When I read the title Nemesis, I'm expecting the book to have hatred, anger, or maybe vengeance theme to it. Some wrong that turned people against each other or created an archenemy. Something that actually requires the word nemesis. Yet, the book's only reason for the title nemesis is that a group of people split from Serubel kingdom some hundreds of years ago to create the kingdom Theoria and Serubel kingdom lost the war to bring the Theorian people back. So, basically the Serubelians are sore losers. Of course now the main character (Sepora) must be enemies with the rival kingdom. That could be a good reason for the rivalry but the main character seems to have no real emotion of hate (or really any emotion at all) against the other kingdom Theoria. Story plot: Sepora's father wants to use her ability to make a energy containing metal to make weapons against other kingdoms and take them over. Because she feels this is wrong Sepora flees Serubel. After fleeing she is captured by stereotypical thieves (two bothers - one is the brains of the operation and one is the muscle and stupid) and sold to the king. By the way, Serpora traveling the desert, getting captured, and sold (and the plague going through the kingdom) takes up 44% of the book. After being sold to the king, Sepora is appointed to be the chief adviser's servant where she sells out her kingdoms secrets without a second thought (reason why the title Nemesis doesn't make sense). The king and Sepora (of course because it was advertised on the cover) fall in love. The book's plot is pretty obvious from the blurb of Nemesis. You know how the book will go even before you start reading it. My recommendation is to read the blurb if it sounds like a book you'd like - read it. Just because it is such a transparent blurb. Fans of Anna Banks previous books will enjoy Nemesis. It's writing style and flavor is exactly like her other books. I know the author has no part in designing the book cover but the cover does not go with the book at all. It looks like it should be with an alien story - just saying. I guess it's to show that Sepora makes a silver metallic metal... *Thank you to NetGalley and Feiwel & Friends for the opportunity to read this book.
Nemesis
By Anna Banks
| Interest Level | Reading Level | Reading A-Z | ATOS | Word Count |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Grades 7 - 12 | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a |
The princess didn't expect to fall in love--with her nemesis.
Princess Sepora of Serubel is the last Forger in all the five kingdoms. The spectorium she creates provides energy for all, but now her father has found a way to weaponize it, and his intentions to incite war force her to flee from his grasp. She escapes across enemy lines into the kingdom of Theoria, but her plans to hide are thwarted when she is captured and placed in the young king's servitude.
Tarik has just taken over rulership of Theoria, and must now face a new plague sweeping through his kingdom and killing his citizens. The last thing he needs is a troublesome servant vying for his attention. But mistress Sepora will not be ignored. When the two finally meet face-to-face, they form an unlikely bond that complicates life in ways neither of them could have imagined.
Sepora's gift could save Tarik's kingdom from the Quiet Plague. But should she trust her growing feelings for her nemesis, or should she hide her gifts at all costs?
A thrilling futuristic fantasy in which the fate of the world's energy source is in the hands of a prince and princess who are rivals, by the New York Times-bestselling author of the Syrena Legacy.