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Ascendance of a Bookworm

TV anime2019–4 seasons1 announced60 episodes airedOriginal: light novelMiya Kazuki

Seiun Award 2025Over 15 million copies

When a sickly young girl suddenly becomes obsessed with inventing new things, her family and friends are all puzzled. "What has gotten into Myne?" they wondered, never dreaming that the answer is not a "What" but a "Who": Urano Motosu, a book-loving apprentice librarian who died in an earthquake in Tokyo who somehow found herself in Myne's body! And since Myne's world is still in a medieval stage, where books can only be owned by the elite, the new Myne intends to do everything she can to bring her beloved books to the masses in the time she has left.

After Season 4, continue with Part 4 · Vol. 1

Book language
EditionJ-Novel Club / Yen Press
Ascendance of a Bookworm Season 1 anime poster

Season 1

Medium confidence

14 episodesOct 2019 – Dec 2019

Anime ends at
Ep 14

The first season adapts the whole of Part 1, so this volume opens the next arc with nothing from the books skipped.

Ascendance of a Bookworm: Part 2 Volume 1 (Light Novel)

J-Novel Club / Yen PressEnglishPaperback

Buy on Amazon

Also in other languages:

Where it stops:

2 side entriesOVA ×2reading notes
  1. Side Story One: Eustachius’s Incognito Operation DowntownOVA1 episodeMar 2020This first OVA story accompanies the first TV season and has no separate sequential starting point into the main light novel. Follow the first-season route to continue reading.
  2. Side Story Two: Visiting Missus CorinnaOVA1 episodeMar 2020This second OVA story accompanies the first TV season and has no separate sequential starting point into the main light novel. Follow the first-season route to continue reading.
Ascendance of a Bookworm Season 2 anime poster

Season 2

Medium confidence

12 episodesApr 2020 – Jun 2020

Anime ends at
Ep 12

The second season adapts only the first part of this volume, so its opening chapters retell the last episodes of the season.

Ascendance of a Bookworm: Part 2 Volume 3 (Light Novel)

J-Novel Club / Yen PressEnglishPaperback

Buy on AmazonKindle edition

Also in other languages:

Where it stops:

Ascendance of a Bookworm Season 3 anime poster

Season 3

Medium confidence

10 episodesApr 2022 – Jun 2022

Anime ends at
Ep 10

The third season ends exactly where Part 2 of the novels concludes, so this volume starts a fresh arc with no overlap.

Ascendance of a Bookworm: Part 3 Volume 1 (Light Novel)

J-Novel Club / Yen PressEnglishPaperback

Buy on AmazonKindle edition

Also in other languages:

Where it stops:

Ascendance of a Bookworm Season 4 anime poster

Season 4

Medium confidence

24 episodesApr 2026 – Oct 2026

Anime ends at
Ep 24

The opening overlaps with the season finale, so read from the start of the volume for the transition.

Ascendance of a Bookworm: Part 4 Volume 1 (Light Novel)

J-Novel Club / Yen PressEnglishPaperback

Buy on AmazonAdd Part 4 · Vol. 1 – Part 5 · Vol. 11 to cartKindle edition
All 21 books from Part 4 · Vol. 1 to Part 5 · Vol. 12
  1. Part 4 · Vol. 1Ascendance of a Bookworm: Part 4 Volume 1 (Light Novel)Buy on Amazon
  2. Part 4 · Vol. 2Ascendance of a Bookworm: Part 4 Volume 2 (Light Novel)Buy on Amazon
  3. Part 4 · Vol. 3Ascendance of a Bookworm: Part 4 Volume 3 (Light Novel)Buy on Amazon
  4. Part 4 · Vol. 4Ascendance of a Bookworm: Part 4 Volume 4 (Light Novel)Buy on Amazon
  5. Part 4 · Vol. 5Ascendance of a Bookworm: Part 4 Volume 5 (Light Novel)Buy on Amazon
  6. Part 4 · Vol. 6Ascendance of a Bookworm: Part 4 Volume 6 (Light Novel)Buy on Amazon
  7. Part 4 · Vol. 7Ascendance of a Bookworm: Part 4 Volume 7 (Light Novel)Buy on Amazon
  8. Part 4 · Vol. 8Ascendance of a Bookworm: Part 4 Volume 8 (Light Novel)Buy on Amazon
  9. Part 4 · Vol. 9Ascendance of a Bookworm: Part 4 Volume 9 (Light Novel)Buy on Amazon
  10. Part 5 · Vol. 1Ascendance of a Bookworm: Part 5 Volume 1 (Light Novel)Buy on Amazon
  11. Part 5 · Vol. 2Ascendance of a Bookworm: Part 5 Volume 2 (Light Novel)Buy on Amazon
  12. Part 5 · Vol. 3Ascendance of a Bookworm: Part 5 Volume 3 (Light Novel) | NovelBuy on Amazon
  13. Part 5 · Vol. 4Ascendance of a Bookworm: Part 5 Volume 4 (Light Novel) | NovelBuy on Amazon
  14. Part 5 · Vol. 5Ascendance of a Bookworm: Part 5 Volume 5 (Light Novel)Buy on Amazon
  15. Part 5 · Vol. 6Ascendance of a Bookworm: Part 5 Volume 6 (Light Novel)Buy on Amazon
  16. Part 5 · Vol. 7Ascendance of a Bookworm: Part 5 Volume 7 (Light Novel)Buy on Amazon
  17. Part 5 · Vol. 8Ascendance of a Bookworm: Part 5 Volume 8 (Light Novel) | NovelBuy on Amazon
  18. Part 5 · Vol. 9Ascendance of a Bookworm: Part 5 Volume 9 (Light Novel)Buy on Amazon
  19. Part 5 · Vol. 10Ascendance of a Bookworm: Part 5 Volume 10 (Light Novel)Buy on Amazon
  20. Part 5 · Vol. 11Ascendance of a Bookworm: Part 5 Volume 11 (Light Novel)Buy on Amazon
  21. Part 5 · Vol. 12Ascendance of a Bookworm: Part 5 Volume 12 (Light Novel) | NovelBuy on Amazon

Also in other languages:

Where it stops:

Ascendance of a Bookworm Season 5 anime poster

Season 5

Announced
The TV anime sequel to Adopted Daughter of an Archduke. Its production was announced on October 3, 2026, and WIT STUDIO will continue to handle production. The broadcast schedule and episode count have not been announced.

The Royal Academy sequel has been announced but has not aired. No continuation volume is recommended for this season yet.

Original · Light novel

Ascendance of a Bookworm

本好きの下剋上

Miya KazukiTO BooksCompleted33 volumes

Series copies in print

Over 15 million copies

TO Books · incl. digital · October 2026

Awards

  1. 2025

    Seiun AwardJapanese Long Fiction

  2. 2018–2019 · 2023

    Kono Light Novel ga Sugoi! No. 1Tankōbon and Novels

All volumes

Before you read

Suggested reading (English · J-Novel Club / Yen Press): Season 1 ends at Ep 14. Continue with Part 2 · Vol. 1. Reading notes: The first season adapts the whole of Part 1, so this volume opens the next arc with nothing from the books skipped.

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