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A review by corallydeer
The Apothecary Diaries, Volume 2 by Natsu Hyuuga
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
This volume was great. I loved that 3/4 of the volume focused on one specific event (the Garden Party) so it didn't feel super rushed and was great for seeing more interaction between so many different elements: the four consorts, the various ladies-in-waiting, the emperor and his officials, etc. I also love that we're slowly starting to get into some of the darker subjects (like why Maomao has her freckles and the realities that Consort Lishu and the Empress Dowager had to face as child brides essentially) . Looking forward to the next volume!
Graphic: Medical content and Grief
Moderate: Bullying
Minor: Pedophilia, Sexual assault, and Vomit
Grief (Consort Lihua grieves for her infant as she recovers) | Medical Content (Maomao is an apothecary who tastes for poison and helps Consort Lihua recover) | Bullying (the groups of ladies-in-waiting bully each other) | Pedophilia (the previous emperor is insinuated to have enjoyed especially young girls because of Consort Lishu and the Empress Dowager) | Sexual Assault (described in passing as part of the reason Maomao wears fake freckles everyday) | Vomit (mentioned mostly in passing as what needs to happen after ingesting poison)