I first fell in love with RuNyx through Gothikana, so when I received this ARC, it felt like fate.

The story begins with a strong hook as we meet Salem, whose fascination with death—especially her sister’s—is what draws her to the same prestigious university her sister once attended. There, she meets the enigmatic Cazimir Van der Waal (Vanguard), and their chemistry simmers until it erupts into passion and possession.

But this book isn’t just about romance; it delves into mysterious deaths, secret societies, hidden truths, and shocking revelations. As Salem and Caz navigate the dark undercurrents of the university, they are forced to confront secrets that could threaten everything, including their burgeoning relationship.

As much as I enjoyed this book, I felt it left untapped potential. Salem’s interest in forensic science and her emotions surrounding her sister’s death could have been explored further. While the beginning had incredible momentum, the focus shifted heavily to the romance, with the plot falling into the background. The height of the drama could have been extended, adding more tension and suspense to keep the stakes high.

That said, RuNyx’s writing remains as beautiful as ever—poetic, vivid, and atmospheric without being overly descriptive. They truly capture the gothic dark academia vibe that feeds my soul, and I hope they continue to create stories in this vein.

While I definitely liked Salem and Caz more than Corvina and Vad, I think RuNyx's writing style just isn't for me.

I wanted to start this review by giving first thoughts before I start reading (April 21st, 2025). As an avid reader of all RuNyx's books, my first thought is this is exactly what we all wanted from a new release. If it is anything similar to Gothikana I know I will love this book. Can't wait to get started!

Tropes:
🥀Dark Academia
🪦Secret Societies
🥀An Artist + his Muse

April 22nd, 2025: I really appreciate Salem's character, and my first impression of her is that she is raw and real, and very rational and methodical. Her perspective on life, death, friendships are pretty refreshing, and kind of reflect the feelings we all have underneath, or at least the ones we try to keep to ourselves.

As the book progresses, we get to see Salem come out of her shell, and finally let people in. She learns that maybe opening herself up to friendships, and letting people in is not so bad.

In terms of the writing, RuNyx has done it again. The way RuNyx writes in this book will transport you into this mystical world that you won't ever want to leave.

If you loved Gothikana, you will not be disappointed with this book! Happy Reading :)

"Memento vivere" - Remember to live
Plot:5/5
Spice 4.5/5
Writing, characterisation and world building: 5/5
OVERALL: 5/5

PLOT:

The reader's perspective follows Salem Salazar, a gifted, albeit a little peculiar, forensics student with a penchant for death - more specifically a deep rooted, clinical fascination with the matter.
Through her eyes we enter the gates of the exclusive Mortimer University, most known for producing the creme de la creme of high society.
While she settles into the routine of a university student keen on her subject, her ulterior motive remains to investigate a series of inexplicable deaths that have occurred within Mortimer’s grounds, including that of her elder sister.

Her search for answers leads her down a dangerous path and soon enough she is caught in a web of secrets where things and people are not as they seem. In this entanglement, she also finds herself crossing paths with Cazimir Van Der Waal, the art student who no one knows much of, but holds both power, intensity, ferocity and crazy all in equal measure.

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PLOT ANALYSIS:

Where does one begin with a book like this? From the turn of the first page, RuNyx draws the reader in an eerie and spectacular fashion, immediately setting the tone for the rest of the narrative. RuNyx has an incredible gift for laying an immersive atmosphere. She writes like her soul is bleeding onto the page. Her forte will always be all things dark, whether it be romance, academia, literature, or themes. Within this story, all these elements find themselves woven into a beautifully intricate plot that gripped me from the first word to the last. And as known with all of RuNyx’s work, there is no shortage of symbolism, parallelism, contrasts, and literary imagery. There were times in the book where the prose was sinister and macabre enough for me to put the book down to take a breather. I spook easily, but others may not have to do the same. It only goes to show that her writing is good enough to urge the reader on. Her work never ceases to draw inspiration from real world occurrences which only deepens the tone and learnings from her stories.

One of the main elements of the story that really impressed me was the way she built the narrative. There is just the right amount of romance, intrigue, fillers, and world building to drive the plot forward rather than be distracting.

Like the ocean that hugs Mortimer’s borders, the tension builds and builds with a carefully established pace, til it crests and falls, meeting it’s peaceful end on those sinister shores.

As with what I’ve come to know from RuNyx, there is enough mystery and intrigue at the end of the story that made me yearn for more. More of this world, more of this writing, just more..

And while the instinct is to draw comparison to her other works, I found Enigma to be its own force. There are consistencies and callbacks that are reflected in her previous stories, and it brings nothing but a sense of nostalgia and joy, while building on the world that forms the foundation of all of RuNyx’s books.

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CHARACTERS

There is something about RuNyx characters that make it feel that if it wasn’t them together, it would never be anyone else.
Instant attraction, insane sexual tension, and steam hot enough to cause third degree burns (literally this is the most unhinged male character I have read from RuNyx. He is wilding), form the foundation of these academic rivals.

But their story is more than just sizzling sexual tension and the scorching clash of gazes and wills. It is tender, it is fierce, it is protective, it is nurturing, and it is everything the both of them need to find their peace, and quiet their respective demons, or at the very least channel it into something … else. While their chemistry was instantaneous, with the secrets each other hides, we see them slowly learn to trust each other through the progression of this story, until they become what they have always meant to be.

CHARACTER - Salem
I mentioned this before but the one thing I can count on is character growth and relatability from RuNyx’s female characters. Salem is no stranger to this concept, as we see her go from someone shunned, someone quiet, someone who believes herself to be unworthy of human love and attention, to one who embraces her spirit, especially those dark and strange proclivities, and expresses them freely. It’s a joy to witness how RuNyx portrays complex human emotion and relates them in characters that help heal and recognise kindred spirits in readers.
The reader follows the unraveling of the story through her eyes, and I felt myself connecting and crying over her internal monologue - which for a portion of the story took a bigger space than her external voice.
Her finding that voice, her voice, through the support of those around her, most especially Caz and another side character was one of the highlights of the story.

CHARACTERS - Caz
Raw. Next question.

Just kidding.
From henceforth he is the standard for all dark romance male characters. He is wild, unhinged, brilliant, dark, powerful, and with a tragic backstory. What more could one want? He has his own darkness which he wields into art with each stroke of his paintbrush. He is contrast defined. Both crazy and logical, both mysterious and open, both hard and resolute, while being tender and soft.
While his character arc remained mostly static through the story, it was exactly what was needed to let Salem shine. As the enigma, his story will always be elusive, and shrouded in mystery, but it only adds to his appeal and to his magnetism.
Let me just reiterate. This man is crazy. There is this one scene… when you read it you will know. But it is hot enough to set the world on fire. ERMHAGERD.

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SIDE CHARACTERS
There were two in particular that stole the show for me, and I have to say RuNyx really knows how to make an audience feel seen and appreciated. Each character was strategically placed to push the narrative forward and give our main characters depth, all while holding their own space in this journey.

NOTES:
Salem is good with death, but bad with emotion
Caz is bad with death, but good with emotion.
Salem = Peace
Cazimir + Destroyer of peace
Mortimer = death

I won’t spoil anything else but it is beautiful how she places little nuggets like these for readers to discover. There are many more such symbols to dissect in this story.

FINAL THOUGHTS.
READ IT. I read the entire book in one 5 hour sitting, and it took me days to recover. Many readers will feel parts of themselves reflected in the characters and settings. This book genuinely feels like a breath of fresh air, and the publishing comeback that showcases the best parts of RuNyx. Enigma feels like a love letter to those who are a little lonely, a little twisted, and a little dark. From the turn of its first pages, death and mystery shrouds the clandestine walls of Mortimer University to its mist covered shores. However dark and lonely its beginning, the culmination of this journey ends in hope and love, and a beautiful reminder to live - Memento Vivere

interesting…this was my second foray into her dark academia books and i think i liked these characters more than the previous book, mostly because of their similarity in age, but something is preventing me from absolutely adoring it. i was throughly entertained from the prologue (check trigger warnings) but there’s a slight something holding me back from immersing myself fully, so for now this is a dnf at 50%

Thank you so much to Bramble for the free e-ARC 🙏🏽💕

After reading Gothikana last year and absolutely devouring it, this was def one of my most anticipated reads for this year. And while Runyx definitely didn’t disappoint, I can’t say I was wowed in the same way.

One thing I really loved was the setting. Just like Gothikana, this book takes place at a gothic-style school on the Pacific Northwest coast. So think moody coastlines, castles, cliffs, and lighthouses. Very much dark academia meets misty seaside vibes. I also loved Caz as our MMC 😅 he was soooo crazy and random that I had to appreciate it. And him threatening everyone with that damn pencil had me weak lmao. He was the perfect amount of crazy and loyal af. He was such a great partner to Salem. I like how he gave her the freedom and love she always craved for, and saw her for everything she was and loved her ever more for it.

However, I’m still not sure how I feel about the main plot point of this book, with Salem trying to find out what happened with her sisters death and the secret societies. I felt like the pacing was a little off and it was soooo built up by the end that the big reveal didn’t wow me as much as it should’ve. And don’t get me wrong I’m kinda glad nothing insane happened but I still felt like something was missing with the big reveal/ending. I wanted a bit more payoff after all that tension.

Overall, this was a solid read with great atmosphere, a memorable love interest, and a decent mystery. It just didn’t hit me quite as hard as Gothikana. But I’m still looking forward to whatever Runyx writes next! 🫶🏽

Dark academia? Sign me up!

I had a lot of fun getting back into the world of RuNyx, especially in the academia world setting! This book definitely had ,more potential that I wish we got to explore throughout this book. But the characters had a fantastic chemistry that had me hooked right from the get go!

Definitely a book I thoroughly enjoyed the entire time! Thank you NetGalley for an eARC!

This book is like a fever dream wrapped in dark, seductive academia, and it completely blew me away. RuNyx has crafted an unforgettable love story. This book is a masterpiece in dark romance and suspense. I couldn’t put it down and I am simply obsessed with it. You have to read this.

“I want to be the only villain you see. I want to be the only devil that drags you to hell.”

Oh my gosh how I adored Salem and Caz! Enigma is a dark academia, romantic suspense and I devoured it basically in one sitting. Salem is the outcast of her family and she arrives to Mortimer determined to find the cause of mysterious circumstances involving her sister. And Caz is a TA that is shrouded in mystery and secret societies. I loved the build up between these two and their chemistry was fire! This book kept me hooked from cover to cover and I can’t give it enough stars!

✨𝓐𝓡𝓒 𝓡𝓮𝓿𝓲𝓮𝔀✨
📖Enigma by RuNyx
⭐: 5/5
🌶️: 3/5
.
RuNyx has done it again—delivered a story so immersive, so exquisitely layered, it took up residence in my mind and refused to leave. This book had everything. From the very first page, I was wrapped in a cocoon of intrigue and lyrical prose. The dark academia setting, the haunting atmosphere, the brilliance of her narrative—everything pulled me in like gravity.

The writing? Absolutely addictive. It’s the kind that feels like a spell—every sentence a thread pulling you deeper. I swear, no one does it like RuNyx. Once you start reading, you’re done for. It becomes a burning mystery you need to solve, a puzzle begging to be unraveled. And with every clue, every subtle detail, she delivers that hit of adrenaline only her stories can give.

Salem Salazar might just be one of my favorite FMCs ever. Smart, curious, layered—a science major with a mind that never stops questioning. Her curiosity? I felt it in my bones. That same reckless urge to dig deeper, to chase truth even when it’s dangerous… that’s me. Everyone who knows me knows that’s my thing, and seeing it reflected in Salem felt like being seen. The kind of curiosity that could kill you, yet you follow it anyway—because you have to know.

And Cazimir. An artist cloaked in danger. An unhinged, magnetic presence that dragged you in and made it impossible to look away. His devotion wasn’t quiet—it was loud, possessive, and all-consuming. The kind of character who walks into your mind and refuses to leave. Emotionally complex, fiercely loyal, and deeply intense. The way he loved Salem—how he supported her, helped her grow, made her feel safe in her own skin—it was beautiful.

I couldn’t stop thinking about the symbolism: her hair, described like snakes, and her last name—Salazar. His name, destroyer of peace. Hers, peace itself. That poetic contrast RuNyx weaves into her stories like threads of gold? It scratched my brain in the most satisfying way. It’s details like these that RuNyx stitches into her stories like constellations—quiet, deliberate, and utterly mesmerizing. The artist wasn’t the one who inspired—it was the girl with the wildfire mind and a soul that couldn’t help but ask questions. It’s those kinds of details that make RuNyx’s books linger long after the final page.

Their chemistry? Electric. Salem and Cazimir were fire and storm—wild, intense, magnetic. But beneath all that chaos was emotional depth, raw and grounding. What made their bond unforgettable was how Cazimir’s love didn’t cage her—it freed her. It let her be entirely herself. More confident. More powerful.
Give a woman the right man, and she can conquer the world.
And Cazimir? He was that man.

Their story felt like a secret wish whispered into the universe—messy, raw, painfully beautiful. The kind of love you dream about. The kind that ignites something dormant inside you. Reading them gave a little part of my soul hope. Hope that maybe, one day, love like this won’t just live in fiction.
RuNyx’s portrayal of loneliness was one of the most poetic things I’ve ever read. It wasn’t just emotion—it was art. Her ability to make characters feel real and raw, without ever forcing them into society’s definition of “normal,” is one of the things I admire most about her. She gives space to the strange, the misunderstood, the beautifully broken.

This book wasn’t just a story—it was a journey. A cathartic experience for Salem and Cazimir… and for me too. With every twist, every secret, every breathtaking reveal, it built toward a finale that brought everything full circle in the most satisfying way. That’s the magic of RuNyx. She doesn’t just write endings—she completes stories.
Another favorite on my RuNyx shelf—and another reason why I’ll forever live inside the pages of her books. 🥀

4.5 stars!!!

A triumph for the dark academia genre! This is undoubtedly my favorite book by RuNyx. I loved these characters and their complexity. The way they were so misunderstood but found comfort and love and trust and safety with each other. I was also HOOKED with the entire mystery and secret society plot line!

I was not expecting my heart to break or for me to get as emotional as I did during certain scenes. From the MCs’ pasts, to Salem’s relationship with her mom, to the way Caz genuinely saw Salem for who she was and wouldn’t change a thing. He really, truly saw her and loved her for who she was and made her feel seen when she spent her entire life feeling invisible.

I loved Salem’s character growth so much. I loved the friends she found at Mortimer. And
I ADORED Caz. He’s the perfect definition of a broody MMC with red flags but an absolute SOFTIE when it comes to her. I swooned so hard during certain scenes 🥹

I also loved the double epilogue and that we got both POVs! Overall, such a fun, mysterious, and swoon-worthy read.

Thank you so much to Tor, RuNyx, and NetGalley for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review!

*will add social link closer to pub date

This book was such an interesting mystery romance! I loved the gloomy vibes from the coastal town and the university, it was easy to feel immersed in this world. Salem was a really lovable character and I loved seeing her grow as a person and find people who made her feel seen and loved. At first, I wasn’t that interested in the romance but when Caz and Salem really started to grow closer, I LOVED them!! They matched each other so perfectly and I loved how they were equally obsessed with each other!

My main concern was the way the mystery was wrapped up. There was a great build up throughout the book but the climax felt flat to me. I expected to have a bigger reveal at the end and I wished everything around the secret societies was more explained.

The epilogues were so cute! Fans of RuNyx will definitely enjoy this!

𝐃𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐡 𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐰𝐚𝐬 𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐭𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐞, 𝐛𝐮𝐭 𝐥𝐢𝐟𝐞 𝐰𝐚𝐬 𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐛𝐞𝐚𝐮𝐭𝐢𝐟𝐮𝐥 𝐬𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐡𝐨𝐰 𝐛𝐞𝐜𝐚𝐮𝐬𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐢𝐭.

RuNyx never misses. Thanks to Ru and Netgalley for the e-ARC and ALC of this book. To be able to read and listen along at the same time was a TREAT.

Salem is perfection. She's so smart and curious and careful. She finds a body on the beach and we find out that she's in school for forensics, and the study of dead bodies is where her interests lie. I loved getting to know her. Her quirks, her peculiarities. I loved that she finds a found family, and love, and doesn't have to feel like she doesn't belong.

Caz is... well he's the Enigma right? She meets him on the beach, where he's sketching the body and she senses this darkness in him, that calls to her own. He's so passionate and protective and fierce and possessive and everything I want in a MMC. Especially written by Ru!

“𝐘𝐨𝐮 𝐚𝐬𝐤 𝐦𝐞 𝐢𝐟 𝐈’𝐦 𝐜𝐫𝐚𝐳𝐲, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐈 𝐚𝐦. 𝐈’𝐦 𝐜𝐫𝐚𝐳𝐲 𝐚𝐛𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐈’𝐦 𝐜𝐫𝐚𝐳𝐲 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐲𝐨𝐮. 𝐒𝐞𝐞𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐜𝐥𝐨𝐬𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐚𝐧𝐨𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐠𝐮𝐲? 𝐘𝐨𝐮’𝐫𝐞 𝐥𝐮𝐜𝐤𝐲 𝐈 𝐝𝐢𝐝𝐧’𝐭 𝐟*𝐜𝐤 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐫𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐢𝐧 𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐛𝐥𝐨𝐨𝐝.”

Both characters have lost someone and come to the university of Mortimer to discover it's secrets.

So in this old castle turned university, we have secret societies, murder mysteries, and shady professors.

Salem and Caz's relationships starts as a push and pull, but then becomes explosive. You'll never think of an alter in the woods or a PENCIL in the same way ever again.

I absolutely loved the mystery and the twists and turns but I adored the way that Salem finds herself in this book. Between finding love and finding the friends she's always wanted, Salem as a character will make anyone that's ever felt like they could never have those things believe it's possible. And that's the beauty of this book.

𝐒𝐡𝐞’𝐝 𝐧𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐭, 𝐢𝐧 𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐰𝐢𝐥𝐝𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐝𝐚𝐲𝐝𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐦𝐬, 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐬𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐥𝐢𝐤𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐩𝐞𝐧 𝐭𝐨 𝐡𝐞𝐫. 𝐒𝐡𝐞 𝐡𝐚𝐝 𝐚𝐥𝐰𝐚𝐲𝐬 𝐛𝐞𝐞𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐮𝐧𝐚𝐩𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐚𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐞, 𝐚𝐥𝐨𝐨𝐟 𝐠𝐢𝐫𝐥, 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐠𝐢𝐫𝐥 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐲 𝐡𝐚𝐝 𝐜𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐝 𝐟𝐫𝐢𝐠𝐢𝐝 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐮𝐧𝐟𝐞𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠. 𝐒𝐡𝐞 𝐡𝐚𝐝 𝐛𝐞𝐞𝐧 𝐚𝐥𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐚𝐜𝐜𝐞𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐬𝐡𝐞 𝐚𝐥𝐰𝐚𝐲𝐬 𝐰𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐛𝐞. 𝐀𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐧 𝐡𝐞’𝐝 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐞 𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐨 𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐥𝐢𝐟𝐞, 𝐥𝐢𝐤𝐞 𝐚 𝐡𝐮𝐫𝐫𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐧𝐞, 𝐛𝐥𝐨𝐰𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐲𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐝 𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐚𝐰𝐚𝐲, 𝐬𝐦𝐚𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐛𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐞𝐟 𝐬𝐲𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐦𝐬 𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐨 𝐬𝐦𝐢𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐞𝐧𝐬, 𝐮𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐥 𝐬𝐡𝐞 𝐡𝐚𝐝 𝐛𝐞𝐞𝐧 𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐜𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐨 𝐦𝐚𝐤𝐞 𝐚 𝐧𝐞𝐰 𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐞𝐥𝐟.

💥 Pub Date: 4/29/2025

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5

• dark romance mystery
• heavy themes like grief and loneliness
• dual POV

This book and its story drip with atmosphere. Our FMC is so complex and interesting. I switched it up between the physical and audio versions... the narrators were excellent!! (As a side note, I highly recommend Gothikana by this author, too. A big 5 ⭐️s from me!)

🗣 Thank you to netgalley and macmillan.audio for the opportunity to read and review this book via both gifted eARC and audio! All opinions are honest and my own.

No one does dark academia like mother Ru. NO ONE and Enigma was everything I hoped it would be 🥹 it was dark and mysterious and secretive and seductive and atmospheric.

UGH I wish I could go back and read it for the first time again. Salem attends Mortimer University with a goal in mind - figuring out what happened to her sister, who died there under very mysterious circumstances 👀 and it’s there where she meets Caz, who himself is also very mysterious and very vexing!

I loved these characters together and on their own. Salem is determined and loyal and freaky smart and has her very own murder board lmao. Caz is obsessive and possessive (which we love via fiction lol) he’s also stubborn and unyielding in his pursuits. Is he going to help her or hinder her?

The setting is perfection and you guys know I eat up secret societies so this was bound to be the perfect book for me. It was amazing and I hope that you’re so excited 🥹

Congrats on another banger Ru!

Wow. This book was everything I could ever have wanted in a dark romance. A bright, self aware heroine, a swoony hero, and a setting full of secrets.

Salem Salazar has gone through plenty in her young life. Even though she comes from a wealthy, prestigious family, she has never felt like she fit in. Her relationship with her family is surface at best, she was betrayed by someone in a group who leaked photos of her, and she is attending the elite Mortimer University to find out why her sister died there under suspicious circumstances.

When she meets the mysterious Caz van der Waal, the attraction is immediate and mutual. Caz has plenty of secrets of his own, but he makes no secret of the fact that he wants Salem. Lust turns into a possessive and mutually distrusting relationship, scorching hot and intense, and as Salem finds out more and more about what happened to her sister and other people who also died at Mortimer, the more she wants to know what Caz is hiding.

Salem is an amazing character. She is always on guard, always examining every detail. I loved her mind, how fiercely she loves even though she has experienced so little love in return, and how she reacts at a crucial moment near the end of the book. Caz is completely taken over by Salem. His every thought is of her, he is consumed by her and despite all the things he has been though, he does not waver in his love for her.

This book has it all - I loved RuNyx's Dark Verse series and I obsessed over this story. Whatever RuNyx writes, I will read it.

Dark academia, enemies to lovers, secret societies and Ru’s beautiful ability to piece together a story that will have you emotionally invested from the very first page… what’s not to love?!

Salem and Caz are everything. The setting is everything. The mystery that built and built and then unravelled in the most satisfying way was EVERYTHING.

Ru’s done it again my friends. Absolutely hauntingly beautiful from start to finish.

This book is like Deep End by Ali Hazelwood, it’ll stay with me for a long time. I already want to reread it. It’s eery and spooky and emotional. The romance is EVERYTHING. And freaking hot. I loved loved loved the sexual tension, how their relationship was both deeply romantic and rough around the edges. Secret societies, mysterious murders, scorching romance… RuNyx delivered once again. I will miss Caz and Salem so much.

THIS BOOK!!! I was completely consumed by it. It pulled me in and did not want to let go.
Salem is on a mission to uncover the truth about her sister’s death at Mortimer University. And every step of the way she is wrapped up in danger, obsession and secrets.
Incomes Cazimer…he is broody, brilliant and absolutely maddening. I absolutely loveeee them together.
Twisted and addictive with a gothic slow burn vibe.

Enigma has a fascinating premise—dark, twisted, and full of characters who are purposefully a little unhinged… but that’s kind of the charm. It gave me similar vibes to Nocticadia by Keri Lake (though without the deeply disturbing elements—no teacher/student dynamics or serial killer love interests here). The dark academia atmosphere was done well, and I was fully on board for that aesthetic.

That said, the pacing felt all over the place. With tighter structure and better timing, so many of the story’s elements could’ve hit harder. The romance especially would’ve benefited from a slower build—more time spent letting the main characters bond over their shared eccentricities and the mystery connecting them would’ve made it feel more earned. And the ending? Way too rushed.

This book had potential, and I wouldn’t call it bad by any means—but it definitely could’ve been better.