4⭐️

I really enjoyed this! It was a fun, easy read that kept me entertained from start to finish. That said, it wasn’t exactly note-worthy—I can only really remember one standout moment off the top of my head: the coffee shop kiss. And honestly? That scene was everything. It was sweet, surprising, and had just the right amount of tension to make me swoon a little.

For some reason, I thought the MMC was much older than he actually was, which threw me off for a bit—but once I adjusted, I really liked their dynamic. The banter was light and playful, the chemistry was solid, and the pacing kept the story moving without dragging.

It wasn’t the most memorable book I’ve read, but it definitely gave me a good time while I was reading it. Sometimes, that’s all you really need.

🎧Audiobook Review🎧

🎧Narration – Jaclyn Kelso & Aiden snow gave wonderful dual performances. I thought they both did an excellent job of bringing their characters to life, and truly pulling me into the pages. I was completely lost in the story, and I never wanted to stop listening. Which to me, is exactly what I look for in a well narrated audiobook. 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻

📖Story ~ This book was a complete vibe, and I loved every minute of it. It had all of the dark, broody feels that I’ve come to know and love from this author, with an unexpectedly sweet romance to boot.

I absolutely adored the FMC, Salem, who reminded me of more grown-up Wednesday Adams. She’s morbid and quirky, drawn to the macabre, and has never quite fit in. She enrolls in a prestigious university under the guise of studying forensic science… but she has deeper motivations for being there. Ones that involve solving a string of recent unexplained deaths, that have deeply impacted her family. Before she can even get her footing in her new environment, she’s thrust into the orbit of the insufferable Kaz… who’s as delicious as he is infuriating. Salem needs to navigate her investigation, while struggling to comprehend her all consuming, and immediate attraction the this mysterious man.

The story was filled with delectable dark academia vibes, secret societies, and copious amounts of murders to solve. All intertwined with an electric romance, where the he falls first trope hits HARD. The man was obsessed, and I was eating it up. The spice was hot and sweet, and well balanced with the story.
And you can’t forget about the heartwarming found family element that added a beautiful layer of emotional depths to the story. I absolutely loved watching all of the characters grow and develop, and find solace in one another. I did not expect to be moved by this book, but I truly was.

I really should've DNF'd this one...RuNyx just isn't for me, but I see the appeal and why people like her books. This was my first book by RuNyx and probably my last...you'll have to convince me otherwise, because her writing style? Not for me.

Before reading, I was HYPE. I was super excited for the tropes: gothic, dark academia vibes. murder mystery. secret society. possessive MMC. I'm a big fan of gothic romances and thought ooo maybe it's giving KL vibes. WRONG. The writing style was such a turnoff it was almost comical; so I had nothing and no one to root for. I felt 0 connection to the characters, romance was lacking, and her writing made their spice cringeworthy.

Ty NetGalley + Macmillan Audio for the ALC of this book! The narrators for this audiobook were fantastic, but next time I'll listen to them narrate another book!

Enigma by RuNyx isn't a book you gently discover—it's a story that seizes your attention, blending dark academia, gothic mystery, and potent obsession. Set against the decaying grandeur of Mortimer University, the narrative follows Salem Salazar, a socially detached, death-curious student investigating her sister's disappearance. Her path collides explosively with Cazimir van der Waal, a charismatic, morally ambiguous artist and teaching assistant. Their relationship evolves from hostile curiosity into compelling psychological warfare, filled with dangerous intensity and raw attraction.

RuNyx excels at crafting vivid, atmospheric prose, immersing readers in Mortimer's shadowy corridors and secret rituals. The intricate depiction of Salem’s complexities—her intellectual armor, emotional scars, and defiant spirit—is handled thoughtfully, avoiding cliché. Likewise, Caz is captivatingly portrayed, his allure stemming from unpredictability and dark charm rather than traditional heroism.

However, the novel falters slightly with pacing issues in the middle sections, overly lush descriptions that sometimes slow momentum, and secondary characters that lack depth. Despite these minor shortcomings, Enigma remains an intense exploration of obsession, trauma, and hidden power structures.

Fans of RuNyx’s Gothikana, Bardugo’s Ninth House, and Hoover’s Verity will find much to admire here. Enigma is an unapologetically provocative journey into darkness, seduction, and psychological intrigue—perfect for readers who crave stories both beautifully written and boldly unsettling.

Thank you RuNyx,Macmillan Audio, and NetGalley for the ALC. I really enjoyed Gothikana, so I've been foaming at the mouth for Enigma. I absolutely love a spooky vibe, and these books give the dark academia atmosphere. I was HOOKED in the beginning of this story... murder mystery? dark academia? secret societies that are kinda culty? Yes, please. But because of the placing, I lost interest overall. It normally takes me a couple days to finish an audiobook, and I've been picking up and putting back down Enigma over 3 weeks. I felt the relationship moved too quickly, and it was definitely not enemies to lovers (in my opinion). But the spice was spicing! The narrators here did a good job, I just think this one was a little slow for me.

I listened to the audiobook version. I enjoyed the narrator and she did a good job!

I went in with zero expectations but wanted a dark academia to read. The slow burn, secret societies and rivals to lovers was written decently. I really enjoyed this book!

Enigma was an intense and gripping read! From the very beginning, the mystery and suspense pulled me in and never let go. I loved trying to piece together all the secrets right alongside the characters. The story was full of twists, emotional depth, and just the right amount of tension to keep me on the edge of my seat. Every chapter left me wanting more. If you love a good mystery with complex characters and unexpected turns, Enigma is definitely one to pick up!

Thank you NetGalley and Macmillan for the ALC in exchange for my honest review.

So I thought the narrators were great but uh... I don't know what I was expecting but this was not it... On paper this was my kind of book but something about the execution just felt so lacking... It's a shame because the concept was so interesting and the prologue felt like it was setting up for something ominous and instead the plot just felt lacking.

Thank you NetGalley, Macmillan Audio, Bramble Books and of course RuNyx for allowing me to experience the story of Salem, via ARC Audio! I was drawn right into this book and couldn’t stop listening! I was always eager to drive anywhere, just so I could continue on with what was happening! This had dark romance, dark academia and gothic vibes! I liked Salem as the MFC and was invested in her motivation. She was tragic, dark, and mysterious. I liked the development of Caz. He was broken, dangerous, mysterious – turned hot protector – MINE. I love MINE troupes. Like, who doesn’t want to be yearned for? But there were some instances where it felt possessive and toxic. For me toxicity love isn’t my thing, so I was a bit turned off. If you love secret societies, art-based characters, missing girls, romance and trauma backgrounds this is a good introduction. I was a bit let down with the big secret society and the events that occurred. I mostly loved being able to see the progress they made as a couple in the epilogues as I found it very sweet to see years down the road. Overall, I did enjoy this audio book, the narrators did an excellent job and I liked the MFC. This was a 3 star read for me.

I am a runyx Stan ! So of course I loved it . Enigma was a bit different from Gothikana. But loved it all the same. I am obsessed with the gothic vibe runyx writes. These characters were dark and deep and I ate it up.

The narrators for this audiobook were amazing also! It’s tough to find a good audio book and this was perfect!

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.