Enigma
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Enigma
Narrated by:
Aiden Snow, Jaclyn Kelso
Buy Now for $26.99
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Narrated by:
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Aiden Snow
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Jaclyn Kelso
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By:
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RuNyx
About this listen
Brought to you by Penguin.
Salem Salazar is the black sheep of her wealthy family. Plagued by scandal, she enrols 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.
And Cazimir van der Waal has caught her scent. Caz may look as though he was carved by the Gods, but he also has a dark past, a hidden agenda, and a ravenous appetite for a beautiful, golden-eyed girl. But whilst Caz is obsessed with Salem, he is far from the most dangerous thing at Mortimer.
As Salem and Caz’s investigations intertwine, their undeniable chemistry ignites a passionate bond. Can they uncover the truth before it consumes them both?
Enigma is so unique. There is no story like this, and I think that’s a true testament to Ru’s skill as an author in creating a complex story that draws you in and leaves such a lasting impression on you. Not only has she developed these intricate characters who feel so damn real, but the layers upon layers of world they live in. The history. The lore. The rituals. Reading Enigma was immersive. The depth and complexities of the worlds that Ru creates is unparalleled. I was drawn in to Mortimer University alongside Salem and Caz, sneakily following along as they explored their own secret agendas and paths, and I never want to leave.
The eerie atmosphere in the opening chapter set the mood for the rest of the novel as we slowly learn more about what has lead Salem and Caz to Mortimer University. Some are revealed slowly, but some are hidden from us, luring us in to the mystery of the narrative. I wanted a dark academia romance, and Enigma is so much better, so much more detailed, so much more real. Legit, I can’t even find the words. Reading Enigma felt so right and so natural and like home. It was something that I immediately had a connection with, it called to me. You know that feeling when you read something and it wraps around you like a comforting blanket and you’re just like: yes, this is it. That feeling is Enigma.
Salem. Oh my poor girl Salem. The evolution of Salem as a character was gorgeous. Like a root finally being nourished by those around her, she grows and flourishes in a way like no other. There is no limit. I really loved how Ru developed Salem and her backstory, having crafted it so beautifully and seamlessly. I was able to really understand Salem, connect with her and empathise with her. She felt like a sister I wanted to hug and never let go. A sister I wanted to be there for. I think in another life, we would have been good friends. As Salem falls into the routine of university life, she is surrounded by so many people who are good for her, even if she doesn’t realise it. They break down the walls she’s built around herself, that once protected her. But, she no longer needs those walls as she grows into herself and her new confidence as she develops her strong sense of identity and finding a place a group where she finally belongs. She was lost and lonely, but as Caz forces his way into her sphere, she feels love and alive.
Caz. Caz, who I am pretty sure I am in love with. His unhinged self. Passionate. Powerful. Possessive. Caz is THE enigma. Such a wild man, who finally steps out from the shadows as the right time and firmly plants himself alongside Salem, even if it isn’t physically—I don’t think there’s much of a time that Caz and Salem are somehow connected, even just in their thoughts. In mind, body and spirit. The connection I mentioned, truly, this is next level. When I talk about characters who make sense together? Yeah, we get it. But Salem and Caz?? His intensity. Her introversion. Together? Offft, they complement the other in a way I’ve not seen before. They bring out the best of each other. Caz with his artistry, Salem with her passion.
There is this seemingly contradictory nature of the intensity and a deep tenderness between them that nothing I say can truly explain, my god. These moments of savagery and sentimentality are a representation of the duality of Caz and Salem and the symbiosis of their relationship. What would usually be contradictory simply fits for them. Furthermore, their intelligence is so hot and the way they communicate is so many different ways and on an intellectual level? Gah.
I sat here reading and simply thinking how much of an enigma, a juxtaposition, Caz is, that while he is intense and aloof for everyone else in the world, it’s only Salem that truly knows him, that he lets see him even in his most vulnerable states. Caz is this soft little unhinged psycho painter for his muse 🫠 He’s obsessed with her in the way she deserves to be obsessed over. He understands her, challenges her, loves her, breathes her like no other (not that he’d let anyone get close to her without threatening violence #justcazthings).
While Caz was once seeking damnation, he found salvation in Salem. Caz helps Salem grow, to thrive, to live. Salem helps Caz be grounded, to calm, to create. His muse, his little asp. How do I even describe how Caz feels about Salem?? She’s ensared him, captivated him. She is his obsession, his muse, his. They have this acute and intense and palpable awareness of each other that never seems to diminish. Their chemistry? 🔥🔥 Salem senses Caz’s gaze on her as if it were a caress she never wants to stop.
Interwoven between the prose, the plot, the characters and the setting is this beautiful theme of living, of thriving, of second chances. In that way, Salem and Caz are two souls meant to find their way to each other, to build upon each other and grow as one. Each scorned by their pasts, they both seek redemption and revenge in different ways, but they’re more alike than at first glance, a connection that only grows stronger once they’ve taken root in each other. And as they grow, as they learn, as they heal, their perceptions of things change so greatly and for the better.
Enigma is the iconic poetic prose RuNyx is known for, interweaving elements of dark academia, mystery, tension and chemistry between the pages, between Caz and Salem. There is suffering. There is healing. There is growth. Where once there was uncertainty and death, now there is a constant, a beautiful reminder to live—memento vivere. Enigma is the embodiment of dark academia shrouded in chemistry and mystery, a story that beckons you to read and immerse yourself in its pages.
Incredible dark academia romance with steam and suspense
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Oh it’s just wonderful!
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🌶️🌶️.5
- secret society
- Thriller/crime mystery throughout
- College environment
She is neurodivergent/spicy. I really enjoyed the way the broke everything down from a basic conversation with someone to logical thinking in the mystery. Her thought process was dissected in all of her inner monologues. She was such a unique character, I really really loved it.
The overall story was great, interesting and thrilling. I was nervous leading into the ending, I still felt a little blind to who to trust.
The live story was so beautiful, passionate, and healing.
If you liked Gothikana, I think you’d also love this!!
Salem was such an awesome character. I wanted more of her.
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