Enigma

A Dark Academia Romance

By: RuNyx

Narrated by: Aiden Snow, Jaclyn Kelso

From New York Times bestselling author RuNyx comes Enigma, a twisted Hades and Persephone meets scorching dark academia romance―a tale of love and obsession between two rivals.

There are secrets she must uncover.

There are secrets he must keep.

Salem Salazar is fascinated with death. The black sheep of her scandal-ridden, wealthy family, she arrives at Mortimer University as a legacy on the hunt for answers about what happened to her perfect, older sister. There, she discovers that her sister is far from the only girl to have gone missing at Mortimer. Salem will do anything to discover what dark forces are killing Mortimer's students...even if it means using herself as bait.

And Cazimir van der Waal has caught her scent. The mysterious artist and teaching assistant has a dark past, a hidden agenda, and a ravenous appetite for a beautiful, golden-eyed girl who seems determined to risk her life.

Where she is ice, he is fire. Where she is organization, he is chaos. Where she is precision, he is passion. Together they are explosive―their fates linked as secret societies and death stalk them both.

Enigma is a sensual, epic love story for those who also crave the frightful, the puzzling, the suspenseful, the dangerous and the dark.

Welcome to Mortimer.

Enigma

*Dark academia romance

*Steamy suspense

*Rivals to lovers

*Secret societies

*Forbidden love

A Macmillan Audio production from Bramble Books.

©2025 RuNyx (P)2025 Macmillan Audio

Such a mind gripping book!

The way Runyx writes can never do wrong in my opinion. I love the way their books capture your mind and make you resistant to putting it down before it’s finished. A 10 out of 10 for me.

this was good

a bad book at all definitely fast-paced but I love the romance between the characters

Amazing!!!

Amazing incredible I absolutely love the story again Runyx has in a chokehold. I absolutely love all her books.

RuNyx does it again!

dark, mysterious, with an amazing love story. RuNyx has cemented herself as a must read author for me.

Worth the wait!

This was everything I hoped it would be , I couldn’t wait for the release and purchased the physical book as well as the audible , it’s everything you look for in a gothic academia romance , it’s dark, mysterious has characters you can care about a great mystery throughout and a mysterious dark hot MMC. Just wish it would have lasted longer , finished it too quick .

Dark Romantic Mystery!

I don’t know that I would call this a dark romance in the way I usually think of dark romance (HD Carlton type) but more of a Dark Romantic Thriller/Dark Academia. I really enjoyed the mystery and storyline. I like trying to figure out the pieces with the FMC. I loved the edging and the angst it was *chefs kiss*.

Runyx Does It Again!!

Mortimer University has been riddled with unsolved student disappearances over the years… Salem Salazar (Forensics major & black sheep of her prestigious family) will stop at nothing, including using herself as bait, to uncover the truth of her sister’s death.

Cazimir Van Der Waal (Notorious artist & alluring enigma) is the first person to truly see the fire, passion & strength hidden by her defensive wall of ice. She becomes his muse & the pull between them is magnetic, but forbidden 😉⚡️

This man’s adoration & fierce protectiveness may have just landed him a top book boyfriend position for me 💜 Caz is 99% green flags & romantically poetic in a way that rivals even Kai Azer, seriously!!

As the pair begin to bare their souls to one another & earn trust with their secrets, they find they have heavily intertwined pasts, mirrored motives & above all: a passionate & undeniable connection.

Salem’s journey to finding strength, building confidence & friendships, while realizing her worth & lovability is so sweet & inspiring 🥺

“Just one glance from these eyes would have driven men to murder in old times. Still might.”
“Would it drive you to murder?”
“Oh, little asp. It would drive me beyond.”
“What is beyond murder?”
“Damnation.”

TROPES:
Dark Academia
Slow burn
Heavily tattooed, tortured artist 🥵
Secret Societies
Forbidden Love
Secret Identity
Immense Personal Growth
Complete Standalone
HEA

The darkness yet finding light

I couldn’t wait to find out what happened next. It kept me enthralled. I have already told all my friends to read it.

Chef's Kiss

This story was visceral and all consuming. I absolutely loved it! I related so much to the FMC, being a person who is always felt alone and flying the under radar for the majority of life. The Author wrote of dark emotions beautifully, it grabbed my heart. The MMC was delicious. The female narrator knocked this out of the freaking park!

Enigma 🐦‍⬛

Really enjoyed this story, loved the macabre aspect of the main characters. Just wish the revenge part of the story was a bit more drawn out and more detailed / deserving.