"Ascendance of a Bookworm" was originally published as a web novel. According to the author's note at the end of the copy I read, Kazuki was asked to condense Part 1 down to a single volume for physical publication but rejected the idea. 90% of this book's flaws are a direct result of it not being condensed. I sincerely believe the book would have been a solid five stars if the hook had been properly placed in the first half of the book instead of in the last two pages of the epilogue.

The other 10% of the flaws are Urano's characterization. We're introduced to Urano in the prologue as a "bookworm" that enjoys non-fiction books yet Urano lacks the wide spread of knowledge you'd expect; she instead credits her big ideas to other sources,

most often her mother's hobbies or her modern-day education

. Urano goes as far as to criticize the idea of learning how to do something from reading alone and, at another point, describes herself as "unimaginative" when asked to picture something she's never seen based on a description. It's frankly whiplash inducing at some points leaving me confused as to what Urano's characterization is supposed to be.

I fully expect the series to pick up in pace and quality in the next volume, based on how the first volume ended. The world building is interesting and the concepts introduced in the last two pages lay the groundwork for a more interesting story going forward. I'm glad to have tried the series, but I sincerely believe that reading further volumes will cement my opinion that Part 1 Volume 1 is the weakest link in the series by far.