Okay, so here’s the deal: Due to my dyslexia, I find it nearly impossible to read manga. Despite my best efforts, reading from right to left causes my brain to rebel, thanks to the tips, tricks, and strategies my primary school teachers ingrained within my little grey cells. 

This inability is truly frustrating, as there are so many first-rate manga books to read, like Hellsing (which I’m well aware is old, but I still adore it) Delicious In Dungeon, or One Piece.

Though I can’t read manga, happily, there’s anime based on these books.

Most recently, I discovered two mystery based anime series on Netflix, which I absolutely adore! The first is Sakamoto Days. (A show I thought I reviewed in a prior post, but according to the search engine attached to my and the shop’s blog, I apparently have not.)

Above and beyond the fantastic art and the marvelous voice acting work — the storylines are highly engrossing. 

Within each episode: You’ve got the problem Sakamoto and his family need to sort out, the ever evolving interpersonal relationships of the aforementioned expanding family. Plus, the mystery of who put a contract out on Sakamoto’s life and why. As well as the enigmatic Slur, whose motives, aims, and connection to the big man himself are presently unknown. And…and…and…There are so many more riddles, secrets, and question marks that need unraveling that I find Sakamoto Days spellbinding!

Thus, I highly recommend that you give Sakamoto Days a whirl.

The second anime series I stumbled upon on Netflix is The Apothecary Diaries. 

Set in a fictional kingdom meant to resemble Imperial China around the Tang Dynasty (according to Wikipedia), The Apothecary Diaries revolves around a girl named Maomao. 

Within minutes of our introduction to Maomao, she’s kidnapped by bandits and sold into service in the Emperor’s Rear Palace, where the ruler’s concubines, their ladies-in-waiting, eunuchs, and their female servants live. 

Originally, Maomao meant to keep her head down, do her work, and serve out her contract. However, when two of the Emperor’s favorite concubines and their newborn babies become ill — she cannot stand idly by. Deducing the root cause of their illness thanks to her deductive powers and apothecary training, amongst the many skills acquired from her father’s teachings, Maomao does her best to save them….at the expense of her anonymity.

And the series takes off from there. 

What I relish about The Apothecary Diaries is the sheer variety of storylines. Though Maomao is enamored with poisons, and poison does play a hefty role in the series, The Apothecary Diaries isn’t strictly a murder mystery. Due to the setting, there’s a ton of political intrigue happening in and around Maomao. Moreover, the relationships between the characters grow increasingly complex as the show progresses, which adds intriguing layers as events unfold.

Again, I highly recommend this series to anyone fond of watching female-centric, loosely historical-ish stories where plants, food, and palace plots often come into play.

However, here’s the thing: there’s always a thing. 

Whilst I adore Sakamoto Days & The Apothecary Diaries, and they are indeed animated — I would recommend parents of kids under, say, about 14 watch the shows before their kids do. 

These shows are geared towards adults, and as such, they don’t pull their punches (pun intended). Sakamoto Days contains an abundance of violence, which is unsurprising since Taro Sakamoto is a retired hitman. The Apocathary Diariescontains subtle bullying, nuanced sexuality, and some understated violence. All of which some parents might not want their kids introduced to at insert age here — hence my recommendation.

However, for those of you who’ve reached their legal majority!

My 52 Weeks With Christie: A.Miner©2025