edgybutfemme's reviews
125 reviews

A Bone in His Teeth by Kellen Graves

dark emotional fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

This book is everything to me! It made me feel SO many things. Every single beat hits from the horror to the mystery to the romance to the monsterfucking. I am absolutely obsessed with Alba and Eridanys. They have incredible chemistry and they bicker from minute one. Both are too stubborn for their own good, but they have a beautiful relationship arc. I believe in their deep and devout love for each other, and every minute of the HEA is absolutely painstakingly earned. The smut in this is also absolutely peak and does a good job with the monsterfucking elements. Also, if you like a relationship between a human and a monster where the VERY sweet human is actually the one with the higher on screen body count, this story is absolutely for you!

The Apothecary Diaries, Volume 11 by Itsuki Nanao, Natsu Hyuuga

dark emotional mysterious fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.5

Oh wowsa! Jinshi backstory! This one is a doozy folks, but I am so glad we finally have the Deep Lore on Jinshi (even if it is even more horrifying than I thought)! We love a boy with trauma. I'm glad even though Jinshi and Maomao haven't realized their feelings for each other, literally everyone else has. I hope we get some more development in their relationship soon, but regardless this always keeps me coming back with the mysteries and court intrigue.

The Apothecary Diaries, Volume 10 by Itsuki Nanao, Natsu Hyuuga

lighthearted mysterious fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.5

I am obsessed with moon goddess Jinshi and I think maomao should get to dress her boyfriend up more often. I hope Consort Lihua gets to fully clean house after this volume, because she certainly deserves more trustworthy ladies in waiting. Also, obsessed whenever the emperor asks maomao for help and she is so aggressively like "my curiosity WILL be the death of me why do all these people in power keep paying attention to me" it's so funny.

The Apothecary Diaries, Volume 9 by Itsuki Nanao, Natsu Hyuuga

lighthearted mysterious fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.5

I honestly rolled right from this volume into the next, so I had trouble remembering specifically what this volume was about but it was good as always! Mostly dealing with another death, this time involving mushrooms! Justice for maomao, she didn't even get to keep her mushrooms :(

The Apothecary Diaries, Volume 8 by Itsuki Nanao, Natsu Hyuuga

emotional mysterious fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.5

I absolutely love that we got more Maomao backstory drop! Also there is a cat in the volume, a cat AND a baby, so really peak content all around.

The Apothecary Diaries, Volume 7 by Itsuki Nanao, Natsu Hyuuga

emotional mysterious fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? N/A
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.5

Ahhhhh I am both relieved and despairing that the next book is in my partners room, therefore forcing me to sleep instead of continuing to binge all of this delightful manga in one evening. This volume was exceptionally good and I am very much looking forward to seeing where Maomao's scheming goes next.

The Apothecary Diaries, Volume 6 by Itsuki Nanao, Natsu Hyuuga

emotional mysterious fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? N/A
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.5

The plot is really plotting! This does end on a bit of a cliffhanger so I reccommend having the next one to roll right into, which is exactly what I plan to do. It was extremely satisfying watching all the threads from this last arc come together, and we are getting so much maomao backstory! Also I haven't mentioned it in awhile but I really like how things are developing between Jinshi and Maomao. I love how much he cares about her, and how much she is begrudgingly starting to care for him as well!

The Apothecary Diaries, Volume 5 by Itsuki Nanao, Natsu Hyuuga

lighthearted mysterious fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? N/A
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.25

I really commend the original creator for so skillfully changing up the set up and dynamic! Moving from the inner court to the outer court brings a whole new set of characters, expectations, and mysteries. I particularly enjoyed watching Maomao piece together the secrets of the metal worker's will. On to the next one! (Even though I should probably be going to bed instead 😅)

The Apothecary Diaries, Volume 4 by Itsuki Nanao, Natsu Hyuuga

lighthearted mysterious fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? N/A
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.25

I was sufficiently caught up in this one that I actually rolled right into the next and forgot to leave a review initially! This beautifully wraps up the first arc and left me eager to continue.

The Apothecary Diaries, Volume 3 by Itsuki Nanao, Natsu Hyuuga

lighthearted fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? N/A
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

It was so good to see Maomao get to go home, and Jinshi's reaction to her trip was absolutely hilarious. I really enjoy their dynamic, and seeing more of what Maomao's life was like before the Inner Palace really makes her ability to navigate the court intrigue so adeptly make ao much sense!