Ascendance of a Bookworm (Manga) Part 2 Volume 3

漫画 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~第二部「本のためなら巫女になる！」(Manga Part 2) #3

by Suzuka (Illustrator), Miya Kazuki (original_author), 鈴華

Myne is starting to grow more comfortable with temple life. Things are finally going well—that is, until she learns the truth about the orphanage. The children there are starving and emaciated, living in conditions that shake the apprentice blue shrine maiden to her core. After agonizing over this problem, she resolves to become the orphanage director and improve their lives herself. It’s time to open up the temple branch of the Myne Workshop!

Genres: Manga, Fantasy, Fiction, Young Adult, Graphic Novels, Magic, Light Novel

170 pages, Paperback

First published April 1, 2020

About the author

鈴華

Reviews

[Emily]

Full review on Storygraph.

[Sam]

It's been a while since I giggled at a book. Glico man reference won't ever get old and I loved the random Pokemon reference. I love the artwork!

[寿理 宮本]

I want to comment on the series while the new season of the anime is running, though I'm not specifically out to read the corresponding light novel or manga volume for the current episode(s). Unfortunately, this means I can only compare overall feelings unless I go back specifically to look at the episode(s) that correspond to this volume, instead.

The manga is still my least favourite version, mostly over the slightly-weird art style—not that I blame it for looking weird, since it's one artist (with several assistants) doing a LOT of work, vs. one artist doing a handful of illustrations (light novel) or LOTS of artists doing a LOT of work (anime)—but also for little things that got skipped for pacing/page count. True, it adds back some content with a unique(? I'm pretty sure) bonus story at the end, but it's a very throwaway story, from the point of view of one of the redshirt orphans, about finally getting to go to the forest to forage. It's so slice-of-life *for their world* that it's boring, like reading someone's journal or social media post about their extremely ordinary day.

I mostly resisted the urge to "meh" rate this because it has some good moments:
- Delia showing her vulnerability and dropping her guard around Myne
- the orphans are cleaned up and fed and get to live like human beings
- ("miraculously," none of the orphans were sick or near death despite their squalid living conditions, because that would harsh the vibe of the story TOO much)
- Johann is still pretty good—I like his design even in the manga
- Lutz has a backbone against his brother
- Gil loves Myne's handwriting? Aww :D

However, it ALSO has the "Japanese people get wet and fall ill" thing... though, part of that may be Myne overdoing it with her mana again (the mana-infused taue grows into a trombe trick they discover).

Now, thing is, I'm almost certain that if the manga got as far as the anime (and why wouldn't it have?), the correponding manga to the current season would be my second favourite version. Why? Well, the anime... is declining in quality. I disliked the manga for skipping things, but the anime is even more obviously skipping things:
- Wilfried runs off with Myne, oblivious to her disability, and causes her to collapse from exhaustion, but they do NOT show him getting scolded over it
- Wilfried complains to Myne's face that "It's not FAIR!" but never goes into WHAT isn't fair until a flashback-ish thing a couple of episodes later
- a lot of other scenes are truncated
- ...I don't remember which, but the spoilered one specifically felt jarring, and it seems like anyone who only watches the anime might wonder what's up with that

although I'm mostly basing this on my opinion of this volume of manga and what got skipped (minor things) compared to the anime and what got skipped (currently, some MAJOR things). I know ideally I would dig up and read the according manga/light novel and compare fairly, but



Anyway, usual recommendation for middle-of-a-series books: definitely for fans, probably not for COMPLETE newcomers, due to the prior knowledge required.

[Stephen]

Volume 3 had me wondering what was happening with the cover. I wondered if it would play a part in the story or if it was just art to get the reader wondering. It all made sense upon reading it (which is not always the case with books). Myne continues to invent and to make all those lives around her more fruitful. It is a feel-good book, but I will say that the way Myne lives her life is a way more people should, not turning a blind eye to problems and working to make society better off rather than worse. Beautiful art by Suzuka and strong story by Miya Kazuki.

[Michelle]

The orphanage revolution has begun. Myne has to think of a new invention to boost her finances and settles on a wax tablet, which Benno promptly snaps up. (Funny to think that her writing inventions are almost going in reverse: papyrus was probably one of the hardest things she tried, and it was the first. I suppose paper's going okay, but slowly. I didn't particularly care for the Star Festival part of the story, didn't really see the point, but Myne comes to face with probably someone who will turn out to be close to the biggest baddie of the series.

[Beth]

Ah, it's great seeing how the artist interpreted the action, and also the nifty manga things that I know handle with skill. I liked the orphans and Delia.

Next up: Lutz's drama. That's not as much fun, but maybe pictures of Ferdinand will make it better.

[Donna]

Myne makes a wax tablet with stylus and enjoys the Starbind Ceremony where waterballs are thrown.

I'm glad Myne got to have a little fun to even out her heavy load of taking care of the orphanage and intrigued by the Priest's face when he saw the leftover ground after a trombe harvest.

[Sheepy]

More inventions by the book fanatic!
I really just enjoy sitting back and reading this series, I cant wait to see what happens next!

[Tiffany]

So great!

[Jamie Sands]

love this series

[Sarah McCauley]

4.5 stars

[Celea]

Another solid instalment. Steady plot, I foresee myself finishing this series with little difficulty

[Emma]

I love the lore/tradition in this book. It fleshes out the world :)

[Krystal Caloia]

Alright, getting the orphans cleaned up and working!
New inventions!
And sick again 🤦‍♀️

[Khari]

何で大人達が全員そこまで無関心なの？

皆は子供達が飢えっているノ事が知ってるけど何もしない。

作者が別の当たり前ことを作ってはすごいだと思うが、人間はこのことをできるのは信じたくない。

[The Book Dragon]

Myne's mission for books is put on hold while she makes strides to improve the conditions at the orphanage. She's the new director and now has a small army of helpers who are learning to fend for themselves. Not only that, Myne is making something new so they can improve their literacy and prepare for the day they become Priests and Shrine Maidens.

But an upcoming event reveals some magical secrets that could be a blessing in disguise. (Also, Myne and Lutz are so cute~)

I love this series. It flows so well that even filler feels natural. Like going to the smithy to get a diptych stylus would normally be skipped over, but instead introduces a whole new character that could be used later. Good writing.