Many thanks to Tor Publishing Group/Tor Teen, the author, and Netgalley for providing me the eARC in exchange for my honest review. This title will be released on May 28, 2024.

4 STARS

BRIEF SUMMARY: In real life, Viola and Jack have a less-than-friendly relationship on the student council. The unlikely duo become virtual friends on the battlefields of the video game called Twelfth Knight. Viola knows she’s playing with Jack, but she lets Jack think that his new buddy is her brother Bash.

At first, Viola’s POV aggravated me to the max. She’s “angry all the time” and unnecessarily hostile toward everyone. It seems like Viola looks down on everyone and expects everyone to go her way (or the highway). The author was aware of Vi’s sharp edges because Vi’s selfishness and prickliness soften over the course of the book.

Jack is the other main character, the golden boy. He’s the high school’s football star, but an ACL injury is stealing the game and his planned future out from under him. His girlfriend is pulling away. In comparison to Vi’s character, Jack comes off as kind of generic but still likable.

I enjoyed reading a take on high school that closely approximates the real high school experience than all the movies. (Cliques are not Divergent-level defined.) The video-gaming scenes and the convention were fun highlights.

The romance is subtle and has a slow build. When the two have their moment and share feelings, it’s really good! Romantic and cute for high schoolers without making them act or speak like adults.

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FUN QUOTES

“You’re not just any girl. You’re a fun little tyrant.” -Jack to Viola

“The secret to not being hated is to just never tell someone they can’t have what they want.” -Jack’s secret to finessing

“It matters what we see when we look at our possibilities. What we see determines what we are.”

3.5stars⚝

”I just think that maybe happiness isn’t crossing a finish line, or finally meeting the right person or getting the right job or finding the right life. It’s the little things.”

Viola is always frustrated with the world, trying to navigate the challenges of dealing with people. And then there's Jack, adored by everyone (except Vi), with a promising athletic future. But everything changes when he breaks his leg, and they end up playing video games together every night for months. The twist? He has no idea it's her.

Viola is such a complex character! Some people don't find her likable and call her a "bitch," but she actually believes that label and uses it as a shield. It's like she doesn't want people to expect too much from her. She has some things to work on, like opening up and showing her emotions. But it's frustrating how the people around her make her feel like she's the worst person ever. In reality, she's just a teenage girl, angry at the world, and trying to figure out how to handle those emotions. But as the story progresses, you can definitely see some growth in Viola.

Jack is like every teenager who thought they had it all figured out, only to realize, "Oops, I don't." It was great that the book had dual points of view, so we could understand what he was going through. Seeing his feelings for Viola grow gradually was incredibly sweet. Unlike most people, he didn't see her as a terrible person. Their relationship blossoming was amazing to witness!

The message incorporated in the story of "Twelfth Knight" is absolutely amazing. It's all about learning to let others into our lives and experiencing the beautiful emotions of love and belonging. It tackles real life issues in a fun and light hearted way, which makes it super relatable without being overly dramatic. I would recommend anyone who's into video games to read this book. The only thing that stopped me from giving it a perfect 4 stars was that I was kinda hoping for a bit more romance. But overall, it's a total gem of a coming of age story. 🌟

I went in to this pretty blind. I am a big fan of she's the man, but i don't have a ton of knowledge of the original Shakespeare storyline.

This was a good story about the growth of characters who all have something they hide from the world around them. Viola evolving in her view of the world and letting people through the walls she built. Jack seeing what else is out there beside his normal routine and future plans. Olivia's journey to find herself.

It definitely is a good read, and has a good message for readers who may be feeling the way these characters do. End of Highschool is a time of life where your paths really start and you go out into the world and start your journey.

Oh my goodness. This was such a great read I have all the feels I don’t even know where to start!

First, Twelfth Knight is my favorite Shakespeare so when I see nerdy twelfth knight?! The combination made my heart happy.

Second, Viola, our main girl…what a heartwarming character. This book is as much about finding yourself whole navigating this crazy thing called life as it is an adorable romance.

And third, the butterflies! Omg. Such an endearing relationship that blossoms that really reminds us all of what we go through in those formative years!

Not only does this take us on a journey for our main character but a lot of our side characters grow so much throughout the book. And the story takes us through their trials of learning who they are and admitting that sometimes it’s ok to just exist, to face the facts or be vulnerable and that’s one of the many reasons why I absolutely loved this!! I can’t wait to pick up a copy when it’s officially out and will definitely recommend to everyone!

I LOVED THIS BOOK SO MUCH!

I devoured it. I couldn't put it down. This book spoke to me on so many levels. I love board games, tabletop games, RPG games and the fact that there was this representation in it had my heart bursting with joy. As someone that is Filipino, just seeing anak in the book had me tearing up. My little self, saw herself in the pages of this book.

Viola was not the most likeable main character but she was real and I couldn't help but love how true she stayed to herself. She didn't compromise her beliefs and did not make herself small so others could be comfortable. The relationship between her and Jack did not disappoint. I loved how their relationship grew and how each character had their own journey of self growth.

This book was so much more than I expected.

5 stars

This book is like if A Cinderella Story and She’s the Man (aka Twelfth Night) has a cute nerdy little baby. It’s been a while since I read a book where the teenagers felt like and talked like teenagers which is fantastic. What a lovely little book.

thank you so much to netgalley and tor teen for the arc! i loved alexene’s first YA romance novel my mechanical romance and i loved twelfth knight just as much!

i really loved the grumpy sunshine trope in this book- it made me really love the characters and connect with them. i will say that while jack is predominantly optimistic it is never in a toxic positivity way, he very much faces and comes to terms with challenges he is facing. in my opinion both him and vi are the grump and the sunshine in this story and i loved how it flipped sometimes!

i loved vi a lot, i love how strong, passionate and independent she is! seeing her growth and journey throughout the book is truly a treat. i love what vi stands for- so many of her passionate rants i was literally shaking my head as i read because i agreed with her. this novel does an amazing job touching on the topics of feminism and how difficult it can be for women to navigate areas typically dominated by men. i love how they address the very much real world culture of gaming and various entertainment fandoms. the book highlights how they can be wonderful and harmful depending on who you are in the fandom. the one thing i really loved about jack and how he treated vi was the way he never changed that or tried to silence her instead he continued to encourage her to share her thoughts and opinions. the way her and jack are originally parallel lines to one another and become perpendicular is chefs kiss! i loved seeing how their romance developed it was so sweet like kicking my feet smiling while i read!

i loved some of our “side” characters as well, olivia was so lovely i adored her immediately. i love nick and how supportive he was of jack. i loved bash! i do wish we got a bit more of him because he was such a dynamic character!

the pacing of the story was wonderful, i loved the alternating points of view and the fun shakespearean references intertwined throughout. i really enjoyed the twelfth knight, it was a heartwarming read and one of the best YA novels i have read in awhile.

rating: 3.75

this was a bit disappointing to me, both bc of hype i've seen around olivie blake and having LOVED she's the man ever since it first came out. that is not this retelling. i came in expecting amanda bynes's slapstick shenanigans and instead the fmc was being called a bitch by most of the characters 😬 i will consider the fact that maybe i was a bit triggered for the reason why this book wasn't satisfying for me.

i can definitely appreciate the commentary this book had on sexism and misogyny in male-dominated spaces of fantasy mediums from tv to gaming, but it was hard to like vi at times bc sometimes she'd genuinely be mean to a random person. the first 1/3 reminded me much more of 10 things i hate about you's character kat stratford, but the fmc vi lacked her cutting humor. her attitude, while understandable, hard to digest and justify at times when it felt misplaced.

the romance kinda lacked as well. there was nothing romantic between vi and jack until more than halfway, which then it ramped through quickly. but the weird thing to me was how jack was this self-proclaimed romantic and yet did absolutely nothing romantic in this book, for either vi or olivia. no sweeping big gestures or surprises or anything, he was extremely passive. i didn't buy him as "sunshine" despite his golden boy status. it's actually understandable considering his situation - he's blown his knee and can't play football, so he's become more withdrawn and stressed by the idea that he might no longer be able to play. he just didn't give me golden retriever energy.

there were a lot of balls in the air in this book for me. i think it could have been a bit more focused.

4.5 Stars

Twelfth Knight feels like a book that was written for me specifically. Twelfth Night is my favorite Shakespeare play, and She's the Man is one of my all time favorite movies. I had such a high bar for Twelfth Knight coming in, and it more than cleared it. Once I picked it up, I could not put it down.

Viola Reyes is the grumpy AP student, loud and proud nerd who spends her free time playing tabletop RPG ConQuest, MMORPG Twelfth Knight, and watching her favorite TV show, War of Thorns. Due to past awful experiences as a girl in gaming, Viola plays Twelfth Knight as a male alter ego modeled off of her favorite War of Thorns character. Jack "Duke" Orsino is the latest in a legacy of football superstardom, when a devastating injury knocks his senior season off of its planned, record-breaking course. Facing doubts about his future and desperately in need of a distraction during his recuperation, Jack turns to Twelfth Knight, a hobby he feels is completely at odds with his football star persona. IRL, Viola has no patience for Jack's sunshiney personality and hands off attitude towards their student council responsibilities. When their online alter egos meet, she begins to see a different side of him.

Viola and Jack are both strong, well fleshed out characters. I enjoyed many of the supporting characters as well, but felt that some of their story points could have been expanded upon a bit more. For the most part, the pacing of the plot was well balanced. I particularly enjoyed watching the Viola and Jack's relationship develop through their IRL interactions and their online chats. The main thing that kept this from being a five star read for me was the feeling that the final conflict resolved a bit too quickly and without much actual effort from the characters.

If you are a fan of modernized Shakespeare rom com style adaptations, particularly She's The Man, I cannot recommend Twelfth Knight enough.

Twelfth Knight was such a fun read! A modern YA retelling of the Shakespeare classic done right. I was so curious about how they would really give a fresh take on the story, and I love the way they executed it in a way that is so relatable. The inclusion of video games and role play was perfect!

I was really drawn in by the characters and was so gratified by their growth throughout the novel. It was so easy to root for and get truly invested in Duke and Vi’s story. I definitely recommend to other readers!

Wow, this book hit really close to home (as do all of her books). I saw a lot of myself in both Vi (I, too, am a marshmallow with sticks) and Jack. The character growth in this book is amazing and had me rooting for them the whole time (together and independently). What sweet nerdy love & friendship 🥹.

Thank you Tor Teen and Netgalley for the ARC.

Rating: 4/5 (leaning towards 4.5)
"Twelfth Knight" proves to be the quintessential YA romance novel, fulfilling my need for a captivating YA romance story. With a compelling narrative and well-drawn characters, it seamlessly weaves elements from the classic Shakespearean tale of "Twelfth Night" into a contemporary setting. This book oozes lighthearted charm, empowering readers with its narrative, and making it an ideal read for both teens and adults.
"Twelfth Knight" is a breath of fresh air — effortlessly readable, comprehensible, and skillfully constructed. Highly recommended for those seeking a delightful YA romance, it unfolds as a compelling coming-of-age story, allowing readers to witness the transformative journey of the characters from beginning to end.
Plot/Content: 4/5
Despite “Twelfth Knight” being a relatively short book it does not take away from the plot of the book at all. It took a unique modern-day twist on a classic tale. It was exciting to see how the author took this old story and made it into something that I couldn’t put down. The well-thought-out content and the attention to detail, especially when describing certain scenes involving the game, felt like I could vividly picture each moment.
Characters: 5/5
The characters in "Twelfth Knight" are a true highlight, contributing immensely to the book's appeal. The author's skillful portrayal allows readers to deeply connect with and understand each character, creating genuine sympathy. The credit undoubtedly goes to the author's wonderful character crafting; the dialogues and mannerisms authentically capture the essence of high school life. The characters not only drive the narrative but also serve as a portal, immersing readers into the heart of the story.

Twelfth Knight is a modern YA retelling of the Twelfth Night by Shakespeare. Instead of our classic Duke Orosino and Viola, we have Jack Orosino, a legacy football star, and Viola Reyes, a MMORPG and tabletop game enthusiast with a "don't mess with me attitude." Jack and Vi already know and don't like each other. When Jack gets a knee injury, he gets really into the MMORPG game Twelfth Knight, and "re-meets" Vi as her video game identity, where she plays as a man. As the two start to talk, Vi says that she is Sebastian, her twin brother. The two continue to get to know each other, both within and outside of the game.

This book made me a little nervous because modern Shakespeare retellings don't always work for me, PARTICULARLY with mistaken identifies. But y'all... when I tell you that I love this book, I LOVED IT! All of the elements really worked for me and it really felt like an actual modern retelling instead of "inspired by" the original play. I am so pleasantly surprised that a modern mistaken identity story can still be told. Having it happen online in a video game setting truly worked so well. I really liked Vi and Jack, and totally understand why they didn't like each other originally and how their relationship changed as the book went on. It was also hilarious and I read it in one day because I wanted to see how it ended.

On a personal note, I'm dealing with a hip injury and was in the mood for a story about someone with a similar issue. It really did make me feel better to get another perspective on taking time for your body and managing changes as they happen.

Overall, I absolutely loved this book and definitely recommend it to anyone who likes a romantic comedy! 5 strong stars from me! Thank you to Tor Publishing Group and NetGalley for the electronic advanced reader's copy of this book, my thoughts are my own!

This is such a great read! Its the type of book that makes you smile and makes you feel good. The flow of it was perfect and there was no dull spots. If you want a fun read then read this book. You wont be disappointed.

really cute romance. i loved every character, like every last one. and the whole concept is great. i really wanna read more by blake. thanks for the arc

<thank you to netgalley and the publisher for providing me with this arc. it in no way affected my review or rating of the book.

did i know nothing about american football going into this? yes
did i have to watch a youtube summary of twelfth night to remind myself of the original plot because i last read it when i was fifteen? yes
and did i still absolutely love this book? YES

alexene farol follmuth (also known as olivie blake) presents a beautiful retelling of shakespeare’s twelfth night

this ya romcom follows Jack “Duke” Orsino, the football star and pride of messaline, who takes a major hit during the big championship game and ends up unable to play. enter Viola Reyes - Jack’s classmate, who has never quite forgiven him for being voted student body president over her. Vi has a love for online games, particularly Twelfth Knight in which she plays as Cesario, her masculine alter ego. with newfound free time after his injury, Jack joins the world of Twelfth Knight as Duke Orsino and after hours of gameplay-turned-late night conversations, finds that he might have more in common with Vi than either of them ever thought. the twist? Jack thinks he’s talking to Viola’s brother, Bash.

this was AMAZING. i love when i find a romcom that has the perfect balance; the giggling, kicking my feet romance & well-handed topics that are on the more serious side. alexene does this flawlessly. jack and vi are so real - i found them unlikeable one second and relatable the next, and it was just such a true depiction of two teenagers struggling with individual issues and finding comfort in someone they hadn’t expected to.

the way the original was woven into this was so heartwarming. i loved twelfth night when i first read it and this was an adorable retelling! i think retellings can be tricky - it’s common that the book either ends up being so different that you wonder how it was marketed as a retelling, or it lacks originality to the point that you check to make sure you didn’t pick up the original. this book avoided both of those & did a great job at balancing modernity with the traditional narrative

the narration style felt very percy jackson-esque. it was sarcastic and funny, and it played a big factor in both my overall enjoyment of the book and my understanding of the characters. although it read a bit like a diary at times, it felt very reminiscent of high school and i give alexene props for somehow managing to get into the brains of teenagers and write their thoughts onto these pages so accurately. because of that, some parts of the dialogue do seem almost childish. it wasn’t a major nitpick for me but i do see it as something that would bother some people.

the development of the romance between jack and vi genuinely had me putting down my kindle to just giggle and scream into my pillow. their chemistry is amazing and the banter was one of my favourite things about the book.

one of the easiest 5 stars i’ve ever given a ya romcom ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

I felt so seen by Viola, I was her, I am her, I’m angry and isolated in fandom, I’m passionate about a few chosen things that will only ever hurt me. Playing nice with boys? Trying to pretend to be a boy to fit in? So deeply real, achingly so.

Jack felt like a character who could’ve been more but had an interesting arc nonetheless, supported Viola at every turn, and grew as a person outside of the relationship and within it. Sometimes he felt a little cringey (trying to flirt with Vi after offering her space, felt counterproductive to the point) but was kind and caring.

Bash and Olivia were fantastic side characters, I would read a whole book about the spring musical, I s2g…

I loved this. It resonated with me as a gamer, a DnD player, and a woman in fandom.

Thank you to NetGalley and Tor Teen for a copy of this e-ARC in exchange for an honest review!

This book was a RIDE. I majored in Theatre Arts in college, so seeing all of the Shakespeare references was so much fun (we even did Twelfth Night as one of our shows). While Shakespeare is not one of my favorites, maybe it’s the class trauma talking, I still heavily enjoyed all the references.

This was made for us fandom lovers, reminiscent of my middle school years of being chronically addicted to online games (lol) and being afraid of losing friendships. I will be honest, I did not like Viola in the beginning, but she just needed her outer layer peeled back to reveal her complex personality, beliefs, and fears and I loved her by the end. Viola’s character development really sold this book for me as it wasn’t an immediate change, it was gradual and combated her fears of being alone.

While Viola’s character development was a bit more stark for me, Jack also provided such relatable development as well. While I didn’t do football growing up (I was a dancer), I related hardcore to his injury senior year and having so much taken away because of that. But, weirdly through that experience I, like Jack, found my real friends through that and who I was without this thing that has been my lifeline for my whole life. Seeing his struggles would’ve helped me so much if I read this when I was also a senior in high school. He’s also just a lovable golden retriever dork, so his perspectives were some of my favorites to read.

I will say, I fell in LOVE with the side characters and a major complaint I have is that there isn’t more from them!! I desperately loved Bash and desperately wished there was more of him. He was so hilarious and I would read an entire spinoff on him. I NEED a spin-off of his. I also adored Olivia, I think she also would be another character that would thrive in a spin-off. She was going through so much and she was such a sweetheart.

Overall, this book made my Theatre major heart happy and was a fun, quick read.

This book was such a fun and cute YA love story. Jack being forced off the football field after an injury to play video games with Viola. Jack thinks he’s playing with Violet twin brother.

The characters were extremely likable. The sweetest romance ever. Even the side characters were so developed, and each one played an important part in this book.

I had all the emotions reading this one. I laughed. I cried. I squealed even kicked my feet a few times.

The new YA romance by Alexene Farol Follmuth follows in the strong female protagonist footsteps of My Mechanical Romance. Viola is a girl who knows what she wants, and it's not romance. Her sometimes grating personality can be off-putting to some, but also offers an opportunity for her to grow. Jack Orsino is her popular foil, and an unlikely person for her to start liking. Although the book follows the overused trope of enemies to lovers, the gaming theme can add some interest to the book and appeal to some readers.