Thank you to NetGalley and Henry Holt & Co. for providing an ARC for review.

It’s hard for me to know if this book is another victim in my current reading slump. However, I spent a good portion of this book bored. The atmosphere is brooding, to the point of melodrama. By the 50% mark I found myself frustrated and uninterested.

There are many flashbacks to Lark’s time in school. These sections are both too long and too short. For a good portion of the beginning, figuring out the mystery of why Lark left school was more exciting than the god plot. However, once the mystery is revealed, this plotline is completely dropped in a way that is deeply unsatisfying. It feels that this section distracted from the chthonic plotline in a way that does not justify the time it took up. It honestly feels like there were two separate books here: a girl struggling in academia, torn between a challenging family life and her toxic relationship with her best friend, ending in violence, plagiarism, and expulsion – or a book about a girl getting wrapped up in a fantasy plot involving a god. The melding of these two disparate portions felt disjointed to me, and as a result I found this book challenging to engage with and enjoy.

I didn’t mind the romance as much as other people. Using siblings in a why-choose romance can head into questionable territory, but I felt that since it was more of a hinge polyamourous relationship rather than a throuple, it was more tolerable. Being fully transparent though, I did skim the last 35%, so it is completely possible that I missed or misunderstood something.

One final gripe – I genuinely don’t understand why Saltburn is being referenced at all to advertise this book. Perhaps to describe how Lark felt consumed by Damsen in their toxic relationship? But once again, that was a relatively short portion of this book, and apart from that, the two stories have relatively little in common. (Which is a shame! I loved Saltburn.)

This book made me taste the salt on my lips and feel the sea on my skin.

The imagery in combination with the poetic prose made this story tangible. I connected with the characters so deeply and was feeling everything along side them!

This read is full of growth as Lacrimosa finds her true purpose and true connection.

I highly recommend this read if you love the sea and crave a taste of a chthonic world.

I really enjoyed this book! I loved the Mythology of Therion and wished we had more of his backstory. I loved the dreamy feeling this book gave me. The cover is so aesthetically pleasing to me. While I loved the story, I wasn't too into the borderline incest vibe going on with Lacrimosa being involved with siblings, i completely get that it isn't incest but it did feel icky when she'd go from kissing the sister to then kissing Alastair. Overall this was very enjoyable!

Tenderly, I Am Devoured is an emotionally charged and poetic read that explores deep themes of love, loss, and personal struggle. The writing itself is beautiful, with vivid, lyrical prose that often made me pause and reflect. The emotional intensity of the story is palpable, and there are moments that really hit hard, offering a raw, honest look at the human experience.

However, at times the pacing felt uneven, and the abstract nature of some sections made it difficult to fully connect with the characters or the plot. The narrative can be a bit too introspective, leaving some readers wanting more clarity or structure in the story.

While it’s a moving and thought-provoking book, it didn’t completely resonate with me in the way I hoped. It’s a solid read, but the emotional depth doesn’t always translate into a fully satisfying experience.

Tenderly, I Am Devoured by Lyndall Clipstone is a dreamy Gothic tale with complex world building and tender storytelling. It may be great for fans of moody, character-driven novels, but it may not appeal to everyone.

4/5 ⭐️
Gothic. Promised to a god. Cults. Secrets. Queer. Poly relationships.
So, reviewing this book is tough. First half, I adored. I know some other reviewers said it was on the slower side, and it was. But I liked it. It leaned into the atmospheric and mystery. It felt so reminiscent to an Erin A Craig book, who I love. And more specifically her, Salt And Sorrow book with the whole gods and seaside thing. I loved all that. I love the creepy gothic elements. The uncertainty if something is happening or what someone is withholding. I loved the rich history between some characters. I loved that the characters acted the age. However, I did not like the second half as much. If the first was slow, the second was running at break neck speed. And some choices and decisions just wasn’t for me. Even then, I still found my gaze skimming sections of the second half.
So the rest of this will contain slight spoilers, nothing crazy, but I want to share what I wish was different. Though that being said, what I didn’t love, someone else might.
First thing I would’ve changed would be to cut the flashbacks. Actually I lied. I didn’t mind them. They were great showing how rich and torturous Lark and Alastair’s history was. I more specifically would’ve cut the school stuff. At the end of the day it did nothing to the plot or character development. It just took up time that could’ve been used to slow the latter half down.
I also would’ve loved more gothic stuff. Like it started off strong. But then was thrown to the wayside in the second half. I would’ve loved if kept building like it does in Erin A Craig’s books.
The other major thing I would’ve change would’ve been Lark & Camille. Felt random. Like if you cut the romantic tension it wouldn’t affect the story. I could’ve liked it more if either Lark was sort of using Camille as a surrogate for Alastair or their relationship in general had been built up. Like Camille went off to school so early, leaving lark & Alastair to get closer. And the latter two always felt closer than the former two in the flashbacks. The end result just left a strange taste on my tongue. Like her going after the two siblings mostly for no reason? Alastair I understand. Camille, no. And it also shows cause Alastair gets to be more involved in the plot and has a whole arc while Camille feels so secondary. The poly thing then felt so cringe and forced. Especially since it’s with siblings. Honestly, Camille could’ve been completely cut and the story would’ve been stronger. And it’s nothing against Camille and Lark getting together. I would’ve been more behind it if it was built up more like hers and Alastair’s was.
Final thing. The “sex” scene felt SO random. Like it wasn’t built up to. Didn’t add to the plot or character development. Plus to do it on the abusive dad’s desk right after he left the room. Idiotic
So in the end, I would recommend this book to anyone who likes the things I listed at the top. I totally think someone else will love this entirely. I just personally left feeling meh, could’ve loved it more with a few tweaks.
Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Children's Publishing Group for providing an advance reader copy of this book for my honest review.

Can we talk about that beautiful cover first !?
GORGEOUS!

This was my first read by Lyndall and it won’t be my last ! She is so poetic and her words are so beautiful!

This features a unique story line that offers a LGBTQ representation! It was a fantasy thriller that was slow at times but honestly the pace that it went in , I grew to love and in the end I didn’t want it to end ! This was giving me black swan but gothic . Perfect for fans of saltburn or Ava Reid !

Can’t wait to read again and get a physical copy !

I feel like I just had the tenderest fever dream ever. Tenderly, I am Devoured is a title that fits perfectly the book itself. The writing style is poetic, gorgeously descriptive. It is definitely slow paced, yet I could not put it down simply because of the beautiful imagery that the author was able to concoct with each sentences, page after page. It was calm, yet tumultuous. It has undoubtedly some Saltburn and The Secret History references, which was a delight, especially combined with the folklore and cottagecore elements. It is rare that a book perfectly delivers on what they advertised, but it truly did with this one. It’s such a unique read, I enjoyed it immensely. I feel like it’ll become a comfort read.

oh this is one of THOSE. the ones that alter your brain chemistry, got it got it. cool cool cool. WOW i am just in awe that there are minds of real people out here who write and tell stories like this. i wish every single person would pick this book up immediately, it’s not one that’s leaving my mind anytime soon

GOTHIC ROMANTASY IS SOMETHING I NEVER KNEW I NEEDED! This book was EVERYTHING that I could have ever wished for. I absolutely adored the main character, Lacrimosa, and I definitely recommend this book to EVERYONE. Lyndall Clipstone, I was unaware of your talent!

Lyndall Clipstone is known for her YA fantasies with a dark twist and she continues this theme with Tenderly, I am Devoured.

While I really enjoy Clipstone’s writing, and the story is original and creative as always, I had the same issue with this book that I did with the Lakesedge duology: it’s underdeveloped. The fantastical elements in this book were great, and Clipstone created a beautifully dark atmosphere, but I really struggled to connect with the main characters and felt that the plot needed some work to avoid holes and unanswered questions.

Additionally, the romance plot of this one was a little all over the place. It’s polyamorous, which isn’t an issue, but I don’t feel that it was communicated very well.

Don’t get me wrong, I still really enjoyed this book and I think that a lot of YA readers will love it. With some more work I feel that it could have been in the vein of Ava Reid or Rebecca Ross. Make sure to check TWs before reading. 3/5

I loved this!!! So much fun to read, I’ll definitely be buying a physical copy for myself! I flew through this with ease and I’ll be recommending to friends.

Thank you to Macmillan and NetGalley for providing me with this ARC! All opinions below are my own.

With this being my first Lyndall Clipstone book, I can confidently say this won’t be my last. For enjoyers of Rebecca Ross and Ava Reid, I URGE you to pick up this book asap! The entire book is written almost lyrically, and the vivid descriptions result in easily visualizing the gothic seaside setting and immersing yourself into the story almost immediately.

While some of the pacing with the relationships is a little odd, I didn’t ever have the feeling any of it wasn’t believable. From found family to healing relationships within blood family, and even breaking away from toxic dynamics- this book portrays almost every aspect of human relationships down to their very core. Each and every character has depth that makes them stand out in their own ways, and feel quite real. This fantasy world also normalizes m/m and f/f pairings, which is incredibly refreshing to see in a fantasy period. Given the sensuality of some romantic scenes, I’d definitely say this would be more upper-YA.

Overall, I loved through this book and couldn’t put it down. Truly, this is a wonderful stand-alone with just enough romance, just enough horror, and the right amount of gothic. While the plot seemed somewhat slow at first, it quickly picked up into something I have no regrets reading and wish I could pick up for the first time once again.

This was a super atmospheric read. It was tough for me to really care about Lark. When a protagonist is too naive, it's super irksome to me. There's a thin line between naive and just annoyingly simple.I wasn't super on board with the brother and sister's relationship with Lark. I'm over triangles.

I am a HUGE fan of gothic romances, so this was right up my alley. It was lush, atmospheric, lyrical. It brought to mind my gothic favorites (The Last Tale of the Flower Bride, A Study in Drowning, and even the author's previous works Lakesedge). I actually enjoyed this one a lot, and will happily recommend this for anyone wanting an immersive read during the fall or the dead of winter. Perfect vibes.

✍️Lyndall Clipstone
🦢Tenderly, I am Devoured
📚Publish date: 1/7/25 🇦🇺

Lyndall is a South Aussie author who I have briefly met at one of her book signings last year, so I was stoked to get an ARC copy in exchange for my honest review. Thank you to @netgalley and @lkclipstone 💕

Tenderly, I am Devoured is a gothic, YA horror / romance with dark academia vibes. Lyndall’s writing style is so poetic and beautiful, it really is something else. I read Unholy Terrors last year and loved it, so the bar was high for this one.

Tenderly is heavily influenced by Saltburn, and this is evident in the story. Think love, heartbreak and betrayal (and stunning gothic architecture).

However, I actually could have forgone the dual timeline and left the Damson/Lark story alone much earlier to focus more on the m/f/f dynamic between Lark, Alistair and Camille. There is a lot of positive queer representation woven into the story. I felt like Alistair and Lark were more “fleshed out” romance wise than Lark and Camille… It would have been nice to get to know her more. Their polycule - hmmm… I’m not sure about it… No spoilers! I loved the relationship between Lark and her brothers though, and would have liked to get to know them more.

Overall, I enjoyed the descent into a world of betrayal and heartbreak, angst, tension, love, gods and ancient folklore. It reminded me of how I felt reading Rebecca Ross’ books (which are also brilliant) but with an element of horror and tension thrown in amongst the magic.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

#netgalley #netgalleyreview #lyndallclipstone #tenderlyiamdevoured #2025bookstoread #gothicliteratureauthors #queerrepresentationinbooks

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC of this book. All opinions are my own.

I fear I’m never recovering from the devastating beauty that was this book. I fell head over heels for Lark, Therion, Camille, and Alastair. I want to move to Verse. I will worship the swan god. I will do whatever they want. This altered my brain chemistry in the best way. It’s so hard to put into words what I felt for this book, but I loved it. It felt so visceral and real. Once I picked it up, I couldn’t put it down. Lyndall has a way of creating these vivid worlds and characters you want to be or be in love with and it’s no surprise I felt that way about this book.

If you’re looking for a moving book that will never actually leave you, pick this one. I promise it’s everything. But I’m not sharing Alastair or Camille, sorry.

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for an advance reader copy of TENDERLY, I AM DEVOURED.

This novel is stunning. Gothic vibes with a chilling atmosphere at its finest. The prose alone is like music, each sentence gorgeously written. Lark returns home suddenly from her boarding school, but mystery shrouds the reason until the time to reveal is just right emotionally, for both the characters and the readers. Soon, we’re introduced to the salt mines, and Therion, the swan god Lark’s hometown prays to. An old bargain struck comes to light—Lark is to be Therion’s bride—but the bond is not solidified causing a chain reaction of events no one could see coming. For readers who love found family, bi representation, emotionally rewarding characterization, mystery, and cults, this now and then timeline novel will captivate your senses in every way possible. You don’t want to miss out on this read.

Tenderly, I Am Devoured is a perfect blend of A Study In Drowning meets A Dowry of Blood. This surprising little stand alone manages to pull off so many unique elements at once, its astounding.

The book centers around Lark, a university student thats come home to find that her family is about to lose everything. Her brothers have long owed money to the nefarious and wealthy Felimath family; who have come to collect in the form of Lark's former childhood friend Alastair. To ensure that her family is saved, she chooses to sacrifice herself to their region's water god, which comes with some unforeseen complexities.

We follow Lark in two timelines, with one being her days at school. and one present timeline. The school arc is emotionally battering, but most certainly entertaining. The present timeline focuses on the aftermath of Lark's sacrifice, and her reconnection with the Felimath children; Alastair and Camille.

The space the novel is set it is a fantasy east coast village, though alternate reality would be more appropriate. While the regional specifics are their own, the technology and societal values fit our world nearly perfectly, and the reader is drawn into a fictional "Maine" costal space where elite universities flourish and sea gods quietly watch over the residents. Like A Study in Drowning, the wet, isolated, lonely seaside town is a character in itself

This is a standalone with truly exceptional characters. Most of the characters do not get a detailed personal backstory, but theres a strong amount of inferring though action that shows us who these mysterious people are. Think "The Secret History". the author does expect you to take time and drink in what exactly you are reading, and follow the character's actions rather than plainly detailing all of their traits in clean cut ways. Ive seen some criticism for this, that some folks felt the character relationships were not believable- however- I felt the burning intensity of those relationships and was completely struck by just how much Lyndall Clipstone can make you experience with a more subtle style.

I wasn't sure what to expect with this book, but based on the plot, and considering all of the romantasy books trying to be beauty and the beast these days, I was worried. Luckily, the book is very grounded, and while Lark's god is a relevant part of the story, this story is almost completely "real world" set, and NOT in fact, focused on such a romance.

This is a 3 person romantic endgame, and the romance is beautiful and sensual, with a lot of show and not tell and deep, intense longing. Depending on the character pairs, the relationships are both slow and fast burns, but the lifelong relationships the characters have and some of the backstory add to the intensity of the romance and make it even more wonderful.

I will go over the romance in detail in my blog, linked at the top of this review.

Tenderly, I Am Devoured is a soap opera gothic that makes no apologies for what it is- focusing primary on intense and all consuming character relationships with a bit of a larger than life and over the top arching secondary plot that is fun, fresh, and engaging to follow. For me, the book turns a lot of knobs that I personally like and executes them very well. I highly recommend this book to dark academia fans looking for something a little more gothic, a little more queer, and a little less self obsessed with its own relationship to bookishness.

Tenderly, I Am Devoured is a genuine gothic to the bone, so of course, it is moody, romantic, and surprisingly sensual.

This was a great read, immediately captivated me and kept me engaged throughout whole time.

The prose is poetic and impressive, and the gothic atmosphere maintained throughout is so engrossing I felt I was there with the characters