Do I need to watch the anime first?

No. The manga is the source material and starts at the beginning, so it works as an entry point.

Is this volume appropriate for younger teens?

It is aimed at teens and adults. The setting involves palace intrigue and some mature court themes, but there is no explicit content.

How many pages and what format?

It is a 176-page paperback from Square Enix Manga, also available as an ebook.

Is volume 1 a complete story?

It wraps a first mystery arc but sets up the wider series, so expect to continue with volume 2.

When is the best time to buy?

The best new price seen is $9.74 at Walmart as of November 7, 2026. Manga volumes rarely discount deeply, so buying near that price is reasonable.

Where is the The Apothecary Diaries 01 cheapest?

At Walmart, for $9.74, as of our latest check.

Where can I buy the The Apothecary Diaries 01?

12 stores we checked sell it, including Walmart, Zatu Games, Bookshop.org, AbeBooks.com, Blackwell's.

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The Apothecary Diaries 01

Best price now

$9.74at WalmartObserved at 7:23 AM

Compared across 3 stores. Prices are checked against each store and labelled with when.

Visit Walmart

The Apothecary Diaries 01

Best price now

$9.74at WalmartObserved at 7:23 AM

Compared across 3 stores. Prices are checked against each store and labelled with when.

Visit Walmart

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Our take on the The Apothecary Diaries 01

The Apothecary Diaries 01 is the first paperback volume of Natsu Hyuuga's mystery manga, published in English by Square Enix Manga. It follows Maomao, a young apothecary sold into service in the imperial rear palace, who uses her knowledge of herbs and poisons to solve the intrigues around her. The 176-page volume is rated 4.6 out of 5 from 124 ratings. The best new price is $9.74 at Walmart as of November 7, 2026, with 3 stores selling it new.

Best forManga readers who like palace intrigueFans of mystery with a medical twistTeens and adults new to the seriesViewers of the anime who want the source story

Pros

Sharp, resourceful heroine with real herbal knowledge
Self-contained mystery arcs that pull readers in
Clean art and a brisk 176-page read
Strong setup for the long-running series
Good entry point before the anime or later volumes

Cons

Short volume; the story is just getting started
Dense cast of palace characters to track
Some political context takes a while to click
Print is small in places

The Apothecary Diaries 01 prices at every store

WalmartNew
In stock
$9.74Observed at 7:23 AM
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Zatu GamesNew
In stock
$10.93Observed at 7:23 AM
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Bookshop.orgNew
Out of stock
$12.11Observed at 7:23 AM
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The Apothecary Diaries 01 price history

Lowest price we've seen: $9.74 on Nov 7 at Walmart. Tracked across 12 stores since Nov 7.

What reviewers say

4.6 / 5124 ratings

Readers rate the first volume highly, praising Maomao as a clever, unsentimental lead and the herb-and-poison mysteries as the draw. Complaints are minor and mostly about the volume being short and the palace cast being hard to keep straight at first.

What people mention

Lead characterPraisedReaders single out Maomao as a smart, funny heroine who carries the book.
Mystery plotsPraisedThe poison and herb puzzles are called clever and satisfying.
LengthCriticisedSome buyers feel 176 pages ends before the story gets going.
CastMixedThe palace roster is engaging but hard to follow in the first volume.
ArtPraisedThe artwork is described as clean and expressive.

Specifications

Author Name: Natsu Hyuuga
Binding Type: Paperback
Educational Subject: Graphic novels
Book Format Type: Paperback
Digital Format: ebook
Main Genre: Fiction
Subgenre: Manga, Comics & Graphic Novels, Mystery

Questions and answers

Do I need to watch the anime first?: No. The manga is the source material and starts at the beginning, so it works as an entry point.
Is this volume appropriate for younger teens?: It is aimed at teens and adults. The setting involves palace intrigue and some mature court themes, but there is no explicit content.
How many pages and what format?: It is a 176-page paperback from Square Enix Manga, also available as an ebook.
Is volume 1 a complete story?: It wraps a first mystery arc but sets up the wider series, so expect to continue with volume 2.
When is the best time to buy?: The best new price seen is $9.74 at Walmart as of November 7, 2026. Manga volumes rarely discount deeply, so buying near that price is reasonable.
Where is the The Apothecary Diaries 01 cheapest?: At Walmart, for $9.74, as of our latest check.
What do buyers say about the The Apothecary Diaries 01?: Rated 4.6 out of 5 from 124 ratings.
Where can I buy the The Apothecary Diaries 01?: 12 stores we checked sell it, including Walmart, Zatu Games, Bookshop.org, AbeBooks.com, Blackwell's.

Stores we've priced the The Apothecary Diaries 01 at

Walmart deals and prices

Book Author

Natsu Hyuuga

Book Title

The Apothecary Diaries

Book Language

English

Book Publisher

Square Enix Manga

Book Dimensions

12.67 x 1.42 x 18.06 cm

Book Weight

164 g

Publisher

Square Enix Manga

Age Range

13 - 17 years

Target Audience

Teens, Adults

Original Language

English

Translated Language

Yes, English

Page Count

176