How To Love Your Archnemesis [STUBBED]

Information

Status

Ongoing

Year

2025

Author

happymango

• CHAPTER ONE - PERFECTION
  May 5, 2025

What readers say about How To Love Your Archnemesis [STUBBED]

• “The romance is slow but once it gets good, it gets good. Like the title says, its cheesy with a lot of heartwarming moments but i’m a sucker for healthy relationships 🙈 There’s a living world & characters beyond the main leads, which is a nice palate clean…”

  simpysweetRoyal Road5.0 / 5

• “I really enjoyed my time while reading through this story. I've read over twenty chapters of it, so I think I have a good right to review it, and there are some things I'd like to talk about during this review. So, let's talk about the good, the better, and…”

  RainyLiquidRoyal Road5.0 / 5

Reviews

Community Reviews(10)

• simpysweetRoyal Road

  ★★★★★ 5.0

  The romance is slow but once it gets good, it gets good. Like the title says, its cheesy with a lot of heartwarming moments but i’m a sucker for healthy relationships 🙈 There’s a living world & characters beyond the main leads, which is a nice palate cleanser from usual romances that focus solely on the love interests.
• RainyLiquidRoyal Road

  ★★★★★ 5.0

  I really enjoyed my time while reading through this story. I've read over twenty chapters of it, so I think I have a good right to review it, and there are some things I'd like to talk about during this review. So, let's talk about the good, the better, and the great!
  So to start with, I knew going into this story that it was a fantasy novel, but a low-tier magic system, built mainly on the enemies-to-lovers tag. I love me some good romance, so I was down to see this unfold right away.
  How To Love Your Archnemesis, (I'm gonna call it Arch going forward) actually didn't do what I was expecting, though. This isn't in a bad way, and I'll get into that, but to start, I want to talk about the main core of the series. Arch is filled with a lot of political intrigue. It does have 'action' as in two characters fighting, and those are good and all, but a majority of the fun comes from the noble drama. You have various noble families and houses, all trying to outdo each other. The story itself mainly follows two, and as readers, you get to see both unfold from various views, seeing both the good and bad in each.
  The story uses a very soft-spoken magic system that allows it to help progress the plot when it is needed, but mainly at its core, talking and the drama of so many families clashing is where a lot of the story is built upon. There is a general theme of the series, which is also about living for yourself, and not just accepting the way the world is.
  The series says it's about learning to love your archnemesis, and to an extent, that is what it does, but I think it's also a little more complicated than that because of the two characters that are at the center of it all. Naomi Rosenthorn and Cassien Rivain.
  Both characters are extremely well done, especially Cassien, whom I deeply enjoyed. Naomi's story starts off in a way where you want to root for her. She's forced into a position and way of thinking that she clearly doesn't like because of her mother. She has to make
• Spider_PygRoyal Road

  ★★★★★ 5.0

  Style:
  I love the setup of the story, particularly how each chapter takes place at a different accord gathering. It allows for time to pass by quickly, while also keeping the reader grounded in a familiar setting. The world feels lived-in, and it’s clear that the author has put a lot of time into developing a rich history for the world and diverse cultures for the people within it.
  Story:
  The story is excellent so far. The magic elements are minimal in the first few chapters, allowing for the characters and romance to take center stage. By doing this, the author hooks the reader on the emotions of the story, which is far more effective than relying solely on the cool magic system. (Which so far is quite intriguing.) The story also places a lot of emphasis on the political intrigue of the accords, which is handled in a far more interesting way than in many fantasy novels I've read. Instead of just having characters blackmail or backstab each other, the characters actually learn details about the world. (Ie. The line about agricultural advancements that Cassian overhears.)
  Grammar:
  I didn’t catch any grammatical issues in the chapters I read.
  Characters:
  The characters are the highlight in this story so far. The two protagonists are clearly defined and have unique voices. The author also establishes a diverse range of supporting characters, each distinct from the others. The conflict between the characters is also a strong point, very Romeo and Juliet—namely, there are massive issues that lead to the two protagonists not liking each other.
  Overall:
  This novel is off to a strong start, and it definitely has the potential to be an excellent read. I’m excited to read more.
• Bercans2Royal Road

  ★★★★★ 5.0

  Very pleasing read, they make such a cute couple together ❤️
  I’m anticipating volume 2 and I can’t wait to get more of this, the characters are interesting, the story is heartwarming and I can’t help but enjoy the relationship between these two, wondering where it will go next.
  Keep up the good work author ❤️
• CapwallcroftRoyal Road

  ★★★★★ 5.0

  I must start this off by saying this was part of a review swap! Not because I am giving a biased review, but just because this is not normally my genre and in the off chance someone I know ever finds this THIS is the disclaimer lol!!
  That being said!! CHECK THIS FICTION OUT RIGHT NOW, RIGHT NOW!
  If you like the genre it's a great time and quite frankly, while it is a romance and is definitely chalk full of cheesy lines and emotional moments, it's also one other thing! A great fantasy that intertwines vibrant emotion, lifelike characters and classic medieval politics!
  It's just great! The authors writing style is my favourite. It's immaculate. It's honestly what I consider the perfect blend of descriptors and dialogue. Witty, cheesy and heartwrenching. Sorry like all great reviews I must disclose some spoilers but I will try to make it so like vaugue spoliers or uninteresting that if you read this it wont impact. Like for instance, Naomi's relationship with her mother is so vividly described even down to her ashen grave that I can almost taste the hatred, disgust and toxicity of their relationship and the weight lifted off Naomi's shoulders when she passes. The interactions between our two mc Cassian and Naomi are well a little romance oriented but also a great dynamic, paced well and also have realistic dialogue. This reminds me alot of a more modern version of like the classic mistborn final empire, style ball room court politics scenes. Cassian's scene helping Yolanda with a broken ankle with ice magic or the like, scene with them on the balcony being two dichotomizing sides of court politics, and the lanterns was great!  The dichotomy of south and north, the houses Rivian etc Also the interactions between the waring sides, the games of conquest, the inner deals and trades, the conversations of other nobles, the plight of cassandra, this author, HappyMango (LOVE the name happymango) paints with utter brilliance and talent a beautiful masterpiece of political ficti
• Gabriel ItchRoyal Road

  ★★★★★ 5.0

  I really enjoyed this story. The plot always had me. None of the interactions of drama felt forced. Seemed quite natural, and stuck to the molds established by the author at the start of the book. Overall, great read. 10/10 recommend especially if you like romance. Every time there was drama I was hiding behind my collar, nervous and begging for them to reconcile :).
• I. QuillanRoyal Road

  ★★★★★ 5.0

  Beautiful emotional and rich story. First of all, I like the way the Author narration and how the reader is not bombarded with too much information from the start, instead the reader has a chance to slowly uncover the world and character’s development bit by bit. The Author also blends emotions with action scenes in a well balanced well, creating a right pace, enough to connect with the characters and not boring to feel the urge to turn the page.
  The Author also shows great writing skills, combining words into sentences that flow one into another. The whole story seems to be built of pictures that lead flawless from one to the next. Well done!
  Descriptions are vivid and just enough to feel the created world with the reader’s own senses. Very rare skill.
  I love the way you built the momentum for the Naomi and Cassien meet up, by giving the readers a bit of information from previous chapters this scene was deeply anticipated and compelling. And of course, some political background underpins the plot in a very intriguing way, giving more taste to the world you created in a great precision.
  I enjoyed the chapters I read and will be following, curious how the story develops.
• Morosoph deLoreRoyal Road

  ★★★★★ 5.0

  This was an excellent well told short story (especially because it's the author's first attempt).
  The beginning and middle chapters could have inspired Jane Austen. The ending chapters started me thinking of Earnest Hemingway and Flannery O'Connor stories (where the lead character is utterly defeated).
  The lead character suffering the apparent loss of her soul mate was an empathizing tear-jerker.  The song "Love Hurts" (written by Boudleaux Bryant and performed by Nazareth) came to my mind during this chapter. As should be expected when battling against a powerful bad guy character, there are tragic deaths and permanent injuries to good guy characters. The "pulling victory out of the jaws of defeat" by the lead character was an unexpected and logical twist to the story. The mindset and actions of the divinity characters (i.e., "Lunare" and her upgraded "Lore") was very interesting. While reading the final paragraphs, I recommend loudly playing the song "Venus" (written by Robbie van Leeuwen and originally performed by Shocking Blue) on an excellent sound system.
  The grammar, spelling, sentence, paragraph, and chapter structure made the story easy to read.
  Thank you Happy Mango!
• Nemo BlancRoyal Road

  ★★★★★ 5.0

  At first glance, How To Love Your Archnemesis sounds like a fanfiction cliché, but don’t let the title fool you. This is a fantasy court drama that’s as polished as the marble floors its characters tread on. We follow Naomi Rosenthorn, a Southern heir under the iron rule of a mother who seems like a villain straight out of a Greek tragedy, and Cassien Rivain, a Northern prodigy raised on frost, swordplay, and passive-aggression. Both are heirs. Both are prisoners of legacy. And both have zero business catching feelings, but they do. Slowly, reluctantly, electrically.
  Stylistically, the prose is lush, bordering on lyrical, but with enough modern punch to keep it digestible. Phrases like “he moved like frigid water” or “the soft boom of festival, laughter carried on the wind” feel cinematic. The grammar is clean and consistent, with only occasional overindulgence in metaphor or description (though honestly, that’s part of the fun). Dialogue is strong and often cutting, layered with political subtext or quiet defiance. There’s a real bite to it, especially when Naomi spars verbally with adults three times her age and still comes out on top.
  Plot-wise, this is slow-burn in every sense, romance, politics, and rebellion all simmer under the surface. There's very little action but tons of tension. Every conversation is a game. Every choice feels weighted. It's like Game of Thrones meets Pride and Prejudice if both had magic and prettier outfits.
  Verdict? If you're into court intrigue, subtle magic, brutal parenting, and enemies-to-lovers with actual stakes, this reads like a TikTok fan-favorite waiting to happen. You’ll wish you could slap the Duchess, cheer for Naomi, and maybe… maybe fall a little for Cassien too. I sure did.
• OjiSeaRoyal Road

  ★★★★★ 5.0

  I love how this story is structured. The first chapter sets you up with just enough context for the world you’re about to experience, and already has you asking questions that tug at you to continue reading, where you learn more and more about the world’s factions, politics, and magic.
  The main cast are likeable, interesting, imperfect, and written in a way that makes them truly feel like they're real. The way they interact with each other feels natural, and grounded within the story that is being written around them. It quickly becomes difficult not to root for them, and to empathize with every emotion they’re feeling.
  Above all else, what impressed me the most is the author’s writing style. Each scene feels like it has been hand painted, with vivid descriptions that make it easy to feel immersed in the world behind these words. The dialogue is witty - but not forced, emotional, charming, and the characters are brought to life with each line. You can tell the author enjoyed writing each chapter, with the amount of care that went into it.
  If you're a fan of romance and/or fantasy, you'll find this a truly wonderful read that feels hard to put down.