The Apothecary Diaries Volume 2 – Manga Librarian
Title: The Apothecary Diaries 薬屋のひとりごと Kusuriya no Hitorigoto, “Apothecary’s Soliloquy”
Volume: 2
Mangaka: by Natsu Hyuuga (Author), Nekokurage (Author), Itsuki Nanao (Compiler), Touco Shino (Designer)
Translator: Julie Goniwich
US Publisher: Square Enix Manga
Age Relevance: High School & Up
How Essential Is It?: Essential
Curricular Connections?: Medicine, Critical Thinking
Reader’s Advisory Tags: Mystery, Romance, Based on Imperial China, Seinen
Anime: Crunchyroll (Second Season Confirmed!)
Content Warnings: Allusions to sex, mentions of sexual assault, mentions of pedophilia (explanation in review), poison
Publisher Synopsis: When word of her accomplishments falls on the ears of His Imperial Majesty, Maomao finds herself tasked with a direct request from the throne. Turning down the emperor is out of the question for the former(?) apothecary if she wants to keep her head! But while acquiescing to the emperor is expected of all subjects, Maomao is about to discover that ladies-in-waiting have still more taxing duties to which to attend, as preparations for the garden banquet get underway! Concocting an aphrodisiac might be second nature to Maomao, but smiling prettily for the officials of the court could prove far more difficult…
Review:
The second volume in this popular series deepens the world around Maomao, as she is first set with the task of bringing one of the Emperor’s most treasured consorts, Lihua, back to health. At first thwarted by the consort’s ladies in waiting, Maomao quickly realizes that the culprit behind the woman’s illness is the same face powder from the previous volume that killed Lieu’s child. Despite the powder having been banned after Maomao exposed its toxic effects, one of the ladies in waiting foolishly kept applying it to the sickly consort’s face. After removing the toxic powder, Maomao helps Lihua to recover, and Maomao gains another ally.
In the latter half of the volume, a garden banquet is held. At this banquet, the consort Lishu is introduced. The youngest consort at only fourteen, she was also a consort of the former Emperor. This is the first hint of the dark predilection that the former Emperor had for young girls, which is framed with disgust by all characters, particularly Maomao. It is also revealed in this arc that Maomao has been wearing makeup to appear more plain. Having grown up in the pleasure district, she quickly ascertained that a plain appearance would keep her safe from men in the dark corners of her former home.
During the banquet, Maomao detects poison in a dish (her role is to taste the dishes for the consort Gyokuyō), but her initial reaction of pleasure at the sensation makes it so that people do not believe it is dangerous- this is played for humor and to underpin Maomao’s fixation on poison. However, Maomao has realized something- the consort Lishu is actually allergic to certain types of fish, and her lady in waiting neglected her duty by allowing her to eat a dish with allergens in it. Maomao makes clear the weight of the lady in waiting’s actions, and it seems Lishu will be safe from such incidents in the future.
In this volume, we begin to see some of the deeper themes that will define this series emerge. Maomao is quick to unleash retribution upon those who do not respect toxins and poisons and the harm they can perpetuate, and despite her sometimes harsh approach, she is actually incredibly kind-hearted. The dangers of being a woman in the world of the series are clearly defined, and that danger is regardless of class. That said, class divides are more apparent as the story progresses. Maomao clearly is aware of how delicately her life hangs in the balance in the presence of the Emperor, and she has a sharp cynicism about it.
A strong volume in this adaptation, this is a second volume that will hold manga readers’ attention. While the subject matter is heavy, humor does lighten it, and it is not depicted explicitly. There are allusions to sex and sexual abuse, and they are particularly strong in this volume. There is a certain level of maturity required for this series, which is why it is best suited for high school aged readers and above. Because they are not depicted visually, they may go over some reader’s heads, but they are present, and you should be aware as you are making collection decisions.
