The Nora Theory

Gothikana by RuNyx has been making the rounds on social media amongst dark romance fans since its original publication in 2021. It’s since been re-edited from its self-published version and put out under a new publisher, thanks to its viral popularity. Somehow, this one just slipped by me for years, so it was time to give it a go.

For her entire life, Corvina Clemm was an outcast. Her and her mother lived in a small village, and kept to themselves on the outskirts. She is almost completely isolated, until a mysterious letter arrives offering her admission to the University of Verenmore. For a homeschooled girl left all alone after losing her mother, it’s an opportunity she can’t pass up.

Verenmore turns out to be a gorgeous ancient castle that serves as a collegiate boarding school for misfits who fit some kind of mysterious criteria. As soon as Corvina arrives, she discovers an undercurrent of darkness that runs through the Verenmore campus. Every five years, the university hosts a Black Ball, and every five years on the same night, someone disappears. And then there is a mysterious suicide of a girl who was secretly dating a professor at the time of her demise.

This professor, Vad Deverell, is as captivating as he is dangerous. As much as Corvina tries to stay away, she can’t help the chemistry and fiery attraction building between them. But as events at the castle get darker, and the voices in her head become more present, Corvina quickly begins to wonder if she’s descending into madness. She must figure out who to trust as she tries to solve the mystery of what’s happening on campus.

The biggest draw of Gothikana is the dark academia vibes of the story. The castle makes for a wonderful setting, equal parts creepy and gorgeous. Corvina is named as a tribute to Edgar Allen Poe, my favorite of the classic old white men authors that literature classes venerate. Everything from the character descriptions to the events of the plot screams dark academia.

The romance is a slow burn, to an extent. The chemistry is instant, but the author still takes the time to let the tension build. When it breaks, the spice is phenomenal.

At the end of this book, there is an intense, heart-stopping climax, but readers are left with several important unanswered questions. This is a perfectly valid writing choice, but one that I absolutely despise in a standalone novel. As much as this frustrated me, I still really enjoyed reading Gothikana.

I love dark academia, and as much as other reviewers on Goodreads complained about the quality of the writing, it didn’t bother me. It seems the new edits significantly improved upon that situation and resulted in a dark, spicy, mysterious read.

Writing: 3

Spice: 3

Kindle: free with Kindle Unlimited

Paperback: $15.99

Hardback: $17.00

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