The popular light novel spinoff series, Ascendance of a Bookworm: Hannelore’s Fifth Year at the Royal Academy, is officially receiving a manga adaptation. The new manga launched today, Monday, on TO Books’ Corona EX manga website, bringing Hannelore’s journey to a new visual medium.
Rei Kusakabe, known for their work on the My Stepmom’s Daughter Is My Ex manga, is illustrating the series. The first compiled book volume of the manga is already slated for release on December 10 by TO Books.
Following Hannelore’s Royal Academy Experience
The manga adaptation, titled Honzuki no Gekokujō ~Hannelore no Kizokuin Gonensei~ Koishite Mitai Ohime-sama (Ascendance of a Bookworm: Hannelore’s Fifth Year at the Royal Academy -The Princess I Want to Fall in Love With-), delves into the experiences of Hannelore, a close friend of the main series’ protagonist, Rozemyne. The story picks up half a year after Yurgenschmidt inaugurated its first underage Aub, with Hannelore, an archduke candidate for the top-ranked duchy, facing a personal crisis. She finds herself pressured to select a marriage candidate from a growing list, a decision complicated by her natural indecisiveness, her father’s suggestions, and even her half-brother’s unexpected interest. Seeking guidance, Hannelore turns to her dear friend Rozemyne, believing the Goddess of Binding, Liebeskhilfe, is toying with her fate.
The Origin of the Spinoff: Light Novel Success
The original Hannelore no Kizokuin Gonensei spinoff novels began serialization on the “Shōsetsuka ni Narō” website in 2017 and are currently ongoing. TO Books later published the first volume with illustrations by You Shiina in August 2024, followed by the second volume on August 10. J-Novel Club is responsible for the English release of the spinoff story.
The Enduring Legacy of Ascendance of a Bookworm
The Ascendance of a Bookworm franchise, known in Japan as Honzuki no Gekokujō, originated as a light novel series written by Miya Kazuki and illustrated by You Shiina. It first appeared online as a web novel from September 2013 to March 2017 before being acquired by TO Books. The main series, which concluded its light novel run in December 2023 with 33 volumes, follows the story of Urano Motosu, a book-loving college student who is reincarnated as a young girl named Myne in a world where books are a luxury. Determined to read, Myne embarks on a quest to create her own books, ultimately shaking the foundations of her new world.
The franchise has garnered significant popularity in Japan, leading to multiple manga adaptations of its various parts and an anime television series. The main Ascendance of a Bookworm anime series has seen three seasons, with a fourth season produced by Wit Studio scheduled to premiere in Q2 2026. This new manga adaptation for Hannelore’s story further expands the beloved universe, offering fans another way to engage with the intricate world and its compelling characters.
