time, but once we we get to know who these two are? It's awesome, really. Very well crafted, I have to say. As I live in Finland, the story hits close and the turmoil in modern Russia makes this manga even more poignant. Sadly so the manga is a standalone and I so wish this had been longer. The setting is delicious, but the beginning is too scattered and it takes time for the story to grow.

The art is good, it works nicely with the historical setting and the rape scenes were nasty, but so well done. This is not everyone's cup of tea, but then again, Samura isn't. The story would need more space and air, but otherwise it's great. Also, there's this weird notion about Bielka's period...

3.25/5
Thank you to Netgalley and Kodansha Comics for an arc. All opinions are my own.

The art in this manga is absolutely amazing. The hatching and shading creates a sense of depth in a way that almost reminds me of field journal sketches (in a good way).

The story I thought was interesting. I am not overly familiar with the real history that this is based off of, but it seems to be well researched and informational. Personally, I was a little put off by the sexual violence against a teenager, especially since the perpetrator is a character we are supposed to like by the end. I understand that this is something that is pretty common in historical fiction, but I didn’t love it.

The art in this manga is very striking and beautiful with detailed close ups and unique angles of view that help the darkness of the plot. The use of black and white really lends itself to this story set in Soviet Russia; balancing light and dark, innocence and violence, snow and rebirth. The characters are intriguing with a great final twist, that makes you want to learn more about this time in Russia's History.

Thanks to Netgalley and Kodansha for the eARC for my review