The Apothecary Diaries has a light novel, two separate manga adaptations, a web novel, an anime, plus a spinoff manga. That’s a lot of versions of the same story. The good news: you don’t need to juggle all of them. The light novel is the definitive version, and it reads straight through from Volume 1 to 16 with no spinoffs or side stories that need interleaving.
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TL;DR
- Light novel Vols 1-16 in order. No spinoffs needed. The LN is the definitive version despite two manga adaptations, a web novel, and an anime.
- The Nekokurage manga (Square Enix) is what the anime is based on. 16 English volumes. Good but moves slower than the LN.
- The Kurata manga (Shogakukan) is closer to the LN’s tone but has no English release.
- After the anime: Season 1 covers roughly LN Vols 1-3. Pick up at Volume 4.
But people still have questions. Which manga is which? Can I start from where the anime left off? What’s the deal with the web novel? I’ll break down every path through this series so you can pick the one that works for you.
More about Apothecary Diaries
- Apothecary Diaries Light Novel Review
- Apothecary Diaries: Light Novel vs Anime
- Apothecary Diaries: Manga vs Anime Differences
The Simple Answer
Read the light novel. Volumes 1 through 16. In order. That’s it.
There are no parallel spinoffs that need to be read at specific points (unlike DanMachi with Sword Oratoria, or the Fate franchise). Each volume follows Maomao chronologically. No timeline splits, no alternate perspectives that fill in gaps. Just one continuous story.
J-Novel Club publishes the English translation digitally, and Square Enix has physical print editions starting from May 2024. The English release is caught up with Japan, which is rare for light novels.
Light Novel Volume Guide
| Vol | JP Release | EN Release | Arc / What Happens |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Aug 2014 | Feb 2021 | Maomao enters the rear palace. Poison-tasting for Gyokuyou. The honey incident. Ah-Duo’s story. |
| 2 | Jan 2015 | Jun 2021 | Outer court service. Lakan introduced. The ritual investigation. Maomao’s past starts surfacing. |
| 3 | Jun 2015 | Sep 2021 | Return to the rear palace. New mysteries. The political web gets more tangled. |
| 4 | Sep 2015 | Jan 2022 | The locust incident. Deeper court intrigue. Jinshi’s position becomes more complicated. |
| 5 | Apr 2016 | May 2022 | Western-influenced arc. New characters from outside the court. |
| 6 | Nov 2016 | Oct 2022 | Political conspiracies escalate. Maomao’s analytical skills tested on larger-scale problems. |
| 7 | Feb 2018 | Mar 2023 | Major revelations about the palace power structure. Jinshi and Maomao’s dynamic shifts. |
| 8 | Feb 2019 | May 2023 | New faction introduced. The medical mysteries get more dangerous. |
| 9 | Feb 2020 | Sep 2023 | Broader political landscape. Events outside the palace walls become relevant. |
| 10 | Jan 2021 | Jan 2024 | Escalating stakes. Multiple plotlines converging. |
| 11 | Apr 2021 | May 2024 | Fallout from previous events. Character relationships tested. |
| 12 | Jul 2022 | Sep 2024 | New region, new problems. Maomao out of her comfort zone. |
| 13 | Feb 2023 | Jan 2025 | Continued expansion of the world beyond the palace. |
| 14 | Sep 2023 | May 2025 | Political threads from earlier volumes start paying off. |
| 15 | Mar 2024 | Sep 2025 | Major developments in the overarching plot. |
| 16 | May 2025 | 2025 | Latest volume. Story ongoing. |
I reviewed Volumes 1 and 2 individually. Volume 1 is a fantastic entry point. If Maomao doesn’t grab you in the first few chapters, this probably isn’t your series. But she grabbed me immediately.
Starting From Where the Anime Left Off
This is the most common question I see. Here’s the anime-to-light-novel mapping:
- Season 1 (24 episodes, 2023–2024): Covers approximately Volumes 1–4
- Season 2 (24 episodes, Jan–Jul 2025): Covers approximately Volumes 5–7
- Season 3 (October 2026, split cour): Will continue from Volume 8 onward
If you’ve watched through Season 2 and want to continue in the light novel, start at Volume 8. That’s the clean handoff point.
That said, I’d recommend starting from Volume 1 if you have the time. The anime adaptation is good, but Maomao’s internal monologue carries a lot of the charm. Her thought process during mystery-solving, her snarky commentary on palace life, her complicated feelings about Jinshi. The anime shows you what she does. The light novel shows you what she’s thinking while she does it. For a detailed breakdown of what the adaptation changes, see my anime vs manga comparison.
What About the Manga?
There are two manga adaptations. This confuses everyone, so let me be clear about the difference.
The Nekokurage manga (Monthly Big Gangan, Square Enix): 16 volumes in Japanese, licensed in English by Square Enix. This is the popular one. The art is stunning. If you’ve seen Apothecary Diaries manga panels shared online, they’re almost certainly from this version. It adapts the light novel but at manga pacing, meaning it’s behind the LN in terms of story coverage.
The Minoji Kurata manga (Monthly Sunday Gene-X, Shogakukan): 21 volumes in Japanese. Viz Media will start publishing the English version in Q4 2026. This adaptation is less well-known in the West but has more volumes because it started at the same time and publishes more frequently. The art style is different, leaning more traditional.
Neither manga adaptation is ahead of the light novel. They’re both adapting existing LN content. If you’ve read the LN, the manga won’t give you new story. It gives you a visual interpretation of scenes you’ve already read.
There’s also The Apothecary Diaries: Xiaolan’s Story, a spinoff manga that launched in March 2025. It retells events from Xiaolan’s perspective. Supplementary reading, not essential.
For a deep dive on LN vs manga differences, I wrote a full comparison.
What About the Web Novel?
The web novel started on Shousetsuka ni Narou in October 2011, three years before the light novel. It’s still being updated, and it’s ahead of the LN in story progression.
Should you read it? Probably not as your first experience with the series. The light novel is a polished, expanded rewrite. Hyuuga reworked scenes and added content. The pacing is noticeably better in the published version. The web novel is rougher. It reads like a first draft in places.
Where the web novel becomes interesting is after you’ve caught up with the LN at Volume 16 and want to know what happens next. The web novel is further ahead, so you can use it to get a preview of future LN content. Just keep in mind that Hyuuga changes things between versions, so the web novel isn’t a spoiler-perfect preview of what the LN will do.
My Recommended Reading Path
Here’s what I’d tell a friend who asked me how to get into this series:
Step 1: Read Light Novel Volumes 1–16. This is the core experience. Everything else is supplementary.
Step 2: Watch the anime (Seasons 1–2) afterward if you want the visual version. Seeing the palace brought to life adds something, even after you’ve read the story. The animation quality from Toho and OLM is excellent.
Step 3: Check out the Nekokurage manga if you want to revisit favorite scenes with gorgeous art. The court banquet scenes and Maomao’s investigation sequences look incredible in manga form.
Optional: Read ahead in the web novel if you’re caught up on the LN and can’t wait. Be prepared for rougher writing and potential differences from the eventual LN versions.
Where to Buy
Light Novel (digital): J-Novel Club (subscription or individual purchase), BookWalker, Kindle, Kobo, Apple Books.
Light Novel (print): Square Enix print editions available through Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Right Stuf, most bookstores. Print editions started May 2024.
Manga: Square Enix (Nekokurage version) available in English at any major retailer. Viz (Kurata version) coming Q4 2026.
J-Novel Club’s membership is the best value if you plan to read more than a couple volumes. Their prepublication model gives you access to new volumes in parts as they’re being translated, weeks before the final ebook release. For more on publisher differences, see my comparison of light novel publishers.
Is the Series Finished?
No. The light novel is ongoing at 16 volumes. The web novel is also still running. Season 3 of the anime premieres October 2026, with an original animated film in December 2026. For the full status breakdown, see my Apothecary Diaries status article.
FAQ
What order should I read The Apothecary Diaries?
Read the light novel Volumes 1 through 16 in order. There are no parallel spinoffs that need to be interleaved. The manga and anime adapt the same story and can be enjoyed separately or afterward.
Where should I start reading after the anime?
After Season 2, start at Light Novel Volume 8. Season 1 covered Volumes 1–4 and Season 2 covered roughly Volumes 5–7. Starting from Volume 1 is recommended for the full experience, though.
Which Apothecary Diaries manga should I read?
The Nekokurage version (published by Square Enix in English) is the most popular and widely available. The Kurata version (Shogakukan/Viz) is also good but won’t be in English until Q4 2026. Both adapt the same light novel story.
How many Apothecary Diaries light novels are there?
16 volumes as of May 2025, with both the Japanese and English releases at the same point. The series is ongoing.
Should I read the web novel or the light novel?
The light novel. It’s the polished, expanded version with professional illustrations. The web novel is rougher but useful for reading ahead once you’ve caught up with the LN at Volume 16.
Do I need to read the manga to understand the light novel?
No. The manga adapts the light novel, not the other way around. The LN is the source material and contains the most complete version of the story.