In "Twelfth Knight," Alexene Farol Follmuth crafts a delightful YA romantic comedy that seamlessly blends the allure of online gaming with the complexities of real-life relationships. Viola Reyes, known online as Cesario, finds solace and empowerment in her MMORPG alter ego, a knight who embodies everything she wishes to be: confident, skilled, and respected. Follmuth skillfully navigates Vi's journey as she grapples with societal expectations, friendships, and the unexpected allure of Jack Orsino, both online and offline.

Set against the backdrop of high school politics and personal growth, "Twelfth Knight" explores themes of identity, acceptance, and the power of connection. Vi's struggle to reconcile her online persona with her real-life self resonates deeply, especially as she navigates the complexities of friendships and budding romance. Follmuth's writing is witty and heartfelt, capturing the essence of teenage uncertainty and the thrill of discovering oneself amidst the chaos of adolescence.

The chemistry between Vi and Jack is palpable, whether they're battling monsters in Twelfth Knight or navigating the awkwardness of school dynamics. Follmuth masterfully weaves humor and tenderness throughout the narrative, making the characters' journey both relatable and immensely enjoyable. As Vi learns to embrace her true self and Jack grapples with unexpected feelings, readers are treated to a heartwarming story of self-discovery and young love.

"Twelfth Knight" is a charming addition to YA literature, offering a refreshing take on friendship, romance, and the power of authenticity. Follmuth's ability to blend gaming culture with heartfelt storytelling makes this novel a standout, perfect for readers looking for a blend of humor, romance, and meaningful introspection.

Alexene Farol Follmuth, also known as Olivie Blake, skillfully weaves Shakespearean magic with the challenges of modern youth in "Twelfth Knight," a delightful YA novel. As a fan of Follmuth's more adult works like "Atlas Six" and "Alone with You in the Ether," I was eager to explore her YA realm, and "Twelfth Knight" exceeded expectations. The story deftly integrates elements of Shakespeare's "Twelfth Night" into a contemporary setting, emphasizing authenticity and self-discovery amidst societal pressures.

As someone well past her high school years, I approached this YA book with some trepidation, but I was pleasantly surprised. Viola Reyes, our fiercely independent protagonist, navigates high school life with a determination that resonates deeply. Her journey, filled with challenges like sexism in gaming communities and the weight of expectations, is both relatable and empowering. Follmuth portrays Viola's resilience in confronting these issues admirably, illustrating that strength lies in staying true to oneself.

Jack Orsino, grappling with setbacks from a football injury, adds a heartfelt layer to the story. His transformation from star athlete to a gamer exploring the virtual world of Twelfth Knight is poignant and engaging. The evolution of his relationship with Viola unfolds naturally, devoid of the clichés typical in YA romance.

What distinguishes "Twelfth Knight" is its adept handling of serious themes—such as sexism and self-discovery—with a light-hearted touch. The banter between characters is witty and endearing, grounding the narrative in authenticity. Follmuth excels in forging meaningful connections and evoking genuine emotions from her readers.

The seamless fusion of Shakespearean essence into a contemporary context is masterfully executed. Unlike retellings that feel forced or overly referential, "Twelfth Knight" effortlessly integrates its plot and characters into a narrative that feels wholly original. Viola Reyes, the grumpy yet fiercely determined protagonist, drew me into her world of MMORPGs and cosplay with such authenticity that I found myself rooting for her at every turn. Her struggles with gender stereotypes in gaming are portrayed realistically, resonating with many readers.

Additionally, the incorporation of gaming and roleplaying elements feels natural and integral to the story, showcasing the author's deep understanding and respect for these subcultures. Unlike narratives that awkwardly insert such themes, "Twelfth Knight" integrates them seamlessly, enriching rather than detracting from the story.

The slow burn romance between Viola and Jack stands out as a highlight of the novel. Unlike many romance stories that rush into unnecessary drama due to misunderstandings, 'Twelfth Knight' takes a refreshing approach. For once, the characters demonstrate emotional maturity, understanding that open communication can prevent needless complications. This realistic portrayal deepens their relationship organically throughout the novel. Their witty banter and evolving camaraderie are both entertaining and heartwarming, culminating in a satisfying romantic payoff.

In conclusion, "Twelfth Knight" is a charming blend of romance, self-discovery, and Shakespearean homage that will appeal to fans of both classic literature retellings and contemporary YA fiction alike. Follmuth's skillful storytelling and nuanced character development make this a must-read for anyone seeking a heartfelt and immersive narrative.

Readers who appreciate well-developed characters, witty dialogue, and narratives that seamlessly blend contemporary issues with classic literature will find "Twelfth Knight" to be a captivating and rewarding read.

I really wanted to love this as someone who plays D&D. But I just could not get into it. I tried multiple times to pick this up.

Finished 07/07/2024 || Twelfth Knight by Alexene Farol Follmuth || #TwelfthKnight #NetGalley #RomCom

Thank you NetGalley, Alexene Farol Follmuth, and Tor Publishing Group | Tor Teen for making this e-ARC available!
Please note: This review may not be reproduced or quoted, in whole or in part, without explicit consent from the author and myself.
All of my thoughts are my own~

2.5 Stars over all

CW: mentions of racism and microaggressions, misogyny- this last one is hard to describe so easily but without spoiling much there is a male character that is a "nice guy" who pushes himself on the female characters but nothing much else transpires
Also I will be speaking about it deeper in my review, but there is a part of the book where sexuality is spoken about and it gave quick queer mention then sped past it.

For full transparency college has been eating away at my leisurely time so I did not get to this title before its publishing date

Over all this book has a good idea for the plot, I loved the nerding out parts, and I loved how the characters *mostly* interacted with one another.

As mentioned in the CWs there were mentions of racism and microaggressions, and while I understand there are plenty of books out there that explore how BIPOC handle these issues, I felt how quickly and casually these very real and very intense issues were mentioned and how quickly they were brushed off unless being made mention for the character's reactions to something.

The entire character of Vi is centered around feminism and being strong and how she came to be so shut off and the "grumpy" bitch/nerd was due to harassment and heckling because she was a woman in fandom spaces- I'm sure this would have only been worse if they'd known she was not white. Online she chooses to pretend to be a man in these fandom spaces because she was the target of harassment and hate- something we learn about extremely second-hand even though it was something that really explained a lot of her issues. Meanwhile Jack was morphed into the lovable, forgiving, almost people pleasing "sunshine" Jock to avoid the issues of being an "angry Black Man" in the eyes of his peers. These very real and pressing matters were simply used as plot points and ways to justify how the characters, both Jack and Vi, handled their very understandable anger. None of this was explored, and again- only seemed to be used to propel the romance plot forward.

Again, while I understand that this book had only so much room for so many plot points, I found it sorta wack knowing how many white audiences will more than likely consume this book and not understand half of the nuances for these very real and very serious issues. Being used as plot devices or personality markers was,,,,,hmmm. A choice.

The other part is the sexuality exploration blip we got. The whole reason Jack and Vi even began to orbit one another in-person was the fact Jack asks Vi to please befriend his not girlfriend, girlfriend Olivia, and find out why she's breaking things off with him. Through befriending, becoming close with, and understanding Olivia more, Olivia reveals she has feelings for another girl and in the process doesn't know if she likes Jack anymore. Granted they are only teens and Olivia comes from a very strict background, I felt like they could have made this a touch more clear. Olivia confesses (sorta???) that she likes Vi as more than a friend and Vi has to think about if she feels the same because her inner thoughts sorta do sorta don't- she doesn't fully know. She does an entire research mission and confides in her mom that yes she finds Olivia very pretty and nice to be around, she ultimately likes boys (Jack) more but is confused if this means she is bi. Honestly, I found that the quick dismissal of her questioning herself was not done in the best of tastes and when it didn't amount to anything beyond her and Olivia becoming better friends (wonderful honestly I loved their connection), Olivia telling Jack so that they were officially over and that he could pursue Vi- I didn't see the reasons for this at all. Thankfully the book does have Vi respond back to Olivia positively, but its sorta rushed and I was glad that Vi and Jack ended up being very supportive of Olivia, but the need for this just????? Made no sense.

To start exploring the possibilities of one being bi usually means there is more than just "oh she is pretty'- again, another very serious matter used as a weird plot device to propel the plot is strike two on my list.

So besides the issues mentioned here, I felt the nerd aspects in the book were lovely. I loved the convention sequence, and the details about Vi's cosplay were lovely- her interactions with the other con goers and even Jack was super endearing and I loved watching them essentially fall for one another via this sequence. I enjoyed Jack and Vi playing the game a lot and again, the details there were fantastic- the environments, the fights, the plot to the game. I loved their romance a lot. The writing style was superb too. But that is it for my positives.

I felt like this book was trying to hit all its diversity milestones without exploring these aspects at all which sucks and did not work for me at all.

This was such a great book that I read it in one sitting. I loved the characters and their development and also the storyline. I always find these such a sweet romance. I would definitely recommend this book.

For fans of D&D and amazing YA romcoms! Olivie Blake aka Alexene Farrol Follmuth is such an amazing writer. This was cute, immersive, and I was hooked from the start. I loved the way the characters grew throughout the story, the way they dealt with their emotions, and all the feminist themes as well.

4.5 ⭐️

For me, Alexene's YA never misses. I adored Viola and Jack's story. Twelfth Knight has the perfect combination of levity and depth that come so organically. A true romcom classic. It reminded me of 10 Things I Hate About you and She's the Man in the best way possible. The Shakespeare references as well as the gaming aspect made me love the story even know. Twelfth Knight was an instant favorite for me.

Definitely recommend this fun YA romcom to fans of 2006 She’s the Man. This was a fun retelling of Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night but set in a high school environment.

Features:
👾 Nerd x jock
👾 Coming of age story
👾 Video game quests
👾 Shakespeare retelling

Thanks to NetGalley and the Publishers for this ARC!

This is a very cute read with a grumpy x sunshine pairing. If you are a fan of 90s and early 2000s romcoms like myself, you will enjoy this. If you are a part of any fandoms, you will feel seen and enjoy this. Though no longer a young adult myself, I did resonate more with these characters than I thought I would.

Vi is the angry, takes no one's shit, smart, and geeky female protagonist. When not on top of her studies or role as student body vice president, she loses herself in the massively multiplayer online role-playing game (MMORPG) of Twelfth Knight. There her role playing counterpart is a male knight named Cesario. Her decision to take on a male character is due to the negative experiences playing as a female (i.e. not taken seriously or respectfully by her male gamer counterparts).

Jack is your what may seem like typical popular and charismatic high school football player and student body president. However, a serious injury at one of the games, keeps him from playing the rest of the season. He than grapples with the pressure of who he wants to be and if that means getting better to continue his family's football legacy or something else. He also has to deal with his distant girlfriend, Olivia, who now wants to put a pause in their relationship.

In school, Jack enlists Vi's help to find out what's going on with Olivia and in exchange he will take his role and responsibility as class president more seriously. Having nothing to do while he heals at home, Jack's friend introduces him to Twelfth Knight. In the game, Jack meets Vi's character Cesario who he asks for help to get better at playing the game. Afraid to tell Jack who she really is, Vi tells Jack she is actually her twin brother Sebastian. The two get closer in real life and the game.

As earlier stated I really enjoyed this story. It kept me entertained from beginning to end. If you're looking to read a lighthearted romance for the summer, this is the one.

Thank you NetGalley & Tor Publishing Group for this eARC in exchange for an honest review.

this book is my perfect niche like i am the target audience of this book. nerd culture, slow burn, and twelfth night retelling??? i have never been more sat.

i am so grateful i was chosen to receive an arc of this book, it was actually my first of hers! i will definitely be going back and reading her others now though.

thank you netgalley for an arc of this book!!

I adored this book! It was so good! I’m a huge fan of Shakespeare retellings, Olivie Blake , and nerd culture… So this was a full homerun for me. I really connected with Vi about the sometimes aggressive sexism in nerd culture. Everything was so well done! The ending was everything it should have been! I’ll miss these characters!

gonna be honest: i literally have too much to read and too much work to do but i will read it eventually.

The wonderful worlds of online persona and high school self doubt merge in this one, giving us a hilarious and relatable tale. When Vi decides to be herself in the game Twelfth Knight, but as a male persona, she feels more comfortable than ever. That is, until Jack finds himself in this world, too. What now? Could they actually get along? Such a great read.

I really enjoyed Follmuth’s debut YA rom-com, My Mechanical Romance, so when I saw she had another book coming out, it immediately went on my TBR.

This one started off slow for me. I didn’t connect with the main characters. Viola is super intense and has a pretty short fuse when she feels like people are wasting her time. Jack can’t stop talking about how great he is.

In some ways, I think they were meant to be unlikeable at the beginning of the book to highlight the character growth they both experience and the fact that they have a lot more beneath those irritating surface characteristics. I get that, and I appreciated it because it became much easier to invest in the story as the changes started to happen.

Other than the bumpy start with the characters, I enjoyed this book. It’s got the whole mistaken identity thing going with Viola playing as a boy character online and telling Jack she’s someone else. It’s got sweet, tenderhearted moments exploring gaming as a girl and how high-powered or assertive girls are treated in many spaces. It celebrates online gaming and fantasy television.

I’m not familiar with the Shakespearean play, The Twelfth Night, which obviously inspired this book. Looking at the summary, I can see the character parallels and some of the similar beats the story hits from the beginning of the play, especially. The plot of the book diverges from the play quite a bit from the play, but it’s a fun read.

I think readers who enjoyed Alex, Approximately or Don’t Hate the Player by Alexis Nedd will definitely want to read this one.

This book is such a fun read! I really enjoyed the characters as well as the romance. So cute and loved the grumpy x sunshine trope. Definitely will be reading more from this author in the future.

Vi loves fantasy games, stories, events. She does not love being student body VP to Jack, popular-boy football star. A sports injury, a deal, and a video game lead to... friendship?

This was a super cute YA romcom that definitely pulled on my heartstrings. The story hits hard topics on the way to teaching how to open up and be yourself to make connections and keep the ones you have. I'd recommend to fans of RPGs, fantasy worlds, and arthurian legend. Also to fans of love.

A super cute and delightful romp that was a little more YA than I expected but quickly became very enjoyable. As a fan of Twelfth Night and She’s The Man I liked this story quite a lot. I think this book will be much enjoyed by young feminists and nerds and anyone who likes a solid high school love story.

I love everything this author writes and this is no different! Such a fun dip into YA, I hope she keeps going!

I enjoyed this high set retelling of Shakespeare's Twelfth Night. It made the original story easier to understand. Plus it reminded me a bit of Avalon High. So fans of that book will enjoy this one.

I would inhale every book Alexene Farol Follmuth (aka Olivie Blake) writes. After Atlas Six being one of my favourite books ever, I was super curious about a YA romance written by the same author.

Twelfth Knight is a fun YA coming-of-age romance about Viola Reyes, vice-president of the student body by day, fanatic gamer of the game Twelfth Knight by night. Vi is frustrated by people, Jack Orsino, and the misogyny in the world and a total nerd (in the best sense). She plays online as Cesario, by other players perceived as a men and a character from her favourite TV fantasy show War of Thorns, she dresses up for conventions and renaissance fairs, and plays a D&D inspired game with her friends.

Jack is the star of the football team, president of the student body, and mister popular. When he injures his knee during a game, he has a lot of free time to fill and starts playing Twelfth Knight as well. In this game he interacts with Vi. They start chatting and quickly become in-game allies (and may I say friends), playing together every night until three o’clock. However, Jack does not know that he is chatting with Vi… In panic, Vi revealed herself to be her twin brother…

As their bond grows (or in Jack’s mind: the bond between him and Vi’s twin brother), they confide in each other about struggles they cannot really share with other people like Jack’s difficult relationship with his girlfriend Olivia, Vi’s struggles of her mother’s new boyfriend and Jack’s struggles with the future after high school: what if he can never play football again and loses his scholarship?

The main character chemistry and personal development in this book was great. Both their in-person interactions as well as their on-screen interactions contain so much banter. You can see them slowly falling to each other. I also really like that Jack does not see Vi as a bitch, but as a strong person, causing her to slowly open up to him. Additionally, I love how Jack finds out he has more to offer next to football.
My absolute favourite moment of the book was when Vi and Jack are forced to go to a convention together. Their interactions at the conventions are just great to read.

While both main characters were very likeable, my favourite was Olivia, girlfriend of Jack and new friend of Vi. Vi and Olivia start becoming friends after Vi brazenly volunteers to play Romeo to Olivia’s Julia in a school subject when she sees all the teenage boys looking at Olivia like she is a piece of meat after her relationship struggles with Jack become public. Practising together, the two slowly become friends.
The character I really didn’t like was Antonia. She tells Vi to be more likeable and chooses the sides of the boys she argues with rather than the side of Vi. Not okay girl, chicks before dicks!

Concluding: this book is a fast-paced enemies-to-lovers YA romance about two teens with amazing chemistry both dealing with setbacks in their high-school life but able to overcome their issues together, all while enjoying nerdy interests and making new friends.

Finally, I would like to thank NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

P.S.: I’ve never read Twelfth Night, so I have missed any Shakespeare references in this book. Maybe I need to read it before doing a reread of this one not to have missed them all.