Please note that this ARC was provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

I went into this with an open mind, not knowing whay to expect. I felt it started a bit slow, but the core themes of the book were very interesting. The setting of an exclusive university for the upper echelon - secret societies that have dark and possibly sinful histories…. It builds a great story. My favorite part of the book was Salem. The development of her character and the peeling away of her hard exterior to find the vulnerability and history beneath was fantastic. I also loved the chemistry between Salem and Caz.

I felt that the ending landed just a bit flat - it wasnt the explosive ending that I expected but overall the book was still very good.

4/5 stars

Enigma is a slow-burn dark academia masterpiece—woven with secret societies, haunting mysteries, and an enemies-to-lovers romance that simmers beneath every shadowed hallway. The atmosphere is thick with cryptic whispers and eerie tension, wrapping you in the chilling secrets of Mortimer like a velvet fog.

Salem appears, at first, to be a wallflower. Withdrawn, quiet, shaped by an isolating childhood and a family that never quite understood her. But make no mistake—she is no delicate bloom. Beneath the surface lies a fierce, cunning, and brilliant young woman determined to uncover the truth behind her sister’s death. Her resilience burns quietly, but powerfully.

Then there’s Caz—irresistible, enigmatic, and the very definition of a tortured artist. The way he sees Salem, how he listens, understands, and validates her existence—it’s utterly breathtaking. His protectiveness doesn’t smother her; it shields. His love is not soft, but consuming. And it’s everything Salem has longed for: to be seen, heard, chosen. He is her one.

While the enemies-to-lovers tension hums subtly beneath the surface, their connection feels deeper—like a recognition, a reunion of two fractured souls. It’s not insta-lust or a fleeting spark. It’s a slow, magnetic pull between two people who find solace, strength, and healing in one another.

Enigma is the kind of book you read on a gray, rainy afternoon, wrapped in a blanket, a fire crackling nearby. It’s haunting. It lingers. In true RuNyx fashion, the prose is lyrical, the suspense relentless, and the emotional payoff—undeniably worth every page.

Secret society, mysterious men, and a dark academia setting?? Sign me right up!

I really enjoyed Enigma and the story of Caz and Salem. The enemies to lovers vibe was great and I enjoyed the pacing of the story. Kept just enough of a slow burn but fast enough pace to keep me interested. Definitely going to read more from RuNyx in the future.

Dark academy? Dead bodies? Sign me up!

I received a free copy of Enigma by Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

NO SPOILERS!

Salem enrolls into Mortimer University to find out what happened to her missing older sister Olivia. While on the case she meets Cazimir, an artist, who is mysterious with a dark past. Together they investigate the deaths at Mortimer University.

Enigma was way better than Gothikana in my opinion and I liked Gothikana. I love it when an author gets better with every book rather than staying stagnant.

Salem is on the spectrum and I love it. I loved the analytical way she thinks about things and I feel her pain being the black sheep of her family. Cazimir has the artist bad boy vibe I'm a sucker for. I really enjoyed his character.

The mystery was well done and unlike Gothikana this is a true dark academia. There's a focus on the arts, higher education, secret societies, and architecture. The pacing was good. The writing was better. I enjoyed myself. There is some dub-con in here but it didn’t bother me.

Great job RunYx!

Whether or not you are a fan of Gothikana, I would definitely give this a try if it’s your thing.

This book has a mix of secret society, dark academia, rivals to lovers and gothic vibes. As usual I want to go running to where this book is based out of because the setting is amazing! There is suspense, who did it, danger in the dark, and a love story.

Salem, the FMC, is an odd creature for sure. She loves all things related to death, and is going to school for forensic pathology.

Caz is the true Enigma of this story. He is hot, tatted up, and mysterious AF. No one knows much about him at all.

This book is something truly spectacular. I can't even begin to express my feelings while for this book for its dark academia at its best...

Quotes:
"'Salem had always thought nothing could beat death, that nothing could be immortal. She'd been wrong. Love, deep, true love, was immortal."

"He continued drinking from her, a starved beast falling upon a feast, A Lord of barren lands sipping from the lady of nectar, a man in the shadows dancing with a woman who knew darkness, claiming her mouth right out in the open for the world to see."

Unfortunately, I ended up DNFing this one 46% in. I wasn’t feeling a strong connection to the plot and what was happening/being uncovered, or the characters and getting this far into it was such a drag I found myself dreading picking up my Kindle. The writing felt a little clunky and awkward, and I didn’t particularly enjoy either MC.
Maybe in the future I might try this one again but for now it was best I didn’t force it.

Je n’ai pas les mots pour l’histoire de Caz et Salem. Runyx a le don d’écrire des livres uniques, qui nous plongent dans un atmosphère mystérieux et enchanteur. J’ai aimé de la première page à la dernière page de cette lecture, c’était tout ce que j’attendais dans une nouvelle histoire écrite par mon autrice préférée.

I have very mixed feelings about this book. This was a bingeable read that I kept wanting to read but the way the mystery aspect was handled… the ending just felt like a let down. Add in the grammar and sentence structure and I’m not sure how to rate it. I started off thinking 4 stars and now hovering more at 3 stars, probably a realistic rating is 3-3.5. I would try another book by the author as the start was strong

I hate to say it, but this book just wasn't for me. I really love this author and am a passionate fan of some of her other works, but this story ultimately fell short. For a "dark romance," it sure felt saccharine sweet, and the mystery wasn't very compelling either.

Initially, I did connect with the main character. Salem's vulnerability and voice drew me in at first., but as the story progressed, her development stalled. The narrative began to feel repetitive, as she cycled through the same set of insecurities and internal conflicts without much real growth. Rather than evolving organically, her emotional journey felt like a checklist of fears being ticked off.

The supporting characters didn’t fare much better. They felt flat and one-dimensional, often serving more as props to move the plot forward than as fully realized individuals. Their motivations were either too transparent or too underexplored to be believable, which made it hard to invest in their relationships or the stakes of the story.

As much as I wanted to love this book, it simply didn’t deliver the depth, tension, or complexity I’ve come to expect from Runyx. That said, I’m still very much a fan of her previous work and will continue to read whatever she writes next. This one just wasn’t for me.

Salem Salazar comes to Mortimer University to get to the bottom of her sister's mysterious death. There, obsessed with forensics, she discovers there have been a lot more unexplained deaths on the campus. Her search leads her down a dark and dangerous path to a secret society and to Caz.
Cazimir van der Waal is himself another mystery to unravel. Is he just an art student, a man living a double life, or a murderer? While also at the university seeking answers for his brother's death, Caz has a lot more to him than meets the eye.
Secret forces are at play in Mortimer and no one is safe. As Salem tries to go under the radar and Caz tries to block her path, somehow, they both end up in the crossfire of a powerful, secret society. They are forced to work together to discover the truth or risk losing their lives.
Loved this even more than Gothikana! RuNyx is one of my new favs!

*Special thanks to NetGalley and Bramble for this digital e-arc.*

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.

+++
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!

“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