The Apothecary Diaries | Series Review (vol. 1-11)

The Apothecary Diaries, vols. 1-11
Story by Natsu Hyuuga, art by Nekokurage
Square Enix Manga, first volume released 12/8/20
Rating: Teen 

Mystery, murder, in-court fighting, and a strong-willed girl in the middle of it all. 

It’s the makings of a historical K-drama, and I’m all for it.

The Apothecary Diaries has mesmerized countless audiences though its manga and anime series, and it’s easy to see why. In the middle of the story is Maomao, the titular apothecary. Seventeen-year-old Maomao is intrigued by herbal medicine through the teachings of her father. Because of her gift, Maomao is forced to work in the inner court of an imperial palace. As maidservant to the court, Maomao finds herself thrust into the middle of numerous mysteries, which include poisonings, murders, and sabotage.

And Maomao is more than eager to solve the mysteries plaguing the court. Remember, these are the times of courtesans and women are not allowed to have an education. They must rely on their beauty to survive, and Maomao is fully aware of this, and has taken steps to keep herself safe, such as purposely making herself up as a homely girl despite having a natural beauty. With this in mind, there may be some fan service, but not a lot to be alarmed about.

In a way, this makes Maomao a feminist icon way before her time. She has no interest in love or finding a suitor to make her life comfortable. The reader finds out why as the series progresses. Maomao’s only interest is solving mysteries, learning more about her gift of herbal medicine, and avoiding dealing with the beautiful eunuch, Jinshi, who has taken a special interest in the teen, which annoys her. The dynamic between these two is a comical delight. Maomao takes a lot of risks in her apothecary, so much so that she will purposely put her life at risk much to Jinshi’s chagrin. In a way, it could be seen as a brother-sister relationship, but I think readers can tell the writer might try to spin a romantic tale, which honestly I feel the story can do without. Maomao is a girl who can handle her own, even when her curiosity sometimes works against her. And seeing that cat-like curiosity illustrated is enough to make anyone chuckle. I mean, her name is Maomao so of course “curiosity killed the cat” will make a play here. 

Later on in the story, we are introduced to a mysterious man with a connection to Maomao who tries to find her. As this storyline progresses (especially in volume eight), we learn more as to why Maomao refuses to rely on a man to survive and how she became the person we have come to love. 

There’s never really a dull moment in The Apothecary Dairies, and if you haven’t read the manga or seen the anime, you’re really missing out on a fun historical-fiction with enough intrigue to keep you engrossed, as well a strong female lead to root for and admire. 

Filed under: Manga, Reviews, Young Adult