Ascendance of a Bookworm

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A bookworm who had finally found a job as a librarian at a university was sadly killed shortly after graduating from college.

She was reborn as Myne, the daughter of a soldier in a world where the literacy rate is low and books were scarce. No matter how much she wanted to read, there were no books around. What is a bookworm to do without any books? Make them, of course.

Her goal is to become a librarian! So that she may once again live surrounded by books, she must start by making them herself.

Associated Names
One entry per line
Ascendence of a Bookworm: I'll Stop at Nothing to Become a Librarian
El Ratón de Biblioteca
Honzuki no Gekokujou: Shisho ni Naru Tame ni wa Shudan wo Erandeiraremasen
La Petite Faiseuse de Livres
愛書的下克上
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~
책벌레의 하극상
Related Series
N/A
Recommendations
Tensei Shoujo no Rirekisho (12)
Common Sense of a Duke’s Daughter (7)
Release that Witch (7)
I’ll Live My Second Life! (5)
Parallel World Pharmacy (3)
Kumo Desu ga, Nani ka? (3)
Recommendation Lists
  1. Binge Read Novel List
  2. On-Hold List
  3. enjoyed my time
  4. ALLJP+
  5. Novels that are not romance focused

Latest Release

Date Group Release
08/15/23 Trollcity Translations drama cd 6
05/18/23 Trollcity Translations drama cd 5
02/12/23 Trollcity Translations ss: tuuli's pov
09/16/22 Trollcity Translations ss: benno's pov
09/08/22 Trollcity Translations drama cd 4
06/08/22 Trollcity Translations ss: rozemyne’s pov
05/06/22 Trollcity Translations drama cd 3
03/19/22 Trollcity Translations ss: ferdinand's pov
10/20/21 Trollcity Translations bluray ss
09/28/21 Trollcity Translations drama cd 2
05/01/21 New Moon Translations v6c7
05/01/21 New Moon Translations v6c6
04/18/19 Infinite Novel... c103
04/04/19 Infinite Novel... c102
03/21/19 Infinite Novel... c101
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160 Reviews sorted by


kuneus
kuneus rated it
June 21, 2022
Status: part4vol7
Best isekai I've read hands down. It hits all right notes near perfect for me with characters, worldbuilding and rather unique setting for an isekai. For example MC is arguably OP but has massive downside to her power that means there's threat and adversary.

But what I really want to praise with it is the writing. Not the story but the structure of writing. It is so well written and paced it's insane. I never find myself wanting to skip ahead for example, every paragraph has a reason, not just to... more>> pad out page numbers, nor does it ramble on meaninglessly.

It actually highlighted for me why I've turned off some other LNs despite liking the story/setting. Story writing is more that imagining a good story and describing it, making it enjoyable to read is an actual art form, and at least for me Honzuki author has mastered that art. Just like a manga needs decent quality artist to bring out a good story with good drawings, LNs need a good writer to bring out a good story with good writing. <<less
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Logophobia
Logophobia rated it
May 20, 2022
Status: --
I have read many different styles of fantasy novels but no one comes close to being as good as AoaB. The world-building in this novel is really good, I personally enjoy this style of novels where the MC actually struggles and isn't the generic smart isekai protag that gets their every whim fulfilled at once. Myne or Main actually has noticeable flaws with her personality, for example, she is selfish and can be annoying to other people but she is also Ambitious, determined, and Compassionate which makes her more relatable... more>> than other characters of the same genre. Sure she is op as hell but she has to actually train to use and control her powers albeit in weird ways.

And then after the plot kicks in it becomes engaging and enthralling to read. I have bought several books and can't get enough. I would definitively recommend others to read this series!
4/5 Characters
5/5 Plot
4/5 MC <<less
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suchismitasd9433
suchismitasd9433 rated it
April 23, 2022
Status: --
This series is so good upto 3rd part volume 5 but then everything is filler. Frankly I am so sad to find out that after the series daughter of arcduke, part 4 and all not so interesting. Feel like writer was out of ideas while writing those parts then suddenly everything is all right and happily ever after. I wish I did not read the 1st part.
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vbcherukuri
vbcherukuri rated it
August 1, 2021
Status: Completed
Spoiler

If I had stopped reading sooner, I might have given it 5 stars. By the end, I want to say 3 or 2.5 stars, so I'm splitting the difference. There is a lot of good in this series. The world building is especially impressive, and the author seemed to have a general plan of how the entire series was going to go. People keep complaining about how selfish the character is in the beginning, but I highly doubt that anyone would adjust that well to such a drastic change in living conditions.

The main issue I had was how much things change as the series goes on. It makes sense that as the character's position rises, the setting changes. However, it feels like whatever drew me to the series at the beginning is gone by the end. The main themes I liked were the process of creating and trying to spread books, and the loving family relationship that Myne ended up finding in her new family and friends. Both increasingly fade away as the series progresses.

The book theme is still technically there, but the MC is increasingly distanced from the actual making of the books, and only sort of spreads them. In fact, I feel like there is almost no real progress after half way into the series. She has a series of printing workshops, and you occasionally hear about some expansion to another city, but trying to spread the books to the other parts of the country seems really slow. There is only some more kind of sudden progress at the very end of the series.

On the family and friends front, this series gets outright tragic. At the end of part 2, the MC has to separate from her family when she gets adopted by the archduke, to the point of signing a magic contract that will kill them if they ever call each other family again. She can still interact with her friends at first, but that gets cut off slowly too. That sort of tragic feel continues, and you feel like the MC is just constantly loosing everything she cares about besides books. She has new adoptive family and friends, but there is always a sense of distance because she can't admit anything about her real identity. I feel like I would have cared a bit more if the few characters who did know everything actually got closer to her. Honestly, her position may be higher, but her life seems to just get more depressing.

The last third to half off the series becomes increasingly about politics and magic. At this point, the series becomes sort of bland. There are no real surprises or upsets. Things get kind of predictable. The character gets increasingly OP, to the point where Part 5 is literally called "Incarnation of the Goddess". Even when the closest thing to a main antagonist is defeated, it basically happens off screen, by the adoptive father character that was barely developed.

Finally, there is relationship development for the MC at the end, but it doesn't even really feel romantic. If anything, it feels like the character she ends up with was the only option because the only other was cut off, so she had to end up with him. At least there is a reunion with the family at the very end.

Even at the end, the series isn't bad, but if the ending is how the series started, then I wouldn't have been interested enough to keep reading.

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Leigh_Asche
Leigh_Asche rated it
April 23, 2021
Status: c300
I really like the plot. The MC's character development is well executed. I can't actually line her up as some 'self centered b*tch' according to some comments... I mean what's wrong in chasing her dreams and it's not like she's 'that' harsh as the comments says.... It's not like the MC destroy her own family and her friends family. Infact the MC improve their lives. Maybe they call her self centered bit*h because of her passion in making books.. maybe they didn't see the effects of her passion for books...... more>> And its not like she monopolize the books..... <<less
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Xx_Nekuma_xX
Xx_Nekuma_xX rated it
April 9, 2021
Status: --
Yeah. I can't believe they adapt this into an anime. I remember the last time I read this raw and my irritation must've multiplied that time since I quit reading it.

First off, I'll explain why I give such low review despite this having maybe a decent plot from most novels?

... more>>
Spoiler

Simply put, I hate the main character as much as anyone else in this comment section. I don't know just what type of hole of brain she got, all I can say is that she's simply that unlikeable. I tried many times to have a favourable impression of her but nay! The author makes me hates her more. Also, I heard someone said she's the impersonation of the author...? If so, no wonder I hate the whole book immediately!

So the things that turned me off wasn't the whole book fetish things nor her pushover attitude because being a pushover is typical in every jp light novel by now BUT it's actually due to that religion part. Can tell immediately that the author must be atheist or something but disrespecting others' religion is another matter. If they animate that part, the only wish I can say is that hopefully the company that makes that animation won't get burn. :)

Seriously, after reading that part and continuing from there is HARD. My impression of the main character went downhill that even annoying characters such as the merchant and his daughter was pleasant to look at. Moreover, I don't want to read the whole 600+ raw chapters. By reading the spoilers from other comment section here, I can tell it's worth to not read everything because it's just a waste of time 😌

Oh yeah, I dropped reading this at orphanage part.

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Maha
Maha rated it
June 30, 2020
Status: c175
A great read, the only problem is that your in for a roller coaster ride... Things go great, then all of a sudden, you are stuck with FEELS!
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Kaylee
Kaylee rated it
April 20, 2020
Status: Completed
Read so many Jpn/Cn/Kor isekai kinda novel, with the OPness of MC being truly OP. How they (or gods/the ability) make everything so easy just like how Thanos snapped his finger is what made a story become so boring fast and by the end of it we'll just read another isekai cliche. So this story is like hot meal in hokkaido.

The 22year old MC dies and reincarnates/whatever in another world in a small fragile dying child of 5year old with poor parents and live in the lowest area of... more>> a city. No, she'll not live her life in her original healthy body, or whatever special power she has before (which she does not have, she's a book otaku).

She's the MC of an isekai novel, and she does has the golden finger just like all isekai MC, a power that is not from her original body/world but power from the original small child. Her OPness comes with restriction and it limits her to move forward in which she needs the help of others and this is how the relationships, problems are built and come. When you read this long novel, you woulndt even remember that she has the power as otherworld reincarnation.

I like how Myne personality is very..... annoying and making reader to dislike her in early part 1, but then we get to see how it influences others and makes them to move forward, to change themselves and to chase their dream. She herself also changes by interacting with others, it develops her character and changes her mindset.

And I love how the author made this world structure unraveled layer by layer, it's not a 1 or 2 structure systems but a whole country. What we'll see is just one countr, but we'l see it from the lowest level structure (let's consider this a village system, then go up to downtown area, then go up to mayor and governor area then to president) to the highest of the highest authority. As much as people will say 'you're in isekai, you're OP, you might as well enjoy it' cliche that will become a one way of boring story.

The MC here, as much as she wants to eat Jpn food, doing things she alw knows, she cannot do it. She doesnt has the goods or ingredients for it, she doesnt has the strength to do it by herself, her interest toward her world's stuff is not that strong, she's restricted by rules and system of the world, and she only has book in her eyes in a world where paper is not yet created and book is expensive. The struggle to overcome all that, just so she could survive and not disturbing the world's system and structure while keep reading book is what made this novel total worth it. <<less
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Hyacinthe
Hyacinthe rated it
January 17, 2020
Status: c131
I am having mixed feelings about Ascendance of a bookworm. The story is good, but the MC is very unlikeable. Maine is like the selfish version of Yu Xiaocao from Fields of gold. Both adults that dies and becomes trapped in the body of children, both born physically weak. The biggest different is that Yu Xiaocao is trying to improve her whole family`s situation, but Maine is trying to improve her living standards so that she could become similar to a 21st century girl again. Xiacao know that she is... more>> an adult and only acts like a child to distur the suspiciousness of the adults around her. Maine on the other hand is.... how do I describe her? Maine is childlike, the development is slow and you need to remember that she had very little human interaction in her previous life. If you ignore the fact that she is in fact 20~something year old and focus on the fact that she is now 5 years old. Because Maine is such a degenerate person the room for character growth is astronomical. You are most likely going to like her after a while, and if you are willing to wait this might be the story for you. <<less
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Xinfo
Xinfo rated it
November 30, 2019
Status: c109
I'd give it 4.5 if it wasn't for the change in translators. What I mean is that, up until chapter 103, the translations have been good and felt like I was reading an actual story. Past that and you can noticeably see the difference in quality. Some grammar errors but egregious, a lot of weird phrasing that stands out and, after comparing from other translators, starts using the present tense almost exclusively. I bring that up because while not by itself wrong, it's just super noticeable and more than... more>> likely the source for a lot of awkward wording.

I'd continue the story, but there are just some sections that just makes me go reee.

Now that's out of my system, I started reading this after bingeing the first 9 episodes of the anime and then the manga, so I skipped like the first maybe 60 chapters? After watching the anime I'm glad I did so because the beginning of the anime was slow so I don't even want to imagine what that would be like in writing. But after that section I really enjoyed what I read. I definitely like it enough to say watch the anime first then pick up where it leaves off and I hope it does well enough to see the series through. <<less
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jacobpaige
jacobpaige rated it
November 21, 2019
Status: c103
Its decent. Its not wonderful nor particularly awful, just decent.

The writing and translation are quite good, but the pacing is far too slow and there are gaping plot holes that exist solely to prevent the plot from advancing in a way that the author didn't intend. The most glaring of which is ... more>>
Spoiler

the nature of the MC's condition. We are told what it is fairly early on, but she isn't. Not because she couldn't find out what it is, but because she never, ever asks, in spite of the fact that she knows the condition is lethal and has ready access to people who would happily answer any and all questions she might have about it.

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There's also a problem with the fact that she's frequently scammed, and not only doesn't learn from the experience, but actually allies herself with and deeply trusts those that scam her, even after knowing that she's been scammed. <<less
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Eddie1080
Eddie1080 rated it
June 11, 2019
Status: c105
This is fun for me even though it has not many actions. It is overall light hearted, but it’s one of the few isekai's where MC has a frail body and their power is killing them.
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Evilmambapower
Evilmambapower rated it
May 22, 2019
Status: c65
I actually liked this story for it's uniqueness.

The MC's behavior is making it Insufferable to bear.
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bclau18
bclau18
April 4, 2019
Status: c77
It's a very entertaining series. Very light easy to ready, perfect for reading before going to bed.
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GronkJuice
GronkJuice rated it
November 4, 2018
Status: --
I would love to give this 5 stars but sadly can't. The main reason is because of the s*upid Japanese thought process of "We are always right." that you see in the MCs from the sources. Other then that its amazing.

It hits many things as it displays how technology must be used based on need and want rather then just for technology sake. Something that no other story tries to attempt. Another aspect of the greatness is the facet of the MC slowly evolving, however this is the problem... more>> that I stated at the start. Every time the MC gets to ANY character development it ends up being reverted to the start by something trivial, Take every time she learns about mercantilism she ends up going right back to the old, "give sh*t away" mentality that she learned is the reason she is suffering more then before. In the end the MC is one of the s*upidest MCs I have EVER seen. However the supporting cast is where the story is at, they evolve and adapt, grow and advance. Hell, even the main love interest gets moments of intellectual advancement and shocks me to no end. It's almost as if the author is making fun of MCs in stories, and I sure hope that is the case, cause if it isn't then the author needs to find a new profession.

At least the MC is pig headed enough to not sidetrack into a new stories that should have been new works, every page you can sense that the MC is trying to advance into a set path, sure the path diverts here and there, but it is still basically traveling to the same horizon. In the end I believe that this story should be a good learning point for many aspiring authors as well as a great baseline for readers to demand from authors in order to both increase the worth of the stories we get to read and they get to write. <<less
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Wyntile
Wyntile rated it
September 20, 2018
Status: c63
For the quality of the story, I'll give this novel a rating of 3 stars. I have honestly read worser novels than this, where at least the narration flow of this novel is decent. But the amount of frustration that I felt in reading this novel was just too real. Call me whatever you want, but as a person I seriously hate it whenever I see a character, in particular our heroine here, being insulted too much. On a day-to-day basis even. There's a reason why I tend to avoid... more>> tragedy and horror genres. This review is made at chapter 63, so some people may disagree with this review, in that some things may have changed.

Pros:

    • Certain characters' personalities
    • Interaction between certain characters
    • Decent character development
    • Great "town" building
    • Great translations.
    • No OP protagonists. (From what I'm aware.)
Cons:

    • Very slow paced, both time-wise and story-event-wise.
    • Amount of details sometimes, rival that in "Release the Witch". (Meaning too much, where the author expects readers to be experts on even the most complex of topics. Found myself skimming most of the production details since I'm not simply interested in them.)
    • While some characters are interesting, some characters in particular I found myself loathing to the core. And not in a good way.
    • ^ While I'm at it, no real antagonist or antagonist group is introduced yet, to challenge the heroine directly. (Even Natsume from the Yuujinchou series had some people who annoyed him. The GL's granddaughter does not count as one for me.)
    • As other reviews have stated, no good treatment / explanation of magic in this world. (As a fantasy fan, this is a huge minus for me.)
    • ^ Continuing from the previous point, heroine doesn't even bother to do anything about her condition herself. She DID state that she read light novels / fantasy novels in the past, yet all she does is complain about it.
    • No "world" building, or even little mention of some "continent" or "country" or "village" they're in. (What was the name of their town again? idk)
    • The beginning set of story events, where the onslaught of "heroine's severe negativity treatment" ensued.
... At this point I think this is it for now. Would I recommend this? Personally no. Even though this novel is different from the standard isekai genres which usually follow the adventurer route, I like my stories that are both well thought out yet casual at the same time. And for me, this novel was simply more on the heavy side, despite it's attempts at comedy through character interactions. <<less
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freonclayr
freonclayr rated it
July 6, 2018
Status: v80
I binge read to the latest chapter so far while the progress is slow but that's not a problem since the problem with these so called light novels of isekai genre often pacing things up to the point I can tell where the author just simply being lazy to flesh out the arc and wants to get it done, but not with this title.

I do like the pace and the realistic perspective of how to get some things done, not just simply by acquiring cheating or very much deus ex... more>> machina to finish their task.

And this kind of MC is FAR much better than any general isekai that I've been reading, all of her actions are well within her character. I do admit there are times where I'm frustrated when she does something s*upid, but then again it IS her character. If you read this far enough then you should understand what the others are saying about her. She does makes headache for people around her, that including us the reader.

I honestly never understand why would you try to relate or projecting yourselves to the MC, because no matter what these MCs are not you and will never be.

I don't really care how unlikeable the MC is if its well within her character and I'd rather to see how they can grow from it instead those MC who already goody-two-shoes and OP one where the only development for them is power level, that pretty much boring MC. <<less
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PrunJuice
PrunJuice rated it
June 20, 2018
Status: c61
High quality translation for sure. Okay writing.

MC is selfish in retrospect, but nothing egregious.

Biggest issue has to be pacing. Plot seems to have ground to a halt. Was an okay read but as of c61 this story is no longer written like it wants to be read.

Her solution to most problems is "give up and die".

... more>>
Spoiler

At one point Maine becomes concerned that her clearly abnormal behavior might get her tortured to death by the church. Her very great contingent for that situation was "Oh, I'll just kill myself". That was it. She stopped worrying about it after that. To Maine, that was problem solved.

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sakurra
sakurra rated it
January 16, 2018
Status: c60
This is a good story. The MC doesn't have extraordinary power, just depend solely on the knowledge she have from her world. The story is more realistic and I like that. And I like how honest she was, even if sometimes she was acts too childish and selfish for someone who's in 22? Or something. But the story, the plot, is interesting. Never gets you bored. I like the side character too, interesting and fun.
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Iellece
Iellece rated it
January 9, 2018
Status: c60
At the beginning, the main character kind of frustra) ted me. As many readers have said, she was annoying, spoiled and ungrateful. But that got me to thinking, why so much hate? Has anyone ever really experienced being thrown/reincarnated to another world without any knowledge of that world and covered in dirt and grime? Yes, they do take baths but I assume not enough since their family is really poor like many of Maine's friends and acquintances. I mean, who wouldn't get frustrated, irritated and unreasonable when you wanna do... more>> something but can't because of a very very weak body that gets fevers for days and days?

Just imagine, NO internet, NO gadgets, NO running water, NO proper toilet and shower, NOT enough food, NOT enough cleaning going on and many more. I am aware that some people in some other parts of the world are experiencing such things. However, unlike them, those born with a lot of privileges have near to zero idea what to do in a less-to-no-priveleges situation. The least we could do then is observe and adapt and that is what Maine does as the story progresses. She may be selfish and unreasonable but at least she knows what she has to do to satisfy her desires and she takes action instead of whining and complaining all the time. Yes, she does complain and whine but she finds a solution to solve the problem she was complaining about.

Spoiler

We also learn later on that her goal about making books actually helps her a lot in fighting her illness. Her will and determination not only drives her to make books but also keeps her illness at bay. She does get stronger little by little. She still has a very weak body though and can't do much even if she wants to. In that case, Lutz is there for her.

Her and Lutz's works will eventually help their families as well. We can also observe that Maine has become very fond of her new family and has made efforts to learn more about the new world she is in. She is actually really smart but can be careless sometimes. Careless in a way that she forgets to keep track and care for her health. Thankfully Lutz is there to monitor that for her. She can also be careless with her "business transactions". As Benmo tells her often, she is not careful enough about sharing business ideas to other people and that could lead to people taking advantage of her and losing her chances of gaining more benefits. Although it is mainly due to her lack of knowledge about the world she's currently living in. That is why she can't really weigh as to how valuable she is or at least the information she knows and how unusual and "brand new" they are.

We really see Maine's growth as well as Lutz's and their teamwork is very admirable. Lutz is a sweet and caring guy but he can be very smart and determined when it comes to his goals. I really love their character developments.

The story is quite slow paced but I actually really like it. I get read and know more details about the characters and their lives. Their actions are told in a very detailed way that I have no trouble imagining them. It is quite enjoyable.

I am still at the current translated chapter though and many more chapters still needs to be translated so I have no idea as to what is coming. With so many chapter coming, I can only imagine the adventures Maine and Lutz are going to experience. I am very excited and looking forward to their growth.

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I really do love and enjoy this story and would highly recommend it! <<less
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