If you love your books with Dark, spooky setting, secret society and murder mystery and sizzling romance go as head and add this to your tbr. I absolutely enjoyed the story and I thought the narrators did a fantastic job. If you love obsessive, artsy unhinged mmcs and quirky fmcs this might be the book for you. the ending was a bit disappointing because it was underwhelming but I still enjoyed the story. If you want your dark academia with more plot you might not like this. Overall I think I kept reading the story because of the narrators they did such a great job

It was ok.... there wasn't enough sex in the book for it to be called a dark romance. At first when i started reading it i thought that it sounded a lot like Gothikana. The end was sooo cheesy and cringey, the two epilogues could have been put together or even ledt out all together. Kinda bored me how her father had been a silent hero, and everyone ended up being good and.... it was just a little flat for me.

Thank you for the ARC! A girl attending a prestigious school looking for answers as to how her sister died meets her match in a mysterious, sexy Caz. Overall, I liked the story and how the mystery of a series of deaths was solved, but the ending fell a bit flat. I listened to the audiobook version and liked the narrators, the pacing was good and had enough variation to not be monotonous. Enjoyed this one but was expecting a bit more in the last few chapters.

I thought this was very good and I will have to add this to the shop shelves. Thank you for the chance for us to review.

3.25⭐️
Overall I think this was a decent dark academia, romance. I don't think the "romance" scenes really added much value to the story (but, hey, I get it 😉) and the crescendo fell a little flat.. it was a too easy to take down the bad guys.

I enjoyed the last part and the epilogue and would have been fine with getting more on how their lives evolved-rather than 5 year (small) increments. Now that would have made the story better (in my opinion, of course).

Thank you to the publisher for the ALC!

This dark gothic romance is everything I could want from a secret society thriller wrapped in an intoxicating love story. Set against the atmospheric backdrop of a prestigious college harboring deadly secrets, this novel masterfully weaves together mystery, romance, and spine-tingling suspense that had me absolutely hooked from the first page.
Our protagonist finds herself drawn into a world far more dangerous and complex than she initially expected. What begins as a personal quest quickly evolves into something much larger, involving family secrets, hidden dangers, and a mysterious society operating in the shadows of the academic world. The dark academic setting provides the perfect gothic atmosphere that permeates every page, creating an immersive experience that kept me reading late into the night.
The real standout of this novel is Caz – and let me tell you, I was completely feral over this man! He's a tortured artist who embodies everything I want in a dark romance ML. He's possessive and mysterious in all the right ways, but what truly sets him apart is his genuine care for the protagonist. The way he helps her through difficult moments heartwarming and swoon-worthy. I literally melted at his tenderness. Their chemistry is electric, building from rivals-to-lovers tension into something truly special. The romantic scenes, particularly one unforgettable altar scene that will live rent-free in my head forever, are written with a perfect balance of heat and emotion.
The plot moves at a breakneck pace, blending murder mystery elements with the romance seamlessly. I genuinely couldn't put this book down once I picked it up. The secret society subplot adds layers of intrigue and danger that keep the stakes high throughout. The gothic atmosphere is maintained beautifully, creating that perfect dark and gloomy ambiance that I absolutely crave in this genre.
The book succeeds as a perfect "vibes read" – one of those novels that captivates you with its atmosphere and characters even if every plot point isn't perfectly executed.
Perfect for fans of: Dark academia, secret societies, gothic romance, rivals-to-lovers, possessive heroes, mystery thrillers
Content warnings: Violence, dark themes
This is definitely a "right book, right time" read that proves sometimes the perfect combination of atmosphere, chemistry, and pacing can overcome minor plot weaknesses. I highly recommend diving into this dark, delicious world – you won't regret it.
I was gifted this ALC from NetGalley.

Love love love this and highly recommend. I liked it even better than Gothikana and had to buy the hardcover with the pretty edges for my shelf (well both of them). Loved the setting, the characters, the intrigue, the spice --- it had everything I'm into as a lover of Zodiac Academy, Phantasma, etc. Highly recommend.

Thank you to NetGalley for the copy of this Audiobook ARC in exchange for my honest review. I appreciate it!

Unevenly paced by overall ,an enjoyable read

Thank you to NetGalley and the Publisher for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This book put the dark in dark academia and I ate it up.
This was a little darker than I am used to, but it did not deter me. I was fascinated by the story line and the characters. Caz is obsessed with Salem and she can’t seem to stay away. If I knew people like this in real life, I would be running far away, but in fiction, bring it on - it’s why we read it, right? The chemistry between them jumps off the page and I could feel it to my marrow. Lots of growling, threats and a darkness that would make most people cower. The image the author paints of the gothic atmosphere was thorough, I felt everything about it including Caz’s paintings - I could almost see them (note: I cannot visualize while reading, so this is feat is a testament to the author’s ability to write detailed descriptions that can be felt.
While this is not a typical read for me, I enjoyed it and would read more. This is my first RuNyx book and will surely not be my last.
The narrators did a brilliant job bringing the characters to life. The male narrator chosen to depict Caz was perfect for the part, sounding exactly like Salem describes. I would have been happy to hear even more from Caz’s perspective to get the listen to that some more.
Many thanks to Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for an early copy of the audiobook. The opinions expressed are honest and my own, as well as given freely.

Mortimer University. Caz Van der Vaal - a man seeking revenge. Salem Salazar - a woman trying to solve mysteries surrounding her sister's death. She is quiet but observant, he is wild and scaring at times. They truly are an unusual pair and while I wasn't invested in their connection right from the beginning, they grown on me throughout the whole story and i think that is even more precious. Learning more about them as individuals and seeing them become each other's special person, seeing them become an anchor and safe place for each other and disrupting them from their loneliness... it was simply beautiful.

Without giving away too much about the story, I can say that Enigma doesn't felt like a typical romance. Of course, in its core it is a story about profound love and connection, but there are also darker themes as revenge, loneliness and grief. And I feel like the emotional aspects of the story, together with eerie, haunting and tension dripping atmosphere of Mortimer is what makes this story special. I was immersed in this new corner of runyxverse right from the start...

One of the readers classified Enigma as a mistcore genre, and while this beautiful word was unknown to me, i can wholeheartedly agree. Atmospheric, foggy and haunting setting of Mortimer, a sense of ambiguity and loneliness and quietness, together with secret societies and murder mysteries... RuNyx serves something so unique and so out of the usual borders of romance genre that it grips your attention (and heart) and simply doesn't let go.

While i love this book, and its solid 4 stars for me when it comes to plot, and characters and everything, the audiobook wasn't my favorite. The narrators are not bad per sey, but they simply aren't my Caz & Salem. So its 3 stars for audio...

⭐ 5/5 stars
🌶 3 chili peppers

I was gifted the audiobook of Enigma by RuNyx a while back from NetGalley and Macmillan Audio (thank you!), and I meant to listen to it sooner… but life. You know how it goes.

This was my first RuNyx book, and it definitely won’t be my last. As someone who loves Halloween and all things spooky, this book spoke to my soul. The whole vibe gave me Wednesday (the show) energy — but make it dark romance — and I was immediately hooked.

I fell hard for the main characters. Salem’s growth in this book was so beautifully done, and the way it explored some of life’s harder moments. And listen — I am that girl who goes absolutely feral for a possessive MMC, and Caz did not disappoint.

The story had such a great mystery to it, and it kept me on my toes the entire time. I’m not kidding when I say I listened to this in one day because I physically could not stop. I had to know how it all played out.

And the setting? Haunting, eerie, beautiful. I wanted to crawl into this book and live there.

The audiobook is done in dual POV, with Jaclyn Kelso narrating the bulk of it, and I loved her performance. She was Salem — her tone fit the vibe of the story perfectly. And then there’s Aiden Snow, one of my all-time favorite narrators. The only complaint I have? I wanted more of him. That deep timbre of his voice in a dark, gothic romance setting? Yes, please. Always.

5 stars from me, and a solid 3 chili peppers for spice. I really loved this one. I’m definitely diving into more RuNyx soon.

✨ Overall Rating 5/5
📈 Plot 5/5
🖊️ Writing 5/5 (based on listening)
👤 Characters 5/5
⚖️ Interpersonal Relationships 5/5
🗺️ World Building 5/5
🔥 Spice 2.5/5
😭 Emotional Damage 2/5
🤩 Entertainment 5/5
🎧 Narration 5/5

Another incredible story by RuNyx! I absolutely loved Salem and Caz! The atmosphere was impeccable as always—I love Gothikana, and Enigma has a very similar gothic, moody vibe which I find incredibly cozy. I will definitely be reading this again.



Thank you NetGalley for the ALC 🖤

Thank you, Macmillan Audio and Netgalley, for a copy of this audiobook in exchange for an honest review.

I listened to this book, and most of it was a blur. I was excited to listen to this after enjoying Gothikana. I enjoy reading books in an academic setting, but this one was more of a flop for me. I think the dual narration with Aiden Snow and Jaclyn Kelso was done well. The secret society was a bit odd to me, and the romance between the characters was too quick. Give me some suspense. Overall, I will look forward to more releases by RuNyx, but this one wasn't for me.

Thank you to the publishers, author and NetGalley for the free copy of this audio book.

Started out great, the beginning was very interesting. Lagged a little bit in the middle and somewhat lost my attention, and the ending felt a bit crammed. Still enjoyed it overall though!

Enigma is the second RuNyx novel I've read, and I think as far as dark academic romance, it's far more accessible than Gothikana. The romance is actually not surface problematic at all. Except the MMC is not only "touch her and die" but legit "I've killed people before and absolutely will again." They are both insanely unhinged tbh, and I'm not upset about it. The main issues I found were with pacing and the last 40% of the novel as a whole. The ending was very rushed. I realized with only about an hour left in the audiobook that nothing had been resolved, and I was concerned about understanding the many mysteries the novel built up. I was overall satisfied with the answers I was given, but I didn't need two epilogues. I wish the ending was revealed more slowly with less infodumpy wrap ups. There was more telling than showing in the last 40%, which is also where the romance takes a greater prominence. The development was rushed, making a carefully planned love story feel insta despite plenty of backstory and build. The characters had everything going for them except for on-page chemistry. The MMC was literally insane, artistic, and murderous; the FMC liked dissecting dead things with scientific detachment. They worked well on paper, but the whole thing was very vanilla for this genre.
Thanks to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for this ARC!

this was 4 stars for me!

it took me by the throat from the beginning. I loved the mystery circling the plot and how the characters brought so much spice and drama to the story. this was a HOT read and I really enjoyed it. The characters kept me intrigued in the story and the mystery of the plot was enticing!

Salem Salazar arrives at Mortimer University determined to uncover what happened to her older sister, supposedly dead of suicide, a tragedy that led to their father's own death after he committed murder and then killed himself. Fueled by determination, intelligence and curiosity she's ready to break open the secrets Mortimer is desperate to hide.
Salem finds more than just answers when she runs into Caz, dark and deeply sensual the tow are drawn together, despite being determined to stay apart... at least at first.
Was it a little corny? Sure. A little overly dramatic? Yeah. Was I here for every ridiculous second of it? Absolutely. It was exactly what it said it was... a delicious dark romance in a (slightly) gothic academia setting.
I could have done with a little more of Salem's friends - I loved how Salem found her people and began to blossom into herself, even before her romance with Caz started to take off. Sure, I get why to focus slipped off them, it's wasn't the point of the story, but they were fun and loyal and I loved them for that.
If you're looking for a completely un-serious trashy read... her ya go!

Much like gothikana this book was entertaining but it was also pretty wacky. I found it a pretty fun pop corn read but nothing particularly good. I really loved Jaclyn Kelso’s narration she does a really great job and all of her voices were really great.

This felt like a softer, more romantic spin on Runyx’s usual dark, gothic style. Salem’s character was so unique and compelling—I loved being inside her head. The bond between two lonely souls was beautifully written, and while the climax felt a little rushed, it seemed like a deliberate choice to keep this one lighter. Well done overall.

Okay, so I really thought this was going to be my next obsession. I loved the darkness, the whole eerie, mysterious vibe, and that signature RuNyx atmosphere that pulls you in. The setup was amazing. The aesthetic? Immaculate. The potential? Huge.

But honestly… the book just didn’t fully deliver for me. There were definitely parts I enjoyed, some intense scenes, a few great quotes, and the tension in certain moments was so good. But overall, the plot felt a little all over the place. Some parts were too slow, others felt rushed, and by the end, I just didn’t feel the emotional payoff I was hoping for. And at some points, I just felt confused.

I didn’t hate it, and I’d still recommend it for the aesthetic alone if that’s your thing, but this one ended up being more of a “vibes book” for me than something I really felt. Kinda bummed, but still glad I gave it a shot.