Ratings16
Average rating4.6
After breaking a "curse" on the imperial heirs, a palace servant with training in herbal medicine is promoted up the ranks to food taster...and right into the thick of palace intrigue in this lushly illustrated period mystery series! Maomao, a young woman trained in the art of herbal medicine, is forced to work as a lowly servant in the inner palace. Though she yearns for life outside its perfumed halls, she isn't long for a life of drudgery! Using her wits to break a "curse" afflicting the imperial heirs, Maomao attracts the attentions of the handsome eunuch Jinshi and is promoted to attendant food taster. But Jinshi has other plans for the erstwhile apothecary, and soon Maomao is back to brewing potions and...solving mysteries?!
Featured Series
12 primary booksThe Apothecary Diaries (Nekokurage) (薬屋のひとりごと [Kusuriya no Hitorigoto]) is a 12-book series with 12 released primary works first released in 2017 with contributions by Natsu Hyuuga and Nekokurage.
Reviews with the most likes.
Maomao's skills as an apothecary really shine in this volume. She's assigned to cure an ailing concubine, then forced to attend a party with all the concubines, their maids, the emperor, every other high ranking official around. The politics of the inner court really gets fleshed out. Maomao also gets to express a “tough girl from the bad side of town” persona, which is great.
The first volume was underwhelming but the second volume turned things around.