This was my first Runyx book and holy hell I feel like I’ve been missing out!!! I got this as an ALC but I will definitely be eyeball reading this as well because it was so good!

Caz and Salem are the perfect dark couple!

The way he was always there to make sure she stayed safe ***Swoon***

Also the mystery and murders holy hell. The twist definitely twisted because I was not expecting that person to be a bad guy in here.

That cafeteria scene had me squealing and kicking my feet.

"I want to be the only villain you see. I want to be the only devil who drags you to hell."

Thank you RuNyx,Macmillan Audio, and NetGalley for the ALC.

Enigma vibes:
⚔️Spooky Setting
⚔️Enemies to Lovers
⚔️Dark Academia
⚔️Gothic Romance
⚔️Secret Society

The vibes of this book sounded absolutely amazing and I was all for them; however, it just fell completely flat for me. The audiobook was extremely rough and I think it has to do with the 3rd person narrative. There was a huge disconnect that I felt with the characters. There’s quotes at the beginning of chapters and that made it somewhat confusing when listening. Reading with my eyes would’ve eliminated that confusion.

Separately, Caz and Salem were interesting characters. Together they weren’t. There was no connection between the two of them. They continuously felt like strangers that were shoved together and trying to force romance to happen between them. Salem’s past is depressing, but interesting and I would’ve been interested in learning more about it.

The whole book you’re trying to figure out “whodunit” and why and then when you find out, it’s like “Oh, okay” and then that’s it. The rest of the book – the ending, the epilogue, was SO rushed.

About the only reason that I gave this book the 3 stars was because of the spooky, creepy setting. It was absolutely amazing. It gave me those cozy, cool, dark, dreary rainy days vibes that I just love so much. And the café place sounded amazing. If that town and place existed, I’d definitely want to visit!

Enigma wasn’t for me, but not every book works for every person.

Three times isn’t the charm it’s made out to be – it’s time for me to part ways with RuNyx.

RuNyx is one of those others for me personally that is an immediate read. And enigma was no different. A dark twisty romance set in a historical college with the secret Society, yes please. Our two main characters are complete opposites. One who needs everything organized and precise, the other enjoying chaos. I was lucky enough to have the audio as an arc and really enjoyed it! I felt the narrators did an excellent job. This book is spicy so if that is not your thing just be warned. Although I will say, I expected the spice to be… on the darker side, and I found it rather tame in the grand scheme of things.

This book had so much potential—honestly, it really did. The beginning started off strong and had me hooked almost instantly. I was all in, ready to fall in love with the story, the characters, the twists... but somewhere along the way, it just fell flat. None of the characters truly stood out or felt layered enough to connect with, and that was such a letdown. I kept waiting for that one moment that would change everything, give me chills, make me gasp—but it never came.

The plot? So painfully predictable. Every time I hoped for a twist or something fresh, it ended up going exactly where I thought it would. There was just no surprise, no emotional punch. And when you go in with high hopes, that kind of predictability stings a little extra.

The one saving grace for me, though, was Runyx’'s writing. I’ve always been a huge fan of her prose—there’s something so poetic and emotionally charged about it, and that alone carried me through most of the book. Her writing style is what kept me from putting it down, and honestly, it's the only thing I truly adored about this read.

All in all, I just expected more. This book had all the ingredients to be unforgettable, but it didn’t quite come together. It’s one of those reads that leaves you with the heavy feeling of what could have been.

I enjoyed this, I must say! And this does have the pacing of a Runyx novel.

I however feel like something was missing/lacking in the context of their relationship.

I wish we could have gotten more of the banter that was happening between the two MC’s in class.
I wish we could have gotten more of her cold/aloofnesss side, especially with/towards him. It felt like she was melting with him however she was supposedly so “cold”.

I enjoyed the secret society aspect of this, however it was slightly convoluted until the MC had to explain what was going on.

Those are my only gripes.

I did love the female MC she is me in a nutshell and I saw so much of myself in her. The MMC was just okay IMO and I’m not used to not falling in love with her MMCs. 😭

I mean… did the book hit all the points it said it was going to? YEA. I just needed more YEARNING.

However the dark gloomy, dark academia vibes were definitely felt.

Overall I didn’t LOVE it but i 100% did not hate it.

I did feel like listening as an audiobook is why I enjoyed it so much.

Narrators, especially the female narrator was TOP TIER.

I give this 3.5⭐️

This was my first RuNyx book and it did not disappoint!

Caz is up there as one of my fav MMCs - he's a broody 'bad boy' so naturally that's right up my alley. Add in a dash over overprotective and obsessive about the FMC and whew, I'm down.

Overall I really enjoyed the story and the twist/turns/etc - however I originally was interested in this book because it was marketed as a Hades/Persephone and.. it is not.. at all. So if you're looking at this book with the intention of reading it because you're a Hades/Persephone fan, I would just be aware that it's not like that at all. At least, to me, it was not.

A big thanks to NetGalley & Macmillan Audio for this ALC.

Thank you so much to Netgalley & MacMillan Audio for the approval of this audiobook. I really enjoyed listening to this book. I thought both the narrators did a great job portraying their respective characters throughout the book. I was able to get a clear picture of the world building the author was telling, the character development & it kept my attention from start to finish. Overall this is an audiobook & book I would recommend reading especially if you like dark academia & dark romance genres.

RuNyx did it again, I loved this story even more than I did Gothikana. Having the audiobook version was amazing, it really pulled me into the story. I would drive the long way home on back roads just so I had more time to listen to it. The narrators did and excellent job bringing the characters to life and giving them their voice. Salem is an amazing character, I love how she's different and embraces her curiosity rather than fight it. Even though it gets her into some trouble. Overall, this was well done and I loved it.

Enigma is a dark, emotionally gripping romance that blends mystery, danger, and passion into a hauntingly addictive narrative. Runyx crafts a compelling story that explores the line between love and obsession, trauma and healing. The protagonist is thrown into a world where secrets lurk behind every interaction, and trust is a fragile currency.

Runyx excels in building tension—both romantic and psychological. The characters are flawed but magnetic, with intense chemistry and complex inner worlds. The male lead is particularly enigmatic (fittingly), balancing protectiveness with a dangerous edge that keeps readers questioning his true motives.

The prose is moody and immersive, and while the pacing is slow at times, it adds to the novel’s brooding atmosphere. Readers who enjoy morally gray characters and themes of redemption, pain, and power dynamics will find Enigma a captivating experience.

Rating: 4/5
A compelling blend of romance and psychological intrigue—dark, intense, and emotionally layered.

“Salem had always thought nothing could beat death, that nothing could be immortal. She’d been wrong. Love, deep, true love, was immortal.”

Salem, chronically lonely and made of ice, had finally arrived at Mortimer. The same university her perfect older sister had attended when she mysteriously killed herself. Salem is hoping that being closer to the place where her sister chose to take her life would give her some answers. While she's digging around for clues, she catches the eye of a secret society, as well as the most enigmatic man on campus. Although it is dangerous for him to get involved with her, their connection is magnetic & neither of them can stay away.

Enigma is a beautifully written story of grief & loneliness. It's for those who have always felt "other" and about how everyone is worthy of being shown love, even in their darkest moments. The layer of mystery was a fun plot motivator for this story and the foggy, cold, cliffside beach setting matched the story perfectly. I would've liked to see more of the conflict unfold, instead of it being over in one quick moment, but the love story between Caz and Salem carried me through, regardless. The love they have for one another, despite both being ridden with grief and darkness, was beautiful to witness.

The narrator did an outstanding job, and I was pleasantly surprised by the male narrator. Salem's character describes his voice as smoke and seawater, and that's exactly what the narrator gave! A true treat to experience audibly.

I love RuNyx's storytelling, and this is another that I'll be looking to add to my trophy shelf.

Thank you so much for the opportunity to review this audiobook.

RuNyx has such a unique vibe and writing style that I think you either like or you don't like. I was really excited for this one because I do love dark academia, secret societies, and enemies lovers and those elements were good; however, it just still didn't quite hit with me.

I still encourage you to check this one out because I have NO doubt some people will be obsessed! <3

"I make the rules."- Salem
"I break them, on purpose."- Caz

Enemies to lovers
Dark academia
Secrets

Any book by Runyx is already a win in my book; I know I'm giving it at least three stars before I start. Runyx didn't disappoint with the character development, slow-burning spice, and secrets. I listened to this book but also followed along on my Kindle to help when some areas got a little confusing.
The banter between Salem and Caz had my attention the whole time. I'm a huge fan of Troy Duran, so having him narrate this book was a plus. There were some parts of the audiobook that didn't sound like the narrator's voice.
Runyx has done a great job of starting this series off on the right foot. I am looking forward to more.

If you're a fan of dark, twisty romance with a spooky academic vibe (Gothikana readers, I’m looking at you), this is a solid pick. It takes the Hades-and-Persephone style love story and drops it into a gloomy, secret-filled university where danger is always lurking.

Salem, the main character, is smart, quiet, and kind of obsessed with death. She’s on a mission to find out what really happened to her older sister—and maybe uncover why girls keep disappearing at Mortimer University. Enter Cazimir, the dark and broody TA who feels like walking danger. Their chemistry is instant and intense. If you enjoy protective, mysterious love interests who are all-in from the start, Caz will totally pull you in.

I listened to the audiobook and loved that it had both a male and female narrator. I did wish we got more chapters from Cazimir’s point of view, but I get why it focused more on Salem—this is her journey first. Still, hearing more of his voice would’ve added even more depth to their romance.

The story plays with some great tropes: secret societies, forbidden love, dark pasts, and that feeling that something is just off. I loved trying to figure out how everything connected. While I hoped for a bit more mystery or action, the tension and slow build kept me hooked.

Heads up: this one leans into swoony, overtly possessive/protective physical and verbal acts (think Edward from Twilight) that might come across as cheesy if you're not into that swoops-in-to-save-the-day thing. If you're into that, it totally works. If not, it might feel a little over the top.

All in all, this was fun, eerie, and romantic. I liked it enough to buy the print copy after finishing the audiobook—and that says a lot.

A Hades and Persephone retelling amidst a dark academia setting, this was a step above Gothikana by the same author. The relationship between Salem and Caz was infinitely more romantic. The plot was also more fully developed and the mystery at the core of the story was more compelling.

I appreciated the poetic representation of death and grief, since the bond between the two main characters came to be from trying to figure out the truth behind the death/disappearance of their older siblings. Overall it was a beautiful and strange book!

Review: DNF
Unfortunately, this one wasn’t for me. I struggled to connect with the narration and writing style. I found it hard to stay engaged with the story. I ended up putting it down around 20%. Appreciate the opportunity to review, and I’m sure it’ll find the right audience!

I won't publish a review on it on my social media or Goodreads (I don't count dnf books on there)

Once again thank you for the opportunity!

5/7/2025 - Is the 'twisted Hades and Persephone' in the room with us??
So first off, the dark academia was dark academia-ing. The mystery, secret societies, castle-school setting, Twilight-esque atmosphere, forbidden romance, and scary obsession...the vibes were off the charts and that's what kept me reading.

The enemies to lovers claim feels like an Elastigirl reach, but I'm always picky about this. I want my ETL characters to LOATHE each other for a minute before there is any hint of attraction, and that is difficult to achieve in a standalone. The "academic rival" part of this one was overcome in a heartbeat with lust-at-first sight and boom! bang! we have obsession bordering on insta-love. It was still a vibey good time and that small irk didn't stop me from enjoying the ride.

Trigger warnings = mentions of suicide, death, murder, human sacrifices, sexual assault, date-rape drugging, drug/alcohol use and abuse

I received a copy of this audiobook for review via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

5/1/2025 - Kicking this off with gruesome gothic vibes and a quote from The Secret History? Yes.

In my honest opinion, I liked the book but it wasn't the best. The plot kept me entertained however I must say that sex parts were a bit cringe which is why I only give 3 stars

Overall: 3.56 ⭐️ -> 4

This was my first RuNyx book and she does not disappoint. RuNyx’s prose is dark, moody, and luscious. I will say, this is definitely not for everyone, but if dark gothic romance is your thing, I highly recommend this book.

What do I mean by Dark Romance? I mean an MMC who is so morally grey, a normal person might call the cops on him. He’s completely unhinged, stalker-ish, dominant, possessive, and touch-her-die vibes. All this to say, he’s also got me blue balled in a way I need more. Which segues into the spice.

Spice 4.5 ⭐️
The spice - oh my. I think I might’ve added some kinks onto my list after reading this book. While some of the spice is open door, the parts that have me blue balled are the closed door summaries. The one’s where he destroys her and puts her back together with much needed cuddling and petting. We get glimpses of it as it leaves her “crying and whimpering”. And yet, it is all consensual folks. I need more of this. Might need to open literatica for that fix.

Writing 3.8 ⭐️
I absolutely adore the writing. The prose. It’s elegant and eerie. There were times though where it felt strangely redundant or repetitive monologues. I ended up skimming those. The pacing in the beginning and middle were sometimes slow.

Plot 2.5⭐️
By the time I got to the middle, I couldn’t put it down. I’m not sure when it happened but I got the sense that I NEEDED to know what happened at the end. And that rush kept me moving forward. The ending - while it made sense - was also a bit underwhelming.

Audiobook 2 ⭐️
I initially received a NetGalley copy of this as an eARC (Thank you NG and MacMillion studios). Unfortunately, I found the audio to be kind of annoying. There are two narrators but yet, it isn’t a duet. The male voice only speaks during Kaz’s chapters. It kind of takes away from the mental picture that we already have of his voice when the female narrator reads it. Because of this, I almost DNF’d it. Thankfully my library had a copy of the special edition!

Special Edition Hardcover copy 5 ⭐️
I don’t know what’s going on, but the special edition is truly a work of art. I’m so glad I made the switch. The chapter title pages have photographic art that elevates the mood of the story. Then there’s the subtle context clues of using different fonts for texting, or for indicating a past memory. I found the book to be a much more enjoyable experience than the audiobook.

Overall: I recommend it if you want to come for the almost-bdsm spice and unhinged romance.

5 Full stars!!! I loved this book! I loved Salem, she is the first FMC that I could connect with and understand and she was not annoying at all. I felt her emotions and her disconnect from people and society. Caz was her equal on so many levels, I was in shock at his story when it came to light. The tension between these two was insane. I wanted to jump in the book and make things happen!! Lots of push and pull and angst. The mystery was really good, I didn’t know what was going to happen and was always on edge trying to figure it out. There are definitely some very dark parts so check triggers. The chemistry and spice was hot and sizzling!! The narrators were perfect, I am a sucker for Aiden Snow.
2/5 🌶️🌶️

Thank you NetGalley for the audiobook arc

Loved the dark gothic, dark academia vibes of Enigma. The world was reminiscent to the one of Nocticadia by Kerri Lake. I loved the MMC the most. Cas was perfect!! He was a bit of a stalker, obsessive, protective, possessive, and intense! Definitely touch her or you’ll die vibes. The only thing that didn’t add up for me was the murder mystery plot. Felt like a loose end that was never resolved. Other than that, a great dark gothic romance!