Ascendance of a Bookworm is good. It's very good, but it's got a rocky start.
Story: The show creates a very interesting narrative. The world-building is phenomenal. It does a really great job of showing the dark underbelly of medieval society with church corruption as well as being somewhat educational. The characters all work off of each other really well, but the first few episodes just drag. I can't say to skip them in good conscience because they set up the jumping-off point for the rest of the show with some plot points and Myne growing as a character, but they're so boring and devoid of substance (especially given how great the finale is). 8/10
Art: Not much to say here. Its art is amazing to look at. The colors are vibrant, the character designs look great, and the backgrounds feel real. It does exactly what it sets out to accomplish. 10/10
Sound: Nothing to say here. The acting is pretty good. The OP is okay. Not something I would play over and over, but it doesn't sound terrible. 9/10
Character: All the characters are well written, but Myne comes off as slightly irritating in the first 2 episodes. While her love of books is understandable, she obsesses to the point of irritation. By the fifth time she said she "Just wanted a book to read" I wanted to smash my head against a wall. She's still a very likable protagonist and you can tell that she cares deeply for her family, but the first episode is rough. 9/10
Enjoyment: People often say, "If I'm not enjoying it immediately, then there's no use sticking through it," and I'm usually in that camp, but this show is much better than I gave it credit for. If the beginning was less boring this would definitely be in my top 15, but as is, it's still a very good show. 9/10
Overall: Despite its rocky start, this is an anime worth sticking around for. 8/10