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.

AHHHHH!!! I'M SO EXCITED - thank you NetGalley and Tor for sending me this eARC and granting me the opportunity to read even more from one of my favorite authors of all time - Alexene Farol Follmuth (otherwise known as Olivie Blake)~ ✨🌟💫 I was absolutely with My Mechanical Romance when I first read the eARC back in 2022, so I'm super excited to continue alongside Alexene's foray into the YA genre. I just love her style of writing, it's absolutely beautiful every time. Her characters are all very layered and distinct in their individual personalities, the emotional beats always hit, and I feel like she does a great job of *showing* as opposed to simply *telling* in her works. Can't wait for the official release date for this one and would definitely recommend it out to others, no question!

Not sure if I can fit all my love for this book in one review but I CAN TRY!! Our two main characters: Vi- angry at her tabletop group (based off of Dungeons and Dragons!) of incels along with her bestie who won't listen to her ideas, and Jack- football star who's cocky attitude led him to a season-ending injury. They end up being a team on the MMORPG Twelfth Knight, but Vi doesn't want anyone to know her well-known and successful male character is actually her, so she pretends to be her twin brother. When Jack starts bringing real life into their chat, Vi's lies become a bigger burden than she ever expected..!!!

Vi- or Viola- is a girl in fandom, constantly being harassed and belittled by the men and boys who think women have no place there. This causes her to make her online persona on the MMORPG Twelfth Knight a man. (I have had to do this too!! This is common!! It sucks!!). I can't stress enough how refreshing it was to read a book where the main character went through the same thing that so many non-men go through on online fandom spaces. Vi is always angry at the world because of the treatment she faces online, and her anger plays a huge role in the story. The way her anger was portrayed was incredibly done.

One of my favorite parts of this book was finding a way to tie together football and gaming. The two seem very different, but as the book progresses, we see the similarities. I'm into gaming and care very little for sports, so seeing them compared was very interesting.

This is grumpy x sunshine, but the girl is the grumpy which I LOVE and haven't read before!! Also, if you know me you know that the miscommunication trope is one of my least favorite tropes on the planet! But the way that the author does it in this is so beautiful and I wish it was done this way more often. No spoilers! But I loved it.

I don't want to spoil anything in this review, but the representation, the female rage, the nerdiness, the references, all made this book so special to me. Thank you thank you thank you NetGalley for this e-ARC! 5/5 stars.

"I don't want to be considered beautiful without being seen as capable, too."

YA romcom Shakespeare retelling? grumpy x sunshine? mistaken identity? endless nerd content? I was so excited to read this book and I was NOT disappointed.

It did take me a little bit to get into the story. On the surface, both of our main characters can come off straight-up... unlikeable. Viola is abrasive and Jack is a little too 'Mr. Popular.' But that only made their growth and getting to know them that much more impactful. This book is full of characters who leap off the page with distinct voices and depth, side characters included. (Bash and Olivia, my beloveds<333) This is one of those YA books that I think will appeal to readers of all ages. The characters authentically feel like teenagers - they are flawed and messy and just trying to figure things out - but also deal with issues that are universal and relatable.

I also loved just how much was packed into this book. Twelfth Knight is so much more than just a romcom, it's also a coming-of-age, with social commentary and a love of nerd culture smoothly weaved in. This novel explores everything, from video game and fandom culture, social and parental pressures, misogyny, sexuality, family dynamics, and so much more, all without losing its humor and heart. The romance isn't the sole focus, which may not be for everyone, but I thought worked well for this story.

As for the romance itself, the slow burn was, in my humble opinion, perfection. It felt so real and unrushed and believable, which isn't always easy in a contemporary 'enemies to lovers' setting. I loved every second of Vi & Jack's interactions.

I fully expect this book to take the internet by storm because it's just so darn QUOTABLE! There were so many lines that just hit perfectly that I wrote a LOT of them down, and the banter was laugh-out-loud-worthy. I hadn't read any Olivia Blake/Alexene Farol Follmuth before, but the writing was so excellent that I will absolutely be picking up everything else she's written.

My actual rating is 4.5 stars, but rounding up because I had so much fun reading this. Literally read this book in one sitting and could not put it down.

Thanks so much to Netgalley and tor teen for the arc in exchange for an honest review. I can't wait to get my hands on a physical copy for myself!

This book took me by surprise! It took me a bit to get into this book. There was a lot of game niche specific terms that I didn’t understand and I thought Jack was unappealing. So to anyone that feels like that in the first 10% of this book, KEEP GOING.

By the end of this story, I want to get some friends together and sign up for a tabletop style game. 𝙄 𝙡𝙤𝙫𝙚𝙙 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙗𝙤𝙤𝙠. I felt myself not wanting to put this down. I was itching to find out what would happen to these characters and how the story would shape out.

There was 𝙖 𝙩𝙤𝙣 𝙤𝙛 𝙜𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙩 𝙧𝙚𝙥𝙧𝙚𝙨𝙚𝙣𝙩𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙪𝙣𝙝𝙚𝙖𝙧𝙙 𝙫𝙤𝙞𝙘𝙚𝙨 in this story. As a fellow angry girl, I loved Vi. I felt so understood and seen by her character. Although this is about a romance, it was also about so much more. A coming of age, trying to find yourself and what life is really about story. Seeing Jack’s world fall apart post-injury and then open up to all that life has to offer while going through all his feelings was so incredibly authentic. There are so many great developed supporting characters in this book. We got a glimpse into everyone's world and it just made me like this story even more.

There was 𝙖 𝙡𝙤𝙩 𝙤𝙛 𝙥𝙖𝙧𝙖𝙡𝙡𝙚𝙡𝙨 𝙗𝙚𝙩𝙬𝙚𝙚𝙣 𝙏𝙬𝙚𝙡𝙛𝙩𝙝 𝙆𝙣𝙞𝙜𝙝𝙩 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙑𝙞 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙅𝙖𝙘𝙠’𝙨 𝙧𝙚𝙡𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣𝙨𝙝𝙞𝙥 which was interesting to watch unfold. I felt like it brought more dimension to each of their individual characters. Vi was learning how to let people in and Jack was gaining perspective.

This is this first story where I really want their to be rating percentages between 4 and 5. I want to give this book 5 stars based on how much I loved it, but because the beginning was slower and I wasn’t as hooked immediately, I’m giving it 4 stars (true rating is 4.5).

“No, I think we’re lonely. Like, as a species.” “So what does that mean” “That we can like who we are and like being alone and still want to feel connected”

“When she loves something, she loves deeply, thoughtfully, and generously, and she gives back what she gets, tenfold.”

Thank you to NetGalley and Tor Publishing Group for the arc!

This was a solid, fun YA romcom. A nice palette cleanser from the most stressful book club book I’ve ever read.

For a little while I thought Vi was absolutely insufferable, but then I remember I was probably the exact same way as an ambitious, high-achieving teenager. Which, to me, just makes her a well-written character.

I really enjoyed the evolution of Vi and Duke’s dynamic over the course of the book.

Thank you NetGalley and Tor for the eARC of Twelfth Knight in exchange for a honest review. All opinions are my own.

I absolutely adored this book. I binged the whole thing in less than 24 hours and was unabashedly smiling at my kindle the whole time. Twelfth Knight ticked a lot of boxes for me. I love a good Shakespeare retelling, making it high school rom com style? *chef’s kiss* The characters were extremely likable and relatable to me as an ex-student athlete and current fantasy loving nerd. Lovers of grumpy-sunshine, fun banter, and heartwarming tales…look no further.

Content warnings: sports injury

Jack "Duke" Orsino's whole life is football, so when an injury takes him off the field during his senior year he struggles with who he is without the game. A friend tells him to play a game called Twelfth Knight to take his mind off of his injury. Jack's sucked into the game and stays up late at night playing.

Viola Reyes has a fight with her best friend and is feeling lonely. She turns to her favorite MMORPG Twelfth Knight for comfort and is shocked to see her school's injured star quarterback in-game. But she's playing as Cesario, her favorite male character from the TV show War of Thorns. She lets Jack Orsino believe that she's a guy, but when asked for her name she panics and says she's her twin brother Sebastian.

Viola and Jack are the warring heads of the school's activities board, but Viola's been doing most of the work since Jack was a popularity vote and doesn't actually help. But Viola begins to warm to him when he pours out his soul to her in their in-game chat. Only Duke doesn't know he's talking to Vi. Will he find out before she tells him?

Both Duke and Vi are well-developed characters, which was unexpected in a geeky teen romance. Recommended for YA readers who are into gaming or fantasy.

Representation: Latina main character, African-American main character

Very peak wholesome in the form of --
💫 very soft enemies to lovers
💫 besties online in an RPG (they go on quests together while having heart to hearts!!!!) and enemies irl (the president and vice president of the student council)
💫 she learns to let people in / he explores his passion and identity
💫 friendships, old and new!! <3

TWs - misogyny and mild sexual harassment by classmates and peers, sports injury

-- ty to the author, the publisher and Netgalley for an advanced copy!

If gaming be the food of love, play on.

What a great adaptation of Twelfth Night! Twelfth Knight modernizes the original Shakespearean plot and brings in BIPOC and queer representation. In my opinion, this greatly enhances the story and made the plot twists a lot more believable (especially compared to other pop culture representations of the same story). The idea of using an RPG as the basis for the identity swap is very interesting, and allowed for a truthful exploration into the world of toxic fandoms.

I could viscerally feel Vi's anger - the feeling of being so frustrated, but unable to communicate or understand your own feelings was exactly correct. She was written in such an honest way that I could say I knew this person growing up. Twelfth Knight is the first book by Alexene Farol Follmuth (also writes under Olivie Blake) that I have read, and her character building and writing style was so easy to consume and drew me in so quickly that I look forward to diving further into her author catalogue.

Overall, an excellent young adult read and I would highly recommend!