A review by atalanta_nins
The Apothecary Diaries: Volume 6 by Natsu Hyuuga

adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful informative inspiring mysterious reflective sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

It was hilarious when Lahan and Maomao was solving the bride's death on chapter 3. I mean apart from them being disrespectful (I mean it was a funeral afterall), there's something eccentrically funny about the scene where Maomao kept plunging her arms into the pond and Lahan beside her, using a twig to solve or write numbers with. Though as that chapter came to a conclusion, I realize how hard it was for women at that time (I mean it's still hard now, but atleast women now can vote and choose to marry or not to marry). 

Also, on chapter 5, there's something so profound about the storytelling. I actually choose reading the light novels than the manga because I get to see (read) the characters inner thoughts (even though it's on third person point of view). 

Something about Chapter 11, founding out about Maomao's situation before her adoptive father, Luomen, had adopted her. I kept seeing the manga panel on this part, depicting Maomao's childhood, one where she was still a baby. She knew it happened to her, but there were no resentment in her. She understood why it happened and why it did and she didn't resent anyone for it, strangely, she had been grateful, probably because she knew atleast, in a way, she was taken care of, unlike some people.
 
Also, that second half of chapter 11 is a really really great story arc. Although I felt partially angry and horrified at the story, it is so well written, reminds me of old urban legends (I use to read a lot about these things as a child and I thoroughly enjoyed reading them). 

Chapter 12, Maomao said it was kinda anticlimatic that the White Lady easily apprehended. In which it kinda was. 

Now at the last four chapters and the epilogue, I was initially going to rate this book lower than the previous ones. I think, the White Lady was not the much compelling villain but at the last chapters it all makes sense. I just don't know if associating the White Lady working with the west or Shaoh will establish a good complex storyline or a complicated one, that might result losing some readers in the way. 

Also, I had this theory that I don't think Maomao and Jinshi will end up together (even though I ship them). Though Maomao has some royalty in her blood (by her association with her father Lahan of the La clan), I don't think she'll particularly settle with Jinshi. One way or another, one of them needs to compromise to be with the other and I think (so far) Maomao wouldn't do that. Also, even if theoretically Jinshi would step down and be with Maomao, I don't think Maomao would have wanted that. I think, in a way, coz Maomao seems to have a great sense of justice, in a sense that her curiosity towards mysterious questionable things needs to be answered and solved, she wouldn't want Jinshi to give his up his role and duty as he tries to help their country for the better. 

Also, is it just me or the novel that Lishu translated is in fact Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet?

Overall, I still love this book, although I'm torn if I should read the next one or choose a palate cleanser, in a sense that I have to pick a different book but if I did that, I might forget all the things that happened in this one and the previous ones in this series. But then, I think it's better if I continue this hyperfixation rather than changing it.