Ascendance of a Bookworm

Motosu Urano is a book-obsessed college student who dies in an accident just after she finally lands the librarian job she wanted. She wakes up as Main, a sickly soldier's daughter in the rigid, class-bound town of Ehrenfest, and she keeps her memories of modern life. Books are rare and reserved for nobles, so Main uses her knowledge and whatever local materials she can find to recreate reading material, invent simple printing and binding methods, and teach others to read. Her goal is practical and personal: bring books to people who have never had them, without changing the story's stakes or ending.

Released in 2019, the anime adapts the original work by Miya Kazuki and Mariko Kunisawa, and aired on television. The series features Yuka Iguchi as Main, with Show Hayami, Mutsumi Tamura, Takehito Koyasu, and Megumi Nakajima among the voice cast.

The show didn't sweep major industry awards, but it built a devoted following and received consistently positive recognition within anime communities worldwide. Its steady scores on fan platforms reflect ongoing appreciation, particularly among viewers who favor character-driven plots and richly imagined domestic fantasy settings rather than spectacle or high-stakes action.

Ascendance of a Bookworm helped popularize isekai stories that focus on everyday creativity and crafting over combat. Fans praised its warm depiction of book culture, prompting discussions about literacy, publishing and class in fantasy settings, and it inspired fan art, translation projects, and dedicated online reading groups, and patient storytelling.

Critics and fans rate the series highly, reflected in an 8.11/10 average from viewers. Reviewers highlighted Main's persistence, the show's detailed worldbuilding, and its themes of resource scarcity, class barriers, and the transformative power of knowledge. Pacing and low-key drama divide some viewers, but many find it rewarding and gentle.