Mistrust and secrets hang in the background of a vibrant fantasy, making love and trust a difficult, if not impossible, task.

Princess Sepora is fleeing her kingdom in hopes of finding a way to stop her father's power hungry plans, which will launch their world into war. Captured by thieves, she's sold on the neighboring kingdom's market and forced to join the newly crowned Tarik's harem. Determined to break free from her fate, she's brought in front of Tarik, who, mesmerized by her beauty and attitude, makes her the assistant to his head adviser. But Sepora doesn't trust any of it and soon finds herself weaving between truths, allegiances, doubt and an attempt to save everyone.

The first pages demand immediate attention as Sepora rides her fly serpent in an attempt to run away from her father, the King. Her desperation hits full force and the situation draws in from that very first page. Her trek through the desert and delivery to the market leave no doubt about the hardships she's facing and call for empathy. It's a vivid world, packed full of fantasy without coming across to foreign. The characters come across very naturally and are easy to get lost in, each and every one. At first.

This book is written in two POVS: Sepora's and Tarik's. The two sides let the intrigue and problems unfold in a compelling way and make it clear how difficult the situation not only between the two character is, but also for their world. The chapters switch between the two, making it easy to follow. But Sepora is written in first person, while Tarik is in third. This made for a jerk every time Tarik's turn came and caused a pause at the beginning of every single one of his chapters to re-orientate to the narrative.

There's never a lull or boring moment as the tension and intrigue increases with every turn, and the characters weave between the situations with moments to cheer for. Sepora is full of self-confidence and takes matters into her own hand. She's mistrusting, which is understandable, and sticks to her goals. At times, her actions aren't well thought out, but this isn't surprising considering her background. Her stubbornness and inability to see past some things, on the other hand, made her hard to like. She's simply lacking a little needed warmth. Tarik is a more than able king. Sometimes, his wisdom was too advanced for his experience and age but his character was likable. He makes solid decisions, has noble intentions and does the really the best he can with the situations and information he faces. His special 'ability' adds a wonderful and needed twist to the story.

This is the first novel in a series, and the problems Sepora faces are only starting. There is intrigue, many kingdoms to balance out and many more difficulties to come before things are worked out. But it wasn't enough. The relationship between Tarik and Sepora, as well as Sepora's mistrust, takes center stage and dominates the plot. It could have been so much richer. The intrigue is there but skims over depth, and several characters are missing more meaning and purpose. Much of this is probably still to come but it was missed in this first installment.

But this was an engaging read. It was entertaining, grabbed until the last page and promises an interesting tale. The world is a treat, and there is so much still unexplored which hints at an exciting series. Young adult fans of fantasy with hard-won romance and a love for princesses striving to save the world are sure to enjoy this one.

The beginning of the book dragged a bit for me, but it picked up after I got through the first quarter of the book. I don't read fantasy stories much, aside from the big ones like Harry Potter and Game of Thrones. So this was an unusual book in the mix of my usual literary fiction and chick-lit that I'm used to. It was entertaining and I'm looking forward to reading the next book.

I was given this book in exchange for an honest review from NetGalley. This story takes place an ancient Egypt like country and is about a young girl named Sepora who is running away from home where her father is the king of Serubel. She is running away because she is the last of the forgers, a person who can create spectorium, an element which her father wants to weaponize and use against the country that borders theirs. She is quickly captured and sold as a concubine to the newly crowned king of Theoria who is dealing with a deadly plague that is making it's way through the city. When he finds out that they can no longer get spectorium which is used for everyday purposes like lighting and possibly a cure for this disease he is stuck with the dilemma on how to save his people. Unbenounced to him and his court the only person who can provide them with the much needed spectorium is in their very own court. Will she help the king she feels an immediate attraction to and betray her own country? Read the book to find out!
The book ends on a huge cliffhanger and I will definitely be reading the next book in the series. Very unusual characters and plotline make the story quite captivating. #NetGalley #YoungAdult #Goodreads

I wanted to like this book, but I wasn't very impressed with it. I felt like the world building was sort of shoddy and a lot of the elements we see have been done better elsewhere several times before. I didn't really connect to the main character, and I had trouble truly engaging in the story.

I will also say that, although its not a deciding factor in whether I will like a book or not, I have come to realize that I really hate the "I should just commit suicide" opening. I feel like I've read a few books just recently that open with the main character musing about how suicide would be better/easier/the right thing to do in their particular situation, and I just noticed that to me personally it's very off putting, and it doesn't help me like or relate to the character at all. Usually the opposite actually, although that alone would not ever ruin an entire book for me.

This book was just a brassy main character who I didn't particularly like, and a mishmash of typical dystopian/fantasy elements. Nothing really piqued my interest much.

I was introduced to Anna Banks through her Syrena Legacy series and fell in love with her ability to spin vivacious characters and descriptive scenery out of nothing.

Nemesis carries on her ability to create well-crafted stories but with action, much larger world building, and historical context that goes beyond what she did in Legacy. She had to have spent considerable time outlining and researching to form this multi-faceted population and places.

The interactions between family members, friends and those she meets on her journey felt believable and a necessary part of her life as she figures out her place in the world. The relationship in particular between Tarik and Sepora was well-written and provided a great balance between their individuals perspectives.

It starts off a little slow but doesn’t stay that way for long so if you feel like taking a break hang in there because the vast majority of it is really good.

Her sequel arrives in a few months so this is a good time to read or re-read this so it’ll be fresh on your mind in time for Ally.

"Nemesis" is a really enthralling YA fantasy. We begin with Sepora who is fleeing her kingdom to prevent the war her father is trying to begin. Sepora is a Forger, someone who is able to make spectorium, an invaluable element that has brought her kingdom wealth- and weapons. She escapes to neighboring Theoria only to be captured by slavers and brought to market, where she is sold to the palace. Tarik has recently become the Falcon King after the death of his father. Although young, he holds a great deal of responsibility and feels the weight of it. Tarik's kingdom is suffering under a plague they don't understand, and he feels powerless to save the people he cares deeply about.

When the two collide, the combination is electric. I found the first 20% of the book to be a bit hard to follow and tedious, but the last 80% was absolutely amazing and I could not stop reading. I was so glad I didn't put this one down, and now absolutely cannot wait to read the next book in this series. The flow, alternating between Tarik and Sepora, is perfect, and I loved getting both of their perspectives on the events within. Their relationship is electric, and the pace is perfect.

The world-building was really fantastic, and there are all manner of new creatures, jobs, and countries that I look forward to exploring even more in future books. We learn the most about the Parani- somewhat piranha-like human sea creatures that eat the flesh of people and rule over the Nefari (river). It was fascinating to see them built up/learn more about what/who they really are. Sepora has a soft spot for all living beings, and we get to explore some of the diverse creatures of this world through her eyes. I don't want to say too much about this world, but it was really incredible and unique. I was completely wrapped up in the novel and devoured every delightful page.

This is a really fantastic novel for YA fantasy lovers, and I highly recommend it! I can see it having broad appeal, especially for fans of books by Sarah J. Maas and Sabaa Tahir. Please note that I received an ARC from the publisher through netgalley. All opinions are my own.

I started reading this book and put it down, somewhat bored. I picked it up again and by the time i was 1/4 to 1/3 through, I was totally hooked. Even though there was, by necessity, a lot of world-building and explaining, I still was intrigued by the characters and look forward to more books in this series.

Previously, I enjoyed Anna Banks books and I had high hopes for this one. I am so glad that it didn't disappoint. I honestly didn't know what to expect going in, but the world Anna created is fascinating! The characters were unique, yet oddly relatable. I loved the slow burn of discovery when it came to the character's and their love story. I really enjoyed the setting of old Egypt and how it was woven into the story. I cannot wait to read book 2!

A great new entry from Anna Banks. This book is quite different from The Syrena books, as Bank's signature humor is missing (seriously, I saw her in a panel a few years ago, and she is hilarious), but it made sense with the tone and setting of this story, and it did not make me enjoy it any less. This is Egyptian mythology with a twist, as there are the paranormal aspects (Favors, spectorium) and flying dragon type creatures (yeah!).

Banks gave us some great characters. Sepora was an awesome and strong female heroine, who constantly risked herself for what she thought was right. Time and time again, she was bold and put herself in danger for the greater good, and she spoke her mind when it was necessary. Tarik was also from the new school of rulers. He constantly tried to balance his firm hand with his soft heart, and oh, he really did have a beautiful heart. Sometimes, he had to go against his heart to do what was right for his kingdom, and this pained him so, but again, it's all about the greater good.

I found the world Banks created to be intriguing. She did a great job of describing the 5 kingdoms and the inhabitants. We learned the most about Theoria and Serubel, where the bulk of the story takes place, but were often treated to tidbits of the other kingdoms, and I hope to learn more about those other lands later in the series.

I cannot lie, I sort of threw a fit at the ending. However, I will forgive Anna Banks, as I know another book is on it's way.

Overall: entertaining fantasy adventure with magic, nefarious plotting, and romance.

This is a pretty cool story! I mean the description has it all in the first sentence and that cover...#GORGEOUS! Read this, you won't be sorry.

I wanted to read Nemesis because I have been interested in Anna Banks's writing for a while but I have this extreme aversion to water/mermaid/under the sea books so I was super excite when I heard this was coming out. Then I saw the cover reveal and I was SOLD!

Princess Sepora has a gift. A gift her father locks her away and uses to get himself rich. Having that as the main plot line give the book a sort of Rumpelstiltskin type vibe. So Sepora gets tired of her dads crap and leaves. This causes a lot of chaos in all of the kingdoms that rely on the Spectorium(a type or metal/ore) she can make. It seems like a pretty weird gift to have, but, hey, I wish I could spew shiny rainbow goo from my sweat glands. I would build a house from that stuff! It sounds so pretty and the fact that the author even came up with this idea is very unique and ingenious.

Then we have "Prince" Tarik. He is a very odd character. He is supposed to lead his kingdom but he has different views on the world than most royalty would have. This makes him both the same AND different than most other princes I have read about. A lot of the male royalty I have come across in YA books are normally brutal or harsh on the outside but are hiding their true selves on the inside. Tarik is not harsh and he shows his kindness, or weakness depending on your point of view, everyday. He doesn't hide who he is and that is pretty admirable.

So, the two of them play pretty crucial roles in the life and death of Tarik's people. There is an illness going around and it is killing people. One of the Lyceum(their form of doctor or medicine man) came forward to meet with Tarik about a cure. Has this person came and tried to talk to Tarik's father he probably would have been killed or whipped for even suggesting such things. But Tarik listened and was willing to see what Cy has to say. Sadly, the cured involved something that nobody had anymore. But Tarik didn't let that stop him. He sent people to each kingdom trying to procure the item that was needed to cure his people. But... Would needing something THIS BAD mean that Tarik would be willing to give up anything to get it? Or would it start a war? Hmmm.

I am one of those people where I can read a book and it will start playing out as a movie in my head. I have this thing so badly that sometimes I will be out or at work and I will think "OMG I can't wait to go home and watch more of this move" even though it is a book. So this book did that to me. There was a character in the beginning of the book, his name was Chut, then ENTIRE time I was reading about him I couldn't help but to picture him as Ralph from Wreck-it-Ralph. It was the most vividly I had ever pictured a character before and that added a little bit of humor to the overall crappy situation that Chut's character was involved in. I was also sort of picturing the two main characters as Aladdin and Jasmine except reversed because the prince had the cat and the girl was that "street-rat".

This is a rather short review for a few reasons but the main one being that I don't want to give away ANY spoilers. But I will say that if you are a fan of An Ember in the Ashes then check this out. This book contains more fantastical stuff that AEitA, though. There are magical elements, and this book is overall higher fantasy, but I feel like the two main characters of this book fit well with the main characters from AEitA.

Sadly, for me, I didn't enjoy this book as much as I was hoping but I feel like that was ENTIRELY due to the fact that I read another very big, high fantasy book right before I got to this one. BUT I will be continuing on with the series and will reread this book before the second one comes out.

Overall, I gave the book 4/5 stars.

Though Nemesis is full of every YA trope possible, I found myself loving every bit of it. Sepora is such a strong, female protagonist (even though I kept reading her name as Sephora for the longest time), and the story itself was so fast paced and full of action and adventure. I regret putting off reading it for so long because it truly has become one of my favorite recent reads. Each and every kingdom was described so well--the entire world Banks managed to create was described to the fullest and even given such a rich history. I'm so excited to continue with this series when the second book comes.

I give the book four stars. I loved this book. I loved the writing and the characters. I really liked the different POVs in the story which was need it to help propel the story and provided great detail to the world the author created. I really enjoyed the characters and how we were able to connect with them and how we able to see how strong and vulnerable they were in the story. I can not wait for the next book and I really want to know what happens next.

3.5 Stars

'Nemesis' is a thrilling young adult fantasy that fans of the genre are sure to love. There were several aspects of the book that I really enjoyed, such as the amazing world building. It did take me a little while to get into the story and to bring the world the author created to life. I'm not sure what made it difficult - it just seemed hard to relate to and I couldn't seem to visualize it in my mind. The world building was fantastic though - great attention to detail and wonderful descriptions and imagery. The characters were well written, especially our two leads - Sepora and Tarik. Again, at first I found it hard to connect with Sepora - there was just something about the way the book was written that took me some time to adjust to. I think that was a big issue for me at the beginning of the novel and it's what held me back from really being able to lose myself in the story.

Sepora is a great main character - she's complex, determined, smart, and is willing to do whatever it takes to protect the people. I enjoyed getting to know her throughout the story, as well as watching her relationship with Tarik blossom as the book unfolds. One big positive for me was the writing style. The author uses the first person point of view, with Sepora as the narrator. I'm a huge fan of this style of writing and firmly believe that it gives the reader the best connection to the character. It definitely applied in this situation. It took awhile for me to be able to connect with Sepora, but once I did, I loved getting to know her on such a personal level. It's like she was telling me personally what had happened, which made the plot all the more interesting. I believe this is the first book in a new series, which I really hope is true. I'm intrigued with where the author will take Sepora next and what new challenges lie ahead - and I'm really hoping to connect with the characters and their world much better the second time around. Definitely recommended for fans of fantasy, dystopia, romance, and YA.

Nemesis is the first book by Anna Banks I've read, and wow, she knocked it out of the park! This was a YA fantasy that was a really awesome read and excited me enough to want to delve into the genre again. It's been a while since a book in this genre has been able to do that for me.

Nemesis is told alternately from Sepora's 1st person POV and Tarik's 3rd person POV. Sepora and Tarik each have an ability that adds to their personalities and makes them even more interesting. Sepora is the last Forger, a person who can create a substance called spectorium. I'm still not 100% sure what it is, but I do know it's special and sounds like it would be pretty to see.  

Tarik is a Lingot, a person who can speak all languages and discern the truth from lies. One of the main problems the characters in Nemesis face is the plague sweeping through Tarik's kingdom, Theoria. It was nerve wracking to see how Sepora would get around Tarik's ability because she needed to keep the fact that she can Forge a secret as well as other aspects of her true identity she needed to keep hidden. She was cool and confident though she had every reason to sweat it every time she had to be around Tarik. I admired that about her.   

Then there's also the romantic tension between Sepora and Tarik. At first they can't stand each other, but slowly over time they grow closer. No instalove here though, so if that's something you don't like, there isn't anything to worry about. It was nice that the book's plot wasn't overtaken by romance, too. There were many more important things going on.  

I was really intrigued by the Parani, who are a kind of merfolk-type creatures with webbed hands and human-like faces. They guard Nefarite, a substance Theoria needs, and they are deeply feared and were captivating to read about. I'm not sure I'd want to meet one, though!

I took off one star for two reasons. There was a lot to remember in the beginning - names of people and kingdoms including which kingdom was known for what. I admit I had to take notes to keep everything straight.

The second reason is Sepora's name. Like other reviewers, I found myself pronouncing her name Sephora with an "h" after the beauty store, and it bugged me.

I personally love this cover. It's what attracted me to check out Nemesis because I believe it stands out from most other covers. Beneath the interesting cover lies a story that stands out just as much. Whether you already love YA fantasy, or you've been looking to try it out, start with Nemesis.