The Apothecary Diaries: Maomao’s Notes on the Inner Palace, Vol. 1

The Apothecary Diaries: Maomao's Notes on the Inner Palace Omnibus #1

by Minoji Kurata (Artist), Natsu Hyuuga (Original Creator)

Maomao’s life as an apothecary is turned upside down when she’s abducted and sold to the inner palace as a maid. She’s determined to diligently serve out her work contract without drawing attention to herself or her skills, but curiosity pulls her into a world of palace mysteries just waiting to be unraveled!

Genres: Manga, Historical Fiction, Mystery, Graphic Novels, Historical, Graphic Novels Manga

Kindle Edition

Expected publication October 20, 2026

About the author

KURATA Minoji (倉田三ノ路)

Reviews

[Tanya T.]

Stars: 4.5 Stars
Start Date:8/14/26
Ending Date:8/15/26
Genre: Manga Historical Fiction 
Form: E-Arc
Page Count: 396
Publishing Date:10/20/26
Point of View: 1st
Setting:
Content Warning:

My Blog: https://tanyasreading.wordpress.com/2...
Story Graph: https://app.thestorygraph.com/reviews...

Thank you Netgalley and Viz Media for the E-Arc

Apothecary Diaries Vol 1 is the manga adaptation of the light novel which is also adapted to the first ten episodes for the first season of the anime. Since I already watched the first ten episodes of the anime ( need to go back and finish the season lol) it was pretty much a refresher for me dealing with the MaoMao adventures inside palace walls and the cast of characters she met there. It also includes a bonus short story that haven been adapted to manga format at the end. So this is great to read if you want to read before you watch the anime or do both at the same time.

[Kitsu]

Review of advanced copy received.

I'm no stranger to The Apothecary Diaries, and I have to say that I was extremely excited to see that Viz Media was going to be releasing their own version of the story as well. I have read both versions and I believe that this one is a bit more analytical focused which I feel follows the tone of the light novels better. My 12 year old reads the version of this manga by Square Enix, but I wouldn't let him read this version as I feel that the scenes come off more adult and worded in such a manner too whereas the other version of the story is a bit more grey and not in your face. As an adult who has read the light novels, I prefer this version and I'm looking forward to seeing how the rest of the story will be adapted in this series.

Thanks to NetGalley, VIZ Media and all of the creators and contributors for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

[J.J.]

The Apothecary Diaries: Maomao’s Notes on the Inner Palace, Vol. 1 was a really fun surprise for me, because I went into this with no context from the anime or manga. It’s a little outside the kind of manga I normally read, but I ended up really enjoying it!

Maomao is what drew me in and would keep me going. Her blunt personality cuts through a lot of the tension that comes with the royal hierarchy and the bureaucracy she’s pulled into. Her background as an apothecary also gives the story this detective angle that exactly up my alley.

I also enjoyed how her past and what she learned growing up gets used to explain different circumstances around the palace. There are a lot of small mysteries throughout these chapters, and I liked how they build on each other. Also, learning the dynamics and drama of the palace and how the inner workings works is the low stakes drama that I was enjoying

The art is also great. I liked the shift between color and black and white, and some of the interior illustrations were beautiful. The facial expressions especially made a lot of the humor land. I’m specifically thinking of Maomao’s interactions with Jinshi while everyone else thinks he’s gorgeous 😂.

Overall, I had a great time with these first chapters and definitely plan on continuing the series!

Thank you to Hyuganatsu, VIZ Media, and NetGalley for the eARC!!

[Paige]

I enjoyed reading the story and have been looking forward to watching it on Netflix. I like that the FMC is a knowledgeable apothecary that can solve mysteries. Very interesting, I look forward to more in this series.

*Provided an advance copy from the publisher for review. All opinions are my own.

[Bookish DreamsGallery]

Thank you NetGalley and Viz Media for allowing me to read this story and am this is my honest and personal opinion of it:
The story stars with a commoner girl that works as an apothecary along her father in the pleasure district, when studently gets kidnap and sold to the Imperial palace where she is place first as a maid for the inner palace having to serve there for 2 years, after her first 3 months Maomao learns that one of the emperor’s consorts and her child are very sick plus another consorts child as well, curiosity getting the best of her, sets her on a path to discover the symptoms and the cause of the illness, and since she has been an apothecary all her life she can’t help when she intervenes and try to save the afflicted parties, which in turns gets the attention of the eunuch Jinshi which is in charge of supervising the inner palace and the emperor’s concubines and offspring, after Jinshi learns of the useful skills that Maomao posses he then starts seeking her to help him solve all the mystery illnesses, people getting poisoned or even deaths occurring at the inner palace, does starts Maomao’s journey in the treacherous and perilous environment she found herself thrown at, with more mysteries than just the afflicted by poison, the people that surround her have secrets of their own and the ruthless and cunning politics of the imperial palace may very well be the end of our witty and knowledgeable apothecary.
I loveeeee Maomao’s character, she is shrewd, witty, with an immense knowledge of herbs, medicine and poisons, and she only cares about doing what she loves which is testing and learning more about poisons, she is a realist and she prefers her work over more mundane things like falling in love and getting a husband, and that she is no damsel in distress she can hold her own, even though she does not know how to fight physically she will save herself using her wits if needs be, I love seeing her working and discovering things, helping Jinshi uncover the truth of the many mysteries lurking in the inner palace, and seeing Jinshi trying to seduce her, and her not giving him the time of day when every other woman near him will fall over just by looking at his handsome face, but most to his dismay his charms don’t work on our Maomao making the dynamic between them hilarious, I really enjoy the story just being more focus on resolving mystery cases and seeing Maomao in action using her mind and knowledge, I devour this volume and want to continue the story to see what other adventures await our charismatic heroine.

[ValkyrieRuna]

The Apothecary Diaries follows a young apothecary, Maomao, who is abducted and sold to the inner palace as a maid. She wants to keep her head down, but finds herself caught up in a string of mysteries - including potential poisonings and murders. Maomao is the human embodiment of "curiosity killed the cat, but satisfaction brought her back". She cannot help but investigate the mysteries of the inner palace, and this quickly gets her noticed by the higher ups - including the enigmatic Jinshi, a eunuch who also works in the inner palace.

Having read the Light Novel versions, I was excited to see what the differences were between those and this one. I absolutely love that this is an omnibus and includes volumes 1-3. Hopefully this is more economical for readers, but also more realistic - because with the other version, once you had read volume one (likely in one sitting) you'd be kicking yourself that you didn't also grab two and three (ask me how I know).

If you're comparing the Light version and this one, you'll probably be asking yourself "is this the only thing that's different is the artist and the fact that you get three in one?" I also wondered the same thing. The writing itself is also slightly different. Obviously with a different artist, you're not going to get the same layout/format in each panel. This new artist has their own expression of each scene. Thus, the writing and dialogue and notes also have been slightly tweaked to fit the artwork. You still get the same story, but I felt as if I was following along on the details more in this one. There are several things in the Light Novel I completely missed or felt weren't explained well that when I read this version I was kicking myself for not understanding before.

All in all, I really, really enjoy this series. It makes me want to watch the tv series.

A huge thank you to NetGalley and VIZ Media for this eARC! As always, all opinions are my own.

[Dana | Rainbow Romance Reader]

I have recently become enamoured with The Apothecary Diaries anime series, so I was really excited to read this manga adaptation of the light novels as well. As expected, this brings the story to life with all the same wit and charm as the anime, and definitely no shortage of intrigue either.

The characters are what really makes this story for me. Maomao is such a fun person to follow, as she navigates the rear palace solving no end of strange mysteries and conspiracies. Her love of poison is oddly endearing, and I admire her attitude and intelligence too. Her inner monologue is so unintentionally funny at times, not to mention her inability to control her facial expressions. Relatable AF

Then there’s Jinshi. Ahhh, Jinshi. There are no words to describe how much I love his character. He’s a petulant little brat who uses his beauty to his advantage, and WHO CAN BLAME HIM. I love his chemistry with Maomao, but I wish we got to see a little more of their banter in this adaptation because I’m greedy.

It’s hard to review the art style as the review copy I received was quite low-res, but I think it captures the likeness of the characters quite well and portrays their emotions clearly. I personally prefer the art style of Nekokurage’s version, which is more detailed, but that’s down to personal preference.

As an added bonus, there are some beautiful full-colour pages included in this edition, as well as an exclusive bonus chapter which isn’t included in the original light novels, so if you’re a fan it’s well worth picking up for that.

Overall, I had a great time reading this and revisiting some of my favourite moments from the anime. On the other hand, if you’re not familiar with this series at all, I’d still recommend it if you’re after a fast-paced story with plenty of sub-plots, mystery, and rich characters/settings.

Thank you NetGalley and VIZ Media for providing me with an advanced copy of this book!

[Online Eccentric Librarian]

More reviews (and no fluff) on the blog http://surrealtalvi.wordpress.com/

This is an enjoyable detective novel set in historic China. Our heroine is very grounded and realistic and there is a fun group of characters around her. I like that the tone is both serious and lighthearted as the mysteries of poisonings and sometimes murder are solved.

Story: MaoMao is abducted one day and ends up sold to work in the inner court of the palace. There, she comes to the attention of the head eunuch after she uncovers and accidental poisoning of one of the emperor's consorts. She is then promoted to be a food taster of one of the consorts. Along the way, she will help the head eunuch solve mysteries and murders.

I enjoyed Maomao's characters. She is intelligent, thoughtful, and acts with deliberation. Contrasted to her is the head eunuch - considered to be far too beautiful and young by all the ladies of the court. They have a cute relationship and both are quick witted and battle wills often.

The mysteries are fun and it is enjoyable to read how Maomao and eunuch Jinshi solve each one. There are accidental poisoning, deliberate attempted murders, and other shenanigans that MaoMao's knowledge/Jinshi's power/influence can solve. Maomao takes no prisoners and certainly weaves her way through the court despite her low birth.

The illustration work is incredibly beautiful. The mangaka clearly enjoyes drawing the ladies of the court. The panels are clean and since there is very little action here, the story is cleanly presented and very easy to follow.

In all, I enjoyed this first volume and look forward to the next. Reviewed from an advance reader copy provided by the publisher.

[Kate]

I started with the anime The Apothecary Diaries and then moved on to reading the manga illustrated by Nekokurage. I didn't even realize there was another manga adaptation with different artwork, so of course I had to read that one too! Even though I had already experienced the story, I love it so much that I could read it over and over again.

The artwork is absolutely gorgeous, and I love that two talented artists can bring their own unique interpretations to such a wonderful story. It's fascinating seeing the same characters and scenes through a different artistic lens while still capturing everything that makes this series special.

If you haven't started The Apothecary Diaries yet, you definitely should. The story follows Maomao, a young woman who is kidnapped and sold into service at the Emperor's court. What begins as a heartbreaking situation quickly turns into a captivating mystery as Maomao continuously finds herself caught up in court intrigues, solving problems, and drawing the attention of some very important people.

One of my favorite things about this series is Maomao herself. Her circumstances are tragic, but she's incredibly resilient. Rather than letting her situation break her, she relies on her intelligence, curiosity, and determination to carve out a place for herself. Watching her earn the respect and attention of people who otherwise might never have noticed her is one of the most rewarding parts of the story.

Whether you're coming from the anime, the light novels, or either manga adaptation, this is a series that is absolutely worth experiencing. And honestly? Even if you've already read one version, the other adaptation is worth checking out just to appreciate the beautiful artwork and see another take on a story that's become one of my all-time favorites.

[Caitlin Teaches]

The Apothecary Diaries are a series of stories that follow the semi-historical adventures of a young woman, nicknamed Maomao, who is abducted and forced to work in the emperor's harem. Her perspective is fascinating given the combination of her having been raised by a brilliant eunuch apothecary and a group of elder sister like courtesans in the pleasure district and her generally having a pretty unique personality. This leads to her unintentionally settling into a mystery of the week pattern where she identifies different problems and solves different medical issues within the harem while political intrigue slowly unfurls around her. A significant part of what keeps her engaged in the shenanigens is a beautiful eunuch name Jenshi. Maomao puts up with it all for the opportunity to text and explore medicines and poisons, and the increasingly more evident fact that she genuinely cares about people in her own way.

This is not my first encounter with the Apothecary Diaries! I've been a fan of the light novels, the manga, and the anime. This adaptation feels different in a good way, and honestly might end up being my favorite version of the series. The art has been simplified while remaining lovely, and the foreshadowing is a little less subtle in ways that give Jenshi more credit as being more than a pretty face a little sooner. Honestly, most of the social context is a little more explicit which helps if you are not aware of the cultural norms. Keep in mind there is some sexual content given the context of the pleasure districts and harem, but it is pretty much all implicit or mentioned as a fact of life. There is a cw for infant death, medical content, and mentioning of pedophilia.


Thank you to NetGalley and VIZ Media for the ARC of this book.

[Shannon]

I was provided an ARC of this book via Netgalley, all opinions are my own.

I'm a huge fan of season 1 of the anime, I'm waiting for season 3 to fully release so I can catch up on what is happening. I have not read the manga or the light novel yet so I can't compare them to this version.

This volume captures the humor and awkwardness of Maomao the lady-in-waiting and apothecary to one of the emperor's valued consorts and all of the things she gets up to through episode 9 or 10 of the show. Her skills with plants and their medicinal uses prove handy in all sorts of mysterious situations and she becomes a valued asset to Jinshi. If you haven't watched the anime (not a prerequisite), this is a great place to start as it gives you insight into what The Apothecary Diaries is all about. Every chapter finds Maomao solving another problem and driving Jinshi crazy.

I love Maomao's character both on the page and in the show. She is smart bringing her apothecary knowledge learned from her father as well as her street smarts learned from growing up in a brothel to the palace. She isn't a polished and poised lady like the other ladies in waiting who have trained to serve the consorts, but that allows her have difference priorities and to see things with a different lens. Jinshi is some sort of secretary to the emperor, taking care of accounts and making sure the business at palace runs smoothly. I can't quite figure him out, as he clearly has some sort of feelings for Maomao but she either ignores them or doesn't see it. Their dynamics are hilarious and I can't wait to see how things play out as the solve more mysteries and divert more catastrophes.

This also includes a bonus short story not found in the light novels set prior to Maomao's time at the Inner Palace.

[Elly Christmas]

I received this as an ARC from VIZ Media via Netgalley in exchange for my honest opinion. My opinion has not been influenced in any way; it is 100% my own.

I love Apothecary Diaries! I have read the other version of this manga. I've not seen the anime, and I know of the light novel; I just have not read it. This version is more faithful to the light novel. The pace is fast and doesn't draw out the scenes and create more depth to them as Kusuriya's does. Not saying that Kusuriya's adaptation is bad; it focuses a bit more on the romance between Maomao and Jinshi, which is fine.


This version is a lot more faithful, as I previously stated. We get inside Maomao's head. Her feelings and descriptions of the Consorts that she meets. Her love for herbs and poisons. Her relationship with Jinshi isn't as flirty as it is in Kusuriya's version, which honestly isn't a bad thing. I could focus on her clinical analysis of the situation and each case, and how her mind worked through them to arrive at the proper solution.

The art was different than what I was used to, and that is fine. I found it less expressive, which is why I took off one star. The emotions to me were hard to understand at times. So moments that needed to be more serious or lighthearted didn't come out that way. Which I found kind of sad. Besides that, it was a great read. I recommend this one as well as the other manga adaptation. This one definitely moves faster because it doesn't draw out different scenes or situations. It is also a good follow-up to the actual light novel.

[Cecilia]

Thank you Netgalley for a copy of this story

I love the apothecary diaries series so when I saw this I was very excited thinking it was something new but it's not. In the description it says this is the official adaptation of the light novels but TBH after reading it, it just feels like a money grab. I honestly can't understand why it's being readapted. The other series is still ongoing and while this isn't an exact word for word copy of the other series it's the exact same story and from what I could tell NO new information is being provided. In fact I think some details were cut out in this. This 1 volume does cover more than the 1st volume for the other series but it's also twice as long.

Honestly I love the story so I was fine rereading it BUT my main issue with this is the art. With this being the same story I think it needed to some how stand up against the other series but the art in the original is much better. The style in this makes the characters look weird and in some panels they even come off looking like aliens especially when they aren't given noses. In some panels it also looks faded. I did like the colored pages in this and think it would have been better if the entire volume was colored. But that may just be because the other is black and white and I want something in this to stand out.

Im actually really interested in how the sales for this will go. With it seeming a little lower quality (IMO) art wise and being the same story what really is the incentive to read/ buy this especially if you have already read/ bought the other.

[Emily]

Having seen the anime, I knew I was going to love the manga just as much, if not more. There is a reason this story has captured everyone's eye, and that's because it is just that good.

The Apothecary Diaries follows Maomao, an apothecary who gets kidnapped from her home and sold into the Rear Palace. There, she starts as a laundry maid, before her skillset is uncovered when she solves the mystery of the consorts and their children being poisoned. She is introduced to many characters, particularly of interest in this volume is Lady Gyokuyo, her consort she is put in the care of (along with Lady Gyokuyo ladies in waiting) and Jinshi, the favorite eunuch who seems to also be meddling in everyones business.

There are so many aspects to this story, including action, mystery, drama, history, and romance. There really is something for everyone, and I'm really happy to be reading the manga. I love all the relationships, specifically the lack thereof between Jinshi and Maomao, but also the plot is so exciting. Maomao is an amazing FMC, and I would follow her story to the ends of the Earth.

If you loved the anime, or love a riveting historical drama with some action and a phenomenal FMC, I highly recommend giving this one a go.

Thank you so much to Viz Media, NetGalley, and Hyuganatsu for the eARC!

[Danielle (lit_after_dark)]

Thank you to NetGalley, VIZ Media, and the creators for providing me with an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

As someone who already loves The Apothecary Diaries and has enjoyed both the anime adaptation and another manga version illustrated by a different artist, I had a great time experiencing this interpretation of the story. It was especially interesting to compare the artwork and see how Minoji Kurata brings these familiar characters and scenes to life.

Kurata's artwork captures the personalities of the characters exceptionally well, particularly Maomao. Her fascination with poisons and medicines is one of the highlights of the series, and her expressions during those moments are full of personality and charm. The artwork is expressive, playful, and complements the story beautifully.

My only criticism is that there were a few pages with noticeable blank spaces that felt as though artwork or dialogue might be missing. Since this is an advance copy, it's possible these are placeholders that will be corrected before publication.

Overall, this is a faithful and visually engaging adaptation that captures the spirit of the original story while offering its own artistic style. Fans of The Apothecary Diaries, whether new to the series or longtime readers, will likely enjoy this volume.

[Erin-Joi]

I have seen the anime for apothecary Diaries and plan to read the novels so when this came out I was thrilled to read it. The images are just as rich as the anime. The little side stories at the end were a treat. My only complaint was that the small short story near the end read in the opposing direction from the main graphic novel and the ending side stories.

The Graphic novel covered quite a few of the mysteries presented in the anime, from Maomao's kidnapping to her visit home. Basically her first year at the palace. It is a nicely paced progression moving from one story to another. If you are a fan of the anime, there are stories not seen here. Since I have not read the novels yet, I don't know if it was because they were invented for the anime or if they were taken out for compression into the graphic novel. There is one ongoing mystery that is not solved, giving you something to look forward to in the next volume.

the relationships between characters are set up nicely in this first volume giving them somewhere to go in the next. I look forward to the next volume.

[Lauren]

I was suprised to learn that there was another manga adaptation of The Apothecary Diaries, and was curious to see how it would differentiate itself from the version I already have. Any changes to the story are fairly subtle, in almost a "blink and you might miss it" sort of way. I've heard that this adaptation is more faithful to the Light Novels, but unfortunately I haven't read them myself yet and cannot attest to that. The artwork is simple, but still pleasing to look at and I like that the artist was able to make Maomao her own. My one complaint is that sometimes the images took on a grainy quality which I didn't love, but it's possible that that is only because I'm reading it in an e-book format. Hopefully physical copies will appear more clear. The short story at the end was a delightful addition. Ultimately I enjoyed reading this and think any fans of The Apothecary Diaries (be it anime, manga, or light novel format) will be happy to get their hands on this.

[⋆˚₊dora]

4.25 ⭐️ i will always enjoy the manga format for the apothecary diaries! now to preface, i would like to say that this is not my first time digest, or reading, this series. i began watching the anime when season one was still beginning to air, had read a majority of what was published for the manga at the time, and am now beginning to read the light novels.

this omnibus is great at keeping the original story. there are few, if any, panels that were cut in editing to save space. and honestly that helps make the story flow in my opinion! for almost 400 pages, i was able to breeze through this, which can be a feat on it’s own, but this was also a reread of the beginning*. usually starts of stories can be difficult or slow for me to get into, but with the apothecary diaries your thrown into this world and taught as other events progress. i don’t think i will ever tire of maomao, or the story…

[Entisar Ali]

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC.
I've loved this series across the anime and the other manga adaptation, so I was curious how this version stacked up, and honestly it holds its own. This one moves faster and feels more faithful to the light novel, spending less time on the romance between Maomao and Jinshi and more on getting inside Maomao's head, her clinical way of working through each mystery, her genuine love of herbs and poisons. Kurata's art captures Maomao's personality well, especially her fascination with medicine, though I found some of the emotional beats a little harder to read than in the other adaptation, the expressions felt slightly less vivid in serious or lighthearted moments. A few pages also had odd blank spaces that felt like placeholders. Overall this is a solid, fast paced take that fans of the series, new or longtime, will likely enjoy, especially if you prefer plot momentum over lingering romantic tension.

[Lady Nightwolf]

I absolutely ADORE The Apothecary Diaries. I have read *most* of the light novels and watched the first two seasons of the anime as of writing this, and I cannot recommend them enough. This Manga covers the material very well and the art is super cute. I love how excited Hyuganatsu was to have Minoji Kurata do the art for the Manga and how well they were able to breathe life into the characters from the light novels. The notes at the end were also really neat, and the extra prequel story was a wonderful little nugget for fans! I am excited to get deeper into the Manga for TAD once I finish the last few light novels–also, read the light novels. It’s like a more romantic Far East Sherlock Holmes and I’m happily here for it.

Thanks to NetGalley and VIZ Media for the advanced ebook copy in exchange for a fair and honest review!

[Dannielle]

Breathtaking artwork captures Maomao's time in the Inner Palace. An apothecary caught up in a series of mysterious ailments around the palace where she will use her knowledge of plants and traditional medicine to help. The apothecary profession is a good pull on its own and the reader learns a lot about the field. Touches of mystery keep you going. Relationships with others around our main character tickle the fondness element helping us grow to love Maomao and those around her. There is even some light humor.

For fans of the anime, this is pretty much a one-to-one manga for you if you want to pick up a book form of your favorite show but don't quite want the light novels. The art is fantastic in here!

Thank you NetGalley and VIZ Media for the ARC! I am happy to share my honest review.

[East of Reality]

This is just what it says on the tin, an omnibus of the first nine volumes of Apothecary Diaries. However, it also comes with a small chapter not included in the original Light Novel, so some fans may want to grab it just for that.

I didn't find the short story all that exciting, personally, and it's very, very quick with no resolution. It's more of a light little prologue to the Apothecary Diaries that doesn't add anything to Mao Mao's overall story. If you already have the nine volumes, I don't think this omnibus is worth picking up, but if you're new to the series, this is a convenient way to get through several adventures in one go!

Thank you to Net Galley and the publisher for the ARC.

[E (manga_runner)]

Another version of the series, with some slight differences. Overall it's still a good series, I think it'll be based on preference on which one to go with if you are debating between the two.

Main Difference: art, pacing of the series
Similarities: characters the same and the events that happen

Unlike the other version, this one doesn't focus on the relationships building or go into as much detail/depth for each scenario that arises and it is quick paced. This one covers all the way up to the MaoMao going home on the three day pass and returning so up to about volumes 1-3 of the other manga version.

From what I've seen many say it's closer to the light novel but I haven't read the light novels so I can't confirm.

[Alex]

As someone who loved toxicology class back in school, I really enjoyed this. The Apothecary Diaries follows Maomao, who uses her apothecary and toxicology knowledge to solve mysteries. This volume feels relatively episodic, but you can tell it's building towards a larger plot with more intrigue and character development.
The characters are all interesting so far, but they haven't had a ton of time to be fleshed out yet. This is just the first of many volumes, and it's relatively fast paced, so I'm sure that will change as the series continues.
The art is relatively simple but still works well to convey the story.
I've only watched the first few episodes of the anime, but this was equally enjoyable.
Thanks to VIZ Media via Netgalley for this ARC!

[Sarah E B ʚ♡ɞ]

Thanks to NetGalley, VIZ Media, and all of the creators and contributors for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.
4.5/5 stars
I didn't know that there were two manga until now: The More You Know, lol. Apparently, this one leans more toward the light novels ( i think), but the pacing is different, and of course the art style is different as well. It is interesting to see how seeing how the rest of the story will be adapted in this series compared to the other manga. I don't want to repeat myself with my review of the other manga. So the art style seems a bit off, but nothing that hurt it too much at the end of the day.

[Fable.]

*thank you to Netgalley and VIZ Media for the eARC of this title in exchange for an honest review*

i LOVE "The Apothecary Diaries". Coming from first watching the anime to now reading the manga, there are no major story differences. everything is still incredibly detailed and well-paced. Maomao is one of the best characters I've ever known. i really like how the art style in the manga is slightly different from the anime; it gives it a different vibe, but still the story I know and enjoy. i think i'm becoming a big advocate for "read the manga and watch the anime" for stories that have both. they each provide a unique and fun method to enjoy the same story.

[librariSAM]

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for access to an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I’m going to be frank here – I’ve read the Apothecary Diaries manga before and thought this was a side story. I had to do some research once I started reading this and really didn’t get a whole lot of answers. I believe this is just a different version of the same story.
With that being said – I highly enjoy the manga that I’ve read before with this same story. So my review will be the same, as I think this story is on par with what I’ve read before with some differences.

[Marta]

Apothecary Diaries is one of my favorites of all time; Manga, Light Novel and Anime.
Thank you NetGalley for the ARC!

I have to say I was a bit thrown off by the tittle thinking this was something new, it turn out is the same story from the other manga. Still, the art was really good, the story spectacular. Anything Jinshi and Mamao is worth reading. She is sold to work in the Inner Palace; instead she's solving crimes and mysteries regarding the Royal Family and the members of the court. This is a great story worth picking up.

[Cassandra]

This version is a bit faster in it's pacing and less humorous in its portrayal of the characters. It's been awhile since I read/watched the beginning of this series and I remember why I and so many others fell in love with it. The mystery mixed with the politics of the palace life is so interesting. I love all these characters so much. I think my ranking is Anime, other manga series, this manga series, then LN.

If you haven't read the LN but want a closer adaptation to that, I think this is a great choice.

5/6 stars

[ebru]

Thank you to NetGalley for the e-ARC!

This was great, Manga never disappoints, and from reading this and also watching the first season, I have rejuvenated my love for this series.

Maomao is so over Jinshi's shit, and he is just sooo enamored by him. But none of that matters, with how smart Maomao is. If you took that bit of yearning out, and left it as her experience, this would still be so good.