⚔️Cruel Is The Light - Sophie Clark⚔️

Demons
Exorcists
The Vatican & Rome

This was absolutely right up my alley! I love the setting of The Vatican, the Juxtaposition between God and Demons. I was hooked from the beginning, trying to work out what on earth was going on (in the best way) and wanting to know the answer to the eternal question, who is Jules Lacroix?

I really enjoyed the world building, the story is set over several different locations, all of which are introduced in an accessible way and are easily visualised. You get dual POVs from Selene and Jules, adding to the secret keeping, seeing them both piece together different parts of the mysteries surrounding Jules, the undead god and the demon dukes. Special mention to my favourite supporting character - Sparrow. I instantly loved him, and I hope we get to see his character develop more in any sequel books.

I would say that this book has some darker elements, and is more upper YA in my opinion. I will definitely be continuing the series.

Thank you to NetGalley, Publishers Penguin Random House and author Sophie Clark for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

4.5 stars- arc review. This book was honestly amazing the characters and the plot were so well done. I loved Jules and Selene and all the side characters especially sparrow. I hope there are more books to come as I’m very intrigued after the ending. I did find myself getting a bit confused and it took me a while to read but that was on me not the book that’s the only reason it isn’t a 5 star but I’m already wanting to reread it so it definitely has 5 star potential for a reread in the future. If you like fantasy and romance set in Rome definitely check this out it was amazing.

This will be your new obsession in 2025, I tell you! It has angst, romance, deadly demons, incomparable powers and it feels like the tightest hug and dagger to the heart. Jules is everything!!

I loved the setting being in Europe (Italy and France) especially that the whole governing power was based in the Vatican city, which added a really good dynamic to the story. I so rarely see romantasy books set in Europe so with the mix of magic and the rules of fantasy, this was a pleasant discovery.

Sophie Clark has a way of grabbing your attention and make you bit down your nails in the agonizing anticipation to find out what happens to our favorite flawed heroes. I just loved everything about this book - and the characters had such rich backstories that even tho Jules and Selene don't meet so quickly in the beginning, it keeps you going and want to find out more about the individuals!

Thank you so much Sophie, Penguin Random house UK and Netgalley for the e-ARC!

the plot was so expertly written, that there was never a dull moment. there was so much action, that i just couldn’t get enough of it. i truly ate it up.

the world building was on point. i was a bit confused at the beginning, but once i understood what was happening and why, it was a breeze to get through. i really loved how unique everything was - it was refreshing!

jules was easily my favourite character in cruel is the light. he was the right amount of mysterious and charm that i need. his wit and banter really solidified my love for him.

while i liked selene, i found there was nothing new she really added to the story. she’s your run of the mill badass FMC. because of this, i was a little concerned about the romance - and i was pleasantly surprised to be fully on board with the romance. there was the perfect amount of chemistry and tension, mixed with banter. it was funny and i craved more with each page.

all in all, cruel is the light is an enticing debut from sophie clark and i really look forward to reading the next book.

Firstly, thank you to Penguin and NetGallery for an arc in exchange for an honest review!

Secondly, this was definitely not what I was expecting. I found the plot to be a bit all over the place, even now I’m unsure as to what is going on and what the end goal is supposed to be. It’s clear there is going to be another book in the series that will most likely answer the questions I have, but even the ending of the book just doesn’t leave me wanting more.

The writing was nice, I enjoyed Sophie’s style and it was quite easy to read. I will say I do NOT think this book is young adult, and it is NOT closed door. I would not be happy with anyone under 18 reading this if I’m honest, some of the language was extremely sexual and vulgar. There are a lot of trigger warnings also in this book so I suggest checking them before reading this novel. I felt the first half of this book to be incredibly slow, I almost DNF’d because I just felt like I was wasting my time. The romance started to pick up about 50% in, which was really why I continued to read it.

I have read so many good reviews on this book so I know that there are people out there who will disagree with my opinions which is ok. Reading is extremely diverse!! This book just didn’t sit right with me spiritually and I don’t think I’ll be reading any other books in the series.

*Cruel is the Light* by Sophie Clark is THE moment. Like, drop everything and get ready to have your heart ripped out and stitched back together because this book is a 5-star masterpiece. If you’re into demons, exorcists, forbidden love, and plot twists that leave you gasping, this is your next obsession. Let’s get into it. 👀🔥

First off, Selene Alleva? Icon. Queen. She’s giving *stoic badass with a soft heart buried deep under layers of duty.* As an exorcist trained at the Vatican Academy, she’s all about rules, discipline, and smiting demons—until she meets Jules Lacroix. Jules is, um, excuse me? *Perfection wrapped in broody chaos.* He’s got this rugged, “I’ll do whatever it takes” vibe that contrasts Selene’s calculated precision in the BEST way. Their chemistry? Immediate and electric. Enemies-to-lovers doesn’t even begin to cover the tension between these two. It’s sizzling, gut-wrenching, and oh-so-addictive.

The world-building? Out. Of. This. World. A war between demons and humanity raging across Europe? Vatican conspiracies? Dark secrets at the heart of the holy city? Sophie Clark did NOT come to play. The setting is atmospheric AF—like, you can practically feel the weight of centuries of war and the oppressive power of the church bearing down on every page. It’s gritty, raw, and hauntingly beautiful.

But let’s talk about the romance because HELLO. Jules and Selene are the literal definition of star-crossed. Their slow-burn dynamic had me screaming into my pillow. The angst. The longing. The constant push and pull between duty and desire. And when they finally let their walls down? Whew. Fireworks. Explosions. My heart combusting into tiny pieces. It’s *that* good.

Now, let’s not ignore the plot because it’s an absolute ride. The twists? I didn’t see half of them coming. There’s betrayal, impossible choices, and moments that will make you question EVERYTHING you thought you knew about these characters. And the big secret at the heart of the Vatican? Let’s just say my jaw was on the floor.

What makes this book stand out, though, is how it balances action, romance, and deep emotional stakes. It’s not just about the epic battles or the swoon-worthy love story—it’s about what it means to fight for what you believe in, even when it costs you everything.

If you’re a fan of *Serpent & Dove*, *Empire of the Vampire*, or *Fourth Wing*, you NEED this book in your life. It’s dark, romantic, and completely unforgettable. Sophie Clark, you’ve officially ruined me, and I’ll never recover. Jules and Selene? They own my soul now. 🖤✨

TL;DR: *Cruel is the Light* is a spicy, high-stakes romantasy that will leave you breathless. Read it, scream about it, and then come cry with me because I am NOT okay. 😭

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for an e-ARC in exchange for my honest review.

4.5 rounded to 5.

This might be listed as YA but it sure is a dark one - probably more NA. Brutal and at times gory, this story of demons, exorcists, religious zealotry and dangerous political machinations must go on your TBR immediately. If you're a lover of all things fantasy romance, then Cruel Is The Light will tick a lot of boxes for you. Complex and in-depth world building, interesting magical system, extremely high stakes and a sizzling reluctant allies to lovers romance plot will keep you turning the pages - and I promise you'll fall for Selene and Jules very quickly.

Check the trigger warnings before starting this book!

You had me at the “sword to the heart" cover, but let's dig in!

I had very high hopes going into this book. The premise is right up my alley: Rome, demons, powers that require sacrifice! The cover art is everything I would want from an enemies-to-lovers romantasy as well. I mean, just look at those two…

Unfortunately, I don’t think the book delivered on everything it promised. But let me start with what it got right: the characters!

I wasn’t a massive fan of the character dump at the beginning—it all gets a bit confusing. But once we get to know each of the characters, it’s just so much fun. Jules is a charmer. Selene is a ruthless bitch, and it’s honestly a vibe. Sparrow is the morally grey character we all root for (sorry not sorry!). And all the secondary characters really add to the dynamic interactions.

Unfortunately, the lovers were not enemies for much of the book, and it leaned more toward an insta-love trope if we’re being honest. The banter between Jules and Selene is spot-on, but we see more chemistry between Jules and another character in about two lines of dialogue than between the main couple. (At this point, I’d be thrilled for some fan service in book two, because damn… those two would be hot together!)

Engaging characters, however, don’t fully make up for the clunky plot development. Relevant information seems to be missing at times, and the hints meant to be subtle are a bit too on the nose. This might be a product of the writing style. The third-person perspective gets confusing at times, with shifts in POV not as seamless as they could be, and scenes don’t flow as effortlessly as one might hope.

All that said, I enjoyed my time with this book, and I’d absolutely read all the side stories about Sparrow, or the backstory of Jules being up to no good as a kid! If I had to make a comparison, I’d say this feels like an AU of Nevernight, where Mia’s dad wasn’t executed and she grew up as a pampered princess with a bad temper—you’ll see that in Selene when you read it!

I’d rate this at a high 3 stars, with high hopes for the rest of the series. The enjoyment factor will depend heavily on the plot development and the writing style going forward. But no matter what, I’m already a sucker for these amazing characters and will carry on with the series.

– Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an early copy of this book. All opinions are my own and reflect my honest reactions. –

4.5 Stars~ Thank you to Penguin Random House and Netgalley for the opportunity to read a highly anticipated read of mine!

Despite a start I found a bit slow personally, this book was divine. The tension and slow burn between the characters was expertly written and the culmination was exquisite! The last 100 or so pages I could NOT put it down, the action really stepped up and the twists were TWISTING. I would definitely say this is upper YA, it was a very sophisticated and thorough book. The world building was magical and it felt like a truly unique concept compared to other books with the same tropes I’ve read. The only thing that stopped it being 5 stars for me was the abrupt ending to some chapters. Sometimes I felt it needed a bit more flow to it and I was lost a couple of times but the story soon picked back up. I really enjoyed the side characters in this book too, there was enough to them to notice them but not so much that they overshadowed the main plot. Overall an enjoyable and entertaining read that will leave you wanting more!

Thank you to Penguin Random House and Netgalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. While there have been plenty of fantasy books about demons and enemies-to-lovers YA romantasy stories published in recent years, I found the setting of this one unique. The backdrop of demons and exorcists in the Vatican City provides an interesting lens to re-imagine Catholic religion in this dystopian fantasy setting. Although I do not think the magic system was fully explained and the worldbuilding did occasionally feel like information overload, I was still immersed in the world.

The characters felt flushed out and the chemistry between the two leads jumped off the page. The writing style reads as upper YA even though the FMC is 17 and the MMC is 19, and I believed in their traumatic backstory and the gritty warfare they were experiencing. Perhaps I found some of the secondary characters more intriguing and wished we saw more of them, but I still found the two leads were engaging and had entertaining banter.

The dual POV was useful to explore their motivations although sometimes the POV jumped between characters in the middle of the chapter with no page break (I am hoping this is a formatting issue in the e-ARC).

My main grievance was that the ending of some chapters did not flow naturally into the next. There seemed to be gaps in the storytelling, like a cliffhanger moment would not be resolved as it had already moved on to another scene, almost like a section had been edited out. Unfortunately, this meant important moments in the plot did not have a satisfactorily conclusion.

I may have given it 4.5 or 5 stars if not for the issues with gaps in the story and switching POV all of a sudden which gave me whiplash while reading, and therefore I have settled on 4 stars.

Overall, I still had a fun time with this book and look forward to reading the sequel.

What a book this was one of my most anticipated and it didn’t disappoint at all! I really enjoyed reading it and I will be happy to add to my shelves as soon as I can! Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced copy of this book.

Cruel is the light 💙⚔️
(releases on january 2025)
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
- YA romantasy
- demons vs exorcist
- star crossed lovers
- fake engagement / forced proximity
- fast paced and action packed

I'm in love!!! There is no better feeling than a book that captivates you because of how beautiful its cover is, and once you read it you discover that the story is even more spectacular.
Cruel is the light is an urban romantasy, set mostly in Italy, whose plot takes place surrounded by a war, lasting hundreds of years, between demons and exorcists trained by the Vatican. It has a non-stop of magic, political intrigue, secrets and corruption and, once I started the book, it was impossible for me to stop reading til the end.

The main characters are wonderfully constructed. Selene Allevra is a complex FMC, a little grumpy but deeply loyal and smart, while Julian is her counterpart, seemingly more jovial, but with many fears and traumas hidden beneath that cheerful facade. The chemistry and romance between the two is incredible. There is slow burn, tension, fake engagement and forced proximity, that is, everything that I like.

One thing I also loved is the way the author plays with plot twists. Some of them are to some extent easy to figure out, but at the same time impossible to predict the character's reaction to them. So, even when it is not complicated to get the theories right, there remains a point of intrigue and mystery about the consequences they may bring.

My only small drawback for not giving the book a full 5⭐️ was that in some moments I lacked a little more explanation about the magic system, but I suppose there are also things that will be developed in greater depth in the sequel.

In short, I think this is going to be a big banger for 2025 and it remains one of my best reads of the year for this year.

As is common for me, I saw enemies to lovers and immediately requested this to read! Cruel is the Light is a YA romantasy that takes place in the midst of a war between demons and humans and focuses on a Vatican Exorcist (Selene) and a foot soldier (Jules) who always lands the killing blow.

The story begins following Jules and Selene separately, giving us context for who they are and what they’ve been through, and the events that lead their paths to cross. The pair end up thrown together to try and protect Rome from one of the most dangerous demons while also trying to unravel the secrets of Jules past. These unlikely allies find themselves thrown together in a mystery that goes far deeper than they could have expected, with the ghosts of Selene’s past always lingering around the corner and the enigma that is Jules’ past waiting to reveal secrets that could ruin them both, or change everything.

I have to say that I thoroughly enjoyed this story. I did feel like it was a bit slow going in the start and took some time to build and get me really hooked, but then I couldn’t put it down. While the world building could have been a bit stronger, the magic system is unique and well fleshed out, and the side characters add a lot of fun and dynamics to the plot that I hope get developed more in the next book!

Of course, the relationship between Jules and Selene is what really had me captivated, their banter and the dynamic between the two had me going from laughing to swooning. Jules, well what is there to say except he is perfect book boyfriend material! He’s cheeky and charming with a broody emotional side and of course gorgeous. This paired with Selene’s usually intimidating demeanour, take no shit attitude and general badassery makes for a wonderful grumpy/sunshine dynamic!

Overall, the themes, magic, plot and the questions left unanswered have be desperate for the next instalment! This is perfect for fans of forbidden romance and forced proximity tropes!

As soon as I read ‘enemies to lovers’ alongside ‘exorcists’ on NetGalley, I immediately pressed request for this eARC. I read a lot of fantasy so when I see something that sounds new and unique, I get very excited!

I’ll not lie, it took a little while to get into this one but, once I was in, I was hooked! There’s a whole lot of world building in the first 100ish pages and some really intense lore that took me a while to get my head around. But once Jules and Selene’s paths cross, this story completely takes off!

I can just tell that very quickly this is going to become a cast of characters that I will love and cherish as the series goes on. I did find myself more drawn to Jules’ chapters in this and wasn’t overly excited by Selene’s character. I love Jules cheeky side and how he knows exactly how to push all of Selene’s buttons! I just feel like Selene needed something more to make her stand out from some of my other favourite FMC’s. Some really great side characters were set up in this that I’m very much looking forward to learning more about in the future. Sparrow and Kian are two of my favourite additions to the story and I was thrilled every time they appeared on page!

Overall, this is a really well paced debut from Sophie Clark and I thoroughly recommend to any romantasy lovers looking for something a bit different!

Thank you to Netgalley, Penguin Random House and Sophie Clark for providing me with an eARC of Cruel is the Light for me to read and review!

Rating: 3 stars

Cruel is the Light is a gothic romantasy set in Rome and the Vatican where a war between humans and demons has been raging for centuries. The book follows two main characters, Selene (a high-ranking demon hunter) and Jules (a foot soldier).

The premise of this book is a unique edition to YA romantasy - as is its world and magic system and I love the idea behind this. However, I wish there was more world-building in this, and that we got some more information and exploration of both the world and the magic system within it. I also wish the characters (apart from Jules, really) had more development and were fleshed out a little more - especially the side characters.

The pacing was a tad off for me, and the build-up to both the ending and the secrets revealed could have been hinted at or gone on for a bit longer than it did. It felt a little bit rushed towards the end, in my opinion.

The story wasn’t always clear and the writing didn’t always flow particularly well and felt a tad clunky at times. There were times when I was reading and wondering, ‘How did we get from A to B?’. I also feel like some of the romance suffered from this.

The premise itself, and the ending, however, are making me consider picking up the second instalment to the duology.

Unfortunately this is a DNF for me at 60%

I was so excited to pick up this book as I’d seen so many of my fellow booksta’s, and people I usually have very similar taste to loving this, perhaps because of this my expectations were too high?

I will start with what I did like, I feel like the concept was pretty unique, with the Vatican empire and the magic system, initially kind of gave me Shadowhunter vibes (think rune and blood magic). We were thrust deep into the action from the beginning and I really enjoyed the initial set up of the world.

What I soon learned was that the writing unfortunately wasn’t for me, it felt clunky at times and I found myself asking “how did we get to here, from there?”. It also became increasingly difficult to follow who was speaking, as one person’s dialogue would immediately be followed by another’s thoughts so again this made it a hard read.

I also feel that the romance wasn’t pulling me in, which I think is the hook for this book so that may be why it didn’t quite work for me. I felt some of the dialogue was a bit too cringey and while it was said to be “enemies to lovers”, it was definitely more “reluctant allies to lovers”. There are signs in the plot line that I think may change this later in the book however but at the 60% that hadn’t happened.

All in all I think it may be a me problem and not necessarily a problem with the book, I just couldn’t get myself immersed in the story and it felt like a slog to pick up, which is why I decided to DNF.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an ARC copy to review

Cruel is the Light

A real gothic romantasy set in Rome and the Vatican. I loved the concept of this book, and was so grateful to be given the chance to read it before it's release. I have definitely preordered the stunning special edition from Waterstones, and can't wait for the finished copy to arrive.

What to expect:
Exorcists vs Demons
Italian and French settings
Fake Engagement
Only One Bed
Reverse Grumpy x Sunshine
Forbidden romance

I loved Selene, I thought she was so badass. And I love a grumpy FMC who knows how to banter and is great with a blade. She ticks all the boxes.
Jules as hilarious, and pure sunshine, even after everything he'd been through. I loved reading about his journey and self discovery.

This was a great fast paced read with lots of twists and turns. It wasn't bogged down with too much heavy worldbuilding and the plot was easy to follow. It was very much in a YA style of writing, but it did have quite a few steamy scenes, so not for younger readers.

My only critic is I almost wanted it to be more adult in writing and worldbuilding etc, it was an amazing book but left me wanting to dig deeper into everything. I can't wait for the next book to see how this develops.
It's a fresh original take on a romantasy, I've never read anything like it. Highly recommend.

4.5 ⭐️

Rating: 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
Cruel is the Light is the first instalment of an epic new romantasy duology set in Rome (publishing January 2025) featuring a demon hunter and a foot soldier thrown together in a centuries-old war between demons and humans. I absolutely ate this up - once I was in, I was IN.

Jules Lacroix, the man that you are! If you’re in need of a new book boyfriend, dare I suggest the cheeky and charming sunshine that is Jules! I read a lot of this on my kindle in fear of damaging this BEAUTIFUL proof, and SO many of the lines I highlighted were Jules being Jules. I LOVE HIM. Wrapped up in a fake engagement with Scary Girlfriend Demon Hunter Selene Alleva, we get to see them navigate deadly secrets and their own vulnerabilities. Selene is badass, powerful, and downright feral, but I ADORED getting to see the softer side of her as her and Jules grew closer. And MY MY did they get close 👀

This world was so interesting, there was a perfect balance between elements from our world and the magical! I am excited to learn more about the demons and the war in book 2, I feel like there were a LOT of plot twists and bombs dropped in this book and I need ANSWERS.

If I haven’t convinced you yet, here’s a few more reasons you might want to read Cruel:
Dual POV
Fake engagement
Knife-to-throat (I mean look at that cover)
Forced proximity
One bed 👀

4.5 stars

This book dropped us right into the middle of the action and never stopped. It’s set in an alternate Europe (think WW2 but with demons) with the Vatican at the heart of everything – and I do mean EVERYTHING! It’s told in dual POV, following Selene who is an exorcist for the Vatican (think high-level solder with magic) and Jules, an orphan who was forced to join the front line due to a lack of other options, somehow survived over four years, but then suddenly deserted his post because he learns his whole life is based on a lie and he wants to know about his past. And of course, when their lives cross, things really explode, because both of them are hiding secrets. But the romance and the emotions was on point. I felt for these two so much.

The story was fast-paced and exciting. I half-guessed a lot of the twists, which was interesting because every time I thought something was about to unfold, there was a twist that I was not expecting. It was that mix of familiarity and differences that kept me on my toes and had me reading till the end. The ending was satisfying while leaving enough threads open that I want to read the next book.

My only complaint about this book was there were a few aspects of the world building and magic system that weren’t fully explained. Like, how did they decide who could become exorcists or not? How did the exorcists get their marks? Why was Selene’s marks on her bones while everyone else had them on their skin, and why did some exorcists have more marks than others? Overall, these didn’t detracts from the enjoyment of the book, but they did niggle at the back of my mind. I kept waiting for an explanation, but it just never came. We’re told over and over again that the Vatican has their secrets, but we were literally inside Selene’s head. She knows the answer to these questions, so we should have been able to learn them too. A few I could guess, but there was never enough information to tell me if I’m right.

I absolutely recommend this to someone who likes fantasy/romantasy because you will not be disappointed.

In Vatican City, Exorcists are trained at the Academy to help fight off demons in the long standing war between Demons and Humans

Selene is one such exorcist, and is well thought of despite her family history

Jules is a wayward orphan soldier and gets roped into going to the Vatican with Selene and is surprised when it isn't what he thought at all

The two must work together, uncovering plots and secrets, all whilst fighting their growing feelings for each other... what will the pair do...

I found this kept a decent pace with the story, definitely a bit info heavy at the start. Took a bit for me to get into the flow of it but really picked up from the half way mark

Out 23 January so still time to get those preorders in!