Enigma is a dark romance/mystery in a dark academia setting. I loved the quotes at the beginning of each chapter and the setting. The initial buildup of the romance and mystery premise had me hooked for the first half. I felt slightly disconnected from the romance once it picked up and found the mystery resolution a little underwhelming. I'm not sure why this is categorized as fantasy in some places, and I believe that led to me feeling underwhelmed as I was waiting for fantasy elements. Overall I did enjoy Enigma and would recommend for readers that enjoy a dark romance/dark academia mashup.

I enjoyed the dual narration performed by Aiden Snow and Jaclyn Kelso.

I received an ALC from Macmillan Audio via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Runyx is so dang good at atmospheric writing. The vibes here were SO good. I felt like I was actually at this school. It's moody and dark (the vibes not so much the story itself) and it just seems like there would be a constant low-to-the-ground fog at all times. I was intrigued by this one from the start and desperate to know what was going to happen. The build up made me expect a bit more bang with the ending but overall I found the book to be pretty intriguing. I love an academic setting with a bit of off limits relationships, what can I say! I'm so glad Runyx is back a new book and I already can’t wait for more!

thank you to macmillan audio for the alc!!

for me, this book was everything gothikana should’ve been!! the dark academia vibes, the mysterious characters and a plot that keeps you hooked right from the start! i enjoyed this one SO much more! i loved that everything plot wise was wrapped up nicely and there were no lingering questions or plot holes that had me confused!

when people talk about fantastic dark academia books this one is going to be added to that list! the vibes were everything!! i wish i had saved it for spooky season because it truly gives the best mysterious, on the edge of your seat vibes! salem & caz were electric! their tension and banter mixed with their quirkiness and the schools weird vibe was everything to me!

i loved seeing salem open up and learn to trust caz fully and also getting to see caz retain that trust through his actions towards salem. i feel like we see both characters grow so much throughout the story which is something i really appreciated!

narrators did a fabulous job on the audiobook and overall production was great! would deff recommend this one on audio!!

I think I like it? It’s my first real dive into dark academia vibes but I was definitely entertained by this audiobook and the narrators were absolutely fantastic!

Though the ending was a bit abrupt and perhaps stunted, this audiobook book was an enjoyable listen. It was dark, sexy and filled with mysterious dangers. It did have me on the edge of my seat in anticipation a few times. I was also quite happy to discover that the FMC was autistic coded! If you like dark academia and a spicy romance, give this audiobook a listen.

Thank you to NetGalley and RuNyx for the opportunity to read and review the ARC audiobook for Enigma.

With their dark pasts to fuel them, Salam and Caz enroll in Mortimer, an elite college. What they didn’t expect was the impact they would have on each other.

To start, the audiobook edition of this story is absolutely perfect. Aiden Snow voiced Caz and his deep gravely voice was complete and utter male dark decadence. He really brought Caz to life and I couldn’t imagine it any other way.

Jaclyn Kelso was the voice actor for Salam and was able to bring me right into her headspace. Her pacing and infections where spot on!

As for the story, this was dark academia at is finest! It is a murder mystery filled with a dark romance that is on fire, secret societies and a morally grey possessive man who is also the most talented artist.

This is the type of story that sucks you in from the very start. It’s sexy, engaging, dark and intriguing. You become enamored with the main characters and I already miss them!

I am a sucker for darker (usually very dark) themed stories and this touched on those themes but I felt kept it at a level that those that may only dabble in dark would still appreciate it. There is loss, grief, trauma and you feel it all and route for the MCs all along the way.

I loved this book/audiobook and highly recommend it!

Thank you NetGalley and Macmillan audio for the copy of Enigma in exchange for an honest review.

This was my first RuNyx book, I’ve been on the fence about her other book Gothikana and after reading 50% of Enigma I am finding myself bored with the story and didn’t find a good connection between the main characters. This felt like it was lacking all around, at least for me. The only thing I was drawn to was the atmosphere, it is dark and gothic feeling and I enjoyed that aspect.

The audio narration I felt was done well, but would have liked more of the male side of the story because he was so mysterious.

Overall, there is an audience for this book but unfortunately that wasn’t me.

Thank you Macmillan Audio & NetGalley for the ALC!

I love a dark academia, gothic romance but I felt this didn’t quite deliver for me. It started strong with the haunting prose and mystery, but I felt it didn’t get much darker and focused heavily on the couple for majority of the book. There was a lot of tension, push and pull, and unhinged obsession. But I did have trouble connecting with the characters and taking them seriously because of the instant attraction and desire. Things that also missed the mark for me was a lot of telling and not showing and the ending was a bit unsatisfactory.

Narrator for Salem was perfect, however, the narrator for Caz was OK. I felt the inner narration was forcibly deep that it took me out of it, but his dialogue narration was great.

Unfortunately, I think I’ve outgrown RuNyx and they’re just not for me anymore. 😭 If you’ve enjoyed Gothikana, you should definitely give Enigma a try.

Thank you Netgalley and MacMillan audio for the free alc. My opinions are being left voluntarily. This was a dnf for me at about 12% I was not prepares for the content or knew anything about it before starting it. Definitely would not have requested is had I known about the content.

Dnf

Enigma by ruNyx completely consumed me from the very first page. I lived for the dark, intense atmosphere that never let up—it was haunting, mysterious, and addictive in all the best ways. The writing pulled me into a world that was twisted and unpredictable, and I honestly didn’t want to leave.

What really made this book stand out was the romance. It was everything. The tension, the push and pull, the raw chemistry—it was so well done. I especially adored the "I hate everyone but you" trope. That dynamic just hits, and ruNyx nailed it. Every moment between the main characters felt electric and dangerous in the best possible way.

And the mystery? So good. I was constantly guessing, constantly wrong (in the most satisfying way), and on edge with every twist and turn. Nothing felt obvious or overdone. It kept my mind spinning and my heart racing.

If you're into dark romance with a heavy dose of suspense and emotionally charged characters who burn the world for each other, Enigma is a must-read. I’m still thinking about it—and probably will be for a long time.

I’m so obsessed with the aesthetic Runyx is posting and how blue it is so I wanted to make something similar!
and for the love of God, please go and listen to the playlist because it is elite 🔥

the atmosphere—because wow, I don’t know if it’s because of all the misty-blue aesthetic moodboards the author kept posting, but those visuals completely took over my brain while I was listening. I love when a book has that specific vibe you can feel in your bones while reading, and this one nailed that eerie, melancholic, gothic academia mood.

the writing is solid as hell. Runyx’s prose always feel like a warm, familiar hug. her writing style is poetic, layered, and she has this effortless way of wrapping up raw emotion in beautiful descriptions. It’s like her sentences breathe—they linger, they hit. that part of her craft was easily one of the best things about this book, no question.

when it comes to characters—this is where I’ll give Runyx her flowers. as individuals, the characters in this book were incredibly well-developed. She really took the time to dive into their flaws, their philosophies, their trauma, their family dynamics, their inner monologues… all of it.

She peeled back their layers and showed us who they were beyond just plot devices or love interests. their views on life, their issues with friends and family, their internal battles—everything was explored in a really intimate way. I genuinely think this might be the book’s strongest suit: how fully fleshed out Salem and Caz are as individuals. that part felt real, honest, and nuanced.

I love this audiobook. RuNyx has the ability to write such creepy atmospheric stories. Says a huge Gothic, I really enjoyed the characters. They were all very unique and the romance was great. I really felt sucked into the story and the mystery. I think this would be a great book to read in the fall and then a lot of people will love it. The narration was excellent and I would definitely recommend the audiobook.

Thank you to NetGalley, Macmillan audio, and RuNyx for this ALC

I was slightly nervous after hearing the feedback on Gothikana how this book would go, but the premise sounded really good so I wanted to give it a try.

I was surprised at how much I liked this book and was engrossed in it. I was able to get an advanced copy of the audio book and the narrators did an amazing job! The book was pretty quick and I loved that it was a standalone, or at least is set up that way. The whole book was very gothic and moody set in a very old college with secret societies!

I will say I was a little thrown off although this started as like an enemies to lovers they were very quickly just lovers?

Thank you to NetGalley, RuNyx, and Macmillan Audio for the audiobook arc in exchange for an honest review.

5 stars

The audiobook was excellent. Aiden Snow and Jaclyn Kelso were the perfect voice pair. They both did an excellent job with their characters. They brought the characters to life making them feel like real people.

4 stars

This is my first book by RuNyx and it won’t be my last. I thoroughly enjoyed this book. The summary of the book sounded perfect to me. I just wasn’t sure it would be too dark. I didn’t feel like it was. I adored Salem. She is a curious, observant, and intelligent woman. I loved the fact that she was interested in how someone died. I would have loved more of that aspect in the book. I did find the case she was investigating wrapped up too quickly. I wouldn’t have minded if the book was longer. I honestly didn’t want it to end. If you love a darker romance then I would recommend this book. Don’t forget to check TW.

I love how RuNyx paints a scene makes it come to life in my mind. The dark gothic vibe of this book had me in a chokehold from the beginning and Caz made sure I never wanted to leave. This story and its characters are so addicting. I am absolutely in love with Caz and Salem, their energy and pull towards each other was felt between the narrators so intensely, I would die for a bond like theirs! The old castle vibes of the school and secret society mysteries made sure I ate this book up in 1 sitting! If I could give it 6 stars I would. RuNyx has done it again ladies and gentlemen!!

Why do you keep doing this to me, RuNyx?! The tears I shed, the anxiety I felt, the GASPS while reading this book! But also the laughs I literally couldn’t contain and the smiles that were ear to ear. An amazing dark academia that reminds me how much I love the genre but even more, reminds me how much I love the AUTHOR! Thank you so much NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for my ARC, I have already preordered my hardcover trophy that will allow me to reread this beautiful story in the future 🖤

Rating: 3.75 stars (rounded up to 4)
Spice Level: Three chili peppers
Genre: Medium-level Dark Romance

I thought this was a pretty good read overall. The plot was strong and well-developed—it wasn’t just centered around the romance, which I really appreciated. The storyline held its own and kept me interested the whole way through.

I personally wouldn’t read the physical copy; I’d go with the audiobook again. The performance was fantastic and really brought the story to life.

One thing that stood out (in a weird way) was the repetitive use of certain phrases. It felt like they were overused to the point of being distracting. Also, I really wish we had gotten more of the male POV—his side of the story felt a little underexplored.

Still, it was a solid book and a good dark romance if you’re looking for something with more plot than just steam.

I devoured this book. I love Gothic academia dark romances and this hit the mark for me, added bonuses were murder mystery and forensic student. I adore Salem and I enjoyed her relationship with Caz. I also loved her friendships with Adetiti and Melissa and how she learned to embrace their friendship even though having friends was new to her. I am so glad Salem and her mom's relationship was able to heal throughout the book. Caz and Salem's shared trauma of loss and then getting closure for their lost siblings was needed. I loved this book. As much as I loved Salem, Adediti is probably my favorite character I just adore her lol.

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! Loved listening to the dual POVS.

*Special thanks to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for this digital audio e-arc.*

Dark Romance Done Right!

It’s giving Wednesday Addams, but without the humor. A brooding, morally complex male lead and a sharp, curious female lead. I really enjoyed the book, but fair warning, it’s dark. If you’re into twisted, dark romance, this one’s for you. The author nails that eerie, unsettling vibe throughout.

Aiden Snow and Jaclyn Kelso absolutely killed it as the narrators. They became their characters, every inflection felt spot on, making the whole experience immersive and compelling.