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

Tenderly I am Devoured is a lush and atmospheric read that’s reminiscent of The Last Tale of the Flower Bride and A Study in Drowning. The writing was beautiful and served the story so well in the end.

3.75/5

We follow Lark, our main character who is so full of emotion. I had a love hate relationship with Lark, but I ended up really enjoying some of our side characters. Lark was very naive and just didn’t seem to learn her lesson. She repeatedly was burned but kept forgiving people (one of which literally tried to unalive her and her friends like why would she feel sorry for them???) I just overall wish that Lark was more mature but I’m sure other people had no issues with that aspect.

The premise is interesting, and the story started out strong. However, I found that the middle and end dragged a bit and lost the spark that the beginning had. We had flashbacks in the beginning, but those ended midway through the book. Those flashbacks either needed to be spread out more, or they needed to be wrapped up sooner imo. I also wish that they had more of a purpose, as they were never really revisited in the aftermath. The end specifically did not need to be that long. It felt dragged out to meet a certain page count.

My biggest ick is relationships that we follow. There’s a weird dynamic between brother and sister in this one where they don’t mind “sharing” Lark. It was just a big nope for me, and I wanted Lark to just pick one of them and be done with it all.

Ever since I first had the honor of helping reveal this cover, this book has been on my TBR. So when I got my hands on one of the ARCs, I was stoked. Fast-forward, to 24 hours after finally starting this book, I'm sitting here in awe.

This is the first book by Lyndall Clipstone I've read, and it won't be the last, that's for sure. Reading her acknowledgments and about how this book was born out of depression and an especially hard creative blockade makes the whole atmosphere even more understandable. 

Though it technically is a YA book, it is something for an older audience too. Even with the younger ages of the protagonists, you can't help but feel drawn to them. Lacrimosa Arriscane is a haunting young woman on the hunt to save her brother's livelihood and her childhood home. Being let down one too many times and bearing the consequences has left her aching and raw and so very angry. Turning up at home once again, she's lost. So when she witnesses her brothers in a desperate ritual to appease their Chthonic god Therion to somehow fill their salt mines once again, in hopes of paying back their debts, she chooses her path. 

The price the god wants: is her hand in marriage and for her to join him in the Chthonic realm during the salt seasons each year for the duration of her mortal life. 
She accepts.

What Lark doesn't anticipate is how wrong the ceremony goes. 
With her not being able to join Therion in the chtonic realm she starts to fade from the mortal realm and decides to get help from the only source she can think of: her childhood friend turned foe Alastair Felimath.

He and his sister set out to throw caution to the wind and help her. Between chthonic rituals, salt priests, dark pasts, and in search of her betrothed, Therion, they race against time to save not only the god himself but Lark from fading away forever.

Though the pacing is fast, you get a good glimpse of Lark's past and learn to understand her quite well in every other chapter, which makes the evolution of the romance between each character quite understandable and heartwrenchingly good.

What had me immediately hooked was the gothic setting of this book. Both, Lyndall's prose and her ability at worldbuilding set the scene for a particularly haunting and eerie book. She manages to draw you in with her words and you don't want to let go. This is one of those books, you want to finish in one sitting because you don't want her words to leave you.

The story follows Lacrimosa (Lark) who finds out her brothers made a deal with a chthonic god, and when an outsider intervenes & wrecks havoc she enlists the help of her childhood friends (one of which she had a falling out with).

This book was absolutely beautiful. I was a big fan of the author's writing style—it was descriptive and lyrical.
I really loved the relationship between Lark and her brothers—you can tell they loved each other so much, despite the secrets they kept from her.
The angst between Lark and her ex-friend, Alistair was *chef's kiss* He always loved her, but his father got in the way and it transformed the way he treated Lark. His sister, Camille was part of the trio, but I wasn't too invested in her. I did like how protective and sweet she was with Lark and her brother.

I would recommend this if you're interested in:
bi & poly representation (m/f/f)
family secrets
childhood friends to enemies to lovers
dark academia/cottagecore
sacrifice & loyalty
betrayal
deities

There’s something profoundly delicate and raw in Lyndall Clipstone’s “Tenderly I Am Devoured.” Reading this Aquaman-esque gothic romantasy felt like walking alone in a gallery. Decadent writing, beautiful romantic descriptions, and a story that somehow feels like it’s actually poetry disguised as a novel. There were moments when the manic artistry of the book felt like The Black Swan, and others when I felt like I was in Pirinesi’s domain.

I got a bit tangled up in the romance web, which brought me down slightly from a 5 star, but ultimately, it was a great privilege to read this work of art.

A beautiful, haunting romance that I've come to expect from Clipstone--absolutely loved this! Well-executed with gorgeous world building and incredible revelations.

“Tenderly I Am Devoured” by Lyndall Clipstone is a beautifully written, atmospheric, gothic tale that explores the bounds of human nature & the very essence of the human experience. Clipstone is a master of emotional writing & easily evokes empathy for each MC, as well as a couple side characters. The book is medium paced & it never felt rushed or dragged. There is some fade-to-black spice that felt appropriate for the vibe of the book. I enjoyed the bi-rep & how queerness is a non-issue (& possibly the norm?) in Clipstone’s dreamy seaside town of Vers. The make up of the polycule feels deliberate & is perhaps an allegory to open our minds a bit & not read into things so literally. The whole vibe of the book is a little bit meta & spooky w/ a whole lot of yearning. Overall I enjoyed the book! Clipstone’s love for art shines through in this haunting tale of love & loss, & how each shapes our choices.