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A review by anastashamarie
Gothikana by RuNyx
adventurous
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
⭐4.5/5
So I honestly absolutely loved this book, despite a few nagging problems. If you like gothic dark romance and a dark academic setting, this is 1000% for you.
⚠️TWs: graphic depictions of loved ones completing suicide; explicit sexual content; student-professer; descriptions of hallucinations (possible psychosis); death
🌑 Things I loved: The dark academia setting -- immersive and majorly enthralling. The callbacks to classic gothic horror. The blurred line between paranormal and psychological. The different subplots that wove interestingly together. The passion/madness of the romantic relationship. Daddy Dom Vad.
🕯️ Things I didn't love:The 11th hour twist/surprise villain...I just feel like this is a generally overused "gotcha" and not actually a twist like people want it to be. But that's literally the only thing I didn't like and it by far wasn't enough to ruin the book for me at all.
🏰 Listen, maybe I'm biased because this book is exactly up my alley. Maybe it's all the years of pining to go to boarding school (I grew up in the era of the Gossip Girl and the Private novel series so it hits hard). Maybe it's that I went to a probably-haunted, very old university with all sorts of stories like these. Maybe Verenmore has me in its clutches, too. But maybe this is just a generally great book. The only way for you to know is to read it too.
So I honestly absolutely loved this book, despite a few nagging problems. If you like gothic dark romance and a dark academic setting, this is 1000% for you.
⚠️TWs: graphic depictions of loved ones completing suicide; explicit sexual content; student-professer; descriptions of hallucinations (possible psychosis); death
🌑 Things I loved: The dark academia setting -- immersive and majorly enthralling. The callbacks to classic gothic horror. The blurred line between paranormal and psychological. The different subplots that wove interestingly together. The passion/madness of the romantic relationship. Daddy Dom Vad.
🕯️ Things I didn't love:
🏰 Listen, maybe I'm biased because this book is exactly up my alley. Maybe it's all the years of pining to go to boarding school (I grew up in the era of the Gossip Girl and the Private novel series so it hits hard). Maybe it's that I went to a probably-haunted, very old university with all sorts of stories like these. Maybe Verenmore has me in its clutches, too. But maybe this is just a generally great book. The only way for you to know is to read it too.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Sexual content, Suicide, Suicide attempt, Murder, and Schizophrenia/Psychosis
Moderate: Gore, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Blood, Toxic friendship, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Child abuse, Dementia, Death of parent, and Alcohol
Taboo relationship (student/professer, both consenting adults)