I’m a sucker for enemies-to-lovers so I had high expectations for this one. It’s a thrilling mix of Shadowhunters and Warrior Nun, full of action. But, the writing and word choices could’ve been a bit better. The world-building, magic system and character development felt a bit rushed. And don’t even get me started on the plot. It often relied on dialogue to make sense, and I found myself understanding the story better from the synopsis than from the actual book. So as I got halfway through this book, I just couldn’t care less about the plot. Nothing exciting was happening. So, overall, it had a great start, but it just needed a bit more.
2.75

Adventurous
Challenging
Medium-paced
Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.5 STARS

Magic, demon hunters, Vatican setting and forbidden love all sounded so interesting and fun but I was a little underwhelmed by the end of the book.


I still had a really great time reading Cruel is the light and would recommend people to give it ago but it the main thing I struggled most with was the lack of care I had for any of the characters. Maybe I’ve just read so may books with the same characters over and over but that’s on me.

.𖥔 ݁ ˖ ⭐️5 🌶1 🩵3
This book is absolute fire 🔥

⋆.ೃ࿔*:･ final book review 2024

This is the next romantasy to kick off 2025. I have no doubt that all my true romantasy girlies will love this one.

'𝐀 𝐛𝐫𝐨𝐚𝐝-𝐬𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐝 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐠 𝐦𝐚𝐧 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐭𝐨𝐮𝐬𝐥𝐞𝐝 𝐡𝐚𝐢𝐫 𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐜𝐨𝐫𝐧𝐞𝐫, 𝐭𝐨𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐜𝐢𝐠𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐭𝐭𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐤𝐬 𝐛𝐞𝐥𝐨𝐰. 𝐇𝐞𝐫 𝐬𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝𝐞𝐫 𝐬𝐥𝐚𝐦𝐦𝐞𝐝 𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐨 𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐬𝐡𝐞 𝐩𝐢𝐯𝐨𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐨𝐧 𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐡𝐞𝐞𝐥. 𝐈𝐭 𝐟𝐞𝐥𝐭 𝐥𝐢𝐤𝐞 𝐡𝐢𝐭𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚 𝐛𝐫𝐢𝐜𝐤 𝐰𝐚𝐥𝐥. 𝐁𝐮𝐭, 𝐃𝐢𝐨, 𝐡𝐞 𝐡𝐚𝐝 𝐭𝐨 𝐛𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐦𝐨𝐬𝐭 𝐛𝐞𝐚𝐮𝐭𝐢𝐟𝐮𝐥 𝐜𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞 𝐬𝐡𝐞’𝐝 𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝐬𝐞𝐞𝐧.'

It gave me mystery, intrigue, lust, flirting, care, compassion, fierceness, danger, fear, and romance.

This was written so poetically and beautifully that it captivated me from every fantasy and romance angle, and I couldn't look away.

I now get to both end 2024 and start 2025 with this hangover ---> yes, I went and got a full custom 3D nail set to match the cover while I pout.

𝐎𝐧𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐬𝐡𝐞 𝐤𝐧𝐞𝐰 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐬𝐮𝐫𝐞—𝐉𝐮𝐥𝐞𝐬 𝐰𝐚𝐬 𝐧𝐨 𝐬𝐡𝐚𝐝𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐠𝐫𝐞𝐲. 𝐇𝐞 𝐰𝐚𝐬 𝐚 𝐥𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 𝐬𝐨 𝐛𝐫𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 𝐢𝐭 𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐛𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐝.

ೃ⁀➷ This book was giving the vibes of Constantine x Anastasia (the movies).
But make Constantine a female, and she is a part-demon exorcist who works for the Vatican, and Anastasia is a high-class demon.

ೃ⁀➷ The setting is 1920s-1940s Europe but an alternative history that has demons, angels, old trains, phone booths, magical swords and guns, and dark magic that can be used by exorcists through blood letting and rune carving. The world was cast in deep cultural and political history tied with Rome and the Vatican. The whole setting honestly made me feel like everything in this world was dangerously beautiful - just like historical european art.

ೃ⁀➷ The Vatican is a religious run system, but it also runs its own militia of higher class people like exorcists and artificers who fight against demons.

ೃ⁀➷ The female lead, Selene Alleva, is one of the highest class exorcists and a captain of the Vatican. She is fiercely loyal to their undying god and a tragically skilled fighter. Selene has to navigate her loyalties while also discovering the truth about everything she knows.

ೃ⁀➷ The male lead, Jules Lacroix, is an orphaned French man who is a foot soldier on the front line fighting the war against demons. He has since desserted in an attempt to find out who he really is and why the high-class demons keep treating him as something different. Jules is very talented at escaping death... and has the most tormented yet caring and beautiful soul. Plus, he's hot.

‘𝑩𝒆𝒄𝒂𝒖𝒔𝒆 𝑰 𝒘𝒂𝒏𝒕𝒆𝒅 𝒕𝒐 𝒄𝒂𝒓𝒗𝒆 𝒎𝒚 𝒉𝒂𝒕𝒓𝒆𝒅 𝒊𝒏𝒕𝒐 𝒎𝒚 𝒔𝒌𝒊𝒏. 𝑻𝒐 𝒓𝒆𝒎𝒊𝒏𝒅 𝒎𝒚𝒔𝒆𝒍𝒇 𝒘𝒉𝒚 𝑰 𝒌𝒊𝒍𝒍. 𝑺𝒐 𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒊𝒇 𝑰 𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒓 𝒇𝒐𝒓𝒈𝒆𝒕, 𝒂𝒍𝒍 𝑰 𝒉𝒂𝒗𝒆 𝒕𝒐 𝒅𝒐 𝒊𝒔 𝒍𝒐𝒐𝒌 𝒂𝒕 𝒎𝒚 𝒉𝒂𝒏𝒅𝒔.’ ~ 𝑱𝒖𝒍𝒆𝒔 𝑳𝒂𝒄𝒓𝒐𝒊𝒙

ೃ⁀➷ The romance was organic, statying with banter and whitt, then to flirting and sarcasm with a dash or lust and love. I really enjoyed their constant sarcastic use of cute pet names 🥹😭✋️

‘𝑫𝒊𝒅𝒏’𝒕 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒕𝒆𝒍𝒍 𝒂𝒏𝒚𝒐𝒏𝒆 𝑰 𝒘𝒂𝒔 𝒄𝒐𝒎𝒊𝒏𝒈?’ 𝑯𝒆 𝒍𝒐𝒐𝒌𝒆𝒅 𝒅𝒐𝒘𝒏 𝒂𝒕 𝑺𝒆𝒍𝒆𝒏𝒆, 𝒉𝒐𝒍𝒅𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒉𝒆𝒓 𝒈𝒂𝒛𝒆. ‘𝑫𝒊𝒅 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒘𝒂𝒏𝒕 𝒕𝒐 𝒌𝒆𝒆𝒑 𝒎𝒆 𝒂𝒍𝒍 𝒕𝒐 𝒚𝒐𝒖𝒓𝒔𝒆𝒍𝒇? 𝑯𝒐𝒘 𝒔𝒆𝒍𝒇𝒊𝒔𝒉 𝒐𝒇 𝒚𝒐𝒖, 𝒎𝒐𝒏 𝒑𝒆𝒕𝒊𝒕 𝒍𝒂𝒑𝒊𝒏𝒐𝒖.’ 𝑴𝒚 𝒍𝒊𝒕𝒕𝒍𝒆 𝒍𝒐𝒗𝒆 𝒃𝒖𝒏𝒏𝒚. 𝑯𝒆 𝒑𝒓𝒆𝒔𝒔𝒆𝒅 𝒂 𝒌𝒊𝒔𝒔 𝒕𝒐 𝒉𝒆𝒓 𝒕𝒆𝒎𝒑𝒍𝒆.

ೃ⁀➷ This book gave me the comfort of familiarity and known things while also being completely new, inventive, and refreshing. Beautifully written.

If you love ACOTAR, Fourth Wing, Divine Rivals, and The Cruel Prince... then this true romantasy is for you.

𝐇𝐞 𝒘𝒂𝒏𝒕𝒆𝒅 𝐡𝐞𝐫. 𝐈𝐭 𝐡𝐚𝐝 𝐛𝐞𝐞𝐧 𝐚 𝐥𝐨𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐢𝐦𝐞 𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐡𝐞’𝐝 𝐰𝐚𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐚𝐧𝐲𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐥𝐢𝐤𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭.

𔓘 Romantasy debut
𔓘 Humans vs demons war
𔓘 Roman vatican militia
𔓘 Fake engagement
𔓘 Enemies to lovers
𔓘 Star-crossed lovers
𔓘 Romance with a little spice
𔓘 Exorcist & foot soldier romance
𔓘 Intricate world
𔓘 Dark magic
𔓘 Alternative history circa 1920s
𔓘 Symbolism and sacrifices
𔓘 Constantin meets Anastasia vibes

𝐄𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐲 𝐦𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐬𝐡𝐞’𝐝 𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐛𝐥𝐚𝐝𝐞 𝐚𝐠𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐬𝐭 𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐬𝐤𝐢𝐧, 𝐡𝐞’𝐝 𝐟𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐧 𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐢𝐧 𝐥𝐨𝐯𝐞 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐡𝐞𝐫.

Thank you, Penguin Australia, for my proof copy 💙🩵✨️

This was an action packed light vs dark, enemies to lovers YA fantasy. I loved the concept of demon hunters trained by the Vatican but also felt the beginning of the book throws you straight into the deep end without a prior exploration of the world, the magic system and the levels and different types of demons. At times I felt it a little hard to keep up with everything but it did seem to get easier as the book went on. Overall, it's an excellent story with loveable characters and delicious banter. The concept is unique and the story incredibly intriguing. I'm looking forward to seeing what will come next.

I was generously provided an eARC through NetGalley by Penguin Australia and I am happily, and voluntarily, leaving my review! ❤️ Thank you!

⭐⭐⭐⭐ = 4 stars!

“Did he really want to taunt a girl who could kill him six different ways before his next breath?”

Cruel is the Light is a debut romantasy filled with demons and exorcists, set in a world torn between good and evil, where nothing is quite as it seems!

I thoroughly enjoyed this one, as I knew I would. I mean, when I saw the cover featuring Selene and Jules, I was instantly drawn in. It’s an exciting and refreshing upper-YA fantasy with engaging paranormal elements that I thoroughly enjoyed. It gave me major White Hot Kiss by Jennifer L. Armentrout vibes combined with the allure of Serpent & Dove by Shelby Mahurin.

Jules, a corporal in the Vatican Empire's army, is a survivor with the highest kill count but no memory of his past. Selene, the Butcher of Rome, is a cold and untrusting captain in the Vatican’s demon-hunting forces.

When Jules becomes the only link to the Duke of Briars—the first and most terrifying of the twelve demon dukes—Selene is forced to confront the mystery he embodies, despite her disdain for enigmas, especially those wrapped in charming French wit.

Their sharp, contrasting dynamic—his charm versus her icy reserve—was captivating, especially with the disguised identity trope leading to some entertaining situations. The story was fast-paced, with a romance that enhanced the plot rather than overshadowing it. Those who know me know that I DEVOUR enemies to lovers stories and this book delivered that trope perfectly!

“Every moment she’d pressed the blade against his skin, he’d fallen more in love with her.”

What to Expect:
• A Young Adult romantasy that reads New Adult
• Third-person narrative with dual points of view
• Enemies-to-lovers romance
• A fake engagement trope
• A demon hunter paired with a foot soldier
• Humans and demons locked in a brutal war
• Forced proximity between characters
• Tension-filled "knife to throat" moments
• A forbidden love story
• A battle of good versus evil

We were left with intriguing unanswered questions and endless possibilities for the sequel—I can’t wait to see what happens next! Thanks again Netgally, Sophie and Penguin for the eARC!

Cruel is the Light is an absolutely stunning debut novel! Everything about this story is spun together perfectly, the world-building, magic, politics, and romance combine to make it feel so real, right from the first page.

Set in a war-ravaged, dystopian Italy, the atmosphere is familiar, but also unsettlingly foreign. The first few chapters are h e a v y, I found myself grappling with the flood of information, trying to catch up with the chaos as it unfolded. I definitely recommend taking your time with the first few chapters.

Selene, our FMC is pure freaking fire. I love her! She’s as fierce in battle as she is in spirit, but there's more to her than that unyielding exterior. Beneath her warrior's mask, is someone who’s been scarred and shaped by her own wars, both internal and external. But it’s the moment she lets her guard down for Jules that made me feel all the things and really admire her.

The MMC, Jules is flirty, bold, handsome and deadly—he wears his confidence like armor but hides a tormented soul, one desperately searching for a place to belong. His path crosses Selene as he flees the army to investigate fragments of his past and attempt to piece together a version of himself that he sees as more than just a monster, surrounded by and inflicting death. Jules is searching for redemption, or at least, a reason for his existence.

Selene and Jules’ meeting feels like fate, but it’s really more like a collision between two forces of nature that can’t be stopped. I could feel the tension between them immediately and I KNEW we were headed for something explosive. It’s a slow-burn war between them that grips you. Each and every encounter they had made me kick my feet, giggle or smirk at the banter and vibes between them. Together, they begin to tear down the walls around their hearts, seeking not just answers, but redemption and peace in a world that’s never shown them either. The slow-burn romance isn’t just about the heat between them; it’s about the raw, jagged edges they both have to face in themselves and in each other.

And then there’s Sparrow… my new obsession. He is enigmatic, alluring and impossible to ignore. Every time he speaks we stand up and take notice! 😉 His banter with Selene is so good—volatile, darkly hilarious, and sprinkled with enough tension to make you wonder if they are friends or enemies. Sparrow is trying his best to survive and doesn’t care about playing nice. I am hoping we see more of him in the sequel—I need to delve deep into this magnetic, mysterious soul.

Cruel is dual POV, and for me, that really helps show the raw truths of Selene and Jules. You get a strong sense of their desires, fears and motivations and the way the narrative lays everything out makes you feel it ALL. I was laughing, I was crying.
This story shines a light on the darkest corners of its characters' pasts, exposing secrets and forcing them to confront the truth, no matter how ugly. Cruel is a stunning tale of survival and redemption, where two people find each other in the chaos of their own lives.

I’m so excited to read the next part of Selene and Jules’ journey and see what the future has is store for them…and my new book boyf, Sparrow.😍

Thank you so much to the publisher and author for an eARC to review prior to release.

I saw the gorgeous cover artwork for this one a little while ago and I've been looking forward to it ever since!! Cruel is the Light is an incredibly fast-paced, action-packed romantasy with compelling characters and a really unique magic system. Things pick up immediately and we dive straight into this intriguing world full of exorcists and demons! I savoured this book, taking my time to go through everything slowly and I really enjoyed the journey we went on, there were soo many twists and turns, and although I had a little suspicion about how certain ~things~ would turn out, I really could not guess the whole story!!

The plot and the characters work very well in tandem to draw you in, we had very strong main characters and I'm really excited to get to know a few more of our side characters better *COUGH* especially Sparrow *COUGH* 🤭🤭 Selene and Jules are both such interesting characters, I thoroughly enjoyed being able to get to know both of them throughout the story and am excited to see how much more they grow in the next book as well! I think a lot of people will be able to resonate with either (or both!) of our main characters here.

Cruel is the Light is the first book in a planned duology and I am SO excited for the second book, I need to know what's going to happen next eek!! I know this one is listed as a young adult book too, but it definitely sits better as an upper-YA or new adult book in my opinion due to a lil spice ♡

Thank you so much to Sophie and Penguin Books Australia via Netgalley for an early review copy!

As soon as I saw the cover of this book I wanted to read it. Then I read the blurb and I was hooked. Cruel is the Light is an action-packed fantasy, that I would actually posit as an upper YA/NA fantasy, more so for the rich world building and some of the themes.

Selena is one of the most powerful exorcists to walk the earth, serving as the Vatican’s protector against demons. Investigating a mysterious and destructive force in Nice, she crosses paths with Jules, and from there the pair are thrust into chaos as they unravel the secrets of the Vatican that threaten to upheave the balance of everything they’ve ever known. Sophie Clark does an incredible job of developing the pair’s relationship. There is so much raw emotion and I loved how they were always trying to figure each other out and battling their worlds being turned upside down while growing closer.

There is significant world building especially in the first 20% of the book. It was slow for me to get through and I feel that I was thrust into the action so quickly and little explanation for the world initially. This left me confused a good portion of the time until I picked up on what was going on and more was explained, and this really lessened the immersive experience for me, especially when I was so absorbed and engrossed in the plot and action. Once you work through that, this book is incredible. I really enjoyed it and would love to reread it again to soak up what I missed and struggled to get through the first time.

Thanks so much to Penguin Random House Australia and NetGalley for the eARC of this book ✨

“There goes the Butcher of Rome. She could never be sure whether they called her ‘butcher’ because of the demons she slaughtered or the bodies she left in her wake.”

This book is intense! It was action packed from the start. I will admit, it did take me awhile to get into it and understand the world and the magic system etc but once I got to the half way mark, I just couldn’t put it down. The writing is amazing and the world building is phenomenal.

- Forbidden love
- Fake engagement
- Forced proximity
- Multiple POV
- Slow burn
- Demons vs exorcists

Jules & Sparrow were definitely my favourite characters!

“Did you want to keep me all to yourself? How selfish of you, mon petit lapinou.’ My little love bunny.”

“Don’t think I didn’t notice that you’re hard.’

Thank you to NetGalley and to the author for an advanced copy of the book.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

I’m officially obsessed. Cruel is the Light is the perfect mix of action, romance and unexpected twists. From the very first page, this book had me hooked and didn’t let go. The world-building is lush and dark, with just the right amount of gothic atmosphere, and the story weaves together forbidden love, and moral dilemmas seamlessly.

Selene and Jules’ enemies-to-lovers arc is everything. The tension between them is electric, with banter and undeniable chemistry. Jules is intense, brooding, and vulnerable in ways that make him impossible not to love, while Selene’s fierce strength and unshakable loyalty make her a heroine you’ll be rooting for every step of the way.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC—I’m already counting down to the next one!

This debut novel by Sophie Clarke is sure to be an instant best-seller when it hits shelves next year; to say I have become obsessed with this world of exorcists and demons is an understatement. This story grabs your attention from the very beginning and doesn’t let up until you’ve closed the book and questioned why it wasn’t written earlier. I love the intricacies of all the characters we get the honour of meeting throughout the book, and all of their backstories have been so beautifully written, and at such perfect times, that the plot twists will have you gasping out loud in shock.

An ARC is not immune to some criticism though. My only one being that sometimes the POV seemed a bit off. It is third-person omniscient throughout the story but sometimes we’ll be viewing a particular object/place/person with the thoughts/feelings of one character only for it to do a 180 without warning and we are seeing it through the thoughts/feelings of someone else who views it completely different but all within the same paragraph. Most of the book had it done right and the separation of paragraphs etc. made it easy to figure out who we were focusing on but sometimes it got a tad confusing which required a re-read of previous paragraphs/pages.

The story as a whole though was an instant 5 star for me. The setting, politics, magic and romance was all so perfectly intertwined and written that none of it felt forced in my opinion. It was an absolute joy to read and even though book 1 has not yet been released, I am eagerly awaiting book 2.

Thank you NetGalley and Penguin Random House Australia for my advance reader copies (I split between the kindle and paperback ARCs during my reading of this title).

Actual review 3.5

This has quite a lot of potential and for the most part got across the line but you can tell that this was a debut novel. There were quite a few parts that felt clunky and I struggled to work out what was going on. I had to go back during the steamy scene because I couldn't work out what had actually happened - spoiler alert, it was the happy ending.

It was a slow start but once I got to the 40% mark, things picked up and I was keen to find out more of the story.

I'd recommend giving it a go

Thank you to Netgalley and Pengiun for the eARC - as always my opinions are my own...and my cats

Thankyou Penguin Random House Australia for the approval.

"Serpent & Dove" vibes, and oh so thrilling. The suspense and danger had me on the edge of my seat! Coupled with a budding romance that neither MC wants to submit to, this is a novel I couldn't put down.
Based in Rome and more specifically, The Vatican, this novel is a rewrite on modern Christianity with a demon/assassin twist. Oh, and a romance to die for!

Classic enemies to lovers that has the tension of a bridge cable, the plot along with the romance sub plot is a perfect mix. This is a fantasy first- more urban fantasy- romance second novel that is YA suitable for ages 16yrs and up (my own opinion).
Characters being played against each other, leaders covering up the trust (and execution for stepping out of line) - our main characters find themselves in a deadly game with even deadlier people, and both have secrets of their own.

Perfect for fans of "Frostblood", "Empire of the Vampie" and "The Dagger & the Flame".
4.5 stars 🌟

Cruel is the Light is fun, energetic new take on the YA fantasy genre. Blending elements from Empire of the Vampire, the Shadowhunter series and Divine Rivals, this book is a must read for anyone after their next YA obsesession.

I thought that Selene and Jules were both compelling leads with great chemistry. There's just perfect amount of mystery surrounding their backstories, which kept me intrigued and wanting to know more. The plot also moved along at an enjoyable pace, letting me connect with the characters without ever feeling slow.

If there were any weaknesses, it would be that some elements of the novel felt a little too derivative of other YA fantasy books. However, this is only a mild issue, as I whenever the novel started to feel too predictable, there was always a new twist or suprise that made the novel feel fresh and innovative.

I am eagerly awaiting the next in the series, and am looking forward to reading whatever else Sophie Clark releases in the future.

Thanks so much to Penguin Random House Australia and NetGalley for providing this advanced copy. It is very much appreciated.

5/5 stars!!

This book had everything i want in a book. Europe vibes, enemies to lovers, swoon worthy romance, hidden identity, he fell first, one bed trope??

Clark absolutely smashed it out the park with this one

Cruel is the light 3 stars
Let me start by saying the artwork on this cover is absolute perfection.

A brutal war between demons and humans has been raging in Europe for over a century.
We meet Selene a powerful exorcist who graduated top of her class and known to all in the Vatican as the Butcher of Rome and a gifted orphaned solider Jules. A chance run in with a formidable demon leaves Selene looking for answers and Jules questioning everything he has ever known. Together, they must collaborate to uncover the looming threat to Rome, all the while navigating the growing feelings between them.

The plot of this book is quite captivating. However, the extensive world-building in the beginning felt somewhat overwhelming and confusing. Additionally, the pacing of the timeline and the use of complex adjectives made it challenging to follow along.
Although I did not particularly enjoy the book in its entirety, I must say that the cast of characters was exceptionally entertaining and well-written. The final 20% of the book showed good improvement and managed to redeem itself in my eyes. As a result, I have decided to add the second book in the series to my to TBR, as I am curious to see where the story goes from here.

I strongly feel like this book could be massively improved and an easy 4-5 star read with a decent round of editing I would also class this book as an Upper YA read.