@Ktoromto
There are benefits and disadvantages to both, i believe the one that's been going on for a while is somewhat of a more manga-ized take on the story and this one's more closely based on the light novel, though not sure the exact spread.
Thanks for asking that, @Einya, and thanks for answering @culturedalchemist - I had no idea what the abbreviations meant either.
On a different note: Is it just me or is the other one's art closer to the style in the LN? Though I've only seen the covers so far so maybe not?
I have no complaints about the art, it is just different, not bad IMO. More Maomao isn't a bad thing, waiting for the English LN to come out on the 14th (I could read the prepubs but if I'm buying it anyway I wait)
Kinda hard to get through this because of how Mao Mao feels so much more like a generic shoujo protag than the demented poison connoisseur that we know and love, a feeling compounded by the much more generic art. But I'm still willing to give it a chance, I guess.
The art here isn't as pretty, and I like the more comedic take of the Square Enix manga, but Maomao's disgusted face is more on point here. The characters also look their age more. The novel can be confusing sometimes so it's nice to have more adaptations helping to explain stuff. This story is worth reading multiple times.