Tenderly, I Am Devoured is my first book by Lyndall Clipstone. And it will not be my last.

I adore everything about TIAD - from the breathtaking prose, to the utterly unique plot and the characters whom I have fallen deeply in love with. This is a beautiful book, with well written, windswept romance, an entrancing plot, and characters to die for.

I love this book so much that I can’t find it in me to hate any part, not even any characters (I lie, looking at you MARKUS).

MY THOUGHTS:
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5STARS
5 HUNDRED MILLION STARS

NOW SOME ACTUAL COHERENT THOUGHTS:
Tenderly, I Am Devoured is perfection from start to finish: it's written like a work of art!

The pacing was great! It flowed so smoothly and didn't feel long or grueling to read at all.

It felt so refreshing to read, like the rays of sun after a harsh winter or those first autumn showers after an unforgiving summer, it was pure poetry that made me feel so many things!

The characters had actual depth with relatable and, more importantly, realistic emotions.

The injustice and grief of Damson's betrayal, the heartbreak accompanied with Alistair's harsh words, the joy at Camille's return, the anger at Marcus (Marcus when I catch you Marcus), the excitement of the first kiss - the intensity of the second.

The stakes were high, but my blood pressure was higher!

The writing was so poetic and conveyed the scene magnificently, instilling wonder and awe and beauty into the reader's minds.

Tenderly, I Am Devoured is just a lovely flower-threaded tale about falling in love and fighting against tides of cruel forces trying to keep them apart.

Dreamy. Atmospheric. Lyrical. Moody. Gothic.
The beautiful writing in this book enchanted me from the very first chapter.

There were moments where I felt like I slipped from this reality right into this wistful and haunting world, swimming in the sea with salt in my hair and longing for the chthonic world.
I don’t think I’ve ever looked at the sea in such a romantic and melancholic way before, but this book is so beautiful and the scenery so wonderfully captured that I couldn’t help it.

Lacrimosa
Our main character was so dear to me and I could feel her struggles and longings. I adore soft heroines, because not all of us can be fighters all the time, at least not fighters in the same way.

Alastair
Sweet Alistair, my heart goes out to him. What he had to go through was incredibly difficult and painful, many parts had me on the verge of tears.

Camille
I think I have a crush on her and her tender moments with Lark were everything.

Therion
The mysterious God of the Sea from the chthonic world. He intrigued me and terrified me in equal measure.

Plot
It is perfectly paced, each chapter leaves you wanting more while feeling satisfied with what you have found out, at times shocked, other times intrigued, and other times your world is turned upside down.

Thank you publisher and author for this ARC.

Thank you to NetGalley and to Hot Key Books for the digital ARC, it has not affected my honest review.

Release date: 1st July 2025 (UK and US)

TW: body horror, death, grief, blood, injury, references to suicidal ideation, abuse, horror

‘Tenderly I Am Devoured’ is the newest standalone from the brilliant Lyndall Clipstone, pulling the reader into the salt sprayed and isolated world of Lacrimosa Arriscane after she is expelled from school and sent home in disgrace to her family. Born and raised beside the beach and cliffs, Lark returns to her house to discover her brothers on the verge of financial ruin, crippled by debts made by their dead parents to the Felimath family, who live in the enormous mansion named Saltswan. Once upon a time Lark and the Felimath siblings were best friends, but not anymore: Alistair broke Lark’s heart and Camille vanished to finishing school. Desperate to save her family’s livelihood, Lark makes a deal to become the bride of Therion, the swan god worshipped by Lark’s hometown, to be taken away to his realm for six months a year. However, her betrothal goes wrong and Lark soon finds herself caught between the furious Therion and reality, fading away from the real world. There’s only one option to help her: the Felimath siblings, and as they dive into the stories of ancient folklore full of gods and monsters while fleeing a religious sect called the Sea Pirates, Lark falls in love with both siblings at the same time. Attempting a ritual to repair the connection between Therion and Lark before she can be lost forever, the Felimaths and Lark accidentally bring something through that is much more deadly.

I was a huge fan of this author’s ‘Lakesedge’ and ‘Forestfall’ so I was delighted to get an ARC for this book, especially because I loved the idea of a complicated polyamorous relationship dynamic, a Gothic setting and world and a woman engaged out of desperation to a god. Lyndall Clipstone has such a dreamy way of writing, it’s like being caught up in a fairytale and there’s always a sense of unreality lurking on the edges. I loved Lark from page one, she’s really struggling since being expelled from her elite school and returning to her home brings back memories best left in the past. She’s got so much to deal with and in a moment of pure desperation, turns to Therion to save her family’s salt mine. Her connection with Alastair and Camille is fraught with old hurts and childhood love turned into something more, I liked how things weren’t simple or easily defined between Lark and the siblings. Camille is softer while Alistair is harsher but they both understand Lark perfectly. The worldbuilding is beautiful, I found that you could feel the sea and the flickering candles down in the cave where they worship Therion. Some of the moments in this book are horror and Gothic at their finest while merging seamlessly with the YA genre. This is a really original take on love and romance, on religion and worship and on identity and self belief- Lyndall Clipstone has written something truly beautiful, terrifying, raw and aching, I loved it and raced through it in a few days.

4.5 stars
This was exquisitely dark and mysterious. A rich, gothic setting, ancient gods, and yearning romance all blend together for a wonderful story that will draw readers in right from the start.