Author: Amy Archer
Genre: Humour, Queer Fiction, Adult, Fantasy, Romantasy
Publisher: Avon and Harper Voyager
Format: Ebook (NetGalley Copy)
Release Date: January 23rd, 2026
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
Drink Paring: Green tea for spring and laughter
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