By the close of 2024, “The Apothecary Diaries” had become an unprecedented sensation, with its anime adaptation dominating streaming service rankings. This enthralling blend of romance, drama, mystery, and historical fiction, masterfully crafted by Natsu Hyūga, was set in a fictional land inspired by the Tang dynasty Imperial China. As the series delved deeper into its second season, it continued to garner widespread acclaim, maintaining its position as one of the top five most popular series, as reported by Anime News Network.
The popularity of “The Apothecary Diaries” skyrocketed in the industry, placing it among the top five best-sellers in both 2021 and 2023, according to Oricon. In addition, the series reached the fourth spot for manga sales in 2024. Such success even attracted attention from the Japanese government, who featured the medicinal character Maomao on the cover of their February 2024 issue of “Health, Labor and Welfare” magazine – a unique occurrence as this was the first time any fictional character graced the cover of this public relations magazine.
The Latest Update for The Apothecary Diaries’ Light Novel Series is Taking Sales by Storm
With over 40 million copies distributed, The Apothecary Diaries stands as the second most popular Light Novel, trailing slightly behind That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime which has sold approximately 45 million copies.
— Anime News And Facts (@AniNewsAndFacts) March 2, 2025
Due to the increasing popularity of the anime show, its corresponding light novel series has also gained significant traction. The franchise for “The Apothecary Diaries” has surpassed popular titles like “Shaman King” and “Spy x Family,” and is poised to outperform Kazuki Takahashi’s “Yu-Gi-Oh!” manga in sales. With forty million copies in circulation, the light novel series is rapidly narrowing the sales gap, currently trailing only “That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime” by a small margin, with its own sales slightly exceeding the forty million mark.
Ever since I stumbled upon “That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime,” it’s been one of the top-selling light novels in Japan for quite some time now. When its anime adaptation dropped in 2018, it immediately took over the number-one spot on sales charts and has managed to hold onto it ever since. However, with “The Apothecary Diaries” gaining popularity and sales momentum, it looks like our reigning champion might soon have a new successor vying for that coveted top position!
The Unique Take On a Female Lead and Historical Fiction Has Lit up as a Franchise
In a red-light district, young Maomao, the apothecary’s daughter, is kidnapped and forced to work as a servant in the imperial palace, immersing herself in a world filled with complex political conflicts. To keep her literacy and healing abilities hidden, she remains discreet when the royal family members fall critically ill. However, she finds herself compelled to secretly address the supposed “curse” without revealing her identity.
Later, the striking eunuch Jinshi manages to identify Maomao, leading to her promotion as Gyokuyou’s concubine and poison taster. But as her valuable skills become evident, she encounters risks that extend far beyond the dangers associated with testing for poisons.
It’s not surprising that the series has achieved great success given its rich content, attracting a larger audience than initially expected. The protagonist, Maomao, is a compelling character who is both intelligent and practical, yet witty and inquisitive. The court politics are intricate, featuring complex characters. A gradual romance unfolds between Maomao and a bishonen court official, which, while occasionally comical, is built on mutual respect and intellectual equality. Additionally, Maomao’s fascination with poisons and medicines, coupled with her self-destructive obsession, paves the way for underprivileged peers to attain previously unattainable achievements such as literacy and broader role opportunities.
As the popularity of the anime version continues to expand with an increasing number of fans, the light novel series is experiencing a significant surge in sales, reaching impressive new peaks; this growth only adds to the admiration for the franchise as a whole.
Be sure to catch The Apothecary Diaries series on Crunchyroll!
Do you enjoy reading “The Apothecary Diaries”? Don’t forget to share your opinions about the latest updates in this delightful novel series!
Read More
- How to watch A Complete Unknown – is it streaming?
- USD VES PREDICTION
- INJ PREDICTION. INJ cryptocurrency
- LDO PREDICTION. LDO cryptocurrency
- IP PREDICTION. IP cryptocurrency
- CAKE PREDICTION. CAKE cryptocurrency
- EUR HUF PREDICTION
- EUR PKR PREDICTION
- JTO PREDICTION. JTO cryptocurrency
- USD MXN PREDICTION
2025-03-03 23:42