this book had so much potential to be something really beautiful. dripping in unique atmosphere, i fell in love with the world lyndall created and was hypnotized by the lore of the gods. i was optimistic about the set up—i was promised saltburn vibes and while that definitely delivered, the plot felt so superficial and the characters were quite petulant and immature. this story did not make sense through the eyes of an 18 year old and i had a really hard time connecting with even a single character for that reason. the poly couple being with siblings felt kind of yucky, and the whole rekindled friendship to lovers felt super rushed and forced making the whole romance unbelievable. we didn’t get enough context to really understand the dynamic between lark, camille, and alastair prior to them reconnecting as young adults outside of the fact that they hungout all the time as kids being neighbors (it was sort of described as a friendship of convenience though?) and while i could see a semblance of chemistry between alastair and lark, the camille bit felt super out of left field. also the hatred she placed in alastair felt super misplaced and unnecessarily heightened…lark kept saying he did this big terrible thing and he quite literally had no choice but to let her go. she also folded for him pretty quick for someone who spend 4 years despising this man.

i wanted so much more from therion in this one. the whole betrothal to a god storyline felt like an afterthought and definitely was not the dominant focus as advertised. therion being their altered all powerful god made me expect him to be fearsome and intimidating, and the whole book he was so easily manipulated and swindled. hugo (again, a child) being the main villain felt out so out of place, and really confused me how he was so easily able to bring this all powerful god to his knees. it was just disappointing as i was expecting so much more.

in all, this wasn’t a terrible read but i really think it could benefit from some reworking to refocus the main themes and an edit for pacing. there felt like too many loose ends and unaddressed plot points when we wrapped things up that certainly needed more exploration.

Tenderly, I Am Devoured is a beautifully written story that left me with some mixed feelings overall, but is one that I really appreciate for what the author did with the story and how lovely it was to read. I really loved the darker, moody atmosphere that the author created and how well it set the tone for the story. I appreciated the way the characters were introduced and developed throughout the story. There are also some weird dynamics between some of the characters in this one that I wasn't sure of. Flashback chapters can sometimes be hit or miss for me, but I think they worked well in this book for establishing Lark's character and how everything was set up in this world. The world-building was really interesting, and I was taken by surprise I think by how many things were different, as I wasn't expected it for some reason! The main thing I struggled with was that it felt like it took a long time for this story to really get going, and I think I expected something slightly different based on how it was advertised. I didn't find myself as enamored with the plot itself as I'd expected to be, and it's largely Clipstone's writing that kept me reading at times, though I'm really glad I finished this one and gave it a shot! Overall, this is going to be a huge hit for many readers, and I had a good time with it as well!

I am absolutely floored by the beauty of this book. It is not at all what I expected it to be, and is, somehow, even more well done than I could have hoped. Lyndall Clipstone has done an exquisite job here, in crafting the characters and the world in which they exist on top of the chthonic lore that is so intricately tied into everything else.

Lark has been away from home for years, disgraced by her expulsion from school in her senior year and confronted with the reality that her brothers' salt business has all but run dry, forcing them to sell nearly everything they own to pay off their cruel neighbor and money lender. Desperate to save her family, Lark accidentally discovers that the only way to restore the salt mines is for her to marry their local god. Devastated by recent events, Lark agrees--only for the ceremony to go wrong, leading her down a dark path trying to make everything right, with the only people to help her the son and daughter of her family's debtor, the former having broke her heart years ago in a way Lark had never fully recovered from.

There are so many twists in this I didn't see coming. Some were plot related, some character related, but all extremely well executed. The descriptions are so lovely and eerie, creating this layered atmosphere, the language bringing you deeper in with each new aspect of the world revealed. I was brought in by the name of the book, and the prose absolutely justified my curiosity. This may be darker than I usually go with a lot of my fantasy, but it's so well done. I can't wait to see what Clipstone has for us in the future!!

So many thanks to NetGalley and Henry Holt & Co for the digital ARC in exchange for my honest review!

Rating: 4.5 stars

Review posted to StoryGraph: June 28, 2025 (https://app.thestorygraph.com/reviews/ee59f58d-07d3-467b-b075-df2dccad636b?redirect=true)
Review posted to Instagram: PENDING

3.75 STARS!

This was incredibly beautiful and gothic and I ate up the way that love and sexuality was explored so fluidly throughout this story. I felt the anguish and confusion of a lot of the characters in this story. Love the elements of demon, magic, and how atmospheric everything was. The relationships were everything and you learn that family can come in many shapes and sizes.

The reason I did not rate higher is selfishly I would have loved for this to be more adult, however I can still appreciate the way this story was told. Definitely a story I would recommend to others who love a good gothic fantasy romance that is not just one-sided.

Thank you to Lyndall Clipstone, Macmillan Publishing, and NetGalley for the eArc!

I had read this author’s first book and wasn’t sure that I would go for another one. I will say that this was overall stronger than her first. I liked the flashback chapters showing the main character’s youth and time in boarding school - it built suspense and tension. However, while the author created a good moody and eerie atmosphere after the first quarter, the book seemed to slow down considerably after the past chapters ended. It was quite long and not a lot happened through the middle section. It might have been edited a bit more. There was also quite a strange relationship between the main girl and a brother and a sister; it wasn’t incest, but it was a bit odd and not treated as strange at all.

I think this book would be good for readers to enjoy moody Gothic vibes with a lot of angst and don’t mind that there’s not too much action or plot happening. For me, I think I would’ve liked it edited down to about half or 3/4 of the length.

" Tear away at the veil at the heart of the woods, lay yourself bare on the bough of a golden tree. Let us be unstrung down to our bones, loosen from the world. Under the open air, we shall seek the gods."

Dam, where to begin.... I really, really loved the characters in this book; Lark, Alistair, and Camille were such an interesting group of main characters.

I didn't know what to expect when I first started the book. I really think it would be an interesting and complex dark romance, but it surprised me! Ironically, it was more tender than I thought it would be.

I fell for Lakrn so hard since page one, I found her so sweet and just... wet cat *crying* like she was all sad and all these unfortunate events happened to her! I was heartbroken after what happened at the bonfire and the event, and the person who basically made this whole thing take flight, I wanted to strangle Dasmon and Jen, I actually cried with anger.

I was a bit surprised by how easily Camille slides into the plot and into Lark's life, like I can definitely see if she was forever hung up on Lark and it was a never-got-over-you, but I didn't get that vibe? idk I did like their relationship, and I thought it was cute, so I was willing to overlook stuff.

ALSO THAT LARK PLOTWIST?? HOLY FUCK DID NOT SEE IT!

Now, the reason why I didn't give it a 5-stars

I hated how little Therion was actually in the book, LIKE for how integral he was to the plot, it was wild we saw him so little, I also wish he had interacted more with Lark, and the whole thing with him and Alistair was okay? I think it was a very easy scape goat, but I low-key wanted Lark to go away for the salt harvest and then have her life, OR for Alistair to die.... I was kinda disappointed in the ending, but I'm not gonna lie, I liked the character enough to be satisfiedish with the ending.

Tenderly, I Am Devoured has all the makings of a classic for the gothic genre. There’s mystery, family secrets, and a small cast all wrapped in a misty seaside at the edge of the world. It is dark and dreamy, full of tension, grief, and longing.

I found myself pulled into the story more and more as it went along, especially as secrets came to light.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an eARC in exchange for an honest review!

Tenderly, I Am Devoured is a refreshing young adult gothic fantasy. Set in a dark coastal town that worships the chthonic god Therion. Our main character, Lacrimosa (Lark), comes home after years abroad to find that all is not well with her family. She decides to make a deal with Therion: in exchange for marriage, he'll help her family get out of debt. Things don't go to plan, and she ends up seeking help from her ex-best friend and his sister.


I gave this book 3stars. This book had a slow beginning, and then the ending was pretty rushed. I would have liked the relationships in the book to be explored a bit more, and I wish this book wasn't being marketed as a YA, maybe more as an NA. I think also slightly weird (spoiler alert).......... the girl is being shared between two siblings and a god. The siblings remind me of Charles and Camilla Macaulay from Secret History, in a way. This book is perfect for anyone who likes Ava Reid or Krystal Sutherland. If you're looking for a dark coastal cottagecore fantasy, this would be the perfect book for you.

Thank you to NetGalley, Lyndall Clipstone, and Macmillan Children's Publishing Group | Henry Holt and Co. (BYR) for this e-ARC in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.

Ethereal, languid, and…yes, tender. Reading this felt like waking from a fog-filled dream where nothing really happens—you feel content and light, but are left a bit wanting.

The atmosphere was the clear strong point, and I really enjoyed the (admittedly rare) moments where we saw the sea, the wind, the cave. The book then hops back and forth between this, the homes, and the school. The school was a far less interesting setting, and that whole storyline felt a bit disjointed and unnecessary.

I also didn’t feel very invested in the characters, and while we did see some interesting backstory, they just didn’t feel very fleshed out to me. The “husband” 😏was my favorite character, but we didn’t get to see him very much. I didn’t see much growth in any of them.

Overall, I felt that almost every aspect that I enjoyed wasn’t explored enough, while a lot of the focus went elsewhere. I kept putting the book down and having to push myself to pick it back up, but I felt pleasantly calmed each time I did this.

I’d recommend this for fans of both: literary fiction and YA. Don’t expect a lot of romance (yes, even at the YA level), though it is sapphic and the atmosphere itself feels romantic. There are some beautiful moments here. ❤️

I was all set to love this book. It swept me up into a misty, atmospheric, gothic fever dream, and it wasn’t until it ended that I realized that although the vibes were there, the foundation was not.

While it is an ephemeral, lush, yearning-filled, flower-threaded folk horror book, the characters almost universally were underdeveloped. Lark’s brothers, who raised her and are deeply important to her are present for maybe two chapters of the book. Hugo’s character didn’t make a lot of sense, and his actions were inconsistent. The Salt Priests never made an appearance and were just a vague threat. Therion was a total disappointment. He’s a god, but seems to have no power and can’t protect himself or anyone else? Seems suspect. Also, why does he need a bride? And he loves Lark and she loves him? How? They utter two sentences to each other. And speaking of relationships that have no foundation, Lark and Camille had no real connection and no history to support their love. Their romance came out of nowhere and seemed unnecessary. The poly relationship felt weird because it was between Lark, Camille, and Alistair, and Camille and Alistair are brother and sister. They aren’t romantically together, so it’s not incest, but it still felt gross. Really, I wanted a relationship between Lark, Therion, and Alistair. That would have fit the storyline better.

The concept had so much potential, but I needed more world building and character development. There were also pacing issues and there was little to no action, so I just kept waiting for something to happen, and it never did. If you’re only reading for the vibes and want chthonic swan gods, ritualistic cults, and crumbling gothic manors set in a small coastal village, then maybe you’d like this one.

Thank you to Fierce Reads, Henry Holt and Company, Macmillan, Lyndall Clipstone, and NetGalley for the ARC.

📔Tenderly, I Am Devoured
✏️ Lyndall Clipstone
📆 July 1, 2025
⭐️⭐️

READ IF YOU LIKE:
🦢 dark academia
🦢 gods, cults, and rituals
🦢 gothic romantic fantasy
🦢 cottagecore
🦢 flower threaded folk horror
🦢 poly relationship m/f/f

Tenderly, I Am Devoured by Lyndall Clipstone is a gothic romantasy reminiscent of House of Hollow. It has a great atmosphere and sense of tension and characters that really intrigued me. I really enjoyed this book and will be on the lookout for more from this author.

Such a gorgeous piece of work that melds folklore and romance so beautifully. A wonderful mix of Saltburn and House of Salt and Sorrows with lovely atmosphere and a why choose romance readers will love!

⭐️⭐️⭐️/5

Review for Tenderly, I Am Devoured by Lyndall Clipstone

This was such a beautifully written and unique book, but ultimately, I don’t think it was for me. The prose is lush and atmospheric, and the audiobook narrator’s voice really helped bring the world and emotions to life. The story explores powerful themes like the transition from girlhood to adulthood, learning to trust after betrayal, and reclaiming self-worth after loss. The gothic horror elements were haunting and imaginative, and the world-building felt darkly enchanting.

However, I struggled to connect with the main character, Lark. While I don’t think protagonists need to be likable, I found many of her decisions confusing, and her flaws felt more like obstacles to the story’s pacing and emotional impact rather than adding meaningful depth. One particular plot point that didn’t quite work for me was the love story involving both siblings. I’m normally a fan of “why choose” narratives, but paired with the gothic horror tone, it edged into uncomfortable territory and felt more unsettling than romantic. It also made the eventual HEA feel a bit strange and hard to fully root for.

Also, a small but persistent gripe: some of the spelling and word choices for the folklore and world-specific language (chthonic for example) grated on me after a while and pulled me out of the story.

All that said, I think Tenderly, I Am Devoured will really resonate with readers who enjoy dark, lyrical gothic horror with deeply flawed characters and emotional ambiguity. This story falls more into the genre of gothic horror to me than it does as a a romantasy, so I hope it finds its audience!

Thank you to NetGalley and Lyndall Clipstone for the opportunity to read and review this ARC.

I was promised a luscious, gothic story, soft girl story and Lyndall Clipstone delivered! I found myself highlighting multiple passages because the prose and the way she describes the smallest of details is one of the stand out moments for this book.

"Her words are like a ribbon, one end in her hand, the other end knotted around my heart"

I think that this story has a ton of potential, and while the beautiful prose and lush atmosphere kept me reading, unfortunately the plot fell flat for me. I would have loved for the lore around Therion to have been more developed and for the story to delve more into why this God in particular is so revered and what the story around him has done for the surrounding area. We got a little bit of this when the Salt Priests were introduced, but I was really needing more for me to understand why he played such a major role in this story outside of her family's need to maintain their home.

Much of my issue with this story is the lack of development around so many of the characters. I don't think we needed the additional storyline of her time at school because we never really got to see that storyline wrap up. It seemed like it was more there so the reader could understand why she came back home and was expelled from school.

I did love the addition of the m/f./f romance, but I've gotta be honest... the fact that two of the people in the relationship are siblings really threw me off. I loved Alastair and Camille as characters but no part of my brain could comprehend that the other was okay with sharing Lark so fully.

for a 300 page book I think there was a little bit too much going on and I wish that the author had just fully leaned into the story of Lark being forced to marry Therion and let that play out for the readers.

This book has all the Gothic vibes. Expelled from her magic school, Lark returns home in disgrace. If she thought being kicked out was her biggest problem, she was wrong. Her brothers are struggling to keep the family business in the family (along with their house and land). The one calling the debt? Her once close childhood friend and subsequent enemy. There are so many twists and turns in this book! Pay close attention! No one is who you think they are, including Lark herself.

A haunting, lyrical descent into love, ruin, and monstrous beauty. Tenderly, I Am Devoured is everything I’ve come to love about Clipstone’s writing: lush prose, aching characters, and a world that feels both dreamlike and dangerous. If you like your gothic romance with with a mixture of teeth and tenderness, this one will leave its mark.

This book took a turn that I didn’t expect and I’m not mad about it! Tenderly, I am Devoured is a different genre than I typically read and I really enjoyed it.

I’m a firm believer that you don’t have to like the main character to enjoy a book, that’s the case with me and Lark. Lark couldn’t read the signs and red flags stating her in the face with the people she fell for who hurt her. Girl seems to struggle with the difference between platonic love and romantic love, she’s also a bit of a people pleaser. That said, she is 18 and who’s to say we all didn’t go through this. I probably am just really used to reading older characters. Her growth was beautiful though. She began as this timid character who just went along with the path laid before her until she decided to go after her own desires.

I am fascinated by Lark’s relationship with her brothers. Being raised by them and not by a parent made for an interesting family dynamic. Typically, siblings are portrayed more like friends. In this case, Henry and Oberon toed the line of brother and guardian beautifully.

This book has so much beautiful imagery written in poetic prose. I think the writing really made this story more engaging. It was still easy to follow but with a flourish. I will be recommending this book to those who love gothic, paranormal, and queer stories.

Thank you Netgalley and Lyndall Clipstone for giving me the opportunity to read and review the eARC for Tenderly, I Am Devoured.

The story of Lark Arriscane began with a phenomenally compelling beginning that immediately sucked me in. I loved Clipstone's elegant ocean-gothic background and overall I think she did an incredible job creating a believable fantasy because at the end the world building was the only thing that continued to hold my attention. The reason I say that is because the romance, of which there was plenty in this book, fell flat for me in every conceivable way. When Alastair was first introduced as the aloof former friend turned enemy I was hooked. But several romantic plot twists later I ended up annoyed at every new romantic connection or side connection.
(SPOILERS)
But having Lark fall for Alastair, then Damson, then Camille (Alastairs sister) then finding out Damson fell for another girl Juene, and that Camille is okay with sharing Alastair because their siblings ???? I admittedly lost the plot at that point. By the time Alastair casually mentions he was with a boy named Hugo and we find out that Oberyn (Lark's brother) had some random gay romance with a boy named Nicholas it honestly cheapened the story for me and made Lark feel like an almost erratic unreliable narrator. This is not to say that I don't love and appreciate LGBTQ+ romances in YA literature, but it muddled the personal connections the reader had towards the characters and took away from other plot lines that could have been expounded upon. For example-- Oberyn and Henry are two brothers who are thrust into parenthood after becoming orphans. Instead of highlighting the fact that ones gay, lets address Henry's smoking addiction, or the real life unfairness that befalls older siblings when their parents are absent. Furthermore Hugo's side plot as ex-salt-priest-extrordinare could've shed light on why it's so easy for cults to pray on the weak and (beyond addictive drugs) why religious trauma and cult mentality is so hard to break away from. There are habits formed out of religious practice that we see Lark do repeatedly throughout the book but I honestly can't think of a single scene where Hugo sets himself apart from the rest of the characters. As a matter of fact, now that I'm reflecting on it, all of the characters had varying shades of the same personalities with the exception of Marcus Felimath who was so loathesome and frustrating I wanted to shove him off a tall cliff. He evoked feeling!

Overall this story was promising but fell so SO short for me in the end. The resolution was exactly what I expected when Therion's golden gaze started taking over Alastairs eyeball and the only mildly shocking thing was that Lark is now in a weird throuple with a pair of siblings which begs the question why are we endorsing incestuous polyromance to a young adult audience when Camille could've existed within the story without being related to Alastair??

Fon fans of: A Study of Drowning and Boys with Sharp Teeth

Tenderly, I Am Devoured is a gothic story that felt like a dream all the way through. Lark comes home after being expelled from school, to find that things at home are worse than she could’ve ever known. Desperate to save her brothers and their home, she accepts their god Therion’s marriage proposal in exchange for his help. From there the story becomes entirely dreamlike as Lark slips between worlds, making it difficult to discern what’s real. When everything starts to go wrong, she reaches out to her old neighbors for help. Together they struggle to keep Lark from disappearing as her bond to the Therion continues to drag her away.

I love a gothic romance. This one was a slower read for me, though.

Beautiful prose full of thought-provoking metaphors and tangibly descriptive language. I felt fully immersed in this story setting, I loved the concept and the overall story. I was shocked by how much I loved the bisexual polyamorous relationship!??! Well done.

I felt that the lore of Therion himself, what was actually happening to him, and how they could resolve it overall was underdeveloped and it made for a slower read as I was unsure of the direction and the way it came together just overall wasn’t as satisfying as I wanted it to be. I feel like many aspects of that storyline were left untouched and I would have loved more concrete explanation of what was happening and what the goal was.

Larks heartbreaks and origin story were beautifully done. The Felimath twins were enchanting and Alastair’s growth unfolded so well.

Henry and Oberon… sweet brother-dads? Loved the energy and support they brought to the story. And Damson… well she can suck it.

Lark and Alastair’s love story was truly the highlight of this book and what made me want more more more as I read! The young love, the nerves, the yearning, the hurt of unrequited love…. 10/10, would read 5 more books about them!