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3.67 AVERAGE
3.67 AVERAGE
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
What a way to start a polycule. I enjoyed the story but the marketing made it really difficult. This book is nothing like what either title, cover, or blurb promise. It's still good, but who the fuck marketed this book?
(big spoilers ahead)
Until half-way through I was convinced that the god would be one of the love interests but he barely even made an appearance. Instead, Lark starts a polycule with the two siblings? Which was... weird but she kept the two relationships separate and everyone was aware of it so I guess it's fine? Maybe I've just seen too much for this to faze me. Once I realised that literally every aspect of the marketing had lied to me, I enjoyed the ride. The writing was solid but at points too purple for me (which means smth since I'd die for poetic prose but a lot of the metaphors were just unnecessarily edgy). I love the titel but there was NO DEVOURING! NONE! WHY IS THAT THE TITLE???? WHERE'S THE DEVOURING??? Also what is this (beautiful) cover supposed to depict?? Either I blacked out or there truly were neither statues nor roses in this book and I CANNOT figure out for the life of me if the man is supposed to be the god (as I thought), who doesn't really appear, or the guy she gets together with, and then where is his sister who Lark has a far closer relationship with?? I'm so confused. There's an alternative cover to this that is even more confusing but anyway, this is all the publisher fucking up, not the author.
Lark's brothers were adorable though. I'd die for them. (Major spoiler)But honestly, does the author have a thing for incest? Because first Lark has sex with BOTH siblings within a few hours and then she finds out that her BROTHERS are actually her parents bc they did a ritual and she was BIRTHED OUT OF THEIR MINGLED BLOOD (and sea foam I guess but still). If I had a nickel for each time there was almost-incest in this book, I'd have two and that's TOO MANY NICKELS
(big spoilers ahead)
Lark's brothers were adorable though. I'd die for them. (Major spoiler)
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Physical abuse, Death of parent
dark
slow-paced
In TENDERLY, I AM DEVOURED we follow Lacrimosa Arriscane who agrees to a betrothal with a god to save her family from financial ruin.
The author had a very clear vision for the overall vibe - an atmospheric, moody setting with gothic, dark academia elements - and that really comes across!
However, I think the romantic elements and pacing were the downfall here. There seemed to be a mismatch with the way the romantic relationship(s) happened quickly with little buildup/development while the rest of the plot seemed very slow. This made the story drag and I just did not feel invested enough in the character connections to be patient with it.
The author had a very clear vision for the overall vibe - an atmospheric, moody setting with gothic, dark academia elements - and that really comes across!
However, I think the romantic elements and pacing were the downfall here. There seemed to be a mismatch with the way the romantic relationship(s) happened quickly with little buildup/development while the rest of the plot seemed very slow. This made the story drag and I just did not feel invested enough in the character connections to be patient with it.
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Initially intrigued. Perpetually perplexed.
Without a doubt, Clipstone can pen some incredibly beautiful lines, but the collection of those lines made for a pretty rough finished product.
It’s as if 2 completely separate stories were forcibly smashed together. I would’ve been more intrigued by a more fleshed out plot of Lacrimosa and her brothers than her *ahem* relationship with the Felimath siblings—I’m not sure what value the author thought that specific dynamic added, but that alongside the overall lack of cohesion made for a confusing, incomplete story.
---
I received this ARC from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.
Without a doubt, Clipstone can pen some incredibly beautiful lines, but the collection of those lines made for a pretty rough finished product.
It’s as if 2 completely separate stories were forcibly smashed together. I would’ve been more intrigued by a more fleshed out plot of Lacrimosa and her brothers than her *ahem* relationship with the Felimath siblings—I’m not sure what value the author thought that specific dynamic added, but that alongside the overall lack of cohesion made for a confusing, incomplete story.
---
I received this ARC from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing an eARC of Tenderly, I Am Devoured by Lyndall Clipstone.
4.5 ⭐
To save her family’s salt mine, Lark makes a desperate pact with a chthonic god, agreeing to become his bride. But as ancient forces stir and secrets rise, her once-close schoolmates—Alastair and Camille Felimath—return, colliding with the unraveling threads of Lark’s already fragile life.
Tenderly, I Am Devoured is a salt-soaked, emotional YA folk-horror fantasy that drips with atmosphere. The tone is haunting and ethereal, with unsettling chthonic elements that evoke an eerie, otherworldly dread. Clipstone has a talent for crafting environments that are both lush and deeply isolating—perfectly suiting the story’s haunting themes.
Lark’s complex relationships with both Alastair and Camille were beautifully written. Though never directly addressed, the bisexual and polyamorous representation felt seamlessly woven into the fairytale-like narrative, adding depth to the emotional stakes and enhancing the dreamlike tone of the novel.
The world, while fantasy-adjacent, grounds its magic in mythic, folkloric roots that feel ancient and strange in all the right ways. The folk-horror elements stand out the most—delivering a story that feels like it’s always just on the edge of unraveling.
Fans of Saltburn, A Study in Drowning, and Midsommar will find something to love in this dark, lyrical tale. Tenderly, I Am Devoured is a standout addition to the folk horror genre and a gripping, shadowy read for YA audiences looking for something more unsettling and emotionally charged.
4.5 ⭐
To save her family’s salt mine, Lark makes a desperate pact with a chthonic god, agreeing to become his bride. But as ancient forces stir and secrets rise, her once-close schoolmates—Alastair and Camille Felimath—return, colliding with the unraveling threads of Lark’s already fragile life.
Tenderly, I Am Devoured is a salt-soaked, emotional YA folk-horror fantasy that drips with atmosphere. The tone is haunting and ethereal, with unsettling chthonic elements that evoke an eerie, otherworldly dread. Clipstone has a talent for crafting environments that are both lush and deeply isolating—perfectly suiting the story’s haunting themes.
Lark’s complex relationships with both Alastair and Camille were beautifully written. Though never directly addressed, the bisexual and polyamorous representation felt seamlessly woven into the fairytale-like narrative, adding depth to the emotional stakes and enhancing the dreamlike tone of the novel.
The world, while fantasy-adjacent, grounds its magic in mythic, folkloric roots that feel ancient and strange in all the right ways. The folk-horror elements stand out the most—delivering a story that feels like it’s always just on the edge of unraveling.
Fans of Saltburn, A Study in Drowning, and Midsommar will find something to love in this dark, lyrical tale. Tenderly, I Am Devoured is a standout addition to the folk horror genre and a gripping, shadowy read for YA audiences looking for something more unsettling and emotionally charged.
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
This story felt like it was trying too hard to be poetic and lyrical. Some authors can do this with ease but this book felt like the author strung together a bunch of "quotable pretty lines" and called it a book. I swear I had to read the word "indigo" over a dozen times. Apparently there was no other word to describe that color. It also felt like every other line was a simile. The characters and the world around them were always being compared to something and it was annoying. And although I love a bisexual character, I did not love that she was with two siblings. That felt wrong in all the worst ways. I was also annoyed by the fact that Alistair never apologized for what he said to Lark (Lacrimosa is her full name and I hate that too). He explained that he didn't mean them but he still said it to protect her and I kept waiting for him to apologize and he never did. Everything between Lark and Camille too felt like it came out of left field. Lark was constantly talking about how she hadn't seen Camille since she was a kid. I was doing the math and it should have been 5 years since Lark last saw her and yet I'm supposed to believe that Lark would kiss her after not having seen her in so long??? In all of the past interactions, Lark was barely with Camille. It was always Alistair. I don't doubt that Alistair loved Lark but I do not believe Camille cared for her in the same way or vice versa. There was nothing in their past to suggest that they did have feelings for one another so why would I believe that they harbor feelings in the present day? Hugo as well was another conundrum in the story. Why would they ever trust this random boy after he'd already betrayed Alistair once? Literally fool me once shame on you, fool me twice shame on them. I don't know why they expected him to help?? Overall, it's a very forgettable book.
I don’t care what this book is about, the cover is so beautiful it hurts
challenging
dark
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
When Lark returns to her seaside home after being kicked out of school, all she wants is the company of her brothers and to find a new future. She does not expect to find one in a betrothal to her local god and reconnecting with her childhood friends. But promising yourself to a god is no simple thing -- especially when the local religious sect gets involved in your impending nuptials.
This is one of those books where, as I was reading it, I couldn't stop thinking, "teenage-me would've loved this!" The enemies-to-lovers romance, the dark academia vibes that actually get unhinged, the surprise queerness and polyamory, the background unease of a proper Gothic setting and a story that doesn't care if it makes you uncomfortable.
I was not expecting any of that and I was so delighted to find it all contained in a book just shy of 300 pages long. That said, the setting does get a little difficult to parse because so much page-space is dedicated to the characters and the magic. But in the end, all you really needed to know about the setting was the link to the sea and how the sea functions as a character, the way a proper Gothic setting should.
The characters are where this novel really shines. Especially in the relationships between Lark, Alistair and Camille. At first, Lark's romance with Camille kind of confused me -- I didn't feel the chemistry and it was a little weird that Lark was into both siblings. But Camille's part to play in the story was so beautiful, Clipstone played that out very well.
If you were lured into A Study in Drowning by the dark academia, enemies-to-lovers and the semi-modern world but didn't like it too much, this one might be worth a try instead. It's certainly nice to have a proper Gothic romance around.
This is one of those books where, as I was reading it, I couldn't stop thinking, "teenage-me would've loved this!" The enemies-to-lovers romance, the dark academia vibes that actually get unhinged, the surprise queerness and polyamory, the background unease of a proper Gothic setting and a story that doesn't care if it makes you uncomfortable.
I was not expecting any of that and I was so delighted to find it all contained in a book just shy of 300 pages long. That said, the setting does get a little difficult to parse because so much page-space is dedicated to the characters and the magic. But in the end, all you really needed to know about the setting was the link to the sea and how the sea functions as a character, the way a proper Gothic setting should.
The characters are where this novel really shines. Especially in the relationships between Lark, Alistair and Camille. At first, Lark's romance with Camille kind of confused me -- I didn't feel the chemistry and it was a little weird that Lark was into both siblings. But Camille's part to play in the story was so beautiful, Clipstone played that out very well.
If you were lured into A Study in Drowning by the dark academia, enemies-to-lovers and the semi-modern world but didn't like it too much, this one might be worth a try instead. It's certainly nice to have a proper Gothic romance around.
dark
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes