When I first saw this book, I was immediately drawn to the cover. The cover art, illustrations, and sprayed edges are gorgeously crafted. Well done! I was also very appreciative that the author included a note at the beginning of the book. The story covered a lot of heavy topics, and I’m glad they included it. Thank you! I really enjoyed the FMC Corvena Clemm — she starts out as a timid woman but then finds love and grows into her own power. She learns that she can be herself, and people will love her for who she is. I did listen to the audiobook, and boy was it good! The narrator for Corvena read with so much emotion and expression, and moreover, it felt authentic. Overall, this is a new adult book, and just like the author’s note indicates, is for 18+ readers. It is super spicy, which adds to her sexual awakening. So, just FYI. 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️ ( )

'Gothikana' draws readers into a mysterious world where Corvina Clemm and Vad Deverell navigate a century-old enigma within the eerie walls of Verenmore University. The tale seamlessly weaves secrets, deceit, and love in a dark, atmospheric setting. With its captivating characters and a perfect balance of mystery and romance, the novella unfolds into a hauntingly beautiful narrative that keeps you hooked until the very end. ( )

I enjoyed this one! I am a sucker for dark academia so I was very excited to give this book a try. I loved the gothic feel of the story and liked Corvina right away. It took me a minute to warm up to Vad but I did end up liking his character as well. I loved that the story kept me guessing and there were a few twists and turns that completely surprised me. I had a hard time putting this entertaining book down once I started reading.

When Corvina is invited to attend the University of Verenmore, she doesn’t hesitate. Since her mother is no longer at home, nothing is holding her back. She is a little older than other incoming students but quickly starts to form a bond with her new roommate. Then she meets Vad, who just happens to be a professor, and they are immediately drawn to each other. Some strange things are happening at the university and Corvina and Vad hope to figure out what is going on before someone else disappears.

I wasn’t sure about Corvina and Vad at first but I was eventually convinced. He is a professor at the school but he is also a thesis student so the lines are a little more blurred. There isn’t much of an age gap between the pair but Corvina was a lot more innocent. I thought that the chemistry between the pair was palpable. The emotional connection between these characters felt authentic and I wanted to see them find their happily ever after.

I ended up grabbing a copy of the audiobook and thought that Aiden Snow and Scarlett Dorian did an amazing job with this story. I am not sure if I have listened to either of these narrators’ work in the past but I appreciated their performance with this story. I liked the fact that they were able to capture the characters’ personalities through their reading which added a lot to my enjoyment of the story. I would not hesitate to recommend this entertaining and atmospheric romance to others.

I received a review copy of this book from Bramble. ( )

GOTHIKANA by RuNyx is a novel that received lots of attention in the online book world. At first, I was able to avoid the attention. After all, it has been my experience that books receiving that much attention from TikTokers tend to be disappointments. However, as the buzz increased in fever pitch, I found that the fuss piqued my interest. It wasn't long before I requested a review copy when one became available.

After almost twenty years of reviewing books, I really should stick with my gut about buzzy books. It isn't so much that GOTHIKANA is a bad book, but it is most definitely not worth the hype. While most of my concerns about GOTHIKANA revolve around the relationship between Corvina and Vad, I also have issues with the boarding school mystery. In general, I was so disappointed by RuNyx's story. And, once again, I wonder what I missed when others seem to love what I disliked.

My biggest issue with GOTHIKANA is Corvina's and Vad's relationship. It isn't an issue of age difference. Corvina is 22, and Vad is in his late 20s. There is no statutory rape occurring here. What made me uncomfortable was the student/teacher dynamic between them. It doesn't matter that they are of the same age or that there is an undeniable attraction between the two. One still holds power over the other due to their positions at the school. In this post-#metoo era, to promote a relationship in which the power is completely in one person's hands feels irresponsible.

I might feel differently had there been any sort form of tenderness between them. Instead, the entirety of their physical relationship is brutal and animalistic. There is no love-making here; there is bruising and discussions of ownership. Their coupling scenes read more like a dom/sub relationship, which only ties back to my concerns about the inherent power mismatch between them. The whole thing left a bad taste in my mouth and an unclean feeling on my skin.

As this odd subgenre of Romantasy gains in popularity, of which GOTHIKANA firmly sits, you have to wonder if some readers love the genre simply because it contains explicit sex scenes. I feel that readers are confusing lust with like. After all, it wasn't so long ago when spice stayed firmly within the romance realm, and most fantasy bedroom scenes faded to black. The presence of spice does not equal good writing, and becoming horny because of a book does not mean it is a good story.

The one aspect of GOTHIKANA I did enjoy was the mystery. I wish there was more focus on that part of the story than on Corvina's potential madness or her relationship with Vad. Unfortunately, as I started to write down my thoughts, I realized how few answers we received about the mystery of Verenmore. Sure, we find out who was killing students in recent years. But we learn nothing about what happened in the past or anything surrounding the disappearances during every Black Ball. I understand that RuNyx plans to revisit Verenmore in a future book. Sadly, I don't believe there is enough like on my part to want to read more, even if that future book gives me the answers I want.

GOTHIKANA is a book I should have ignored but chose to let the hype sway me. Maybe it is because I just had to sit through my company's annual sexual harassment training but I cannot get over the discomfort I had with Corvina and Vad's relationship. While it was consensual, it was so brutal and the power difference so large that I struggled to see it as anything other than sexual assault. As for the mysterious happenings at Verenmore, there are too few answers and too many unanswered questions for closure. My overall impression of GOTHIKANA is one of a poorly-written manuscript with very little story and too much attention paid to an abusive relationship. Don't get me started on its portrayal of mental illness either. ( )

If I took this book seriously…. It would give me a headache.

This sentence for example: “Should I be?” she asked, raising her eyebrows slightly even as a part of her wanted to break the eye contact and blush furiously at the singular masculine attention from a very masculine male.”

The whole book falls apart when I ask too many questions.
Students having relationships with staff is strictly forbidden, yet there’s this one PhD student/teacher who is known for hooking up with his students. Why is he not fired yet?
If this is the 20th or 21st century, why does she use a candelabra to light her way at night?
If there’s a ball every 5 years and every ball someone goes missing. If they don’t hold the ball, someone goes missing anyway. Why is this dismissed as just a part of university life?

Corvina’s mother has schizophrenia and Corvina hears things too. This could have been an interesting, dark setup for an unreliable narrator. However, these serious mental health issues are just there for the plot, which feels kinda icky to me. A girl jumped from the roof and died, but right after this is explained to Corvina, the topic changes to boys, as if someone dying like that is just part of the introduction.
Later, someone else walks off the same room, but the book quickly moves on to the romance.

For a book described as dark academia, there is no real ‘academia’. The professors thesis is about “the correlation and influence of music on literature through the ages”?? Anyone who knows anything about academia knows this is far too broad of a topic.

However, the aesthetics are definitely there. The setting is an university in an old castle with mysterious disappearances and it’s possibly haunted too. There are hidden attics, thunderstorms and pretty hallways and they all exude creepy, gothic academia. I loved the way these parts were written. I’d both want to visit Verenmore and never go there.
If you don’t think too hard about the details, the atmosphere is absolutely fantastic.

Then there’s the romance, which is the main plot. Again, if I took it seriously I’d hate it.

The main character Corvina is special! She’s different and doesnt fit in. She dresses like a goth witch and there are multiple very long paragraphs dedicated to the exact details of her clothes and makeup. She has purple eyes and people call her “Purple” as if they’re elementary schoolers.
I didn’t dislike her, but it felt very cliche.

The love interest is one of her lecturers, and all he does is introduce himself for Corvina to be intoxicated. I guess this is just a romance book thing? Some form of love at first sight.
His name is Vad, and he’s called silver eyed devil. He’s the guy who is known for sleeping with his students.
There’s a bearded professor who gives his students creepy stares, but this one is described as actually creepy. What’s the difference between mr. Deverell and mr. Beard?
When Corvina meets mr. Deverell, he talks to her in cryptic threats, tells her he doesn’t want an actual relationship but gets mad because she’s merely talking to another boy. Later it turns out he knows classified information about her, lied about his identity and possibly killed someone.
Everything about him screams “RUN IN THE OTHER DIRECTION” This guy is not a red flag he’s a whole pennant string

I do have to say that Corvina is 100% into all the staring and cryptic messages.
He tugged her into his body, his jaw glowing in the low yellow flame “There’s no going back now. I will never let you escape.”
Corvina swallowed, her free hand over his chest, feeling the steady beat of his heart under her palm. “Just know that if you kill me, I will personally haunt you.”
“If this is madness,” she whispered almost against his lips, “drown me in it.” “If this is madness,” he told her, echoing her words against her lips, “I’ve already descended too far.”
Maybe they’re on the same wavelength? They sign their letters with “Your witch” and “your devil.” Obviously they start sleeping together, but I skipped all those scenes so I can’t comment on those.
In the end, they manage to live a macabre happily ever after because they genuinely seem to care about each other. It turns Corvina will hear voices for the rest of her life, but they’re not harmful, and both characters seem to understand the importance of doctors checking up on her. Vad doesn’t throw a posessive tantrum because she’ll be in a hospital for a while. Corvina also seems to have a genuinely loving relationship with her mother, despite her mothers illness.

These ingredients don’t make a great romance. They’re both volatile, morbid and possibly disturbed. Vad moreso than Corvina.
However, there’s something entertaining about two terrible people falling in love.
Vad tells Corvina: “I would’ve kissed you bathed in blood, Corvina. If I had a chance to kiss you while a thousand ghosts rose from their graves, I would have kissed you. Don’t doubt that.” which is certainly a memorable love declaration. ( )