Ascendance of a Bookworm
Ascendance of a Bookworm, also known as AoaB or Honzuki for short, 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 published it in thirty-three volumes from January 2015 to December 2023.
A manga adaptation of the first part with art by Suzuka was serialized online via the Niconico Seiga website from October 2015 to July 2018. It was collected in seven 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 Ajiado aired the first season from October to December 2019, and the second season aired from April to June 2020. A two-part OVA episode was released in March 2020. A third season aired from April to June 2022. A fourth season produced by Wit Studio is set to premiere in April 2026.
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.Characters
;Myne Urano Motosu Rozemyne;Ferdinand
;Tuuli
;Effa
;Gunther
;Lutz
;Otto
;Benno
;Mark
;Gustav
;Freida
;Gil
;Fran
;Delia
;Ralph
;Sylvester
Media
Light novels
Ascendance of a Bookworm was originally published by Miya Kazuki as a free-to-read web novel on Shōsetsuka ni Narō from 2013 to 2017. 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. The thirty-third and last volume was published in December 2023. The series is divided into five parts. The light novel is published in English by J-Novel Club, who released the series between May 2019 and September 2024.The series continued with a sequel titled Ascendance of a Bookworm: Hannelore's Fifth Year at the Royal Academy, following the perspective of Rozemyne's close friend Hannelore in her next year at the Royal Academy, after the events of the main series. As with the main series, the Hannelore sequel was originally published by Miya Kazuki as web novel.
Manga
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!, 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!, serialized in Comic Corona from September 2018 to September 2025, and was compiled into a total of thirteen volumes. Part 3, subtitled Let's spread books through the duchy!, is illustrated by Ryo Namino and began serialization in Comic Corona despite Part 1 still being ongoing at the time. Part 3 currently has nine volumes. Part 4, I want to save the Royal Academy's library!, is illustrated by Hikaru Katsuki and began serialization on December 24, 2020, also in Comic Corona and currently has a total of eleven volumes. The manga adaptation is also published in English by J-Novel Club. Part 5, which is going to be illustrated by Suzuka, has been confirmed and would begin publication on January 19, 2026.Sequel series, subtitled Ascendance of a Bookworm: Hannelore's Fifth Year at the Royal Academy - A Princess Who Wants to Fall in Love, is illustrated by Rei Kusakabe and began serialization in Comic Corona on September 22, 2025.
Anime
An anime television series adaptation was announced on March 7, 2019. The series is animated by Ajiado 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.The first season ran for 14 episodes, which aired from October 3 to December 26, 2019, on ABC Television, Tokyo MX, Wowow, and BS Fuji, and covers Part 1: Daughter of a Soldier of the light novel. Sumire Morohoshi performed the series' opening theme song "Mashiro", while Megumi Nakajima performed the series' ending theme song "Kamikazari no Tenshi". A two-part OVA series consisted of two parts titled "Eustachius's Incognito Operation Downtown" and "Visiting Missus Corinna".
The second season 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. Sumire Morohoshi also performed the second season's opening theme song "Tsumujikaze", while Minori Suzuki performs the ending theme "Ephemera wo Atsumete".
The production of a third season was announced on July 12, 2020, which ran for 10 episodes and aired from April 12 to June 14, 2022, on ytv and other channels, 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", while Maaya Sakamoto performed the ending theme song "Kotoba ni Dekinai".
A fourth season by Wit Studio covering Part 3: Adopted Daughter of an Archduke of the light novel was announced on December 6, 2023. The season is directed by Yoshiaki Iwasaki, with Aiko Minowa as the new character designer and the rest of the staff and cast reprising their roles. It is set to premiere on April 4, 2026, on all NNS affiliate stations, including ytv and Nippon TV as well as Tokyo MX. Little Glee Monster will perform the fourth season's opening theme song "Pages".
Crunchyroll streamed the series and has partnered with Sentai Filmworks for distribution in North America.
Other
Nine fanbooks were published by TO Books and released on December 20, 2016, December 9, 2017, November 10, 2018, November 9, 2019, November 10, 2020, November 10, 2021, November 10, 2022, November 10, 2023, and November 9, 2024. TO Books also published eleven Drama CDs released on September 9, 2017, June 9, 2018, June 10, 2019, December 10, 2019, September 10, 2020, August 10, 2021, April 9, 2022, August 10, 2022, May 10, 2023, December 9, 2023, and August 10, 2024.Reception
The series has sold over 11 million copies across physical and digital sales combined as of July 20, 2024. 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.In 2017, the manga adaptation was ranked seventh at the third Next Manga Awards in the web category.
The 2nd season of anime was nominated for "Best Fantasy" in 2021's Crunchyroll Anime Awards.