This dark academia romance standalone was phenomenal. Five stars. I was instantly drawn in by the alluring atmosphere RuNyx created in Mortimer. The book was full of secrets, mystery, suspense, and an unforgettable love story. Salem and Caz are both in search of answers surrounding their past and want to uncover the mystery behind the crimes that have occurred at the university. A story about two lonely souls finding each other in their own darkness. Salem and Caz brought the perfect slow burn with tons of angst. Not only was the romance hot but the plot made it impossible to put the book down. Highly recommend this for anyone who loves dark romance with a mystery storyline and secret societies.

A young woman attends a university in order to investigate her sister's apparent suicide. The dark academia setting was good but I did not like the insta-lust between the MCs.

I absolutely loved diving into Salem’s adventure at Mortimer University! From the moment she arrived to uncover the truth about her sister's mysterious passing, I was hooked. I could totally feel her obsession with forensics and her determination to get to the bottom of the unexplained deaths on campus. Watching the relationship between Salem and Cazimir evolve from rivals to allies was both exciting and heartwarming. The mix of suspense, mystery, and steamy romance made this book an absolute page-turner for me. I loved how the author crafted such a dark and captivating atmosphere, making me feel like I was right there with Salem and Caz, facing the same dangers. This book was a rollercoaster of emotions, and I couldn't put it down!

I highly recommend it to anyone who loves a good mystery with a touch of romance. I can't wait to see what RuNyx comes up with next!

I hoped going into this that I would enjoy it like I did Gothikana and it did not disappoint. Parts even felt better and more polished and even though it had a similar feel to Gothikana this stands well all on its own.
I love the dark academia setting with the mystery unfolding around our two MCs and the slow burn romance was very good. Great for fans of RuNyx other novels and that dark academia setting.

Salem Salazar is the black sheep of her wealthy family. Plagued by scandal, she enrolls at the elite Mortimer University to find out what happened to her perfect, missing older sister Olivia. There, she soon discovers Olivia is only one of many girls who have disappeared at Mortimer, and vows to uncover the dark forces responsible. Even if it means using herself as bait.

.I absolutely devoured this book pretty quickly. It is fantastic in a romantic suspense kind of way.

There are not enough words to describe how much I liked this. This book had it all. The vibes were immaculate and I want to live in this world. I can not recommend it enough.

In typical RuNyx fashion, Enigma is steeped in endless layers of atmosphere and complex emotion. This book takes you to the misty shadows of a castle-scape university riddled with secrets and introduces you to characters that perfectly live up to the title. I loved how RuNyx chose to unfold this murder mystery; bit by bit, methodically, allowing the reader the chance to formulate their own speculations while getting to know Salem and her broody, dark love interest, Caz, and how the world brought them together. This was a book I simply could not put down and will likely rank one of my favorite reads for this year!

RuNyx always weaves a special kind of writing magic in all of her books and Enigma felt right at home. I love this story and the characters within it! I think this book is perfect for readers who love:
🖤Dark academia
🖤Steamy dark romance
🖤Touch her and💀
🖤Secret societies
🖤Morally grey MMC
🖤Suspenseful mysteries

As with any books, please make sure you check the trigger warnings before starting!

Enigma by RuNyx will be releasing on April 29th, 2025!

And l'd like to say immensely huge "thank you"s to @torbooks and @brambleromance for sending me this eARC for review! It was such an honor to read this title early and I'm so grateful for the opportunity!!

AAAAH I can't say... It's pretty damn good. This is very eerie, very dark, and I just love the vibes of this book. The story is pretty slow for me, but it was perfectly written. Those twists are just perfect and making me think all throughout the book. The tension is just there, and it's keeping my eyes open every chapter. This much reminds me of Gothikana vibes, BUT this one is kind of a lighter mood, and still I like how she has written this one. She really captures the mystery about the school and deaths on the campus, and I really love it whenever she writes this genre.
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Salem is a very close FMC; like, it's really hard for her to open up things and always think about what could be her next move, but she's still bold as hell. I love her determination, and her character development is so amazing, the more intense to the story; she's being bolder every moment. RuNyx loves to write her MMC so mysterious and yummy, so Caz over here is a very mysterious guy in the school. I love that there were a few chapters dedicated to Caz, because I've always loved to know how he thinks. He'll make you wonder who he really is, and throughout the story, just like Salem, he's getting more open and sexy as hell. Their romance was perfect, not really overpowering the story, BUT for me, I want more hot scenes.
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Overall, it's amazingly written; I love how mysterious and serious this one is. I'm such a huge fan of her works, and I really recommend you guys try this! If you love Gothikana, this book is for you.

Gothikana is a favourite of mine and this had a similiar vibe, I flew through this I find RuNyx writing to be very digestible and pacy, great balance between plot and romance, huge fan of dark academia setting and slow burn!

This was absolutely amazing. Just as spectacular as Gothikana. Had very similar vibes which I enjoyed.

If I could give this more than 5 stars, I would. Absolutely stunning and deliciously sinister book that I couldn’t put down.

Nobody does dark academia gothic romance like RuNyx. Gothikana is one of my favorite books ever and so Enigma was one of my most anticipated reads for 2025, and it did not disappoint.

The start was a little slow, but it quickly picked up as the mystery evolved and stakes got higher.

RuNyx masterfully created a setting and atmosphere so vivid that it felt real, like I was actually at the college and experiencing it all.
I don't want to give too much away, since the release isn't until the end of April. But if you loved Gothikana or want to read a gothic dark academia standalone, you will absolutely want to read this one!

Tropes:
- dark academia
- secret societies
- rivals to lovers
- murder mystery
- slow burn
- grumpy, broody, & heavily tattooed artist mmc
- nicknames (my fav)

Honorable mention:
SHE CAN ONLY SLEEP WHEN HES W HER

^^ that's actually my favorite trope of all time and this book did it better than any other one l've ever read

while I enjoyed many aspects of this book (the atmosphere, the dark academia vibes, and pacing) there were just a few things that fell a little short for me. I did really love Salem as a character. I felt that caz just lacked any depth and felt like I’ve read this same type of MMC over and over again. Salem really was the reason I kept reading. I also wanted to see how it wrapped up. This is the first time I’ve read from this author and I would totally pick up more of her work. If you are looking for a quick, fun time, then this one may be for you!

Loved this dark romance!!! Enjoy the touch her and you die troupe. Many layers to this book. Sometimes suspensful, dark and sad. New favourite authour.

I’ve been reading works from this author since they were on tumblr and ao3, so it feels special to be reviewing an ARC from them this many years later when they’re a bestseller. Like all of RuNyx’s stories, I found Enigma to be propulsive, sexy, and understanding of human loneliness and the power of healing. Did I find the story or characters especially interesting or unique? No, but that’s not why I picked this book up in the first place. I wanted dark academia, a secret society mystery, found family, and a love story between two broken people loving one another into self love. And that’s exactly what I got.

Based on the portions of Gothikana that I read, the writing style carries---and actually feels more polished, still leaning narrative. I think fans will be pleased.

Thank you to NetGalley and Tor for the ARC.

I picked up this book because I read Gothikana by Runyx and loved the dark academia setting and the romance that was involved. This one while very similar to Gothikana in terms of being dark academia, solving murders, and a romance heavy added plot, Enigma had it's own quirks that I loved. Caz and Salem will hold a special place in my heart now.

A lovely, dark, and haunting read. I loved it from page one to the end. I love that the main characters accepted each other for who they were and loved them for it.

This book is dark, in all the right ways. It’s not just a romance; it’s a descent into a labyrinth of mystery, secrets, and passion. The chemistry between Salem and Cazimir is electric, there’s an undeniable pull between them, filled with tension that simmers with every page. The dark academia setting is perfect for this sinister love story, steeped in mystery and dripping with atmosphere. I loved the slow build-up, where every revelation feels earned and every character feels like they’re hiding something bigger. But it’s the layers of suspense, those chilling twists and dark truths that kept me on edge. The tension between Salem and Cazimir isn’t just physical, it’s emotional, psychological, and it’s deliciously slow-burning. I love how doesn’t rush into a happily-ever-after. If you’re a fan of morally grey characters, high-stakes intrigue, and an explosive love story, this is one you won’t want to miss.

It's been a while since I picked up a book and finished it in one sitting, but that's exactly what happened with *Enigma*. The story follows Salem as she enrolls in an exclusive, old-money, collegiate academy steeped in tradition—a place where she hopes to study forensics and uncover the truth behind her sister's death at the same school two years prior. Along the way, she develops a slow-burning, "enemies-to-lovers" romance with Caz and forges her first-ever friendships with Aditi and Melissa.

The novel kept me hooked with its twisty plot and emotional undertones. What truly stood out were the themes of loneliness, love, and friendship, especially the nuanced way the author explored how loneliness manifests in different contexts. These moments felt raw and genuine, making the story resonate deeply.

However, I found the mystery elements somewhat underwhelming. Key parts of the plot—particularly those involving Salem’s father and his death—felt underdeveloped. I also wanted more clarity about what happened to Salem when she was twelve, as this aspect of her backstory seemed hastily and vaguely wrapped up by the end. These gaps left me craving more depth and detail in what was otherwise an engaging narrative.

Despite these shortcomings, I would still recommend this book to adult readers who enjoy dark, twisty plots and stories with steamy romance. A note of caution: the author includes content warnings at the beginning, and I strongly recommend reviewing them before diving in.

Thank you to NetGalley, RuNyx, and Tor Publishing Group for an advanced eBook in exchange for my honest review.