I liked this one a lot but I did find it to be too long. I did like how everything tied together at the end. I'd recommend it for someone searching for a dark, but not too dark, romance.

I’m generally not a fan of teacher student romance. The power dynamics are just creepy. But it worked out nicely in this story. I loved the plot and wished to have known if she really was a witch with powersor if it was really just an herbalist family that was being prejudiced by the town.

This story was full of mystery, suspense, spice and so much more. I was on edge of my seat throughout the whole book. Be prepared to laugh and cry because this book will send your emotions on a roller coaster ride.

“𝙄𝙛 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙞𝙨 𝙢𝙖𝙙𝙣𝙚𝙨𝙨,“ 𝙨𝙝𝙚 𝙬𝙝𝙞𝙨𝙥𝙚𝙧𝙚𝙙 𝙖𝙡𝙢𝙤𝙨𝙩 𝙖𝙜𝙖𝙞𝙣𝙨𝙩 𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙡𝙞𝙥𝙨, “𝙙𝙧𝙤𝙬𝙣 𝙢𝙚 𝙞𝙣 𝙞𝙩.“

“𝙄𝙛 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙞𝙨 𝙢𝙖𝙙𝙣𝙚𝙨𝙨,“ 𝙝𝙚 𝙩𝙤𝙡𝙙 𝙝𝙚𝙧, 𝙚𝙘𝙝𝙤𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙝𝙚𝙧 𝙬𝙤𝙧𝙙𝙨 𝙖𝙜𝙖𝙞𝙣𝙨𝙩 𝙝𝙚𝙧 𝙡𝙞𝙥𝙨, “𝙄’𝙫𝙚 𝙖𝙡𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙙𝙮 𝙙𝙚𝙨𝙘𝙚𝙣𝙙𝙚𝙙 𝙩𝙤𝙤 𝙛𝙖𝙧.“

The chemistry between Vad and Corvina are undeniable, there’s a darkness that draws them towards each other and each moment they share is all-consuming .

🖤Forbidden relationship (student/teacher)
🖤Dark/Gothic Academia
🖤Mystery/Suspense

“𝙄 𝙬𝙞𝙡𝙡 𝙝𝙖𝙫𝙚 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙣 𝙞𝙣 𝙙𝙚𝙖𝙩𝙝, 𝙡𝙞𝙩𝙩𝙡𝙚 𝙬𝙞𝙩𝙘𝙝. 𝙄 𝙖𝙢 𝙮𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙗𝙚𝙖𝙨𝙩. 𝙄 𝙖𝙢 𝙮𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙢𝙖𝙙𝙣𝙚𝙨𝙨. 𝘼𝙣𝙙 𝙮𝙤𝙪, 𝙮𝙤𝙪’𝙧𝙚 𝙢𝙮 𝙖𝙛𝙩𝙚𝙧𝙡𝙞𝙛𝙚.“

I LOVE when romance and horror mix and that’s what this book did for me.

If you’re looking for a steamy, dark and gothic romance with a paranormal aspect, then this is exactly what I would recommend.

Hands down my favourite aspect of this book was the rich descriptions and incredibly atmospheric world building. Everything about this book screamed gloomy, dark academia and I was absolutely eating that up. I loved the plot twists and the paranormal aspect of the book which definitely felt in line with the gothic setting.

The romance was the part that I felt let down by, it felt very insta-love to me, which isn’t my favourite kind of romance, and I was hoping for a lot more of a build up. The characters were fine and I was interested in both of their individual stories/backgrounds, but I wasn’t desperate to see them together and watch their relationship build.

Altogether this is brilliantly spooky and steamy read and I think it’s perfect for the spooky season!

(Thank you to the publisher, the author and NetGalley for a free arc of this book in exchange for an honest review).

Spooky vibes and dark aestethics, this book DELIVERED.
I was drawn in from the first chapter, and the world that RuNyx has created is mysterious and amazing! I’m fairly new to Dark Academia and Gothic books, but this book lived up to my expectations.
The writing is incredible and the story is really well fleshed out.

I deeply regret not reading Gothikana sooner!

It was dark, captivating, and the spicy scenes were just what I was looking for.

I took off 1 star for all the unanswered questions and for some of the text, which sounded a bit juvenile for my liking.

I really enjoyed this book. Who doesn't love a gothic atmosphere with a taboo teacher student relationship.
The plot was well paced and kept me hooked from start to finish. I didn't figure out the secrets which is unusual for me. The author created a wonderful world that keeps you guessing.

I received an arc via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own

Overall the storyline was good and entertaining. The dark gothic vibes were also well done. My main issue (that was distracting enough) was with the writing. There were a lot of moments where the dialogue was pretty cringey and it took me out of the story.

This book is very on trend right now and it didn’t disappoint. Gothikana kept me gripped throughout and was a nice quick paced read. Spicy dark academia is definitely one of my favourite genres and I loved how it felt like you was at the school watching this unfold with your own eyes. Can’t wait for more from this author!

Wonderful, captivating and addictive, Gothikana is one of those books that creeps up on you and will easily become one of your favourite books. It draws you and casts a delicious spell on you!

I finished it yesterday and I'm just now rating it, cus I needed to think about it.

The beginning was kinda bad, especially in the classroom, when they had intense eye contact and everyone knew there's something going on, like literally they couldn't be more obvious, which was kinda the opposite of forbidden secret romance they should have had.

The more I read the better it was tho, the mystery kept me reading and kept me paranoid, cus sometimes it was kinda really scary lmaooo

The moment the mystery was revealed was great, this was when I was the most invested, cus I didn't really see that coming, but the ending ending was kinda meh. I wanted more things explained.

Sometimes it was cringe, more time it was creepy, overall enjoyable mystery, little less enjoyable romance.

Anyway read Darkverse pls it's 1000000x than this, still I'll read everything by Runyx.

I wanted to love this book, I really really did.

The story started out with a lot of promise, I loved the building of the setting and the school - lots of description, the characters were quirky and the atmosphere felt really gothic and creepy. Perfectly as expected.

But somewhere a few chapters in, we seem to have lost sight of the actual storyline. I was left with far more questions by the end of this, wondering whether there was anything actually spooky/ghostly happening within this castle or not. It was a slow burn which I could appreciate until the story dropped off entirely to focus on the sexual tension. I would’ve loved to hear more about the castle, it’s story, the actual on-goings beyond just sex.

The smutty side of this fell very short for me too, with an Insta-love that just felt very out of place between the ‘never been touched’ student and the ‘hot and cold’ teacher. Some scenes were quite passionate, lustful and I enjoyed them, whereas others felt clumsy and rushed simply for the sake of having another spicy scene in there.

I really did enjoy the characters and the friendship group - I’d have loved to have seen more of them and how they interact and grow together through their time at the boarding school.

Thank you for Netgalley for giving me an eARC of this book. I do wish I could’ve enjoyed it more, it had a lot of potential.

Corvina Clemm had never expected to be going to university so to say she's surprised to receive an admission invitation to University of Verenmore would be putting things mildly, but she's not going to turn down the opportunity now she's been offered it.
Situated on a mountain top, cut off from the neighbouring town by dense forests, Verenmore is a place of mystery, dangerous cults, and unexplained deaths, but Corvina finds herself at home there. She also finds herself irresistibly attracted to her tutor Vad Deverell, a man who rumour would associate with strange deaths on campus. Their forbidden relationship could unravel some of Verenmore's mysteries; or it could end in disaster.

I wasn't sure quite what to expect with this book but I'm finding that lately I'm enjoying quirky, gothic reads, so decided to try it - and I was hooked. Despite the familiar start - unexpected acceptance to a mysterious university/boarding school, with a host of unexplained events in its history - it soon goes its own way. Corvina is a strange protagonist, raised by her single mother in virtual isolation with no friends or family, and to be honest I didn't necessarily trust her intuitions, especially regarding Vad, but that ambiguity is part of the book's appeal.



It's a very readable book, one which keeps you turning the pages, but it's dark, very dark, filled with death and forbidden passion, and sex - lots of sex (don't imagine we're talking Harry Potter here, or even Wednesday Addams, grown up a little). In a preface to my review copy, the Author cautions readers about the subjects raised - death, suicide, parental neglect - and the explicit nature of the sex scenes; it's definitely an 'adult' read, not for younger teens.

This book was 80% sex, 15% plot and 5%___

Why did I leave 5% blank? Because I want you to know how it felt when I ‘finished’ the book and so many plot lines went unfinished. I think 5% is underestimating it too. It was mainly sex and probably 15% of unanswered questions rounded off into an epilogue that told us nothing.

The moodiness was good. I loved the gothic vibes. I did enjoy the tension (at the start) but wow did I want to skim read the book by the end. The writing was subpar and unedited. Many issues with repetition and as mentioned, dropping of plots.

I’ve heard so many amazing things about this book and it totally lived up to all the hype! This was fantastic and such a fun read. I loved it so much and kept turning the pages.

I just reviewed Gothikana by Grady Ru Nyx as an advanced reader copy thanks to @TitanBooks and @NetGalley.

Corvina is a girl with odd eyes, raised by an odd mother. Having been home-schooled she is surprised but excited when she is offered a place at prestigious and mysterious Verenmore.

For a 22-year old who has never ‘belonged’ or even had much social interaction, the school holds delights and deadly secrets. Is Vad Deverell – the Silver-Eyed Devil of Verenmore – going to be a delight or just deadly?

The plot takes us on Corvina’s journey, uncovering the terrible secrets the castle holds, alongside a growing and obsessive relationship with Vad. I loved the character-building, the castle, the twists …. the spice.

At one point very early on, I did wonder whether the book was too ‘young’ for me – then whomp! It was like coming over the crest of a rollercoaster and dropping us at breakneck speed into the intrigue, lust and betrayals before delivering us breathless to the story’s end.

I loved it!

thank you to netgalley for the advanced reading copy of gothikana by runyx. this was basically the new show wednesday in a book. fantastic. the descriptions were very detailed as well. a good read but does start slow.

My first book by RuNyx and definitely not my last! This was written so beautifully and was the most I've ever highlighted in a book! I obviously adored Corvina & Vad and really enjoyed getting to delve into their characters and back stories. I get the hype and can't wait for Arkana!

Perfect for lovers of the hit tv show Wednesday and those who love a bit of spicy dark academia romance type novels

I loved the eeriness of Verenmore college and the secrets within its history. The forbidden romance between student and professor was entertaining and I really enjoyed reading this book. Perhaps a little more development on Corvina adapting to living at college considering her upbringing? Idk something felt like it was missing though. But overall very enjoyable, would deffo recommend

Thank you so much NetGalley for an advanced readers copy of this book.

Dnfd at 10%. Unfortunately i did not enjoy this book. I feel like it tried too hard to be atmospheric and gothic but the trying totally ruined it for me.