Novelist Miya Kazuki's Isekai Bookworm is one of those hidden gems in the now oversaturated Isekai reincarnation sub-genre which has withstood the test of time, now 2 seasons (or rather parts thereof) circa. 2019 that was pretty enjoyable for a refreshing take on the whole reincarnation phase and leaning on neither demon lords nor power, but on books instead to rebirth time past with a modern twist. Now, come Season 3 a.k.a. Part 3 a.k.a Part 2's 2nd split-cour exactly 2 years later, and Isekai Bookworm has largely stayed the same...except for one thing: there's basically nothing left worth predicting out of the unexpected toreinvigorate life into the series.
Obviously, Season 3 is a continuation of Season 2 where both seasons cover the light novel's Part 2: Apprentice Shrine Maiden arc, equalizing with Volumes 4 and 5 (Part 2's Volumes 1 and 2) for Season 2, and Volumes 6 and 7 (Part 2's Volumes 3 and 4) for this season, albeit at a shorter 10 episodes. Focusing on Main and the gang in the pursuit of making books with the foundation of ink, the winter/spring passover, more abandoned orphans with one infant being just like Main, and the perverse "Church is bad" plotline to round things up and finish one of Main's most maligned "beginner" arcs towards the view of the world.
Main is still the same happy-go-lucky but naive girl whom has to be watched by everyone else alongside her (including the High Priest Ferdinand which constantly supervises her in the cathedral) being at a young age with a childlike mentality, which at this stage, doesn't discount that her presence is pretty much a liability towards the other nobles looking to use her as a bargain tool from the Ink Guild to the cathedral's Head Priest for both her wonderous skills and power respectively. Main is truly in danger in this section of the light novel, and it was a case of "knowledge is power" warped within the wrong hands. Given that Main is pretty much at the age where for her Devouring to be coarsely controlled, her adoption to a noble is a much-needed necessity to alleviate the insanity of OP-bound magic power that could stand in anyone's way. Everyone and everything else from the visuals to the music is just the same as they have been if you've kept up to Isekai Bookworm up until Season 2, and still loved, lived and breathed the immense beauty and dynamics that this series has to offer.
And thus says the narrative for Main's character shift that's leaning onto the remainder part of the light novel, which is great in the original source, but this part of the adaptation just somehow couldn't match the same feelings of what I felt when watching the prior seasons of the similar Disney-like magic and wonder. I'd guess the sentiment is that Season 2 a.k.a Part 2 ended in such an amicable way that there wouldn't be another season in the run coming in the future, and for a time, it sure felt that way too that anyone (including myself). But alas, at some point in the future (which is now that) it is renewed for another season, and it was such a stark comparison to see that the adaptation felt like it had to wedge into our throats instead of doing what the series used to do: trade the same exact beauty to push content at a lower episode count. As a result, Ajia-Do's visuals felt somewhat lackluster, and the OST is dare I say, probably the worst of the 3 seasons (yes, even with Nao Touyama and Maaya Sakamoto's decent OP/ED songs), to the point of being very forgettable.
Overall, Isekai Bookworm could've continued in the vast enjoyment legacy of the prior seasons it came before with the same staff team helming the anime adaptation, but there's bound to be a black sheep somewhere, and this season has to earn that title. Such a bummer to end on a somewhat notable change in the series to date. It's good, but decent at best IMO.
Recommended
If you are reading a review for an anime's 3rd season, I am sure you already know what is Ascendance of Bookworm is about. So I will leave out the introductory part of the review. Let's jump straight into this review. Let's start with the positive part of the review. As expected, the story is fantastic. Miya Kazuki did a fantastic job writing the story. The characters are the same lovable characters we love from Season 2. Myne still has a crippling addiction to reading. Ferdinand and Benno have a Myne-induced headache every single episode. Lutz desperately tries to keep Myne not working herself todeath. The OP and ED are a banger, as always. The VAs does an amazing to make these characters alive.
So now, the negative part of the review.
This season's adaptation isn't as good as the previous season. It is still decently good, but not good enough for a series like Ascendance of a Bookworm. The Light Novel is infamous to be insanely well written and extremely detailed. With this season leaving a lot of details and content out, watching this season after reading its LN leaves me unsatisfied. I do not want to be that reviewer who demands this adaption to have the same standard as Mushoku Tensei, but I want it to have a similar standard as the previous season. In short, I feel the quality of the adaptation does not do the Light Novel justice.
With the negative part out of the way...
The Ascendance of a Bookworm is one of my favorite isekai out there, It is not your typical copy and pastes isekai. It uses the isekai genre well, whereas Myne often references technology and advances from our world to aid her in achieving her ultimate goal.
Even though I strongly criticize this season's adaptation, I still love this series. I still enjoy every single minute of this season. As a bookworm fan, I am happy that these series get a season 3.
I will ultimately give this season a 9. It is not as strong of a 9 as Season 2 or a 10 for season 1, but this is still the bookworm that I love so much. The identity and the soul of the series are still there. This is why I decided to give it a 9, despite my strongly criticizing the quality of the adaptation.
In summary, I am happy that we get a 3rd season. However, I am disappointed with the standard of this adaptation. I am giving this season a weak 9.
If you can't get enough of Myne and her crippling addiction to books. I will strongly recommend you to check out its Light Novel. I will also recommend you to start reading from the very beginning instead of where the anime stops. Light Novel is written in Myne's POV instead of the anime's 3rd person POV. Extra stories from other characters' POVs will help you further understand Myne and her surrounding. If you want to experience the full The Ascendance of a Bookworm experience, read its Light Novel. You will not regret it, I promise you.
Will I recommend this anime? It depends.
The Ascendance of a Bookworm is known to be an extremely slow pace isekai. Which becomes its greatest strength and its greatest weakness. For viewers who enjoy SoL anime, or something that has a heavy focus on its world-building and characters. This can be considered an underrated goldmine. However, viewers who are not used to watching such a slow-paced anime may find this series extremely boring. I will recommend you to watch the first three episodes of season 1 first, and see if you enjoyed the show or not
Story: 10/10
Art: 6/10
Sound: 10/10
Character: 9/10
Enjoyment: 9/10
Total: 44/50 (8.8)
NeNextUniverse
June 13, 2022
Recommended
As with every other season before it, Ascendance of a Bookworm is a moderately slow story with a grand tale to tell. S3 is just one piece in that grand tale, and the quality of it is the same as everything before it. I haven't made any review for the series before now, but to make a long story short, the whole thing is pretty good at mixing different things in Myne's life together to make for a story that's a little more than what is currently shown at any time. S3 adds a bit more to that with a ton of character motives and othernew characters that show up. I will not elaborate on them due to spoilers.
It still all makes sense and still makes the story entirely interesting enough to make you want to know what happens next. I will admit that it can come across as slow at times, but it makes for everything to be easy to catch onto with no real issue in regards to unnecessary complexity or going off on wild tangents. I don't think this season, in particular, opens too many doors for questions, or at least, again, it is on the same level as the prior seasons. So I wouldn't go expecting this to be a major turning point in the story so far, but it suffices to say the least. If you made it past S2, chances are you'd make it past this season too.
As with all other seasons, I've enjoyed this one a fair bit. The whole world and SoL adventure thing in this anime is pretty good stuff with the variety it can go off with. I've stayed this long and it is still something very enjoyable in the grand scheme of what is available. A very good story.
