- 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

---

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 rounded up for NetGalley. Thank you to HarperCollins UK, Harper Fiction, Magpie & NetGalley for sending me an ARC of Nemesis Mine in exchange for an honest review.

This was a silly fantasy DELIGHT! Laugh out loud funny, and absolutely overflowing with heart, I had the best time.

Cyrus is the (self-proclaimed) kingdom’s most feared wrong doer. Nothing gets his blood pumping like some nefarious dramatics…but keeping up this reign of terror is hard work.

Nobody gets under Cyrus’ skin quite as much as the annoyingly perfect champion, Maximillian. When Max proposes a fake rivalry, staging fights to boost both of their reputations, Cyrus can’t resist the spectacle of it all. However he certainly CAN resist fixating on Max’s absolutely disgusting, filthy dimple and obnoxiously muscular body, thank you very much!

I LOVED THIS! Cyrus is one of my new fav characters in fantasy, I feel a deep kinship with him in my very bones. It was an absolute joy getting to go on this fun adventure with him, and watch him try his hardest to fight his pesky feelings!

Max, you charming minx. I also loved him, and I could have done with a peek inside his mind too just because I want to know what his brain is like 🥹

Cyrus & Max’s chemistry was electric, the building tension was so thick and I just wanted to smoosh their stupid perfect mouths together and make them KISS ALREADY. The wait was well worth it ❤️‍🔥

The humour in this was perfect, absurdist joy and it was giving The Princess Bride (my all time fav) vibes. I cannot give a higher compliment when it comes to fun fantasy romps!!

My only small complaint is the pacing towards the end faltered a bit for me. It wasn’t a huge deal, and i admit it could have been magnified by the fact I was reading this in unfathomably hot weather.

If you love silly fun with a fantasy setting, and the idea of two idiots falling for each other with the classic enemies to lovers/fake hating/touch him and die/morally grey heroes, you will have so much fun with Nemesis Mine!

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!