Was drawn to this book initially because I really love the cover. but I loved the story just as much!
This has gave me a nostalgic feel that I can't really explain, but in the best way.
Can't wait to read more from this author!

Thank you Netgalley, Penguin and Sophie Clark for providing me with a digital arc in exchange for an honest review.

They say love conquers all . . . But can love win in a war between demons and exorcists? Or will it just tear them all apart…?

This book was fantastic, I loved the characters, the plot, and the pacing, it was truly gripping and I devoured the story in a matter of days. It begins by dropping you straight into the action with exorcist Selene and her team of elite soldiers battling a demon, and the pacing continues strongly throughout the book. The writing is strong and uses excellent descriptive language. I could really visualise the settings and the characters.

Unlike a lot of other YA fantasy books this had the perfect balance between on page information and foreshadowing whilst not giving away too much or spelling everything out to the reader. I would say that this is definitely on the upper end of YA/New adult as there is sexual content though this is mild and brief.

Arguably one of the strengths of this book are the characters and the interactions between the main romantic pair. Sophie Clark took her time with developing their relationship - a real slow burn allowing us to get to know them, to start to understand them and the reasons behind their actions. This led the romance to be completely believable. Let me tell you the chemistry and the banter between Selene and Jules was perfection. I was kicking my feet and really enjoying the quips between them. Jules’s arrogance and cockiness was a perfect contrast to Selene (though for sure she’s a badass that can hold her own) and I just loved the interactions between these two.

As well as the main two characters the story has excellent side characters that I really hope we get to learn more about in future books. Sparrow and Kian were perfect additions to the story and just added more enjoyment and intrigue.

Cruel is the Light is full of twists and turns, and heartbreaking revelations. The characters learn truths about their history and themselves, and as I’ve mentioned before the pacing was excellent. It truly was an exciting read that didn’t miss out any of the background information and world building needed to make a strong fantasy story.

This book is for sure to be a new romantasy obsession, and I am hooked. The ending left me itching for more and I cannot wait for the continuation of the story and to get to read more Selene and Jules.

Allow me to present your newest fantasy obsession: Cruel is the Light by debut author Sophie Clark!

Sophie Clark has written one of my top reads of this year and I cannot wait until this one releases so everyone else can obsess over this book the way I am obsessing over it.

What to expect:
⚔️YA Romantasy (reads as upper YA/New Adult)
⚔️Forced Proximity
⚔️Enemies-to-Lovers
⚔️Only One Bed
⚔️Fake Engagement
⚔️Humans vs Demons
⚔️Forbidden Love

From the very first page you are thrust into a centuries-old war with non-stop action and perfectly executed fight sequences that will have you sitting at the edge of your seat and gripping it in anticipation.

With the phenomenal prose and beautiful writing, this book was so easy to devour, and devour it I did. This book was un-put-downable.

The world building was well developed and all encapsulating. It was lush and beautiful, and described in such a phenomenal way that it truly felt like I was standing there, beside the characters, experiencing everything that they were.

I’ve always been a sucker for dual POV (especially in 3rd person) and oh my goodness did this book deliver. The wit and angst, and tension between Jules and Selene was delicious. I also loved how well developed their characters were, and loved watching their character develop throughout the story, their character growth was absolutely incredible.

The only thing I want to mention is the brief sexual content (it was yum) that takes place in this one. Whilst it is mild and nothing near the content you’d find in an Adult fantasy, I still feel the need to mention it to unsuspecting readers just so they are aware of it.

I’m in desperate need for the sequel and cannot wait for Cruel is the Light to hit the shelves so others can love it as much as I do!

Thank you so much to Sophie Clark, Penguin Random House and NetGalley for providing me with an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review. I cannot fully express in words how grateful I am, and will be talking about this one non stop in the Sophie Clark Street Team Discord.

Rating - 4.25⭐️

This book did the reverse grumpy x sunshine dynamic so well!!!

Might be an unpopular opinion but I actually love reverse grumpy fmc x sunshine mmc dynamics much more than the typical sunshine fmc x grumpy mmc dynamic. So it was great that this book did one of my fav tropes justice🙌🏻.

Selene and Jules were genuinely so cute and their interactions had me squealing and laughing. Part of the plot is that they have to fake an engagement and honestly it was one of my fav aspects of the book. That plot coupled with their dialogues were absolute GOLD and don’t even get me started on the French and Italian endearments they used for each other, I was giggling and smiling like a fool🙈

Unfortunately, I kind of struggled to get immersed in the world. There was terminology that I struggled to remember so I kept getting a little confused but I got past it eventually but it did hinder some of my enjoyment while reading. Some of the plot didn’t really interest me enough but I can see other people enjoying the plot a lot more than I did. So I think Jules and Selene’s interactions and relationship is what carried this book for me.

This book this book this book!!

Sophie has done an OUTSTANDING job of telling a story thats so close to reality but with a burst of fantasy! Selene and Jules are the perfect characters, they are witty, fun, have a lot of trauma to work through 😅

I am obsessed with Cruel and will tell anyone whos listening (or not 😂) that this is the book of 2025!!!!

𝑨𝑹𝑪 𝑹𝒆𝒗𝒊𝒆𝒘 ~ 𝑪𝒓𝒖𝒆𝒍 𝒊𝒔 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝑳𝒊𝒈𝒉𝒕

Sophie Clark’s 𝑪𝒓𝒖𝒆𝒍 𝒊𝒔 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝑳𝒊𝒈𝒉𝒕 pulls readers into a richly atmospheric world filled with demons, political scheming, and an entrancing slow-burn romance.
Set in a world where exorcists walk a tightrope between light and darkness, the novel immerses readers in an intricately woven plot featuring demons and exorcists grappling with loyalty, deception, and hard-hitting truths that reshape our view of good and evil.

The storytelling is exceptional, layering political maneuvering with paranormal elements in a way that feels organic and thrilling. The mystery unfolds masterfully, peeling back secrets bit by bit, drawing readers into a complex world that demands attention.
There are gasp-inducing twists, with each revelation leaving you slack-jawed and eagerly flipping to the next page.

The romance between the main characters is beautifully handled. It’s a slow burn that grows and evolves naturally alongside the unfolding mystery, making it all the more satisfying.
In a world where softness can be fatal, every intimate moment feels like a carefully guarded treasure, heightening the tension between what the characters need to do and what they long to feel.

But my absolute favorite character? Sparrow, hands down. Despite his role as a side character, he’s impossible to ignore. There’s a delicious aura of mystery around him that makes every appearance memorable. Without giving too much away, let’s just say Sparrow is someone readers will want to meet for themselves.

✴ 𝘞𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘪𝘵𝘴 𝘴𝘩𝘢𝘳𝘱 𝘸𝘪𝘵, 𝘢 𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘧𝘦𝘤𝘵 𝘣𝘭𝘦𝘯𝘥 𝘰𝘧 𝘩𝘶𝘮𝘰𝘳 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘥𝘢𝘳𝘬𝘯𝘦𝘴𝘴, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘢𝘯 𝘦𝘹𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘵𝘭𝘺 𝘸𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘯 𝘱𝘭𝘰𝘵, 𝑪𝒓𝒖𝒆𝒍 𝒊𝒔 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝑳𝒊𝒈𝒉𝒕 𝘪𝘴 𝘢𝘯 𝘦𝘯𝘨𝘳𝘰𝘴𝘴𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘥 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘧𝘢𝘯𝘴 𝘰𝘧 𝘥𝘢𝘳𝘬 𝘧𝘢𝘯𝘵𝘢𝘴𝘺 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘴𝘶𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘯𝘢𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘢𝘭 𝘮𝘺𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘺. ✴

If you love stories where duty clashes with desire, where every scene brims with tension, and where the truth is never quite as it seems, this book will grip you from start to finish.

— 5 stars
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

"She was a Roman exorcist. Protector of humanity. And sometimes that meant forgoing hers."

📖 𝐩𝐚𝐠𝐞 𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐭: 512 pages
👤 𝐚𝐮𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐫: Sophie Clark
⏳ 𝐬𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐬 𝐥𝐞𝐧𝐠𝐭𝐡: Duology
🏢 𝐩𝐮𝐛𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐡𝐞𝐫: Penguin Books
📅 𝐫𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐞 𝐝𝐚𝐭𝐞: 23 January 2025

What you can expect:
— Young Adult Crossover Romantasy
— Third Person X Dual POV
— Enemies-To-Lovers
— Fake Engagement
— Demon Hunter X Foot Soldier
— Humans X Demons At War
— Forced Proximity
— Only One Bed
— Knife To Throat
— Forbidden Love
— Good Vs. Evil

𝐓𝐫𝐢𝐠𝐠𝐞𝐫 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐖𝐚𝐫𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬: descriptive elements of a war setting, blood & mild gore, injury, adult language, self-harm for magical intent, family loss (discussed), mild sexual encounters.

𝐖𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐒𝐮𝐦𝐦𝐚𝐫𝐲:
Debut author Sophie Clark has delivered on our newest Romantasy obsession to devour in 2025 with the first instalment in the Cruel is the Light duology. I was immediately enraptured from the very first page as we are thrust into a centuries-old bloodthirsty war between humanity and the demons who wish to smother it. The action-packed beginning had my mind whirring with the well-developed world building so I definitely recommend taking the first 10-15% of the book slowly to better absorb its contents. After this the plot was smooth sailing with its well paced and descriptive writing which mentally transported me into an entirely new world. I'm a visual reader that often will pause at the end of a chapter to run through the events that I just read in my mind, and I thoroughly enjoyed the emotional journey that this book took me on. Many secrets are unveiled where foes may find themselves as allies, and allies may become foes... so you absolutely don't want to miss this spellbinding first instalment to the Cruel is the Light duology. The ending was satisfactory whilst leaving enough intrigue to leave you feeling eager for book two, so it's safe to say that I'm utterly obsessed and will be counting down the months in 2025 as I await news on the conclusion to this epic tale.

𝐏𝐥𝐨𝐭:
The steady building plot found within Cruel is the Light felt purposeful and well utilised with the space that it was given to grow whilst leaving enough left unsaid to leave you vying for more. I was immediately intrigued by the version of Rome that has been plagued by a war between humans and demons for centuries, and I had the best experience watching the truth unravel over time. The world felt entirely unique whilst sprinkled with a hint of reality with its locations that made it a much smoother reading experience. I was constantly trying to distinguish between what was sold as fact in comparison to the underlying truth as Jules and Selene desperately tried to discover Jules's origins and what makes him so important to the demons. Despite my best efforts I was left in a constant state of shock and awe at the never-ending revelations and plot twists that span across the entire story. I was fully immersed into the reading experience to the point where I struggled with putting the book down and heading off to fulfil my adult responsibilities, and I'm not exaggerating when I say that I knew I'd discovered a new immediate favourite within the first 100 pages. Clark's vivid writing brought the world and its ongoing plot to life before my very eyes, and after that jaw-dropping ending I'm very eager to see this world expand and evolve with its plot in the sequel to this unputdownable duology.

𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐬:
Selene Alleva is a memorising, contradictory and multi-layered main character to follow on this action packed journey full of personal challenge, pain and hard truths. Known for her reputation as the Butcher of Rome, Selene is a young woman who inspires more fear and awe in her mere seventeen years of life than most hope to achieve within their lifetime. Her skills and innate talent as an exorcist is widely known... as is her shut-off exterior and lack of personal connections. Selene's sole purpose in life is to act in defence of Rome and its human inhabitants, and to loyally serve the Vatican and their fallen God. Fear is an ever present theme that is explored during Cruel is the Light and I loved getting to see the softer exteriors deeply hidden under Selene's protective layers. Not even the fearless can exist without the presence of fear, and Selene Alleva is the perfect example of that. Selene isn't a character who immediately jumps into feelings of compassion and empathy. She is wholly misunderstood character who has been forced to carry too much death and responsibilities on her shoulders from such a young age, and we are faced with the realities of her life as a result. I enjoyed getting to explore her underlying vulnerabilities and subtle growths from beginning to end, however there's no doubt that her fierce and resilient nature are what made me fall in love with her. Selene is like a feral creature who is unapologetic in who she is and I loved that for her. Selene knows her own power and recognises that she quite simply is better than most, and it's not something she seeks to flaunt or boast about. Selene simply is and refuses to diminish her own potential for the comfort of others. She regards a challenge as a simple part of life and didn't quake under pressure as the events in her life continue to become more severe. Selene is a fiercely loyal character who has never truly been faced with another to consider an equal, however those that she does care for are cherished and fought for. Despite having been rigid in her beliefs and faith, Selene's ability to adapt and learn was admirable and I cannot wait to see where her story will lead in book two.

Jules Lacroix is a mystery that Selene Alleva is determined to solve. Soldier. Orphan. Deserter. Those are the titles that have followed Jules during periods of his short life and he is committed to finding much needed answers in a world that is intent on keeping him in the shadows. When a high-ranking demon begins to show up in every place that shares a connection to him, it's more important than ever for Jules to find the answers he desperately seeks before more lives are lost. I absolutely adored Jules as a main character and love interest. Despite being surrounded by the scent of death and living with the environment of a brutal war Jules has not allowed his circumstances to cloud his heart, nor darken his sunshine personality. Having faced more loss than anybody else he knows, Jules has gotten used to the life as a lonely soldier who isn't promised the next day. Seeing him grip tight onto the few friendships that he had broke my heart as it was clear that Jules still had a lot of love and loyalty to give. As a fierce opponent on the battlefield and a gentle-natured friend, lover and companion... Jules is the ultimate book boyfriend who I constantly wanted to hug and reassure. His budding relationship with Selene was hilarious as he regarded her with equal part respect and equal part fear, and their dynamic constantly left me wheezing with laughter. He's openly vulnerable when his trust is earned and I loved seeing him flourish the more the plot continued to progress. Many revelations were made about his character to it's safe to say that I'm very eager to see where his storyline will lead in the conclusion to this duology.

Sparrow quickly became a favourite side character of mine with his imposing and alluring presence, and his unique companionship with Selene. His character is shrouded in mystery and I suspect there is much to be discovered about his history and what lead him to the circumstances in which we find him in. It needs to be said that if it had been me being propositioned against the wall by Sparrow....well, I certainly wouldn't have been able to refuse him. I’ll gladly step in and take that spot. I suspect (and hope) that he will have a much larger role to play in the upcoming events in book two and his character seems like the perfect introduction to (hopefully) explore in his own book. I was mesmerised by Sparrow's on-page presence and I honestly wish that we have gotten even more of him in Cruel is the Light. But then again... maybe I'm just being selfish. His acquaintance with Selene was a hilarious and sometimes volatile dynamic to follow as they struggled to find a common ground to stand on. Sparrow views Selene as a self-righteous girl who has no regard for anybody but herself, and he seemed to take great enjoyment in ruffling her feathers. There is definitely an opening for further development between the pair and I'm very curious to see if Selene and Sparrow will make it to the other side as either friend or foe...

𝐑𝐞𝐥𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐩 𝐃𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐥𝐨𝐩𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭:
Smooth is the last word that you could use to describe the relationship development between Jules Lacroix and Selene Alleva.. Tumultuous? Yes. Volatile? At times. The chemistry and tension between the pair was palpable and I found myself constantly grinning like a creepy person after every single one of their interactions. Seeing Jules and Selene trying to navigate their fake engagement in an environment that would cut them down and separate them at every given chance was a lot of fun considering they’re two strangers pretending to be in-love whilst knowing very little information about the other person’s character and life history. Their ability to work as a team was anything but seamless... and yet the pair were determined to make it work in their desperate bid for answers. Jules possesses a sunny exterior which served as the perfect opposite to Selene’s broodiness and I loved watching them grow and development independently and as a team. Jules in particular challenged Selene and often forced her to look outside of the sheltered wall that she had been raised within. To look over that wall and see what mysteries and answers could be solved on the other side. I was forever sitting in anticipation for that "will they, won't they moment?" and I was squealing with excitement when that moment finally arrived. Jules and Selene's development wasn't linear and faced many setbacks and complications, but ultimately their trust and longing affection for the other would come out on top. It was the ultimate slow-burn romance that felt purposeful and well developed, however their story is not yet over and it's safe to say that I'm feeling nervous for what comes next. Also... the jealously written between Jules and Selene? Swoon. Immediate swoon. Their stubbornness to accept their mutual attraction was in-turn fed back to the reader with those delicious, tension-filled moments of jealously. Jules and Selene have become a new favourite couple of mine and I cannot wait to see where their journey will lead in the sequel.

𝐅𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐓𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬:
To say I'm obsessed with Cruel is the Light is an understatement. I didn't want to put this book down and I was absolutely gutted when I reached the end, and I'm going to need to join an emotional support group in the wait for book two. My only thing to note is to emphasis that this book is a Young Adult Crossover Romantasy. What this means is whilst it is being published primarily as YA in the book market, it does contain crossover adult elements. To me that would mean that this book is ‘upper’ YA or even New Adult, however I just wanted to include this clarification for unsuspecting readers. Cruel is the Light does contain a (mild) descriptive and brief scene with sexual intent which is in no way as overly graphic as you would see in a Adult book, however there is no denying that it is sexual content so I'm merely flagging this for those unaware so that you can make the right decision for you prior to reading. I'm so excited for book two and I'm internally crying that the earliest this will be released is 2026, so I'll be re-reading to fill that void as I eagerly await on news.

𝐓𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐤 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐭𝐨 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐚𝐮𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐫 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐩𝐮𝐛𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐞𝐀𝐑𝐂 𝐭𝐨 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐝 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐫𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐰 𝐩𝐫𝐢𝐨𝐫 𝐭𝐨 𝐫𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐞 𝐝𝐚𝐲.

Fantastic romantasy ya book - there’s some mild spicy scenes.

This book ticks all the boxes, enemies to lovers, fake engagement, romance, fantasy, magic, and everything nice!

I loved the divided views between Selene and Jules, how their opposing perspectives were questioned as their attraction grew and their relationship developed.

The world building was fantastic - I felt really immersed in the story, absolutely brilliant.

I enjoyed reading this book. My favourite aspects were the plot and the world building. The environment and setting takes place in Rome for the most part, I was actually recently in Rome so it was very easy for me to visualise and understand the locations of characters. For me, the world building was easy to understand and I think the author did great explaining the surroundings. Rome is beautiful so I enjoyed going back there in my mind 🫶🏻

I liked the plot, especially how the story progressed, what we learn and the twists! I like reading about strong and badass FMC, and Selene definitely fits into this!.

I thought the pace was medium.

The tropes/ about the book:
⚔️fake engagement
⚔️good vs evil
⚔️exorcist x foot soldier
⚔️badass FMC
⚔️YA Romantasy
⚔️demons x humans at war
⚔️dual perspectives (FMC & MMC)

Synopsis

𝒯𝒽𝑒𝓎 𝓈𝒶𝓎 𝓁𝑜𝓋𝑒 𝒸𝑜𝓃𝓆𝓊𝑒𝓇𝓈 𝒶𝓁𝓁,
𝐵𝓊𝓉 𝒸𝒶𝓃 𝓁𝑜𝓋𝑒 𝓌𝒾𝓃 𝒾𝓃 𝒶 𝓌𝒶𝓇 𝒷𝑒𝓉𝓌𝑒𝑒𝓃 𝒹𝑒𝓂𝑜𝓃𝓈 𝒶𝓃𝒹 𝑒𝓍𝑜𝓇𝒸𝒾𝓈𝓉𝓈?
𝒪𝓇 𝓌𝒾𝓁𝓁 𝒾𝓉 𝒿𝓊𝓈𝓉 𝓉𝑒𝒶𝓇 𝓉𝒽𝑒𝓂 𝒶𝓁𝓁 𝒶𝓅𝒶𝓇𝓉?

A brutal war between demons and humanity has raged across Europe for over a century. At its heart are two elite soldiers: Selene Alleva, a powerful exorcists trained at the prestigious Vatican Academy, and foot soldier, Jules Lacroix, unrivalled in battle.

When their paths cross, despite initial distrust – then unwelcome attraction – Jules and Selene discover a terrible secret at the heart of the holy Vatican City .

Soon Jules is forced to question everything he’s ever known – including himself. And Selene, unable to ignore her growing feelings for Jules, must make an impossible choice between love and duty.

*I did receive this book as an e-ARC, thought this review is of my own opinion. Thank you Sophie for the e-ARC 🫶🏻

I was so lucky to receive a physical ARC of this too at Waterstones BookFest and can I just say it's as beautiful on the inside as it is on the outside.

This was everything I hoped it would be and more: enemies to lovers, fake engagement, magic, demons, war, and an exorcist and a soldier being forced to work together as they fight growing feelings between them.

There are so many characters that I loved, Selene and Jules being the two most prominent, however a special shoutout to Sparrow and Kian - they have my heart at the moment! I will be obsessed with all these characters for a long time yet! The pacing was great, the world and magic was incredible, and the twists and turns as the characters (and reader) discover the different secrets had me wanting more.

I will be recommending this to all, especially if you’ve loved the Shadowhunters series and/or Divine Rivals!