- 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 *

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!

When champion Maximillian’s reelection campaign tour threatens to reach Ranragh, the town’s resident wrongdoer Cyrus decides he has had quite enough of that. Except Maximillain comes with an offer Cyrus cannot bring himself to refuse. A deal. A fake rivalry, carefully staged, so that both of them can finally get the recognition and respect their positions deserve.

Staged battles. Dastardly wrongdoings. Carefully choreographed public drama. The perfect arrangement. Except that it requires Cyrus to spend significantly more time in the presence of his enemy. His enemy and his blinding smile. His sculpted muscles. His horrific dimple.

Getting to know Maximillian will not result in Cyrus falling for him. Absolutely not.

Nemesis Mine is an absolute delight, and I adored every single minute of it. Whimsical and swoony on the surface, but with real emotional depth underneath, this book packed a slow-building romance so beautifully constructed I was completely helpless against it. Cyrus's grumpiness, his gleeful commitment to wrongdoing, and his dedication to being a general pest won me over immediately, and I stayed won over, right through to the final page. The balance between action and tenderness is perfect, and watching these two dramatically inclined men gradually crack open and get genuinely vulnerable with each other? Stunning.

I giggled. I swooned. I ignored every person around me until it was finished.

Nemesis Mine is an excellently woven story, completely irresistible. Go read it.

I should add a "loved the villain" shelf for Cyrus...

I absolutely adored this one! It was so much fun (and then took a quite unexpected dark turn towards the end for a short moment...) watching the villain and the hero plotting together to save both their careers (after all, every villain needs a hero to fight) and of course, while staging fake fights, catching feelings (you do need to practice rolling around in the mud after all...).

There were brief moments were I thought the pacing was just a bit off (they went from admiring bulging muscles to falling into bed together a bit too easily for my taste - I would have preferred a bit more build-up, for example) but other thant that, this was FUN.

I loved the humor, I loved Cyrus and his sprites, and the idea that you could chose villainy or heroing as a career (and figure out that nothing is ever that simple...)!

I am really looking forward to what the author has planned next!

4.5⭐️

Let me paint the picture for you: Cyrus is a wrongdoer who spends his days being an absolute pest who also enjoys the domestic life (even though he really is bad. Swear to god). He‘s extremely annoyed with Maximillian - the hero who has an annoying dimple and is super gallant and loves to help people. Or does he? The two team up for a spectacular feud (albeit a staged one). They cross swords. Often. Lol.

God I loved this!! I usually struggle with silly books but this was just adorable and so camp! It‘s single POV and being in Cyrus‘s mind was hilarious because he truly enjoys being annoying, but at the same time he has uncool plant magic and a family of sprites is obsessed with him. He calls his horse „Soulripper“.

But I just really loved how these two got together and who can resist a „touch him and die“.

It was perhaps a bit too on the nose at times, but I flew through this and had the best time ever. I can‘t believe this is a debut!

Nemesis Mine is a queer rom-com set in a fantasy world where champions and wrongdoers rule over cities and compete for power. It's an enemies-to-fake-enemies-to-lovers story. Think fake dating, but fake nemeses instead!

It is told from the villain's perspective, and he is the grumpy to the hero's sunshine. But the truth is that neither fit perfectly into the role they've been assigned and both are hiding parts of themselves.

Cosy, silly, and just a little bit steamy, this was a genuinely charming charming read I can recommend for rom-com fans.

Nemesis Mine follows Cyrus, a wrongdoer (think: supervillain) whose job is to terrorise his town, except his heart isn’t really in it anymore. After a battle over a decade ago earned him the nickname ‘earthshaker’, he’s struggled to live up to the fearsome reputation. These days, his villainy is mainly pranks that inconvenience the town more than they terrify it.

Then comes along Maximillian, a champion trying to get re-elected. When Cyrus, desperate for a bit of excitement, confronts him, the encounter is far more fun than he expected, and he’s even more shocked to discover that Max felt the same thrill. Soon, Max comes up with a plan for them to stage their collisions in a more choreographed way, to boost both of their reputations. Their secret meetings to organise their fake rivalry turn into a genuine friendship. And with all the fighting and tension, it’s only a matter of time before feelings get involved.

I loved the humour in this book! As it’s written from Cyrus’ POV, we get to hear a lot of his internal monologue, and that man is hilarious! This was a great slow-burn story. Nothing felt rushed between the two MMCs, and the way their relationship progressed felt natural. We got all the yearning that I love; brushes of hands, lingering looks, hidden smiles... I was practically begging for them to finally get together.

Cyrus was easily my favourite character, but I wish we’d got to know Max more deeply. We did get to delve a little into his past and his motivations, but I wanted to see him more fleshed out. Though, to be fair, we’re seeing him entirely through Cyrus’ eyes, and Cyrus mostly sees ‘very attractive, but infuriating man,’ which is understandable.

I always know I’m loving a book when I notice there aren’t many pages left and I still don’t want it to end. I want more of Cyrus, and I’d happily read more stories set in this world. For now, I’m just excited to see what Amy Archer writes next.

I think this was my first time having so much fun reading about a Wrongdoer’s life, where being a Wrongdoer is an actual job and there’s even an academy for it, lol.
Amy Archer did such a great job with Cyrus and his overly complicated mindset. He’s such a diva, frustrating at times, especially considering we only had access to his POV at the beginning, but also so impossibly goofy that it’s hard not to love him.
The more you read, the more you get to see glimpses of who Cyrus really is beneath all the dramatics, and it was lovely watching that side of him come out, especially through his relationship with Maximilian.
I’m not going to lie, the first 20% of the book was a little slow and somewhat difficult to get through. But as soon as the dynamic duo joined forces, the story found its rhythm and I was completely hooked. From that point on, I found myself deeply immersed in both the writing and the plot.
Maximilian is the grounded champion willing to take a chance on a Wrongdoer, and thank God he did, because the banter, the tension, THE SPICE, and their overall dynamic are absolutely everything.

Overall, a solid 4-star read. Definitely recommending it if you are looking for a witty rom-com with two hotties enemies to lovers mmcs.

Nemesis Mine was such a delightful read. I adored the concept of a hero and a villain partnering up to improve their respective reputations, and how, throughout an apparently silly little story, the book drafts such a brilliant and thoughtful reflection on the complex nuances between good and evil.

The romance was lovely and developed beautifully (grumpy cat x sunshine golden retriever is always an elite pair), and I truly adored Cyrus's character - for how he is initially so reluctant to let himself feel things, to care about the people and creatures around him, but in the end he can't help it, because love is such a fundamental part of who is.

I have to say that I did find the "Influencers" aspect of Champions a bit cringy, but the story itself was overall still enjoyable and captivating, with such a unique and fun narrative tone.

this had me giggling and kicking my feet, what a silly fun time !!

this was so campy and unserious, i loved every second of it

Cyrus is a diva with a flair for the dramatics but deep down he’s just a domesticated man who enjoys embroidery and baking with his homegrown blackberries with his silk pink pajamas

The tension between Cyrus and Max was delicious during their initial feud, once they got together they were adorable and it was so lovely to see the softer sides of them both

I loved the conflict between what it means to be good and evil, both Cyrus and Maxamillian explore the complexities of what it means to be a hero and villain

I am thoroughly charmed and will read anything and everything in this world

Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC!

Cyrus is such an entertaining protagonist, I love his wry and irreverent narration, and his flair for dramatics. As a "wrongdoer", as they are called in here, he's not very villainous; his schemes mainly amount to inconveniencing people and ruining livelihoods, and in his spare time, he likes to be crafty--in an arts and crafts kind of way, not in a cooking up wicked plans kind of way.

I'm a big fan of role-reversal type stuff, where the characters assigned to the roles of "hero" and "villain" aren't what they seem. Maximillian appears to be the perfect hero--in fact, he plays his part better than Cyrus does at being a villain. But it quickly becomes clear that he's far from perfect. While Cyrus delights in being a menace, Maximillian is only a hero for the fame and glory. He's also more uptight and serious than Cyrus, but also silly enough to tease and banter with him.

Their romance was so much fun! Their initial fights, before they decide to team up, when Cyrus still hated Maximillian, were full of tension--and I'm talking about the sexual kind (read this in WWDITS Lazlo's voice). Their staged fights are also tense, but much sillier, with Cyrus taking advantage of the situation to cause maximum chaos, and Maximillian letting go and having fun with it. I feel like while they have plenty of chemistry, they don't necessarily connect emotionally? Maximillian actually shows more openness and emotional vulnerability, while Cyrus is more closed off. There were certain scenes where I got a little frustrated with Cyrus, because he is literally incapable of taking things seriously. He struggles a lot with feelings, which is fine, but I feel that it results in a disconnect between how they feel and what they do for each other. If that makes sense.

Also, this is not a critique, just an observation: I have read plenty of cozy fantasy books with "outsider" protagonists, and have come to expect certain things from this genre. These are 1) the protagonist has a character arc where they learn to care about people and 2) this character arc comes about by the protagonist being forced to befriend a group of quirky misfits(if they are uptight and boring) or normal people(if they have committed war crimes).

To my surprise, Nemesis Mine has literally none of that! The plot is exactly as described in the synopsis, with no character arc about Cyrus wanting to turn over a new leaf. There are a couple scenes where he gets called out by precocious girl children that made me believe the redemption arc was going to happen--but nothing comes of those scenes. By the end, Cyrus and Maximillian have the exact same morals as they did at the start. Nothing wrong with this by the way, it's fun to read about characters that are unrepentant jerks. (Not being sarcastic I mean it!) Honestly, I was more thrown off by the lack of side characters. Cyrus interacts with plenty of random people, but most of them are unnamed, and the ones that are are mostly antagonistic. Like, legitimately, he doesn't make any friends at all. He cares about his horse, if that counts.

Anyway, this was a highly entertaining read, with hilarious narration, a swooney romance, and an action-packed plot. Just don't think about the characters' morals or lack thereof.

Flamboyant trickster meets his match
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Quite literally enemies to lovers, with added snark: Cyrus is a brilliantly low-level villain, more trickster than evil, and is as flamboyant as you can be when you're a straitened baddie, reliant on the things your neighbours give you out of fear. The strangely polarised world of the book, of heroes who have to be re-elected and the villains who are forced to oppose them, smacks of some totalitarian shadow state keeping the populace engaged in rooting for the goodies and booing the baddies, as if there's something else at work. There's so much scope in this world, and I'm excited to see what comes next.

First of all... a moment for this cover! She’s absolutley stunning. When I got the NetGalley email that I had been approved for this ARC the noise I made was totally inhuman. Absolutely one I will be getting for the trophy shelf.

This book was silly, over the top, camp and cliche in the best possible way. I read it all in one sitting. I fell in love with Cyrus and Maximillian and their dynamic instantly.

It’s such a fun concept, enemies to lovers in the sense the lovers are quite literally called the ‘hero’ and the ‘villain’. What a concept. This is not a book designed to trick you, and it is comforting in it’s predictability. The cosiest of reads. The romance is simply wonderful, and the spice is exxxcelllent. A perfect blend of humour, action, love and laugh out loud moments. It’s so fun to see villainry done in a very tongue in cheek silly way, and a man so dedicated to mischeif being undone by his own gentle nature and affinity for nature magic.

The plot is perfectly formed around the focal point of the romance, and there were moments I genuinely found myself on the edge of my seat. A perfect book, best enjoyed with a soft blanket, an open afternoon and a cup of tea. Out June 23rd!

Thank you to NetGalley for this e-arc!

Amy promised me a romantasy romp and this is exactly what I got. The perfect read for Pride Month as well! 🌈

Where do I begin? Sweet Cyrus my little diva. You would’ve loved Mariah Carey. Cyrus is a wrongdoer who has lets just say unconventional wrongdoer magic (some may say flower power?). He is determined to keep up his bad reputation and fear in people’s hearts but there is a boulder (a hot one) in his way in Max the champion to end all champions (being a slightly mature one at that). 👀

So they form a ploy to stage some dramatic sword crossing to bump each other up in the leagues but also end up bumping other things 🥵.

This is fake hating gone so so wrong and the calamity was absolutely delicious to read. If you love British humour you will absolutely love this!!

Yes Amy you made me cackle enough to nearly get kicked out the library!! Please please pick this up it was the best time!!

⚔️ Touch him and die
🌸 Fake Hating
⚔️ Morally grey x morally greyer
🌸 Nemeses to lovers
⚔️ M/M romance

4.5⭐️ It took me a little while to fully settle into this one, but once I fell in love with the characters, I was completely hooked. I really enjoyed how the story explored what it actually means to be a "champion" or a "wrongdoer," and how those labels don't always reflect a person's actions.

The ending was wonderfully sweet, and the characters absolutely made the book for me. Cyrus, the grumpy little menace, had me laughing constantly, while Max being completely unfazed by his antics was the perfect contrast. ❤️

Thank you NetGalley and HarperCollins UK for the eARC! The review reflects my own honest opinion.

This book was sooo my cup of tea it was just everything I wanted it to be and more. A really impressive debut that hits on all its selling points. It genuinely is funny and charming and tender and dramatic. The romance as well as plot were both really gorgeously developed. And my god were the characters endearing. Like villainous and kind and selfish and generous, all packed up together into nuanced and lovely characters. Their character development was also so great. Which is really nice is that they both change and shift the more they know each other, but they don't lose their core selves.

I must reiterate how joyful this was to read. I guess I have this niche where I love books about villains who are evil but funny. Even better when they like cute things like gardening and cooking and embroidery. Obviously, then, this was a home run for me.

"He didn't have any particular plans for today, beyond sabotaging the bridge - sow a little discontent here, a touch of strife there - but he could always make sure he looked his malevolent best."

Thank you NetGalley and Harper Collins for sending me this ebook. All thoughts are my own.

Some books just have good vibes, and this is one of them.

Nemesis Mine is a witty, warm nemesis-to-lovers story with a genuinely funny narrative voice. Cyrus’s inner monologue is the standout - honest, self-aware observations delivered with a wink that makes even his most chaotic moments quietly endearing.

At its heart this is a book about what happens when you let someone see your actual self, not the version you’ve been performing. The “unlikely pairing” trope gets a lot of use in this genre, but the author makes it feel inevitable in the best way - like of course these two people are irresistible to each other, even if neither of them would ever admit it first.

If you love witty, self-deprecating prose, this sits comfortably alongside Brigitte Knightley’s Irresistible Urge to Fall for Your Enemy. It also has an unexpectedly Sapkowski-esque quality - the dry wit and morally complicated character dynamics gave me strong Witcher book energy, which is not a comparison I expected to make about a romantic comedy, but here we are.

Pick this up when you need something that will genuinely make you smile.

Thank you to HarperCollins UK for an advance reader copy via NetGalley. All opinions are my own