Gothikana by RuNyx

Book Blurb
Corvina Clemm is a woman with secrets. The last thing she expects to receive is an admission letter from the University of Verenmore, a place just as secretive.

A castle atop a mountain, Verenmore is steeped in shadows, deceit and death, a place where students have been disappearing every five years for over a century. As Corvina becomes caught up in unravelling the clues to solve the mystery, her path collides with Vad Deverell, her enigmatic professor.

Vad, too, is a man with secrets. And he cannot allow Corvina to get close enough to discover what he hides. But whenever she is near, his heart and soul yearn to possess her.

As Corvina and Vad become more and more entangled, their passion for each other could be the very thing to solve the mystery of Verenmore – or it could bring them both down in flames.

My Review
When I read the book blurb for Gothikana I was immediately intrigued by the idea of the subtitle ‘A Dark Academia Gothic Romance’ and had to read it to learn more. The description is exactly right, this is book is set in the University of Verenmore, a place where those with difficult backgrounds and those who are a different are sent an invitation to study. The central characters are Corvina Clemm, invited to the university to study and Vad Deverill, the handsome and enigmatic teacher. Drawn together their relationship is dark and dangerous and could cause trouble for both. This is dark, beautiful and full of mystery full of secrets, lies and suspense.

This is a book that made me go WOW, as it was so encompassing and addictive to read. RuNyx has created a book full of tension and mystery that not only describes the plot but the characters as well. Corvinna and Vad ooze chemistry in their relationship, with the electrical shocks almost jumping off the page. Corvina has led a sheltered life, never been to school or interacted with others much as she and her mother were seen as different. She is looking to be loved and accepted, something she has never had, and into her life comes the dark and enigmatic Vad. He has an air of mystery and danger about him, something the Corvina should stay clear of but he is fascinating and intoxicating, a combination that she can’t stay away from. Their relationship is pretty steamy, and there is always the undercurrent of the secrets both keep, from her backround to Vad and the rumours of his involvment in the disappearance of students. The darkness in the characters and plot kept me asking questons of the characters, wanting to know more, trying to second guess there actions and emotions.

RuNyx keeps the tension in the plot as well as part of the characters. The whole book is underpinned with suspense and mystery around the University, the suicide of a student, and students that have gone missing on the night of the Black Ball. Throughout the book I was trying to work out the mystery, looking for clues that kept me on the edge of my seat until the end. RuNyx’s writing is very descriptive and made the setting of the castle of Venemore come to life, with its Gothic architecture, secret tunnels and beautiful setting on top of a mountain. To add to the darkness and fear is the forest, which is very creepy and has its own myths attatched to it, of death and torture.

I’m so glad I was able to read Gothikana, I was completely lost in this book and didn’t want to put it down. RuNyx has written a novel that is both beautiful and dark in equal measure both in her characters and plot. The chemistry between Corvina and Vald was magnetic, and they were the perfect central characters with their secrets, unusual backgrounds and differences. I loved the writing, dark and atmospheric and full of suspense and drama to grab your attention. This is a stunning gothic romance that left me wanting more.

I’d like to thank Solaris and NetGalley for my copy of this book in return for my honest review.