- Enemies-to-lovers
- Touch-him-and-💀
- Morally grey MC
- Grumpy x Sunshine
- Slow-burn
- Forbidden love
- Fake dating

When Ranragh’s resident wrongdoer Cyrus’s villainous existence is threatened by a planned visit from heroic champion Maximillian, he decides to take matters into his own hands. What he doesn’t expect is how much a villain and a hero might have in common. So when Maximillian proposes a deal to fake a rivalry, Cyrus can’t resist! A few staged battles are the perfect way to boost both of their reputations, but spending more time with his so-called “enemy” may have unexpected consequences …

I loved this a LOT. It’s fun, lighthearted, and a genuine joy to read! Easy, funny, and laugh-out-loud entertaining, it deserves all the stars purely for how consistently it made me smile!

I fell in love with Cyrus immediately. He has definite Grinch energy - if the Grinch were handsome, vain, and swept up in an MM enemies-to-lovers romantasy! Watching him navigate villainy, ego, and unexpected feelings is pure entertainment.

The worldbuilding is I think intentionally light, rather than getting bogged down in detail, the story is driven by a witty narrative and a cosy, satisfying slow-burn romance. I was hooked from the first page!

Would recommend for fans of fantasy rom-coms like An Irresistible Urge to Fall for One’s Enemies and Grave Situation.

Thanks so much to Harper Collins UK and NetGalley for the ARC.

Nemesis Mine was an epic romantasy with a fantastic historical medieval backdrop which added amazing tension to the plot and the characters tension. I really enjoyed this take on the genre as it was exciting and lead to lots of interesting moments and relationship development. The characters backstories lead to the trajectory of their feelings and relationship building into something beautiful. I would highly recommend this story.

Yes to all of this. Yes yes yes. From the very beginning this set the tone and I had SUCH a great time with this story. The characters exploded alive on my e-reader and I just… ALL OF THE STARS. I wished more MM romance novels could be like this, because I felt this really was special. I read this so quickly I had to re-read a few days later because I was in a daze when I finished it the first time. Also, kudos to the artist for the cover, it really fit the bill so to say. I really envy all of those who get to read this for the first time and live vicariously through the characters like I did. Le sigh.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for letting me give my honest feedback. I am now «obsessed» as they all say these days.

Hands down, one of my top reads of the entire year.

This was such a refreshing change to a lot of the romantasy out there, which is starting to become very samey and blend into one big collection of tropes. This story felt new and unique, and so preposterously fun.

I knew I'd love it from the very start. Cyrus was so delightfully grumpy and witty, Max was a big hero on the surface, yet they both turned out to be such complex characters. Their relationship developed and progressed in such an organic way, and their interactions were so delightfully full of banter.

What I loved most though, was the blend of good and bad, and so much vulnerability from both characters.

I'm not sure if this is a standalone or the start of a series, but the ending concluded the story very nicely. There was an easy opening left to explore a potential continuation to Cyrus and Max's adventures, and I would absolutely love to read more!

*thank you to the publisher for an ARC of this book via NetGalley *

4.5⭐

I absolutely loved the sound of this book's premise and boy did it deliver!! I have read my fair share of MM romances but Nemesis Mine felt really special with its rom-com style. And who knew I would enjoy the fake rivals to lovers trope so much in this one!

The story is essentially about a villain (Cyrus) and a hero (Maximillian) who form an alliance to drive up their pretty declining popularity. As expected, from the initial hate (more dislike really) they feel towards each other, something else begins to bloom.

I loved the mix of intense action and gentle romantic scenes, it worked so well! There was so much depth to both MMCs and their vulnerability was so heartbreaking to witness. I especially liked the depiction of Cyrus and I really don't want to say more but you'll certainly understand why if you read the book!

There was a side character that I did not like at all, and while I guessed which direction the plot was going, it was still pretty satisfying to witness it unfold.

And finally, the moral of the story? Nothing is black and white, nor can we expect it to be, since there is good and bad in everyone. And love can be found at the most unexpected places. After this fantastic experience (I laughed out loud multiple times), I look very much forward to read more from Amy Archer!

I would compare this book to The Irresistible Urge to Fall for Your Enemy, in both style and the sense that it's vibes over plot/world building. This is certainly not a critique because the vibes are immaculate, but I have a feeling that Nemesis Mine won't be for everyone.

Thank you to HarperFiction/Magpie, NetGalley and the author for the digital ARC. All opinions are my own.

(Review to be submitted on Goodreads/Storygraph and Instagram closer to publication date + on retail sites on release date.)

Title: Nemesis Mine
Rating: 4.75 stars
Genre: Fantasy, Romance

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Nemesis Mine is a joyful romantic fantasy that follows enemies, Champion Maximillian and Wrongdoer Cyrus as they decide to and deploy a fake rivalry as let's face it, having a nemesis is tiring!

This was such a entertaining and wholesome book, I laughed, giggle, teared up and kicked my feet whilst reading this. Cyrus and Max relationship starts so well and becomes so heart felt and comforting. This book is definitely character driven rather than plot, not a huge amount happens, it is purely about the development of their relationship with political blockers in the way but I adored everything about it.

I have given this book 4.75 stars as I enjoyed it so much, I was entertained and delighted to read it and haven't had so much fun reading a book in a long time! If you like low(ish) stakes romantic fantasy I would 100% recommend this book. Excited to see what Archer writes next.

This was a very charismatic book. Love that this is Amy Archer's debut novel because she's starting off by packing a punch!

I adore that on the surface, this books seems almost too simple - bad guy (his POV at the start - frustrating in parts) - literally has a diploma from 'wrongdoer academy' and our good guy (who's in the same boat).

I honestly didn't know how Archer was going to write this story into a truly delicious enemies-to-lovers - this was so deliciously romantic, swoony in many parts and a perfect blend of spice and action!

A fabulous book!

Absolutely obsessed. Everything about this book was perfect from the characters to the plot! Hooked me in straight away.

Thank you to HarperCollins and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this ARC!

LOVED this. This was a super fast read for me, and it was a silly goofy book that made me laugh multiple times. Nemesis Mine follows a champion and a "wrongdoer" who stage a rivalry. The premise is an interesting hook, and I was very intrigued from the first few pages.

The characters are well rounded. Cyrus is much more focused on mischief and tricks which sets him apart as a wrongdoer. Maximillian is the champion, and they agree to stage a rivalry and have a few fake fights in order to get more attention and increase their reputations, and this obviously leads to more.

One of the things I really appreciate with this book is it isn't insta-love/insta-lust. I wouldn't necessarily call it a slow build either, but the author gives the relationship between the two time to grow. I loved their scenes, the banter, the tension!

I also really enjoyed the little bit of worldbuilding we get here. The different towns, the newspaper articles, the mentions of the Federation. It's sort of medieval-ish, almost like Shrek. I also loved the horses. Seriously, the horses were so funny.

My only tiny critique was that the pacing felt off a few times. Somewhere near the middle, it seemed to drag a bit. But I don't think it took away my enjoyment at reading this book. It's a fun quick read and I would recommend it to everyone who wants a silly relaxing read.

Thank you to NetGalley and the author for providing me with a copy of Nemesis Mine. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book and the humour and wit throughout is fantastic. I love the story and haven’t read anything like it before. It’s definitely one that stands out in the best way. The characters are truly fantastic and jump off the page and are a joy to read.

4⭐️ A soft, slow-burn romantasy full of heart and lovable characters.

The story is told entirely from Cyrus’s point of view, the wrongdoer, and I absolutely loved being inside his head as we follow his journey. He was such an endearing character. From all his acts of mischief to his more vulnerable, private thoughts, I couldn’t help but root for him (and for him and Max).

And Max… our swoon-worthy champion. I loved them both so much. Watching them slowly open up to each other and realising they were both more layered and complex than they first appeared was one of my favourite parts.

Their progression from enemies to lovers felt really well paced, full of banter and tension, and by the time they finally got together, their relationship felt warm and comforting, almost like being wrapped in a cosy blanket.

The story leans more into the characters and their interactions rather than action, but I really didn’t mind that. It made the whole reading experience feel softer and more focused, which I really enjoyed.

A strong debut from the author, and I would happily read more set in this world as I found it interesting and engaging.

Many thanks to HarperCollins UK and NetGalley for the ARC.

This story is epic, funny, spicy, and -at least for me in certain key moments-, quite emotional. Nemesis Mine combines all of these elements to make oit of fantasy a truly enjoyable genre once more for those versed in it or for the first time in the case of a bit more skeptical readers. A very descriptive narration that helps the reader be actually present in the action, it also goes hand in hand with Cyrus's wit and the honesty that hides something else coming from the character of Max.

100% recommended. Thanks a lot to Netgalley and HarperColins UK for the ARC.

Firstly: OMG. I cannot get enough of Cyrus and Maximillian.

I was kicking my legs, grinning like an idiot, and completely obsessed from start to finish. This whole book is charged with tension. The flirting, the banter, the fights—everything between them crackles with this constant threat, that made it impossible to put down.
And it’s fun! Campy, chaotic, ridiculous in the best way and completely leans into that “not-so-evil villain x annoyingly perfect hero” dynamic (which honestly makes them more like idiots-to-lovers at times).

And somehow this book managed to feel like Fable to me? I genuinely don’t know how to explain that properly, but it gave me that same chaotic, morally questionable thrill where I found myself laughing along with Cyrus’s wrongdoing like I too was ready to become a villain of Albion (or, in this case, Atheca).

Hands down a five-star read for me. I need the audiobook like today!

Amy Archer, whatever you write next, I am ready and waiting. Thank you so much for the ARC!

This was such a fun, charming romantasy — witty, heartfelt, and ridiculously easy to binge. Reviewers weren’t kidding about the chemistry between Cyrus and Maximillian; the banter, fake-rival dynamic, and slow-burn romance absolutely carried the story. The worldbuilding stays light and cosy, which really lets the characters shine, and Cyrus completely steals the show with his dramatic “professional villain” energy. A couple of pacing dips aside, this felt fresh, funny, and genuinely swoon-worthy. Perfect for fans of character-driven fantasy rom-coms with chaotic energy and a lot of heart.

I really enjoyed this MM, enemies to lovers, single POV cosy fantasy romance! The main characters, Cyrus and Maximillian, are easy to cheer for, even if Cyrus is a villain.

Being who I am, Cyrus was my favourite character. I mean, I wouldn't personally cause random mischief, but I also couldn't see dedicating myself to a rigid structure for doing good like Max ). I really enjoyed the world-building of there being formal associations for good and evil, that always reminds me of a certain Adult Swim cartoon I have a deep love for.

For me, the best part of the advance reader copy was the slow burn romance. It was subtle, with plenty of yearning (and denial of said yearning), and the twists were enough to keep me hooked! The last quarter packs in a lot and in my opinion goes a bit slowly, at least until you reach the very end.

Thank you HarperFiction/Magpie and Netgalley for the ARC! 4.5🌟

This book was so much fun! Now, this is a proper enemies to lovers story! And Cyrus is just the best character.
The narrative is light and funny, the world building is just enough to get you situated without overwhelming you and the story is just so addictive!
Even though it is incredibly fun, it still has it's moments of tenderness, and truly heartfelt moments.
Loved it!