The Apothecary Diaries: Volume 2 (Light Novel)

Muse reviewed The Apothecary Diaries: Volume 2 (Light Novel) by Natsu Hyuuga (The Apothecary Diaries (Light Novel), #2)

More implication than specifics

3 stars

I love the slow buildup in this volume from a series of seemingly disconnected events to a major reveal about Jinshi’s identity and Maomao’s biological father. What I don’t love is how the prose presents these reveals so vaguely that if it weren’t for watching the anime beforehand, I probably wouldn’t have made the connections about what was being alluded to. It’s fun to read about Maomao’s misadventures in the palace, but hopefully the writing in future volumes won’t tiptoe around the answers to its mysteries so much.

brenticus reviewed The Apothecary Diaries: Volume 2 (Light Novel) by Natsu Hyuuga (The Apothecary Diaries (Light Novel), #2)

None

5 stars

This volume lacks some of that interconnectedness that impressed me so much with the first volume, but makes up for it with great character moments and development.

We learn more about Maomao's backstory, helping to inform some of her more human behaviours. We learn a bit about Jinshi, and his POV sections grant more depth to him than we previously saw. The girls at Verdigris House get some attention, as do Luomen and Maomao's birth parents, as do Gaoshun and the puppy-like man whose name escapes me at this moment. All of this feels like a step up from the disinterest shown to most characters in the first volume.

There are sort of two major plots that tie together the events of this book, unlike the one megaplot of the first volume. The first one has very interesting subplots with a mildly whatever climax, while the second has minimal mystery …

This volume lacks some of that interconnectedness that impressed me so much with the first volume, but makes up for it with great character moments and development.

We learn more about Maomao's backstory, helping to inform some of her more human behaviours. We learn a bit about Jinshi, and his POV sections grant more depth to him than we previously saw. The girls at Verdigris House get some attention, as do Luomen and Maomao's birth parents, as do Gaoshun and the puppy-like man whose name escapes me at this moment. All of this feels like a step up from the disinterest shown to most characters in the first volume.

There are sort of two major plots that tie together the events of this book, unlike the one megaplot of the first volume. The first one has very interesting subplots with a mildly whatever climax, while the second has minimal mystery to it but comes to a fantastic point. Generally, the book stays interesting throughout and the new characters we see feel really well done.

I'm not sure whether I like this more or less than the first volume, but it does cemend this as my favourite light novel series right now. Maomao's the best.

AwkwardTurtle

rated it

December 26