About “Ascendance of a Bookworm” in a few words:

Ascendance of a Bookworm is an isekai fantasy series that follows the story of a bookworm named Myne, who is reborn in a world where books are a luxury item. Determined to fulfill her dream of reading as many books as possible, Myne faces challenges and obstacles as she navigates a world that is vastly different from the one she knew. Along the way, she forms bonds with various characters who help her on her journey.

Meet the characters from Ascendance of a Bookworm

Gunther

Oh man, Gunther is that quietly brilliant old-timer who somehow knows the right thing to say and also the right ale to recommend — secretly a walking encyclopedia of small trades and weird customs. He’s the kind of guy who will fix your broken chair and then lecture you for thirty minutes about the moral implications of splintering wood (in a good way). Soft-spoken but stubborn, he’s got this weathered kindness that makes people trust him, though sometimes he’ll surprise you by being unexpectedly petty about chess. Also, I swear he collects tiny carved animals and will deny it fiercely while polishing them like trophies.

Ralph

Ralph is the goofy-but-reliable type who trips through life with an earnest grin and somehow gets the job done; he’s heroic in a sleepy, accidental way. He’s loyal to a fault, has this ridiculous habit of apologizing to inanimate objects (don’t ask), and yet when push comes to shove he’s steady as a rock. A touch naive, full of warm energy, he brightens a room even when he’s covered in flour or mud — seriously, always some messy hobby. Also sometimes he’s suspiciously good at paperwork and no one knows where that came from.

Tuuli

Tuuli is this quiet spark — very serious, but also mischievous with a soft, almost scarily efficient streak; she will organize your life and then gossip about it later. She’s fiercely devoted to the people she cares about, protective in a low-key way, and has weird little rules about bookmarks and tea times that she follows like doctrine. She’s competent with practical tasks and has a surprisingly dry sense of humor, the kind that sneaks up on you and then you laugh too loud. Occasionally she’ll disappear to practice something mysterious and come back with a bandage and a triumphant grin, which I think is her whole personality summarized.

Mark

Mark is the unflashy backbone — steady, thoughtful, a planner who hides a stubborn love of small comforts (like bread that’s been toasted twice). He’s practical, a bit conservative, but not boring; if anything he’s the kind of person who notices which windows need washing and why that matters to morale. He sometimes comes off stoic but has an inner life full of nerdy obsessions (maps? catalogs? an obsession with neat handwriting? yes). Also, despite being all pragmatism, he’ll defend something sentimental with the ferocity of a hero in a ballad, which is adorable and slightly confusing.

Myne

Okay, Myne is the heart of everything — obsessed with books, inventing things, and breaking all the rules in the most endearing way possible; she is bookworm incarnate and also chaos. She’s brilliant and relentless and will make paper out of your socks if it means one more page (not an exaggeration, I think). She’s stubborn as a mule but kind, gets fiercely protective about her friends, and has this childlike wonder that makes even boring logistics feel like an adventure. Also sometimes she’s maddeningly single-minded — like, yes we know you need that printing press, but maybe eat first? — but that’s half the charm.

Gustav

Gustav is the clever, somewhat calculating businessman with that oh-so-satisfying air of competence; think sharp suits and sharper deals, but secretly sentimental about certain ruined art pieces. He runs things smoothly, has a dry joke reserved for every awkward moment, and is the type to keep a ledger and a hidden stash of honeyed pastries. He’s pragmatic to a fault, but every now and then he’ll do something unexpectedly generous, as if to remind you he has a soft center buried under spreadsheets. Also he collects weirdly shaped keys for reasons he’ll never explain, which I find suspicious and charming.

Benno

Benno is the kindly book-guardian/priest type who’s so gentle he practically hums, but also annoyingly competent at deciphering rules and loopholes (bless him). He lives for knowledge and order but has a mischievous glint when he finds something new to protect — librarian vibes turned up to eleven. He’s calming, patient, and will adopt any stray problem into his care until it’s tidy, although he sometimes disappears into a mountain of paperwork and everyone forgets where he went. Also I’m pretty sure he has a secret stash of ridiculous bookmarks shaped like animals and uses them on purpose to annoy the more uptight folks.

Effa

Effa is the warm, boisterous powerhouse of a mother figure who can scold you into shape and then bake you a pie to make up for it — absolute legend. She’s practical, fearless, and has a laugh that fills the room; she handles chaos like a professional and will physically rearrange your life if needed. Surprisingly philosophical at times, she drops one-liners that sound like proverbs and then immediately smacks someone for slacking off, which is peak multitasking. Also, she definitely owns more aprons than is reasonable and might knit tiny hats for pigeons on the weekend, which I am convinced is true.