Gothikana

Gothikana (2021) is a gothic romance by RuNyx, an author who cites that her “unique pen name has a special personal meaning to her,” though she keeps the specifics of this meaning private (“About.” RuNyx Writes) RuNyx has written other dark romance, gothic, and dark academia books, including the Darkverse Series, and Arkana, which takes place in the same setting as Gothikana, albeit 200 years prior. The novel addresses The Fear of “Madness,” The Appearance Versus Reality of Evil, and Honesty and the Challenges of Trust.

This guide uses the 2023 Kindle/ADP eBook edition.

Content Warning: The source material and guide feature depictions of bullying, child neglect, death by suicide, suicidal ideation, graphic violence, sexual content, sexual violence, cursing, and death.

Language Note: This novel also discusses mental health in detail, including a character’s reference to her own mental illness in pejorative terms. These terms are only replicated when quoted from the text. This discussion intersects with conversations about “madness,” used primarily in a literary and historical sense.

Plot Summary

Gothikana begins with dual Prologues. The first comes from Vad Deverell’s perspective when he is a child. Old Zelda, a caretaker at the boys’ home where he lives, predicts that Vad will one day “find purple eyes” (2). In the second Prologue, Corvina Clemm fears that the people in a nearby village will take her from her mother, who has undiagnosed schizophrenia.

In the main narrative timeline, when Corvina is 22, she is surprised to receive an acceptance from the University of Verenmore, a school that recruits students who come from “odd circumstances.” She is amazed by the Gothic castle where the university is housed. She meets Jade Prescott (whom she later learns killed and took the place of the real Jade), and the two plan to be roommates together. Jade mournfully reports that her previous roommate died by suicide (later revealed to actually have been murder). Corvina hears “Mo,” a voice she’s heard her whole life who always gives her good advice. Late that night, she hears music, which leads to her meeting Vad, her 28-year-old English professor, whom she finds attractive.

Jade tells Corvina that Verenmore will soon host the “Black Ball,” which happens once every five years. On each Black Ball, someone disappears. Corvina finds herself increasingly attracted to Vad, despite the rule that forbids relationships between staff and students. Corvina follows a flock of crows into the mysterious woods that surround the university, where she finds a lake. Vad finds her and tells her to leave the woods. Corvina senses a feminine voice that smells like rot; Corvina is alarmed, as this is not a voice that she typically hears. She regularly sees strange flickers out of the corner of her eye, but nothing is there.

Jade seems concerned about Vad’s attention toward Corvina (though she later reveals this is actually jealousy). Corvina’s classmates are astonished that Corvina spends time in the woods, which are linked to many mysterious legends, including one in which Verenmore students tortured and killed villagers. Eventually the torturers, known as the Slayers, were killed in turn. The murders happened the night of the Black Ball. Some students believe the story is true; others dismiss it.

On another walk through the woods, Corvina befriends some crows and finds gothic ruins with 15 unmarked gravestones and a piano, which she knows means Vad has been there. She and Vad have a sexual encounter in the library, though Corvina fears that he regularly has affairs with students. They both insist they will not repeat the encounter.

Corvina goes into the woods with Jade, Troy Hunter, and several other friends. Corvina senses the rot-scented voice before they stumble upon a shack where they can see someone moving inside. Mo urges Corvina to leave. She obeys, taking her friends with her. Later, Corvina is haunted by dreams in which a girl drowns, and Corvina is unable to save her.

Corvina and Vad struggle to resist their attraction toward one another. On a trip to the village, Corvina learns more information about the Slayers. While they were active, a villager disappeared every month. After the Slayers were killed, the disappearances stopped. Though Corvina is uncertain that she trusts Vad, the two still have sex.

During class, Corvina follows Mo’s voice, which urges her to help Troy. She is too late, however, to stop Troy from jumping from the top of the dorm tower. As Troy dies, she hears his spirit urging her to tell his brother something. (Later, she learns that this refers to his being murdered). Vad, who witnessed her rushing toward the tower, asks how she knew about Troy; Corvina fears she will sound “crazy” if she admits to hearing voices. She grows increasingly alarmed about her mental health when she has more visual and auditory hallucinations. Vad and Corvina decide to stop resisting their pull toward one another.

Troy’s brother, Ajax Hunter, arrives to investigate Troy’s death. Ajax knew Vad as a child, and he knows about Old Zelda’s prophecy. He also reveals that Vad was adopted from the boys’ home by his grandfather, who died mysteriously, leaving Vad to inherit Verenmore. Vad reluctantly admits to owning the castle and the mountain; he keeps his ownership secret as he wishes to defeat the “evil” of the castle. His grandfather was also one of the Slayers before he turned on the group and killed them. His investigation into solving this mystery led him to meet Corvina’s mother; he saw Corvina’s purple eyes, remembered the prophecy, and arranged for Corvina to be recruited into the school.

Corvina’s fear about her mental health persists. Vad promises to care for her even if she begins having symptoms of schizophrenia. Another dream of the drowning girl leads Corvina to the lake; when Vad has it dredged, 14 of the 15 Slayer victims are discovered. Corvina and Vad grow closer and admit their love for one another. Mo’s voice guides Corvina to the shack, where they find a burned body.

The Black Ball arrives. Corvina attends with her friends, then slips off with Vad to have sex. Hours later, Corvina’s classmates find them and say that Jade and Roy, another classmate, are missing. Corvina, Vad, and Ajax search for the missing students. Corvina finds Roy in the lake, and Roy doesn’t know how she got there. Ajax gets news that the burned body belonged to the real Jade Prescott—Corvina’s roommate is an imposter. Corvina goes to her bedroom to investigate, but she is struck over the head.

When she regains consciousness, Corvina cannot move, drugged by Jade with “Devil’s Breath,” which makes her obey Jade’s commands. Jade explains that her grandmother was one of the Slayers. She escaped the slaughter, already pregnant by Vad’s grandfather. Jade believes that she and Vad are destined to be together, despite being biologically related. Jade uses the drug’s thrall to command Corvina to jump off the tower. Corvina resists long enough for Vad to rescue her and to push Jade off the tower instead.

The effect of the drug is detrimental to Corvina’s mental health. She spends several months in the same institution where her mother lives, but ultimately recovers. Vad plans to stay with Corvina no matter what her mental health condition is. They eventually get married and plan to have a child, which they anticipate raising at Verenmore.