A review by tomeaftertome
Enigma by RuNyx

adventurous dark emotional mysterious reflective tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

“ 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 McMillan 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.
Expand filter menu Content Warnings