Kusuriya no Hitorigoto [Licensed by J-Novel Club]
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Kusuriya no Hitorigoto (The Pharmacist's Monologue; The Apothecary Diaries)
Publisher: Shufunotomosha (Hero Bunko)
Novel: 9+ (Ongoing, latest volume released 2/2020)Synopsis
There is a certain large country in the central plains of the mainland ruled by an emperor. In that emperor's harem young women are often sold to work there for a set period; in some cases these maids are kidnapped and sold there by strangers. One such case, Maomao, an apothecary from the pleasure quarters, being plain and reluctant, attempts to keep a low profile until her term of service is complete. She has no desire or interest to become an important individual in the inner palace and would much rather be mixing medicines, dealing with poisons, or experimenting (with herself as the most convenient lab rat). However, there is a rumor that the emperor's children are being cursed to death; ever skeptical and inquisitive, Maomao cannot resist a little well-intended investigation and catches the attention of, among others, a mysterious and ludicrously handsome high-ranking official. Thus her peculiar career as an apothecary-cum-food-tester begins.
Why I Want It:
I really want this licensed because it's just so different from anything we have so far in English. If you're like me and getting tired of all the isekais, this is a breath of fresh air. It's a slice of life type mystery/medical series set in a historical setting from the point of view of a commoner girl as she works in the palace surrounded by the politics and schemes of the imperial court. The female protagonist is a little eccentric (I mean, she experimented on herself using various types of poisons in the past that left scars all so she could create medicine) and is fine with being a poison tester. Since I'm probably never going to get the Saiunkoku Monogatari novels over here, this is the next best thing. -
This looks like one I’d love to see translated too. Imperial court medical mystery? Sounds great!
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Throwing in my support for Kusuriya. It's such a fun series with quite the eccentric protagonist.
Edit - Japanese Publisher Page
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Ah, KnH! Its such a fun novel :3 I love this series and the protagonist. She is such a strong female lead~
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It's also NOT an isekai or a scifi/fantasy story, making it a different genre from most books on JNC, which is good for diversifying.
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I've read obe of the manga adaptions and the art was so pretty! The translation of the web novel was also very good to read. This one definitely has my vote.
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So. I want to read it. Get on it!
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Volume 8 releases 2/28:
Ranked #1 on the light novel sales from February 25-March 3.
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Well, she's not an alchemist, but she is an apothecary and she does use herself as a test subject so.. there is my vote.
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you GOT MY VOTE
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I've read the manga for this series. Very interesting. I like all the characters, they have distinct personalities and motives. Haven't read the LN or WN version if it though. I'd definitely read this one if it was ever licensed.
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I couldn’t put my ipad away, until I’ve read to the end of the last avaible chapter of the fan translation of the web novel. It’s a very exiting and interesting story, there wasn’t a second in which I got bored. You definitely have my upvote for this one!!!
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Volume 8 came out last February.
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This novel absolutely must getting licensed by J-Novel Club, I would love to get the premium ebooks for it! I wonder, if there would be bonus stories included, or extra illustrations.
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Please J-Novel Club, please license and translate this novel!!! It's so much better than 'Saiunkoku Monogotari' (and no magic and fantasy etc., just a good old historical novel, what I absolutely love) and much more exiting! I sooo want to read it, the fan translation of the web novel was already fantastic!!!
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I just love this series, especially one of the manga adaptions (the one with the prettier art, my favorite character so far is Pairin, her design is gorgeous)!!! What interests me the most are the detailed descriptions of the life in the harem and in the red light district. Furthermore I love the MC and her curiosity and love for dangerous poisons, such a protagonist is totally rare and even though normally she looks quite plain, she can be really pretty.
@SilverCat422 Regarding 'Saiunkoku Monogatari', it's a nice series overall with a pretty art style, but thats it already in my opinion. Sure, there are a lot of handsome ikemen, but the only love interest is that stupid emperor, who always acts like a naive, dumb little kid around the MC and I absolutely hate this. The MC herself isn't really to my liking either, her only goal is to make the kingdom a better place and becoming a female official or the like to achieve this. And most of the time, she is literally the damsel in distress and gets either rescued by her stepbrother, the emperor and his subordinates or her friends, while MaoMao in 'Kusuriya no Hitorigoto' is always trying to solve her problems by herself. And she doesn't give a shit about other peoples problem (although there are rare cases where she helps out of her own accord, without any hidden thoughts), as long as it doesn't concern her directly, or her family at the red light district, which is quite interesting. This novel is much more realistic too, what I absolutely like, although I don't hate it, if there is a little bit of magic included.
Lastly I absolutely can't stand it, that the MC in Saiunkoku is bound to be with the Emperor, even if there are much better suited candidates for her and I honestly don't know what has haunted the author to write such a shitty ending. If the art overall wouldn't be so pretty, I wouldn't even look at this series. -
I can‘t think of a better historical novel of this kind besides Saiunkoku no Monogatari. I totally love the unique main character! Please, please license it (and also the manga versions)!!!
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did you know? Manga Adaptation of LN Won the Grand Prize in the printed manga category at the Tsugi ni Kuru Manga Award 2019.
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The manga was licensed by Square Enix as The Apothecary Diaries.
