Image via Toho Animation Studio
Chances are, if you even dabble in anime, you’ve heard of The Apothecary Diaries. This hit anime centers on the smart, serious MaoMao, who is obsessed with poisons. She’s one of my favorite female characters of all time, and I just adore her dynamic with the slowest-burn love interest, Jinshi. The anime is currently on hiatus between Seasons 2 and 3, with Season 3 scheduled to air in October 2026. And that means that diehard fans like me are absolutely pining for more Apothecary Diaries goodness.
Of course, one way to soothe that ache is to read the light novels that started it all. I’ve been working my way through them, and I can confirm that they’re excellent. But if you want something else that captures the element of mystery, slow burn, and captivating details about poisons, I’ve got you covered. Here are the top books I recommend to fans of The Apothecary Diaries.
**Bonus Action is a member of the Amazon Affiliate Program. That means buying items from the Amazon links in this article will help support our writers via a small amount of money earned per purchase.**
Violet Thistlewaite is Not a Villain Anymore by Emily Krempholtz
Price: $19 on Amazon
Genre: Cozy Fantasy
This delightful cozy fantasy has two key ingredients that make it a perfect book for Apothecary Diaries fans. First, we’ve got a plant witch with an affinity for rare and magical plants. It’s not quite the same as making poisons, but the general vibe is similar. And second, our former villain protagonist is used to being on her own. She’s a bit prickly even as she tries to shed her former life.
So, if you like the idea of a cozy fantasy with a complicated female heroine that also revolves around plants, this is my pick for you. And yes, it has a nice rivals-to-lovers arc to its romance that offers a decently slow burn. No contemporary romance is going to give us anime levels of buildup, but this comes close enough.
The Red Palace by Jane Hur
Price: $13.99 on Amazon
Genre: Historical Thriller
If you love The Apothecary Diaries for its historical palace drama and/or the mystery of it all, this is the pick for you. The Red Palace is set in Korea in 1758 and follows a palace nurse suddenly forced to investigate a mysterious murder. Or really, murders, as someone has killed four palace women in a single night.
Hyeon only ever wanted to keep her head down and do her job (sound familiar?). But instead, she’s forced to investigate the murders to clear her mentor’s name. If you like a good thriller or historical mystery, this will scratch that itch while we’re waiting for more Apothecary Diaries episodes to drop.
A Magic Steeped in Poison by Judy I. Lin
Price: $13.99 on Amazon
Genre: YA Fantasy
This book has been at the top of my TBR for a while, and falling in love with The Apothecary Diaries makes me even more excited to read it. A Magic Steeped in Poison features dangerous, magical tea-making and plenty of court politics. Not to mention a mysterious, handsome boy with a shocking secret.
Though our protagonist is hardly proud of her poison tea, the book’s overall vibes will almost definitely appeal to fans of The Apothecary Diaries. With court intrigue in the imperial city and what I hope will be a slow burn romance, plus a touch of magic, this is the first book in a must-read fantasy duology.
The Lost Apothecary by Sarah Penner
Price: $18.99 on Amazon
Genre: Historical Fiction
This is the book that first inspired me to write this list, if I’m being honest. I absolutely adore The Lost Apothecary, and poisons are a central part of its plot. The book features dual timelines, one in the present day and one long in the past. They’re connected as our present-day woman begins to uncover clues about the long-lost apothecary.
With a focus on strong women leading unusual lives, apothecaries, and the complexities of navigating societal expectations, The Lost Apothecary is perfect for Apothecary Diaries fans. Though the story itself is quite different, I think it navigates similar themes and topics. And it’s just plain well-written on top of it all.
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**Bonus Action is a member of the Amazon Affiliate Program. That means buying items from the Amazon links in this article will help support our writers via a small amount of money earned per purchase.**
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Interesting books! I’ll have to check them out once I get through my current pile.
Hope you enjoy them if you do!
Thanks!