Ascendance of a Bookworm: Royal Academy Stories - First Year

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～ [Honzuki no Gekokujou: Shisho Ni Naru Tame Ni Shudan wo Erande iraremasen] (Novel)

by Miya Kazuki, You Shiina (Illustrator), Quof (Translator)

After the graduation ceremony ends and the library falls quiet once again, Solange reflects on the eventful term that has just concluded—and the many special memories she has made along the way.

This new side series explores Rozemyne’s time at the Royal Academy from a variety of new perspectives! In this particular volume, there are stories from the first-year archduke candidates Wilfried, Hannelore, and Ortwin, Rozemyne’s retainers, other Ehrenfest students, and even dormitory supervisors. Events previously untold come to life in these pages!

Delve back into Rozemyne’s first year in this recollective volume of your favorite biblio-fantasy, comprising eighteen short stories in total. Also includes four-panel manga by You Shiina!

Genres: Light Novel, Fantasy, Fiction, Young Adult, Magic, Manga, Slice Of Life

268 pages, Kindle Edition

First published October 10, 2018

About the author

Japanese author (香月美夜)

Kazuki started writing novels when she was in her second year of junior high school. After taking an entrance exam, she entered into a national university before graduating and becoming busy with work, stopping her from writing. Once she was married and her child entered kindergarten, Kazuki had more free time, which she used to start writing again. From 2013 onwards, she started publishing her novel Ascendance of a Bookworm on the user-generated novel publishing website Shōsetsuka ni Narō which saw success. In 2015, she officially debuted with said series under the T.O. Books imprint.

Reviews

[Samantha · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love that this collection states the POV in the title of each story. I wish the main series did this with the bonus stories, as it’s not always clear right away.

I do wish these stories had been told in chronological order, as there is some jumping around, but most of them flow naturally enough with the order they’re in.

I wasn’t expecting a prologue in a book of short stories, but it sets the stage well for this collection of Royal Academy stories. The Prologue is told from Solange’s POV, and it’s nice to get a glimpse at what happens once the school starts to close down for the year.

Story 1: It’s great to see the world through Cornelius’ eyes, especially with him so much younger and with so much to learn. I enjoyed seeing his thoughts on the various other characters as well as on Rozemyne. It’s easy to forget they’re siblings from his POV, which automatically makes him all the more interesting.

Story 2: Roderick is one of my favorite characters, so it’s great to see more of his POV. I enjoyed seeing how he tried to navigate his first year in the Royal Academy even with the turmoil of the faction issues, and it’s nice how much he and Philine interact. There’s also an interesting bit near the end, but I won’t spoil the fun.

Story 3: Hannelore gets multiple stories in this, but here is the first one. It’s nice to see her perspective on the whole shumil ordeal. It’s also interesting to see her internal thoughts and her struggle to convey what she means while those in her duchy twist her words in ways she did not mean. I feel so bad for her.

Story 4: Rauffen spends this story completely focused on ditter, of course. This follows after they lost to Ehrenfest, and some worldbuilding is learned about Dunkelfelger. Though I don’t care about ditter, this was a fun story all the same, and Rauffen came across in a more positive light than in the main series, he intelligent as well as passionate.

Story 5: This is a super short story about Wilfried’s thoughts on what was going on with all the trouble Rozemyne was causing. It’s fun to see him trying to keep up but failing miserably.

Story 6: Hannelore’s second story. This one is of her trying to meet Rozemyne, but something always gets in the way. Though I know what the future holds, this one still makes me feel so bad for her.

Story 7: Now we get to see how Wilfried faired with tea parties. Hannelore’s good intentions in the previous story backfire here, and I enjoyed seeing Wilfried struggle with the fact he can’t refuse the invitation. It was also interesting to see the adaptations made with retainers in order for him to have some chance of not embarrassing himself.

Story 8: We step away from the academy in this story for Angelica to do her guard duty at the temple. I enjoyed the conversation between her and her parents on the matter, and, while I don’t really care for Angelica, she is more entertaining as a viewpoint character. The humor for her just works better when I have her direct thoughts. I liked seeing her adjust to the temple, and it was nice to get glimpses of how retainers act when not with Rozemyne but are still mostly in professional mode.

Story 9: Next, we’re back at the Royal Academy with Judithe, and it’s nice to see her and Philine bonding. Their living arrangements are given some detail, as well as the fact they have attendants of their own. It’s so easy to forget many nobles have attendants even as said nobles are retainers for somebody else. So, it’s nice to get a glimpse of how that side of things works.

Story 10: Hartmut gets some time to shine, and he’s just as obsessed as always. :P It’s interesting to see his thoughts on Wilfried as well. I enjoyed seeing him gathering information, and we get to see his meeting with Clarissa. I won’t spoil things, but, wow, I wasn’t expecting that.

Story 11: Wilfried gets to enjoy some male socializing, and it was fun to see what the male side of things is like. I especially loved seeing how the friendship between Ortwin and Wilfried truly starts.

Story 12: Traugott gets his own story, and, wow, his thoughts are something. Though, my favorite part of it was him slowly realizing just how much he messed up. Justus has zero sympathy for him, and I love it.

Story 13: Now we get Wilfried’s POV on Justus being at the Royal Academy. Not too much happens here, it a short story, but Wilfried gets some guidance.

Story 14: Back to Hannelore, with her still on her quest to meet Rozemyne. I loved seeing more of this tea party, but I did not expect Hannelore’s initial thoughts on books. It’s fun what you can learn through a different POV.

Story 15: This one is in Ortwin’s POV, which is nice. He seems like a fun character, though he isn’t in the main series much simply because Rozemyne doesn’t really interact with him. It also focuses quite a bit on Adolphine, which I enjoyed because, again, she doesn’t get much of a focus in the main series—especially for someone who marries into the Royal Family. I honestly forgot (or didn’t realize) Ortwin and Adolphine were siblings. Plus, it’s nice to learn more about how their duchy operates, it a bit different than the others.

This is probably one of my favorite stories in the whole book, and it covers quite a bit of the school year. I really loved seeing the various conversations between Ortwin and his sister about the various events going on and how it affected them.

Story 16: Hannelore gets a final story. I don’t want to spoil something I alluded to in an earlier story, but it’s nice to see how her opinion of things evolves. I super happy for this change, as it bodes good things for her and Rozemyne’s friendship.

Story 17: Not sure why this book opens with a prologue from Solange’s POV, but this final story from her isn’t labeled an epilogue. But, that hardly matters. The students have all left, and so this is more of Solange simply taking care of the library. It’s still quite enjoyable, though.

Bonus comics: They’re good, though none of them stand out this round.

Overall, I really enjoyed this book. It was nice to go back in time a little, and to see Rozemyne’s first year at the Royal Academy fleshed out a bit more with a bunch of the other characters. I loved learning new insights to various characters and the world at large. There were even all the usual illustrations, which always makes these books better. I can’t get enough of the art style. I think Stories 12 and 15 were my favorites, these for completely different reasons, but I enjoyed them all.

[Eressea · Rating 5 out of 5]

時隔三年，又拿起小書癡系列來讀啦
為了消滅閱讀器藏書，又不想用不可靠的記憶硬上4-5集
只好花一個月重看一遍，然後接上這集外傳

本集從各位配角的觀點，來看梅茵的貴族院一年級生活
梅茵不改行走地雷本色
所到之處望風批靡
不管是自己人還是鄰邦
都被炸得身心俱疲

在這些配角觀點中
也可以看出更宏觀的小書癡宇宙
看起來作者很有野心設定整個世界
有點設定狂托爾金的味道XD

[Aaron · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ortwin the innocent. Angelica the humble. Hannelore the disastrous. Traugott the insincere. Solange the optimist. ASCENDANCE OF A BOOKWORM: ROYAL ACADEMY STORIES (FIRST YEAR), though bereft of drama and lacking much meaningful narrative, successfully bevels the sharpest corners that define several characters that lend color and shape to the Royal Academy. The most intriguing characters in this collection of short stories are those whose self-awareness and grasp of their role in the grand scheme of things shifts just enough for readers to glimpse a critical, lonely truth they might not otherwise have witnessed.

This volume is a serviceable middle-ground between offering the best of what this novel series has to offer and ultimately maintaining a brisk and healthy pace for the long haul. The novel series spends so little time on major events that readers must often pull together the tiniest details through various epilogues or character-specific narratives. Spending a single volume on Lady Rozemyne's first year at the Royal Academy certainly wasn't enough. And neither was the single volume dedicated to her second year. Fortunately, a few crumbs yet remain.

ROYAL ACADEMY STORIES (FIRST YEAR) holds a few overlapping tales, but readers will find their events largely in sync. For example, when Dunkelfelger reacts to losing a game of treasure-stealing ditter, readers view the fallout through the eyes of the duchy's dorm supervisor (Rauffen), a fourth-year apprentice archscholar (Clarissa), and a first-year archduke candidate (Hannelore). It's a puzzle worth assembling.

Rauffen reacts with surprising placidness, and his discernment regularly and authoritatively puts Lestilaut in his place (Rauffen: "Did you really gain nothing from that game of ditter except petulant anger? [..] If so, no way I can deny that you lack the self-awareness and mindset required of a proper aub," page 81). This insight into Rauffen's disposition outside of games and warfare establishes him as a credulous and genuine figure, a perspective otherwise missed in the course of the novel series' regular narrative.

Hannelore, hilariously, has no idea what she's doing. She's a mediocre person, and frequently chides the gods for her inborn lack of confidence and her terrible sense of timing. Hannelore tries her utmost to stay out of the way, but she often incites others into action by sheer accident. One should hope she marries away from Dunkelfelger. But alas, that appears to be the fate of Clarissa, a duchy peer whose high affections for the so-called Saint of Ehrefest means she has set her sights on gaining access to the inner circle of Rozemyne.

Another highlight of ROYAL ACADEMY STORIES (FIRST YEAR) is a startlingly emotional profile of Angelica. The medknight confesses to receiving consolation from temple attendants with greater sincerity than she ever found at home. "Now I really understood why Lady Rozemyne preferred staying in the temple instead of the castle," she says to herself. "That was maybe the first time anyone had said they were pleased to have my company in particular" (pages 143, 151).

Meanwhile, Ortwin, a fist-year archduke candidate from Drewanchel, grows close to Wilfried when the two young men learn they each have sisters with wildly uncontrollable personal agency and senses of individuality. Ortwin's sister, Adolphine, is a bit different though. Destined (cursed?) to wed Sigiswald, next in line for the throne, Adolphine equally dotes on and pushes her younger brother to be the best. She lost her opportunity to rule the duchy, but she won't see her kid brother suffer the same fate. This intrigue will likely remain an underplayed splinter plot, but the repeating affairs of a royal prince potentially forced to marry someone he does/does not love keeps coming up. Ortwin's anecdote of feeling helpless, watching his sister sob, as the news of her engagement reverberates, carves an indelible image.

The current volume features regrettably little from older students at the Royal Academy. And further, the only adults readers hear from are Rauffen, of Dunkelfelger, and Solange, the librarian. Episodes related by Prince Anastasius would have been entertaining, as would have events narrated by anyone else of status close to Lady Eglantine. Further, when one considers all of the nicknames students have for the legendary Ferdinand during his days at the Royal Academy (e.g., "Lord of Evil," "the lonely genius created by overwhelming misfortune," and "the Master Tactician of Ehrefest"), a few reminiscences from other professors may have proved illuminating.

Side stories are fun, but one doesn't anticipate many of these characters returning with any significant influence on the greater narrative. Hopefully, readers will see more of Ortwin, and hopefully, readers will see the more sensitive and pragmatic Angelica, but the odds aren't in their favor. On the plus side, ROYAL ACADEMY STORIES (FIRST YEAR) includes one of the most phenomenal intersections of character writing and novel translation to date: A single instance in which Wilfried (pathetically) attempts to explain pound cake to a group of girls, uncomfortably rationalizing the unadorned and unflavored plate as "puh-lein." The scene is an achingly comical exhibition of Wilfried's sad detachment from commonality, as well as a strikingly brilliant example of a novel translation and adaptation team that knows its source material inside and out.

[Elena · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love reading POV of other characters they are hilarious. I'm specially fond of Hannelore' she really is the cutest.

[Ene Sepp · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kas on midagi paremat, kui suurepärase raamatusarja kõrvallood ja lisaraamatud? Nii nagu ma võin Harry Potteri lisaraamatuid lõpmatuseni lugeda, võib ka Ascendance of a Bookworm lisalugusid mulle nii palju ette sööta, kui vähegi võimalik! Rozemyne on alustanud oma õpinguid Kuninglikus Akadeemias ja nagu eeldada võib, siis hoolimata tema püüdlustest tähelepandamatult raamatukogu tagumises nurgas lugeda, läheb kõik põhimõtteliselt vastupidi.
Selle lisaraamatu kaante vahele on siis kokku korjatud seitseteist peatükki, mis kõik näitavad toimunud sündmusi mõne teise tegelase vaatepunktist.
Minu lemmikud: Hannelore, 1. aasta õpilane, ertshertsoginna kandidaat teisest hertsogkonnast, kellel on pidev probleem ajastusega. Ikka ja alati on ta vales kohas valel ajal, proovib kogu aeg Rozemynet üles leida, et oma venna käitumise pärast vabandada end no nende teed ei ristu kohe üldse. Ja kui ka lõpuks ristuvad, siis räägivad natuke üksteisest mööda, ehk Rozemyne'l jääb mulje, et Hannelore on ka raamatukoi. Ehk jällegi - see aadlike mõistukõne on täiesti kohutav! Mul löödaks vist enne esimese päeva lõppu pea maha, sest suudaksin kedagi poolkogemata metsikult solvata.
Traugott - Rozemyne'i üks nn ihukaitsjatest, kes ei ole küll nii loll, kui lauajalg aga no peaaegu... Tema suutmatus kuulata endast targemaid ja otsuseid läbi kaaluda lõppeb sellega, et ta vabastatakse Rozemyne'i teenistusest. Peatükk keskendub sellele, kuidas talle lõpuks kohale jõuab, kui suure vea ta tegi ning reaalsus, et tal pole võimalik seda viga parandada ja seetõttu on ta igaveseks sulgenud ukse oma unistuste ameti juurde.
Solange - kuningliku akadeemia raamatukoguhoidja. Kunagi oli raamatukoguhoidjaid palju rohkem, ent kodusõjajärgne puhastus tähendas, et lisaks aadlikele hukati ka raamatukoguhoidjaid ning alles jäi Solange, kui neutraalne aadlik. Tema peatükk oli võrdlemisi kurb. Viimased päevad ja viimased tunnid, kus teised raamatukoguhoidjad üritasid maksimaalselt teadmisi kaitsta ja tulevikuks ette valmistuda, ise teades et hukkamisele minek jõuab iga minutiga aina lähemale... Ma arvan, et Solange'i vaatepunktist saab veel lugeda ja ma ei jõua neid peatükke ära oodata!

[R.B. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Solange saying Ferdinand was a kind friend and the other professor's saying he didn't sound kind to them, he may have been scheming for personal reasons but he did show a fondness for the library (he's just not as obsessed as Rozemyne).

It was funny seeing the Dunkelfelger knights theorize that Rozemyne must have been trained in battle since birth, she doesn't even have enough stamina to walk down a corridor, she probably did assimilate some knowledge through reading and playing gewinnen though.

Hannelore wasn't really a bookworm, because her duchy's books are all ancient and difficult to read (apparently they had sent her that huge book as a challenge expecting she wouldn't be able to read it, they underestimated her), but she did enjoy the modern story Rozemyne lent her and decided she wants more Ehrenfest books thus essentially becoming a bookworm in the end.

Wilfried probably should have considered getting a few female retainers, and Hartmut found an ally just as devoted to Rozemyne as he is.

[DW Rowlands · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am very glad that I managed to read this book, and at the right time in the series, too--before Rozemyne had returned to the Royal Academy for her second year--despite the fact that I had almost failed to realize it existed, since I knew about the regular short story collections, but not that there was a "Royal Academy Stories" collection, too. I continue to be startled by just how large this series is and how much Miya Kazuki has written!

In any case, the stories were interesting and really did help give more context to a lot of what happened during Rozemyne's first year: I almost wonder if it would be better to have had some of them interspersed within the narrative of the light novels themselves, as I gather they were in the webnovel, but I suppose that wouldn't fit the format of the series.

[Harry · Rating 4 out of 5]

An entertaining spinoff from kazuki senseis Bookworm series. It mostly covers events already seen in Rozemynes first year in the Royal Academy, but it is interesting to hear it from the perspectives of other characters nonetheless. There are some previously unseen events included aswell.

It is essentially a world building exercise that may(?) not add much to the main plot as we know it, but it does well to flesh out even more characters in the series and establish their motivations.

I advise reading at least as far as Bookworm Part 4 Volume 3 before reading this to maintain continuity in the plot.
I would say this volume is not essential, but if you’ve read that far, you’re probably going to read this one too!

[Casey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Often collections of stories aren't all that great, this is one of those exceptions. For me it just made so many of the background characters feel more real and alive. It was so full of little things that just flesh out so many of the side characters that it didn't need to push the main plot forward by leaps and bounds. It certainly makes sense to read it after Myne's first year at the Royal Academy before the other years. If you don't it isn't ruined or anything like that.

Anyhow, a worthy read.

[Pieter · Rating 4 out of 5]

Royal Academy Stories is an anthology of short stories from various characters' point of view during Myne's first winter at the Royal Academy. The events are for the most part out of things that happened without Myne's presence. As always with an anthology, some stories are more interesting then others, some adding very interesting new information either on events or characters, while others add little. Overall it was a good read though, something that any fan of the series would like.

[Mitchell Friedman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Better than expected. This didn't add much but it did add flavorings. And would have added slightly more read in order. The Angelica story was a surprising standout. In general reading the characters with major limitations worked better. It was also even more clear how little a bookworm Hannelore is. All and all a pleasant edition to the series. 3.5 of 5.

[Hikarichan096 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Soy de las personas que le fascina leer los mismos capítulos, pero desde otro punto de vista. Así que este libro cayo como anillo al dedo!! me fascino ver las cosas desde otro punto de vista y con personajes que ya uno conoce y aprecia. Ademas de que en este libros podemos apreciar nuevas ilustraciones.

[Sol González · Rating 3 out of 5]

Historias que acompañan la trama principal. Posiblemente las que más me gustaron fueron las que conciernen a la biblioteca y a Hannelore. Ya espero ver cómo evoluciona esa amistad.
De igual modo ver un poco más cerca a Angélica fue interesante.

[Megan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really appreciate how Kazuki writes character perspectives. The voice of each one comes through which makes this addition to the Bookworm universe a lovely read as well as insightful into what's going on behind the scenes.

[Lauren Wright · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting stories from the pov of the other characters in the series.

[Beth · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoy the stories showing the perspectives of the other characters. It's also a fun glimpse into a genre I have never encountered before, so all the conventions are fresh.

[Juliana Terraza · Rating 5 out of 5]

Una maravilla de libro, todos y cada uno de los relatos me encantaron, el de Ortwin fue uno de mis favoritos, pero la corona se lo lleva definitivamente Harmut y su primer encuentro con Clarissa.

[Eva · Rating 1 out of 5]

Kinda worthless, didn't really add anything.

[Phil · Rating 3 out of 5]

Basically extended epilogue. Fine to read. Other points of view.

[Sesshomaru Taylor · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great look into the background!

[Kyrie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Gives insights into many of the minor characters and some back history of the country.

[Nathan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pleasant assortment of short stories from viewpoints of various side characters.

[Quinn Anderson · Rating 4 out of 5]

nice to be back in this world. although I wish the creator wouldnt have done another character who is oblivious. seems to leading into a sequel series.

[Jane · Rating 3 out of 5]

Honestly, I find short story collections hit-or-miss. This wasnt too bad, and it made me excited to see what comes next and more stories from Hannalore.

[Dave Martin · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was a fun anthology of short stories from Myne's first year at the academy. I really enjoyed getting to see the perspectives of other characters without the context and learning some of their true intentions (which I think were quite well hinted at in the previous texts). This book is most definitely optional but made for a fun read.

[Jennine S. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent!

I am continually astounded by the author's exceptional skill at writing from multiple perspectives without any bias to the preferences and perspective of the main character! I can hardly wait for the next book worm book or the Royal Academy stories of the 2nd year! Thank you, Author-san!

[Lu · Rating 5 out of 5]

中間注意力晃去別的地方才再度回過來讀完這本
沒想到外傳可以那麼精彩！本來覺得有些角色不是那麼吸引我的，換了視角再看一年級的生活還蠻有趣的
訊息量也補足不少。很佩服作者可以用那麼多視角帶入故事
多了機會加深對其他領主候補生的印象，漢娜羅蕾也從在我心中只是小動物的形象變得好可愛
哈特姆特被求婚（？）的過程讓我眼睛一亮
安潔莉卡的插圖也太美
多雷凡赫的姐弟角色也瞬間立體很多
最後一節索蘭芝視角描寫到過去圖書館員因為政變處刑，以及他們怎麼對待圖書館與道別的過程讓人有點鼻酸

[Cell · Rating 3 out of 5]

角色記憶期中考

[Lacey · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a collection of cute side stories from Rozemyne's first year at the Royal Academy. I recommend reading this book after reading Part 4, Volume 4.