by RuNyx
First published 2025
Salem Salazar arrives at Mortimer University with death on her mind and questions about her vanished sister. The wealthy family's black sheep discovers her perfect sibling wasn't the only girl to disappear from campus. Multiple students have gone missing, and Salem decides to use herself as bait to uncover what's killing them. Her plan draws the attention of Cazimir van der Waal, a mysterious teaching assistant and artist with his own hidden agenda. He wants the golden-eyed girl who seems bent on risking her life. Salem brings ice and precision to their partnership while Cazimir offers fire and chaos. Their explosive connection develops as secret societies circle them and death continues to stalk Mortimer's halls. This retelling weaves Hades and Persephone mythology into a dark academic setting where rivals become lovers. Salem and Cazimir must navigate their opposing natures while confronting the dangerous forces that threaten the university. Their fates intertwine as obsession and love blur together in their hunt for answers.
Genres: romance, mystery, dark-fantasy, dark-romance, academia, dark-academia
Vibes: dark, emotional, fast-paced, intimate, suspenseful, thought-provoking
Tropes: enemies-to-lovers, found-family, obsession
Setting: Mortimer University
463 pages · Kindle Edition · Bramble
Content warnings: death, violence