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Tenderly, I Am Devoured
Perfect for fans of Saltburn, For the Wolf, and House of Hollow, Tenderly, I Am Devoured is a moody, monstrously Gothic romantasy in which a young woman must bind herself to a dangerous chthonic demon with the help of the son of a rival family to save her family's legacy―and herself―from ruin.
Expelled from her prestigious boarding school following a violent incident, eighteen-year-old Lacrimosa Arriscane returns home in disgrace to discover her family on the point of financial ruin. Desperate to save them, she accepts a marriage of convenience… to Therion, the chthonic god worshipped by Lark’s isolated coastal hometown.
But when her betrothal goes horribly wrong, Lark begins to vanish from the mortal realm. Her only hope is to seek help from Alastair Felimath: the brilliant, arrogant boy who was her first heartbreak, and his alluring older sister, Camille. As the trio delve into the folklore of gods, Lark falls under the spell of the Felimath siblings.
Ensnared by a fervent romance, they perform a bacchanalia with hopes the hedonistic ritual will repair the connection between Lark and her bridegroom. Instead, they draw the ire of something much darker, which seeks to destroy Therion―and Lark as well.
Expelled from her prestigious boarding school following a violent incident, eighteen-year-old Lacrimosa Arriscane returns home in disgrace to discover her family on the point of financial ruin. Desperate to save them, she accepts a marriage of convenience… to Therion, the chthonic god worshipped by Lark’s isolated coastal hometown.
But when her betrothal goes horribly wrong, Lark begins to vanish from the mortal realm. Her only hope is to seek help from Alastair Felimath: the brilliant, arrogant boy who was her first heartbreak, and his alluring older sister, Camille. As the trio delve into the folklore of gods, Lark falls under the spell of the Felimath siblings.
Ensnared by a fervent romance, they perform a bacchanalia with hopes the hedonistic ritual will repair the connection between Lark and her bridegroom. Instead, they draw the ire of something much darker, which seeks to destroy Therion―and Lark as well.
304 pages, Hardcover
First published July 1, 2025
140 people are currently reading
41427 people want to read
About the author
Lyndall Clipstone
7 books905 followersLyndall Clipstone writes dark tales of flower-threaded horror. She currently lives in Adelaide, Australia, in a hundred-year-old cottage with her partner, two children, and a shy black cat.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 761 reviews
July 16, 2025
I don’t care what this book is about, the cover is so beautiful it hurts
September 4, 2025
1/5 stars.
there should be a law against books with pretty titles and beautiful covers being this bad. like actual legislation.
I’m so irritated I might as well just fling all of my frustration into this review and hope it helps me process the fact that I gave hours of my life to this… whatever this was.
I requested this book entirely because of the cover and title. I didn’t even skim the synopsis. I saw that moody, ethereal artwork and the haunting title and thought, oh, this is for me. i got approved, downloaded it, and went in totally blind, right before diving in, I peeked at some early reviews and they were all glowing. people were calling it gothic. and if you know me little? tell me something is gothic and i will eat it whole without asking what’s in it. and then I heard it was sapphic. BITCH sapphic and gothic? I was practically vibrating!! I thought I’d found my next obsession.
you ever hate a book so thoroughly that your brain just erases it as soon as you finish? like a survival mechanism? that’s what happened here. my head blacked out in protest. I genuinely can’t remember full stretches of this book, not because I wasn’t paying attention, but because there was absolutely nothing to hold onto this was so fucking empty!
the premise sounds like something I would love:
eighteen year old Lacrimosa “Lark” Arriscane returns home after a violent scandal, only to find her family teetering on the edge of ruin. desperate to save them, she binds herself in a marriage contract to a chthonic god named therion. but the ritual goes wrong, she starts to fade from the mortal realm, and she turns to the mysterious siblings camille and alastair felimath for help. cue: hedonistic folklore, dangerous rituals, and a doomed romance. oh, and something darker lurking beneath it all. sounds rich, right? dark, seductive, high
stakes. but nothing worked for me.
when you promise me gothic, I expect atmospheric. moody language that drips with rot and beauty. but this writing was paper dry. bleak, flat, nothing rooted me in the story. I wasn’t pulled in I technically read the whole thing in one sitting, and not because i was consumed 🤣
for the first half the book was spinning in circles, stuck in some kind of vague, melancholic purgatory. then suddenly, in the last third, it dumped plot all over the place like it had just remembered it was supposed to have a storyline. I love character driven books. so it’s not like I need nonstop action. but this book didn’t give me anything. just confusion until it tried to cram plot into the last 30%.
۫ ➷ lark: i have never felt less interested in a protagonist. she didn’t feel like a person so much as a vessel for vibes. she falls in love (or maybe just delusion?) instantly with everyone who glances in her direction. Camille, Alastair, Therion, even some random girl at her college named Damson. and not just flirtation. full on yearning, kisses, aching looks, you name it. and I love polyamory when it’s done with care but here It just felt like a tangle of nothing. what did she want? who did she love? who were we supposed to root for? were we supposed to root for anyone? and the fact that Camille and Alastair were siblings made it all worst… like how are you in love with siblings?? is this credence?? 😭
by the end, I didn’t even care. I was just mad. mad that something so visually beautiful. this cover! this title! contained such a shapeless, forgettable mess inside. i wish I could un-read it. I wish I could go back to the moment I saw the cover and just kept scrolling.
***ARC provided by the publisher Macmillan Children's Publishing and an ALC by Spotify Audiobooks.***
there should be a law against books with pretty titles and beautiful covers being this bad. like actual legislation.
I’m so irritated I might as well just fling all of my frustration into this review and hope it helps me process the fact that I gave hours of my life to this… whatever this was.
I requested this book entirely because of the cover and title. I didn’t even skim the synopsis. I saw that moody, ethereal artwork and the haunting title and thought, oh, this is for me. i got approved, downloaded it, and went in totally blind, right before diving in, I peeked at some early reviews and they were all glowing. people were calling it gothic. and if you know me little? tell me something is gothic and i will eat it whole without asking what’s in it. and then I heard it was sapphic. BITCH sapphic and gothic? I was practically vibrating!! I thought I’d found my next obsession.
you ever hate a book so thoroughly that your brain just erases it as soon as you finish? like a survival mechanism? that’s what happened here. my head blacked out in protest. I genuinely can’t remember full stretches of this book, not because I wasn’t paying attention, but because there was absolutely nothing to hold onto this was so fucking empty!
the premise sounds like something I would love:
eighteen year old Lacrimosa “Lark” Arriscane returns home after a violent scandal, only to find her family teetering on the edge of ruin. desperate to save them, she binds herself in a marriage contract to a chthonic god named therion. but the ritual goes wrong, she starts to fade from the mortal realm, and she turns to the mysterious siblings camille and alastair felimath for help. cue: hedonistic folklore, dangerous rituals, and a doomed romance. oh, and something darker lurking beneath it all. sounds rich, right? dark, seductive, high
stakes. but nothing worked for me.
when you promise me gothic, I expect atmospheric. moody language that drips with rot and beauty. but this writing was paper dry. bleak, flat, nothing rooted me in the story. I wasn’t pulled in I technically read the whole thing in one sitting, and not because i was consumed 🤣
for the first half the book was spinning in circles, stuck in some kind of vague, melancholic purgatory. then suddenly, in the last third, it dumped plot all over the place like it had just remembered it was supposed to have a storyline. I love character driven books. so it’s not like I need nonstop action. but this book didn’t give me anything. just confusion until it tried to cram plot into the last 30%.
۫ ➷ lark: i have never felt less interested in a protagonist. she didn’t feel like a person so much as a vessel for vibes. she falls in love (or maybe just delusion?) instantly with everyone who glances in her direction. Camille, Alastair, Therion, even some random girl at her college named Damson. and not just flirtation. full on yearning, kisses, aching looks, you name it. and I love polyamory when it’s done with care but here It just felt like a tangle of nothing. what did she want? who did she love? who were we supposed to root for? were we supposed to root for anyone? and the fact that Camille and Alastair were siblings made it all worst… like how are you in love with siblings?? is this credence?? 😭
by the end, I didn’t even care. I was just mad. mad that something so visually beautiful. this cover! this title! contained such a shapeless, forgettable mess inside. i wish I could un-read it. I wish I could go back to the moment I saw the cover and just kept scrolling.
***ARC provided by the publisher Macmillan Children's Publishing and an ALC by Spotify Audiobooks.***
July 9, 2025
1.5 stars! ☆
⤿ minor spoilers ﹒⟢
this cover promised something beautiful and gothic and unhinged. what i got was boredom, confusion, and a polyamorous couple made up of siblings. genuinely what the hell.
i went in completely blind and somehow still ended up disappointed. like yeah okay, girl gets expelled from boarding school, goes home to find her family cursed and their creepy salt mine failing, and ends up betrothed to a demon god. that sounds cool. but this did not feel cool. nothing about it ever hooked me. i was zoning out by page ten. and it took me way too long to realize the main character was a girl—though maybe that’s on me. either way, her name was lacrimosa… that’s all i’ll say.
i liked the idea of a dying coastal town with strange gods and decaying estates and family debt wrapped up in folklore. i did not like how it was actually written. everything was slow. everything was vague. every sentence tried to be haunting and poetic and ended up saying nothing at all. i’ve never been this bored reading about ritual sacrifices and hedonistic ceremonies.
and the characters. oh my god the characters. lark had no personality beyond being vaguely sad and full of trauma. alastair was just a pretentious asshole. camille had some potential but it got wasted. and i still cannot believe they made the polyamorous love triangle include siblings. like why. why would you do that. there were a million ways to make this messy and romantic and unhinged, and you chose the one that makes people go “wait… are they related?”
therion, the god she’s supposed to marry, barely feels like a character. he shows up, demands her hand, and then disappears for half the book while everyone cries about it. her brothers are like “no you can’t marry a god” and she’s like “but maybe i’m broken enough that i should marry a god” and that’s the whole conflict. there’s a bacchanalia thrown in there. some fog. a forest. maybe a cave? i don’t even know. none of it stuck. it all blurred together in a haze of words that thought they were being profound.
and the plot just… drags. like yes, she gets engaged to save her family. yes, she starts falling for the felimath siblings again. but there’s no tension. no real development. and no stakes that felt real. it was like being trapped in a never ending fever dream where people talk about devotion and sacrifice and gods and love in the vaguest, most melodramatic way possible.
the concept had so much promise. coastal gothic romantasy with a demon marriage and a messy past? i should’ve been obsessed. but the execution was so slow and so unsatisfying that i barely made it through. and now i kinda wish i hadn’t.
pretty cover though.
━━━━ ⊱⋆⊰ ━━━━
☆ 🖇️ pre-read 𖥻 ＜꒱
i swear i don’t remember adding this, but it drops today and honestly it sounds exactly like something i’d want right now. very much in my gothic era, so fingers crossed it lives up to the vibe !!
⤿ minor spoilers ﹒⟢
this cover promised something beautiful and gothic and unhinged. what i got was boredom, confusion, and a polyamorous couple made up of siblings. genuinely what the hell.
i went in completely blind and somehow still ended up disappointed. like yeah okay, girl gets expelled from boarding school, goes home to find her family cursed and their creepy salt mine failing, and ends up betrothed to a demon god. that sounds cool. but this did not feel cool. nothing about it ever hooked me. i was zoning out by page ten. and it took me way too long to realize the main character was a girl—though maybe that’s on me. either way, her name was lacrimosa… that’s all i’ll say.
i liked the idea of a dying coastal town with strange gods and decaying estates and family debt wrapped up in folklore. i did not like how it was actually written. everything was slow. everything was vague. every sentence tried to be haunting and poetic and ended up saying nothing at all. i’ve never been this bored reading about ritual sacrifices and hedonistic ceremonies.
and the characters. oh my god the characters. lark had no personality beyond being vaguely sad and full of trauma. alastair was just a pretentious asshole. camille had some potential but it got wasted. and i still cannot believe they made the polyamorous love triangle include siblings. like why. why would you do that. there were a million ways to make this messy and romantic and unhinged, and you chose the one that makes people go “wait… are they related?”
therion, the god she’s supposed to marry, barely feels like a character. he shows up, demands her hand, and then disappears for half the book while everyone cries about it. her brothers are like “no you can’t marry a god” and she’s like “but maybe i’m broken enough that i should marry a god” and that’s the whole conflict. there’s a bacchanalia thrown in there. some fog. a forest. maybe a cave? i don’t even know. none of it stuck. it all blurred together in a haze of words that thought they were being profound.
and the plot just… drags. like yes, she gets engaged to save her family. yes, she starts falling for the felimath siblings again. but there’s no tension. no real development. and no stakes that felt real. it was like being trapped in a never ending fever dream where people talk about devotion and sacrifice and gods and love in the vaguest, most melodramatic way possible.
the concept had so much promise. coastal gothic romantasy with a demon marriage and a messy past? i should’ve been obsessed. but the execution was so slow and so unsatisfying that i barely made it through. and now i kinda wish i hadn’t.
pretty cover though.
━━━━ ⊱⋆⊰ ━━━━
☆ 🖇️ pre-read 𖥻 ＜꒱
i swear i don’t remember adding this, but it drops today and honestly it sounds exactly like something i’d want right now. very much in my gothic era, so fingers crossed it lives up to the vibe !!
June 2, 2025
❥ My Thoughts & Rating ❥
This young adult gothic romantic fantasy novel is just one of a kind! I really enjoyed reading this from start to finish and I loved all the elements it had in it! This came with great world building that I found to be unique. It is dark, emotional, mysterious and hopeful. It had elements of horror, complex romantic entanglements, a sapphic romance and folklore! It is well written, captivating and entertaining. This book I would say is a bit taboo, which intrigued me even more. My favorite character was Lark, I could really feel her emotions on her journey. The way this character transforms in this book is simply incredible. To me, this book is art and in many ways poetic and powerful. I highly recommend reading this one! Be sure to read the trigger warnings! I give this book a rating of a solid 4 out of 5 stars!
❥ Thank You ❥
Thank you to NetGalley, author Lyndall Clipstone and
Macmillan Children's Publishing Group | Henry Holt and Co. (BYR) for this electronic ARC in exchange for my honest review. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.
❥ Release Date ❥
This book is expected to be published on July 1, 2025!
This young adult gothic romantic fantasy novel is just one of a kind! I really enjoyed reading this from start to finish and I loved all the elements it had in it! This came with great world building that I found to be unique. It is dark, emotional, mysterious and hopeful. It had elements of horror, complex romantic entanglements, a sapphic romance and folklore! It is well written, captivating and entertaining. This book I would say is a bit taboo, which intrigued me even more. My favorite character was Lark, I could really feel her emotions on her journey. The way this character transforms in this book is simply incredible. To me, this book is art and in many ways poetic and powerful. I highly recommend reading this one! Be sure to read the trigger warnings! I give this book a rating of a solid 4 out of 5 stars!
❥ Thank You ❥
Thank you to NetGalley, author Lyndall Clipstone and
Macmillan Children's Publishing Group | Henry Holt and Co. (BYR) for this electronic ARC in exchange for my honest review. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.
❥ Release Date ❥
This book is expected to be published on July 1, 2025!
June 25, 2025
gothic romance you are always loved by me!! this feels written for the bisexuals
Pulled in and weighted by a heavy tide, Lyndall Clipstone’s Tenderly, I Am Devoured is a reassuring ballad to the broken-hearted and anyone on the cusp of something strange and unknown. Rigged with brambles, salt, and seafoam, this perilous novel embodies a keen and overwhelming longing for that period when everything seems possible and yet somehow still entirely impossible to grasp. Tenderly, I Am Devoured has all the trappings of a story on the edge, what with its main character, Lacrimosa Arriscane, stuck between the mortal and chthonic realms, an old life and a new, and two loves competing for her heart. Ruinous as the very sea that borders the lands of Verse, Tenderly, I Am Devoured is a gothic horror romance that aches to reach a resting place forever out of reach. One I could not help but feel swept up in myself as Clipstone tethers her heroine to demonic gods and the unwise bargains they make with mortals. Tenderly, I Am Devoured is the gothic-horror-academia sibling to Ava Reid’s, A Study in Drowning, but given Clipstone’s unique authorial voice and intent. Transient as the middle place between adolescence and adulthood, the past and present both, Lyndall Clipstone traverses the places between—where myths are made real and where love is our strongest act of defiance.
Read my review
thank you to the team at books forward for providing me with an advance review copy!
Bookstagram | Blog
Pulled in and weighted by a heavy tide, Lyndall Clipstone’s Tenderly, I Am Devoured is a reassuring ballad to the broken-hearted and anyone on the cusp of something strange and unknown. Rigged with brambles, salt, and seafoam, this perilous novel embodies a keen and overwhelming longing for that period when everything seems possible and yet somehow still entirely impossible to grasp. Tenderly, I Am Devoured has all the trappings of a story on the edge, what with its main character, Lacrimosa Arriscane, stuck between the mortal and chthonic realms, an old life and a new, and two loves competing for her heart. Ruinous as the very sea that borders the lands of Verse, Tenderly, I Am Devoured is a gothic horror romance that aches to reach a resting place forever out of reach. One I could not help but feel swept up in myself as Clipstone tethers her heroine to demonic gods and the unwise bargains they make with mortals. Tenderly, I Am Devoured is the gothic-horror-academia sibling to Ava Reid’s, A Study in Drowning, but given Clipstone’s unique authorial voice and intent. Transient as the middle place between adolescence and adulthood, the past and present both, Lyndall Clipstone traverses the places between—where myths are made real and where love is our strongest act of defiance.
Read my review
thank you to the team at books forward for providing me with an advance review copy!
Bookstagram | Blog
February 26, 2025
This gothic, Aquaman-inspired fantasy thriller offers a unique and original concept, with perfectly built tension, an intriguing mystery, and a captivating sapphic romance featuring an unconventional but compelling relationship dynamic. The world-building is fantastic, with sea gods, salt priests, and an unusual romance for Lark, who has feelings for both Felimath siblings. The pacing felt a bit slow at first, but it picked up in the last third, with well-executed revelations and a satisfying conclusion.
The story follows aspiring artist Lacrimosa (Lark) Arriscane, an orphan raised by her two older brothers, who is expelled from her prestigious school, dashing her hopes of becoming a museum curator. Returning to her debt-ridden childhood home, she finds her brothers arguing with Alastair Felimath, the son of a ruthless creditor and the boy who once broke her heart. With their home on the line, the only way out of financial ruin is a marriage of convenience—but not to an ordinary man. Lark is betrothed to Therion, a sea god, who demands she live with him in another realm.
However, the marriage ceremony is abruptly interrupted, and Lark is saved by the Felimath siblings. As her brothers leave to harvest salt, Lark remains alone, threatened by dark forces, including the sea god who still wants his bride. She seeks help from the Felimaths, including Alastair, who is as aloof as ever, and his kind-hearted sister Camille, who recently returned from boarding school. The three must unite to face the looming dangers, rekindling their childhood bond as "three musketeers" while navigating an intense, entangled romance.
Overall, this book features a stunning cover, a unique storyline, slow pacing at times, but smart execution. It offers a refreshing LGBTQ representation, making it highly recommended for those who enjoy original romantasy thrillers.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Macmillan Children’s Publishing Group/Henry Holt and Co. for providing a digital review copy of this unique romantasy in exchange for my honest thoughts.
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The story follows aspiring artist Lacrimosa (Lark) Arriscane, an orphan raised by her two older brothers, who is expelled from her prestigious school, dashing her hopes of becoming a museum curator. Returning to her debt-ridden childhood home, she finds her brothers arguing with Alastair Felimath, the son of a ruthless creditor and the boy who once broke her heart. With their home on the line, the only way out of financial ruin is a marriage of convenience—but not to an ordinary man. Lark is betrothed to Therion, a sea god, who demands she live with him in another realm.
However, the marriage ceremony is abruptly interrupted, and Lark is saved by the Felimath siblings. As her brothers leave to harvest salt, Lark remains alone, threatened by dark forces, including the sea god who still wants his bride. She seeks help from the Felimaths, including Alastair, who is as aloof as ever, and his kind-hearted sister Camille, who recently returned from boarding school. The three must unite to face the looming dangers, rekindling their childhood bond as "three musketeers" while navigating an intense, entangled romance.
Overall, this book features a stunning cover, a unique storyline, slow pacing at times, but smart execution. It offers a refreshing LGBTQ representation, making it highly recommended for those who enjoy original romantasy thrillers.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Macmillan Children’s Publishing Group/Henry Holt and Co. for providing a digital review copy of this unique romantasy in exchange for my honest thoughts.
blog
August 21, 2025
The writing style does not look as if it's written by a human... Lol
I mean it's divine✨
Btw, I didn't like the briny atmosphere 🤧
Also, the whole story irritated me a lot!!!
Now, the review 👇👇👇
⭐️⭐️ — A gothic feast with fins and feelings.
This is set in a lush, dripping world where love is monstrous and monstrosity is romantic with a gothic atmosphere... Lark is haunted by her past, drawn to a boy who has equal parts tragic, dangerous and aquatic. Let’s just say he’s got more gills than coping mechanisms...
The prose is dreamy, decadent and just a little bit deranged—in the best way. Every sentence is soaked in longing... every glance is loaded with unspoken trauma and the forests have feelings!!! If you’ve ever wanted to fall in love and fall apart at the same time, this book understands you deeply and might even whisper sweet nothings while dragging you into a swamp.
This was the kind of romance that feels like drowning but in a poetic way.
A fairy tale for those who like their love stories a little bloody, a little briny and thoroughly bewitching.
Best enjoyed: In the rain, with tangled hair and a heart full of unresolved feelings.
I mean it's divine✨
Btw, I didn't like the briny atmosphere 🤧
Also, the whole story irritated me a lot!!!
Now, the review 👇👇👇
⭐️⭐️ — A gothic feast with fins and feelings.
This is set in a lush, dripping world where love is monstrous and monstrosity is romantic with a gothic atmosphere... Lark is haunted by her past, drawn to a boy who has equal parts tragic, dangerous and aquatic. Let’s just say he’s got more gills than coping mechanisms...
The prose is dreamy, decadent and just a little bit deranged—in the best way. Every sentence is soaked in longing... every glance is loaded with unspoken trauma and the forests have feelings!!! If you’ve ever wanted to fall in love and fall apart at the same time, this book understands you deeply and might even whisper sweet nothings while dragging you into a swamp.
This was the kind of romance that feels like drowning but in a poetic way.
A fairy tale for those who like their love stories a little bloody, a little briny and thoroughly bewitching.
Best enjoyed: In the rain, with tangled hair and a heart full of unresolved feelings.
August 17, 2024
Pack my bags, I want to move to Verse!
July 1, 2025
Huge thank you to Macmillan Publishing and NetGalley for the Advance Copy!
Tenderly, I Am Devoured is part folktale, part gothic horror, and part love letter to the sea. This book is lush and atmospheric, so if you want to read prose as beautiful as the cover, you’re in the right place. The writing really transports you into the story. The descriptions of Verse and Lark’s cottage especially, with its salty sea air and chthonic rituals, had me totally transfixed. It felt dark, a little taboo, and a lot poetic. The pacing starts slow, but the writing and characters are so intriguing I hardly noticed. I didn’t personally love the romance in this book, or maybe I didn’t love the romantic aspects when they all came together. Each individual romance had some fantastic moments, but I hate when love triangles involve siblings. I don’t know why the trope has become so popular (looking at you TSITP 👀). I honestly want more stories told in this world! The lore has so much potential, especially with the chthonic gods and how they interact with the mortals. Overall this is a gorgeous read full of beautiful imagery and great characterization. If you want gothic vibes, this book is for you! 🖤
Tenderly, I Am Devoured is part folktale, part gothic horror, and part love letter to the sea. This book is lush and atmospheric, so if you want to read prose as beautiful as the cover, you’re in the right place. The writing really transports you into the story. The descriptions of Verse and Lark’s cottage especially, with its salty sea air and chthonic rituals, had me totally transfixed. It felt dark, a little taboo, and a lot poetic. The pacing starts slow, but the writing and characters are so intriguing I hardly noticed. I didn’t personally love the romance in this book, or maybe I didn’t love the romantic aspects when they all came together. Each individual romance had some fantastic moments, but I hate when love triangles involve siblings. I don’t know why the trope has become so popular (looking at you TSITP 👀). I honestly want more stories told in this world! The lore has so much potential, especially with the chthonic gods and how they interact with the mortals. Overall this is a gorgeous read full of beautiful imagery and great characterization. If you want gothic vibes, this book is for you! 🖤
July 3, 2025
Yeah… not a fan
Strong A Study in Drowning and House of Salt and Sorrows vibes though
Strong A Study in Drowning and House of Salt and Sorrows vibes though
June 26, 2025
I have sat on this review for far too long even after reading this book twice but I have found it difficult to find the words to reflect such a unique piece of work.
Perhaps let’s start this review in a slightly different way to usual.
When I think of words that represent this book, these come to mind - soft, ethereal, whimsical, dreamlike, tender, bespoke and beautiful.
This isn’t the sort of book that will appeal to every reader and that is okay because it makes it feel even more special in my eyes. Because I’m sick of the same mediocre books. It’s difficult to pin Tenderly into special genres and tropes. Yes it’s a love story, but it also veers into horror and does so in the most beautiful way. Tenderly mesmerised me with its poetic writing. It enveloped me into a hazey dreamlike state that I didn’t want to leave anytime soon.
Read this if you have watched and enjoyed - Saltburn and Midsommar.
I have been a fan of Lyndall’s since the very beginning and I will continue to read everything she writes. It is always a privilege to read such beautiful words.
Thank you so much to the team of Penguin Australia and the author for my beautiful ARC package.
Perhaps let’s start this review in a slightly different way to usual.
When I think of words that represent this book, these come to mind - soft, ethereal, whimsical, dreamlike, tender, bespoke and beautiful.
This isn’t the sort of book that will appeal to every reader and that is okay because it makes it feel even more special in my eyes. Because I’m sick of the same mediocre books. It’s difficult to pin Tenderly into special genres and tropes. Yes it’s a love story, but it also veers into horror and does so in the most beautiful way. Tenderly mesmerised me with its poetic writing. It enveloped me into a hazey dreamlike state that I didn’t want to leave anytime soon.
Read this if you have watched and enjoyed - Saltburn and Midsommar.
I have been a fan of Lyndall’s since the very beginning and I will continue to read everything she writes. It is always a privilege to read such beautiful words.
Thank you so much to the team of Penguin Australia and the author for my beautiful ARC package.
July 5, 2025
firstly, thank you to the publisher for an arc and an alc!
NOTE: there is NO INCEST but i stand by the fact that it’s a very odd and concerning choice to have siblings in a polyamorous couple…
tenderly, i am devoured was a fantastic queer, dark academia novel with an emphasis on art and a mythical chtonic god called therion.
the only thing i couldn’t wrap my head around? — the polyamorous couple including siblings… that aspect was not for me at all.
as for the audio — the narrator did a great job!
NOTE: there is NO INCEST but i stand by the fact that it’s a very odd and concerning choice to have siblings in a polyamorous couple…
tenderly, i am devoured was a fantastic queer, dark academia novel with an emphasis on art and a mythical chtonic god called therion.
the only thing i couldn’t wrap my head around? — the polyamorous couple including siblings… that aspect was not for me at all.
as for the audio — the narrator did a great job!
December 21, 2024
I’ll be honest, I’ve had this ARC for a few weeks but I for once showed some restraint and waited to read it until I had a fair chunk of time, because I knew that once I started I wouldn’t want to put it down. And that definitely was the case.
I absolutely adore Lyndall Clipstone’s poetic prose. The descriptions are woven with flowers that bloom across the pages.
Lark starts as a lost soul and I loved watching her grow and find herself over the course of the book. Alastair’s character is heartbreaking and compelling. Their story of self-discovery and sacrifice, mixed with Camille’s sweet tenderness, is beautifully told. The horror elements were full of seafoam and saltwater.
The best way I can think to describe this book is a floral gothic. Its descriptions are light and ethereal while its underlying themes drift towards the darker sea so favoured by Alastair.
I would definitely recommend this book to fans of Ava Reid’s A Study in Drowning, or to those who wished Saltburn had chthonic gods!
🦢 Betrothal to a chthonic god (which very Hades & Persephone inspired in its terms)
🦢 Lost & lonely characters
🦢 Floral gothic vibes
🦢 Seafoam romantic horror
🦢 Different planes
🦢 Art & literature
🦢 Complicated family dynamics
🦢 Seaside caves & the lingering taste of saltwater in your mouth
**𝘐 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘨𝘦𝘯𝘦𝘳𝘰𝘶𝘴𝘭𝘺 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘷𝘪𝘥𝘦𝘥 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘢𝘯 𝘢𝘥𝘷𝘢𝘯𝘤𝘦 𝘤𝘰𝘱𝘺 𝘧𝘳𝘰𝘮 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘢𝘶𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘳. 𝘏𝘰𝘸𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳, 𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘷𝘪𝘦𝘸𝘱𝘰𝘪𝘯𝘵𝘴 𝘦𝘹𝘱𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘴𝘦𝘥 𝘢𝘣𝘰𝘷𝘦 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘮𝘺 𝘰𝘸𝘯!
I absolutely adore Lyndall Clipstone’s poetic prose. The descriptions are woven with flowers that bloom across the pages.
Lark starts as a lost soul and I loved watching her grow and find herself over the course of the book. Alastair’s character is heartbreaking and compelling. Their story of self-discovery and sacrifice, mixed with Camille’s sweet tenderness, is beautifully told. The horror elements were full of seafoam and saltwater.
The best way I can think to describe this book is a floral gothic. Its descriptions are light and ethereal while its underlying themes drift towards the darker sea so favoured by Alastair.
I would definitely recommend this book to fans of Ava Reid’s A Study in Drowning, or to those who wished Saltburn had chthonic gods!
🦢 Betrothal to a chthonic god (which very Hades & Persephone inspired in its terms)
🦢 Lost & lonely characters
🦢 Floral gothic vibes
🦢 Seafoam romantic horror
🦢 Different planes
🦢 Art & literature
🦢 Complicated family dynamics
🦢 Seaside caves & the lingering taste of saltwater in your mouth
**𝘐 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘨𝘦𝘯𝘦𝘳𝘰𝘶𝘴𝘭𝘺 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘷𝘪𝘥𝘦𝘥 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘢𝘯 𝘢𝘥𝘷𝘢𝘯𝘤𝘦 𝘤𝘰𝘱𝘺 𝘧𝘳𝘰𝘮 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘢𝘶𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘳. 𝘏𝘰𝘸𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳, 𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘷𝘪𝘦𝘸𝘱𝘰𝘪𝘯𝘵𝘴 𝘦𝘹𝘱𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘴𝘦𝘥 𝘢𝘣𝘰𝘷𝘦 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘮𝘺 𝘰𝘸𝘯!
did-not-finish
April 21, 2025Thank you to the author for providing ARC 🦢
April 20, 2025
find more reviews on my blog
3.5 ⭐️
This kind of book that sweeps you into a misty, salt-soaked fever dream, then leaves you blinking at the real world like you just stumbled out of a gothic painting. I dove into this expecting a lush, monstrous romantasy, and oh, did it deliver… mostly. It’s a haunting swirl of beauty and yearning, but it’s not without its stumbles. Buckle up, because I’m about to gush, gripe, and get a little snarky about this flower-threaded horror show.
First, let’s talk about the vibes. This book is *dripping* with atmosphere. Clipstone paints a coastal village so vivid I could practically taste the sea spray and feel the chill of the salt mines. The world building, with its chthonic gods and ritualistic weirdness, is straight up intoxicating. I’m a sucker for gothic anything, and this delivered in spades: crumbling manors, misty shores, and a swan god.
Lacrimosa (Lark, bless her) is our leading lady, and such a soft, tender soul. Not a “stab first, ask questions later” heroine, but a girl wrestling with betrayal, family duty, and a past that’s messier than my high school diary. Her journey from broken to brave had me cheering, especially when she’s navigating her tangled feelings for Alastair and Camille Felimath. Alastair, the arrogant ex-heartbreak, is all sharp edges and tortured devotion… catnip for my hopeless romantic side. Camille, his alluring older sister, is a warm, grounding force who made me want to curl up in her lap with a cup of tea. The polyamorous dynamic here is refreshing, never dipping into love triangle clichés. It’s messy, human, and so beautifully written I was giggling and kicking my feet at their chemistry. Like, can I join this trio? Please?
But here’s where I get a bit snarky. The pacing? Oof. The first 60% of the book moves slower than my mom in Wal-Mart. I kept waiting for the plot to kick into gear, and when it finally did, I was hooked… but that lag had me checking my phone more than I’d like to admit. Also, while the prose is gorgeous, it can feel repetitive. Clipstone loves her floral metaphors, and by the third “petal-strewn” description, I was like, “Okay, we get it, it’s pretty!” The world-building, while stunning, left me craving more meat on the bones of the chthonic gods’ lore. Therion’s Zeus-like swan-god shtick is cool, but I wanted to know *why* he’s such a big deal beyond being hot and ominous.
It felt a tad rushed, like when you’re late to a party and speed-run the goodbyes. I wanted more time to linger in the fallout.
Anyway, all in all, this is a dark, dreamy treat for anyone who loves gothic romance with a side of folk horror. While the pacing issues and a few overused phrases keep it from five-star glory—but it’s got heart, soul, and enough yearning to make you clutch your chest. I’m still swooning over Lark, Alastair, and Camille, and I’ll always be front and center for a good poly relationship.
July 2, 2025
3 stars
A big thank you to Netgalley and Macmillan Children's Publishing Group for sending me this ARC in exchange for an honest review!
Expected Publication Date: July 1st, 2025
Tenderly, I Am Devoured is a gothic fantasy with gorgeous world-building and endearing main characters. The plot is very intriguing, I enjoyed the use of gods and horror aspects to really ramp up the dark atmosphere. The romance was unusual, maybe even a little controversial, but I thought it matched the vibes of the story perfectly. Personally, this wasn't for me, but that speaks more to my tastes than to the quality of the book.
I recommend for rainy afternoons, you'll thank me later ;)
A big thank you to Netgalley and Macmillan Children's Publishing Group for sending me this ARC in exchange for an honest review!
Expected Publication Date: July 1st, 2025
Tenderly, I Am Devoured is a gothic fantasy with gorgeous world-building and endearing main characters. The plot is very intriguing, I enjoyed the use of gods and horror aspects to really ramp up the dark atmosphere. The romance was unusual, maybe even a little controversial, but I thought it matched the vibes of the story perfectly. Personally, this wasn't for me, but that speaks more to my tastes than to the quality of the book.
I recommend for rainy afternoons, you'll thank me later ;)
November 24, 2024
─ 3 ★'s
ᯓwhat to expect:
🪽 dark academia/cottagecore vibes
🪽 poly romance m/f/f
🪽 childhood heartbreak to lovers
🪽 romantic folk horror
🪽 family secrets and haunted legacies
ᯓmini summary:
the story follows fmc lacrimosa (lark) who returns home after being expelled from boarding school following a violent incident. upon her return lark discovers her family are on the brink of financial ruin. in order to save her family lark makes a deal to marry her local hometown god therion. when things go wrong her only hope is to seek out her old childhood best friend alastair and his sister camille...
ᯓwhat i liked:
༝ stunning cover and artwork
༝ beautiful atmospheric writing
༝ dark eerie gothic vibes
༝ intriguing plot
ᯓwhat i disliked:
༝ very slow pacing w/ boring repetitive parts
⤷ some flashbacks felt unnecessary and didn’t add to story
༝ romance was a miss for me
⤷ couldn't feel the chemistry. the brother/sis duo wasn't for me
༝ camile's character was underdeveloped
⤷ causing her relationship with lark to feel forced and unnatural
ᯓoverall thoughts:
loved the vibes but the slow pacing often left me bored.
i also found it hard to connect to the characters.
⊱──────────── 🦢 ────────────⊰
thank you to netgalley and publisher bonnier books UK for the eARC in exchange for a honest review
ᯓwhat to expect:
🪽 dark academia/cottagecore vibes
🪽 poly romance m/f/f
🪽 childhood heartbreak to lovers
🪽 romantic folk horror
🪽 family secrets and haunted legacies
❝The worst hurt doesn't always come with open violence. Instead, there is a tenderness before you're devoured❞
ᯓmini summary:
the story follows fmc lacrimosa (lark) who returns home after being expelled from boarding school following a violent incident. upon her return lark discovers her family are on the brink of financial ruin. in order to save her family lark makes a deal to marry her local hometown god therion. when things go wrong her only hope is to seek out her old childhood best friend alastair and his sister camille...
ᯓwhat i liked:
༝ stunning cover and artwork
༝ beautiful atmospheric writing
༝ dark eerie gothic vibes
༝ intriguing plot
ᯓwhat i disliked:
༝ very slow pacing w/ boring repetitive parts
⤷ some flashbacks felt unnecessary and didn’t add to story
༝ romance was a miss for me
⤷ couldn't feel the chemistry. the brother/sis duo wasn't for me
༝ camile's character was underdeveloped
⤷ causing her relationship with lark to feel forced and unnatural
ᯓoverall thoughts:
loved the vibes but the slow pacing often left me bored.
i also found it hard to connect to the characters.
⊱──────────── 🦢 ────────────⊰
thank you to netgalley and publisher bonnier books UK for the eARC in exchange for a honest review
July 23, 2025
3.5⭐️ I loved and hated in equal measure.
October 24, 2024
Thank you to the author for the e-arc!
Please check the trigger warnings before reading.
🌟🌟🌟🌟✨/5
Oh, my heart. This was absolutely delicious. Tenderly, I am Devoured is exactly what it promises to be- a haunting, gothic, romantic fantasy with a dash of folk horror. It just hit so many right spots for me!
Lacrimosa (Lark) was an amazing main character. It was refreshing to see an FMC who is soft and not one of the 'not like other girls' girls. Her character development was very well portrayed. Her relationship with Alastair and Camille never once felt like the stereotypical love triangle and was well developed. Lyndall Clipstone has created an immersive, intensely atmospheric world with breathtaking descriptions of the landscape and a unique belief system with chthonic gods at its center.
Art is a major theme in the book and it's full of art metaphors. As an art lover myself, I was here for it. Presented in a nonlinear narrative, TIAD also has a dark academia aspect to it.The author's prose is a sensuous feast. I came for the Saltburn vibes and stayed for the romance. I haven't read a good YA romance in a long time. This is what I'd call romantasy well done.
Overall, Tenderly, I am Devoured was a hit for me and I can't wait to dive into the author's backlist. I'd highly recommend this for fans of A Study in Drowning!
Please check the trigger warnings before reading.
🌟🌟🌟🌟✨/5
Oh, my heart. This was absolutely delicious. Tenderly, I am Devoured is exactly what it promises to be- a haunting, gothic, romantic fantasy with a dash of folk horror. It just hit so many right spots for me!
Lacrimosa (Lark) was an amazing main character. It was refreshing to see an FMC who is soft and not one of the 'not like other girls' girls. Her character development was very well portrayed. Her relationship with Alastair and Camille never once felt like the stereotypical love triangle and was well developed. Lyndall Clipstone has created an immersive, intensely atmospheric world with breathtaking descriptions of the landscape and a unique belief system with chthonic gods at its center.
Art is a major theme in the book and it's full of art metaphors. As an art lover myself, I was here for it. Presented in a nonlinear narrative, TIAD also has a dark academia aspect to it.The author's prose is a sensuous feast. I came for the Saltburn vibes and stayed for the romance. I haven't read a good YA romance in a long time. This is what I'd call romantasy well done.
Overall, Tenderly, I am Devoured was a hit for me and I can't wait to dive into the author's backlist. I'd highly recommend this for fans of A Study in Drowning!
July 4, 2025
2025 reads: 161/300
2025 tbr: 45/111
i received a digital review copy from the publisher via netgalley in exchange for an honest review. this did not affect my rating.
content warnings (from author’s website): body horror; eldritch horror; bullying; discussions of death and grief; emotional and physical abuse from a parent; descriptions of blood, wounds, and bleeding; suicidal ideation
as though being expelled from her prestigious boarding school wasn’t bad enough, lacrimosa arriscane, or lark, returns home to discover her family on the brink of financial ruin. desperate to save them, she accepts a marriage of convenience to therion, the chthonic god her hometown worships. her betrothal goes horribly wrong, though, and when she begins to vanish from the mortal realm, her only hope is alastair felimath, her first heartbreak, and his alluring older sister, camille. as they delve into the gods’ folklore, lark can’t help but feel entranced by the siblings. when they perform a bacchanalia, though, they attract the wrath of something wishing to destroy both therion and lark.
i loved lyndall clipstone’s world at the lake’s edge duology, so i was very excited to read more from her. gothic books can be hit or miss for me, but so far, clipstone’s books have all been hits. this had such an interesting plot and the lush writing really drew me into the story. i loved the dynamic between lark, alastair, and camille. love triangles aren’t normally my jam, but i think it’s safe to say this was not a typical love triangle. i also enjoyed the book’s plot twists and reveals, some of which had me really feeling for lark. overall, this was a great book. i’m looking forward to more from the author!
2025 tbr: 45/111
i received a digital review copy from the publisher via netgalley in exchange for an honest review. this did not affect my rating.
content warnings (from author’s website): body horror; eldritch horror; bullying; discussions of death and grief; emotional and physical abuse from a parent; descriptions of blood, wounds, and bleeding; suicidal ideation
as though being expelled from her prestigious boarding school wasn’t bad enough, lacrimosa arriscane, or lark, returns home to discover her family on the brink of financial ruin. desperate to save them, she accepts a marriage of convenience to therion, the chthonic god her hometown worships. her betrothal goes horribly wrong, though, and when she begins to vanish from the mortal realm, her only hope is alastair felimath, her first heartbreak, and his alluring older sister, camille. as they delve into the gods’ folklore, lark can’t help but feel entranced by the siblings. when they perform a bacchanalia, though, they attract the wrath of something wishing to destroy both therion and lark.
i loved lyndall clipstone’s world at the lake’s edge duology, so i was very excited to read more from her. gothic books can be hit or miss for me, but so far, clipstone’s books have all been hits. this had such an interesting plot and the lush writing really drew me into the story. i loved the dynamic between lark, alastair, and camille. love triangles aren’t normally my jam, but i think it’s safe to say this was not a typical love triangle. i also enjoyed the book’s plot twists and reveals, some of which had me really feeling for lark. overall, this was a great book. i’m looking forward to more from the author!
May 18, 2025
I suppose this is what I get for requesting an arc based solely on the title/cover, because wow no this story isn’t even what’s in the blurb. Like the blurb is overtly NOT what’s in the story.🤷🏽♀️🤷🏽♀️🤷🏽♀️
That wouldn’t have helped me either way, because I didn’t read it before getting it, but now that I have, I’m just so …..
Thank you to netgalley for the arc in exchange for an honest review.
SPOILERS
This book was a huge disappointment to me. The premise was so intriguing, but amidst the plentiful grammatical errors, extremely repetitive phrasing and word usage, the story fell very flat.
My honest opinion? This is not ready for publication. The bones are there. but the story felt spilled, leaked all over the place, verbose, and not well fleshed out. Hugo’s entire character made no sense, and while his reasoning was convicting, her actions were inconsistent and incredibly confusing. Therion was a letdown. He’s a god, but can’t protect himself from a teenager with two half-uttered spells in a dead language? He wants a bride - but why. He loves Lark - for what reason? His character meant nothing to me. Camille was much the same. We developed no connection to her. And you’d like to tell me they’ve been separated a decade - 10 years - and they are in love? You know that means Lark was EIGHT YEARS OLD when she left, right?! Wow. Alastair made sense as a character. His actions were sensible for the situation he was in, but every scene with his dad was shallow. I kept waiting for a moment of release, of strength, but the closure at the end was not adequate. The only character I felt conveyed any real depth was Damson. She was fleshed out nicely, her portrayal of narcissism very concise.
Overall, my impression of this book was that it was still very much a draft that needs a lot of fleshing out.
That wouldn’t have helped me either way, because I didn’t read it before getting it, but now that I have, I’m just so …..
Thank you to netgalley for the arc in exchange for an honest review.
SPOILERS
This book was a huge disappointment to me. The premise was so intriguing, but amidst the plentiful grammatical errors, extremely repetitive phrasing and word usage, the story fell very flat.
My honest opinion? This is not ready for publication. The bones are there. but the story felt spilled, leaked all over the place, verbose, and not well fleshed out. Hugo’s entire character made no sense, and while his reasoning was convicting, her actions were inconsistent and incredibly confusing. Therion was a letdown. He’s a god, but can’t protect himself from a teenager with two half-uttered spells in a dead language? He wants a bride - but why. He loves Lark - for what reason? His character meant nothing to me. Camille was much the same. We developed no connection to her. And you’d like to tell me they’ve been separated a decade - 10 years - and they are in love? You know that means Lark was EIGHT YEARS OLD when she left, right?! Wow. Alastair made sense as a character. His actions were sensible for the situation he was in, but every scene with his dad was shallow. I kept waiting for a moment of release, of strength, but the closure at the end was not adequate. The only character I felt conveyed any real depth was Damson. She was fleshed out nicely, her portrayal of narcissism very concise.
Overall, my impression of this book was that it was still very much a draft that needs a lot of fleshing out.
July 11, 2025
I'm really disappointed that I didn't enjoy this more but I lost interest in everything a bit after halfway and then I never found proper motivation to continue it so I read force-fed it to myself until I just skimmed the ending.
｡･:*:･ﾟ☆ Lark 🦢 ｡･:*:･ﾟ☆
I started off loving it but then Lark, the fmc, really annoyed me because she acted really immature most of the time and nothing was happening for the first part of the book! Literally nothing happened until around 80%- we were just stuck in Lark's mindlessly confusing and drama-filled POV- and then it got so irritating that I just couldn't be bothered anymore. Her character was so... one-dimensional. Flat. Dull. (Annoying).
There was no character development and she just seemed to do whatever the hell she wanted without thinking about it.
｡･:*:･ﾟ☆ Romance 🌿 ｡･:*:･ﾟ☆
The romance (i'm gonna be real) was reallyyy badly portrayed. It was so angsty for no reason. There was no one to root for because basically Lark was full-on yearning for everyone that was friends with her??
It was polyamory but with both the brother, Alistair, and his sister, Camille, and that was NOT what I was expecting. It felt really incestuous and weird even though Alistair and Camille weren't doing anything with each other but Lark just went from one sibling to the next, and neither of them cared. Alistair really pissed me off especially when he kept on being nice to Lark one second and then the next, he's mad at her. He was so stuck-up. Camille was nice but her and Lark's attraction was like instalove. Camille had so much potential actually but that was ruined.
｡･:*:･ﾟ☆ The plot 🥀 ｡･:*:･ﾟ☆
In terms of the plot, NOTHING made sense. Like I mentioned before, it was boring, nothing happened until the very end and then it was all messily crammed in. I don't understand the whole purpose of anything. Someone could ask me what this book was about and I'd have no words. It was a waste of time.
Overall, this book was a huge let down because I was super excited for it since it sounded so interesting. I love gothic/dark academia books but this did not hit. Also I was waiting for the dark academia but that was only in Lark's flashbacks at her boarding? So I don't think that labelling this 'dark academia' fits the aesthetic but gothic does, I guess.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for the ARC in exchange for my honest opinions!
--------------------------------------------------------
🍂˚✧ ₊˚ʚ TBR 🕊 ˚✧ ₊˚ʚ
Idk when im going to read this but hopefully soon 🥲
I originally had this on my tbr, then took it off for some reason and now i have it back on again bc i got the netgalley arccc
It sounds so good omg i hope i love it
｡･:*:･ﾟ☆ Lark 🦢 ｡･:*:･ﾟ☆
I started off loving it but then Lark, the fmc, really annoyed me because she acted really immature most of the time and nothing was happening for the first part of the book! Literally nothing happened until around 80%- we were just stuck in Lark's mindlessly confusing and drama-filled POV- and then it got so irritating that I just couldn't be bothered anymore. Her character was so... one-dimensional. Flat. Dull. (Annoying).
There was no character development and she just seemed to do whatever the hell she wanted without thinking about it.
｡･:*:･ﾟ☆ Romance 🌿 ｡･:*:･ﾟ☆
The romance (i'm gonna be real) was reallyyy badly portrayed. It was so angsty for no reason. There was no one to root for because basically Lark was full-on yearning for everyone that was friends with her??
It was polyamory but with both the brother, Alistair, and his sister, Camille, and that was NOT what I was expecting. It felt really incestuous and weird even though Alistair and Camille weren't doing anything with each other but Lark just went from one sibling to the next, and neither of them cared. Alistair really pissed me off especially when he kept on being nice to Lark one second and then the next, he's mad at her. He was so stuck-up. Camille was nice but her and Lark's attraction was like instalove. Camille had so much potential actually but that was ruined.
｡･:*:･ﾟ☆ The plot 🥀 ｡･:*:･ﾟ☆
In terms of the plot, NOTHING made sense. Like I mentioned before, it was boring, nothing happened until the very end and then it was all messily crammed in. I don't understand the whole purpose of anything. Someone could ask me what this book was about and I'd have no words. It was a waste of time.
Overall, this book was a huge let down because I was super excited for it since it sounded so interesting. I love gothic/dark academia books but this did not hit. Also I was waiting for the dark academia but that was only in Lark's flashbacks at her boarding? So I don't think that labelling this 'dark academia' fits the aesthetic but gothic does, I guess.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for the ARC in exchange for my honest opinions!
--------------------------------------------------------
🍂˚✧ ₊˚ʚ TBR 🕊 ˚✧ ₊˚ʚ
Idk when im going to read this but hopefully soon 🥲
I originally had this on my tbr, then took it off for some reason and now i have it back on again bc i got the netgalley arccc
It sounds so good omg i hope i love it
August 30, 2025
3.5 stars
So, if Saltburn and A Study in Drowning had a gothic fantasy romance book baby, it would probably look something like Tenderly, I Am Devoured. It might be a bit weird, feverdreamy and unconventional, but there's no denying that the vibes are just vibing real good, so it kinda works?
I'll be honest, I wasn't sure how or if the story inside would ever be able to live up to the alluring cover and title (especially after seeing some mixed reviews), but Clipstone honestly pleasantly surprised me here. From the very first page, the darkly folkloric vibes, devastatingly poetic prose, and gloriously gothic horror aesthetics just had me fully immersed, and I really enjoyed all the subversive twists and turns as the story unfolded.
That said, Lacrimosa was unfortunately just a bit of a shallow protagonist for me, and I feel like I should have understood her on a way deeper level considering the fact that we get to see her tumultuous journey unfold in both the past (3rd person POV) and present (1st person POV). Her actions didn't seem to make much sense to me most of the time, but then I also don't know if they even made sense to herself, so there's that.
As for the romantic element... LOVED the angst and yearning, I will always eat that up. Also really appreciated the drama-free and positive (though slightly tragic) m/f/f poly dynamic, even if it weirded me out a bit that the two love interests of Lacrimosa are siblings. But hey, you do you, babes.
Ultimately, I think Tenderly, I Am Devoured might prioritise vibes and style a bit too much over everything else, but I was somehow still here for it. If you like the sound of a dark gothic fantasy that seamlessly blends folklore, horror, dark academia, mystery and romance, I would definitely give this one a shot.
So, if Saltburn and A Study in Drowning had a gothic fantasy romance book baby, it would probably look something like Tenderly, I Am Devoured. It might be a bit weird, feverdreamy and unconventional, but there's no denying that the vibes are just vibing real good, so it kinda works?
I'll be honest, I wasn't sure how or if the story inside would ever be able to live up to the alluring cover and title (especially after seeing some mixed reviews), but Clipstone honestly pleasantly surprised me here. From the very first page, the darkly folkloric vibes, devastatingly poetic prose, and gloriously gothic horror aesthetics just had me fully immersed, and I really enjoyed all the subversive twists and turns as the story unfolded.
That said, Lacrimosa was unfortunately just a bit of a shallow protagonist for me, and I feel like I should have understood her on a way deeper level considering the fact that we get to see her tumultuous journey unfold in both the past (3rd person POV) and present (1st person POV). Her actions didn't seem to make much sense to me most of the time, but then I also don't know if they even made sense to herself, so there's that.
As for the romantic element... LOVED the angst and yearning, I will always eat that up. Also really appreciated the drama-free and positive (though slightly tragic) m/f/f poly dynamic, even if it weirded me out a bit that the two love interests of Lacrimosa are siblings. But hey, you do you, babes.
Ultimately, I think Tenderly, I Am Devoured might prioritise vibes and style a bit too much over everything else, but I was somehow still here for it. If you like the sound of a dark gothic fantasy that seamlessly blends folklore, horror, dark academia, mystery and romance, I would definitely give this one a shot.
July 3, 2025
This book is a poly pansexuals dream (nightmare?)
Unfortunately everyone is so young (acting? they’re at least 20 I think?) all anyone does is kiss and dry hump.
Being shared between a brother and sister in a YA book was a choice !!!!!
I liked the plot… for the first 50% until I got so bored… but the romance was almost too much. It was unbelievable and not well written. I was completely unconvinced any of these people liked each other. They were incredible horny tho so good for them I guess!
Everyone was really annoying and SO FLAWED except the sister who’s just boring. Usually flawed is not an issue for me, but I would have liked to LIKE someone????
There were quite a few university flashback chapters that had nothing to do with anything.
That was so strange.
Unfortunately everyone is so young (acting? they’re at least 20 I think?) all anyone does is kiss and dry hump.
Being shared between a brother and sister in a YA book was a choice !!!!!
I liked the plot… for the first 50% until I got so bored… but the romance was almost too much. It was unbelievable and not well written. I was completely unconvinced any of these people liked each other. They were incredible horny tho so good for them I guess!
Everyone was really annoying and SO FLAWED except the sister who’s just boring. Usually flawed is not an issue for me, but I would have liked to LIKE someone????
There were quite a few university flashback chapters that had nothing to do with anything.
That was so strange.
November 29, 2024
ARC received through the author & NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
In all honesty, where do I even begin? Tenderly, I Am Devoured was pretty much everything I hoped for - and more. I fell for the cover and stayed for the blurb, and when it was announced that you could apply for an arc I didn’t even hesitate. After receiving the e-arc, however, I kept putting it off. Why? I have no idea. But I did - until I didn’t.
Friends, this quickly became one of my top three books of 2024. 🤩
In this book we meet Lacrimosa, a young woman who returns home after spending years away attending school. Reunited with her brothers, only to discover deep, dark family secrets - while having to face the boy who broke her heart, falling back in love with him and his sister (Alastair & Camille) - who both have a special place in her heart. But the fate of both her and her young heart lies in the hands of a God - Therion - whom she is to wed, in order to help her family.
Tenderly, I Am Devoured may have an absolutely gorgeous cover that speaks to me on so many levels, but the content outmatched it. This book has such beautiful prose; and the descriptive writing painted such a clear picture for me as I dove deeper and deeper into it. Perhaps diving into the depths to find my own Swan God. 🦢✨ I fell in love with this book hard and fast, and found myself being as in love with the setting of TIAD as I was with the moors of Wuthering Heights.
Gothic and poetic, a lovely mix of folk horror and romance. The horror elements were eerie (and did have me thinking of Lovecraft for a hot second), which I’m all about, and the love between Lacrimosa and the siblings were so different. Where it was hard and painful between her and Alastair, hurting my bleeding cancerian heart, the love between Lacrimosa and Camille was sweet and innocent, making sure to heal that very same heart. ❤️🩹✨
It’s safe to say that I’m absolutely obsessed with this book and I can’t wait for its release, so that I can get my hands on a physical copy. I’ve never wanted to annotate a book as much as I want to with this one. ✍🏻
In all honesty, where do I even begin? Tenderly, I Am Devoured was pretty much everything I hoped for - and more. I fell for the cover and stayed for the blurb, and when it was announced that you could apply for an arc I didn’t even hesitate. After receiving the e-arc, however, I kept putting it off. Why? I have no idea. But I did - until I didn’t.
Friends, this quickly became one of my top three books of 2024. 🤩
In this book we meet Lacrimosa, a young woman who returns home after spending years away attending school. Reunited with her brothers, only to discover deep, dark family secrets - while having to face the boy who broke her heart, falling back in love with him and his sister (Alastair & Camille) - who both have a special place in her heart. But the fate of both her and her young heart lies in the hands of a God - Therion - whom she is to wed, in order to help her family.
Tenderly, I Am Devoured may have an absolutely gorgeous cover that speaks to me on so many levels, but the content outmatched it. This book has such beautiful prose; and the descriptive writing painted such a clear picture for me as I dove deeper and deeper into it. Perhaps diving into the depths to find my own Swan God. 🦢✨ I fell in love with this book hard and fast, and found myself being as in love with the setting of TIAD as I was with the moors of Wuthering Heights.
Gothic and poetic, a lovely mix of folk horror and romance. The horror elements were eerie (and did have me thinking of Lovecraft for a hot second), which I’m all about, and the love between Lacrimosa and the siblings were so different. Where it was hard and painful between her and Alastair, hurting my bleeding cancerian heart, the love between Lacrimosa and Camille was sweet and innocent, making sure to heal that very same heart. ❤️🩹✨
It’s safe to say that I’m absolutely obsessed with this book and I can’t wait for its release, so that I can get my hands on a physical copy. I’ve never wanted to annotate a book as much as I want to with this one. ✍🏻
June 1, 2025
3.5 stars
First of all, everyone needs to take notes on how to design a cover bc this is GORGEOUS.
This book feels like cottagecore meets dark academia. You’ve got the flower crowns, lace, and a cottage by the sea. However, it has this darker, gothic, eerie vibe and you’ve got Lark attending school in the “then” chapters, which brings in that dark academia feel.
I wasn’t super invested in the characters but still really enjoyed the author’s descriptive writing style which added so much into creating this beautiful atmosphere. I also really loved the lore of this world! would recommend!
First of all, everyone needs to take notes on how to design a cover bc this is GORGEOUS.
This book feels like cottagecore meets dark academia. You’ve got the flower crowns, lace, and a cottage by the sea. However, it has this darker, gothic, eerie vibe and you’ve got Lark attending school in the “then” chapters, which brings in that dark academia feel.
I wasn’t super invested in the characters but still really enjoyed the author’s descriptive writing style which added so much into creating this beautiful atmosphere. I also really loved the lore of this world! would recommend!
June 14, 2025
I’m sorry but the main character being named “Lacrimosa” really took me out. Her name is literally “weeping”, which I guess fit the overly dramatic mood this book was going for. The plot was tenuous at best. If you’re looking for a story that is the vibes of A Study in Drowning but with maybe half the substance, here you go.
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July 4, 2025
3.5
*Review to come*
*Review to come*
May 20, 2025
4.25⭐️
i tenderly (aggressively) devoured this book.
this story felt incredibly intimate on so many levels, and it was clear how personal it was to the author — it was woven into every page. our main character, lark, felt completely laid bare throughout the story, and i felt very sympathetic toward her during certain moments.
my favorite part was the descriptive, poetic writing style — it drew me into the setting right away. it was transformative; i felt like i could see, smell, and taste everything. it’s one of the most atmospheric books i’ve ever read. it reminded me a lot of a study in drowning, with that same dark, ethereal, fairytale vibe that i personally love and am obsessed with. i really hope the author writes more stories set in this universe, because with such beautiful worldbuilding, i’d love to see everything expand.
plot wise, it had some twists i didn’t expect, which i enjoyed. i didn’t mind the slower pacing. i was just enjoying the ride, in awe of the beautiful writing. i also love books with dual timelines that eventually connect, where everything slowly falls into place. the ending felt a little rushed for me though. there were a few things i would’ve liked explained a bit more, but at the same time, i got the sense that some of the unanswered parts were intentional, not accidental.
i did wish for a little deeper character work, as i felt i couldn’t fully grasp some of the characters, especially camille. still, the relationships in this book were so nuanced and interesting. there was a lot of physical and emotional intimacy explored, and the dynamics felt complex and unfamiliar to me in a way that kept me on my toes, which i really liked.
huge thanks to author lyndall clipstone for kindly sending me an e-ARC.
i tenderly (aggressively) devoured this book.
this story felt incredibly intimate on so many levels, and it was clear how personal it was to the author — it was woven into every page. our main character, lark, felt completely laid bare throughout the story, and i felt very sympathetic toward her during certain moments.
my favorite part was the descriptive, poetic writing style — it drew me into the setting right away. it was transformative; i felt like i could see, smell, and taste everything. it’s one of the most atmospheric books i’ve ever read. it reminded me a lot of a study in drowning, with that same dark, ethereal, fairytale vibe that i personally love and am obsessed with. i really hope the author writes more stories set in this universe, because with such beautiful worldbuilding, i’d love to see everything expand.
plot wise, it had some twists i didn’t expect, which i enjoyed. i didn’t mind the slower pacing. i was just enjoying the ride, in awe of the beautiful writing. i also love books with dual timelines that eventually connect, where everything slowly falls into place. the ending felt a little rushed for me though. there were a few things i would’ve liked explained a bit more, but at the same time, i got the sense that some of the unanswered parts were intentional, not accidental.
i did wish for a little deeper character work, as i felt i couldn’t fully grasp some of the characters, especially camille. still, the relationships in this book were so nuanced and interesting. there was a lot of physical and emotional intimacy explored, and the dynamics felt complex and unfamiliar to me in a way that kept me on my toes, which i really liked.
huge thanks to author lyndall clipstone for kindly sending me an e-ARC.
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