𝐄𝐧𝐢𝐠𝐦𝐚 𝐛𝐲 𝐑𝐮𝐍𝐲𝐱 𝐢𝐬 𝐚 𝐠𝐫𝐢𝐩𝐩𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐝 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐣𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐫𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 𝐛𝐚𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐬𝐮𝐬𝐩𝐞𝐧𝐬𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐫𝐨𝐦𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞. 𝐈 𝐞𝐬𝐩𝐞𝐜𝐢𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐲 𝐞𝐧𝐣𝐨𝐲𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐝𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐥𝐨𝐩𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐭𝐰𝐨 𝐦𝐚𝐢𝐧 𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐬—𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐢𝐫 𝐠𝐫𝐨𝐰𝐭𝐡 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐞𝐯𝐨𝐥𝐯𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐝𝐲𝐧𝐚𝐦𝐢𝐜 𝐤𝐞𝐩𝐭 𝐦𝐞 𝐡𝐨𝐨𝐤𝐞𝐝. 𝐖𝐡𝐢𝐥𝐞 𝐚 𝐟𝐞𝐰 𝐩𝐥𝐨𝐭 𝐩𝐨𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐬 𝐟𝐞𝐥𝐭 𝐬𝐥𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐥𝐲 𝐫𝐮𝐬𝐡𝐞𝐝, 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐲 𝐰𝐚𝐬 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐩𝐞𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐟𝐮𝐥𝐥 𝐨𝐟 𝐞𝐦𝐨𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐝𝐞𝐩𝐭𝐡. 𝐀 𝐦𝐮𝐬𝐭-𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐝 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐟𝐚𝐧𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐝𝐚𝐫𝐤 𝐫𝐨𝐦𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐩𝐥𝐞𝐱 𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐬.

Enigma by Runyx ALC Review ✨
Narrated by Aiden Snow & Jaclyn Kelso 🎧

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫
Spice: 🌶🌶🌶🌶

- dark academia - gothic vibes - secret society - touch her and 💀- obsessed mmc - rivals to lovers -

Every book I’ve read from Runyx I have been OBSESSED with, so imagine the excitement I felt when I received an ALC. And Enigma did NOT disappoint. I read alongside the audiobook and absolutely fell in love with the characters, the romance, the mystery and yall the spice. 🔥🤭 It was such a good time to read, I really enjoyed it.

This is a dark academia romance, check the triggers before reading!

Salem is a bit of an outcast with a fascination with death, the black sheep of a wealthy legacy family plagued by scandals. She begins attending Mortimer seeking the truth of what happened to her sister even if it means putting her life in danger to get those answers.

Caz is a dark and broody artist with a mysterious past no one seems to know about. And he's found his muse in Salem. But, while he's determined to protect her, she's hellbent on risking her life. Together they’re beautifully chaotic, drawn to each other by obsession, secrets and a shared darkness that they might not be able to escape.

#darkromance #bookstagram #arcreview #enigma #runyx #bookreview #bookrecommendation #bookrecs #reviews #darkacademia #gothicromance #alcreview

I started reading this book because I love dark, academic romance novels. I like this book because of the setting at the university. It also delivered on the suspense and mystery component. The writing was descriptive enough that I could picture everything in my head easily.

Our FMC Salem was very unique. When I first started reading the book I kind of pictured her as a withdrawn, shy, kind of stay to yourself person. However, she never shied away from something that she wanted. While she seemed a little meek in the beginning, I noticed that she never knew how to take no for an answer. Henceforth why she ended up in so many places that she shouldn't have been in and why Caz would always catch her off guard.

Now Caz, well, moody and broody doesnt even begin to explain him. He was mysterious yet magnetic and sexy all of the same time. The writing made it to where you didn't know if you wanted to just go up and kiss him or run away from him.

I loved that this all started with Salem wanting to find out what happened to her sister. That brought her in Caz's view. Now the connection between them felt a little rushed in the beginning for me however, I did love the back and forth banter between the two of them. I do think in that setting and based on the underlying plot that the relationship would not have happened that quickly. In addition some of the languages that Caz used when talking to Salem just gave me more of a cringe factor than an excitement factor. It honestly almost turned me off from the book.

I liked the twists and turns in the story however, I did feel like at the end, instead of finessing the story, it felt like it moved a little too quickly for me and wasn't as buttoned up as I felt the ending could have been. With all that said I would still give this at least four stars. There was a lot more that I liked about the book than what I didnt like so I think four stars is a fair assessment for me.

I listened to the Enigma audiobook at an unearthly speed. The book completely consumed me and brought me into the twisted world Salem fell into after tragedy stuck her family. Salem seeks answers surrounding her sister’s mysterious disappearance and death, all while trying to convince herself she’s not attracted to the bad boy teacher assistant in her class, Cazimir and omgggggg.

This dark academia will have your heart racing and on the edge of your seat. I know I was! A 100% add to TBR immediately. Honestly, I’m just OMW to add all Runyx to my TBR.

Thank you NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for an advanced copy of the audiobook. All opinions are my own!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️Enigma by RuNyx

I was approved for this on NetGalley right before the release and couldn’t get to it in time, but I am so glad I prioritized it to be close to release, because I would have been truly missing out. The MMC is truly freaking amazing, Caz has my entire heart! He is both gentle when he needs to, but hot and aggressive too. The FMC is misunderstood, strong willed, and interesting.

The entire story kept me on my toes. Just like Gothikana I was enthralled by every aspect of the mystery. RuNyx is truly a master at writing gothic, dark academia mysteries.

Definitely recommend for spooky vibes and for Caz alone!

RuNyx does it again!!

After her sister's death at this kind of mysterious college, Salem enrolls to figure out what really happened. The stakes are high though and Salem does her best to stay under the radar in fear of being next when she catches the attention of Caz, one of her professors student teachers.

This college is strange. The secret society is strange. And there are definitely some strange things happening here. But what is also strange is how Salem and Caz met.. literally on the beach next to another murder case. Like HELLO??

Salem and Caz end up building a bond and decide to trust one another with the secrets they are hiding in order to figure out who or what is behind all of the deaths that have taken place on campus.

This romance is more plot based, but still delivers on the steam factor. And I loved every second of it.
A moment for Caz and his dirty mouth!!
Highlight scene was them getting down on some alter in the middle of the woods. DO I NEED TO SAY MORE??

This is the perfect book for spooky season or a gloomy day.

Thank you to Netgalley and Macmillan Audio for an ALC.
Jaclyn Kelso and Aiden Snow killed it with their performance and really bring the story to life.

For Fans of:
- Enchantra
- Blood Bride
- Boys with Sharp Teeth


Salem is convinced her sister, Olivia, didn't kill herself. She is convinced that the elite university that Olivia was attending at the time of her death is embroiled in a decades long conspiracy associated with a dangerous cult. So, she deicides to enroll in the university and follow Olivia's footsteps to try to uncover exactly what went wrong.

This book includes:
- very broody MMC who is potentially experiencing psychosis
- neurodivergent coded FMC but it kinda has an "I'm not like other girls" vibe to it
- dark academia
- dark romance
- instant attraction trope
- creepy professors

"Enigma" is essentially a boarding school dark academia romance with the uniform skirts and everything, but the author wanted to include dark spice so it is in a university setting. That said, it is still written in a YA tone so the disconnect can be a bit jarring. The instant attraction is very over the top and I wasn't able to suspend reality enough to believe that real people would behave in the manner that the MCs do in this book. Salem felt inconsistent in characterization and Kaz never behaved like a realistic human being in my opinion. The concept was interesting enough, but I was cringing and getting so icked out and I couldn't enjoy myself. Their love and attraction were not believable to me. Also, I thought the title "enigma" wasn't right. Maybe something like "Mortimer University" would have been better idk.

The audio production on the audiobook wasn't bad, but there were moments when it was difficult to hear the male narrator because he would go from loud to quiet. I believe this is a production issue.

I received this audiobook as an ARC in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to NetGalley, RuNyx, and Macmillan Audio for the opportunity to review this book. This review has been posted to GoodReads check out my profile https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/62314863 and it will be posted to my bookstagram account https://www.instagram.com/tinynightingales/ and booktok https://www.tiktok.com/@tinynightingales?is_from_webapp=1&sender_device=pc

Another addicting and immersive dark academic romance from Runyx. The central mystery, the spooky undercurrent, the gothic setting and the interesting characters and a secret society- this one was a great and engaging listen. Mystery, angst, and just the right dash of romance- enigmatic indeed.

The general premise is quite hooking- a heroine on a quest to find out what happened to missing dead girls, including her own sister? Sold. Throw in the gothic vibes Runyx is so good at creating (the setting, the tone!) and the most delicious unhinged, stalkery anti-hero leading man? Yes Caz is yummy. Such a great set up. I loved both characters. Salem is quirky and a bit unhinged herself in the best way, and then we have Caz who is extra in all the most mesmerizing ways.

I’ve not read an Runyx book before (gasp)- so I was curious if this was more romance or more suspense/mystery, and for this at least it felt it leaned heavier on the romance. Which is great because I WANTED a good romance, but I do think the conclusion of the mystery side of this to feel a little disappointing- I just like a bit more closure, and I feel like the story lost focus of it and we didn’t quite have everything answered. But perhaps that was the intention.

The audio narration was really good overall. I think both narrators really captured the spirit of the story and the vibes Runyx was trying to create. The male narrator didn’t quite fit Caz in my head (he seemed way older to me), but he definitely brought Caz’s energy.

“Riveting outside, rotting inside. But weren’t they all rotting, at different speeds and to different degrees?”

“Enigma,” by RuNyx

When Salem enrolls at Mortimer University- an elite, castle-like school for society’s privileged- her goal is clear: uncover the truth behind her sister’s death. With a string of other deaths on campus, she’s determined to break the case open and finally bring closure to her family… and maybe to others as well. As she dives deeper into the secrets of Mortimer, she finds herself tangled up with Caz, a brooding and infuriatingly attractive art student who’s as much a distraction as he is a mystery.

From beginning to end, this book had me in a chokehold.
#1: The vibe was everything. I’m so obsessed with the atmosphere-dark academia with modern twists. 1500s Gothic castle turned into elite school, paired with eerie feel of Wednesday (yes, the Netflix show). The dress code, the setting, and the sleuthing also gave me Wednesday vibes, I’m so obsessed.

#2 I loved the characters. Salem was giving Wednesday Addams energy in the best way- smart, stoic, aloof, and determined. Her inner monologue was perfect, and the way her trauma was revealed throughout the story felt natural and layered, never dumped. Then Caz- moody artist boy with depth, danger, and that something more I wished I saw more often in fiction. Their dynamic was so addictive. Even the side characters were vibrant and added brightness, so the book wasn’t just doom and gloom but also upped the stakes for the plot.

#3 The romance was to die for. Salem and Caz had the perfect dark romance relationship- intense, complicated, and magnetic. I loved the push and pull between them and how intense they were together. It was messy, and sexy but also vulnerable in a way they both did not want to give to others. They felt like two broken pieces trying to find their shape together.

For real this book was utterly fantastic. It scratched every inch I had for dark academia with mystery, romance, and characters that lingered with me long after I finished the book. It gave me the Wednesday vibes I’ve been needing but also carved out a totally unique lane I haven’t seen before quite in this way. With its writing style, unforgettable characters, and perfect balanced plot, Enigma is a standout that I know I’ll be rereading over and over.

This is my second re-read but the audiobook version! I didn’t think anything could make me love this book more, but the audiobook was so good. I really loved how it brought the story life, on top of my own images in my head as a great second layer. I seriously cannot get enough of this book.

5 out of 5 stars, perfect. On another note, the cover was so pretty. I didn’t get to see the map or art because I was reading an ARC, but I bet it will be beautiful.

-Dark Academia
-Academy
-Dual POV

Thank you so much Goodreads, RuNyx, and Bramble for the perfect ARC copy.

“…a masterpiece so striking it would emblazon him to glory so he could leave behind the ashes of who he used to be and fly he was meant to. He just had cages to break first.”

“The only thing that mattered was reputation. And hers had begun to rot. It had been rotting ever since.”

“Maybe they were both the poison. Maybe they were both the antidote. Maybe what they thought would infect them was going to cure them after all.”

“Later cannot be in any of our promises…"

3.5 stars, 3 spice.

Enemies to lovers, dark academia, secret societies, dark romance, touch her and die

This book took a while for me to get into. I was so bored and did not care for the first 67% of the book. Contemplated dnfing it, or was only going to give it 2 stars. I was starting to think dark academia was not for me. Once things actually got going in the book though, then it was pretty good and I became interested. But that finally got interesting and kept my attention for the rest of the book. Both main characters were alright. Salem annoyed me, and the angsty-ness became tiring.

Narrators were good, though I did find the voice for Caz to sound a bit too old/mature for the character. He's supposed to be 24 and sounds in his 30's. He only had a few chapters, Salem's voice actor was the primary narrator and she did a great job. Both actors had clearly distinct voices for each of the characters which made that easy to follow along.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/🌶️🌶️🌶️/🎧🎧🎧🎧🎧
This book grabbed me from the start.
Salem and Caz had such a cool vibe, and the mystery kept me hooked.
Salem was super unique, and I loved following her journey.
Their chemistry was next-level, and the romance felt real. Nothing too extra, just the right amount of tension.
The voice actors nailed it. Totally fun listen!

Salem and Caz was my favorite characters in this book and her founding out who killed her sister was crazy lot of dark

I enjoyed listening to this audiobook. I enjoyed the different voices for the two characters. The audiobook was nicely done and I will listen to it again. Thank you for the oppportunity to listen to this audio and I will recommend it to my friends.

This is the ultimate dark academia romance! Full of themes of death, secrets, and loss all tied into an undeniable attraction between two flawed characters. And THE SECRETS will drive you crazy in the best way. Aiden Snow and Jaclyn Kelso were flawless in their performances. If you're interested in this story I highly suggest listening to it. They took a gripping story and made it irresistible.

I absolutely loved this audio. I had such a fun time listening to this and absolutely adore this author in every way. I most definitely bought a physical copy because I had to get my hands on it

3 stars - I’ve struggled to put my thoughts into words for this review. There are a lot of great elements —Caz and Salem were compelling, and the blend of academic and gothic elements created a vibe I lived. The prose was well done, creating a rich narrative. Yet, despite these strengths, something felt a bit flat for me. The pacing was inconsistent, pulling me in at times but losing momentum in others, and the ending didn’t quite deliver the payoff I had hoped for.

Thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to review!

I really enjoyed this, it was very reminiscent of Gothikana, but if Gothikana was part of the Dark Verse series. The only thing that was jarring was the sudden switch to them as adults, it seemed like they were kind of soulless or had changed, it didn't feel like them really. Overall, I rated this 3.5 only because it's not quite the romance I enjoy, and I realize that now, but for fans of Runyx and dark romance like this, they will really enjoy. Especially for fans of mystery and secret societies.

Audiobook review. This was such an interesting read. I was captivated by Salem and Caz as well as the overarching mystery. Salem comes across as neurodivergent and I was absolutely living for the representation.

The tension was just 🤌🏼. The steam was very well done and had unique elements that made the scenes interesting. I told my husband I wanted to try something similar… for science 😂

Aiden Snow and Jaclyn Kelso did a phenomenal job of bringing the characters to life.

Ultimately, I didn’t really get the Hades and Persephone vibes from it but thoroughly enjoyed it nonetheless.

Complementary copy received and voluntarily reviewed.

This was such a gorgeous duel performance by Jaclyn Kelso & Aiden Snow not only an execution, but in delivery!

“ I was looked at, but was never seen.“

— Albert Camus
The misunderstanding

I have so much to say about this wonderful tome. I would first like to start up with my appreciation to MacMillan Audio, the author RuNyx, and NetGalley for the opportunity to listen to this book in exchange for this honest review.

Before I begin, I just would like to advise you to check your trigger warnings before you start this journey. 🌶️🌶️🌶️.75

So many beautiful layers interwoven throughout this story between the multi layer complex characters and the interwoven prose from classics such as The Misunderstanding, Wuthering Heights, and both Emilys (Dickinson and Brontë) to name a few. That not only add depth to the story for the reader, but also provoke thought as the author draws you further into this world. 

Cazimir Van der Waal. A name born not merely of sound, but of science— of unseen forces that draw bodies closer than reason allows. Why does this matter? Because our MMC, christened with these names, embodies those same invisible tethers. The Casimir effect speaks of neutral objects in close proximity, their very presence warping the fabric of space between them until an irresistible force pulls them together. Van der Waals forces, though delicate, are profound whispers of attraction that transcend the strength of chemical bonds. They are ephemeral, yet inescapable. And so too is the gaze of our MMC; meticulous, consuming, and seeing the FMC not as the world has taught her to see herself, but as something elemental. Something worthy. Our FMC Salem Salazar is a soul long dismissed, overlooked, and worn thin by the weight of invisibility. She finds herself altered by his attention, transformed by his unwavering presence. Caz becomes the catalyst for her metamorphosis. And if this name, crafted with both purpose and poetry, does not embody his role in the story, then perhaps nothing ever could.

These two are not merely lovers, they are twin flames drawn together across a chasm of pain, both haunted by the ghosts of their pasts. Both seeking not just redemption or revenge… but resurrection. Their paths, though twisted and shrouded in shadow, were always meant to cross. And when they do, something ancient and undeniable blooms between them. It is more than desire. It is a bond forged in darkness, made luminous through love.

The tale unfolds with the air of a whispered curse. A gothic university veiled in secrets and sorrow sets the stage. Each revelation is delivered with precision; some slowly bled from the text like ink in water, others held until the author chooses to shatter us with them. This deliberate storytelling crafts an atmosphere heavy with mystery and suspense, enticing the reader ever deeper into its dark halls.

It would be easy to mistake this novel for another tale of dark academia romance. But to do so would be a disservice. This is no ordinary love story, it is a requiem, an ode, an incantation. A masterwork of storytelling that binds self discovery, sorrow, passion and purpose, into a world that breathes and bleeds. The author conjures characters so intricately wrought, so painfully real, they seem to step off the page. Their world, rich with lore and layered truths, feels lived in, haunted, and achingly familiar.

Through dual perspectives, we are drawn into the innermost sanctums of both our leads. We walk with them through betrayal, longing, and the slow-burning agony of becoming. Their inner conflicts echo like cathedral bells— resounding, sacred, and impossible to ignore. Their love is not soft, it is a tempest. It is survival. It is sacred alchemy.

Threaded throughout this tale are themes as sharp and aching as winter air: rebirth, resilience, and the fragile audacity of hope. The tension is suffocating in the best of ways, the chemistry electric and earned with every turn of the page.

On the surface, this may appear to be a romance. But it is something more. It is love sculpted from ruin. It is a call to rise when you’ve been broken. It is an echo of the truth that even in your most shattered state, you are not only lovable— you are worth saving.

Where once there was silence, now there is song. Where once there was death, now there is a heartbeat. Memento vivere. Remember to live. And remember this story, for it will linger like a ghost in your bones.

I will carry these characters, and the spellbinding ache of their love, for years to come.

Please note my Amazon review is currently pending [ UPDATE: Amazon review is now live!]

This book was fantastic! I love the atmosphere and the darkness it encompasses. It was equally gripping and mysterious. Definitely read this one soon! A delightful Fall read too!