Thank you to Tor Publishing and NetGalley for sending me an advance copy in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.


I'm a sucker for Shakespeare retellings in general but especially Twelfth Night. The 1996 adaption (With Tobey Stephens doing the absolute most) was my introduction to The Bard and I've been hooked ever since. I also love a prickly heroine so this felt like it was meant for me.


Review: I'm sad to say that I DNF'd the book at around 8 percent. The book is written in present tense-first person, switching from Orsino and Viola's POV's. While this does give you some interesting insights into their feeling (Especially about their "stations" in life), I found that I didn't really enjoy being in their heads. And I don't mean just Viola, my angry little nugget but Jack as well. Also, I was hoping for some of the spark and humor that the play had but I didn't see it. Perhaps it comes later in the book. Admittedly, my executive function has been on the fritz and I might be burned out on YA so it's not entirely this book's fault. Maybe I'll return to this in the future but for now, it's a no for me.



Now, it that's all you wanted to know, you can skip the rest of it but I'm gonna ramble about why I will probably feel overprotective about this book.



So both leads of this book are POC. Viola is Latine (Possibly afro-Latine, I didn't get that far) and Jack is Black. As mainstream as nerd culture has gotten over the past few years, it's still shockingly rare to see BIPOC faces showcased. At the red carpet on the 2018 movie, Solo: A Star Wars story, star Thandie Newton wore a dress with drawings of all of the Black Star Wars characters at that time. Including herself, it was less than 10 people. And that's still not mentioning the vitriolic hatred the Fandom Menace spews whenever someone not a white dude gets showcased.

As someone who remembers who hard it was to be a BIPOC female teen, it's really hard to be in a space and love something that doesn't make you feel safe. That doesn't seem to love you back and we see that in Vi's anger.



Yes, Vi is prickly to the point of unlikeable in this. Granted, I didn't finish it so I don't know how far she goes but I remember being her. I thankfully had the safe places to geek out about SFF with my guy friends but yeah, it was rough. I remember the need to prove myself to people who didn't matter, acting as gatekeeper to newcomers, the frustration at everything. And I was fat so while I didn't deal with the Nice Guys hitting on me, it still sucked. Also who wasn't incredibly annoying as a teenager? Again, I remember being a teen and respectfully, I was the worst.



I'm really glad that we're getting a book with BIPOC teens in these spaces and talking about the racist, sexist (Internalized and otherwise) in the geeky spaces. Unfortunately, this book wasn't for me, which is fine!



Twelfth Night comes out May 28th, 2024.



TW: Racism, sexism, injury,

Twelfth Knight by Alexene Farol Follmuth is a modern retelling of Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night that follows high schoolers Vi and Jack as they are making their way through high school. Jack is a football star but a knee injury puts him out for the season and he ends up playing an online game. He quickly makes a friend in the game but unknown to him, that friend is his rival at school, Viola. Hijinks begin to ensue as these two become close online while trying not to tear into each other at school.

I loved this book. I did read Twelfth Night before starting this so I could pick up on the references and I am glad I did because I think it really added to my experience. This is exactly the rivals-to-lovers story I love. Both characters have povs so you get to see what both of them are thinking and in the beginning, they really dislike each other. I thought all the gaming stuff was really fun. I want to play that game now! I love any book that talks about cons and fandoms and this did it perfectly.

This book also really gets into how differently men and women are treated in these kinds of circles. There is such a huge stereotype that women cannot compete in games the same way men do and I think this book explores that really well. Viola is very aggressive and standoffish in the beginning of this book because that’s the way she has learned to deal with things.

I just had such a good time with this book. I think it’s a very important book because of the topics it discusses but it’s also fun for anyone who loves nerdy things. I cannot wait until me preorder of this book comes in because I’m so excited to read back through some parts!

I LOVE THIS BOOK!!! IM STANDING OUTSIDE OF THIS BOOKS HOUSE WITH A BOOMBOX HELD ABOVE MY HEAD! I’M SINGING ‘I LOVE YOU BABY’ TO THIS SONG FROM THE SCHOOL BLEACHERS!!!

Was it cheesy and easily the nerdiest book i’ve ever read? yes. AND I LOVED IT! There were a few parts of the dialogue that felt a little bit off, but I feel like that could also easily change between this arc and the actual published version.

This is probably my least ‘professional’ (used for lack of better word) sounding review, but all I want to do is hype this book up. I absolutely cannot wait to get my hands on a physical copy and read everything this author does from here on out!

As someone who is not very familiar with the work of role-play games and video games, this book was an exciting step outside my comfort zone! The relationship between Duke and Vi was perfectly executed as both set but the prefer amount of tension ( Go is so witty and confident as a woman in a male- dominated field). This was a cute read and I recommend it to everyone, regardless of your video game knowledge!

I got about 33% though this book and cannot force myself to continue. I have no problem with feminism, but I cannot with this fmc and how whiny she is over no one understanding her and how self absorbed she is. I love twelfth night, but I do not love this.

This was a delightful YA rom com/Shakespeare adaptation. The author make it all her own by not only modernizing the characters but breathing such life into them! Vi is a one woman force to be reckoned with in the gaming community , and she's so fully realized: strong and independent, and yet so (secretly!) soft at the same time. Jack is the football star who suddenly has a glimpse of his future without football and realizes he doesn't know who he is, leading him to some interesting hobbies.

I was fully engaged in this story, and I hope to read more rom coms from this author!

Such a amazing book! I really enjoyed My Mechanical Romance by this author and was super excited to read her second ya romance release. Thankfully, this one absolutely delivered. Vi and Jack are very compelling characters who are both interesting enough to work on their own, which makes their relationship feel so genuine and easy to root for. Great side characters, lots of fun nerd culture scenes, engaging family conflicts, and a great ending. What's not to love? Highly recommend.

I read this book through NetGalley.

3.5 ⭐ || 🏳️‍🌈
Tropes: reverse grumpy x sunshine, enemies to lovers, forbidden/secretive love

It's givingggggg "She's the Man" and "Dungeons and Dragons" had a teenage baby. "Twelfth Knight" presents an inventive modern reimagining of Shakespeare's classic tale, blending romance, friendship, and self-discovery into this new narrative. While the story follows familiar themes, this retelling infuses fresh perspectives and contemporary issues, making it accessible and relatable to a more diverse audience.

Viola and Jack (aka our Duke) are the leads, each grappling with their own sets of adolescent insecurities and challenges. Their individual journeys towards self-acceptance and understanding are heartfelt, offering readers a glimpse into the complexities of teenage life. Additionally, the supporting characters, from Viola's witty brother Sebastian to Jack's loyal online friend Bash *cough cough*, add richness and authenticity to making the story almost brand new.

While it may not have reinvented the wheel in terms of plot or structure, its exploration of themes such as sexism, misogyny, and the pressure to conform would resonate deeply with YA audiences. Follmuth tackles these issues with sensitivity and nuance, sparking important conversations while maintaining a light and entertaining tone. Sprinkle in a heavy dose of nerd fandom, and "Twelfth Knight" was overall a cute and enjoyable read.

"DUKEORSINO12: is he some kind of healthy guru? a therapist?
C354R10: worse
C354R10: a youth pastor"

"IDENTITY THEFT IS A CRIME VI"

"But I always knew Vi wasn't the cheerleader Olivia is, and it still doesn't really change anything. Certainly not the way she makes me feel, or the time I'm willing to wait"

I absolutely think this book is worth the read if you are into YA rom-coms with a splash of Shakespeare crossover

Some prominent themes: sexism, misogyny, patriarchal society, feminism and their impacts on a high school girl who likes to game.

Ohhhh this was one was fun. I loved the gaming/nerdy theme. This YA contemporary romcom centers on Vi and Jack. Vi will not be everyone’s cup of tea but I hope she grows on you. (For my ACOTAR friends: Vi gives YA Nesta vibes. I am solidly on team Nesta and Vi.) I loved her. I liked that she was abrasive and non compliant. For Jack, I liked how he was more than the stereotypical HS jock and didn’t need a story arc to become that. The supporting characters were also dynamic and endearing. I really liked this story.

Thank you NetGalley, Alexene Farol Follmuth, and Tor for the opportunity to read this eARC!

This was not the read for me. I strongly disliked all the characters. This might be a good fit for other readers but just not me.

Alaxene Farol Follmuth! Wow beautiful! The connect with Shakespeare was my overall favorite part being that you taught us important lessons! which i won’t spoil! But this slow burn was definitely a great read!!

What a smart and funny retelling! I loved the connections Alexene Farol Follmuth drew to the original Twelfth Night, while creating a new and improved version. The banter and tension between Jack and Viola was incredible! Follmuth’s writing is hilarious and filled with wit. I loved the depictions of fandom, Renaissance faire, and gaming. It was great how Jack and Vi found unexpected camaraderie in these spaces together.

Vi is a courageous character who puts up with a lot from her classmates based on how they perceive her. I enjoyed watching Jack realize just how much Vi does behind the scenes to help the school succeed. Their slow-burn romance is delightfully filled with tension and angst. Bash and Vi have an amazing sibling relationship and I loved the twist on the mistaken identity. I also appreciated Olivia’s journey and her character growth. There is lots of excellent LGBTQ+ rep throughout.

Readers who enjoy enemies-to-lovers, grump/sunshine, hilarious dialogue, and Shakespeare with a modern twist will love this unputdownable book. I would highly recommend it to anyone!

Thank you to Alexene Farol Follmuth, Tor Teen, and Netgalley for a free ARC in exchange for an honest review.

For publisher: My review will be posted on Goodreads, Instagram, Storygraph, Amazon, Barnes & Noble etc.

This was was really cute!!! I was shook when I made the realization that this was the same person as Olivie Blake.

Also, since this was about Shakespearey stuff it took me entirely too long to realize that it was saying Vi, and not VI (as in the Roman numerals for 6).

This is a modern teen retelling of Shakespeare's comedy Twelfth Knight (note the new spelling) that was simply delightful.
Viola here is an overachiever with a sharp tongue. She's a gamer and has little patience for man-splaining fellow players.
"Jack" Orison is a football player with some resentments about the pressure / assumptions about his future that he has to live with. When he gets injured, he spends time playing games online.

Like the original, it is a lighthearted comedy with some things to say about gender assumptions and being human.
The gaming plot is a SUPER clever way to deal with the masked identities in the older version of the tale.
This author writes well, I adored the characters.
This is a slow burn romance that is emotionally rewarding .
Read it for the writing, the humor, the characters, the modernization conceits, and for the payoff-- worth every page spent.
5 stars,easily.

I love a good Shakespeare retelling and this one has all of the She’s the Man vibes I was looking for. Even though I don’t know much about football or rpg, this book is exactly what I was expecting. It’s not the most memorable YA contemporary but definitely a fun read while you’re in it.

I'm a sucker for a slow burn romcom, and that's exactly what this book will give you! I absolutely loved the plot, the characters, and the story so much. Vi and Duke literally have my heart!! Viola was a character I could literally see myself in because of how she felt throughout the book and it was amazing to see her figure out that you don't always have to be alone and that if you let someone in they will be there for you. I just absolutely loved this book and would recommend it to anyone!!

I really liked Vi. I got through this pretty quick. This is my first YA book from this author. I have read her books under Olivie Blake name. This was a lot easier of a read than Blake’s. Definitely more fun and light hearted.
Gamer aspect was fun. At first this did feel like a light read, there are some heart wrenching topics in here that take me back to being a teen.

Special thanks to Netgalley and Tor PublishingGroup for this digital ARC.

Perfect for the intersection of people who love the movie 10 Things I Hate About You, and video games (that is, me), Twelfth Knight was right up my alley. I found it to be a very fun and creative adaptation of the Shakespeare classic with a fun geeky twist. The cast of characters was very colorful and I was definitely rooting for everyone, (well except for Matt Das, but all of the main characters!).

Viola was someone that I recognized my younger self in, in being “unlikeable” as a way of trying to be tough but also as a way to avoid being vulnerable, and I liked seeing a young woman of color portrayed in that way. Jack’s more outgoing character served as a good contrast to her and loved seeing how they learned from each other but also enjoyed seeing them come to blows, but also grow and learn from those conflicts. And he’s really the golden retriever that Viola deserves.

I also enjoyed seeing Jack’s own arc, and that really fleshed out his own character, and how it interwove with Viola’s own personal growth as well.

I really loved the side characters as well! Olivia and Bash especially. Even though they were only side characters, Olivia’s growth and self discovery was something I enjoyed seeing her go through, and Bash was very entertaining but also clearly loves his family. Honestly I wish we saw a little more of him, especially since he and Viola have a conflict near the end that I would have liked to see foreshadowed a little more.

Overall, I really enjoyed this book and reminded me of some of my favorite teen rom coms with a few niche things I felt I related even more to (being more diverse and nerdy than said teen rom coms).

Thank you NetGalley and Tor Publishing for this advanced copy!

Vi Reyes and Jack Orsino are mortal enemies (AKA the nerd versus the jock) at Messeline High School. Jack is arrogant and seems to think the world revolves around him, and Vi believes she’s better off doing everything on her own because no one else is capable of getting things done the right way. Through a series of events, these two are forced to interact both knowingly in real life and unknowingly via an online MMORPG.

I loved watching their story fold out on the page! Vi and Jack have so much fun banter through the entire book, and you can see both characters grow tremendously. This book touches on a lot of real life problems that we all experience, and it really helps connect the reader to the characters. The MMORPG and tabletop RPG aspects of the game were really fun and written in a way that someone who has never had any interest in these kinds of games can still understand. The last chapter was absolutely my favorite in the whole book because it really wrapped up everything nicely! The Twelfth Knight is a must read!