Every time I think I'm over Shakespeare's retellings, something pulls me back in. This was such a delightful use of Twelfth Night to tell a great story about fandom and opening yourself up to other people and experiences. Using gaming and fandom as a way to utilize the disguise of identity aspects of Twelfth Night was nothing short of genius. Although, at this point, genius is something I expect out of Follmuth's writing both as Alexene and Olivie. I'm a fan of both Blake's adult books and YA and this was another great example of that biting wit and characterization.

Viola comes off initially as slightly brash and it was a really great journey for her and the reader so she opens herself up to realizing she does need other people while not losing that angry and stubborn part of her that gets things done. I really liked her and Duke getting to know each other in "real life" and through the RPG. There is SO much attention to detail here both in the world of fandom and in the game and as a huge con/fandom nerd that was especially fun to see in this book. I also love how equal grace was given to "Duke" as he realizes football isn't everything.

This was a really sweet, smart YA book and I am so thankful for NetGalley and Tor Teen for granting me an early copy in exchange for an honest review.

I loved this clever contemporary YA take on Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night! This was my first time reading a novel by Alexene Farol Follmuth (who also writes as Olivie Blake) and I am very much looking forward to reading more.

Viola Reyes is the brilliant student vice president of Messaline High, and since she has a lot of traditionally male-dominated hobbies and passions (RPGs, cosplay, fantasy TV show fandoms), she has also learned how to take no bullshit. Her student council counterpart, handsome football player president Jack Orsino, is a thorn in Vi’s side until he sustains a major injury on the field and has to figure out who he really is when he can’t be a sports star. While recovering from surgery, Jack gets into the MMORPG video game Twelfth Knight, and runs into Viola online (though he doesn’t know who she is, as she plays as a male knight named Cesario). Through a comedy of errors of mistaken identity, witty banter, and heartfelt conversations between in-game swordfights, these two find that their initial dislike morphs into a real connection.

I really enjoyed this reimagining of the classic story, which seamlessly incorporated contemporary themes and a cast of almost entirely BPOC characters, all fully formed and all chaotically dealing with their own emotional baggage (as is the high school condition). Vi in particular is an incredibly nuanced character, and one I don’t see represented enough in fiction, especially in YA; she’s confident and honest and sure of her skills and her interests, but she’s also full of big feelings like loneliness and uncertainty and desire. I had many similar “nerdy” interests growing up, and I found a lot I could relate to while reading about her struggles with her friendships and within those niche communities.

Everything about this book was thoughtful and impactful and well-done, from the references to the many different relationships, and the central romance felt very realistic, all fragile and bumbling and sweet. This was exactly the kind of book I would have loved as a teen, and I’m so glad I got to read and love it in my thirties.

4.5 stars

Thanks to Tor Teen and NetGalley for providing me with an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review!

This book felt like a warm bath after a long day, and the comforting feeling you get from a sip of hot chicken tinola* soup on a rainy day. I love this teen romcom, Shakespeare retelling; it was so much fun and light-hearted. The dual POV was perfectly executed, and I can’t recall how many times I laughed between Vi and Orsino’s thoughts, banter, and conversations.

I LOVE all the characters, and also the side characters. Despite Vi’s flaws, her character remained strong and confident; she didn’t let others change her perspectives. Jack’s development was impressive—I was rooting for him until the end. The challenges they faced were incredibly relatable, both in real life and online. I’m in awe of the research that must have gone into this book, particularly the accurate portrayal of online gaming and its ability to foster connections. (#MMORPGs)

The overall message of this book is absolutely incredible. While some might have preferred more romance, I believe the book didn’t need it (no spice). It’s about growing up, not giving up, cultivating friendship, experiencing love, and appreciating family. The book emphasizes that there’s always a choice—you’re not born to do just one thing, and there are always other outcomes, not all of which have to be sad.

*Filipino chicken soup typically served with rice

Thank you NetGalley, the author, and Tor publishing group for gifting me an e-ARC copy of this book

In "Twelfth Knight" by Viola Reyes finds refuge from high school drama in the MMORPG world. When her virtual alter ego, Cesario, clashes with school quarterback Jack Orsino's Duke Orsino, sparks fly. As their online connection deepens, Vi must grapple with revealing her true identity to Jack. [Author] skillfully crafts a tale of romance and self-discovery that transcends the digital divide, making "Twelfth Knight" a captivating read for fans of contemporary YA fiction.

Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night gets the reimagined in a high school setting treatment a la ‘90s and early 2000s rom coms in Twelfth Knight. Alexene Farol Follmuth pays homage to The Bard while making this story fully her own and the result is a delight.

It’s grumpy meets sunshine with Vi and Jack. Vi is a gamer who – thanks to rampant sexism in the gaming world – plays as a male knight named Cesario in her favorite MMORPG. Jack “Duke” Orsino is a football star whose world turns upside down when his knee is busted. Jack’s at a crossroads in his life and it doesn’t help that his girlfriend, Olivia, is avoiding him. When his friend recommends he pass the time with Twelfth Knight, Jack ends up teaming up with Cesario and the friendship he develops with his online friend is a stark difference to the bickering he and Vi do in real life.

What will happen when Jack learns that his sword-wielding friend is the same sharp-tongued grump he’s falling for? I’ll leave readers to find out. But I will say that this was an absolutely charming story with well-drawn characters and an entertaining plot. I liked seeing Cesario and Duke Orsino open up to each other online while Jack gets over, under, and through Vi’s barriers in the real world. There are just enough references to Shakespeare’s play to keep an enthusiast entertained but not so many that this book can’t stand on its own.

Twelfth Knight is about letting down your walls, letting people see the real you, and trusting that they will be there and love you as you are. I loved the gaming aspects, both seeing it through the experienced Vi’s eyes and the new-to-gaming Jack’s viewpoint. Jack and Viola are joined by a wonderful cast of characters who are as endearing, flawed, and unique as they are. All in all, this was a fun read that also took its characters on engaging journeys of personal growth.

When Jack "Duke" Orsino tears his ACL, he's forced to sit out his senior year football season and instead starts playing the game Twelfth Knight. Viola also plays Twelfth Knight, but when she ends up playing with her school rival Duke, she pretends to be her brother Bast, so that Duke doesn't realize who he's really playing with.

I loved this twelfth night retelling. I thought the characters worked so well. I loved Viola's journey to learning to be her true self and Duke's journey to learn that there's more to him than being good at football.

Twelfth Knight definitely manages to capture the feeling of being a misunderstood, gloomy tween in the early 2000s, wistfully watching rom-coms on the living room TV. Not only that, but it also covers serious social issues, without glancing them over or making everything resolve itself in an unrealistically positive manner. I especially loved how Olivia's storyline was covered.

The Twelfth Knight is a compelling book with relatable characters dealing with real-life problems. It was a fun and easy read with amazing descriptions that were enjoyable with nearly every line! It also has a grumpy-sunshine trope. As someone who isn’t very familiar with MMORPGs, the author wrote it in a way that everyone can understand and enjoy. The story is told through a dual perspective between Jack (the popular football player) and Vi (the gamer girl who a lot of people hate). I do wish the chapters would’ve been separate for each character, though, rather than being longer chapters split in the middle with each of their pov’s.
After Jack injures his knee, he discovers he has a lot of free time on his hands, where his friend sucks him into the ‘geeky world of gaming and the weird TV show War of Thorns’. Vi is obsessed with the game Twelfth Knight—the same game that Jack is then getting into. Vi plays a guy character, having faced the challenges far too many times of being a female in a'male dominant game’ as well as the daily issues of being expected to behave a certain way because of a sexist society.
The challenges the characters face are all problems that people truly struggle with and can relate to, such as unfair stereotypes, identity, and struggling to fit in. The characters all have their own unique voices and grow throughout the novel. They all felt real. I liked how the characters branched out of what they were boxed-in to, with being able to ‘become more than one thing’—such as with Jack being a football player but also learning to be a fan of RPG too.
The plot was well-structured, but felt a little overdrawn towards the middle or end, but worked well. I would definitely recommend this book to anyone who enjoys YA!
Thanks to NetGalley, the author Alexene Farol Follmuth, and the publisher Tor Publishing Group for providing me with an ARC of this book for an honest review.

This was a fun modern Twelfth Night retelling involving opposites attract and video games with dual pov. I really liked this retelling and the portrayal of these characters. Viola is such a great fmc and while she comes off as mean and abrasive, once you get to know her she’s incredibly caring and funny and only a little mean. She is full of anger at the world and the way they treat women, especially in the activities she likes, and I loved seeing this in ya and seeing her be able to articulate this anger into words. All this anger leads to her portraying as a man in the virtual world of Twelfth Knight where she runs into star quarterback Jack, who assumes she’s a guy and not Viola. Both on screen and off they start to form a friendship and eventually more. As much as I loved seeing them together and all the miscommunication of a mistaken identity, I wish there was more of them together in person. They had great banter together and I just wanted more. There is also a great set of secondary characters and I loved seeing them and their personalities and their changing relationships with Viola and Jack.

Overall, this is a good romcom that I recommend!

The Shakespearean Adaption of Twelfth Night that High School Me needed.

I was obsessed with the Bard in High School, and it had a big part to do with my Theatre Teacher.

This is a love note to only to Shakespeare, but also to fandoms in general.

Alexene Farol Follmuth (also known as Olivia Blake) writes BiPoc and Queer characters who are the center of their stories and recognize who they are and the world around them without making the trauma of being a marginalized character the center.

I won’t pretend that at the beginning I was a little bit annoyed with Viola and Jack (Duke) but then I remember that she was doing Shakespeare justice showing us the full expressiveness of the human condition while also making hilarious commentary on our social condition.

5 Star Highly recommend not just for yourself but for libraries in the community and in schools so girls can see the broad ranges of characters they can be and not just slices.

I don't usually read YA, so I didn't go into this with high expectations. Thankfully, I LOVED this book. Maybe I should read more YA? This high school romcom reminded me a bit of early 2000s teen movies like "10 Things I Hate About You". The FMC, Viola Reyes, very enthusiastically clings to her nerd girl persona, and she is also a difficult and possibly unlikeable character, which is like catnip to me. Give me all of the bitchy girls, they are the most interesting and amazing characters to read. The MMC, Jack Orsino, is very much a foil to Viola. He is friendly, outgoing, and easygoing, just trying to maintain his place atop the high school food chain. Watching the two of them develop a friendship and then fall in love was a joy. The secondary characters in this book were also charming and complicated. Overall, I would highly recommend this book!

While I did not like this title as much as My Mechanical Romance, this is a book I could see myself purchasing for a high school library. I love a good modern Shakespeare adaptation and this book works on several different levels. Overall, I think this will be a hit with teens and would be a great addition to any library.

📚 Read if you like: YA romance, Shakespeare retellings, fantasy RPG, rivals to lovers (no spice)

I really enjoy a Shakespeare retelling and this take on Twelfth Night did not disappoint! If you enjoyed the 2006 classic She’s The Man, this book is for you! It was a surprisingly emotional, funny, nerdy, adorable read. In the acknowledgement, she says “this story is really about anger and who is allowed to feel it” and it honestly helps to sum it up so well.

Viola and Duke were so deeply flawed and honestly annoying at the beginning (but most teenagers are, I know I absolutely was lmao). But there’s a LOT of character growth and you find yourself rooting for these teenagers. I was also a huge nerd in high school and played MMORPG games so I loved all the nerdy references to fantasy worlds, Game of Thrones, Dungeons and Dragons, and World of Warcraft.

I recommend this to everyone! I think it has universal themes that everyone can enjoy and I think it has a really nice spin on the original Shakespeare work.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Tor Publishing for the eARC in exchange for my honest opinion!

A really fun (if a touch long), dual POV, YA enemies to lovers, opposites attract, mistaken identity romance between two BIPOC teens who become friends while playing an online RPG game and find themselves getting close in real life as they spend more and more time together in person and virtually. Great female gaming and queer identity rep and perfect for fans of books like The no girlfriend rule by Christen Randall. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a digital and audio copy in exchange for my honest review!

This was everything I wanted in a YA romance by Alexene Farol Follmuth (aka Olivie Blake): deep and also cute. Because it’s a YA romance, it’s pretty different from the books she publishes under Olivie Blake, but it still included a lot of female rage and political and philisophical themes. Overall, I don't typically have a strong desire to read books about high schoolers, but I will read teenagers written by Olivie Blake any day. Highly recommend!

4.5 ⭐ - Thank you Netgalley and Tor Publishing Group for the arc in exchange for an honest review!

Twelfth Knight is a YA modern Shakespearean retelling that delightfully twists the original tale into one filled with fantasy role-play games, football, and cosplay. I adore Shakespearean retellings and this is one of the cutest ones I’ve ever read!
Note: I know nothing about MMORPGs or football, so please excuse me if I get anything wrong 😭

10/10 would recommend this book for fans of MMORPGs, DND, fantasy movies and cosplay conventions!

Jack "Duke" Orsino is the football star of his high school (think football Troy Bolton) who unfortunately tears his ACL months away from state championships. Viola “Vi” Reyes is a geek obsessed with MMORPGs and whom others call mean, but really, she’s just honest (she's just a fangirl) (who isn't tbh)

While recovering from his injury, Jack gets into a MMORPG called "Twelfth Knight", where he meets and forms an alliance with another player, “Cesario”, who says he is Bash Reyes, Vi's twin. The thing is, Cesario is actually a girl - Vi herself - who doesn’t want anyone to know because of the prejudice against girls playing MMORPGs. While a friendship between Cesario and Duke Orsino blossoms online, an unlikely connection forms between sworn rivals Vi and Jack in real life too - and Vi is worried that if Jack finds out she's actually Cesario, he’ll leave her too.

Initially, I wasn’t too interested in the plot - it started slow, with many descriptions of the various MMORPGs, games and fandoms Vi was in. Vi herself was unnecessarily mean, like yes I understand being mad when you have to play with THOSE guys (I hated her ConQuest group) but she girlbossed a little too hard and ended up just bossing instead 😭😭. But I realised this is heavily character-driven, and they are written SO WELL.

They made me squeal, giggle, tear up and it was a whole adventure of its own.

Once Jack and Vi began interacting more, the pacing quickened and they were given more depth. I love how the author managed to bring out the different layers of each character and let them and their motivations grow through their relationships. Bash and Vi have one of my favourite sibling dynamics (honestly, Bash is my favourite character: he’s dramatic, he loves Shakespeare AND he’s a great brother?? How can you not love him)

Ravi lovers will LOVE Jack because he's the sweetest. He communicates with Vi to learn why she acts the way she does, and still, he stays. He also continues to help coach his team and I love that instead of lashing out at everyone (I would've been so mad if I tore my ACL and nearly ruined my chances of a football career) he was patient and took the proper steps to heal.

But Vi’s arc was the most interesting to me. She went from having her guard up and hating everyone else (she was faced with a lot of sexism for her interest in male dominated “geek” stuff) to learning to open up with those she loves. A lot of that was Jack: they had amazing banter and continued to do so even while being vulnerable with each other. Jack just gets her and they’re so perfect for each other 🥺

But anyway, the moral of the story is: everyone is a geek at heart. Even jocks. And I love that.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher Tor Teen for the arc in exchange for an honest review!

4.25 stars -- Twelfth Knight by Alexene Farol Follmuth is such a satisfying follow up to her other YA book, My Mechanical Romance. They are not connected by characters or plot or setting, but thematically they go together and make for two excellent reads.

Viola Reyes is just trying to make it through high school and her busy life by playing her favorite video game at night. She's excellent at it but keeps that part of her life to herself. After Jack has a major ACL injury, he also starts to get interested in the game and finds friendship with an online gamer named Cesario. Viola knows it's Jack playing, but Jack doesn't know it's Viola playing as Cesario due to harassment from being a female gamer.

I loved how much discussion there was about real-life concerns for teenagers, delivered to the reader on the platter of video games and other TTRPG. Jack's future is incredibly uncertain and he turns to the escapism of the game to spend his time while he heals. Viola loves the games and aspects of character and world-building that goes into the RPGs, but has been left out precisely because of her gender.

Naturally, she has become very prickly and many other characters classify and call her "a bitch" even though it's a defense mechanism. Viola embraces this as it morphs into discussions of why she is protective of herself and how opening up to others can be a good thing. I honestly loved the frankness of the characters and how this book has very relatable plot lines. The slow development of friendships with other characters and even with the love interest Jack didn't feel rushed.

Overall, it had everything I've come to expect from this author! I know a lot of teens will adore this book when it comes out on May 28th!

3.75/5 stars

I'd like to thank Tor/Forge, NetGalley, and Alexene Farol Follmuth for giving me an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I've been excited for this book for months, so I was delighted to receive an eARC of this book. And it did not disappoint. The whole concept of the Twelfth Knight game was incredibly well thought-out and developed, it really made the story special. But the other essential part of the story, the characters, also stood out in their own right. I enjoyed the dual POV from both Jack and Vi, and thought it really added dimension to the story. Jack was a relatable character for me, so obsessed with football that he doesn't really have much else, until he gets horribly injured and has to consider futures other than football. It's difficult for him, but it was amazing to see him grow his possibilities while also accepting parts of his identity that don't align with the football jock he's always been. And I had a soft spot for Viola, it was so clear that she was desperate to connect with people, but was so defensive. I loved that she had strong opinions about the things she loved, her passion made her a better character. I also loved how unapologetic she was, both to shitty people and about Twelfth Knight, WOT, and other 'nerdier' passions. As much as this was a romance, it was also a story about self-discovery, self-acceptance, and coming of age, and I throughly enjoyed it.

I loved this fresh spin on Shakespeare’s Twelfth Knight! Alexene breaks gender roles by making Olivia a gamer girl. The chat room banter between Olivia and Duke was adorable. The high school setting fit the book and I devoured each page. I’m knocking a star down because I felt the tension between Olivia and her best friend dragged the book down; it didn’t feel authentic and I could have done without it!

a HUGE thank you to netgalley and the publisher for providing me with this arc!

i absolutely loved this book.

i went through every single emotion while reading this and i felt so seen by vi. we shared so many of the same experiences and thoughts that i actually teared up a few times throughout the book.

and jack??? what a sweetheart. i actually adore him. his respect for boundaries was so refreshing and i loved how patient he was with viola.

both of them together?? CUTIES
i almost cried because of how adorable their interactions were.

the discussions they had in this book were so important and i loved that we got to see multiple relationships from viola’s perspective instead of solely focusing on her romantic relationship.

this book was everything to me and i’m about to become incredibly insufferable.