DGFischer

The third season of Ascendance of a Bookworm is over after ten episodes!?!  Really?  Shocker!

But, as the premise goes,  those three years seem to  develop Myne's ever-changing situation smoothly.  Year one (2019; 14 episodes):  A tragically killed librarian reincarnates as a young girl in a warm loving family of medieval background.  As a commoner, the shrewd Myne rises to the ranks of the merchant class, introducing innovations which make her influential.  Year two (2020; 12 episodes):  Myne rises from the merchant class to the ecclesiastical.  Her mana-power gives her the role of young priestess, and Myne actually gains enemies.  Year three (2022; 10 episodes):  Having so many responsibilities leads to intrigues with afore-mentioned enemies, including the high priest.  Only adoption into the nobility can save the girl who dearly loves her commoner family.  Being the lord's adopted child has certain advantages, hence year four (next week, puleeeeeze!).  Bring it!

The theme of literacy has always been an under-current in the AofB franchise.  The creation of paper, the improvement of ink, the publication of picture books, just shows that Myne has a plan to make reading more than a perk of the noble and ecclesiastical classes.  The closing theme is a brief history of print media, including Gutenberg's press and computer assisted publication..  The edginess of Ascendance of Bookworm is the backlash against Myne, the conspiracy to prevent the key to knowledge gained via reading from falling into the hands of the lower classes.  And this is being contested by Myne, hardly ten years old.

The animation has been honed with each season.  The highlight of the season is the CGI presentation of Myne dissolving into flat animation, truly a keen effect.  It's almost symbolic of the backwardness with which Myne has to contend with every episode.  The music is standard, nothing too sensational.  But it does the job

While capable with her super level of mana, Myne has to deal with extremely calculating types who would love to remove the little reformer.  The plot tries not to get too complicated, but politics can pull the meanest tricks.  Becoming connected with the most powerful lord in the region lends a wrinkle to the next season, but what of Gunther, Eva, Tuli, and the new addition Kamil?  As complex as Myne's life is becoming, perhaps a little simplicity is the right direction.

How shall season four (or any future AofB project) go?