From the New York Times bestselling author of The Atlas Six (under the penname Olivie Blake) comes Twelfth Knight, a 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 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…
Title : Twelfth Knight
Author : Alexene Farol Follmuth
Format : eARC
Page Count : 304
Genre : YA contemporary
Publisher : Tor Teen
Release Date : May 28, 2024
Reviewer : Hollis
Rating : ★ ★ ★ ★
Hollis' 4 star review
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. **
No comments:
Post a Comment