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Review: Tenderly, I Am Devoured by Lyndall Clipstone Rating: 4/5

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.  

Lady's Knight by Amie Kaufman & Megan Spooner

(2025)

From the Publisher:

A rollercoaster of a medieval romp and a sapphic love story, set in a world of dragons, witches and excellent snacks from NYT bestselling duo, Amie Kaufman and Meagan Spooner. Perfect for fans of Gwen and Art are Not in Love, Twin Crowns and My Lady Jane.

'More fun than cheesecake on a stick!' Jodi Meadows, co-author of My Lady Jane

A blacksmith's daughter with a secret. A lady with a plan. We're in for one unforgettable knight ...

Gwen has spent the past several years manning the blacksmith's in place of her father, an open secret in the village in which she lives. A much more covert secret, however, is that she knows not only how to craft but also how to wield a sword, and an incognito stunt at the local jousting tournament manages to catch the eye of the wily Lady Isobelle.

Isobelle has secret dreams too, but she's been promised in marriage to the winner of the whole stupid tournament, which means an end to any freedom or choices for her. Desperate to avoid this fate, when she connects the newcomer knight to the female smithy she saw earlier that day, she begins to hatch a scheme ...

Petty knights. Backstabbing noblemen. A prison breakout. Cheesecake on a stick. One particularly large and angry dragon.

Will our ladies survive the night? And can our knight save the day?

'Sparkles with wit and charm ... Kaufman and Spooner will leave you breathless.' C. S. Pacat, New York Times bestselling author of Dark Rise

'Will inspire readers to take up their swords to fight dragons and the patriarchy.' - F. T. Lukens, New York Times bestselling author of So This Is Ever After

Unhallowed Halls by Lili Wilkinson

(2025)

From the Publisher:

DARK ACADEMIA…WITH DEMONS. After a deadly incident at her old school, Page enrols in Agathion College, an exclusive boarding school, only to find that it's built over centuries of secrets - including an ancient society potentially linked to demonic magic. Perfect for fans of Lynette Noni and Leigh Bardugo, from the acclaimed author of A Hunger of Thorns.

Page Whittaker has always been an outcast. She's too smart, too quiet, too weird. And after the deadly incident that destroyed her only friendship at her old school, she needs a fresh start.

Agathion College is everything Page has ever wanted: a safe haven of wood-panelled halls and dusty books, on a remote Scottish moor. And for the first time in her life, she has a close group of friends. Cyrus, Ren, Gideon, Lacey and Oak help her feel at home at Agathion; the only problem is, they're all keeping secrets from her.

Page doesn't know it yet, but her perfect new school has a crooked foundation, rooted in an ancient clandestine society with rumoured ties to demonic magic. Soon, Page will learn that not everyone at Agathion is who they say they are. Least of all, her friends.

Agathion claims to teach its students history…but some histories are better left buried.

A wonderfully captivating dark academia fantasy from the award-winning author of A Hunger of Thorns and Deep is the Fen.

'A must-read for fans of magical realism, fantasy and stories with demons, Unhallowed Halls is a gripping, unputdownable read from start to finish. Recommended for readers who enjoy works by Leigh Bardugo or Maggie Stiefvater's Raven Cycle series.' - Books & Publishing

'Moody, gripping dark academia steeped in magic.' - Kirkus Starred review

'Covert clubs, dangerous tests of wits, and a mystery shrouded in dark magic and strange and ancient secrets unfurl in this stunning foray whose skillful plotting is reminiscent of Donna Tart's The Secret History.' - Publishers Weekly Starred review

Nobody In Particular by Sophie Gonzales

(2025)

From the publisher:

Rose is a disgraced princess. Danni is a scholarship student. They're also secretly in love. A scandalous sapphic royal romance, from the bestselling co-author of If This Gets Out. Perfect for fans of Young Royals.

'So good. I'm breathless.' - Becky Albertalli

When Danni joins an all-girls boarding school on a music scholarship, she expects to be an outcast among her wealthy classmates - especially the gorgeous Princess Rose.

After a royal scandal lost her the trust of both her country and her best friend, Rose can't afford any distractions - even her beautiful new classmate, Danni.

But resisting temptation is harder than it looks . . .

As Rose and Danni fall for each other, rumours swirl, and the girls are forced to hide their forbidden romance. Because if the palace ever finds out, they will do whatever it takes to separate Rose and Danni forever.

Friends and Benefits Vol 2 by Andy Drws

(2024)

From the Author:

The love triangle reimagined

Hyacinth leaves his small country town to start university in the big city. Excited for a new life, where he no longer has to hide, he joins the LGBTQ+ club, and makes many… interesting friends.

One of them is Yuuki, the out and loud club president. The other is Bellamy, the gentle and gorgeous football star.

What happens when Hyacinth finds himself falling for both guys?

Friends and Benefits is a queer college romance graphic novel, set in Melbourne, Australia.

http://zenashapter.com/blog/launched-when-dark-waters-burn-is-out/

Currently reading: Wandering Wild by Lynette Noni