A woman seeking answers. A man chasing vengeance. A university dripping in secrets, death, and haunting truths.

"You make me want to live, Salem. You give me a modicum of peace in a world of chaos."

Runyx crafts a setting so rich in mystery and quiet intensity that it wraps around you and refuses to let go. From the moment Salem arrives at Mortimer University, I felt like I could step right into this world; it's just that tangible.

The plot is intricate and deeply satisfying. Despite the complexity, it’s comprehensible and never confusing. The story unfolds with precision, dropping hints and answers in just the right places to keep you hooked without ever losing you.

But what truly brought the story to life was Salem. She is Enigma. I firmly believe that without her, there would be no story. She breathes life into every page with her quiet aura, her morbid curiosity for death, and her unwavering need for answers. Her sister’s death, which is brushed off as suicide, gnaws at her until she follows it to Mortimer University, where she's studying to become a forensic scientist. A literal STEM queen!

"A girl who liked science, wasn't afraid of dead bodies. [...] Names were nooses, and she held hers close to her neck."

Watching Salem evolve—from being nearly invisible to becoming a woman who accepts, understands, and embraces herself—was a journey that deeply resonated with me. In my eyes, she felt so real.

And then there's Caz.

"He had an air around him, something chaotic, unpredictable. [...] Caz. The Psycho Painter."

Caz enters like a wrecking ball: bold, magnetic, and brimming with secrets. He has this smirking, king-like energy that demands your attention. The first time we meet him, he's literally sketching a dead body. That should tell you everything. He's clearly unhinged... and yet, when he's with Salem, there's a softness, a quiet reverence that peeks through. He may be a storm, but around Salem, he becomes something gentler, even tender.

They’re both enigmas in their own way. Together, they're electric.

Their romance is entirely breathtaking, and their chemistry is undeniable; it's raw and passionate. I was squealing, going absolutely feral, and getting emotionally wrecked all at once. But beyond the heat, there’s deep vulnerability between them. They give way for each to be truthful and vulnerable without demanding it all at once. They choose each other, again and again. It’s the kind of love that sees and stays, even when it doesn’t fully understand.

"They don't own your mind, not like I do."

What truly broke me (in the best way) was how Caz sees Salem, down to the most minute detail. For someone like Salem—who’s been ignored, dismissed, and made to feel unworthy—his attention, his adoration, is transformative. And as someone who’s also felt unseen, I saw myself in her. That feeling of being chosen, loved, even when you think you're unlovable? Yeah, it destroyed me!

Now I have to talk about the "snakes".

"I found my muse on a beach on a dark night. And she was the most stunning creature I had ever seen, with living snakes in her hair and fire in her eyes, yet made of ice."

Caz’s obsession with Salem’s curls—"snakes," as he calls them oh-so reverently—felt like a personal love letter. I’ve been told my curls are a distraction, a mess, unprofessional. I’ve spent years feeling like they were something I had to tame. But in Enigma, Salem's curls are worshipped; they're beautiful and desired! It made me feel seen and validated in a way I didn’t expect.

Enigma is more than a dark academia romance. It’s a haunting love story that is wrapped in grief, longing, curiosity, and pacts of truth. More importantly, it's about finding yourself in the quest for answers. It's also about the kind of love that breathes life into you, the beautiful kind that isn't there to save you, but to primarily show you you're worth saving just as you are.

I’ll be thinking about Salem and Caz, along their messy, beautiful, passionate love, for a long, long time.

- dark academia
- gothic vibes
- murder mystery
- possessive mmc
- rivals-to-lovers
- secret society
- touch her and die

I received an ARC for free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

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