Review: Nemesis Mine by Amy Archer

Nemesis Mine

Amy Archer

Publication Date: June 23, 2026

Paperback, 432 pages, Harper Voyager

Genres: Adult, Romantasy, LGBTQ+

Goodreads

A long-lost noble of the ruthless vampire court discovers she might not need to choose between her two suitors in this blood-pounding new romantasy from the USA Today bestselling author of the Bitten and Bound series.

 

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.

My Review

Nemesis Mine is a very cute, easy, fun read. It reminded me a lot of Nimona the graphic novel mixed with Vicious by V.E. Schwab, but with more kissing. Thank goodness. Honestly, this book is kind of a perfect beach read for romantasy readers who don't pick up contemporary romances. You could easily zip through Nemesis Mine in a few hours while lounging near the ocean.

The main character, Cyrus, is an evil wrongdoer. As the villain of the story, it's his job to essentially inconvenience everyone as they go about their everyday lives. I honestly laughed out loud at some of Cyrus's crazy antics. Like stealing a horse and naming her Soulripper. And his sprite "friends" were adorable. Cyrus tries so hard to be bad, but his pink pajamas and sprite companions would beg to differ.

Like Cyrus and his villainy, Maximillian, the hero of the story, is not quite as heroic as he seems, since he decides to come up with a fake plan for his own benefit. Together, Cyrus and Maximillian become enemies to reluctant allies to maybe lovers all in the span of one quick read.

While there have been a handful of superhero/villain stories lately, I don't recall any that have taken place in a fantasy world that have revolved around fake schemes crafted by the two main characters, so Nemesis Mine does seem fairly unique. My only criticism of the overall story the author created is that things were a bit too predictable towards the end. I wanted a touch more drama and danger. The same could be said for a couple of the arguments as well. I expected Cyrus to cause some major chaos when certain events came to light, but he kept things pretty mellow. Seeing him truly angry could have been hilarious, though. (Says the reader who doesn't have to be around his crazy retaliatory schemes.)

All in all, I had a fun time with this one. It's a book that doesn't take itself too seriously and could be a great palette cleanser between larger epic fantasy/romantasy series. You can digest this book in a single sitting. I think I ended up reading the entire thing in 48 hours, which is rare for me these days. If you're a fan of the more campy fantasy tales, you should totally pick up Nemesis Mine.

*Note: I received a copy of this book to review from the publisher via NetGalley. This in no way affected my opinion/review.