Tenderly, I Am Devoured

When 18-year-old Lacrimosa “Lark” Arriscane discovers she can save her brothers from financial ruin in exchange for marrying a god, she agrees without hesitation; following her expulsion from boarding school in an incident that smashed career dreams and destroyed her friendships, Lark believes she has little else to live for or look forward to. And besides, her betrothed, Therion—a god of salt and darkness who is worshipped in Lark’s coastal village home—has always been there for her in ways she feels others have not. But when the wedding ceremony is interrupted and Therion disappears, Lark is haunted by visions of him. With little recourse, Lark turns to estranged childhood friends, siblings Alastair and Camille, who may know more about Therion and the ceremony than they’re letting on, and the trio face dangerous consequences as they search for the god. Using lyrical prose that hums with tension and chemistry, Clipstone (Unholy Terrors) crafts an immersive and captivating queer gothic romance. Chapters that alternate between past and present detail Lark’s confronting her conflicting feelings for both Alastair and Camille, and dark truths about her family and herself. Lark has olive skin. Ages 14–up. Agent: Jill Grinberg, Jill Grinberg Literary. (July)