I wanted to like this book so badly, but it sadly just did not work for me. I truly enjoyed Clipstone's other book Lakesedge, which made me jump at the chance to read Tenderly, I Am Devoured. I found the book extremely repetitive and slowly paced. In the beginning the idea of the main character being betrothed to a Cthonic God and having all of these rituals involved was interested...and that was about it.

This one did not work for me, but I greatly appreciate the chance to read an ARC of this book. Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for this opportunity.

This is my first Lyndall Clipstone book, and I am now completely in love with her writing. Her style of prose is so beautifully lyrical and it captures the setting of Verse with its mountains and grey water.

*References to the plot in my review below. I’ve tried not to be too spoilery but there will be some small ones in the discussions of events and relationships!

I loved the unraveling of Lark’s story — she doesn’t want to talk about why she was expelled from her school so close to her graduation, so we only get little pieces of her time there, until she’s finally able to talk about what happened. The way she was treated by Damson was so heartbreaking to read. Damson manipulated Lark into not going home to spend time with her brothers, both of whom she absolutely adores, so that she can separate Lark so that she only relied on Damson.

Then, when Lark returns to Verse, she has to engage with Alastair, who treats her terribly despite their previous closeness. He is cold and cruel and it’s so hard to see him treat Lark so awfully when she’s trying to save her brothers from selling their home. Of course as the story goes on we get to know Alastair better and see that there’s a reason for his behaviour. Alastair finds a way to be brave, and to make it right with Lark. I love Alastair and I just want to hug him.

Lark is also reunited with her childhood friend, Alastair’s sister Camille, who had been away at another boarding school. The two girls are drawn to each other, and their interactions are so loving and supportive as they fight for a way to fix the *problems* that they’re facing.

Lark is also drawn to Alastair, which is quite the triangle, but neither he nor Camille seem to mind that they are both drawn to Lark. They have their own relationships with Lark, and as siblings, they love each other and protect one another always.

This is one of my favourite Lark quotes:
I don’t want to be something fragile, too delicate to touch. If I must be glass then I want to be the razored edge of a broken pane—sharp and dangerous.

Lark has had so many hard things happen, and I love the way she is standing up for herself and the people she loves. She isn’t going to allow herself to be taken advantage of or to be protected and kept in the dark anymore. This leads to another one of my favourites:

It’s so much easier to be protected from hurts, but there’s strength in knowing, even if that knowledge brings pain.

This resonated with me and has stayed with me. I believe in this so strongly — most of us probably understand the feeling of going along in ignorance of something, and because we don’t know that we’re missing something, it doesn’t matter. It hurts to find out and even though there might be times when it would be so much easier not to have ever known… the not knowing isn’t reality. Being hurt and finding a way to deal with reality and continuing on in spite of it… that’s what life is about.

Thank you to Lyndall Clipstone for sharing this book as an e-arc! I’m so grateful to have had the chance to read this gorgeous book!

4.5 rounded down to 4 stars!

I loved this book! It was amazing in so many ways. This is a gothic, haunting romantic fantasy with a little splash of folklore. Lark was an awesome FMC. She was soft with amazing character development. This book is extremely atmospheric. I would recommend this to so many different readers as this is such a good YA book.

3.75 ⭐️ this is my first Lyndall Clipstone novel and wow did the writing in this book really speak to me. It was so eloquent and beautiful that I found myself smiling just because the storytelling was so naturally beautiful.

I’m so happy I went into this blind because the suspense of Larks past really kept me engaged. Now that I’ve read the book synopsis it really gives a lot away so I recommend going in blind as well :)

Tenderly I Am Devoured is about learning to trust after being betrayed by the ones you love most and also finding your purpose when the one you’ve always had is ripped from you.

It is recognizing that the ones who hold you so tenderly at one time in your life have the true power to devour you.

Favorite quotes:

“If I must be glass then I want to be the razored edge of a broke pane - sharp and dangerous”

“The worst hurt doesn’t always come with open violence. Instead, there is tenderness before you’re devoured”

Hauntingly beautiful, this book captured me from the very beginning and never let me go from it's grasp. Lyndall has created this gothic setting that is perfect parts eerie and beautiful and has such beautiful prose. I loved polyamorous relationship with Lark and the two siblings Alistair and Camille. It was magnificently built up and executed.

Lark has been expelled from her boarding school and when she returns home, her brothers are talking to Alistair, her childhood crush that broke her heart. Alistair is demanding repayment for the debts her brothers owe his father. After Alistair leaves, Lark sneakily follows her brothers to the altar of the chthonic god Therion. She finds them speaking to him, something she didn't know was possible, and Therion is demanding Lark as his bride in exchange for restoring the failing salt mine on the family's property. Lark eventually agrees and during the ceremony, chaos ensues.

Of note, there are themes of child abuse, emotional manipulation domestic violence, religious trauma, and cults, so please read with care. I didn't see a trigger warning at the beginning of the ARC, so I'm unsure if one will be included in the final copy.

This is an amazing story of love, loss, and fighting to protect those you love.

Review goes live June 9

A lushly-written, atmospheric gem. Clipstone has created a unique world with a vivid setting that I loved!

First of all, a huge thank you to the author, Lyndall Clipstone for sending me this ARC.

This book was beautifully written and the way Lyndall gave life to this unique relationship was incredibly well done.
The only struggle I really faced reading this was the pacing in the beginning. I love a good slow burn but it took me a bit to get into.
Once I did get into this though, I devoured it.
The relationship between brother and sister Alastair and Camille, and their shared girlfriend Lark is so unique and beautiful and I really enjoyed reading about them and watching it all unfold in the Then vs. Now type format.

I really enjoyed this book. I loved the gothic mood. It definitely had vibes similar to A Study in Drowning but still felt unique and fresh. I was a bit nervous about the pacing of the book but it ended up being done very well.

I enjoyed the themes of escaping abuse. The message that abuse can come in so many different forms and can happen in many different types of relationships was very powerful. Then all those characters being able to break free was beautiful.

The only thing that I noticed was there were times where I think the writing was meant to be poetic but because similar phrases were used, it fell a little flat at a couple points. Overall, though, it was very well done and I would definitely read more from this author.

I loved Lyndall Clipstone’s last book but sadly, Tenderly, I Am Devoured was not for me. I found the plot to be lacking complexity and I don’t think it is described accurately. It’s not really horror. It’s gothic and I do love the way she writes but I didn’t enjoy the plot of this story.

It felt as though it didn’t have much plot and there wasn’t really a reason to include the before sections. Damson wasn’t connected to anything in the now chapters and therefore the whole story of before could have been one chapter for background.

That being said, the rest of the now section lacked depth. I wanted to know more about Camille and Alastair and also Therion. The Salt Priests plot was also not followed through at all. It felt like an afterthought because there really wasn’t anything happening for most of the story.

Without the character development, I also found the romance plots to be lacking.

Overall, I’d read this author again but wouldn’t recommend this particular book.

⭐️⭐️

A captivating tale by Lyndall Clipstone. I was enchanted by this gothic romantic fantasy.

The unfolding of Lacrimosa’s tale in the past and present had me desiring to know about this world and these people. For lovers of art, Clipstone intricately weaves rich history and storytelling of artists past with the present day characters. As usual I fell for the dark cthonic god that is clearly meant to make people run, but I’m here for his feathered glory.

Clipstones prose is always enchanting and I find myself swept away as I partake in the elegance.

Feathered elegance, minor possession, cultish rituals and a boy a girl and girl finding their way in life. If you enjoy stories with tangled romance, dark gods, and young women finding their way, you’ll certainly enjoy Tenderly, I am Devoured.

There were some aspects that had me wishing for more. The poly style relationship with young adults felt like it needed a little more conversation around it. The brother/sister aspect is something I wish I was aware of before reading, it’s not crossing lines of taboo but something I wish I had recognized in the marketing. There were also moments that I wish more connection had been made between what the characters were going through instead of jumping to the next scene.

After being expelled from her school and her dreams, Lark returns home to a bare salt mine and a home on the brink of financial drought. However, while spying on her brothers, she hatches a plan to save the land that raised her: she'll marry Therion, the god her hometown worships. On the night of her wedding, though, she's interrupted first by her Camille, childhood-crush-turned-enemy's alluring older sister, then by her childhood-crush-turned-enemy himself, Alastair, who saves her from... something? The point is that, while Lark is now married to Therion, she was ripped from him, meaning he'll be mad that he has no access to his bride. Lark reluctantly convinces Alastair and Camille to help her bring Therion back, but their journey is more than they bargained for.
If I had to describe this book in one word, I'd call it ethereal. From the cover to everything in between, there's an otherworldly sense around the plot, the characters, and the setting. The romance was floaty in a sense that felt just out of reach, yet the yearning was so palpable that I could taste it as sharply as I felt the salt on my tongue. I was so invested in Lark's journey at school and why she was expelled, rooting for her passion for the arts, which I felt reflected in myself.
And the poor Felimath siblings. They may come from richness, but the darkness of their father is more powerful than any light the gold could shine. They're so sweet with Lark, though. It was endearing how caring they were with each other and with Lark, helping their childhood friend through her perilous quest.

Hauntingly beautiful and intimately wrought, Tenderly I Am Devoured is a gorgeously soft gothic tale soaked in salt, sorrow, and longing. Lyndall Clipstone has crafted a story that is dark yet delicate, eerie yet full of emotional tenderness—a fairytale for the haunted heart.

Set in a world of crumbling estates, wind-bitten coastlines, and half-remembered magic, this novel is lush, lyrical, and profoundly atmospheric. The writing is nothing short of poetic—so vivid and sensory-rich that you feel the sea spray on your skin and the ache of the tide in your bones. Few books feel this immersive. It’s one of those rare novels that reads like a painting in motion, where setting and emotion blend seamlessly into every line.

This is what you might call “soft gothic”—it has the familiar moody aesthetic and themes of isolation, hidden trauma, and beauty tinged with decay, but with a gentler, almost girlish tone that gives the entire book a quiet vulnerability. There’s a softness even in the darkness, and the result is something both unique and emotionally resonant.

The heart of the story is Lark, a protagonist written with raw intimacy. Her emotional journey feels deeply personal and unguarded, like peeling back layers of grief, yearning, and transformation. You feel her unraveling, her uncertainty, her quiet strength—and it’s this emotional honesty that gives the novel its soul.

Though the pace begins slowly, it’s purposeful—giving the reader time to settle into the world’s rhythm, to breathe with it. The final portion quickens with tension and momentum, but it never loses sight of its emotional core.

Lyndall Clipstone writes some of the most atmospheric stories I’ve ever read—her books always make me want to curl up in a stormy cabin with a hot cup of tea while rain lashes the windows. Tenderly, I Am Devoured was no different. This was my first dive into a more traditional gothic romance, and it absolutely delivered.

I’ve been describing it as “soft gothic”—it has that deliciously dark, moody tone you'd expect from the genre, but it still maintains a soft, almost girlish vibe throughout. It’s eerie and romantic, but never bleak.

I don’t typically gravitate toward poly or “why choose” romances—I usually find myself rooting for just one pairing—but Lyndall completely won me over. I found both Alastair and Camille equally compelling, and the dynamic between them felt emotionally believable and beautifully done.

It was also a super fast read—I devoured it in just two days (which is saying a lot when you have a toddler!). I’ll always pick up a Lyndall Clipstone book, and this one proves she’s only getting better with each release.

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. 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 wanted to love this book so much. The cover is amazing and description sucked me in. But the book just didn’t do it for me. I think it was the pacing for me. I thought the plot was great but everything just seemed to happen so fast. Maybe I would have appreciated a longer book to have more build up between things. I didn’t have time to really get to know the characters and care for them. I just didn’t feel for them at all.

That being said I did like a lot of things with the book. I loved this world we were in. With Gods being semi present and worshipped based on where you lived. I loved the FMC overcoming so many things and learning she has a whole future ahead of her. And I loved the mystery/adventure we went on in the book.

I think I would have fell in love without this book if I had more time to live in it with the characters. Thank you so much for the eARC. I am very grateful to have received it.

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.

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.

Couldn’t get into this book. I struggled staying interested and connecting with the characters. I loved the cover art for this book.

i’ll start by saying the cover of this is so stunning, and when i first saw it i knew i wanted to read it from the gorgeous cover alone. (yes i judge books by their covers, we can’t all be perfect.)
THEN when i saw it marketed for fans of saltburn and a study in drowning, as well as being described as a “moody, monsterously gothic romantasy”, i was eagerly anticipating this release so i was thrilled to get an arc! but did it deliver? well enough!
i will say that the prose was haunting, lyrical and elegant without being purple. the writing in this was absolutely gorgeous. i LOVED it! i was enthralled by the setting, but it was so vivid, descriptive, and raw. Verse was beautiful.
BUT it was honestly say there were some slow and boring parts. i also think the relationship in this book wasn’t perfectly fleshed out? it just felt a little all over the place. which i understand due to the nature of their falling out or whatever. which is okay, it just didn’t flow in a way i would have liked to see. and camille didn’t have too much of a personality?
the plot was captivating and interesting, but later became a little slow. i also feel like lark didn’t get the closure or completion she needed.
my hopes were super high for this, though i didn’t hate it. this book was a fever dream, overall lovely! thank you to the author, publisher, and netgalley for letting me read it!

Sometimes you get stories that are written so beautifully they are like paintings on a page; Tenderly I Am Devoured is one of those. Sumptuous, filled with vivid descriptions that transport you to Lark’s ocean and salt tinged home and like a tide, drags you from there, to the city, to the estate, before returning back to the start. The last 20% was more action filled, and I almost missed the slow pace of the first portion that allowed you full immersion into the heartbeat of the story.

The love story/ies threaded through were the least interesting part of the book. No incest, which based on the blurb, was a mild worry for me. Not the biggest fan of Hugo and his machinations, but we got so little time with him, that of course his development was stunted in comparison.

This is the perfect mildly horror-esque gothic story to sink your teeth into by a fire with a cup of steaming tea and blistering snow-laced winter winds (or churning waves) roaring outside.

Thanks so much to NetGalley, the publisher, and Lyndall Clipstone for the eARC.

This was a pleasant surprise of a read. I get why it’s being compared to Saltburn but it’s not quite that. The vibes are staring-across-an-ocean and Greek myth. My only criticism is about how many people were instantly in love with Lark for almost no reason. But the resolution was very well done with only mild drama.