Left: The cover of volume 1 of the light novel The Apothecary Diaries, showing Maomao, a young woman with black hair with two braids, wearing a light green outfit based on traditional Chinese clothing for women. She has a leaf in her mouth. Center: The cover of volume 5 of The Apothecary Diaries LN, showing Jinshi, a young man with black hair tied in a topknot, wearing in a dark blue outfit based on traditional Chinese clothing for men. He is sitting in an elaborately-carved chair. Right: The cover of volume 8 of The Apothecary Diaries LN, showing Jinshi and Maomao. Maomao has her back against Jinshi’s chest, and Jinshi has his right arm around Maomao’s neck, apparently putting her in a chokehold. Maomao is grabbing Jinshi’s right arm with both her hands. She has a surprised expression on her face, while Jinshi’s face has a hint of a smile.

[This post and its associated comments were originally published on Cohost.]

For those watching the currently-airing anime of The Apothecary Diaries and wondering whether to read the manga or the light novels:

  1. Like the anime, the manga (which I’ve not yet read in full) gives you a concentrated dose of the exquisite poison that is the story of Maomao. The LN is more like microdosing yourself; there are stretches where you’re just not going to feel the tingle.
  2. Maomao and Jinshi have a seriously fucked-up relationship.
  3. Speaking of that, the manga has not yet gotten to the conclusion of volume 8 of the LN, in which Jinshi [REDACTED] for reasons and Maomao has to [REDACTED].

So there’s that.

Lotte ‘just an idiot’ May (@LotteMakesStuff) - 2023-10-28 14:54

oh heck is that a good redacted or a bad redacted… actually I do not want to know

Frank Hecker (@hecker) - 2023-10-28 14:57

I’ll just say that I think you will appreciate the [REDACTED].

Lotte ‘just an idiot’ May (@LotteMakesStuff) - 2023-10-28 15:00

o7