For the Most Part, 'Ascendance of a Bookworm' Is an Original, Charming, Engaging, and Smart Isekai

Fresh college graduate Motosu Urano loves nothing more than reading books.  For all her life, she has dreamed of becoming a librarian, in which she can make her living while being surrounded by books.  But just as she has scored her dream gig, an earthquake topples a huge pile of books on her, crushing her to death.  In her dying breath, she wishes she will get to read tons of books in the next life.

She indeed gets reincarnated, waking up in a medieval world as a frail, sickly 5-year-old named Myne, the second daughter of a poor city gate guard.  Unfortunately, in this new world, most of the common folk are illiterate, and books are rare and expensive that only the rich have them.  She’s understandably devastated that what she loves the most are out of her reach in this new life.  However, her desire to become a librarian eventually prevails, and thus, she resolves to create her own books.

This is the premise of Ascendance of a Bookworm, and it’s definitely distinct from the usual “reincarnated as…” isekai.  The MC is not a male, but female (and not just an adult man trapped in a preadolescent girl’s body).  It’s not action-oriented.  And, most importantly, it’s not a power fantasy.

Myne starts from the bottom, and has to struggle toward her goals.  In the case of similar isekai protagonists who start out weak, their rise to the top is often made quick by luck or destiny.  Isekai is all about power fantasies after all.  Thus, an initially puny, hapless protagonist has to end up thriving or becoming proficient sooner than later so that some “power fantasizing” can finally be done.  In contrast, Myne’s journey is slow – frustrating, tedious, difficult, and full of setbacks.

After all, she’s not been given much to work with.  She’s basically just a toddler.  On top of that, she’s poor, and she’s often coming down with a fever.  If not for her determination and the fact that she retains the memories, knowledge, and skills she had from her previous life, pursuing her dream while contending with the social, economic, and political hurdles of this world should be impossible.

Moreover, although there’s also magic in this world, it’s just like books – very uncommon and exclusive to the elite.  That means the presence of magic doesn’t really allow much convenience or short-cuts to happen in Myne’s character arc – at least, as far as the first 14 episodes go anyway (by the way, like No Guns Life, it has a split-cour season, where Part 1 aired during fall 2019, while Part 2 will air on April 2020.  But with the same reason why I already reviewed No Guns Life, I’m now reviewing Ascendance of a Bookworm).  Thus, it feels more grounded, relatable, and earnest than most isekai character arcs.

However, to be honest, I was occasionally bored by it.  While the grinding, measured narrative can be fascinating, it can sometimes be a drag as well.  I guess I still prefer my isekai to be more action-packed and fantastical.

In the end, although I don’t think I found it as rewarding as it may really be, I do like Ascendance of a Bookworm in general.  It is primarily original, undeniably charming, decently engaging, and fairly smart.  I will definitely be watching again once it returns on April.