The anime and light novel of Apothecary Diaries have several differences. In the anime, the visuals bring the story to life vividly, with beautiful character designs and detailed settings. However, the light novel often has more in - depth descriptions of the characters' inner thoughts and the world - building details. For example, in the light novel, we might get a more detailed account of Maomao's past experiences that shape her personality, which might be only hinted at in the anime through flashbacks or brief dialogues.
One major difference is the pacing. The anime might need to condense certain parts of the story to fit within the time constraints of an episode. So, some plot developments that are more gradually explored in the light novel may seem rushed in the anime. On the other hand, the anime can use music and voice acting to enhance the mood. For instance, the voices of the characters in the anime can add an extra layer of personality that you might have to imagine while reading the light novel.
In terms of the story content, the light novel may contain some side stories or additional details that are not included in the anime. These extra elements can provide a more comprehensive understanding of the Apothecary Diaries universe. Also, the way the mystery elements are presented can vary. In the light novel, you have more time to piece together the clues as you read at your own pace, while in the anime, it's presented more in a visual and time - bound manner.