Author: Natsu Hyuuga
Illustrator: Touco Shino
Translator: Kevin Steinbach
Publisher: J-Novel Club
Released: February 14, 2021
Received: Library
Find it on Storygraph | The Apothecary Diaries
Book Summary:
Maomao spent the earliest parts of her life training in herbal medicine. She had a path in life that she loved. Unfortunately, that was all ripped away from her when she was captured and sold to the inner palace.
Now, she works as a lowly servant within the inner palace. Given her ability to read and write, she could try to climb the ranks – but doing so would earn more money for those who sold her. So she’s just doing what she can to get by, hoping that time will set her free.
My Review:
I have been a huge fan of The Apothecary Diaries since I picked up the first manga volume, just in time to get caught up before the anime aired. Now I’m stuck waiting for the next volume and season to drop, so I decided to dive headfirst into the Light Novels.
The Light Novels of The Apothecary Diaries are the inspiration behind it all, and they’ve been running a lot longer than either the manga or anime, so there’s a whole lot more content to binge-read.
The Apothecary Diaries is an addictive read, and it was fascinating seeing the characters unfold in another medium. Maomao is a clever character, and I adore her. Seeing her find ways to try and help those around her (without getting noticed) was entertaining, though we all knew it wouldn’t last. Likewise, Jinshi is a fascinating character (obviously, I know what his big reveal is by this point, but it’s still interesting to see it all from the beginning again).
There are so many elements that make The Apothecary Diaries a worthwhile read. It’s a historical fiction series, set in faux-China, and it is full to the brim with politics, complex characters, medicine, and poison. Oh, and did I mention that Maomao is the nosy type of character who always finds herself in the center of every mystery? It’s the perfect storm of elements, and that’s before throwing the potential romantic subplot into the mix.
Highlights:
- Historical Fiction
- Manga
- Poiston & Medicine
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