This book was... interesting. The blurb is pretty accurate to the story - Lark gets sold off by her brothers to their local god Therion in exchange for a good harvest. They try to stop the process, but Lark goes around them and agrees anyway. I will say that, even with the heads up about her romance with both of the Felimath siblings, the way it was written about was just a bit odd for me. The style of the author's writing was good but I just didn't resonate with the material. While this wasn't bad, it just wasn't great. I'm giving this three and a half stars but rounding down - I just wasn't there to be able to round up.

Thanks to Henry Holt and Co. and Netgalley for the advanced readers copy for my unbiased review.

This book had so much potential. Like the cover, it’s beautiful. However, once you look past the pretty words, everything else feels… kind of flat. The plot had a cool setup but never really went anywhere, and the worldbuilding could have been stronger. Things happened way too fast without enough explanation or emotional weight…like Lark being told to marry an immortal god and just going “okay sure” five seconds later. The characters, especially Lark, never felt fully realized/developed. The side characters were forgettable.

The romance was probably the weirdest parts, which I feel like I should have expected from the description, so that’s on me. Lark ends up in a poly relationship with two siblings. This didn’t feel organic. Honestly, it felt forced and uncomfortable. There wasn’t enough chemistry or development to make it work. It just gave me the ick more than anything. Plus, the flashbacks slowed things down and felt more like filler than anything important.

Overall, Tenderly I Am Devoured is all vibes and beautiful writing, but the story and characters don’t go deep enough. It’s not a bad read—just one that didn’t live up to what it could’ve been.

This is one of those “buy it for the gorgeous cover, read it for the gorgeous words” kind of books.

And the vibes are 𝙞𝙢𝙢𝙖𝙘𝙪𝙡𝙖𝙩𝙚.

𝙏𝙚𝙣𝙙𝙚𝙧𝙡𝙮, 𝙄 𝙖𝙢 𝘿𝙚𝙫𝙤𝙪𝙧𝙚𝙙 reads like A Study in Drowning meets The Secret History. All art academia and gothic, flowery prose… but with salt cave shrines and swan gods and artsy girl angst and an insufferable rich boy and his alluring older sister.

It’s a delightful mix of horrormance / dark academia / folkloric fantasy, and it somehow manages to feel both hauntingly fresh and comfortingly familiar.

synopsis:
𝘚𝘢𝘥 𝘰𝘳𝘱𝘩𝘢𝘯 𝘨𝘪𝘳𝘭 𝘨𝘦𝘵𝘴 𝘬𝘪𝘤𝘬𝘦𝘥 𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘰𝘧 𝘢𝘳𝘵 𝘴𝘤𝘩𝘰𝘰𝘭, 𝘮𝘢𝘳𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘴 𝘢 𝘴𝘸𝘢𝘯 𝘨𝘰𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘴𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘧𝘢𝘮𝘪𝘭𝘺 𝘧𝘳𝘰𝘮 𝘧𝘪𝘯𝘢𝘯𝘤𝘪𝘢𝘭 𝘳𝘶𝘪𝘯… 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘴 𝘨𝘰 𝘩𝘰𝘳𝘳𝘪𝘣𝘭𝘦 𝘸𝘳𝘰𝘯𝘨 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘴𝘩𝘦 𝘮𝘶𝘴𝘵 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘬 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘪𝘯𝘴𝘶𝘧𝘧𝘦𝘳𝘢𝘣𝘭𝘦 𝘳𝘪𝘤𝘩 𝘯𝘦𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘣𝘰𝘳 𝘵𝘰 𝘧𝘪𝘹 𝘪𝘵 𝘸𝘩𝘪𝘭𝘦 𝘴𝘶𝘧𝘧𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘩𝘢𝘶𝘯𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘷𝘪𝘴𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘴 𝘣𝘺 𝘢 𝘤𝘩𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘯𝘪𝘤 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘭𝘮.

The world building is absolutely intoxicating- think salt-soaked hems, velvet ribbons, coastal wildflowers, bonfire sparks, endless oceans, and whispered prayers.
And the m/f/f poly romance? Stunning. Fresh. Well executed done.

𝘼 𝙢𝙪𝙨𝙩 𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙙 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙜𝙤𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙘 𝙗𝙪𝙗𝙗𝙡𝙚𝙜𝙪𝙢 𝙝𝙤𝙧𝙧𝙤𝙧 𝙜𝙞𝙧𝙡𝙞𝙚𝙨 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙙𝙖𝙧𝙠 𝙖𝙘𝙖𝙙𝙚𝙢𝙞𝙖 𝙖𝙧𝙩 𝙡𝙤𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙨!

Thank you to the author & NetGalley for this arc in exchange for my honest review.

In Tenderly, I Am Devoured, Clipstone’s ethereal, poetic prose is on full display. This story was like being pulled into a fever dream - immersive, atmospheric, and haunting. I was immediately drawn into Lark’s world!

I loved the combination of folktale horror and dark academia, engaging the reader in several different plot points. I was just as invested in Lark’s expulsion from school as I was with Alastair’s reasons for ending their friendship. I adored each of the characters and the different types of love on display (familial and romantic). Lark’s growth throughout the novel is an especial highlight as she reclaims her identity and purpose.

This story has themes of identity, acceptance, friendship, and is full of love. It’s perfect for fans of Kelly Andrew, Ava Reid, and Hannah Whitten!

Thank you to NetGalley, Macmillan Children’s Publishing Group, and Henry Holt and Co for the e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

“ℑ 𝔥𝔬𝔩𝔡 𝔥𝔢𝔯 𝔱𝔦𝔤𝔥𝔱𝔩𝔶, 𝔣𝔢𝔢𝔩𝔦𝔫𝔤 𝔱𝔥𝔢 𝔣𝔯𝔞𝔫𝔱𝔦𝔠 𝔟𝔢𝔞𝔱 𝔬𝔣 𝔥𝔢𝔯 𝔭𝔲𝔩𝔰𝔢 𝔦𝔫 𝔪𝔶 𝔬𝔴𝔫 𝔠𝔥𝔢𝔰𝔱. 𝔖𝔥𝔢 𝔨𝔦𝔰𝔰𝔢𝔰 𝔪𝔢, 𝔱𝔥𝔢 𝔰𝔥𝔞𝔯𝔢𝔡 𝔱𝔞𝔰𝔱𝔢 𝔬𝔣 𝔬𝔲𝔯 𝔰𝔬𝔯𝔯𝔬𝔴 𝔞𝔰 𝔟𝔦𝔱𝔱𝔢𝔯 𝔞𝔰 𝔱𝔥𝔢 𝔰𝔢𝔞. ℑ 𝔴𝔦𝔰𝔥 ℑ 𝔠𝔬𝔲𝔩𝔡 𝔨𝔢𝔢𝔭 𝔥𝔢𝔯 𝔱𝔥𝔦𝔰 𝔠𝔩𝔬𝔰𝔢 𝔣𝔬𝔯𝔢𝔳𝔢𝔯, 𝔣𝔬𝔩𝔡 𝔥𝔢𝔯 𝔦𝔫𝔰𝔦𝔡𝔢 𝔱𝔥𝔢 𝔰𝔱𝔯𝔲𝔠𝔱𝔲𝔯𝔢 𝔬𝔣 𝔪𝔶 𝔟𝔬𝔫𝔢𝔰, 𝔱𝔲𝔠𝔨 𝔥𝔢𝔯 𝔰𝔞𝔣𝔢 𝔟𝔢𝔫𝔢𝔞𝔱𝔥 𝔪𝔶 𝔥𝔢𝔞𝔯𝔱.”

Published: 01/07/25 (ARC)
Genre: Fantasy, gothic, horror
Page count: 304
Format read: 📱
Other books read by this author: None

𝐓𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐥𝐲, 𝐈 𝐀𝐦 𝐃𝐞𝐯𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐞𝐝 is a masterpiece of a novel filled with haunting, lyrical prose. A bisexual gothic daydream exploring themes of ritual & religion, family dynamics, & class divides. A story of opposites: the disparity between loving brothers & abusive fathers, sprawling mansions & country cottages, academia & rural life, gods & mortals, friendship & betrayal. The characters & the relationships between them that ebb & flow like the tide are complemented beautifully by the settings, with descriptions so vivid they are almost an assault on the senses; the scent of sea salt & wildflowers, the crash of waves & the whisper of turned pages & footsteps through galleries, the taste of blood. An utterly perfect novel.

Thankyou so much to @netgalley & @lkclipstone for the ARC.

I feel as though my reread of a study in drowning right before this book was a bit unfair to it. Not because it's better at anything in particular, but the gothic, WET, anxious setting was familiar enough that I got a bit confused lol. Also, the beginning of this book was... rather slow. It took quite a long time to get going, and it took me days to get to 50%- not due to disinterest in the setting, the characters, or the events, but just because it felt like we were meandering towards the plot when all I wanted to do was run to it. The writing is beautiful, as it was in Lakesedge, but I admit it got tiresome when we could not stop explaining how beautiful everything was instead of getting to the point. But alas, I am not a particularly visual reader as I can't picture vivid scenes in my head like I wanted to while reading this.

Lark is a beautiful protagonist who's soft but determined, Alistair is a spicy but tempting little guy, and Camille was soooo charming. I loved these characters, and I loved their chemistry and interactions! Their relationship is top tier alongside my other queer ya fantasy/horror/whatever-this-genre-is books (Kelly Andrew, CG Drews, Ava Reid, etc), I just wish we got to the point of this book a little bit quicker.

Can we just take a moment for how beautiful this cover is? This isn't even the kind of story I would normally choose, but I literally could not resist this cover and title.

With that out of the way, I want to start with the prose. It was so beautiful, atmospheric, poetic even. My last couple of reads had issues with their prose, so Lyndall Clipstone's was a breath of fresh air. I also really enjoyed the character work. Lark's (my softie sweetie pie baby) growth and self-discovery was so compelling, and even though I'm not typically interested in stories that feature multiple love interests, I liked that her feelings for Alastair and Camille didn't result in a love triangle. I like the representation that their dynamic provides. And the chemistry between them was perfection. The worldbuilding was also EXCELLENT. Artistic, Gothic setting, chthonic gods (with a Hades/Persephone vibe), rituals... I wish I could read this again for the first time.

Why 4 stars instead of 5? The pacing was rough for at least the first half, maybe more. Slow and very hard to stay invested, which in turn, forced the latter half to be way too fast to the point of being almost unsatisfying.

I'd recommend to fans of sultry (YA) vibes, interesting worldbuilding, and bisexual polyamory.

Thank you Lyndall Clipstone and Macmillan Children's Publishing for the advanced readers copy. All opinions are my own.

3.5 stars! this was such a unique book! tenderly, i am devoured is full of beautiful imagery & writing that creates a lovely coastal, gothic atmosphere. the aesthetic throughout the entire story is perfect!

the main character, lacrimosa (i’m OBSESSED with this name!!), is soft & gentle which is such a nice change of pace from a lot of fantasy fmcs. alastair was well-developed too, but i wish we got more from the rest of the characters, especially camille. i wasn’t completely sold on the romance aspect of this story; i’m all for a polycule but the siblings thing was a little odd for me (no weird stuff happened lol).

i enjoyed this beautiful story but i think better developed characters and/or romance would have really taken this to the next level!

thank you to netgalley, macmillan children’s publishing group, & henry holt & co. for the ARC in exchange for my honest review!

Flower-threaded horror romance story Tenderly, I Am Devoured will sweep you away to Lark’s windblown cottage on the coast of Verse, a place rich with folklore and presided over by Therion, the swan god Lark’s family has worshipped for generations.

Lark Arriscane returns home from school in shame on her eighteenth birthday expecting to fall into a familiar rhythm with her brothers, but when she arrives, she receives a chilly greeting from her former childhood friend Alistair Felimath. Alistair has come to collect on her family’s debt, abruptly and without clemency.

Lark calls on Therion for aid, entering into a bargain sealed with a kiss - Therion will deliver her family into prosperity, and she will become his bride. However, Lark’s betrothal ceremony doesn’t go as planned, and she has no choice but to accept the help of Alistair and his bewitching sister, Camille, to restore her bond with Therion before it’s too late.

I loved everything about this - complex, multifaceted characters, a rich and immersive setting, a slow burn poly romance, and a bittersweet gothic story that kept me on my toes until the end.

I want to tuck these characters into my heart and keep them safe forever! Lark is so relatable and I wished I could hold her hand through it all. She suffered some deep heart wounds at the hands of those she held most dear, but never lost her empathy and her tender soul. Camille and Alistair are a perfect pair - light and dark, sensual and strong, and the three of them together really are a complete picture. And Therion?? I love a chthonic immortal who’s on his knees, begging please.

The atmosphere is incredibly immersive - I could smell the salt on the sea air and the sacred smoke from Therion’s altar, Camille’s strawberry perfume and the fragrance of black tea steeping on Lark’s kitchen table. The history, architecture, and art of Astera were described so clearly and it was easy to imagine Lark strolling along the streets, perusing flower stalls and dipping her feet into the river.

As a character-driven reader who adores a romantic gothic tale, I couldn’t dream of a more perfect book to read on a stormy evening.

Lacrimosa, Lark, was expelled from her boarding school and returns home to a near empty house and ruin on the horizon. To save her family she agrees to marry the chthonic god of the sea. When the ritual is interrupted by an unknown figure, she must seek help from Alistair the boy who broke her heart and his captivating sister Camille. Her longing to be accepted by them grows into something much deeper as they race to fix whatever was broken by the unfinished ceremony.
Dark and lyrical this book creates a world wrapped in mystery and magic. Fast paced and twisty, this horroromance kept me guessing till the end. Get swept away as a girl is trying to figure out if she still wants the boy who broke her heart... or his sister. Or both? A creepy angst-filled ride into the depths of longing.
Friends. This book is gorgeous. The dark whimsy and gothic seaside aesthetics are perfect for discovering the reality behind the local folklore. Lark has learned a hard lesson and comes home seeking comfort and refuge only for her very foundations to be shaken. She must weigh the cost of her own heart against her family and her search for the answer leads her into unknown waters of all sorts. It’s a beautiful story of being haunted by your own desires and the power in claiming them.
The mystery is fabulous. I was honestly guessing until the end. I had so many theories and it was a surprise at every turn. It’s a perfect balance of horror, romance, folklore, and suspense all with dreamy prose and toe-curling chemistry.

Tenderly, I Am Devoured is my first book by Lyndall Clipstone.

Her writing is so beautiful. The way she describes the characters and their worlds makes you almost feel like you're right there with them. I really enjoyed the folklore that was threaded into the story. It made it even more unique.

Lark was very likable, as were Alastair and Camille. Her brothers were as well, and I could feel how much they loved her. The relationship between Lark, Camille, and Alastair was interesting, and I was quite invested in how that would progress throughout the story.
I liked that there were also characters that were villainous, especially the ones that you wouldn't expect to turn out that way.

There were many twists and surprises throughout the story. I gasped in a few situations because I truly didn't expect what happened.

It was a wonderful story above love, found family, trust, sacrifice, and growing up.

Arc review!!
This book is a beautiful examination of the strengths of love and trusting others even after betrayal and heartbreak. A heroine who is soft and her softness is strength. Who is the hero of the story because of her love and kindness!

This is a beautiful spring time gothic story that I absolutely cannot wait to see hit shelves!

TWs for child abuse including physical abuse

This gothic underwater fantasy 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 dynamicThe pacing felt a bit slow at first, but it picked up in the last third, with well-executed revelations and a satisfying conclusion.

A folk horror tale about a girl coming home to fight for what she loves most and relearn who she is in the process.

Lacrimosa "Lark" Arriscane has just been kicked out of her prestigious boarding school after the betrayal of her best friend takes a violent turn. Upon returning home, Lark soon learns that her family is broke and desperate to escape their financial debt. In a last-ditch attempt, Lark agrees to marry the swan god, Therion, in exchange for the salt mines her family runs to be refilled with their prosperous goods. Unfortunately, the betrothal doesn't quite go as planned, and Lark finds herself connected to a god who is quite literally beginning to disappear from the world. With few options remaining, Lark turns to Alastair and Camile Felimath, her childhood best friends who she hasn't spoken to amicably in years. They must do everything they can think of to restore Therion to his former glory and save Lark in the process.

"Tenderly, I Am Devoured" has been on my most anticipated read lists since December of last year. I've been sitting on the ARC for quite some time, but I finally got around to reading it. Unfortunately, I didn't adore it as much I hoped that I would, but it was still a good read. Folk horror is a genre that has greatly intrigued me, but I feel that most of them I've read aren't as great as I hoped they'd be, so maybe it's just not typically a genre for me.

The complex world, god system, and magical elements in this book are a bit ambiguous and unexplained, but that isn't necessarily a bad thing. It just had me doing a double take now and again and led to me having to overly explain myself when people asked what this book was about. I think the world Clipstone crafts is really cool and that Therion was an interesting concept, despite the fact that he didn't do all that much throughout the course of the novel.

The chaotic bisexuals in this book are also pretty iconic (and I mean this is the best way possible). Lark literally kisses all the important characters that she isn't related to in this book, so I never knew what Lark was going to do romantically. I believe that this is the first poly book that I have ever read, which I also found super insightful. Lark is greatly attracted to both of the Felimath siblings, which is quite an interesting dynamic. Camile makes her thoughts on the situation obvious quite early in the novel, but I was intrigued by how Alastair was going to react to this fact. (He ended up also being a chaotic bisexual, so it all worked out in the end.)

Clipstone creates such an enthralling atmosphere. The way she writes is so lyrical and beautiful, especially when it comes to describing emotion. This became a tad frustrating at times, though, because I felt that flowery language was taking over the narrative at certain moments.

On the surface, this book is a story of a girl who must marry a swan god to save her family, but it also explores so much more. Lark has been betrayed time and time again by those she loves, so her learning to love herself and find her self-worth is a super important part of this story. Learning to trust those she loves that have wronged her in the past in another important element of this story that most readers can (sadly) relate to.

I think the biggest downfall of this one for me is the pacing. It took a while for much action to really occur, and I spent over half of this book wondering what the main plot line was. This book really reads like a magical slice of life story with some creepy moments that add to the horror-esque vibes. Some moments in this book felt a tad repetitive, too, but this wasn't a major concern of mine.

Overall, "Tenderly, I Am Devoured" is a beautifully penned folk horror novel that utilizes figurative language and a haunting atmosphere to the max. It may not have been my most favorite novel ever, but I really enjoyed learning about Lark and the Felimath siblings. I would definitely be interested in checking out more of Clipstone's work in the future and seeing if it ends up resonating with me or not.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read the eArc!

I had such a great time with this book and the writing is absolutely beautiful. It's so atmospheric and immersive. The way that Verse is described along with their dreamy coastal homes, the wind, the sea, the salt. I could just imagine it all so well. The characters are lovely and there are some villains that added a bit more to the story. The folklore was so intriguing and dark but unique.

I was also really curious how the dynamic between the three of them would play out. With Lark loving both siblings and the siblings loving Lark. I'm glad that there wasn't any jealousy or that the love triangle didn't cause conflict. Seeing Lark's relationship with Camille grow along side Lark's relationship with Alastair was equally beautiful with plenty of yearning and tension.

This book is so thoroughly unique and elegant. The world that Clipstone creates is one entirely of its own and a refreshing change to most recently published YA fantasy. I highly enjoyed the way each character’s sexuality was handled without making the novel about their sexuality, as it makes it so much more real and raw. The ending had me in tears, both happy and devastated.

Tenderly, I Am Devoured is beautifully written like the grandeur of a symphony. With the melodic waves of love, the minor notes of a variation expressing hurt and longing, and the lull of an ethereal chord that ends with a tidy sustained note. Reading this was like drifting along with the music, much like letting the tide drift you out to sea.

Lyndall Clipstone has written one of the greatest gothic romances I have ever read. It’s tender, with such a capacity of love shown with the open relationships between Camille, Lacrimosa, and Alastair. It’s raw, with the pain and emotions that come with the growing pains of coming of age and discovering yourself. It’s incredibly atmospheric, with a gothic seaside setting that is sure to sweep your deepest romantic dreams off their feet!

If this book isn’t already on your TBR, then don’t sleep in adding it and making it a top read once it releases!! It’s for sure a new comfort read for me, and I cannot wait to dip below its surface once more.

This book was very unique, in plenty of ways. The descriptions used were amazing. The atmosphere felt eerie yet cozy all at the same time. The god we get to see into this book felt so new and fresh, I hope we can maybe get a story for one of the other gods that are alluded to in the book in the future. I feel like that would be interesting. My only bone to pick with this book (which might just be my personal preference) is that our main girl Lacrimosa felt very indecisive when it came to who she wanted to be with. Which is fine, I guess if you are into potential why choose trope. I don't want to get too into it because I would hate to spoil it.

Thank you NetGalley for the arc.

I absolutely loved this book! Reading this felt like being swept away into a fairytale, it was so easy to digest and I instantly feel in love with the world, the characters and the story.

The writing is so incredibly poetic and I loved how quickly I was immersed in Lacrimosa’s world. This is spooky forests, dark hidden caves and an ocean that is basically an entirely separate character throughout this book. Our FMC Lark is such a lovely character and I thoroughly enjoyed being in her head and around her family, especially her brothers Henry and Oberon. She is so sweet and kind, but also brave and strong and I love the how much she changes based on her experiences, but in a way that makes it feel like she’s learning and growing as a person. All of the characters, especially the antagonists, evoked such emotion out of me. I found myself wanting to throw my kindle across the room multiple times because I was so mad at some of the characters, but I also love that because it means that I was emotionally attached to Lark and cared so much about her success. And each character was so dynamic and complex, they never felt like they were just there to further the story along.ie motivations felt genuine the entire time and I appreciated that so much.

The writing was also so beautiful and prosaic, I really enjoyed the flowery writing and I think it added to the overall story so much. I truly felt swept up in the fantasy. And I loved that the past was written in third person, while the present was in first person. It added so much depth to the story and while I’m not usually a fan of dual timelines, this choice made it feel so much more cohesive and less abrupt each time we went back into the past.

Definitely check your triggers as this does get quite dark at times, but if you’re a fan of A Study In Drowning by Ava Reid or Don’t Let The Forest In by L.G. Andrews then I highly encourage you to pick this up, I think you’ll thoroughly enjoy it!

Dark, moody, eternally gothic, this novel is an exquisite example of YA romantasy. The Felimath siblings jump from the page, and Lark is a disgruntled force to be reckoned with.