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4.01 AVERAGE
4.01 AVERAGE
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Rating: 5/5
Spice: 0/5 (YA) special mention that this is a coming-of-age story set in high school with no mention of alcohol, drugs, or sex! Instead, it explores identity and sexuality (briefly)!
Recommended for: people who belong to fandoms and enjoy gaming and cosplaying, Enneagram Type 1s and 8s, the people who think they are bad people and undeserving of love 🥺
Emotional Investment: got me crying on a Monday morning… cried through a couple chapters
Book Hangover: excited to read more from her
How did I learn about this book?: Currently on the hunt for Filipino authors and found this gem! (With that being said, this is by no means a coming-of-age story with a heavy emphasis on Filipino culture, the extent of Filipino culture was Lola, arroz caldo, lumpia, references to Catholic culture, and a handful of Tagalog words)
Audiobook Comment: Enjoyable except the male narrator’s female voice which sounded like Josh Gad (Olaf) LOL
Alexene Farol Follmuth delivers again with this retelling of Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night set in a San Francisco high school, where two enemies from distinct cliques find common ground in-person and virtually. FMC Viola Reyes (of Filipino descent) is ASB vice president with a perpetual look of annoyance on her face. She’s hardworking and determined and seems like she doesn’t care whose feelings are hurt along the way. She struggles to be respected in her interests that are male-dominated, like the tabletop game Conquest and the MMORPG Twelfth Knight. She feels that she can be her true self during Twelfth Knight under her male avatar C354R10. She loves Ren Fair, Magic Con, and War of Thorns, frequenting fandom sites and working on her stories and original characters. Her nemesis is MMC Jack Orsino, ASB president and star running back, who is loved by all, except his girlfriend Olivia Hadid (it seems). Viola thinks he has the perfect life, she has to do all his work for him while he is there to look pretty. But Jack’s life is turned upside down by a season ending injury and an estranged girlfriend, leaving him with ample time on his hands to spend online… Twelfth Knight isn’t just a romance, it’s an intellectual story rich with lore, odes to fandoms, and complex relationships.
RaNdOm CoMmEnTaRy:
This felt like it was extracting memories from my own brain and looking straight into my soul. I LOVED all the side characters- Olivia, Antonia (Vi’s best friend), and Bash (Vi’s twin brother) and their storylines. Found myself rooting for Vi and against her at times. The weakest part, like her other book, was the romance, but their friendship was well-written to make up for the lack of romance-induced warm, fuzzy feelings.
Memorable & Relatable Quotes:
Spice: 0/5 (YA) special mention that this is a coming-of-age story set in high school with no mention of alcohol, drugs, or sex! Instead, it explores identity and sexuality (briefly)!
Recommended for: people who belong to fandoms and enjoy gaming and cosplaying, Enneagram Type 1s and 8s, the people who think they are bad people and undeserving of love 🥺
Emotional Investment: got me crying on a Monday morning… cried through a couple chapters
Book Hangover: excited to read more from her
How did I learn about this book?: Currently on the hunt for Filipino authors and found this gem! (With that being said, this is by no means a coming-of-age story with a heavy emphasis on Filipino culture, the extent of Filipino culture was Lola, arroz caldo, lumpia, references to Catholic culture, and a handful of Tagalog words)
Audiobook Comment: Enjoyable except the male narrator’s female voice which sounded like Josh Gad (Olaf) LOL
Alexene Farol Follmuth delivers again with this retelling of Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night set in a San Francisco high school, where two enemies from distinct cliques find common ground in-person and virtually. FMC Viola Reyes (of Filipino descent) is ASB vice president with a perpetual look of annoyance on her face. She’s hardworking and determined and seems like she doesn’t care whose feelings are hurt along the way. She struggles to be respected in her interests that are male-dominated, like the tabletop game Conquest and the MMORPG Twelfth Knight. She feels that she can be her true self during Twelfth Knight under her male avatar C354R10. She loves Ren Fair, Magic Con, and War of Thorns, frequenting fandom sites and working on her stories and original characters. Her nemesis is MMC Jack Orsino, ASB president and star running back, who is loved by all, except his girlfriend Olivia Hadid (it seems). Viola thinks he has the perfect life, she has to do all his work for him while he is there to look pretty. But Jack’s life is turned upside down by a season ending injury and an estranged girlfriend, leaving him with ample time on his hands to spend online… Twelfth Knight isn’t just a romance, it’s an intellectual story rich with lore, odes to fandoms, and complex relationships.
RaNdOm CoMmEnTaRy:
This felt like it was extracting memories from my own brain and looking straight into my soul. I LOVED all the side characters- Olivia, Antonia (Vi’s best friend), and Bash (Vi’s twin brother) and their storylines. Found myself rooting for Vi and against her at times. The weakest part, like her other book, was the romance, but their friendship was well-written to make up for the lack of romance-induced warm, fuzzy feelings.
Memorable & Relatable Quotes:
But secretly, I would like someone to see me for what I am and choose me anyway (Ch. 7: Heroes Prefer Swords)
I get a rush of filial guilt: What if something happens to her and the last conversation we have is that one? (Ch. 7: Heroes Prefer Swords)
Part of me, a very small part, feels a little nudge of reassurance at knowing someone was waiting for me (Ch. 7: Heroes Prefer Swords)
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 (Ch. 12: Level-Up at Intimacy 5)
he's actually thinking about what I need. People don't really think about me. I'm not complaining—it's just a fact. I'm used to being the one responsible for what comes next, what needs to be done, and it's not very often that people bother taking things off my plate. When I want things, I need to ask for them, which I do, and sure, not always all that nicely, because I know that most people are busy thinking about themselves. Only one person has ever changed their behavior without me having to force them to do it (Ch. 13: Dual-World Gameplay)
Whereas you’re just a marshmallow with spikes (Ch. 16: Last Chance Hit Point)
emotional
funny
reflective
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
At first, I didn’t love this book. Part of it was the narrators and the other part was that the main characters kind of annoyed me. But the more the story went on the more I saw myself in Vi when I was in high school.
I think I didn’t love it at first because there are moments I look back on from high school days that I wonder what I was thinking. Why did I act that way? And I thought the same things at the beginning with Vi. But once I grew to know her a bit more and recognized myself within her, I really started to appreciate the story.
Besides all my ramblings, this book was an adorable coming of age story about what it means to be who you really are and in the process finding the people who love you for who you are. I grew very attached to both Vi and Jack by the end of the book (I would definitely read more of their story). And I loved the tie in with gaming - I now want to play twelfth knight.
Overall a fun, lighthearted read that also hits you with all the emotions and feels your high school self felt (at least for me).
I think I didn’t love it at first because there are moments I look back on from high school days that I wonder what I was thinking. Why did I act that way? And I thought the same things at the beginning with Vi. But once I grew to know her a bit more and recognized myself within her, I really started to appreciate the story.
Besides all my ramblings, this book was an adorable coming of age story about what it means to be who you really are and in the process finding the people who love you for who you are. I grew very attached to both Vi and Jack by the end of the book (I would definitely read more of their story). And I loved the tie in with gaming - I now want to play twelfth knight.
Overall a fun, lighthearted read that also hits you with all the emotions and feels your high school self felt (at least for me).
medium-paced
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
This was such a cute book.
It is YA but touches on lots of adult themes - just addressed in a way for youths to relate to.
Really enjoyed learning about the gaming aspects (as a non gamer).
It is YA but touches on lots of adult themes - just addressed in a way for youths to relate to.
Really enjoyed learning about the gaming aspects (as a non gamer).
This was a fun book! I'm really glad I stuck through the first chapters because both Viola and Jack really annoyed me and I really didn't want to root for either - but I guess they are written that way for a reason - and I'm happy that I didn't have another audiobook lined up because I probably would've dnfed this. The character growth felt realistic and I enjoyed the development in the relationship. Viola's insistence on keeping her identity secret was very annoying considering how long it dragged on - but again I realise that kinda is the whole point. I don't have that much experience with the original play and most of my knowledge comes from She's the Man, so so did find myself comparing with that instead of the original source. Overall a very typical YA romance, but entertaining nonetheless
emotional
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
best YA romance I've read in a while good GOD ... alexene I need you to keep cooking !
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
emotional
funny
reflective
relaxing
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Really enjoyed this novel, which is more about two kids coming of age and connecting than a traditional romance. Both leads are sympathetic and their journeys feel true, and having them finally fall for each other is just the cherry on top. The gaming setting is a lot of fun as well. Recommended.
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
How freaking cute is this?! Such a fun retelling of the Shakespeare work. Thoroughly enjoyed every page!