Book Review: Tenderly, I Am Devoured by Lyndall Clipstone

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Book: Tenderly, I Am Devoured by Lyndall Clipstone

Genre: Gothic Romance, Fantasy, YA Horror

Publisher: Henry Holt & Co. (BYR)/ Macmillan

Tenderly, I am Devoured by Lyndall Clipstone is a young adult, gothic romance with  mythological and horror elements. The story follows Lark Arriscane after she leaves boarding school and returns home to help her family out of financial ruin. In the midst of meddling with the gods to save her home, Lark reunites with her childhood friends, Alastair and Camille. The trio works to unravel their past while trying to change the future.  

Clipstone’s prose in this book is utterly captivating and beautiful. Her ability to set a seaside, gothic ambiance with her words is outstanding. The poetic nature of her writing combined with the dark academia setting of her story creates a rich and other-worldly atmosphere. 

Tenderly, I am Devoured highlights a wide spectrum of relationship dynamics. We see childhood friendships, familial bonds, high-school relationships, and more mature, unconditional types of romantic love. The book has bi/poly representation which is much needed in modern literature; however, the specific way this relationship is crafted misses the mark in my opinion. The idea of siblings being involved in sharing Lark as a love interest (even though the siblings do NOT have any romantic interaction at all) feels like a misstep. I mention this because I think a trigger warning should be provided to readers in this instance. I can see how the arrangement could have been intended as an ode to the ancient stories of the gods or classic gothic literature, but without explicitly stating that, we’re assuming young adult readers have a strong working knowledge of these thematics which may not be the case. Separately, I find Lark’s individual relationships with Alastair and Camille to be substantial. Camille and Lark are incredibly tender and sweet, while Alastair and Lark are full of yearning and that “invisible string” type love. There are a few other LGBTQIA+ relationships in the story between supporting characters as well, but they are not very developed. 

One of my favorite parts about the book is the way Clipstone is able to balance originality with a mythological retelling. She seems to draw heavily from a Persephone/ Hades influence; however, she also creates her own interesting lore and rules within the world she builds. In many stories involving mythology, we find that characters are puppets to the gods, and there is only an illusion of choice on their personal journeys. Tenderly, I Am Devoured is unique in the sense that it focuses more on the characters ability to exercise free will in a world where gods exist. The intensity and path of Lark’s relationship to Therion, although inevitable to some extent, is very much dictated by how and what Lark is willing to give. I like that she and her friends have agency in both the mortal world and the otherworld.

Family is a significant theme in this book. Clipstone highlights how family can be something that is built through history and trust, and is not necessarily limited to the bloodline we are born into. Darker themes such as abuse and family secrets are also present. Breaking generational patterns and separating oneself from your upbringing is also expressed here. 

Overall, I very much enjoyed Tenderly, I Am Devoured. The lyrical prose and premise alone solidified it being a contender for one of the best gothic novels of 2025. The references to art and the imagery associated with the gods was an added element that contributed to the ethereal feeling I was left with after reading. Thank you to NetGalley, Henry Holt & Co. (BYR)/ Macmillan, and Lyndall Clipstone for allowing me to read this copy in advance. 

This book will be published July 1, 2025, and it is available for preorder.

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