Twelfth Knight

by Alexene Farol Follmuth

From the New York Times-bestselling author of The Atlas Six (under the penname Olivie Blake) comes Twelfth Knight, a grumpy/sunshine YA romantic comedy and coming of age story about taking up space in the world and learning what it means to let others in.

Viola Reyes is annoyed.

Her painstakingly crafted tabletop game campaign was shot down, her best friend is suggesting she try being more “likable,” and school running back Jack Orsino is the most lackadaisical Student Body President she’s ever seen, which makes her job as VP that much harder. Vi’s favorite escape from the world is the MMORPG Twelfth Knight, but online spaces aren’t exactly kind to girls like her―girls who are extremely competent and have the swagger to prove it. So Vi creates a masculine alter ego, choosing to play as a knight named Cesario to create a safe haven for herself.

But when a football injury leads Jack Orsino to the world of Twelfth Knight, Vi is alarmed to discover their online alter egos―Cesario and Duke Orsino―are surprisingly well-matched.

As the long nights of game-play turn into discussions about life and love, Vi and Jack soon realise they’ve become more than just weapon-wielding characters in an online game. But Vi has been concealing her true identity from Jack, and Jack might just be falling for her offline…

Genres: Romance, Young Adult, Contemporary, Retellings, Fiction, Audiobook, Contemporary Romance

320 pages, Paperback

First published May 28, 2024

About the author

Alexene Farol Follmuth is a first-generation American, a romance enthusiast, and a lover and writer of stories. Alexene has penned a number of adult SFF projects under the name Olivie Blake, including the webtoon Clara and the Devil and the BookTok-viral The Atlas Six. My Mechanical Romance is her YA debut, coming Summer 2022 from Holiday House. She lives in Los Angeles with her husband, new baby, and rescue pit bull.

Reviews

[mitra ౨ৎ · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 stars ✩
⤿ ₊˚ spoiler free review
tropes - grumpy x sunshine, slow burn, enemies to lovers <3

side note - 💌 first off, thank you to netgalley and tor teen publishing group for the arc in exchange for an honest review!

⤿ the plot. twelfth knight is a ya shakespeare retelling conveying one of the most important lessons, knowing when to let people in that will show us how to love, care, and belong. viola reyes seemingly has it all figured out, but deep down, she's fighting to stay on top of things, please everyone in her life, make sure that her grades stay up, but she harbors resentment for her peers who look like they're floating through everyday life. one of those people happen to be jack orsino, who suffers a football injury and can't do the one thing he loves. he feels like he's losing everything, so one day, he hops onto a game, twelfth knight. i did in fact scream when i read how the book title was incorporated into the story there, he anonymously meets vi, and from there, will everything start to fall into place?

this book was genuinely romcom perfection for me. i haven't read many stories that deal with realistic issues in such a fun and light-hearted way, and the characters had a precious relationship with one another, talking about actual problems maturely. unlike most teen romcoms i have read, there was no climax with a rain scene and a kiss while slowly running into each others arms, or an airport scene where one of them is going off to college but the other suddenly realizes their undying devotion so they buy a flower bouquet with daisies or something and and a sign that says: "will you marry me even though i met you 2 1/2 hours ago?" and then, they confess with some inside joke like: "do you remember when you said you liked coffee? well, i do too. but i like you more." instead it was like something that could actually happen, hopefully to me to a fantasy reader who's used to fast paced chapters that grab my attention from the very first sentence, books like these are intimidating, and yet i fell in love.

.ೃ➛ “hey, how many conversations about you do you think the average person has per day? i'm genuinely desperate to hear your answer.”

viola reyes. she showed me quite vividly how hard it is to maintain friendships as you grow older. to me, losing a friend is the most painful heartbreak somebody can endure, and follmuth captured that feeling beautifully. vi is constantly put down, people tell her to do better, be more friendly, maybe if you just were more social, everybody would like you. strong and confident women shouldn't have the need to shift their personality to meet everyone's standards and i love how she never gave up on what she wanted to do, not changing her perspective to please others. as the author puts it, online spaces can be unkind to girls, i myself don't have much experience in the gaming world, but i felt such sympathy for how vi had to make herself into a male character to be respected and regarded honorably. she thinks all she has is wasted potential and i just want to hug her and tell her everything will be alright.

.ೃ➛“i hope you never change. in fact, i hope you change me. i like to think you already have.”

jack orsino. he has flaws, but we love him regardless <3 for a high school student, he was such an emotionally developed person, and his problems were relatable. my sport is very ingrained in my daily schedule, and important to me, so for that to be removed is painful and abrupt, which is what jack experienced when he suffered an injury on the football field. however, with these experiences comes new passions and excitement, and for jack, it's a role-player video game. i loved to see his growth in this book and he's just the most golden retriever-like character out there!

.ೃ➛ “there wasn't a specific moment, i guess. more like a series of moments that only made sense to me once i realized there were a lot of different ways that love could look, and some that sounded like the way i felt.”

olivia and bash. my fatal flaw is getting way too emotionally attached to side characters, these two being a prime example. olivia is such an amazing girl and so "this is me trying" coded. i related the most to her, being a third parent instead of a third child is unfortunately something that many of us go through, and it's such a tough experience. your parents not showing up for an event that was important to you, being called the "good kid," so your sibling/s get all the attention, just always falling short, never hearing those coveted words: i'm proud of you. once again, i want to skywrite in big bold letters that she's enough. bash tried so hard to be a supportive brother, and if i had another sibling, i wish it was him. i could have cried i did when he gave vi a stuffed animal from when she was little, and tucked her in goodnight. those sweet but short moments were such a key aspect in twelfth knight and some of the best scenes i've read in some time.

.ೃ➛ “i think the best thing we can do in this life is take care of each other.”

⤿ bottom line: the story was genuine and comforting, please read this book, it feels like a warm hug <3 also, just look at the cover, how can you not buy this?

[liv ❁ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Late 90’s/early 00’s Shakespeare retellings are my jam (see: 10 Things I Hate About You, She’s the Man) and this incapsulates that vibe perfectly. Jack “Duke” Orsino is the star football player with his college plans set in stone until he gets injured and is out for the entire season, leading him to check out the MMORPG, Twelfth Knight. While in the game, he comes across a player, Cesario, named after a main character in the popular show War of Thorns. As he has been struggling with the game and can literally never be into anything casually, he teams up with Cesario to complete a quest and get taught the ropes. On the other end, Viola Reyes, annoying (to Jack) student body vice president (to his president), avid gamer, and renaissance festival and convention lover, has been playing as a man in order to avoid the rampant sexism that she experiences whenever men in nerd spaces learn that she is a girl. When confronted with the fact that she obviously knows Jack, she panics and says that she’s her twin brother, Sebastian (Bash). As a series of unforeseen circumstances bring them closer in and out of game, Vi has a choice to make, and she fears it may be too late to come clean.

Alexene Farol Follmuth (aka Olivie Blake) is quite seriously the only romance author who has me consistently adoring the male love interest. Tell me how I spent PAGES reading about football and was still rooting for the main guy? It’s that Olivie Blake magic. I love this woman and am so happy to announce that her young adult books have the same melt-worthy dialogue as her adult romances. Seriously, she knocks it out of the park with her banter, relationships, and men in general. I am especially grateful for Lady Renington heavily encouraging me to finally get to this one.

There is this air of loneliness that pervades both Viola and Jack’s POVs. Jack’s is due to a rather simple cause: he has lost his identity because he can no longer play football. While still popular, there is now a disconnect between him and his friends that he doesn’t feel when he plays Twelfth Knight with Cesario until the wee hours of the morning. Viola’s loneliness is more internal. Her fear of letting people in is borderline debilitating and definitely self-sabotaging and she continually makes “wrong” decisions and digs herself in deeper holes, incapable of adequately communicating, in part because of how much she feels like a burden. This book was great at showing that, even if you’ve been burned by people before, there are people out there that will have your back and it is so important to not shut everyone out. We’re all human, we’re all living our first lives, and we all need community. A support system is so important, and it can’t just be your significant other. I really love how much Follmuth emphasized that point.

Follmuth has a real knack for writing interpersonal relationships and characters. Olivia is possibly the sweetest human in the entire universe? And her relationship with Vi made me so happy. I was really happy with what Follmuth did with her, especially because of how I feel about the source material (by source material I am referring to the 2006 film She’s the Man; I have never read Twelfth Night). Vi’s mom and Bash were also stand out characters that I’m lumping together because I just adore the family dynamic that Follmuth created here. The brother/sister relationship was filled with love and annoyance and just general stupid arguments that really do only exist between siblings, and having a single mom trying to reign them in and almost always just giving up was honestly so funny. They truly do all know each other so well and love each other so much and it permeates through the pages.

Every interaction that Jack and Viola had together had me giggling like an idiot. Their banter was unmatched (well, unless you’re comparing their banter to any other Olivie Blake book, especially One For My Enemy) and had me kicking my feet. Both characters were also incredibly strong on their own, and I loved having this be a dual-pov book. Jack is laid back and seemingly only focused on football, but is incredibly vulnerable, kind, and a bit nerdy. Viola was my favorite, though. She’s more than a bit abrasive, but it’s because she has to be. Being involved in nerdy spaces as a woman opens the door for so much harassment and sexism and she does not deal with the bullshit, but it still wears on her. In her eyes she’s a bitch, but she’s really just strong and smart.

This book is also just incredibly nerdy and, as an incredibly nerdy person who loves everything that Viola loves (renaissance festivals, ttrpgs, a silly little fantasy video game, fantasy in general), I loved it. It was so fun to watch a main character get excited about the same things I get excited about. It also made me incredibly grateful that I got lucky with my group of nerdy boys and have not had to deal with misogyny while looking for a group to play games with and interact with nerdy things with because this group fell into the palm of my hand five years ago and I haven’t let them go since.

Bottom line, this is a really enjoyable one. There are a few very minor spoilery things that I wish were a little different, but the bottom line is that this one hit the mark and executed what it set out to do perfectly.

Thank you netgalley & Tor for the e-arc
Book releases: May 28, 2024, quotes to be added upon release

[daniella · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5stars⚝

"I just think that maybe happiness isn’t crossing a finish line, or finally meeting the right person or getting the right job or finding the right life. It’s the little things."

Viola is always frustrated with the world, trying to navigate the challenges of dealing with people. And then there's Jack, adored by everyone (except Vi), with a promising athletic future. But everything changes when he breaks his leg, and they end up playing video games together every night for months. The twist? He has no idea it's her.

Viola is such a complex character! Some people don't find her likable and call her a "bitch," but she actually believes that label and uses it as a shield. It's like she doesn't want people to expect too much from her. She has some things to work on, like opening up and showing her emotions. But it's frustrating how the people around her make her feel like she's the worst person ever. In reality, she's just a teenage girl, angry at the world, and trying to figure out how to handle those emotions. But as the story progresses, you can definitely see some growth in Viola.

Jack is like every teenager who thought they had it all figured out, only to realize, "Oops, I don't." It was great that the book had dual points of view, so we could understand what he was going through. Seeing his feelings for Viola grow gradually was incredibly sweet. Unlike most people, he didn't see her as a terrible person. Their relationship blossoming was amazing to witness!

The message incorporated in the story of "Twelfth Knight" is absolutely amazing. It's all about learning to let others into our lives and experiencing the beautiful emotions of love and belonging. It tackles real life issues in a fun and light hearted way, which makes it super relatable without being overly dramatic. I would recommend anyone who's into video games to read this book. The only thing that stopped me from giving it a perfect 4 stars was that I was kinda hoping for a bit more romance. But overall, it's a total gem of a coming of age story. 🌟

Thank you NetGalley and Tor Publishing Group for this free ARC in exchange for an honest review!
────────
pre-view: i hope this book turns out to be a quick and fun read💜🎮

[mimi (depression slump) · Rating 3 out of 5]

I've never felt more frustrated and angry towards such a sweet teen romance because well, maybe this hit too close to home.

Video game world aside - very well written, full of details and conquests without being boring nor childish to the rest of the book -, this is the story of how Vi and Jake become better people at the bare age of 16 because they understand something that most people haven't yet understand at an older age: whatever it is, it's not the end of the world.
If you break your knee and you can't play football for the rest of your life, even if that was everything you've ever known, it's fine. If you're scared of letting people in because you know you're very sensitive, and other people love to say how much of a bitch you are only because you stand for yourself, it's fine.
What will happen will still happen, the glass should always be half full and all the other craps that help you see the good side of life.

But this is not why I'm complaining. On the contrary, I love a good happy ending, a critique of misogyny and a not-so-subtle bad comment on GoT’s finale.
See, while both Jake and Vi are very relatable in their way of approaching other people, when everyone silently agrees you're the villain in their life, they're not gonna ask for forgiveness afterwards insulting you nor they’ll try seeing your point of view.
I'm so mad at every single character for how they treated Vi, from Antonia to her own mother and brother, because not one of them, NOT ONE, ever sat with her and asked what had happened. Antonia dismissed her attitude with “Vi being Vi”, her brother waited for her to come to him when it was clear from the beginning that she was the one used to handling things on her own and not asking for help, her Mom preached her to always be true to herself and not to care about other people’s expectations and then wonder why she doesn't stand their bullshits.

Vi pushes people away because she knows it's normal to hurt others, intentionally or unintentionally that is. I don't argue with her logic, I understand it and from experience, I can say that yes, sometimes is worth staying around and seeing what happens, but if the effort comes from only one person, she’ll soon realize her heart will become tired and she’ll shut down again, given time.
Also, none of them properly apologized to her.

↠ 3.5 stars

Thanks to Tor Publishing Group and NetGalley, who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest opinion.

p.s.: if you loved the combination of video games and feminist topics such as the ones in this book, I recommend reading Didn’t See That Coming by Jesse Q. Sutanto

[ingrid ₊ · Rating 4 out of 5]

need 13 more olivie blake ya romcoms on my desk by tomorrow thanks

[lila ୧ · Rating 3 out of 5]

→3.5✰
~spoiler free review
⤿thank you to netgalley and tor publishing group for the arc!

𖥻⚔"i just think maybe happiness isn't crossing a finish line, or finally meeting the right person or getting the right job or finding the right life. it's the little things."

honestly i don't have much to say! it was exactly what i was expecting and that's not a bad thing at all. i know little to nothing about football and game campaigns (both of which are kind of major components in the story) but it was actually really easy to read about which sort of surprised me? i didn't rate this book higher bcuz i don't really think about the characters often. yea sure, they have depth and all. but i like to walk away from a book knowing that the characters are memorable and i'll think about them all the time. for me this book was sort of like a "that's cute. moving on" if yk what i mean (a lot of rom-coms i read are like that. but still). this book definitely has potential tho 🤭

𖥻⚔"we're always walking some line between triumph and disaster. and you can play this in your minds over and over-what if i'd done this, should i have done that?-but in the end, it doesn't matter what you could have done. it matters what you do, and more importantly, it matters who you do it with."

✠ ——— ✠ ——— ✠ ——— ✠
pre-read review
i just got approved for my first arc!! i'm freaking out i've heard so many positive reviews for this book, so i'm keeping my fingers crossed 🤞

[zoë ˗ˏˋ ♡ ˎˊ˗ · Rating 1 out of 5]

dnf @ 28%.
main character is a bitch, which kudos to you, but it’s taking away from the plot of the story. not impressed. i wanted to
love this book so much but vi is actually god awful.

[ren ☆ · Rating 4 out of 5]

bottom line (or top line??) : this was cute asf. everybody say thank you alexene !!!

i think i may have to place this as number 01 on my list of favorite twelfth night (shakespeare) retellings. [strongest and only contender is the movie she’s the man (2006)] i thought this was a fun and brilliant use of source material (i am not a shakespeare expert so take that as you will).



[thank you to the publishers for the arc!]

[Nilufer Ozmekik · Rating 4 out of 5]

Viola Reyes is more than just annoyed; she's a force to be reckoned with in Tor Teen's delightful novel, "Twelfth Knight." As an ardent lover of fantasy worlds, Viola's meticulously crafted tabletop game campaign is dismissed by her majority male group, pushing her into a realm where she feels truly in control—the MMORPG Twelfth Knight. There, she adopts the guise of Cesario, a knight, to carve out a safe haven. Little does she know, her virtual sanctuary is about to intertwine with the real world when the lackadaisical Student Body President, Jack Orsino, stumbles into the gaming universe following a football injury.

The story unfolds through alternating perspectives, offering a nuanced understanding of Viola and Jack, both complex characters dealing with their fair share of challenges. Viola, often labeled a "b*tch" due to her refusal to conform, undergoes remarkable development throughout the narrative. While her guarded exterior initially makes her a challenging character to connect with, her journey toward self-acceptance is deeply gratifying.

Jack Orsino, the star football player, provides a breath of fresh air, representing every teenager who thought they had life figured out until they realized they didn't. The dual perspectives allow readers to delve into Jack's headspace during difficult times, and his gradual feelings for Viola are both sweet and heartwarming.

The book beautifully weaves Shakespearean references into its tapestry, offering clever nods to "Twelfth Night." The charming dialogue and cute romance capture the essence of teenage experiences, making it relatable and heartwarming. The narrative masterfully blends elements of self-discovery, romance, and the world of online gaming, creating a story that resonates with the timeless essence of Shakespeare and the contemporary allure of gaming culture.

While Viola's journey may be challenging and occasionally frustrating, her determination to stay true to herself is commendable. The relationship between Viola and Jack is a perfect balance, each serving as precisely what the other needs on their individual journeys of self-discovery. The third-act breakup feels natural and adds a layer of authenticity to their evolving relationship.

"Twelfth Knight" is a captivating coming-of-age story that expertly combines romance and real-world issues. The novel's exploration of gaming culture and fandoms is both entertaining and relatable, catering to a wide audience, from seasoned gamers to those casually dipping their toes into the gaming realm.

Overall, "Twelfth Knight" is an enchanting read that delivers on its promises of romance, self-discovery, and the irresistible allure of virtual worlds. Whether you're a fan of Shakespearean retellings or simply looking for a heartwarming and relatable YA novel, this book is a delightful addition to your reading list. Thank you to NetGalley and Tor Publishing Group for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

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[mara · Rating 4 out of 5]

"you are the bane of my existence, jack orsino."
"as you are mine,"

MY BABIES. my actual babies. love them so much. they deserve the whole universe. first arc ever and i love it sm 🥹

'how could i not have recognized her? no matter what forms she and i take, i know her. i know her because of what she makes me know about myself. i know how it feels to have her in my life.'

absolutely robbed of more romance between them :( it was very plot centered, especially towards the end like...... i've been waiting for what! besides that, everyone should read this book rn!


'someone who keeps colliding with you, over and over. in everything you love. he's there too, and real or not, you can exist in every universe with ease because of him. because for every version of him, there is a corresponding one of you.'

[dee ౨ৎ [ia] · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.25 stars ★
⊱ ya romance
. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁˖ .

this might be the fact that i’m writing this review a little late or that i just didn’t enjoy this book enough to remember enough details about it but either way i think twelfth knight was a nice read i just didn’t really connect with the characters or the story much, it’s just the kind of book that i find “meh”. i wanted to love it so much but i didn’t and that’s okay.

anywho back to talking about the book, i enjoyed viola and jack’s relationship, they were adorable together. my favorite character has to be olivia though, i loved reading about her character and story so much, she just felt the most real to me. the plot was interesting i just don’t know much about football (cough soccer) or gaming.

bottom line | this book was entertaining just not extremely memorable i still think i’d recommend it though


ೃ⁀➷ thank you to netgalley and the publisher for providing me with an arc of this book in exchange of an honest review.

· · ────── ·𖥸· ────── · ·

꒰⚔️꒱ pre-read ⊹ ࣪ ˖ i got the arc!! i’ve seen only great reviews for this book so i can’t wait to read it 🤭

[Faridah Àbíké-Íyímídé · Rating 5 out of 5]

Viola Reyes you will always be famous.

[ishi ☆ (busy w exams) · Rating 4 out of 5]

જ⁀➴ 4 stars ☆ ˚.

“i just think maybe happiness isn't crossing a finish line, or finally meeting the right person or getting the right job or finding the right life. it's the little things.”

this was super cute and i honestly don't have much else to say! it took me a while to get into this book since i don't know much about football and gaming, which are both major parts of the story, but it was still a fun read. i really appreciated the commentary on social issues like misogyny, racism, sexuality, etc. and the diverse cast.

i expected the romance to be a bigger part of the story but it was mostly just in the background, which i don't have a problem with but it was a bit unexpected since this book is advertised as a romcom. violajack are actually my babies, i adore them so so much 🫶 their relationship is so sweet and realistic, loved the slow-burn and their banter had me giggling and kicking my feet.

viola and jack are both really strong and well written characters, with realistic quirks and flaws. i loved how this was a dual-pov book. olivia and bash were such fun and well developed side characters <3

overall, this was an enjoyable and heartfelt coming-of-age story. also, THE COVER!! it's so so pretty. although it wasn't super memorable for me, i still adored this book and would definitely reread + recommend it!

⟶ thank you to netgalley and the publisher for sending me an arc of this book in exchange for my honest review! 💜

✦•······················•✦•······················•✦

i literally binged this so fast what

꒰⚔️꒱ ➳ pre-read ✧ ˚.
got this arc ages ago and literally never read it but i need to get my feedback ratio up sooo

[buket]

dnf %15

she’s mean, he’s self centered, i don’t like how he loves his gf(or ex whatever) 😔 i’m not in the mood for teenager tantrums

[Bethany (Beautifully Bookish Bethany) · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was delightful!! A contemporary YA rom-com that is riffing on Shakespeares Twelfth Night, but making it very geeky.

Viola is a prickly perfectionist who is also super into the online RPG game based on Arthurian mythology known as Twelfth Knight. People call her a bitch, but underneath she's actually pretty sensitive and her walls are to protect her from getting hurt. (Listen, I love a prickly heroine!!)

Jack Orsino is the nice golden boy, star running-back of the football team, President of the student body, always trying to be what people expect and never being weird or angry. But when a leg injury takes him out of the game for the rest of the season, he unexpectedly finds himself getting into this video game. And while his Vice President Viola (he beat her by a handful of votes!) has been his rival, they both realize there is more to the other person than they expected...

I laughed out loud at parts of this and just thoroughly enjoyed the reading experience. It's funny and messy and a great adaptation of Shakespeare with a modern twist. My one note is I had the audiobook for review from Netgalley and I HATED the way the male narrator for Jacks perspective did female voices. It was really annoying. Otherwise, this was excellent. All opinions are my own.

[Shawnaci Schroeder · Rating 3 out of 5]

3/5 ⭐️

- This book is so needed because it truly is turning every stereotype on its head!! This book would be perfect for anyone that wants to read about all the cool things girls can do no matter how the world tries to hold us back!
- Would have loved this book so much more if I was into gaming! There were details about gaming that would have made more sense if I played more often, but it was still enjoyable overall!!
- Can’t believe that this author is THE Olivie Blake! The writing has so much tension and yearning which I love. If you want a book with romance that is a slow burn, you’ll really love this one.

[Annabella⁷ (blackford & henry li’s version)]

THE COVER IS CUTEEE🤭🗡️💜 I’M SO EXCITED!!! June 18th, 2024🫶

[Estíbaliz Montero Iniesta · Rating 5 out of 5]

YOUTUBE / INSTAGRAM

En principio es un retelling de «Noche de Reyes», de Shakespeare, pero no he leído el original, por lo que no puedo juzgar lo fiel que es o cuánto se despega de la obra del Bardo.

Sin embargo, juzgando la historia en sí misma y de forma individual: la he disfrutado una barbaridad. Creo que la autora consigue transmitir a la perfección lo que se había propuesto a la vez que nos da una historia con la que, por lo menos como mujer joven, es fácil identificarse.

Viola es una joven muy enfadada con el mundo y con la gente, una apasionada de los videojuegos que a su corta edad ya ha tenido que enfrentarse varias veces al machismo del mundo gamer (y del mundo friki en general).

Jack es la estrella del equipo, el presidente del Consejo de Estudiantes y el polo más opuesto posible a Viola. Pero, tras lesionarse y verse obligado a quedarse en casa, resulta que se aficiona al Twelfth Knight, el juego preferido de Vi. De hecho, esta se sobresalta al descubrir que sus alter ego virtuales (Cesario y el duque Orsino) se llevan sorprendentemente bien.

Me ha encantado el desarrollo de todo, tanto de la trama como de los personajes (pese a que Vi sea demasiado cabezota a veces). Ver cómo pasan del antagonismo a la amistad ha sido muy bonito, y ya veremos si puede haber algo más entre ellos, aunque no diría que el amor es el tema central del libro, sino más bien la reevaluación de la propia perspectiva acerca del mundo, nosotros mismos y quienes nos rodean.

Otro tema bastante central en la historia es la soledad, representada de distintas formas y afrontada desde ángulos diferentes.

Una historia juvenil friki pero también con ganchos de derecha potentes que te obligan a reflexionar bastante sobre temas importantes. Una joyita, vamos.

[h o l l i s · Rating 4 out of 5]

Say hello to my very first Olivie Blake (aka Alexene Farol Follmuth, or vice versa) win! And a YA at that. Who would've guessed (not me).

It's a sad familiar song and one I've been singing for quite some time now but I've been having maybe my worst year of reading ever. I've had little to no motivation to pick things up and when I do I've struggled to find enjoyment in them (or I'm picking up things that are wrong for me, also, maybe both). So to not only read this in one sitting but also enjoy it? Not be distracted by my phone? Again, e n j o y it? Shocked. I am shocked. But I'm so happy.

This Shakespearean retelling felt so seamlessly interwoven into a modern day setting to the extent that sometimes I forgot it was a retelling. Which I think is maybe the best result because I wasn't distracted by the original or feeling pulled out by nonsensical references that didn't fit. Instead it was all folded together so wonderfully that the story itself felt original whilst at the same time the characters felt true to their motivations, as well as complex and layered. Plus, I really enjoyed all the gaming and roleplaying content. It didn't feel awkward or out of place like I've seen in other stories with similar content.

All of that and a grumpy female character faced with her own sunshine-y nemesis and I, gasp, liked them both? Be still my heart.

If you're looking for a solid YA that has some strong, emotional, and well-thought out beats, without any melodrama or too much angst, that's diverse, and fun, and also a lot nerdy and a little tongue-in-cheek, with one of the best slowburns I've read in a while, I would definitely give this one a go.

** I received an ARC from the publisher (thank you!) in exchange for an honest review. **

--

This review can also be found at A Take From Two Cities.

[lily · Rating 4 out of 5]

”I just think that maybe happiness isn’t crossing a finish line, or finally meeting the right person or getting the right job or finding the right life. It’s the little things.”

i reallyyyy enjoyed this. i absolutely loved vi, jack, olivia, bash, and everyone else. not matt das though. the door is that way, and he can leave <3 i was super interested in this book because i love the author, and i also had high expectations. though i didn’t give this 5 stars, 4 stars is still a very good rating for me.

the plot was good, and it was pretty unique. i haven’t really read any books about gaming, so i was excited to give this a try. the mix of gaming and football was odd to me at first, but the author was able to successfully mix the two and not make the book super weird, and it was so fun. the book was a little predictable, as ya romances often are, but this was still 100% worth the read.

also, the COVER!!!! it’s so beautiful and i need a copy, especially with the sprayed edges????

overall this book was so great and i definitely recommend it, and i will likely be rereading it at some point :))

thank you netgalley for providing me with an arc in exchange for an honest review

[caleigh (busy) · Rating 4 out of 5]

ohmygod i cannot wait for all of you to read this

i hardly give romances five stars. i never give ya romances five stars. but you know what they say – there’s an exception to every rule?

twelfth knight is the exception.

update: i remember why i don’t give them five stars .. they just don’t stick w me 😭 lowering this to a 4.5 bc i can’t say i ever really think about it but i still loved it so so much!!!

if you’re intimidated by the plot being focused on roleplaying games or the “nerdy” things like them, don’t be. i don’t know the first thing about gaming or cosplaying or any of that, but it was all really easy to understand with the way it was explained.

now, what we’re all here for. the romance. 💌✨

look, something about a well written ya romcom just hits different. the plots are superior, the cute slow burns are more representative of relationships than almost any adult romance book, and overall they’re just a fun time.

☑ superior plot – viola and jack are complete and total opposites. but when an injury takes jack off the football field and into viola’s world of mmorpgs, conventions, and more, the two start to grow close and realize hey, you’re not so bad after all.

☑ cute slow burn – the progression of their opposites attract x sort-of-enemies to lovers was, dare i say, top tier. mostly, it was realistic. the characters brought out the best in each other and slowly realized this over the course of the book. there was no love confession because, come on, no high schooler really makes those. honestly the romance sort of took a back seat to everything else happening but i think that made it so much more enjoyable.

☑ a fun time – yes yes yes, a million times yes! viola and jack were perfect mcs, with lots of flaws and unique interests. bash and olivia were quirky and fun side characters. the problems that they all dealt with were so real. plus seeing into this “nerdy” world was so much fun since, again, i am fully clueless about it.

a quick, fun read. a cute romance and entertaining story. real characters, realistic problems. how could you not want to pick this up immediately? plus the cover!!! i love!! i can’t wait for june so i can run and buy this the second it releases. the physical copy is a NEED.

thank you to netgalley + tor publishing for the arc!

[Helen · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 ✰ “You can’t convince me that you’re heartless, Viola.”

Thank you to NetGalley and the Publishing team for providing me with an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.




“𝐈 𝐝𝐨𝐧'𝐭 𝐤𝐧𝐨𝐰 𝐡𝐨𝐰 𝐚𝐧𝐲 𝐠𝐢𝐫𝐥 𝐜𝐚𝐧 𝐞𝐱𝐢𝐬𝐭 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐥𝐝 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐛𝐞𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐩𝐞𝐭𝐮𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐲 𝐟𝐮𝐫𝐢𝐨𝐮𝐬.“

𝐎𝐟𝐟𝐢𝐜𝐢𝐚𝐥 𝐛𝐥𝐮𝐫𝐛: Twelfth Knight, a YA romantic comedy and coming of age story about taking space in the world and learning what it means to let others in.

𝐓𝐚𝐠𝐬: 𝐠𝐫𝐮𝐦𝐩𝐲-𝐬𝐮𝐧𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐞, 𝐬𝐞𝐜𝐫𝐞𝐭 𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐭𝐲, 𝐠𝐚𝐦𝐞𝐫 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐟𝐮𝐭𝐛𝐨𝐥 𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐲𝐞𝐫, 𝐠𝐞𝐞𝐤 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐯𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧, 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐦.

𝐒𝐲𝐧𝐨𝐩𝐬𝐢𝐬: Viola Reyes is annoyed.Her painstakingly crafted tabletop game campaign was shot down, her best friend is suggesting she try being more “likable,” and her school's star running back Jack Orsino is the most lackadaisical Student Body President she’s ever seen, which makes her job as VP that much harder. Vi’s favorite escape from the world is the MMORPG Twelfth Knight, but online spaces aren’t exactly kind to girls like her—girls who are extremely competent and have the swagger to prove it. So Vi creates a masculine alter ego, choosing to play as a knight named Cesario to create a safe haven for herself.But when a football injury leads Jack Orsino to the world of Twelfth Knight, Vi is alarmed to discover their online alter egos—Cesario and Duke Orsino—are surprisingly well-matched.As the long nights of game-play turn into discussions about life and love, Vi and Jack soon realise they’ve become more than just weapon-wielding characters in an online game. But Vi has been concealing her true identity from Jack, and Jack might just be falling for her offline.

I asked for an ARC of this book expecting a cute, heartwarming story, and while I definitely received what I wanted, this book felt like so much more.

If you love video games, you should definitely read this. And if you love video games with a fan base of mostly men, you should most definitely read this. If only I had this book as a teenager.

“𝐖𝐡𝐲 𝐬𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐈 𝐡𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐬𝐡𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐤 𝐦𝐲𝐬𝐞𝐥𝐟 𝐝𝐨𝐰𝐧 𝐬𝐨 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐲 𝐜𝐚𝐧 𝐟𝐞𝐞𝐥 𝐛𝐢𝐠?“

𝐖𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝟏𝟎/𝟏𝟎: It’s my first time reading something by Olivie Blake / Alexene Farol Follmuth, and I’m completely in love now. The way she can write fantasy, dark academia, and even romcoms in such a short period of time blows me away; I’ll definitely be checking out all of her other books after this one.

𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝟏𝟎/𝟏𝟎: Every single character in this story is a 10 out of 10, their stories, personalities and interactions with each other are what make this book so amazing. Viola, my dear Viola, this girl gets me; I’ve never felt more seen while reading.

𝐑𝐨𝐦𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝟗/𝟏𝟎: If you love a good banter, THIS is the right book for you, I screamed, I cried, I kicked my feet, I literally felt like a teenager every time Vi and Jack interacted. Their love feels so earned and real. I was a bit worried because it started with a cliche that I normally don’t like at all, but oh, I was so wrong, Olivie Blake didn’t disappoint in the slightest.

The only reason this book doesn’t get 5 stars from me, it’s because I wanted a bit more of romance; but other than that, this is the perfect coming of age story.

“𝐘𝐨𝐮 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐛𝐚𝐧𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐦𝐲 𝐞𝐱𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞, 𝐉𝐚𝐜𝐤 𝐎𝐫𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐨.“
“𝐀𝐬 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐞.“

Can’t wait for this book to own both booktok and bookstagram in 2024.

[aimee (aimeecanread) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Twelfth Night is the PERFECT read for anyone looking for something fun and charming but also... socially relevant. This book delt with so many topics like sexism, sexuality, social and familial responsibility, dealing with self-worth issues, etc., but incorporated everything so realistically into a light-hearted romcom.

I don't want to be considered beautiful without being seen as capable, too.

I'm both so similar and so different from the MC Viola Reyes that it's kind of comical to me. She's a self-proclaimed nerd (same) with very strong feminist views (also same)... but the difference is, she is so firm with her own self-worth that she is willing to put her friendships on the line so that she doesn't ever get stepped on as a woman, which is something I can only aspire to be.

I don't know how any girl can exist in the world without being perpetually furious.

I can understand people who would hate Viola. She's definitely a bitch who just assumes the worst of everyone. BUT! While I was reading from her perspective, I constantly found myself thinking, Yup, this is what being a woman is like. She basically voiced out everything I keep hidden in the depths of my brain.

Then we have our hero, Jack Orsino. He's charming, sweet, and has everything figured out... until he doesn't. He's definitely not the most memorable character, but he's likeable and does grow a lot in the book.

Twelfth Knight wins in the side character department, though, which is so rare for a contemporary romcom. We have Olivia, who is so charismatic and deep. She's a fantastic friend and a wonderful sister. There's also Bash (Viola's twin brother) who is lively and unexpectedly caring.

"I think we're lonely. Like, as a species."
"So what does that mean?"
"That we can like who we are and still like being alone and still want to feel connected."

We have so much character and relationship growth in this book from all angles -- we have characters who learn to look at life differently, and characters who we realize are truly the garbage of society; we have relationships that make it through complicated situations, and relationships that are formally broken for good reason. I really appreciated how this book showed both the good and bad in society.

There are only a few minor qualms I have that turned this book from a 5-star to a 4-star:
- Jack felt more like a side character than a main character to me. Normally, I'd be more than fine about the heroine taking the spotlight, but this book was written in 2 POVs, so I would have liked to feel more connected to him.
- I needed more romance! Like I said, there were so many things dealt with in this book that it felt like the romance did take the back seat sometimes.
- One of the MCs (Viola) was... Filipino? This felt so random and unexplored. She didn't feel Filipino at all, so I didn't even realize this until she started calling her grandmother lola. I wish they'd either incorporated more culture into her character.

Overall, though, this was a fantastic read. Here's to all the feminist nerds of the world who need to be seen! ❤

[autumn · Rating 1 out of 5]

⭐ 1 star
*arc reader*

I unfortunately decided to DNF this book. I went into this book expecting to love it, the entire premise of it really spoke to me, a Shakespeare retelling, a nerd x jock trope, and characters of color as main characters, were all up my alley in terms of what I look for in a good read. But this book did not deliver.

Vi is one of the most unlikeable characters I've read in a long time. I understand the struggle, living a world where everyone seems to be working against you just because of who you were born as, a woman, a person of color and a woman interested in hobbies that put you into a male dominated space. But Vi is just...MEAN. She's not nice, even to the people around her who support her, and are working with her. She's not a good person, she's not a heroine to root for, she's a villain. The entire first chapter of the book, she spends telling us how unimportant everyone around her (who are apparently her friends) are, how unmemorable, how unattractive, how boring, how unintelligent, but god forbid someone disagree with her, then they're terrible people. Vi's personality gets a 0/10 for me.

Jack is really just as unlikeable as Vi. He's cocky and demeaning to people around him, and his indifference towards Vi is gross, even if Vi is a person I do not like. He's not special, and also if your girlfriend dumps you, maybe respect that?

I thought I would try to power through the book, in hopes of Vi's personality turning around as she learns perspective and perhaps empathy for those around her, but as I skipped forward a bit to see if that's the case she really doesn't show any growth, and I was uninterested in pulling my teeth by continuing this book.

I'm really disappointed, I've heard such amazing things about this author and I was really surprised to see this character be so incredibly bad, for lack of other words. I would not recommend this book to friends, and unfortunately I do not plan on coming back to it in the future.

*Thank you to NetGalley for the advanced copy of this book, and for the opportunity to read and review it in anticipation of it's release.*

[Lyra (Cardan's tail's version) · Rating 4 out of 5]

10/10 feminine rage

[Gaby · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think I really liked this, I liked the rom-com 200s vibes I got from it like I kept thinking of "She's the Man with Amanda Bynes" and how fun modern Shakespeare adaptations are, and this one would be a great adaptation.

I particularly liked Olivia and Bash, who are side characters, but Jack and Viola were a bit annoying and just too much at times. I guess the teenage angst was really there with them, it also bothered me a bit that I could see how the conflict was going to happen before it did.

Overall it was fun and I wish I could also play TwelfthKnight, it honestly sounds fantastic.

[vee. · Rating 4 out of 5]

feb 6th, 2025.
⤿ preread: the shakespeare reference goes crazy!! my mom bought me this book so let's see if it's good!!

☆⁠☆⁠☆⁠☆⁠ stars.

ꪆৎ⊹ ꒰ — vi + jack ♡ | “i was more myself with you than i’ve ever been with anyone.”

review to come ☆

[Ashley Catelyn · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

This book was a lovely take on a Shakespearean classic. Despite its flaws, it was overall an adorable story about two complicated characters and the wonderful supporting characters around them. I'm glad I read it.

[Muffinsandbooks · Rating 5 out of 5]

MAIS J'AI ADORÉ EN FAIT ???
Je ne savais pas bien à quoi m'attendre avec ce roman car j'avais lu Atlas Six de la même autrice et je n'avais pas accroché des masses. A l'inverse, j'ai adoré One for Ennemy... et là il ne s'agit pas d'une fantasy mais d'un roman contemporain alors j'étais extrêmement curieuse de voir ce que j'allais penser de ce nouveau roman. Et, comme vous pouvez le constater, j'ai kiffé. C'est extrêmement addictif, les personages sont super attachants et les messages passés aussi importants que puissants. J'ai trouvé que c'était très bien fait, le parfait compromis entre une histoire d'amouuur et une histoire d'ados qui grandissent et essaient de trouver leur place dans un monde un peu effrayant. Le côté geek, c'est parfait pour les bookworms comme nous, le style est à la fois humoristique et très beau... non, vraiment j'ai touuuut kiffé ! COEUR COEUR SUR CE ROMAN, voilà.

[Megan (sporadic hiatus due to law school) · Rating 2 out of 5]

No. I'm sorry, but no.

I love TTRPGs like D&D (but know nothing about video games, not going to lie), and so I was very excited to read Twelfth Knight because it sounded like a romance with all of my favorite things. But I couldn't get over Viola's character.

Man, she was so unnecessarily mean I wanted to stop reading. She's just mean for no reason; yes, there are some instances in which she's good at calling out guys for their behavior or taking advantage of things, but she's so quick to assume everyone is the same. And everyone faces her wrath, too. If someone disagrees with her, she tears into them with honey badger-like ferocity, including her so-called best friend? And, I dunno, it was frustrating and hard to read when she was so ready to hate everyone and every guy for typical teenage behavior. So what if a few guys want to hit things instead of sit through a political drama? I know I'd be more interested in tons of fight scenes instead of court politics anyway because that's just my personality and what holds my interest. Sure, the guys she was playing with were rude and could have at least tried her idea, but... I don't even know how to explain it.

I was hoping that she'd start to change her behavior the further into the book we get, but we don't- in fact, the ml encourages her behavior by flat-out telling her to never change. She only seems nicer because she interacts with other people less the more the book goes on.

Her character was overall frustrating and hard to read. She made fun of the ml several times about his injury despite football basically being his entire life, and it was very insensitive and cruel for her to do so.

thank you Netgalley for the free copy