Ascendance of a Bookworm #23 (5.2) by Miya Kazuki, You Shiina, Quof
adventure
fantasy
magic
library science
librarian
royal academy
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
The drama. Good heavens, the drama.
As Lady Rozemyne goes about her business conducting cross-duchy research, negotiating new conditions for book and knowledge exchanges, and prodding her friends and family for their promised support . . . as Rozemyne does what Rozemyne does, everyone is sucked into the vicious currents that follow. ASCENDANCE OF A BOOKWORM v23 is a good example of a story in which everything goes according to plan, while simultaneously, everyone is burdened with horrendous anxiety.
After all, Rozemyne can't conduct cross-duchy research without stepping on toes, irking a few nobles, and raising her own duchy's expectations; Rozemyne can't talk-up her love of books without realizing that making someone like Professor Rauffen addicted to reading (about ditter, of course) will have its own side effects; and Rozemyne can't blithely send a report back home saying she accidentally scheduled a Dedication Ritual at the Royal Academy (for research into prayer ceremonies), for which Crown Prince Sigiswald has invited himself . . .
Or, she can, actually, but that's all part of the fun, isn't it? ("According to the letter, our situation here in the Royal Academy had blown so far out of proportion that Florencia had fainted upon reading my report," page 148).
ASCENDANCE OF A BOOKWORM v23 is an interesting volume, because the first half of the book covers genial fare: the characters chat, go to class, detail a bit more of their interduchy research, and so forth. Notably, Lady Hannelore of Dunkelfelger earns a sizeable role in this volume's events. The humble archduke candidate with pink twintails holds more power and skill than she's aware of, and her relationship with Ehrenfest becomes a sticking point going forward. And that's when the drama begins. And, unsurprisingly, it's all Lestilaut's fault.
Elsewhere, the current volume pokes its nose a little deeper into Yurgenschmidt's history. Within the novel's first 50 pages, Rozemyne engages a curious, if sometimes fraught discussion with all three royal princes on the nature and function of the Royal Academy's library, as well as the contents of a mysterious underground archive few rarely enter. Who can enter the underground archive? What knowledge does this archive house? And why is the archive's existence being hidden from current royalty?
Answering these questions requires more than a few pithy observations from a royal summons; one must investigate first-hand, if one is to discern the truth. (And while Anastasius' hilarious "big brother" energy scolds Rozemyne for back-talking Sigiswald, it turns out the Crown Prince is fairly a nice and reasonable fellow.)
The mix of passive and active worldbuilding hasn't always been this novel series' strong suit, but readers should enjoy this library expedition as a proxy for questioning the nation's history (e.g., What is the nation's history, who authored it, and who has access to it?).
To this end, Rozemyne is getting better at maneuvering around and manipulating the nobility. Detlinde is getting cocky, but nobody cares because the girl's ignorance will surely see her crashing and burning before long. Archnobles from Jossbrenner and Immerdink try to sneak into Rozemyne's good graces, but the bookworm pulls a fast one and offers "a refined cackle" in rebuke. Dunkelfelger is the only outlier.
A confrontation between Wilfried and Lestilaut focuses on whether Ehrenfest is making the most of Rozemyne's unique mind and abilities: taunts turn into insults, and insults turn into challenges that cannot be rescinded. Ditter, of course, is the proposed solution. But what's the prize? And at what cost? The whole, extended Third Act of ASCENDANCE OF A BOOKWORM v23 is pure suspense. How these two duchies get into this scrum; how these two duchies abuse their resources to gain an advantage; how these two duchies' most powerful fighters step up their game; and how these two duchies underestimate the very people they tend to sacrifice when barricaded by vituperative egos will keep readers on edge for the book's final 95 pages.
For the drama alone, ASCENDANCE OF A BOOKWORM v23 is a memorable volume. One enjoys reading books for which the author's affection for her characters never bends or breaks; this author won't betray their readers.
Professor Fraularm is insecure and pompous, sure; Lestilaut is an unforgivable jackass, obviously; and Rablut, the Sovereign Knight Commander, has a habit of changing his allegiances, true . . . but nobody gets away with everything, nobody succeeds 100% of the time, and nobody's ambition is without consequence.
Similarly, Wilfried's kindness is often shortsighted, sure; Prince Hildebrand's affections are incomplete and unrequited, obviously; and Lady Hannelore just wants a friend, true . . . but nobody who deserves agency is left without recourse, nobody fails 100% of the time, and nobody is without the support they need to make a difference, no matter how late in the game they need it ("As an archduke candidate raised in the duchy of warfare, Hannelore seldom had people offer to protect her," page 299).
