marie_thereadingotter's reviews
1261 reviews

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

adventurous funny mysterious fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

I loved this volume. So much happened, and I am so excited to read what comes next. MaoMao continues to be a badass, even the Emperor likes and trusts her. 

The Apothecary Diaries, Volume 9 by Natsu Hyuuga

funny lighthearted mysterious fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

This volume was a lot of fun. A new servant was introduced at the end of the previous volume, and she and MaoMao have started to form a bond over their love for weird things. I'm really happy that she's found someone she can talk openly with about bugs and mushrooms.

MaoMao teaching her former laundry companions how to read was really sweet, and I love that Jinshi picked up on it being a good idea to offer that to more servants so they can have better job opportunities when their contracts are over. I also liked that information about The Madam's past was revealed. She's always been very mysterious.

I'm reading these now with excitement for when season 2 is made and seeing these scenes in the anime. No wait time at the library for vol. 10, so off I go to read that.

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

adventurous funny lighthearted medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

This volume is where the anime left off and a couple more chapters for some of the aftermath. 
I loved reading this. I liked where things went after LaKan bought out the mysterious courtesan. I do also love that MaoMao seemed to set it up for it to happen that way even though she wanted MeiMei to be bought out. 

I'm excited to read more past where the anime left off as I wait for season 2.

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

funny medium-paced

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

5.0

I'm almost at the point that lines up with the end of the first season. Jinshi is *so* smitten with Maomao, and she is so clueless. 
I liked that Maomao was able to embarrass her biological father, by outsmarting him in her own way. 

This is a fantastic story, and I love the characters. I am really excited to read the next volume.

Inuyasha, Volume 12 by Rumiko Takahashi

adventurous emotional medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.75

I read this volume *super* fast. I am trying really hard not to think of the anime as I read these. But it is hard. This volume seemed to have a lot of filler chapters compared to the last one. But it didn't bother me. 
I do wish that Kagome trusted InuYasha a little more. At this point she should trust him to be honest with her, while he wasn't always honest with her when it came to Kikyo, he has been for a while. Though I do agree that if all they were discussing was their task, they could've had that conversation in front of everybody.
It felt like a lot and nothing happened in this volume. Likely due to the filler. I have been enjoying reading this for the first time after watching the anime a dozen times over the years. I really like the differences, and that there is far less filler of her going back to the "modern times" in the manga. 

Esrahaddon by Michael J. Sullivan

adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious medium-paced

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

5.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse and Death of parent

Moderate: Violence

Inuyasha, Volume 11 by Rumiko Takahashi

adventurous emotional tense fast-paced

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

4.75

This is when I feel like the plot really-really starts to pick up, and my favorite incarnation of Naraku shows up. Hakodoshi, I hate that guy but he's by far a more interesting character than Naraku.

A Deal With The Elf King by Elise Kova
Did not finish book. Stopped at 42%.

I am bored. This had potential. The plot and everything attached to it, sadly, felt shallow. I don't know if it's because of the melodramatic nature of this audiobook, but I didn't feel the stakes. The whole book goes on about how urgent everything is, but I didn't feel it. And only being in Luella's head didn't help. I think this book could've been better had it been Adult, and the themes were as dark as I think they're supposed to be. Everybody is over  18, the elves aren't immortal, they share a similar life-span with the humans (around 100 years), but everybody is so immature. 
This is a case where I don't think  it's just because the audiobook had voice actor(s) that annoyed me, I just think it's a book with an underbaked plot.

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

adventurous emotional funny medium-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? No

5.0

This volume covers some of my favorite episodes from the manga. I love how all the foreshadowing, no pun, all fell together in this volume. 
I am really excited to read more, and to get to the point past where the anime left off. Maomao continues to be a badass. 

Mao, Vol. 17 by Rumiko Takahashi

adventurous medium-paced

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

3.75