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A review by alilbitofmonica
Gothikana by RuNyx
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
How did I end up binging 70% of this book in one day?
This book is fast paced - there is literally always something happening (yes, that thing was commonly smut but still). There is PLOT and it is interesting. The characters are complicated and complex and really carried the story.
I landed on 4 stars, but I could see this swinging to 4.5 because of how utterly captivated I was.
My unhinged commentary:
- this is dark academia at its finest, I really loved the gothic vibes and the deep mystery surrounding legends and lore of the Mountain of Verenmore
- this is dark romance for sure but was it… too much? this book had more smut than I care for (did I expect a lot? Yes. So it’s not surprising, just more than I prefer). Did they really have to do it on practically every surface at the school? And twice a day every day? Seems excessive but okay.
- the murder mystery element had me HOOKED. I was so invested in figuring out what the heck was going on
- I was wary of the professor x student relationship at first but it was very clearly played off consensually with no hint of Vad manipulating her with his role
- Vad was a spectacularly gray character - and I mean truly gray because you could never tell if he was being genuine or if he was harboring life altering secrets that could turn him into the bad guy. This was intentional by the author and I loved that.
- WHERE WERE THERE TWO CHARACTERS NAMED JAX AND AJAX?? You couldn’t come up with a different name???
- I didn’t love the twist. I feel like it was too twisty with not a lot of foundation. Was I shocked? Yes. Was I still just as intrigued as before? Yes. But it might have come a little too far out of left field.
- a found family kind of feel with her friends at school had me feeling all warm inside. she goes from a girl with no interactions with boys to having so many of them supporting her and protecting her. LOVE IT.
- AN AMBIGUOUS ENDING?? I am both angry and also pleased with this turn of events. I have this need to have all the answers and the fact that I don’t is unnerving. But also I like it?
- I did not love him eating her out while she’s literally talking about the most traumatic event of her life?? Seemed like a weird and slightly inappropriate kind of interaction.
- I do not need to know that her nipples pebbled every time she looked at this man. But thanks for the info I guess.
- The 2024 reprint is beautiful and the chapter artwork is stunning
This book is fast paced - there is literally always something happening (yes, that thing was commonly smut but still). There is PLOT and it is interesting. The characters are complicated and complex and really carried the story.
I landed on 4 stars, but I could see this swinging to 4.5 because of how utterly captivated I was.
My unhinged commentary:
- this is dark academia at its finest, I really loved the gothic vibes and the deep mystery surrounding legends and lore of the Mountain of Verenmore
- this is dark romance for sure but was it… too much? this book had more smut than I care for (did I expect a lot? Yes. So it’s not surprising, just more than I prefer). Did they really have to do it on practically every surface at the school? And twice a day every day? Seems excessive but okay.
- the murder mystery element had me HOOKED. I was so invested in figuring out what the heck was going on
- I was wary of the professor x student relationship at first but it was very clearly played off consensually with no hint of Vad manipulating her with his role
- Vad was a spectacularly gray character - and I mean truly gray because you could never tell if he was being genuine or if he was harboring life altering secrets that could turn him into the bad guy. This was intentional by the author and I loved that.
- WHERE WERE THERE TWO CHARACTERS NAMED JAX AND AJAX?? You couldn’t come up with a different name???
- I didn’t love the twist. I feel like it was too twisty with not a lot of foundation. Was I shocked? Yes. Was I still just as intrigued as before? Yes. But it might have come a little too far out of left field.
- a found family kind of feel with her friends at school had me feeling all warm inside. she goes from a girl with no interactions with boys to having so many of them supporting her and protecting her. LOVE IT.
- AN AMBIGUOUS ENDING?? I am both angry and also pleased with this turn of events. I have this need to have all the answers and the fact that I don’t is unnerving. But also I like it?
- I did not love him eating her out while she’s literally talking about the most traumatic event of her life?? Seemed like a weird and slightly inappropriate kind of interaction.
- I do not need to know that her nipples pebbled every time she looked at this man. But thanks for the info I guess.
- The 2024 reprint is beautiful and the chapter artwork is stunning