The Apothecary Diaries will be told in an audiobook format.
Announced at their Anime Boston panel featuring the author Hyuganatsu, J-Novel Club revealed that it has licensed an audiobook adaptation of the hit light novel The Apothecary Diaries. Audiobook publisher RB Media will oversee production. The first volume will release sometime in 2026. Further details such as the narrator have not been revealed at this article’s publishing.
Hyuganatsu first published the light novel on Shosetsuka ni Naro in October 2021 before it was acquired and published under Shufunotomo’s imprint Ray Books. The series was rereleased as a light novel under Shufunotomo’s other imprint Hero Bunko. The Apothecary Diaries was adapted into a manga with Nekokurage illustrating. A second manga adaptation was released in August 2017, titled The Apothecary Diaries: Maomao’s Notes on the Inner Palace.
The light novel became the third best-selling light novel series in 2021 and, combined with the two manga series, has over 27 million copies as of November 2023. The most recent record was in November 2025 where it was stated The Apothecary Diaries has over 45 million copies in circulation.
The Apothecary Diaries was also adapted into an anime series with OLM and Toho Animation Studio joint-producing. Season 1 released on Oct. 21, 2023 with a special three-episode premiere, Aoi Yūki voicing Maomao and and Takeo Ōtsuka voicing Jinshi. Season 2 aired from January to July 2025. A third season is slated to air in split cours in October 2026 and April 2027 with an original anime film premiering in between, sometime in December 2026.
J-Novel Club describes The Apothecary Diaries as below:
In the East is a land ruled by an emperor, whose consorts and serving women live in a sprawling complex known as the hougong, the rear palace. Maomao, an unassuming girl raised in an unassuming town by her apothecary father, never imagined the rear palace would have anything to do with her—until she was kidnapped and sold into service there. Though she looks ordinary, Maomao has a quick wit, a sharp mind, and an extensive knowledge of medicine. That’s her secret, until she encounters a resident of the palace at least as perceptive as she is: the head eunuch, Jinshi. He sees through Maomao’s façade and makes her a lady-in-waiting to none other than the Emperor’s favorite consort… so she can taste the lady’s food for poison! At her lady’s side, Maomao starts to learn about everything that goes on in the rear palace—not all of it seemly. Can she ever lead a quiet life, or will her powers of deduction and insatiable curiosity bring her ever more adventures, and ever more dangers?
J-Novel Club holds the digital license while Square Enix has the print license.
Source: J-Novel Club
