Books and Chocolate~February 2026
Sometimes you find gems in unexpected places, and that’s what this month’s recommendation is about.
So all my (adult) children are anime fans. I am privileged that still want to share what they enjoy with me. Hence, what has turned into many family movie nights watching this anime series. I confess, I got impatient that we couldn’t just binge the whole thing at once. That led to the discovery that the manga (graphic novel) that inspired the anime had been turned into ‘light novels’. Fifteen of them so far!
My bookish little heart fluttered as I pulled out my library card and got to reading. Let’s just say I binged hard and heavy, and it was a delight.
The novels are translated from the original language, and there are some glitches in the process. The occasional word that technically means the right thing but no native speaker would have used it that way does stand out. And there are the occasional head-hopping and other writerly issues that probably only another author would spot, but honestly, the storytelling makes up for it entirely.
Our main character is a female apothecary in an imperial China analogue society. A Sherlock Holmes in a kimono working for the royal palace. She’s brilliant about her work, but clueless in relationships. The male lead is protecting several layers of secrets that promise heaps of political complications and might just be as clueless as she when it comes to relationships. A delightfully tangled web.
I think you’ll enjoy it.
Just so you know, links below are Amazon associate links, so if you buy anything through them, I will get a couple of pennies from that.
The Apothecary Diaries
In the East is a land ruled by an emperor, whose consorts and serving women live in a sprawling complex known as the hougong, the rear palace. Maomao, an unassuming girl raised in an unassuming town by her apothecary father, never imagined the rear palace would have anything to do with her—until she was kidnapped and sold into service there.
Though she looks ordinary, Maomao has a quick wit, a sharp mind, and an extensive knowledge of medicine. That’s her secret, until she encounters a resident of the palace at least as perceptive as she is: the head eunuch, Jinshi. He sees through Maomao’s façade and makes her a lady-in-waiting to none other than the Emperor’s favorite consort.
Find more Books and Chocolate reviews here
How about free and sale price books?
Special Curated Sale
My grandchildren are really into manga and anime. I confess I have not caught the craze yet, but who knows? So many books on the TBR list, I hesitate to add another layer. But, are you watching the series Drops of God? That is based on a manga and it is really well done.