Thank you to NetGalley and Random House for the e-book copy!

The premise of this seemed like I would love it but sadly this did not work for me. I felt it was a bit too fast paced and I was getting confused quickly with everything going on. I think I could come back to this at a later date but for now this was a DNF. I would still recommend giving this a chance as it could work for some.

This is one that I would definitely recommend for an older-teen who has an interest in fantasy-romance where it's more focused on the world building and less on romance.

Overall enjoyed however felt like it was missing something. It felt like it was written for a mature audience as a few pages in hit with a f bomb and much more cussing but then was directed to market YA and removed scenes or happenings to be able to do so.

Thank you to the publisher for the ARC. All opinions are my own.

I was excited to read this after falling in love with the synopsis. The concept is intriguing. I haven’t read a book containing a glossary this detailed in a while so that was unexpected. Parts of it were confusing and there were elements that went unmentioned for so long I ended up forgetting them.

I enjoyed the aesthetics of everything, the Deathless god, the runes, but beyond that I wanted more out of the main relationship. It’s such a significant part of the whole thing. The bond felt more sexual than truly romantic and it needed more tension. My favourite dynamic ended up being Jules and Farah.

It was also difficult to keep track of what was revealed, what was supposed be obvious and what was surprising. There were some jarring transitions and I was having a difficult time getting a sense of place. Metaphors could have also been placed better so they came across as less heavy-handed.

I really wish I connected more with the characters. I wanted more from the Butcher of Rome who reads like a trope. She’s the typical strong female character where half her dialogue consists of threats but she’s hiding a vulnerable side and a traumatic past. I enjoy this trope but I would’ve liked a little more life breathed into it. Also the threats do get old. I think if we had gotten to see Selene interact with more people towards the middle of the book I would’ve appreciated her more. Similar criticisms could be made for Jules but I enjoy his character design, specifically the tally marks, it’s odd that I don’t think she knows his nickname and there was no, oh what a pair they make the Butcher of Rome and the Scarred Killer. I could be misremembering though! I know there was some measure of understanding between them and I wish it had been further developed.

I do appreciate that the conclusion went against the grain.

3.5 stars. Thank you to NetGalley, Knopf Books for Young Readers, and Random House Children's for this advanced copy. You can pick up Cruel Is the Light now.

This book was a highly anticipated release for me, as several friends recommended it and I thought the cover was beautiful. Ultimately, I had a decent time reading this book, but I wish I felt more invested in the story.

I think the character development was strong. Selene is a hardened warrior, used to taking charge and keeping others at a distance, but she slowly opens up to Jules. He's used to keeping others away because he's watched so many die in war, but Selene sneaks through his defenses. I enjoyed their dynamic from reluctant allies to lovers (especially the fake engagement), but at times, it felt like the story focused too much on vibes and not enough on the stakes.

The worldbuilding was both the strongest and weakest part of this book. I tried listening on audio, so maybe that was my mistake, but I found the number of characters, their names, and their titles difficult to keep track of. I spent so much brain power trying to keep everyone straight that I feel like I couldn't get invested in the war and how it was affecting the world. The fight scenes were cool, but again, they almost felt surface-level at times and were more there for vibes or aesthetic. Maybe if the pacing were a bit better and we didn't spend so much downtime doing meh stuff, I might have felt more invested.

All in all, this book will definitely appeal to some romantasy readers, but you have to be ready for lots of world-building and some weird pacing at times.

Good book but I feel like a little more refining was needed. We are told OVER and OVER that a major war is happening, and yet it feels like there's very little urgency with the characters.

Also the big reveals seemed a little off, the pacing wasn't really doing it for me. There was a lot of random little bursts of Italian or French, and while the reader can parse it, it felt off putting when the direct translation was given a sentence later. Like why have it then?

I am excited to see how the next book goes but I feel like too much of this was explained away with some hand waving and vague reflections to god.

This is a fantasy book about a demon hunter and a solider, a forbidden love found while fighting in an ancient war. fantasy. Enemies To Lovers. The Choice between love and duty.......

Im glad for once im on the side of liking a book. Im really interested in how this goes on. I kind of hope that Jules has to turn a little evil to keep selene safe. Or she has to tp keep him safe.

Jules is bi
Demon hunting

I DNF'd this book for reasons that may be a me issue. One of the things that I do not like is when fantasy books start off with information dumping, just page after page, and introduce the characters in a very clinical way, almost, and that's what this book started with. It was like a table of contents for the plot, and it really turned the book into what felt like a textbook. The plot seemed great, and this may be something I try again in the future, as tastes change. From the writing I did read, I liked the flow and style that the author had, and would read maybe a lower fantasy from the same author.

I think this book had a unique world and magic system. I enjoyed reading about demons and exorcisms and how it ties in Christianity. It however lost me in the last 25% of the book. I was just confused and lost interest in the characters and the ending.

In Cruel Is the Light, a centuries-old war between demons and the Vatican rages. Selene, a powerful exorcist, and Jules, a skilled soldier with secrets of his own, are forced into a fake engagement to investigate a spike in demonic attacks. But their uneasy alliance soon teeters into forbidden attraction, with dangerous consequences.

I really wanted to love this. The cover? Georgeous. The premise? Awesome. A gritty demon war, Vatican conspiracy, fake engagement, and a demon-hunting heroine? Sign me up. But the execution didn’t quite fully hit the mark for me.

The Rome setting and supernatural vibes were cool, and I did enjoy Jules—he had charm, depth, and just enough mystery. Selene, on the other hand, didn’t fully land for me. Her character felt a bit stiff and underdeveloped, which made it hard to connect with her or really buy into the story.

The POV shifts were also a bit rough—sudden, frequent, and confusing enough that I sometimes wasn’t sure who was talking or what was happening.

And while the world had potential, the info-dump-heavy opening and vague rules around magic made it hard to get fully immersed.

It also leaned WAY more YA than I expected, and some moments felt overly tropey.

Still, if you like angsty tension, Vatican intrigue, and morally gray characters, there’s enough here to keep you intrigued—just go in with patience and a love for slow-burn chaos.

Tropes:
-Demon hunters
-Humans vs demons
-Fake engagement
-Enemies to lovers
-Forbidden romance
-Forced proximity
-Secret identity
-Hidden legacy
-Supernatural conspiracy
-Light hints of found family

I received and ARC of Cruel is the Light from NetGalley.

I was initially drawn in by the beautiful cover art, however, the blurb was also very intriguing.

It's set in Rome where demons are a constant threat to humans and the only beings able to fight them are exorcists. Our FMC, Selene, is one of the highest ranking exorcists and has noticed an increase in demon attacks in Rome. While trying to get to the bottom of it, she crosses paths with our MMC, Jules, a French soldier.

They have to work together to uncover secrets of the Vatican, demons, and Jules' past. There's a good ole fashion fake-dating/engaged plot which is always fun.

I really enjoyed this book. The worldbuilding was great and I want to find out more about the demons and their past. Selene and Jules' chemistry was palpable and their romance believable.

I'm looking forward to the next book!

I really enjoyed 'Cruel is the Light' by Sophie Clark. I ended up reading it in one sitting, which is unusual for me, and that's a testament to how engaging the story is. The book stuck with me even after I finished it - I had dreams about it, and the characters were still fresh in my mind. I loved the fresh take on exorcisms and demons; Clark's approach was unique and captivating. The plot had some great twists that I didn't see coming, and while some were more predictable, others caught me completely off guard. The characters were well-developed and likable, with distinct personalities that shone through in their interactions. I appreciated the dynamics between them and enjoyed watching their relationships grow. It’s a book I would happily read again, and again. I also enjoyed the life lessons that can be seen between the pages.

I got this from Netgalley in exchange for my review. I liked this book, but not as much as I hoped I would. I loved the magic system and the demon hunting aspect as well as the setting in Rome, The Vatican, St Peter’s Basilica, so many good visuals.

I liked the demon hunters and the action parts, but I felt like after the first part of the book that really fizzled out and became something else that didn’t intrigue me as much.

I enjoyed the characters but again I felt like I wasn’t as connected to them as I should have been. The action in the end got more interesting but unsure how the story will continue. I liked the premise a lot but it didn’t hit me as much as I would have liked.

3 ⭐️⭐️⭐️-

Huge thank you to Random House Children's for giving me a chance to read this book via eARC on Netgalley!
I really liked the premise of this book. I got the eARC a couple months ago but had a hard time getting into the story so I waited until the audiobook was released. I enjoyed the audiobook, I felt that it really helped with the confusion I was experiencing when physically reading it. The story took me until around 25-ish percent before I was really drawn in. Which is not bad but I would've loved to be drawn in a lot sooner. I feel as though Selene and Jules had virtually no chemistry and then bam, they were in love. Which was odd to me but I did like them together. I think that with this being the first book, there's a lot of room for improvement. I will most likely pick up the next book to see how it builds upon what was in this book.

Tropes:
✨Enemies to lovers
🌙Forbidden Love
⭐️Fake Engagement
🌙 Dual POV (Third Person)

*Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an early review copy*

Sophie Clark’s Cruel is the Light plunges readers straight into the action from the first page—there's no slow build-up going on here! The opening chapter throws us headfirst into a brutal demon attack, setting a high-stakes tone for a story full of magic, monsters, and moral dilemmas. It’s an intense start that promises a sweeping romantasy, and while the book delivers on atmosphere and ambition, it doesn’t always stick the landing.

Set in a world where exorcists trained by the Vatican fight a centuries-long war against demons, the novel introduces us to Selene Alleva, a by-the-book exorcist, and Jules Lacroix, a brooding, battle-worn orphan. The two are reluctantly paired together through a fake engagement in order to investigate a troubling rise in demonic attacks. Their uneasy alliance slowly evolves into something more, with all the classic enemies-to-lovers tension you’d expect.

What stood out most for me were the thoughtful details at the beginning of the book—particularly the character charts. They helped anchor me in the story and gave a clear sense of who was who in this complex world. Clark’s world-building is also a highlight: Vatican City is rendered with a gothic, reverent edge, and the lore around demons and exorcists is rich and compelling.

However, the novel stumbles in its pacing. The breakneck start eventually gives way to uneven momentum, and the romantic arc, while filled with potential, feels a bit rushed and trope-heavy at times. Some emotional moments don’t get the breathing room they need, and I occasionally wished for more internal development rather than external plot twists.

Verdict: A solid YA romantasy with immersive world-building, compelling aesthetics, and a promising central romance—but one that sometimes prioritizes pace over depth.

I had high hopes for Cruel is the Light as the synopsis somewhat reminded me of Wicked Saints. The beginning was filled with action before transitioning to a much slower pace alternating between Selene and Jules. The writing style was difficult to follow as multiple characters would be in a scene and yet I had no idea who was speaking. There also wasn't any chemistry between Selene and Jules despite being marketed as so, but there was so much between Jules and Sparrow. I wonder if that inclusion will be foreshadowing that Jules and Sparrow will end up together in the second book. Thank you NetGalley for an ARC, I wish I had liked this one more.

This book was so unique! It has an Italian and French setting, with the majority of the book taking place in Rome. It has the fake engagement and enemies to lovers tropes, which are some of my favorites. The book was action packed (from the first chapter onwards), and follows Selene, an elite demon exorcist, and Jules, a military deserter and orphan looking to find out more about who he is.

Characters - 4/5
Oh, Jules! Jules is probably my favorite MMC of the year. He is witty and flirty, and smug, and everything I want in a man. I liked his POVs and it was nice to read about a guy that doesn’t have glaring red flags. He was super sweet to Selene, and had some of the most iconic lines of the book

Selene’s character fell a little flat for me. She is the typical badass that values her job above all else but softens up as she spends more time with Jules. Other than that, she made very questionable decisions, even putting her job and beliefs over her own family. I liked her with Jules specifically, not the person she was before Jules. She did have really good banter with Jules because they are both snarky.

The other characters felt kind of under developed, as the story focused more on the MCs than anyone else. Other than Sparrow, we only saw the side characters once or twice. I hope we get to see more of everyone in book 2!

Plot 4/5
The plot was confusing at times, but I found it very engaging. I found the main conflict to be very deep and compelling. The story ties religion and God into this story very well without making the book feel religious. This story does have some graphic content, so I wouldn’t say this story is pushing an agenda or anything. If anything, it pushes disbelief as opposed to faith. Although I don’t think I fully understood everything, I was able to follow the story for the most part.

World Building - 3/5
There were a lot of random Italian and French terms thrown into the book with little explanation, and I had to go a Google search on multiple occasions. However, I really liked the world and history between demons and humans that gets explored later in the book. I would picture a lot of the world in my head, plus there was a glossary in the beginning that helped!

Pacing 3/5
First the first quarter of this book, I was BORED. I am so glad I stuck with this book, but I really disliked the time it took for the MCs to meet each other. After they met, I devoured the book, but the beginning was a bit difficult for me to get through.

Overall, I really enjoyed this book! It was very different from anything else I have read, and I loved the romance. The banter was great, and I am a sucker for the fake dating/engagement trope. I will definitely be picking up book 2 once it is released.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House for giving me a free copy in exchange for my honest review.

Cruel is the Light by Sophie Clark was a very imaginative and ensnaring book about terrifying demons, corrupted religion, war, and so many more incredible elements.

I’ve always been very fascinated with books that have the god(s) vs demons aspect and I thought this was very well done. I listed to the audiobook for this and the narrators really brought these characters to life. Seeing both their traumas and their pasts come to light and the bond they started to share really made this endearing. From a certain point, I could predict what was going to happen, but I’m an easy reader to please and this was just very fun, immersive and I really liked the magic system.

I look forward to see where Jules and Selene go from here, now that things are seemingly taking a dangerous turn!

A very long time ago (wow I’m again myself over here) I watched an anime show that had the premise about a nun fighting demons, for the life of me i couldn’t tell you the name of the show, the characters or any other details but i do remember being absolutely in love with it and wishing there were more stories with the same vibes. This book is very reminiscent of the feeling I had while watching it and its like stepping back into that feeling of nostalgia. Not to say that Cruel is the Light has a dated feel to it, not even in the least possible sense, more that it gives off a feeling of comfort when reading it, as if I’m already safely tucked within the story and didn’t need to become attached to it, because I already seemed to be.

By the first few chapters I was intrigued, and by halfway I was so invested I was ignoring much of my other commitments in order to keep reading. I loved the feel to it, and the characters, the different concepts than the typical books that have been coming out lately.