This story was so reflective and dark (though not overly so) with deep, well developed characters. The story was interesting, kept you engaged and was full of romance. I thoroughly enjoyed this book.

My first Runyx book, but will not be my last. Dark academia, mysterious, eerie, and oh so sexy. Loved the way this story peeled, layers of secrets and connects.

Steeling this group chat name: NDA (no daddies allowed), only issues

Thank you Net Galley and Macmillan for the audio ARC, narrators were absolutely fantastic!

3.5 ⭐ 3 🌶️ 5 🎧

I'm pretty torn about how I feel about this story. This was my first RuNyx book and I really loved the beginning. It was poetic with a beautifully set scene, dark and fun with the enemies to lovers vibe and a mystery I couldn't wait to solve. But the end just kinda fell off for me. There was all this lead up and then it ended in 3 seconds flat... I just wanted... More.

The audio was great. I adore Aiden Snow and he was a big reason I picked up this book, and Jaclyn Kelso did a wonderful job as well. I devoured this listen.

I have read two books from RuNyx and both books she has managed to create a cryptic, beautifully atmospheric world of dark academia. Her writing is poetic and lyrical. Her characters are interesting and well written. Caz had my attention immediately, his tortured artist vibes were everything I didn’t know I needed in an MMC. His possessiveness towards Salem was sexy as hell.

This book has everything I want in my dark romance, spice, a plot that will keep you turning pages, a thrilling mystery and an MMC that will have you wishing you could jump into the pages.

I wish I could have received the ebook over the audio because even though the narrators did a phenomenal job, I feel like I wouldn’t have missed as many details with a physical copy. I definitely plan to reread this with a physical copy once it becomes available.

⭐️5/5 stars- Dark, Addictive, and Utterly Binge-Worthy⭐️

I binged Enigma in a single day because there was just no way I was stopping. The story is dark, twisted, and completely addictive — the kind of slow-burn tension that makes your chest ache (in the best way). And the audiobook? Incredible. The voice actors nailed every emotion, every charged moment — I was in it. Runyx has a chokehold on me now, and honestly, I’m not even mad. 5 stars, zero regrets, and absolutely no sleep.

Enigma #review

Huge thanks to Netgally, RuNyx, and Macmillan Audio for the ALC of this book to review ❤️

This wasn’t my typical read/listen, but I already had Gothikana on my bookshelf. So when I saw RuNyx was coming out with another book, I rannnn 🏃🏻‍♀️ to request it on #Netgally

I LOVED the names of the characters in this book. Salem Salazar, and Cazimir Van der Wal? The names dripped gothic elegance, and I absolutely adored them. Never thought I would fall in love with the name Salem for a girl, but here we are. Obsessed 😂

Narrators Jaclyn Kelso and Aiden Snow did such an amazing job bringing these characters to life. There was quite a bit of inner monologue, but honestly it was all so intriguing and well performed by Jaclyn that it kept me enraptured the entire time. I also loved the ending. I feel like it wrapped everything up soo well, while leaving small openings for further explorations if RuNyx would ever deign to turn it into a series.

Even tho the characters on their own seemed soo odd and eclectic, you couldn’t help but fall under their spell and quickly become enraptured. I absolutely loved that Salem finally found her people and place while at Mortimer after everything she had been though growing up.

Along with the suspense, intrigue, mystery, and dark academia vibes, below it lies an Epic gothic love story. It kept me just as enthralled as Salem and Caz were by each other. For this kind of book, RuNyx deserves all the props in the world for that.


Overall rating-5✨
Narration- 4.5✨
Spice- 2.5🌶️

4.5 stars - I devoured this book! I think I’m on a bit of a dark gothic academic romance kick after reading Nocticadia. Enigma by RuNyx did not disappoint as I continue on this journey! I’d recommend this novel to anyone that enjoys this genre. I really enjoyed the quirky non-conventional main characters. I listened to the audiobook, and the narrators did a fantastic job! Check this book out! Thank you NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for providing me with an ALC in exchange for an honest review.

In this magnificent, steamy dark academia romance filled with taut suspense, sparks will fly, rivals will become lovers, terrible truths will be revealed, and an epic love will change everything.

To say I was excited to get to listen to the Audiobook ARC for #Enigma would be understatement! As expected RuNyx absolutely blew out it out of the park! I literally devoured this and it left me sad when it was over. Salem is everything I want in a MFC💙 While Caz left me 🥵. I loved that the depth building in the characters was perfectly balanced out by just the amount of spice 🌶️ The narrator's were absolutely perfect! I have the special edition on pre-order, although I have listened to it I have to have a copy of this beauty for shelf! Huge thanks to #netgalley & #Bramble for allowing me the honor of being able to listen early!

I listened to the audio version. The narrators make you really feel like you’re part of the story! This story is academia thriller, with a mysterious secret society. Salem and Kaz are so perfect in this story. I love their back stories and where they are during this story. Characters are diverse and grow throughout! I love this story, well written! 10/10 recommend!

A thrilling ride of a dark romance! I was intrigued right from the start and couldn’t put this down! The writing was so descriptive and the story full of twists and drama which keeps you at the edge of your seat the entire time.

Blisteringly hot dark academia romance full of mystery & intrigue. Secret societies, blackmail, a touch of psychological thriller, an aloof fmc intrigued by death and a deliciously dark tattooed hunk of an mmc made for an amazing good read. I devoured it in a day! The narrator’s did an exceptional job and Aiden Snows voice had me melting into a puddle. I felt very much like how Salem did with the sound of Kaz’s voice.

3.5 stars. I liked the mystery/thriller piece as she investigated who killed her sister. I also felt like the FMC was written really well…still smart and cunning and brave even though she was sad and meek at times. The romance was iffy for me, but overall I liked the story.

Thank you to Macmillan Audio and Netgalley for this ARC audiobook! This opportunity does not affect my review in anyway. No spoilers below.

Both narrators did a wonderful job and were easy to understand. I stayed captivated throughout the entire story and thoroughly enjoyed the audiobook! I read Gothikana (my first book by RuNyx) about a year ago and LOVED it. It got me into paranormal dark romance novels, and I was not disappointed at all by Enigma. Such a fantastic story with amazing characters that both show development throughout the plot. I will absolutely be doing a reread when the book is released in just over a week!

THIS LISTEN WAS INSANE!!!! I loved the characters!!! THE SUSPENSE AND MYSTERY!!! THIS BOOK WAS EVERYTHING!! FIVE STARS!!

This kept me interested enough to want to find out what happened, but really lacked any sort of emotional draw or connection for me.

In Enigma, Salem goes to Mortimer University to find out more about the death of her sister. She ends up embroiled in a larger mystery involving secret societies and multiple other unexplained deaths.

I wanted this book to focus more on the mystery than the romance, but at the same time, the romance was really underdeveloped. I couldn't figure out how Salem and Caz got to the point of declaring 'forever' or WHY they were making those declarations. The chemistry was definitely missing.

Other thoughts that I'm having trouble organizing:
• I REALLY liked Salem as a character.
• The friendships didn't feel like an afterthought and were genuinely sweet.
• The mystery surrounding her sister didn't go anywhere terribly unexpected.
• The ending/epilogue felt entirely too clean and happy in a disjointed way.

I was really split on how I felt about the narration. The male narrator seemed mismatched during his internal monologues, but perfect when voicing dialogue. At times, it pulled me out of the story.

Thank you NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for providing me with this ALC.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️🌶️🌶️
🥀 dark academia
⚰️murder mystery
🤫secret society
💀 touch her and die

Another solid dark academia by RuNyx 🔥
The cliff scene 🥵
Caz is a brooding artist and Salem his muse loves death. Both attending Mortimer University Salem is trying to uncover answers as to the mystery death of her sister and what roll the schools secret society play.

Incredible! I enjoyed listening to this audiobook from beginning to end. RuNyx is quickly becoming a favorite.

My thoughts on the book:
Very well written. RuNyx does a good job getting us readers fully into the world they are writing and does well capturing the characters and who they are.

The narrators for the audiobook:
Absolutely incredible job. I was fully engaged listening to them. I was able to keep up with them and wanting more. I loved that they read the quotes that the beginning of each chapter as well (this wasn’t done for Gothikana, at least the version I listened to. So it’s appreciated to get the full experience)

Thank you NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for this ALC.

Aiden Snow and Jaclyn Kelso are exquisite as Caz and Salem. They definitely read the damn thing so well!

Wow. Just- I am so glad I have pre-ordered this book. I think I am in love with Runyx… or maybe just her stories.

No one does dark academia like RuNyx. The story immediately took me away, and I devoured everything. The FMC is easily one of my favorites. The darkness that covers her is so alluring to not only the MMC but the reader as well. Dark, thought-provoking, sexy, and entertaining. RuNyx is fastly becoming my favorite author, and I can't wait to see the next dark journey I am led on.

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.