Twelfth Knight is Alexene Farol Follmouth's second YA contemporary novel, and as a huge fan of her YA debut, My Mechanical Romance, I was super excited to read this one! While my only other Twelfth Night retelling is She's the Man, I still do think that Twelfth Knight was a really refreshing take on Shakespeare's comedy. I really liked the exploration of cosplay, video games, and RPG games, and the role that gender plays in these spaces. Both of Alexene's YA books so far have discussed women in typically male-dominated spaces, which I've appreciated. Vi as a character was such a badass and I definitely aspire to be her friend! I also really loved her relationship with her twin brother Bash and her new friend Olivia. I do wish, however, that there wasn't as slow of a slowburn between Vi and Jack, which is ultimately why I rated this 3.75 stars rounded up. My Mechanical Romance is definitely heavier with romance, so keep that in mind if you pick this one up!

What I signed up for: a fun, seemingly lighthearted YA rom com centered around D&D, MMORPGs, and the overall fandom culture. But what I got was sharp & deeply emotional insight into my own psyche and a heart-felt story that approaches the dark side of fandom culture.

Twelfth Knight is a retelling of Shakespeare's Twelfth Night, following the story of Jack Orsino (dubbed Duke Orsino by his patriarchal football lineage) as a tragic knee injury has him turning to the MMORPG "Twelfth Knight" for solace. Little does he know, his fellow classmate snarky & disillusioned Viola Reyes, masquerades as a male character in Twelfth Night. When she encounters Jack in the game, she plays herself off as her twin brother Sebastian, and thus the comedy of errors begins.

The way this book approaches the discussion of misogyny in nerd culture was one of the biggest standouts to me. From the first scene with Viola, there are no holds barred, showing how male-dominated nerd spaces: a) push out girls who are more outspoken, b) are more willing to accept more pliable and compliant girls into their spaces thus pitting them against each other c) are full of "nice" guys who expect sexual rewards for "niceness", and so much more. It truly felt like there was no stone left unturned, but Fallmouth takes it a step further by allowing Viola's character development to heal all the injustices she has faced. From Jack's carefully measured and thoughtful attitude in entering nerd culture, to Antonia's character arc, to Olivia's unwavering eagerness to befriend Viola, this book felt like such a balm for both my teenage and my college-age soul.

But the true star of this book was Viola Reyes herself. I found so much of myself mirrored in Vi, from her use of blunt brashness as a means of self protection to her great passion for critical media analysis, and especially in the way she's more than willing to cut people out as a first response to conflict, choosing to refuse herself the vulnerability of love. Though I have been working on growing to distance myself from the Vi we meet in the beginning of this book, there are still times when Vi's actions and emotions are a sharp parallel to my own. Her anger and her fear are so achingly familiar to me, I cannot help but give this book 5 full stars for this.

Although this is no means a completely perfect book (I will admit that objectively, for a majority of the book, both MCs being BIPOC characters feels tossed aside for an occasional Tagalog word tossed in), I personally enjoyed it immensely, I'm excited to add this gorgeous cover to my collection of books.

I enjoyed the premise of the story and it's modern twist on Twelfth Night, especially with the inclusion of gaming as a different way to disguise Viola, but I really struggled to find any redeeming qualities in Viola for the majority of the book. It wasn't until the end that I actually warmed to her. She's mean to everyone, including her best friend, under the guise of setting boundaries. And while that makes sense in certain situations, the way she thinks about guys in general is demeaning, and the way she treats people makes it understandable that she has few friends.

I did enjoy the author's writing style, and the book was entertaining from start to finish.

Thanks, NetGalley, for the ARC.

This was another hit from Olivie Blake/Alexene Farol Follmuth. I really enjoyed the author’s YA debut the year before last and I liked this one even more. The dialogue and romance were charming and I can see this becoming a hit for YA/Contemporary Romance fans.

Mein Leseerlebnis

Das vorliegende Jugendbuch ließ sich insgesamt gut lesen und ich würde es als nett beschreiben. Ich empfand ich die Geschichte um zwei Charaktere, die auf den ersten Blick nichts gemein haben, als durchaus unterhaltsam und interessant.

Allerdings konnte ich mir die Hauptcharaktere nicht als echte Personen vorstellen. Zudem wirkten sie teils auf mich etwas jünger, als sie es waren.

Die Dialoge waren teils energiegeladen und unterhaltsam, teils wirkten sie auf mich aber etwas zu konstruiert und unglaubwürdig. Dies traf vor allem auf die Dialoge zwischen den Jugendlichen und ihren Eltern zu.

Das Ende wiederum fand ich schön und passend zum Rest des Buches. Nehme ich das alles zusammen, so hat der Roman für mich als kurzweilige Unterhaltung recht gut funktioniert.

🖤🖤🖤 1/4

Für wen?

Wer jugendliche Liebesromane mag, in denen zwei Jungendliche zusammenkommen, die sich zunächst nicht grün sind, und die Gaming - Elemente mögen, für den könnte das YA - Buch etwas sein.

Thank you so much to netgalley for providing me this ARC!

I hated the fmc in the beginning but after the 75% mark she definitely opened up more and started growing more. I love when a character thinks that they are talking to someone else. It is one of my favorite things in romance books. I feel like this added to their romance. The ending was adorable! Highly recommend💜

"Twelfth Knight" by Alexene Farol Follmuth, also known as Olivie Blake, weaves a compelling narrative that seamlessly blends the worlds of tabletop gaming and online role-playing games with the complexities of real-life relationships. The story follows Vi, a determined and competent girl facing challenges in both her personal and gaming life.

The novel opens with Vi's painstakingly crafted tabletop game campaign being rejected, setting the stage for her to navigate the hurdles of being a vice president alongside the lackadaisical student body president, Jack Orsino. Vi's escape into the MMORPG Twelfth Knight introduces readers to the fascinating dynamic of online personas and the challenges faced by girls in gaming spaces.

The ingenious twist of Vi creating a masculine alter ego, Cesario, to find solace in the online realm adds depth to the narrative. The exploration of gender identity and the freedom that comes with assuming a different persona in the virtual world is both relevant and thought-provoking. As Vi and Jack's paths intertwine in Twelfth Knight, the parallels between their online alter egos and their real selves create a captivating narrative arc.

Follmuth skillfully develops the relationship between Vi and Jack as Cesario and Duke Orsino, allowing the story to seamlessly transition between the gaming world and the real world. The author beautifully captures the essence of the characters' conversations about life and love, showcasing the power of connection even in a virtual space.

The tension in the plot arises as Vi grapples with the decision to reveal her true identity to Jack, leading to a poignant exploration of trust and authenticity. The emotional depth and character development add layers to the story, making it more than just a typical romance novel.

"Twelfth Knight" is a delightful blend of romance, gaming, and self-discovery. Follmuth's writing style is engaging, and her ability to navigate between the real and virtual worlds is commendable. The novel is not only a love story but also a celebration of individuality, acceptance, and the strength found in embracing one's true self. Overall, it's a captivating and heartwarming read that resonates with the complexities of modern relationships in both online and offline realms.

I love a good Shakespeare retelling, and as someone who adores She's the Man, I knew I had to request an arc of Twelfth Knight as soon as possible. Not only am I lucky to get to read this early, but I'm also so lucky that this completely blew my expectations out of the water. When it comes to Twelfth Night retellings She's the Man is a hard thing to compete against, but this is just as good - if not better due to it's intersectional feminism. Though, this could just be me relating better to Vi and her nerd culture than sports lol. Now, you're probably wondering why I'm talking about She's the Man so much, and it's because the movie is very clearly part of the inspiration for the book, and because I think it's the most well-known Twelfth Night retelling.

I loved everything about Twelfth Knight though. Whether it was Vi and her untrusting, prickly personality, and her love of feminism and geek culture; or Jack and his desire to be loved and live up to his family's expectations and his love of games I loved it all. Also, this ship is the definition of black cat girlfriend and golden retriever boyfriend, and I was LIVING for it. Their changes in their relationship were so well developed, and I loved how real all of their connections with all of the other characters felt. My only complaint was that I felt like things with Antonia and Matt were glossed over a bit for the ending, and wished there had been a bit more discussion of what had gone on with the girls' issues.

I'm so excited to know I can hold a physical copy of this one day, and share it with people who will love it! Fingers crossed for a sequel for Olivia or Bash, because I'd love to see more of them!

I was so excited for the concept of this book, but it was too much for me.

The two main characters are an "annoying-TypeA-nerd" and "annoying-cocky-jock" that hate each other in high school. The concept was so well executed it was actually hard to read at times. Like the author REALLY made these kids insufferable.

Shakespeare goes to Comic Con.
After being thoroughly ignored by her male tabletop gaming players Viola loses herself in her online persona of Cesario, a knight who commands respect- as long as no one figures out she's a girl. She's secure in her role until the school's premier Jock- Jack Orsino suffers an accident on the football field and takes up the game during his recovery.
The story switches between the two points of view and it's interesting to see their dynamic build and their friendship grow, even as both try to figure out their roles in life. They each have their own challenges; watching them overcome them is a pleasure.
However, I have to admit to knowing nothing about American football, so the initial scenes detailing Jack's playing prowess were completely lost on me. I was skipping sentences with so many numbers- field positions, touchdowns and yard lines or whatever- which felt like maths homework.
Viola was a bit intense at the start- very much a Katherina (Taming of the Shrew) character and she needed to take it down a notch, which she did very realistically, without losing any of her initial verve.
I enjoyed all of the comic con references, especially the parts about meeting your heroes and working on the ticketing desk- hysterical.
I much prefer her YA Rom Coms to her more adult books.

I had not yet read any books by Olivie Blake, or in this case Alexene Farol Follmuth, but when I read this was a Twelfth Night retelling, I knew I needed to check it out! I mean, who doesn't love She's the Man, but now in book form!

Overall, I quite enjoyed this novel. The characters were fun, Viola was relatable and the demonstration of female rage was poignant. Jack's perspective was a fresh take, where male voices aren't always present in YA fiction where the story doesn't centre the man.

It was a great, quick, fast-paced read that my would've become my grade 9 self's favourite book ever. Unfortunately, I felt a bit too old for the audience and the overarching themes.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC!

3.5 stars

Olivie Blake of 'The Atlas Six' fame writing a romcom about a football player and a nerd who likes to play RPGs was not on my bingo card, and yet the book worked.

The characters were witty, and they had personal growth, and the personal growth didn’t fully revolve around each other!!!

Sometimes the plot and dialogue were a bit obvious. Every little societal issue was explained, when I feel like not everything needed to be spoon fed to me for me to understand what was going on.

The romance plot could have been better at times. I feel like 90% of the romance between the characters was in the last third of the book.

The ending slapped though SOOO good.

Thank you to NetGalley, Tor Publishing Group, and Tor Teen for this advanced readers copy!

"IDENTITY THEFT IS A CRIME, VI!"
Twelfth Knight by Alexene Farol Follmuth is a whimsical blend of fantasy and reality. The book offers a unique narrative that seamlessly blends the realms of online gaming and real-life relationships. Vi Reyes is a determined who finds solace in the MMORPG Twelfth Knight. The concept of creating an alternate persona in the virtual world to escape the challenges of reality is intriguing and adds a layer of depth to the plot.

The characters, notably Viola and Jack Orsino, are undeniably cute and endearing. They are relatable and readers are invested in the development of their online alter egos. Cesario and Duke Orsino, add a charming dynamic to the story. The exploration of their growing connection within the game, evolving from mere gaming partners to something deeper, is a delightful aspect of the narrative.

Twelfth Knight is a whimsical tale that successfully combines elements of fantasy and reality. The unique premise and adorable characters make it an entertaining read, particularly for those who appreciate stories that traverse the boundaries between online and offline worlds. While it may not reach the pinnacle of perfection, it is a solid choice for readers seeking a lighthearted blend of gaming escapades and budding romance.

3.5 stars. Thank you to NetGalley, Tor Publishing Group, and Tor Teen for this advanced copy! You can pick up Twelfth Knight on June 18, 2024.

Based on the premise of this book, I was excited for She's-The-Man-style shenanigans and messy teen romance. Two worlds colliding and rivals to lovers romance. Maybe that's on me for going in with those expectations, but the book delivered a very different kind of story.

Vi Reyes prides herself on being unapologetically herself, even if that rubs people the wrong way. She doesn't twist herself into knots to please others and goes after what she wants. While I admire those traits in an FMC, the way Vi talked about them in her inner monologue -- essentially to the reader -- was through pages-long rants.

Right at the start of the book, these sections took me out of the story and made it difficult to relate to Vi. I relate to her struggles as a woman, certainly, but the way she talked about her worldview felt like reading an angry Reddit post.

This writing and characterization style just wasn't for me, but the rest of the book was fun and interesting. I appreciated the layered relationships between the characters and the growth both Vi and Jack experienced throughout the book. The romance was sweet, the video game lingo interesting, and the football less so but still enjoyable.

Overall, I'd recommend this book if you enjoy secret identities, black cat girlfriend and golden retriever boyfriend, and DnD.

Immediately ordered for my library. This is AMAZING. It was so well written, age appropriate and it was really fun. I loved the banter between characters and it was a really engaging novel

I was not expecting to love this book as much as I did. I've been doing nothing but reading this book for the past like four hours that's how obsessed I got with it. I love modern retellings of classic plays. this book is based off of twelfth night (its obvious based on the name) like she's the man. vi and jack are so cute together!!!! I want someone to love me like they love eachother.i love the hidden/mistaken identity trope especially when they fall for eachother without knowing who the person really is but sometimes it can lead to third-act breakups (disgusting I hate them) and I'm so glad that this book had them communicate so it didn't lead to an extended break up.

Rating 2/5

Thank you to Tor Teen for providing me with an e-ARC although I’m not happy about the rating I have to give. As a girl gamer myself, I was so excited for this YA book about a girl gamer making her own space, but it was disappointing all around.

Viola “Vi” Reyes is a terrible MC. She’s rude, everyone’s her enemy, but somehow she’s the smartest girl ever? This isn’t even about her being “unlikeable”. I had to DNF the book at 15% because on top of Vi’s character making her chapters difficult to get through, the plot was slow and there was way too much info dumping. Both MCs, Vi, and Jack, had internal monologues that were so wordy to the point where (parentheses) were used several times in a single page! And, for lack of a better phrasing, I did not like the diversity in the book as it seemed insensitive to me (Ex: Danny Kim somehow is always referred to as Danny Kim and stupid according to Vi; why say his full name like that? This is a common racist call out to state a name like this. Even if that’s not his full name, “Kim” is still a Korean surname so this choice of naming is poor. Plus, Olivia Hadid has the stereotypical conservative Arab parents when she has a whole boyfriend?). The exaggeration of how male gamers were portrayed was hard to swallow too as a gamer myself. But it’s honestly the only way you could feel a little bit sorry for Vi. I skipped to 79% of the book, hoping to see character growth and hopefully re-read because I had misjudged, but nope! Jack says Vi is perfect and if everyone sees her as terrible they should be ignored and that HE needs to change. Jack was an okay character. A jock with family expectations on him. Why does HE have to change and not Vi? I had to put this book down, I'm sorry.

This was my first book written by Alexene Farol Follmuth (also known as Olivie Blake) and it won’t be my last. I loved this book and her writing!

Twelfth Knight is a young adult romantic comedy and coming of age story. It’s a story of friendship, self-awareness, personal growth, teenage angst, life, and love.

Viola and Jack, the two main characters, had major challenges and breakthroughs in this story. Their character development throughout the story was very well done. It was also really nostalgic reading about high school teenagers… remembering how it felt so important to know who you wanted to be and what you wanted to do with your life. Navigating friendships, sexuality, family drama, and school was so unique in that stage of life. All of these topics are addressed in this book.

After reading I reflected on how much I wish I read books like this when I was a teenager myself. I’m going to buy this book for my daughter and save it for when she is older.❤️

I highly recommend this book if you like:
🗡️YA romantic comedies
🗡️video games, table top games, cosplay
🗡️teenage angst and great banter
🗡️fun and lovable side characters
🗡️jock/nerd relationship
🗡️secret identity
🗡️navigating friendships
🗡️fun family dynamic

Thank you Netgalley and Tor Teen/ Tor Publishing Group for the opportunity to read this arc. This is my honest review.

I received an ARC from NetGalley, and I am providing a voluntary review.

For the record, I am a woman in my twenties, who has played D&D for the last ten years.

The only thing that kept me reading after I wanted to DNF at 10% was wanting to know if the author was making Vi unlikeable for an arc or if she genuinely thought her behavior was admirable. As it turns out, her antagonistic internal monologues are sincerely meant. Are there people who actually go around this stressed and angry all the time?? No wonder everybody is in therapy.

There is a dangerous combination of over-sensitivity and superciliousness going on here. On the one hand, being upset that teenaged boys are immature and reckless is fighting a losing battle. It's kinda what they're known for. It's not a systemically misogynistic excuse, it's a medical fact. You can either give them grace at the gaming table and take yourself a little less seriously when playing in groups, or you can play by yourself. I guarantee, as much as I get annoyed playing D&D with a 16 year old who doesn't write stuff down or ask pertinent questions, I would never play again with an adventurer who treated my tablemates with as little respect or grace as Vi does.

On the other hand, she's good at catching when men are taking liberties and putting a stop to it, but (here's where the overreaction comes in) she treats them ALL like knuckle-dragging inferiors. A good chunk of the girls—and teachers! also get this treatment. Duke gets badly injured playing football (oh, boo, we don't like football, it's...popular?) and Vi 1) offers not even the standard, BASIC POLITE TEXT “sorry you got hurt, get better soon” 2) repeatedly taunts him about his injury. This isn't being a strong female character, this is just meanness.

In short, you either agree with Vi on everything, or you are her mortal enemy. She requires a level of affirmation that is nothing less than sycophantic. The crux of the arc with her brother happens because she isn't letting him support her ENOUGH. Get real. I am so tired of this.

I loved this book! I devoured it in only a few sittings and wish there was more to read. The story line was paced very well and the characters were easy to love!