ARC Review: ‘Nemesis’ by S. Massery
FTC Disclosure: I received a complimentary copy of the book from the author. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
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Nemesis
by S. MasserySeries: Sterling Falls Rogues #1
Published by Self-Published on June 5, 2025
SubGenres: Dark Romance, New Adult Romance, Reverse Harem
Format: AudioBook, eArc
Pages: 331
Source: the author
Audience: 18+/Adult
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A new darkness is seeping into Sterling Falls, and I’ve drawn its ire.
When a masked stranger declares he wants our ruin—mine, my brother’s, the whole town’s—I hope he’s bluffing.
A series of escalating events later, and it’s clear the threat is very present.
It’s not only present, but it drags up old nightmares from my past.To keep my beloved city safe, I need to find this masked man and eliminate the threat.
I can’t do it on my own, but the three men poised to help are the ones I am almost certain I can’t trust.
Kade Laurent, the elusive and thrilling newcomer, leverages Olympus to get close to me.
Reese Avery, a ghost from my past, brings with him the trauma I’ve tried to bury. But he says he’s here to make amends…
Saint Hart, the partner of my dead best friend, and I will never get along. Especially since I’ve been tasked with keeping him alive. At least, I was convinced we were going to be mortal enemies forever—until we hate-screw in my kitchen…
Now things are all messed up, and I don’t know who I can rely on.
All I want is peace, but with danger climbing around me, it seems I’m destined for the opposite.
Nemesis is the first book in S. Massery’s spin-off series, Sterling Falls Rogues series. Fair warning, though, before you start this book: it ends with a cliffhanger. Fortunately, the next book is scheduled to be released in July, so S. Massery won’t have us waiting that long.
Please check the TW before reading this book. S. Massery provides a list for her readers. Some of the content may be unsettling for some readers. The author cautions her readers that the heroine has gone through trauma that can be quite difficult to read about.
Nemesis is a dark romance, which means the protagonist, Artemis, will have her past resurface to challenge her, and that past will attempt to ruin her life. However, Artemis is a survivor. The hardships she has faced have made her stronger, and she refuses to go down without a fight. I admire her character because, despite everything she has endured, she continues to persevere, especially with the support of her family and friends. As the plot unfolds, she finds herself targeted by a new gang in town. Yet, she is determined not to let them defeat her. There will come a time, though, when she needs help, and surprisingly, it will come from the one person she despises the most.
This book is primarily told through Artemis’s POV, with some sections from the MMCs’ perspective. I expect we’ll see more of the male main character’s point of view in the upcoming books in the series. Readers will be introduced to Reese and Kade. One of them is connected to Artemis’s past, while the other is searching for the other since they are old friends. Additionally, there’s Saint, who is both Artemis’s enemy and the former lover of her late best friend. Artemis has been tasked with keeping an eye on him since he is still grieving the loss of his girlfriend. Unfortunately, as Artemis spends more time with Saint, the tension between them increases.
S. Massery did a great job setting up the story, particularly by introducing Artemis and the key characters who could potentially become her love interests. Each of the three guys plays a significant role in the story, but one of them ends up on my ‘poop’ list for what he did to Artemis at the end. I understand his reasons, but he definitely has some explaining to do in the next book. Artemis endures a lot throughout this story, and she doesn’t deserve to have her life turned upside down after everything she’s been through.
The antagonist introduced is someone from Artemis’s past, and everyone is shocked when his identity is revealed. I can’t even begin to describe how S. Massery left Artemis at the end of the book. It’s a shocking cliffhanger, and I need the next book in the series immediately. Seriously, how could you leave Artemis in such a situation? My heart aches for her.
As someone who hasn’t read the original series leading to this spin-off series, I didn’t feel lost while reading this book. I plan to read the Sterling Falls series soon, especially since this book hooked me immediately. I believe that readers familiar with the original series will definitely enjoy this spin-off series. Overall, I give this book 4.5 stars and can’t wait to read the next installment in the series.
Single/Dual/Multi-POV: Multi-POV
Would I recommend this book? Yes. If you love dark romances with multiple love interests for the FMC and a shocking cliffhanger at the end, check out the first book in the Sterling Falls Rogues series, Nemesis.
Audiobook Review: If you enjoy listening to your books, I highly recommend the audiobook, especially since it’s a Multicast Duet. Each of the narrators did a fabulous job bringing the characters and the story to life.
Nemesis features:
Michelle Sparks as Artemis
Teddy Hamilton as Saint
Connor Crais as Reese
Aaron Shedlock as Kade
What to Expect:
🏹Dark Romance
🏹Why Choose
🏹Enemies to Lovers
🏹Revenge
🏹Morally Grey MMCs
About S. Massery
S. Massery is a dark romance author who loves injecting a good dose of suspense into her stories. She lives in Western Massachusetts with her dog, Alice.
Before adventuring into the world of writing, she went to college in Boston and held a wide variety of jobs--including working on a dude ranch in Wyoming (a personal highlight). She has a love affair with coffee and chocolate. When S. Massery isn't writing, she can be found devouring books, playing outside with her dog, or trying to make people smile.
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