A girl in armor on a cover is all the information I need to read a book.

In all seriousness, I’m not much of a romance reader, but the premise here is intriguing. A good romance book needs a balance with some relevant issue or a strong character growth arc. Twelfth Knight delivers on the former but misses with the latter.

Vi is a gamer. She loves board games, role-play games, and things considered “nerdy.” Unfortunately, that space isn’t known for being female-friendly. Sure, certain fandoms are more welcoming to girls, but it’s because there is a prominent romance or some sexist idea. Thanks to the resident gamer in my house (hi, sissy), I also know that Vi’s treatment is not exaggerated. The boys are horrible, mansplaining and calling her a “b*tch” when she dares to have an opinion. Vi doesn’t take it lying down; she burns those bridges with a smile. She doesn’t let others dictate what she enjoys and takes precautions to avoid unfair hate when possible.

I like characters who are deemed b*tches. More often than not, b*tch is synonymous with “doesn’t let people walk over me.” Vi’s character arc just came too late in the story. Yes, people within her hobby are awful, but she takes that attitude towards everyone. She has a chip on her shoulder, but it’s never fully addressed. She’s derogatory towards girly things, like cheerleading and makeup. While I didn’t expect her to like those activities, her comments weren’t necessary. Her suddenly getting into girly things would have been ingenuine, but a moment of self-reflection on her actions would have sufficed. She’s quick to judge the popular crowd, yet that behavior is never acknowledged.

The redemption at the end wasn’t quite what I expected. Vi gives herself a bunch of character traits that she never projected. Being mean and closed-off doesn’t mean you’re sensitive. Not once does Vi portray any sensitivity, which is the first problem. Her independence leans into a critical harshness that specific characters in the story don’t deserve. She makes for an interesting main lead, which is hard to do in a YA romance. I have mixed feelings about her, but I loved how she didn’t back down when men were inappropriate and rude. She needs an attitude adjustment towards everyday people; there is such a thing as too brutal.

Jack’s character arc is much smoother. His football injury sends him into a spin with no direction in life. With so much time on his hands, he finally gets to find his interests outside of football. I liked how his love for football translated into his other hobbies. There was no cringe epiphany that he hated sports; he just found that what made the game so special to him existed in different spaces. Her slowly grew into himself and his personality. There’s a missed opportunity to address Jack’s need to be likable. He bases his worth on what he can give people. His dad (also his coach), his brother, and even his teammates place stock on his football abilities. His anxiety about his injury is a massive part of his insecurity. This topic is brought up but isn’t fleshed out.

Vi and Jack are cute together. I’m a sucker for the grumpy and sunshine trope, especially when the girl is the grumpy one. Their personalities fit together well, in a weird way. I did appreciate that the third-act breakup felt natural to the story. The miscommunication in romances is usually unnecessary, but Vi and Jack’s foundation is shaky, so it made sense that a specific issue would cause some cracks.

Overall, I enjoyed this book. There is a fantastic blend of romance and real-world issues. While I wanted more from the overall character arcs, the leads are still solid and have complex personalities. If you love fandoms and grumpy feminists who wield swords, give this one a go.

Thank you to NetGalley and Tor Publishing Group (Tor Teen) for the advance copy. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.

This books has both fantasy, gaming and sports wrapped into one book. I enjoyed how book is given dual POV so we are allowed to understand what each character is going through. I enjoyed the development of the characters.

Thank you for the arc!

I couldn't resist diving in when I heard of a Twelfth Night Shakespearean retelling within the realm of MMORPGs. As a devoted fan of Shakespeare retellings, the concept alone had me hooked from the start, and I'm pleased to say that this novel delivered!!

The narrative unfolds as a captivating coming-of-age story, with the spotlight on Viola as she navigates the
landscape of high school, friendships, and the rollercoaster of a blossoming romance. All the while, Viola conceals her true identity within the virtual world of an MMORPG. It blends elements of self-discovery, teenage romance, and the universe of online gaming, creating a narrative that resonates with both the timeless essence of Shakespeare's Twelfth Night and the contemporary allure of gaming culture.

The novel's portrayal of gaming and fandoms strikes a chord, effortlessly transporting me back to a time when I, too, was immersed in the world of online gaming. The references are not only entertaining but also relatable, catering to both seasoned gamers and those who casually dip their toes into the gaming realm.

The dialogue and romance are charmingly cute, capturing the awkward yet endearing nature of teenage experiences. The dual perspectives of Viola and Jack offer a nuanced understanding of their characters, making their personal growth and the evolution of their relationship all the more compelling and fun to read. Viola and Jack, the central characters, form a perfect balance, each serving as precisely what the other needs on their individual journeys of self-discovery.

Honesty I don't know what else to say but the fact that I liked this book and to go read it yourself!

Thank you NetGalley and Tor Publishing Group for this free ARC in exchange for an honest review!

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(づ🎮⊂)🥡

"Twelfth Knight" by Alexene Farol Follmuth, a YA romantic comedy and coming-of-age story, follows the protagonist Viola Reyes as she navigates the challenges of high school, friendship, and a budding romance.

Viola, also known as Vi, is dealing with various frustrations—from the rejection of her carefully crafted tabletop game campaign to the suggestion that she should be more "likable." As the Vice President of her school, she finds herself at odds with the laid-back Student Body President, Jack Orsino. To escape the pressures of the real world, Vi immerses herself in the MMORPG (Massively Multiplayer Online Role-Playing Game) Twelfth Knight. In this virtual realm, she adopts the persona of Cesario, a masculine alter ego, creating a space where she feels more accepted.

The plot takes an interesting turn when a football injury leads Jack Orsino to discover Twelfth Knight, and Vi is surprised to find that their online alter egos, Cesario and Duke Orsino, share a unique connection. As they engage in discussions about life and love within the game, Vi and Jack begin to form a bond that goes beyond their virtual personas. However, Vi is faced with the dilemma of concealing her true identity from Jack, leading to potential complications in their budding offline relationship.

"Twelfth Knight" explores themes of self-discovery, identity, and the complexities of relationships, both online and offline. The blend of romance, comedy, and the gaming world offers a fresh perspective on the challenges faced by young adults in today's interconnected society.

If you've had the opportunity to read "Twelfth Knight," feel free to share your thoughts on how the book handles themes of identity and relationships in the context of both the virtual and real worlds.

This book is incredible for readers of all youth ages and carries an important message. It bridges genres and topics being both about nerd things but also sport life with themes reading from social commentary of social divisions to lighter themes such as angst and romance. Many books try hard to achieve this but compared to this book all others have failed.

(4.5) Viola Reyes is annoyed. It’s true. Viola Reyes loves the fantasy world and after one of her game campaigns was shot down by her group which is a majority of boys, she’s had it with people. Meanwhile, Jack Orsino, the star football player, has suffered a severe knee injury which will have him out of the field for at least a year. Now, Jack has taken to playing a video game called Twelfth Knight where he makes a friend, Cesario, who in real life is Viola. However, Jack doesn’t know that, so in real life he’s enemies with Viola but close friends through the game.

Viola is such a complex character because many of the closest people don’t understand her. I had a hard time trying to make an opinion of her and her actions. She wasn’t the most likable person to most people and was often referred to as a “bitch”. She truly believed she was bitch and hid behind that term so that people didn’t have high expectations of her. Of course, she did have some things to work on like letting others in and not being afraid to show emotion but I feel like a lot of the people around her made her feel like she was the worst person ever. When in reality she's a teenage girl who’s angry at the world and still learning how to deal with those emotions. By the end, you could see an overall development in Viola, and dare I even say she seemed to be happy.

Jack was such a breath of fresh air. He represents every teenage kid who thought they had it figured out until they released, oh wait, I don’t. I’m happy that this book was duo POV and we were able to also see Jack’s POV of everything going on. It allowed us to understand his headspace during a time that was difficult for him. Also, it was so sweet to see how he gradually grew feeling for Viola and how he was one of the few people who didn’t view her as a horrible person. Whether he knew it or not, Viola was there for him and it was great to see their relationship blossom. They were exactly what the other person needed and they make a perfect balance. I loved this book and I can’t wait for the author’s next YA book!

Thank you to NetGalley, Tor Publishing Group, and Tor Teen for this eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Viola escapes from her world by playing Twelfth knight- a MMORPG. She pretends to be a guy to avoid unwanted attention. Jack Orsino - her annoying student president decided to join and they play well together surprisingly.

Tons of celever references to Shakespear's Twelve Night. The book is fun and sweet. Really enjoy it. Great characters with Jack and Viola.

Thanks to the publisher for the arc.