Nemesis Mine

by Amy Archer

A not-so-evil villain strikes a deal with a not-quite-perfect hero to fake a feud, boost their reputations . . . and try not to fall in love in the process—in this hilarious, tender, sexy, and outrageously fun romp that blends the humor of Assistant to the Villain with the unforgettable romance of Red, White, & Royal Blue and the cozy fantasy vibes of Legends & Lattes.

Fake nemeses. It’s a dastardly plan that can’t go wrong… until love crashes the act.

Nobody is more surprised than Cyrus to learn that he’s no longer considered the greatest villain in the land of Athaca. Sure, he’s lying about the fact that his magical power is making flowers grow. And maybe lately he’s spent more time embroidering pillowcases than tormenting the locals. But that doesn’t mean he’s ready to be yesterday’s evil news.

Enter the hero Maximillian: the realm’s golden boy, complete with a blinding smile, chiseled abs, and an infuriating habit of spreading hope and joy. (Gross.) If Cyrus wants to be taken seriously, he’ll have to take this guy down.

But Maximillian isn’t quite as perfect as he seems. When he proposes a scheme to fake an epic rivalry and increase their fame, Cyrus can’t resist. Stage the battles, soak up the spotlight, share the spoils—it’s a villainously good marketing plan.

There’s just one hitch. Pretending to hate your nemesis becomes a lot harder when you start falling for them instead.

Nemesis Mine is a wickedly funny, steamy, and big-hearted rom-com set in a cozy fantasy world, featuring:

- An irreverent take on a fantasy kingdom for fans of Shrek and The Princess Bride
- Enemies to reluctant allies to lovers (M/M)
- A twist on fake hating/fake dating
- Black cat/golden retriever energy
- Dagger to the throat moments
- Falling for the villain
- “Touch him and you die”

Genres: Fantasy, Adult, LGBT, Queer, Romance, M M Romance, Enemies To Lovers

384 pages, Hardcover

Expected publication June 9, 2026

About the author

Amy Archer is from Doncaster, South Yorkshire. Her debut novel NEMESIS MINE was written to follow up on the teenage realisation that villains really do have more fun, and will be published by Magpie (UK) and HarperVoyager (US) in June 2026.

She is represented by Lucy Irvine.

Reviews

[James McRay · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is my second ARC via NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review.

Debut author, Amy Archer, has set herself a rather daunting challenge by writing this story entirely from the villain’s POV.

“Villian” should probably be in quote marks, as the alleged baddie, Cyrus, is just doing his job as a professional wrongdoer. He even has the diploma from the Wrongdoer Academy to prove it. His day job is battling the professional champions who, you guessed it, also have their own academy and governing organization.

It’s a very creative premise to the story, and I like to imagine Archer thinking, “what if I write a gay enemies to lovers trope where the main characters start out as literal I-need-to-kill-you enemies?”

But back to Archer’s challenge, writing her antagonist protagonist likeable enough to get to the romantic slow-burn turnaround with the story’s protagonist protagonist, Maximillian. It was frustrating at the start to only be in Cyrus’s POV, as the author writes him as a ridiculously cliched “villain.” This was intentional, I’m sure, because about the half-way mark of the book when the enemies start to fall for each other, my feelings toward Cyrus completely changed. So, challenge completed, I’d say.

The M/M romance was, quite simply, wonderfully romantic. Swoony in many parts, just the right amount of spice, and blended perfectly into the action and adventure.

Overall, full marks for a fun, well-written debut. Cheers.

[Pallavi · Rating 4 out of 5]

RATING: 4.25/5 STARS

My cozy fantasy streak continues with NEMESIS MINE! I tore through this book. The blend of humor, action, and romance was exactly what I was looking for. I could not resist reading about a dastardly villain wandering about creating mischief but foiled by his own gentle plant power, love of embroidery crafts, and troublesome crush on the golden hero of the town. How precious is that?!

[maddie's reading · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to Harper Voyager and NetGalley for the arc!

rtc

[Katie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tropes:
Enemies to Lovers
Black Cat / Golden Retriever
Fake “dating” (but it’s fighting!)
Forbidden relationship
Slow burn
Hidden Magic ✨✨

Vibes:
Cozy cottage-core with a Shrek-like fantasy world and a Megamind-like hero (though he would hate if you called him such ❤️)

Spice:
🌶️🌶️ (explicit open door, only two scenes or so)

————————
Awwww, this was a really sweet queer love story about a villain who isn’t all bad (have you seen his flower magic?! Well you shouldn’t because he’s ferocious!) and a hero who isn’t all the way good (I won’t say more without spoiling a major plot point!). Really great character and location development and description throughout and a well-built out world that felt entirely real. I will say that the world building in the beginning did at times feel like it dragged a bit though it ended up being worth it at the end but yeah, this is a VERY developed world.

The romance between Max and Cyrus was slow building, full of personal angst (because how could a bad guy fall for a good guy?!) but still had lots of darling banter and culminated in a relationship that was really sweet and felt deep. I adored watching Cyrus fight his instincts to emotionally hide/remain “tough” and instead learn to open himself up to Max. But don’t worry, he never loses his snarky personality in the process and continues to shine in all his super “villain” glory!

Altogether a great read that I highly recommend for anyone looking for a cozy rom-com/fantasy read! Thank you so much to Amy Archer, NetGalley and Avon and Harper Voyager for the chance to read the ARC early in exchange for honest review!

[Gracie · Rating 2 out of 5]

Thank you to Harper Voyager/NetGalley for the ARC!

I was not able to finish this book. To be completely fair, I just don’t think I was a good fit for the tone of the story. I didn’t find Cyrus’ cynicism to be endearing, he came off as annoying. I can see the foreshadowing and am sure that there will be a good character arc, but I can’t find it in me to get past the 30% mark.

[Lori · Rating 4 out of 5]

*****ARC courtesy of @NetGalley*****

Tropes: Enemies to Lovers obviously, M/M Pairing

Spice: 3/5

Oh my word, this book was possibly one of the best that I have read this year and I do not say that lightly. I wish this was already in my bookshelf and that I shove it in my friends' hands right now to begin reading. This is such a wholesome and heartwarming story that also brings in the English charm. If you liked Osric from "The Irresistible Urge to Fall For Your Enemy" then you will love the 'villain' in this story even more. This is a single POV story, told from the villain's perspective.

This book is so much more than the summary lets on. Yes, it is about a wrongdoer and a hero teaming up to bolster their own reputations. And yes, they catch feelings for each other along the way. More than that, it is about being honest with yourself, dealing with the stress that your life choices have thrust upon you, learning how to ask for help, and then opening your heart to someone you least expected. The villain is a softie at heart while the hero has numerous internal frustrations and stressors.

The pacing of this story was spot on. I enjoyed the amount of backstory to our villain and I thoroughly enjoyed the breakdown of the governing body (also known as The Federation). I do not know if the published edition will have a map, but Amy Archer has provided succinct details for where the numerous cities lie. In terms of romantic pacing, the attraction did not feel rushed either. It is not a slow burn but it is not an immediate lusting either. As they came into their agreement, sometimes we would see their staged fights on page and other times we would only read the recap. I appreciated that fact as is allowed the story to continue flowing instead of reading one fight after another.

Side characters did exist and they each had a purpose. I would recommend remembering every named individual you come across because they may come back again. No character was a throw away, unless they were literally being thrown by our villain. The humor read very well on page and it also played like a movie in my mind. Again, the English humor is apparent without being over the top. The level of drama was appropriate, just enough without being over the top. I had to catch myself because I was criticizing a plot point towards the end, thinking she had just recycled the same story line, when instead she threw us a curve ball. I had become so engrossed in the story that I stopped predicting what would come next!

Both characters are identifiable and relatable. They are flawed, they have dreams, and they do not have all of the answers. Their attraction and devotion towards each other is heartwarming. This is somewhat spice light, I believe there are only two chapters that do have sexy bits. Now there is a lot of violence and destruction; remember, this is a story about a villain who is willing to harm anyone that crosses him. This is not over the top violent but I will admit that I was shocked a few times when Amy Archer did not hold back. (Shocked in a good way.)

Please pre-order your copy down or at least mark your calendars for this release date. You will not be disappointed!

[Liv Knight · Rating 4 out of 5]

this was a fun time! it was silly and goofy and heartwarming and i quite enjoyed it. i think the world of champions and wrongdoers in this book is a fun setting for romance, i loved the characters and their silly little quirks and rivalry. the banter in this was quite cute and overall this book was a good time! what a fun debut for this author!

thank you netgalley and harper voyager for the arc!

[Lee Hennessy · Rating 4 out of 5]

A villain who is a little bit good and a hero who is a little bit bad team up to build their reputations, but fall in love along the way.

Our POV main character, Cyrus, is a wrongdoer more concerned with mischief and mayhem than death and destruction. His once-great and formidable image has slipped and when the book opens he’s a mid-list wrongdoer riding the coattails of his own past. When his territory is threatened by Maximillian, a famous and handsome touring champion, he decides to challenge him — which leads to a secret agreement: they will stage a series of pitched battles throughout the kingdom, bolstering both of their images in the process. But secret meetings and accidental touches lead to each of them falling for their public nemesis, against their better judgments.

Set in a somewhat zany world of wrongdoers and champions, I think I can safely call this book a romp. The world is fun and the main character has a clear voice throughout. The author is playful with the bad guy concept and one of my favorite parts of the book is when Cyrus ruins a well known romance trope for a pair of young lovers.

While it is a fun read, there are some things that fell flat for me. Cyrus having a past embarrassing interaction with Maximillian feels tacked on and the book drags a bit in the first half of act two, before they get together. I also felt like the zany tone didn’t lend itself well to how grounded and serious their relationship was. Because of these things, I liked it but I didn’t love it.

Overall, if you’re looking for a fun fantasy romp, I’d recommend this book. I give it 3.75 stars, rounding up to 4. I received this ARC in exchange for an honest review

[Eileen Reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.25⭐

MM fantasy and rivals to lovers? yes, please!!! i'm very impressed with this one! especially for a debut🙌🏻 it's more on the slower side but it worked for the story. the world was amazing and the characters even better!!! i'm so obsessed with Max and Cyrus!!! 😩🫶🏻 they were so freaking fun! this one is told from Cyrus' pov and omfg i LOVED being inside his head! he was absolutely hysterical🤣🙌🏻 him and the sprites🥲🤝🏻✨ anyway, i really enjoyed this one and i'm excited to see what this author comes up with next! 🤌🏻

[Kerin Ray · Rating 5 out of 5]

First of all if you like banter and hilarious characters this is the book for you! I was rolling laughing so hard with tears running down my face. I’m in loved with them. The back and forth was hysterical. The plot was so well writing and the world building was next level. I cannot wait to read more from this author!! -Kerin Ray

[Brie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Special thanks to Harper Voyager and NetGalley for the ARC!

Vilain and hero, queer/gay romantasy.

I really liked this book; it has banter, romance, humor, and characters with a lot of personality. It is without a doubt one of my favorite cozy fantasy novels.

The blossoming of the relationship between the two, the conversations, and the subtle changes in Cyrus's world—it was an immensely enjoyable read. Cy and Max kept me so entertained that I finished the whole book in one day.

One drawback is that the plot is fairly predictable; I could guess what would happen about 30% of the way through the e-book.

Also, I would have liked to read more about Cyrus' relationship with magic. In a second book, maybe? I feel like the story of these characters is not yet finished.

Overall, it's a mostly light and fun read.

[Miriam · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beyond thrilled that I've been able to read an ARC of this debut 🙏

This book was right up my street - I adore enemies to lovers and fake dating tropes, so it was a treat to experience both in Nemesis Mine.

Amy's writing is so so fun, and I'm looking forward to devouring more from her in the years to come!

[aubaxie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nemesis Mine charmed me. It is a delightfully witty, fun, engaging read with heart and genuine characters. I loved that while no one while no one in the story is perfect, no one is truly evil either. The author’s sense of humor roped me in from the very first sentence. I loved the witty banter between the main character and his love interest. The system of magic is both unique and easy to understand. I liked the lessons that the book gently imparts, such as being true to yourself is a sign of strength, even if you're afraid that you're too soft. The author did an excellent job of creating romantic attention in a believable way. I also think the personality of Maximilian’s assistant provides a helpful foil to contrast Cyrus’ gruff yet loyal personality. I greatly enjoyed watching the characters develop. It takes bravery to be vulnerable, and Amy Archer shows you can still have a wickedly good time doing so.

[leigh evalyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley for providing this ARC :)

I loved this! I loved the writing style so much, for some reason it gave me Dr. Seuss grinch vibes? This is such a fun quick summer-y read, I would highly recommend picking this up when it comes out! I will also be looking out for anything else Amy Archer writes!

[Hayley · Rating 3 out of 5]

A fun, campy, star-crossed lovers story set in a fantasy world of heroes and villains.

When an unlikely alliance between a champion and a wrongdoer forms, it creates ripples throughout the island of Athaca. Fans of Good Omens would enjoy the mischievousness of Cyrus’s wrongdoing and the occasional rule-bending of Maximillian, all in service of a last-ditch effort for relevance.

Archer builds up the world of Champions and the motives which bring Maximillian to Cyrus’s door. Prospective champions rise up through the hero academies, participate in public appearances, complete heroic feats and, if they’ve built enough of a reputation, win formal democratic elections to become Champions. The demands are rigid and unforgiving, but rewarded with fame and fortune.

For wrongdoers, much less attention is paid to their structure and motives. There is a wrongdoer guild, which appears to be largely symbolic, and while there is no governing wrong-doing body we meet, there are strict cultural norms about the correct way to be a wrongdoer. No wrongdoers appear to have grand ambitions, and most appear content with squeezing tributes out of small, struggling towns.

The interactions between Cyrus and Maximillian were enjoyable to read. Both men were fundamentally human, with a mix of both good and bad in them. And both seemed to struggle against narrow-minded systems insistent that there was only one way to be a hero or a villain.

However, when it came to Cyrus, I found his character to be inconsistent. Throughout most of the book, he is a harmless prankster, his wrongdoing designed to be a nuisance but not lethal. However, in between harmless pranks, he does some seriously messed up stuff, including arson, home invasion and physical torture. This makes it difficult to root for him, as his worst actions often come with no motive.

I quite enjoyed the ending of the story — to keep it vague, given the situation Cyrus and Maximillian had gotten themselves into, it seemed like a realistic conclusion.

3.5 — enjoyable read, good plot pacing, fun character interactions. I wish the world of wrongdoers was given some of the attention that the champions got, and the power dynamic between the wrongdoers guild and champion academy received more exploration.

Advanced reader copy provided by NetGalley

[Grace Carter · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this! I thought the characters were interesting, I loved the writing, theromance, the plot. Very much "I can make him worse" trope. There were some things I was not expecting which made it a really fun time!

[Matt (Kaitlin) Kroeger · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received an advanced reader copy (ARC) of this book (thank you to the author and publisher). My review reflects my honest impressions and neither the author nor publisher solicited my review. Content and pacing may differ slightly from the final published version.

Nemesis Mine has all the ingredients I usually love with enemies-to-lovers, witty banter, and a whimsical fantasy setting, but somehow it never fully clicked for me. While the premise is adorable and the character work is genuinely delightful, the overall reading experience felt a bit uneven.

When I turned the final page, my first thought was that this would likely be one I forget fairly quickly. Not because it’s bad, in fact far from it, but because nothing ever pushed it beyond “cute enough” for me personally.

The characters are easily the highlight. Their arcs are charming, their chemistry is undeniable, and I loved that their growth stems from compromise, self-awareness, and finding middle ground rather than dramatic moral swings. Their dynamic is fun, snarky, and sometimes surprisingly tender. If someone is seeking an M/M romance with solid character moments and a touch of playful spice (🌶️🌶️), this absolutely scratches that itch.

I also found the world playful and easy to follow. Even when the pacing felt slow, the tone remained light, humorous, and accessible.

The plot has a cute central concept (and I was drawn by the comparison to Assistant to the Villain) but follows a predictable arc. I never really felt eager to pick the story back up, and although the writing is enjoyable in places, it didn’t fully pull me in. There were stretches where it felt tedious despite the overall simplicity. For me, it ended up being more of a “finish so I can move on” read than one I felt invested in.

[MB]

This is not a review. It is notes on my reading as this was an advanced copy and I ultimately DNF the book.

Thank you to Amy Archer, Harper Collins, and NetGalley for allowing me to read this book.

Regrettably I did not finish this book. I did not enjoy it and I knew I would not enjoy it by the second chapter. I did sample a few other chapters, but ultimately this book was not for me. What I did read of it, there was no problem with any grammar or spelling that I saw. I generally like irreverent or whimsical fantasy, but this was so densely packed in a wall of text in the first two chapters with a great info dump of exposition, it fatigued me. I did like that it opened up with action but I did not enjoy the main characters verbose inner dialogue. I think I would break that up a little bit because it was quite a frenetic opening and actually made me a bit anxious. I wish the author well.

[Robin]

"[A] queer fantasy rom-com set in a world where heroes and villains vie for power, and centered on a not-so-evil villain who makes a deal with a not-so-perfect hero to become make nemeses and boost their reputations, but they inconveniently fall in love in the process."

[Brianna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you, NetGalley, Amy Archer, and the Publisher Avon and Harper Voyager for a copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.

Final verdict: 5/5 Stars

Five stars is a high review for me, and I don’t give it out lightly. But, I’m changing my rating system to how much I enjoyed a novel as opposed to its technicalities (and I will be getting in those a bit) because storytelling and lovable characters will always come first to me.

And with that being said, I LOVED this book and its silly characters. This is a not-so-unique fantasy done uniquely! I have to say, world-building-wise, I loved the fantasy aspects mixed in the modernization of “Advertising”, “Influencers”, and “Social Media”. I will admit that it caught me off guard when I first read it, but once I accepted it as a thing, I had such a fun time and often laughed out loud at some of the references. I also enjoyed the "superhero" and "villain" aspect of this book, although I wish the author had gone a bit deeper into building up the world around the Federation and the Guild. For the story we got, I think there was enough there to not feel like we were floating in white space, but I would have enjoyed learning a bit more about them. I found there was really next to no information about the Guild compared to the Federation. While it really isn’t a problem, the vanilla, cut-and-dry aspect made me want more.

I feel the weakest aspect of this book is its plot and pacing. The book takes A WHILE to get going. When I reached the 30% mark, I was wondering if I wanted to finish it, but I’m happy to say that’s precisely when the main draw of the plot picks up, and after that, it’s a fun menagerie of events that will have you laughing out loud more than once at its hilarity. However, I found the plot itself to be fairly predictable; I could tell immediately when something was going to go wrong, and guess how it was going to be fixed, so that didn’t make the tense events particularly thrilling to read. I also feel that the pacing was a little on the choppy side. I would have preferred to read more about these performances between the two protagonists, so we could build upon the romantic tension between Max and Cyrus, as well as build out the world a little more. I felt that skipping over most of these events was a lost opportunity.

As for the characters, I feel that Cyrus, of course, is a bit more fleshed out. Or at least, since we see Max so little throughout the book—and he’s constantly away for plot reasons—it feels as though we don’t get to know him as well. I had a clear vision of Cyrus, while my vision of Max was somewhat hazy. Nonetheless, these characters are fun, with distinct personalities that hit all the notes in the types of romances I love to read.

Finally, the romance! This is perhaps what saved the book entirely for me. The chemistry between our two leads was amazing! You can certainly see how their feelings grew for each other, so it didn’t feel off-kilter when they got together like some romances do. These two hold a healthy desire for each other, and their love scenes reflect that. Cyrus and Max are written as though they’re only here to excite each other, not to excite the reader, making their affection seem real, which is something I greatly appreciate. Too often do romances between male leads focus on making the scene as sexy as possible for the reader's gaze, as opposed to having the characters actually behave how they normally would in an intimate moment.

This book is far from perfect. There are many things about the prose that felt overly simple to me, but it WAS easy to read, and for someone who was in a slight reading slump, the readability of this allowed me to simply enjoy the story and not overly focus on the text. This type of story may not be everyone’s cup of tea, but it certainly was mine, and I do recommend giving it a go if you want a quick, fun read!

[Rachel Reeves · Rating 4 out of 5]

TW: death (murder)

This book was a laugh riot, with a really sweet core and characters you can’t help but root for.

But first, the plot. In this European medieval style fantasy world, there are both Wrongdoers and Champions. Wrongdoers take over a town, menace the peasants and receive offerings from them to assuage their wrath. Champions, meanwhile, are tasked to fight these champions, receive acclaim, and do brand deals. Champions are also elected, and a champion whom the populace doesn't like is either shuffled to a smaller backwater village or forcibly retired. Cyrus, the Earthshaker, is a wrongdoer, an important part of this world’s social fabric. And he is dastardly. (He is introduced to us cutting a rope on a bridge in his town so that people can fall into the bog below.) However, he’s losing his edge, and losing respect. When Maximillian the champion plans a campaign tour that strays near Cyrus’s home base, Cyrus resolves to fight him, to regain some of his former menace and rid himself of a hero whom he has a burning grudge against. Maximillian, however, has other more lucrative plans. Why not team up and be each other’s rivals? Cyrus get the reputation boost, and Maximillian gets to impress his constituents. A bargain right?

The characters make this book. Cyrus is a bastard but a lovable one, who can be a joy to read, especially when he rants about Maximillian. I loved his powers (no spoilers) and I loved the way he interacted with the peasantry, simultaneously disdaining and craving their attention.He also is a helluva showman, which is amazing to read. He can be really intimidating when he wants to, and completely in control, an actor who knows his script. He’s also incredibly funny to watch fail and obsess over his status without saying it. He’s our only POV (third person limited past tense) and a joy to read.

Maximillian is amazing as well. I love the concept of Championing being like an American election, complete with ribbon cutting and endorsements, and Max being disillusioned with it all is so great. He has a wild side that he lets out with Cyrus, and it’s a delight to read when he lets loose. You can’t help see instantly why these two hate/love each other, and much of the comedy comes from them butting heads.

Aside from the Campion versus Wrongdoer system, the world itself doesn’t stick out to me. It’s just a collection of European medieval villages and one big capitol city; however the story doesn’t really need to have super intricate world building outside of its social/political element because this is primarily a character piece.

I appreciate the queer normative setting as well (multiple champions are lesbians and queer marriage isn’t commented on). There’s a reason why Champions and Wrongdoers don’t go together and it’s not because of queerness, which I appreciate. (I suppose you could read that conflict as analogous to the stigma of being queer in our world but it’s not a one to one.)

I also do appreciate that there was some incidental diversity in other Champions, and it wasn’t odd that they were POC. Especially in this type of fantasy setting, I think that needs to be commented on.

The sex scenes were tender and passionate, and as an Ace person were fun to for me to read. Be aware that they exist as this these characters are active sexual beings. (I appreciate the oil being used in a correct way, a lot of gay male romances written by women leave that out.)

I really enjoyed this book. It made me chuckle and full throated laugh at a few points and that is what a comedy is supposed to do. Pick this one up for an actual enemies to lovers romance (which sits in contrast to most others in the genre, which turn out to be colleagues/rivals to lovers).

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC!

Final Rating: 4 Stars
Check out my blog for drink parings and other reviews:

[Mami · Rating 4 out of 5]

first of all, i’d like to thank netgalley for the arc, because nemesis mine was one of those titles that caught my eye right away and getting to read it early was such a nice surprise. it’s amy archer’s debut and it’s the kind of romantasy that puts you in the right mood from the start: light, funny and full of chaos.

tropes:
enemies to lovers / rivals to lovers
fake nemeses
black cat x golden retriever dynamic
mm romance

the story is set in a world where heroes and villains are basically “job categories” and the most important thing is keeping a certain public image. cyrus is a villain who’s going through a reputation crisis, convinced that people don’t see him as a real threat anymore. he pulls pranks, starts small disasters (always with a bit of drama) and keeps pretending to be a powerful “earthshaker”, even if his powers all go in one direction only: plant magic. he sees it as an embarrassing secret, because it doesn’t match the scary vibe he wants to give. on the other side there’s max, the city’s beloved champion: famous, smiling, brilliant but also very worried about losing his place to someone younger or flashier. what connects them is their public image because both of them have everything to gain and everything to lose.

their deal starts almost by accident: fake fights, fake rivalry, fake hostility… at least at the beginning. the more they keep it up, the less fake it feels and what happens between them when the cameras are off becomes a lot more complicated. the nice thing is that their feelings grow at a believable pace, building up scene after scene and everything falls into place naturally. and when they finally admit how they feel, they do it without useless drama, keeping a dynamic that always stays consistent.

cyrus is probably the strongest part of the book. he’s sarcastic, impulsive, always ready to put on a show, but he’s also much sweeter than he wants people to think, with a type of vulnerability that comes out only at the right moment. he’s imperfect, sure and sometimes he makes questionable choices but that’s exactly what makes him interesting. the whole narration is from his point of view and it works, even in the wildest scenes.

max looks like the classic golden boy at first, but the more you get to know him, the more you see that the heroic image doesn’t really fit him. he’s not a saint, not naive and he’s not even that convinced that being a hero is as “right” as people want to believe. he’s less outgoing than cyrus but more direct about what he wants, and that creates a good balance between them.

their relationship is the real engine of the story: the way they tease each other, how they try to take themselves seriously while doing absolutely ridiculous things, the tension growing without being forced and especially the slow-building complicity. the intimate scenes are few but they work because they don’t try too hard, they focus on them, not on what the reader expects.

amy archer’s writing is fresh and very visual. her humor works well throughout the book and even if some parts feel a bit slow at the beginning, once the story picks up it becomes really enjoyable. the worldbuilding is unique, mixing fantasy elements with modern details and it’s interesting even if sometimes i wished for a deeper look at the organizations that control heroes and villains. the romantic part, though, is very well done and makes up for a few pacing issues.

overall, it’s a solid debut with a couple that really sticks with you and a story that flows nicely even when it takes its time. if you like light and funny enemies to lovers without pointless drama, i’d say it’s worth reading.

[Olivia | SpilltheTBR · Rating 4 out of 5]

ARC Review: Nemesis Mine by Amy Archer 4.5 ⭐️ | 2 🌶️

Thank you to HarperCollins and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this hilarious novel! What follows are my honest thoughts and opinions on this piece.

Cyrus, a not-so-evil villain, is losing his edge and is desperate to revamp his reputation as a "wrongdoer" within his elected city. Maximilian, a champion and nemesis of Cyrus, is up for reelection, and he too needs a reputation revamp. Max approaches Cyrus with a deal: a fake feud to fix their respective standings. What they didn’t factor in was falling in love with one another along the way.

Within the first few lines of the novel, I was already laughing out loud. Cyrus is such a funny character; despite wanting to be seen as a villain, he is very much not "evil." I got a good chuckle out of his thoughts on the villagers in his town and how he liked to sprinkle some "evil" into their midst.

I thought it was a great twist for the novel to be written entirely from the point of view of the "wrongdoer." Moreover, I really enjoyed how the author added a twist to what society constitutes as evil versus good. This world is made up of Citizens, Wrongdoers, and Champions (a.k.a. heroes). It made the dynamic between Cyrus and Maximilian even more complex, adding hurdles to their budding relationship.

The world-building is simple, and you’ll understand the societal impacts right away. The plot is also straightforward; you’ll quickly realize the entire point of the story is the romance between our protagonists. Is the story predictable? Yes. But did I have the best time reading their banter and interactions? Heck yes.

My favorite parts of the story were when our characters were together. I found the pacing a bit slow, and in my humble opinion, this would’ve made for an even stronger novella. I could’ve done without some of the descriptor scenes and the alone time we spent with Cyrus, even though it was nice to get to know his character that way.

I wish we would’ve gotten a POV from Maximilian, but I completely understand the choice to keep it single-perspective. I think it made for a more intimate storytelling experience.

Now onto my favorite part—the romance! I absolutely loved how precious Cyrus and Maximilian are together. It was such a delicious slow-burn, and Cyrus‘s denial of his innate attraction to Max was hilarious. We get some spicy scenes, but their emotional intimacy was truly delectable. Read this solely for their banter and their emotional connection because this is romance writing at its best.

The ending, I’ll admit, was a bit predictable but satisfying. There were many points where I wished we could skip ahead to when our two main characters were together; however, the climax at the end captured my attention. I couldn’t have put my Kindle down if you paid me!

Overall, I really loved this. It left me feeling light, fluffy, and obsessed with their love story (Cyrus would be gagging if he heard me say that).

Should this spill into your TBR?
Yes! If you are a fan of enemies-to-reluctant-allies-to-lovers and witty banter, this is for you. Oh, and did I forget to mention that this gives off Ella Enchanted meets The Princess Bride vibes? Let’s even add a dash of Shrek.

I think I’ve convinced you now...

Release Date: June 23, 2026 — make sure to pre-order now! I know I’ll be picking up a physical copy of this gem.

[Jess Howarth · Rating 5 out of 5]

"But are you willing to change things? To try something properly different, something new, and see what happens?

I am so honoured to have been gifted a copy of Nemesis Mine, and I am can't wait to see it properly released in June!

Nemesis Mine is a fantasy romance romp, with a comedic slant reminiscent of Pratchett - one of my favourite books is Good Omens, and I think anyone else with similar taste will love this book - and also, somehow, the most relatable book I've read so far this year.

Yes, this is a book about a hero (champion) and a villain (wrongdoer), neither of which is truly who they'd like people to think they are, falling for one another through an elaborate scheme. It's also about workplace politics, and the true horror - being in your thirties, and realising your life isn't exactly what you imagined it would be.

Cyrus is so much fun as a narrator- I rarely made it through a page without something in his internal or external dialogue making me smile. He manages both to be the most unbearable little shit you've ever met, and incredibly endearing, though he'd cut your tongue out for saying it. Close enough, welcome back The Grinch 💕 One thing I absolutely adore is that although Cyrus has a solid arc through this story, he's never shaved down into something palatable - he's still an incorrigible nuisance, because that's who he is, and for all his witticisms and quippy dialogue, he is also a believable villain in the context of Athaca. Some of my favourite moments are when he reminds the reader that he's not just a silly little guy (not all of the time, anyway).

Maximillian is the kind of character I love to sink my teeth into. He exists in a cage that he's built for himself and it doesn't take much for him to show how he despises it, but I never found myself at odds with his motivations, even as they evolve and become clearer through the course of the book. His relationship with Cyrus is obviously the focus and a joy to read, but I want to give a particular shout out to the dynamic between he and Balthazar, which is just on the right side of tragic.

I fell in love with the world of Athaca - readers might be reminded of the Greece in Disney's Hercules or Shrek, with the commercialisation of heroes in a semi-medieval setting, and one thing I really enjoyed was the flavour of the old religion that underpinned the world. This, along with the sprites, helped the world to feel rich and realised, especially against the more absurd foreground of the Federation and the Guild.

Cyrus, you'll always be a child of spring to me, babe 💕

I'd like to give a particular shout out to the action scenes, which can so easily be hit and miss- these were engaging, dynamic and so cinematic, I could easily see this being adapted for screen. These scenes also always felt tense and the stakes real, even though the fights were literally staged.

And it would be remiss not to mention the intimate scenes- as much as they were steamy and will please any romantasy reader, what I loved most about them is how they were used to further the arcs of both characters in a way that felt natural and satisfying. Don't get me wrong, these are hot, sexy scenes, but they're not there just to be hot and sexy.

Cyrus 'I love it when you hold my wrists down' Earthshaker, I would die for you.

All in all, a fantastic debut that I can't wait to see out in the world! 5⭐️

[LadyoftheBlade (Britt) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you so much to Netgalley and the publisher for allowing me to read an e-arc of Nemesis Mine!

Have you ever thought to yourself, "what would Megamind have been like if it was a romantic comedy instead of an animated file?" Or, do you wish Saturday morning cartoons allowed the hero and villain to find love with each other (after multiple fights and pithy words exchanged?) Do you like Dr. Doofenshmirtz because of how comically evil (but mostly just inconvenient) his schemes are? Do you wish the Grinch ever found love? If you answered yes to any of those questions, then Nemesis Mine has you covered!

Amy Archer's debut novel is told entirely from the villain's point of view. Cyrus is a wrongdoer with a reputation to uphold. He passes time by causing mischief and mayhem (ideally before the start of the day). At the start of the novel, Cyrus is feeling the drags of his routine and is looking for something that he can't quite name. (He can name it. It's the respect that a more fearsome reputation will bring.) Cyrus cultivated the persona "Earthshaker" due to his fearsome earthquake powers. He began his life of wrongdoing by causing an earthquake and leveling an entire town. Or...at least...he took credit for that. In reality, Cyrus is a mischief causing plant nerd. His deep secret is that he has plant magic, which marks him as a "child of spring". He could not cultivate (ha) a reputation as a fearsome wrongdoer with plant magic. {Someone needs to show this man Sky High} . Cyrus instantly dislikes Maximilian due to an incident years prior when Maximilian was an up and coming champion.

Maximilian (Max) is running for re-election to stay the champion of his town. Max is not a typical champion. He enjoys the fame, fortune, and the notoriety that being a champion has done for him, but does not care much about the everyday do-gooding. Max is afraid of being replaced with a younger champion due to the public's perception of Max becoming too lax in his duties. After a chance encounter (or two) with Cyrus, Max hatches a brilliant proposal: stage fake fights and become fake nemesises. What could possibly go wrong? (Spoiler: a lot could go wrong.) Cyrus agrees because he is eager to become respected (read as feared) by his local town and get better offering to not kill them then the meager ones that have been left for him.

What happens afterwards is two dorks fake fighting their way into real feelings and a real relationship. I appreciated that Archer did not have a fake out break-up in the final third of the book and allowed Max and Cyrus's trust for each other to become solidified. The background of the school for champions and academy for wrongdoers was not explained, but it was an interesting idea. Cyrus and Max both feel like real fleshed out characters with understandable motivations and goals. Max's character development does not get sidelined just because Cyrus is the viewpoint character. Overall, this is a hilariously good (and a tad spicy) time. Cyrus and Max bring out the best (and worst) in each other. It's not a love story for the ages, but it is a sweet romance that allows its queer couple to have a happy ending. (And frankly, that's a win in my book.)

Thank you again to netgalley and the publisher for a copy of this fantastically fun read! It will be the perfect summer read of 2026.

[Ann · Rating 5 out of 5]

It isn't a truth universally acknowledged that a villain in search of a strong and fearsome reputation must surely be in want of a nemesis, but it should be.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC! 4.5/5 stars!

Just reading the epigraph for this book made me excited since I love a good foe-yay romance, and this book delivered all that and more. Set in a fantasy world where champions are elected to cities and wrongdoers battle them, Cyrus is a wrong-doer intent on both mayhem and keeping the fact that his real power is plants a secret. Given his penchant more for mischief than murder though, his evil reputation is rather on the rocks. Enter Maximilian, the reigning champion of one of the largest cities of the kingdom, up for re-election for a fourth term and desperately needing to prove to the people that he isn't a has-been. After some especially charged battles, Maximilian proposes a mutually beneficial relationship in which the two of them stage epic battles to turbocharge both of their reputations.

With a premise like that, of course feelings would bloom, but even before the plan is set in motion, Cyrus's and Maximilian's battles are extremely charged.

Cyrus stared at him, breathing hard. Their hands were still locked together, palm to palm. It was too close, too intimate. Maximilian's skin was hot. He could feel every jut of delicate bone. His skin crawled at the proximity. He wanted to yank his hand away, but he couldn't. His own bones ached, caught in a vice, and yet still he did not look away.

Cyrus himself is a snarky delight--reveling in "evil-doing" that is more mischief than anything while tending to his garden, caring for his temperamental horse, primping away, and of course, obsessing over Maximilian. Maximilian could have been a one-note hero character, but from the start, it's implied that he's much darker than his burnished golden boy public image.

Maximilian's mad-dog grin danced through Cyrus's mind. The way he'd looked, exhilarated, with wine drenching his clothes and chaos reigning around him.

That's really what makes their relationship work so well, between the charged fights and banter. Cyrus is much kinder than he wants to admit, and Max is just enough of a bastard to be likeable. The two of them can really only drop pretenses around each other, and it's beautiful and smoldering to see. (The smut scenes in this book were great!)

Maximilian had been manipulative and deceitful and sly. He had proved himself unpredictable. Dangerous.

Cyrus, gods help him, found that extremely fucking sexy.

The main reason I'm taking off half a star is two-fold: one, we do get some of Max's backstory, but it's told to us instead of shown in conversation with Cyrus, and I think that's a big missed opportunity. Secondly, the plot is partially a reflection on celebrity culture and public image, but we barely get to explore the darkness of the Federation and its champion system until the last 20% of the plot, and then it gets wrapped up so fast.

Still, despite all that, Cyrus's and Max's sizzling chemistry and romance backed by cool fight scenes and heartfelt conversation really sold this book for me, and I can't wait to get my hands on a physical copy of it to reread.

[Britt · Rating 5 out of 5]

I nearly DNF this book, and that would've been a shame, because I loved it! So, if you are not loving the first couple of chapters, give it some time and space - the romance is what really makes it. The first few chapters are our main character, Cyrus, (a "wrong-doer" - cities have either "wrong-doers or heroes in this world, and they fight each other) doing shenanigans, and it read as a little twee to me, but as soon as Maxamillian shows up, stuff starts to get good. It's definitely a rivals/enemies to lovers situation - Maxamillian is a "hero", and their relationship starts as they make a plan to schedule fake fights to build their respective reputations. One of the things that make it pretty interesting is that Maxamillian is more in the morally grey territory than the "villain". The book is told from Cyrus' perspective, and he was fairly charming. The book is relatively low on angst which a plus for me (there's some yearning, though!), conflicts get resolved quickly and cleanly, and the book unfolds over the span of months, so there's no instalove here. The interactions between the main characters are definitely what made the book, and I was really rooting for those two dummies (I say this with affection). Before I finished the book, I went to see what else the author had written so that I could put it on hold, and imagine my surprise to learn that she was a debut! This was such a solid first book, and I can't wait to read what she puts out next.

Part of the reason I struggled at the beginning was that I saw some marketing that compared it to Shrek and the Princess Bride, and it's really more Despicable Me, if anything. So just ignore that marketing (and as a blanket statement/rant, not all fantasy rom coms should be compared to The Princess Bride, and also, have you actually read The Princess Bride? It may be quirky, but it is not cozy.).

Anyway, this would be a great entry point to the romantasy genre for readers who like a quirky, semi-cozy read (several people are like, violently dispatched). 5 stars - I loved it (in spite of myself).

Thanks to Netgalley and Harper Voyager for the eARC, which I received in exchange for an unbiased review. Nemesis Mine is out in (gulps) June 2026!

[FabledFernReads · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nemesis Mine is a delightful, cozy fantasy rom-com about a villain and a hero who team up to fake a rivalry. Cyrus and Maximillian are completely at odds with each other: fighting in the streets, sending threats via messenger crow, and trash-talking whenever they get the chance. But when Maximillian suggests playing up their feud to boost their fame and polish their reputations, Cyrus reluctantly agrees… and accidentally falls in love.

Amy Archer has a real gift for sensory details, witty banter, and keeping me on the edge of my seat. The whole tone of Cyrus’s “villainy” reminded me of The Grinch: mischievous, a little dramatic, and ultimately pretty harmless. The story leans into that campy, tongue-in-cheek vibe, which I absolutely loved. Both Cyrus and Max cling to their labels, wrongdoer and champion, but the story slowly unravels those roles, and the neat labels start to fall apart. There's so much great tension, and several emotional arcs that I Just adored. You see quite a lot of character growth for both of our main characters, but I especially enjoyed watching Cyrus start to open up after being alone for so long.

If I had any small critique, it’s that the pacing in the first couple of chapters dragged a little for me, and there was one thread toward the end where I would’ve liked a bit more closure (I would have loved to see a final conversation with Balthazar to get some closure on how he felt about how things went down. Was he remorseful? Would he take it back if he could? I found myself really wanting this scene, but maybe that's just my nosy self wanting to see the emotional follow through from his end). But those are minor quibbles in what’s otherwise a truly charming story with a cozy, whimsical atmosphere.

If you love fantasy with humor, chemistry, and a healthy dose of play-acting and pining, Nemesis Mine is a must-read!

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

[inesa · Rating 3 out of 5]

When I saw words "fake nemeses" I knew that I had to read this book whether I get the ARC of it or not. Thankfully I did get it and had a pleasure of enjoying this fun journey with our two main characters, the wrongdoer named Cyrus and a charming champion Maximilian.

It was interesting concept for sure and especially at the beginning it was quite fun getting into this fantasy world, although I would have enjoyed more world-building and deeper knowledge about this fictional universe. Nevertheless, it is clear that main and most important thing in this novel is the relationship between our main characters. It starts out as a rivalry between evil and good, but slowly and surely it turns into something more romantic and profound. I thought that the progression of this relationship was portrayed quite well and didn't feel rushed. It felt more just like that "oh" moment where you realise that this is different from what you thought it might be and that it is special. Or maybe the writing just got to me and made me believe in Cyrus and Max. Either way, it worked. The romance was sweet and tender and all the deep conversations that the guys had added a lot to their characters. I was a bit surprised how everything changed towards the end, but in a good way, because I think that is not the direction you would maybe normally imagine for this sort of adventure.

All in all, I think the story is interesting and worth reading even if personally I thought it was lacking in some ways. But the most important thing is that I had fun reading it and that is what I will remember from it.

Thank you to Avon and Harper Voyager and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest opinions!

[Abi Walton · Rating 4 out of 5]

A villain who is a little bit good and a hero who is a little bit bad agree to fake a rivalry to boost their reputations and, predictably, fall in love.

Our POV character, Cyrus, is a wrongdoer more interested in mischief and theatrics than actual destruction. Once feared, now firmly mid-list, he is coasting on his former reputation when a famous, handsome touring champion, Maximillian, threatens his territory. Rather than fight for real, Cyrus proposes a deal. They will stage a series of dramatic battles across the kingdom, improving both their public images in the process.

Secret meetings, lingering touches, and mounting feelings follow, and soon both men are falling for their supposed nemesis.

The world is intentionally zany and leans hard into the concept of wrongdoers and champions as public performers. This book is very much a romp, with a strong central voice and a playful approach to villainy. One of my favourite moments involves Cyrus gleefully dismantling a classic romance trope for a pair of young lovers, which perfectly captures the book’s sense of humour.

That said, it did not fully come together for me. An embarrassing past interaction between Cyrus and Maximillian felt tacked on, and the first half of Act Two dragged before the romance properly took off. Tonally, the book initially reminded me of the film Mastermind, which is not a bad thing, but it was not quite the tone I was expecting. The world and plot are broad and comedic, while the romance is treated with surprising seriousness, and I did enjoy this element.

Overall, this was a fun read rather than a standout one. If you are looking for a light, playful fantasy with a hero villain romance and a strong narrative voice, this is worth picking up. ⭐️3.75, rounded up to 4.