tl:dr on bottom

This manga was quite different than what I expected it to be by reading the first few chapters and looking at the artwork, in a good way.

At its core, this is a detective manga set in imperial Japan or China or something. However, the thing that sets it apart from other detective series is first and foremost the main character. Plot-wise it's fairly episodic in nature, with a few chapters being devoted to a separate case that the MC has to solve, so it runs similarly to other detective series. In this case, most of the mysteries have to do with poisons and other chemicals that contribute to the illness or death of various individuals within the palace. Nothing really groundbreaking in terms of plot here though

Where this manga shines is in the characters it showcases. The MC in this manga is a headstrong young girl that generally does what she wants unless she really can't help it. She is overly passionate about what she loves, is sassy towards authority and is above all very smart and clever. Her character alone carries the majority of this manga, and it's a treat to see such an unconventional character be the lead. The only other major character is the palace official she reports to, but he is much less interesting. Their relationship is pretty funny to watch though.

The art style of this manga is also very well done, with everything being very clearly drawn except in more comedic scenes that call for simplistic drawing. Honestly nothing but praise for the artwork shown here

Overall, the manga is a great one to read, although quite short at the moment. Going with the MC to solve the cases that only she can fully understand is always exciting, and seeing her just be herself is probably the most fun part of the entire ride.

tl:dr- strong detective manga with a great female MC and beautiful art