What do you think?
Rate this book
薬屋のひとりごと [Kusuriya no Hitorigoto] #14
I diari della Speziale, Vol. 14
"Dopo aver risolto il mistero dello spettro nel bagno del palazzo di diamante, Maomao ha tirato fuori dai guai Xiaolan preparando della frutta ghiacciata. Ora, però, dovrà concentrarsi sul bambino che la consorte Yuye porta in grembo: c'è il rischio di un parto podalico e la giovane speziale decide di far convocare il padre adottivo alla Corte Interna. Tuttavia, mentre sta portando a termine una commissione per lui, Maomao si accorge dello strano senso di inquietudine che aleggia nell'harem... e si ritrova faccia a faccia con una persona che mai avrebbe pensato di rivedere."
192 pages, Paperback
First published September 25, 2024
141 people are currently reading
1544 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 190 reviews
August 14, 2025
I can't believe that the anime is already further ahead than the manga. And the light novels seem to be so far ahead that they might as well take place in another dimension ... I feel like I'm not consuming this story in the right way.
November 3, 2025
another fantastic volume; i hate the cliffhangers of every volume, especially when i don't have the next one lined up💔 i absolutely adore this series 😭
October 9, 2024
The amount of times this series made me gasp , and the mysteries and everything being solved and coming into a bigger solution! Amazing work
September 27, 2024
I strive to become as cool and composed as MaoMao when dealing with conflicts.
October 23, 2025
in the bonus at the end when jinshi is thinking of mao mao all the time and she only thinks of him once absolutely got me. she is so funny and she doesn't even know it.
April 26, 2025
oh my god this is getting intense?? (spoilers!!!) Maomao getting kidnapped was bound to happen eventually and Shisui was sus from the beginning but damn.
March 9, 2025
I finished this volume last night while wrapped in a blanket in bed. It was cold.
I read it on my iPad. Earlier that day I had visited a local second-hand bookstore (a franchise shop "BOOK-OFF"; they are called. Their stores are ubiquitous in Japan). However, I couldn't find this volume there. Thus, I decided to get an e-book copy on Apple's Books app; I couldn't wait for a physical copy to arrive.
The narrative remains strong. Maomao has solved many a mysterious cases, but we still do not know who's the mastermind behind the opaque conspiracy (like Ernst Stavro Blofeld in Bond novels). This volume gives a hint of the person's identity (although I'm not entirely sure yet).
The Apothecary's Diaries's drug-like addictiveness comes from this mystery: "Who is behind all this?" It also derives, needless to say, from the great characters and the secrets they harbor. Maomao is a very shrewd person who keeps observing and guessing, and through her eyes the world of intrigue unfolds. Jinshi, her mercurial on-and-off boss, may or may not be a eunuch. In fact readers are forced to guess who he really is, who his parents are. These secrets make this fictional world even more fully realized.
I had to remind myself that this world is NOT ancient China; despite its strong visual suggestions, the empire is never mentioned so. No names of other countries come up in conversations, either. It is an idealized landscape of East Asia. And I love that. The series is evocative of Asian movies from the late 90s and the 00s, when Japan, China, Taiwan, and Korea made great movies together with international casting.
East Asia is now crackling with political tensions. This manga feels like an antidote to it. It immerses the readers into a fantasyland where Asia could have, might have, been. Maybe that's the greatest charm of this work for Asian readers like myself.
I read it on my iPad. Earlier that day I had visited a local second-hand bookstore (a franchise shop "BOOK-OFF"; they are called. Their stores are ubiquitous in Japan). However, I couldn't find this volume there. Thus, I decided to get an e-book copy on Apple's Books app; I couldn't wait for a physical copy to arrive.
The narrative remains strong. Maomao has solved many a mysterious cases, but we still do not know who's the mastermind behind the opaque conspiracy (like Ernst Stavro Blofeld in Bond novels). This volume gives a hint of the person's identity (although I'm not entirely sure yet).
The Apothecary's Diaries's drug-like addictiveness comes from this mystery: "Who is behind all this?" It also derives, needless to say, from the great characters and the secrets they harbor. Maomao is a very shrewd person who keeps observing and guessing, and through her eyes the world of intrigue unfolds. Jinshi, her mercurial on-and-off boss, may or may not be a eunuch. In fact readers are forced to guess who he really is, who his parents are. These secrets make this fictional world even more fully realized.
I had to remind myself that this world is NOT ancient China; despite its strong visual suggestions, the empire is never mentioned so. No names of other countries come up in conversations, either. It is an idealized landscape of East Asia. And I love that. The series is evocative of Asian movies from the late 90s and the 00s, when Japan, China, Taiwan, and Korea made great movies together with international casting.
East Asia is now crackling with political tensions. This manga feels like an antidote to it. It immerses the readers into a fantasyland where Asia could have, might have, been. Maybe that's the greatest charm of this work for Asian readers like myself.
October 24, 2025
Consort Gyokuyo’s pending childbirth is where this volume starts, but that’s just the start of a wild (and wildly entertaining) tale that sees yet another string of shocking (yet believable) revelations and puts Maomao in peril yet again.
While delicious medical mysteries may be my preferred flavour of The Apothecary Diaries, there’s absolutely nothing wrong when it goes all courtly intrigue on us. They’re a real chocolate and peanut butter combo.
It helps that (wait for it) Maomao is such a fantastic character. What really struck home this volume is how much she has combined the best parts of both her fathers, adoptive and biological, to become the formidable and capable woman she is.
When she finds herself in a very dire situation, she’s constantly thinking of ways out and things she can do. There’s a moment later on with a snake that appears pointless at first, but is actually a shrewdly clever ruse.
I really liked all the revelations that bubbled up in this one - this is a story that has no reservations about playing the long game and I respect the heck out of that. At least one of these completely shocked me, no mean feat.
The arc of this really goes outside the usual comfort zone of both the setting and characters and it works really well. Once Jinshi realizes something is wrong he’s left trying to catch up, but he’s no less capable than Maomao, he just has a different skill set.
In addition to the rich characterization and setting, there’s a lot of subtle storytelling that doesn’t treat the audience like morons and I think that’s wonderful. The basic story is excellent, but there’s lots to unpack beneath. The fate of some of the women in the inner court looms over this one like a shroud, giving it a mournful quality even while danger is right at the foreground.
This is, in fact, popular. There is a reason it is popular and it’s very well realized. I’m sure the light novel’s really good too, but the manga remains my preferred way of sampling it. The anime isn’t bad either, but I feel like the manga has brilliant art and offers the best of both those mediums.
5 stars - still an exemplary series with nary a complaint to be had. This is one of the best historical fictions I’ve ever had the pleasure of reading.
While delicious medical mysteries may be my preferred flavour of The Apothecary Diaries, there’s absolutely nothing wrong when it goes all courtly intrigue on us. They’re a real chocolate and peanut butter combo.
It helps that (wait for it) Maomao is such a fantastic character. What really struck home this volume is how much she has combined the best parts of both her fathers, adoptive and biological, to become the formidable and capable woman she is.
When she finds herself in a very dire situation, she’s constantly thinking of ways out and things she can do. There’s a moment later on with a snake that appears pointless at first, but is actually a shrewdly clever ruse.
I really liked all the revelations that bubbled up in this one - this is a story that has no reservations about playing the long game and I respect the heck out of that. At least one of these completely shocked me, no mean feat.
The arc of this really goes outside the usual comfort zone of both the setting and characters and it works really well. Once Jinshi realizes something is wrong he’s left trying to catch up, but he’s no less capable than Maomao, he just has a different skill set.
In addition to the rich characterization and setting, there’s a lot of subtle storytelling that doesn’t treat the audience like morons and I think that’s wonderful. The basic story is excellent, but there’s lots to unpack beneath. The fate of some of the women in the inner court looms over this one like a shroud, giving it a mournful quality even while danger is right at the foreground.
This is, in fact, popular. There is a reason it is popular and it’s very well realized. I’m sure the light novel’s really good too, but the manga remains my preferred way of sampling it. The anime isn’t bad either, but I feel like the manga has brilliant art and offers the best of both those mediums.
5 stars - still an exemplary series with nary a complaint to be had. This is one of the best historical fictions I’ve ever had the pleasure of reading.
October 26, 2025
MaoMao just be getting herself into situations—she should NOT be left to her own devices~
June 10, 2025
Ça y est je suis hooked, j'ai lu 3 tomes d'affilée. Début septembre n'arrivera pas assez vite
May 12, 2025
Complice anche il fatto che il manga è stato superato dall’anime, mi sono dimenticata di segnare questa lettura.
Ma quanto è bella quest’opera???
Sono rimasta tutto il tempo con la bocca aperta perché molte cose proprio non me le aspettavo! Ogni capitolo che passa non riesco a non pensare a quanto sia stata brava l’autrice a scrivere una storia con tanti misteri che vengono scoperti a poco a poco e si collegano e intrecciano tra loro. Ora però ho sempre più dubbi e domande e non sono sicura più di nulla e non riesco nemmeno a farmi una mia teoria, ahhhh vorrei il volume 15 ora!!!
Comunque io ho amato Jinshi/Renshi fin dall’inizio, ma quanto è stato figo in questo volume?! Ho adorato vederlo investigare al posto di Maomao anche se preferirei vederli in coppia 🫢
Al tempo stesso mi dispiace troppo vederlo così turbato, vorrei tanto che la storia sul suo passato fosse vicina, perché una delle cose che mi convince di meno è proprio la sua identità. Non metto in dubbio la somiglianza con il precedente imperatore ma il fatto che sia identico anche alla consorte Aduo continua a confondermi.
Ma quanto è bella quest’opera???
Sono rimasta tutto il tempo con la bocca aperta perché molte cose proprio non me le aspettavo! Ogni capitolo che passa non riesco a non pensare a quanto sia stata brava l’autrice a scrivere una storia con tanti misteri che vengono scoperti a poco a poco e si collegano e intrecciano tra loro. Ora però ho sempre più dubbi e domande e non sono sicura più di nulla e non riesco nemmeno a farmi una mia teoria, ahhhh vorrei il volume 15 ora!!!
Comunque io ho amato Jinshi/Renshi fin dall’inizio, ma quanto è stato figo in questo volume?! Ho adorato vederlo investigare al posto di Maomao anche se preferirei vederli in coppia 🫢
Al tempo stesso mi dispiace troppo vederlo così turbato, vorrei tanto che la storia sul suo passato fosse vicina, perché una delle cose che mi convince di meno è proprio la sua identità. Non metto in dubbio la somiglianza con il precedente imperatore ma il fatto che sia identico anche alla consorte Aduo continua a confondermi.
July 22, 2025
Un'altra svolta interessante! RENSHI RIPORTALA A CASA 🖤
Sui social: deborah.reads
Sui social: deborah.reads
October 3, 2024
Don't know how to wait for the next volume ç.ç
次の巻の出版を待てないんだよ！ç.ç
次の巻の出版を待てないんだよ！ç.ç
October 15, 2024
NEXT VOLUME RIGHT NOW (please)
April 26, 2025
I just want my babies to be happy
November 8, 2025
Madre mía que ya estoy viendo que me voy a quedar en tremendo cliffhanger de este arco en el siguiente tomo y no hay más NO HAY MÁS QUE DECLAREN LA EMERGENCIA NACIONAL.
Estoy muy mal, quiero que Jinshi haga lo que tiene que hacer y salve a quien tiene que salvar y también quiero que Mao Mao se case con su novia y, un momento, Mao Mao tiene dos manos, una para sujetar la de Jinshi y otra para sujetar la de Suishi*se lo llevan*
Estoy muy mal, quiero que Jinshi haga lo que tiene que hacer y salve a quien tiene que salvar y también quiero que Mao Mao se case con su novia y, un momento, Mao Mao tiene dos manos, una para sujetar la de Jinshi y otra para sujetar la de Suishi*se lo llevan*
December 2, 2025
worried jinshi is literally the best
November 9, 2024
Jinshi perdiendo el control de su máscara por estar desesperado de encontrar a Maomao 🙏
October 22, 2024
I've just realized that I've barely reviewed this series, so I will make a review now. I love love love this series as a whole, even despite some very iffy topics that I don't like hearing/reading about at all. I think that per volume I can find quite a bit I don't necessarily like or enjoy but as a whole, I love this series and its main characters. I do enjoy that the main characters find the very taboo and disgusting topics disgusting, I feel like a lot is overlooked and just accepted in manga, so that is a nice change of pace. I think the main characters have great and unique personalities, it's definitely not a typical manga (especially romance manga). I can't wait for things to develop further, I am loving this arc, I wish it would upload more often but the art and story are so good that I won't complain much (also I heard one of the mangakas/artists went to jail for tax fraud or evasion so dang.., I'm surprised the team is uploading at all).
Anyways... I just love this series, it's not a surprise since I am a plant and historical romance girly but I think that anyone interested in the genre that likes manga should give a volume or two a try (vol 11 is very triggering though so honestly you could just skip it because we kind of already learn what went on in earlier volumes and its worth not having to see any of that).
Anyways... I just love this series, it's not a surprise since I am a plant and historical romance girly but I think that anyone interested in the genre that likes manga should give a volume or two a try (vol 11 is very triggering though so honestly you could just skip it because we kind of already learn what went on in earlier volumes and its worth not having to see any of that).
November 3, 2024
not maomao getting kidnapped. jinshi gonna lose his mind fr.
May 31, 2025
Mi piace molto il modo in cui in questo manga gli archi narrativi si incastrino armonicamente l'uno nell'altro con transizioni quasi impercettibili dalla risoluzione di un caso, con tutti gli strascichi (politici e umani) che si lascia dietro, e l'apertura di un altro. E apprezzo anche che sia stato recuperato relativamente presto un personaggio che sembrava essere stato lasciato in sospeso, per tornare chissà quando.
Così come apprezzo il colpo di scena sulla reale identità di un personaggio che da blando comprimario si sta rivelando molto più interessante di quanto gli avrei dato credito finora. Comunque quello che più apprezzo di questa storia, oltre alla personalità di Mao Mao e al parterre di personaggi femminili ben delineato e approfondito, è sicuramente il fatto che si svolga seguendo il meccanismo di un romanzo giallo. Seguire Mao Mao nelle sue indagini da detective ufficiosa fra le mura della Corte Interna è affascinante - anche perché a ogni suo passo vengono fuori sempre più storture della vita al servizio dell'Imperatore e come queste storture finiscano per danneggiare tutti i sudditi ma in special modo le donne, costrette a servire una personalità autoritaria e superba, che usa tutto e tutti per i suoi scopi, salvo poi buttarli via, quando non ne ha più bisogno.
Come sempre non vedo l'ora di leggere il prossimo volume, sono troppo curiosa di sapere come si risolverà questo nuovo "mistero".
Così come apprezzo il colpo di scena sulla reale identità di un personaggio che da blando comprimario si sta rivelando molto più interessante di quanto gli avrei dato credito finora. Comunque quello che più apprezzo di questa storia, oltre alla personalità di Mao Mao e al parterre di personaggi femminili ben delineato e approfondito, è sicuramente il fatto che si svolga seguendo il meccanismo di un romanzo giallo. Seguire Mao Mao nelle sue indagini da detective ufficiosa fra le mura della Corte Interna è affascinante - anche perché a ogni suo passo vengono fuori sempre più storture della vita al servizio dell'Imperatore e come queste storture finiscano per danneggiare tutti i sudditi ma in special modo le donne, costrette a servire una personalità autoritaria e superba, che usa tutto e tutti per i suoi scopi, salvo poi buttarli via, quando non ne ha più bisogno.
Come sempre non vedo l'ora di leggere il prossimo volume, sono troppo curiosa di sapere come si risolverà questo nuovo "mistero".
May 26, 2025
Things take a drastic turn in this volume. Maomao gets kidnapped by political machinators working against the emperor, and transported far from the imperial court. And the people behind it are very familiar to her already.
She's not held captive though--not until she pokes her head where it doesn't belong. But even then she manages to talk her way out of a more severe punishment and is made the apothecary in charge of creating youth serum. The volume leaves everything hanging.
At home, Sir Jinshi is turning everything upside down trying to find her. He has unexpected help from Maomao's adoptive step-brother who is being trained to be every bit the strategist their father is. Volume ends before they figuire out where she's been taken.
On a happier note, the consort Gyokuyo is about to give birth. And before she was kidnapped, Maomao managed to arrange for her foster father to return to the inner court to look after her. The child wasn't born by the end of the volume either.
I've been reading this on MangaUp!, the publisher's official site, and there hasn't been new chapters in a while, so I guess I'll have to wait forever to find out what happens next.
She's not held captive though--not until she pokes her head where it doesn't belong. But even then she manages to talk her way out of a more severe punishment and is made the apothecary in charge of creating youth serum. The volume leaves everything hanging.
At home, Sir Jinshi is turning everything upside down trying to find her. He has unexpected help from Maomao's adoptive step-brother who is being trained to be every bit the strategist their father is. Volume ends before they figuire out where she's been taken.
On a happier note, the consort Gyokuyo is about to give birth. And before she was kidnapped, Maomao managed to arrange for her foster father to return to the inner court to look after her. The child wasn't born by the end of the volume either.
I've been reading this on MangaUp!, the publisher's official site, and there hasn't been new chapters in a while, so I guess I'll have to wait forever to find out what happens next.
November 29, 2025
A great volume, especially compared to some of the previous ones. The plot moves forward and Maomao has some interesting observations and tricks. There are some huge plot holes, though, especially surrounding Maomao's confrontation (suddenly all the key players walk in? that's convenient), but there are worse problems that could happen in a story. Jinshi is blessedly not present much. I've grown to dislike him since his actions in the cave. I wish this manga didn't have any romance. Maomao would be so much better without any.
July 27, 2025
Cerita di volume kali ini cukup seru karena mencari jejak keberadaan si Maomao. Menurutku juga ayah angkat Maomao cerdas banget dengan menemukan petunjuk-petunjuk kecil. Suka juga liat interaksi Maomao sama si Maomao kucing. Cerita juga makin seru dengan tindakan Shisui maupun Suirei yang mencurigakan.
October 17, 2025
Is it just me or did the art get even better?
I LOVED this arc in the light novels and also in the anime. (Season 2 of the anime is ahead of the manga now.)
I can’t really write a review for this since I don’t want to spoil anything. But fans of Maomao and Jinshi won’t be disappointed and especially Gyokuyou fans will find some STUNNING panels in this part.
I LOVED this arc in the light novels and also in the anime. (Season 2 of the anime is ahead of the manga now.)
I can’t really write a review for this since I don’t want to spoil anything. But fans of Maomao and Jinshi won’t be disappointed and especially Gyokuyou fans will find some STUNNING panels in this part.
December 22, 2025
December 2025
Kindle edition
I'm not sure if I'm falling out of love with this series just yet. Maybe it's a case of reading the previous before the new to recap. Mao Mao in trouble again. Everyone meeting her father and Jinshi realising she might've been kidnapped. Curious where this one goes but at the same time it can wait.
Kindle edition
I'm not sure if I'm falling out of love with this series just yet. Maybe it's a case of reading the previous before the new to recap. Mao Mao in trouble again. Everyone meeting her father and Jinshi realising she might've been kidnapped. Curious where this one goes but at the same time it can wait.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 9, 2025
Masterpiece comme toujours.
March 26, 2025
La fucking fin !?! Comment suis-je censée attendre le prochain tome ??
Displaying 1 - 30 of 190 reviews