Ascendance of a Bookworm (Japanese: 本好きの下剋上 ～司書になるためには手段を選んでいられません～, Hepburn: Honzuki no Gekokujō: Shisho ni Naru Tame ni wa Shudan o Erandeiraremasen, lit. "Ascendance of a Bookworm: I'll Stop at Nothing to Become a Librarian") is a Japanese light novel series written by Miya Kazuki and illustrated by You Shiina. It was serialized online from September 2013 to March 2017 on the user-generated novel publishing website Shōsetsuka ni Narō. It was later acquired by TO Books, who has published thirty-three volumes since January 2015.
A manga adaptation of the first part with art by Suzuka was serialized online via Niconico Seiga website from October 2015 to July 2018. It was collected in seven tankōbon volumes by TO Books. Both the light novel and manga are published in English by J-Novel Club. An anime television series adaptation produced by Ajia-do Animation Works aired the first part from October to December 2019, and the second part aired from April to June 2020. A two-part OVA episode released in March 2020. A third season aired from April to June 2022. A fourth season produced by Wit Studio has been announced.
Plot
The story follows Urano Motosu, a book-loving post-secondary college student and soon-to-be librarian who ends up crushed to death beneath a pile of books at her house during an earthquake. With her dying breath, she wishes to be reincarnated in a world where she can read books forever. Urano awakens in the body of a weak, five-year-old girl named Myne in a world where books are scarce and only available to elites. Myne, retaining her memories from her previous life, decides to create and print her own books so that she can read again.
The titular bookworm, Urano (a college student) was on the cusp of being a librarian when she was crushed to death under a pile of books during an earthquake. She reincarnated as a sickly five-year-old girl named Myne, but in a world where books are only for extremely rich nobles. Her frailty is due to a rare disease known as the "Devouring," which consists of high fevers which flares up whenever the host is stressed or depressed. Now, Myne has to put her book-knowledge to the test in order to become a librarian in her new world.
Myne's childhood best friend who helps her in her business to make paper and create books. He initially wanted to be a traveling merchant, but after being dissuaded by Otto, he decides to work with Myne and be the muscle to her brain. He is the first to suspect Myne is not who she used to be, and in fact taken over by someone else.
A city merchant who takes Myne and Lutz under his wing and helps them grow their bookmaking business. After realizing the potential Myne and Lutz have at their craft, he is insistent on training them to be merchants and argues against others who want the pair for themselves.
The head of the Merchant Guild in Ehrenfest and Benno's senior. He agrees to allow Lutz and Myne to become temporarily registered merchants after seeing the products the duo are able to create.
Gustav's granddaughter who wants to buy one of Myne's hairpins to wear at her baptism. Like Myne, she has the incurable illness known as the "Devouring."
A young grey-robed boy who is placed as Myne's retainer. He is pompous, brash, and believes himself superior to Myne, even though he is beneath her in the temple hierarchy. He eventually comes around and serves Myne faithfully after she shows him kindness and compassion.
Fran (フラン, Furan)
Voiced by: Shō Karino[10] (Japanese); Chris Hackney[5] (English)
A grey-robed young man who is placed as Myne's retainer. He is quiet, follows the rules, and is highly devoted to the temple. He is the first retainer to earn Myne's trust and becomes her right-hand man.
A young grey-robed girl who is placed as Myne's retainer. She is out to annoy and frustrate Myne on the High Bishop's orders, hoping she will grow up to be his concubine if she's successful. After Myne threatens to send her back to the orphanage, she changes her ways and serves Myne faithfully but still retains her snarky attitude.
Ascendance of a Bookworm was originally published by Miya Kazuki as a free-to-read web novel on Shōsetsuka ni Narō in 2013 until it was acquired by TO Books which published the first volume in print in their TO Bunko imprint with illustrations by You Shiina in January 2015. As of December 2023, the series will have accumulated over 33 volumes, divided into five parts. The light novel is published in English by J-Novel Club.[12] In May 2019, J-Novel Club released the first official English translation of Part 1 volume 1.[13]
Volume list
No.
Title
Original release date
English release date
1
Part 1: Daughter of a Soldier Vol.1 Dai Ichi-bu Heishi no Musume Ichi (第一部 兵士の娘I)
A manga adaptation was published by TO Books and follows similar format as the novels. Part 1, subtitled If there aren't any books, I'll just have to make some! (本がないなら作ればいい!, Hon ga nainara tsukureba ī!), was illustrated by Suzuka, serialized in Comic Corona from October 2015 to July 2018, and was compiled into a total of seven volumes. Suzuka continued to illustrate Part 2 subtitled I'll even join the temple to read books! (本のためなら巫女になる！, Hon no tamenara miko ni naru!) which began serialization in Comic Corona on September 24, 2018 and currently has a total of ten volumes. Part 3 subtitled Let's spread books through the duchy! (領地に本を広げよう！, Ryōchi ni hon o hirogeyou!) is illustrated by Ryo Namino and began serialization in Comic Corona despite Part 1 still being ongoing at the time. Part 3 currently has seven volumes. Part 4 is illustrated by Hikaru Katsuki and began serialization on December 24, 2020 also in Comic Corona and currently has a total of seven volumes. The manga adaptation is also published in English by J-Novel Club.[12]
An anime television series adaptation was announced on March 7, 2019. The series is animated by Ajia-do Animation Works and directed by Mitsuru Hongo, with Mariko Kunisawa handling series composition, Yoshiaki Yanagida and Toshihisa Kaiya designing the characters, and Michiru composing the series' music.[1]
The first part ran for 14 episodes,[147] which aired from October 3 to December 26, 2019, on ABC, Tokyo MX, Wowow, and BS Fuji,[4][a] and covers Part 1: Daughter of a Soldier of the light novel. Sumire Morohoshi performed the series' opening theme song "Mashiro" (真っ白), while Megumi Nakajima performed the series' ending theme song "Kamikazari no Tenshi" (髪飾りの天使).[4][148] A two-part OVA series (numbered collectively as episode 14.5, both airing on March 9, 2020) consisted of two parts titled "Eustachius's Incognito Operation Downtown" and "Visiting Missus Corinna".[149][150]
The second part ran for 12 episodes, which aired from April 5 to June 21, 2020, and covers Volumes 1 and 2 of Part 2: Apprentice Shrine Maiden of the light novel.[151][152] Sumire Morohoshi also performed the second part's opening theme song "Tsumujikaze" (旋風) (Commotion), while Minori Suzuki performs the ending theme "Ephemera wo Atsumete".
The production of a third season was announced on July 12, 2020,[153][154] which ran for 10 episodes and aired from April 12 to June 14, 2022 on ytv,[155][156][b] and covers Volumes 3 and 4 of Part 2: Apprentice Shrine Maiden of the light novel. Nao Tōyama performed the third season's opening theme song "Ano Hi no Kotoba" (あの日のことば), while Maaya Sakamoto performed the ending theme song "Kotoba ni Dekinai" (言葉にできない).[157][158]
A fourth season by Wit Studio covering Part 3: Adopted Daughter of an Archduke of the light novel was announced on December 6, 2023.[159][160]
Seven fanbooks were published by TO Books and released on December 20, 2016,[163] December 9, 2017,[164] November 10, 2018,[165] November 9, 2019,[166] November 10, 2020,[167] November 10, 2021,[168] and November 10, 2022.[169] TO Books also published nine Drama CDs released on September 9, 2017,[170] June 9, 2018,[171] June 10, 2019,[172] December 10, 2019,[173] September 10, 2020,[174] August 10, 2021,[175] April 9, 2022,[176] August 10, 2022,[177] and May 10, 2023.[178]
Reception
The series has sold over 8 million copies across physical and digital sales combined as of October 31, 2022.[179] The series ranked fifth in 2017, first in 2018 and 2019, second in 2020 and 2021, third in 2022 and first in 2023, before being added to Hall of Fame in Takarajimasha's annual light novel guide book Kono Light Novel ga Sugoi!, in the tankōbon category.[180][181][182][183][184][185]
In 2017, the manga adaptation was ranked seventh at the third Next Manga Awards in the web category.[186]
