Best Manga Like The Apothecary Diaries

The Apothecary Diaries is a fantastical historical drama that has drawn the attention of millions of fans, but that doesn’t mean it’s unique in the romance genre. There are a lot of great stories fans can read if they like this manga, especially if they enjoyed the art, the settings, the storyline, and the worldbuilding.

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If fans have already burned through the fourteen available volumes of this series, they might be itching for something else to read. This list highlights six of the best manga to read if fans loved The Apothecary Diaries, with special emphasis on the aspects that make this series so attractive, and particularly faithful to the taste of fans of the shoujo genre.

6

Ooku: The Inner Chambers

Fierce Court Intrigue And Complex Character Dynamics

• Genres: Historical Drama, Action, Romance, Adventure,
• Artist & Author: Fumi Yoshinaga

This manga’s setting is in an alternate Edo Period, where almost the whole male population has been decimated, so the gender roles have been reversed, and now there’s a matriarchal rule over Japan. So, the Shogun and other members of the Tokugawa family are women, and the tension of the power struggles in the old courts of Nihon is fiercer than ever.

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Ōoku: The Inner Chambers explores deep intrigue tropes, as well as complex characters with deep background design. Its historical setting and rich cultural references will surely appeal to fans of The Apothecary Diaries.

5

The Summer Hikaru Died

Similar Slow Burn Storytelling, Mystery, And Drama

• Genres: Mystery, Drama, Supernatural, Seinen, Horror
• Artist & Author: Mokumei Hachi

Though it diverts from the Historical Drama genre, this dramatic tale set in remote rural Japan narrates the tale of Yoshiki and Hikaru, two inseparable childhood friends who cannot be broken apart by anything — in this world, that is. In this suspenseful and slow-burning supernatural drama, Yoshiki notices that Hikaru has been gone for a long time, and a Doppleganger entity has taken his place. But, he still decides to keep going with the friendship, despite knowing his friend is no longer there.

For those who appreciate atmospheric horror and a cascading narrative that leads to a series of mysterious events surrounding the pair, The Summer Hikaru Died is a must-read. It handles the complexity of human relationships like few horror manga, along with the burden of living using masks.

4

A Bride’s Story

A Historically Accurate Depiction Of A Tribal Marriage

• Genres: Historical Drama, Adventure, Romance, Action
• Artist & Author: Kaoru Mori

With incredible historical accuracy, this manga narrates the journey of Amir, a twenty-year-old woman from a nomadic tribe who marries a young boy of twelve years old, as per their customs. Kaoru Mori’s pen narrates with precision the complexity of the nomadic tribal customs and the journey into a new era through the eyes of an unlikely married couple.

Consider reading A Bride’s Story for its dramatic developments, the struggle for survival, the beautiful scenarios and art, and a story that will make readers think about their lucky and comfortable modern lives more than once.

3

The Tale Of The Land Of The Rising Sun

One Of The Most Daring Shōnen-ai Manga

• Genres: Action, Historical Drama, Romance, Shoujo, Supernatural, Tragedy, Gender Bender
• Artist & Author: Ryouko Yamagishi

The Tale of the Land of the Rising Sun is a manga that redefined the genre, mixing political intrigue, cross-dressing, and supernatural events. The main character is Prince Shōtoku, a historical figure who spread Buddhism throughout Japan. Shōtoku’s unrequited love for Soga no Emishi, and his strange psychic abilities, alongside his scheming nature, make him incredibly complex and powerful as a protagonist.

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If readers enjoyed The Apothecary Diaries’ complex plot filled with political intrigue and great cultural value, then there’s a high chance they will like Hi Izuru Tokoro no Tenshi.

2

Emma

A Tenacious Maid, A Daring Heir, And Lots Of Drama

• Genres: Historical Drama, Josei, Romance, Seinen
• Artist & Author: Kaoru Mori

This manga series is another masterpiece by the author of A Bride’s Tale. Emma focuses on Victorian-era England and narrates the misadventures of Emma, a young lady taken in by a prestigious family and trained to be the perfect maid. But, not everything is perfect in this dramatic historical romance, since William, the heir of the family, is in love with her. She is also deeply in love with him, but their relationship is not meant to be.

Emma is a great and complex romance with high doses of suspense and intrigue. The impossibility of maintaining an open relationship in a deeply exigent society, and the constant fear of being discovered — Mori captures these tropes in the purest of forms.

1

The Girl From The Other Side

A Fantastical And Complex Supernatural Drama

• Genres: Fantasy, Supernatural, Adventure, Drama, Shounen
• Artist & Author: Nagabe

The Girl From The Other Side is an incredibly deep and complex supernatural drama that combines the best elements of the slow-burning narrative with the ethereal (and sometimes haunting) settings of fairy tales. Shiva is a girl who lives in an abandoned village, and her guardian and caretaker is a mysterious and tall creature named Teacher.

Teacher has warned Shiva not to leave the village, so she won’t get cursed like everyone else. But, her curiosity ultimately gets the best of her. In this fantastical tale of adventure, mystery, and family bonds, readers will find lots of things in common with The Apothecary Diaries: the slow-burning yet dramatic narrative, the complex relationship between the main characters, and the beautiful art with picturesque backgrounds.

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