I liked the premise of this book: Action packed with warriors vs demons with some good romance tropes in there. I just had a hard time getting into the story. I want to try the audio and see if that helps.
The writing just didn’t flow super smoothly, so it was hard to stay in the story. I think it’s the way the third person plays out with the many POVs in a scene.

*language GD

Cruel is the Light
By Sophie Clark
Narrated by Fiona Hardingham, Ethan Reid, Steve West
4 ⭐️

This is worth the read for the banter alone, 10/10. Selene and Jules’ interactions are chef’s kiss worthy. I really liked how their dynamic echoed the overall societal temperament. Really, Selene and Jules make this book, and I can’t stop thinking about them. My only gripe is somewhat substantial: there was too much convenient resolutions throughout the story. Need info? Talk to this conveniently placed informant. Need a weapon? Oh look! Here ya go. Need a disguise? Here. We just met. Take my whole identity willy nilly. I really enjoyed this book but this was a continuous theme. The audiobook was easy to listen to. The narrators were good, and I enjoyed it. I combo read this beauty.

2 stars: ★★☆☆☆
Huge thanks to Random House Children’s / Knopf Books for Young Readers for the eARC via NetGalley 💌

i really need to stop requesting books based on their cover.
this one? seduced me with the cover & the promise of demon wars, forbidden love, fake engagement... and then handed me ✨confusion✨

Cruel Is the Light by Sophie Clark was… well, cruel 😭
i tried. i really did.
i squinted at the pages like i was deciphering ancient code, hoping things would click eventually—but the whole time i was just like: “what is going on fr.”

✦ the writing? chaotic.
not ✨mysterious✨ chaotic. just… “why is this written like a dream sequence but on caffeine” chaotic.
third person dual POV should’ve been a win but somehow it made things worse. i was constantly backtracking like wait… who’s thinking? who just said that? what dimension are we in?

✦ the pacing? criminal.
there’s allegedly a war happening?? but they’re out here slow-dancing through cathedrals, dropping banter mid-crisis, and monologuing like they're on a drama stage.
it was giving “i should care but i simply do not.”

✦ characters? not it.
Selene is introduced like some legendary Vatican-trained exorcist™ but most of the time she’s just… confused. moody. saying “what?” every five minutes.
(girl pls. you’re the main character. why do you know nothing.)
and Jules?? oh my god. every time he opened his mouth i felt my soul leave my body 💀
the banter wasn’t sizzling—it was forced. their chemistry? non-existent. at one point i swear Jules had more tension with a side character than he did with Selene. and yes, i was lowkey shipping that instead.

✦ romance? they tried.
fake engagement + enemies to lovers = a recipe for spice, angst, TENSION. except this one turned the oven off mid-bake 😭
i kept waiting for the spark… instead i got "you're beautiful." "no YOU’RE beautiful."
chemistry was on vacation. possibly never coming back.

✦ the world? kinda cool ngl.
i’ll give credit where it’s due: the world had potential. exorcists, Vatican secrets, demon mythology—there’s a rich, gothic vibe here that could’ve carried.
but everything was so rushed, disjointed, and underdeveloped.
magic system? confusing.
demon lore? underexplained.
worldbuilding? barely there.
they told me it was epic, but forgot to show me.

✦ bonus L’s:
✧ side characters dying five seconds after being introduced?? r u serious?? let me breathe
✧ plot twists that hit like a feather, not a punch
✧ vibes > actual substance

✦ tropes:
🔮 Demon Wars
🥀 Forbidden Love
🔮 Fake Engagement
🥀 Enemies-to-Lovers
🔮 Dual POV (Third-Person)
🥀 Gothic / Vatican Secrets

✦ final thoughts:
this had the aesthetic. it had the tropes. it looked like a win.
but under all the pretty was a confusing mess with zero payoff.

was i rooting for this book? yes.
did it make sense? no.
will i read book two? absolutely not.

🖇️ summary if ur skimming:
cool premise, messy execution. romance didn’t hiit. worldbuilding half-baked.
writing = headache.
proceed with caution if you're not a fan of confusion disguised as plot.

I liked the book and it had a few tropes that I love (one bed and grumpy sunshine) but based on the cover I thought I would like the relationship more than I actually did. I’m aware that this may be my own personal preference and me being nitpicky but the world building didn’t feel as fleshed out as I was hoping for. It was definitely still an enjoyable read but my not buying into the main relationship and the want for more world building is the only thing that kept me from giving it a higher star rating.

Actual star rating: 3.5

"He wanted her and he was tired of pretending he didn't." <3

4.5 stars!

Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for the ARC of this fantastic fantasy! I went into this book relatively blind, knowing it was a Young Adult (except I now want to call it more of a New Adult, due to language and one vague open-door scene), Enemies to Lovers fantasy. I ended up finding the audiobook on Spotify shortly after starting the book, so I went back and forth between the eARC and the published audiobook. Either way, I liked this book a lot!

I really liked the world building, in that it was set in our world's Rome and France, but with magical and demonic twists. Thinking about it after the fact, there was a lot that can be seen as sacrilegious (I'm a Christian and there were a LOT of twisted parallels to events in the Bible), and I could see that bothering some people. As for me, I took it as the interesting and intriguing story it was meant to me and thought some of the connections were pretty cool. XD

I also really enjoyed our two main characters. Selene is a total girl boss (though I wish we'd learned more about her abilities), but hides a more vulnerable side.Jules comes off as endlessly charming and confident, but struggles with questions of his identity. The way they slowly soften toward one another was done very well, and I was relieved when they were still together at the book's end. I was nervous that this book would end with an awful cliffhanger(as most first books in duologies do), but I was pleasantly surprised that it wrapped up nicely, with the obvious potential for more to come. :)

If you enjoy the romantasy genre, you'll definitely love this book.

I feel it in my bones. It was REALLY good.

From the fake engagement to the discovery of a bigger lie... At one time the story felt like Romeo and Juliet. The biggest slow burn ever, and in there you throw only one bed and a fake engagement... and you know I'll be here, kicking my feet in delight.

You'll love this one if you like:
- slow burn / fake engagement
- enemies-to-lovers
- demons vs humans
- only one bed

TW for war, deaths, blood and gore, amputation, grief

Many thanks to the publisher for the complimentary e-copy of this book through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this in exchange for an honest review.

This book was a wild ride! One of the strongest aspects of this novel, and what initially drew me in, was the concept of a war between demonkind and the Vatican, set in a roughly modern-day/apocalyptic world. There were elements that reminded me a bit of Cassandra Clare's "City of Angels" series, a personal favorite, and both the FMC and MMC were easy to root for.

The relationship and banter between the characters - and the 'enemies to lovers' relationship between Selene and Jules - was another strong point of the story.

There were times when the pacing of the story felt a bit rushed or too slow or scenes progressed in an uneven fashion, but not to the extent that I lost interest in the story.

I will certainly be looking out for the sequel, and I will be recommending this book to my students.

for more than a hundred years, war has waged between demons and the vatican. selene alleva and jules lacroix have both been thrust into the center of this war, one with a family legacy behind her and the other an orphan with no family history. to learn about the recent unprecedented demon attacks, and jules’s own past, the two work together, jules posing as selene’s fiancé. as they learn more, realizing they’ve both been lied to, they must decide between love and duty.

i thought this book had an interesting concept, and i do tend to enjoy stories about demon hunters. i think the world building could have been a bit more in depth, but maybe some of the questions i had about it will be answered in book two. the writing style wasn’t my favorite, as i felt that many scenes ended awkwardly or progressed in ways that didn’t quite make sense to me. with that said, i did enjoy this book overall, especially the moments between selene and jules. i loved their romance and how drawn-out it was. i’m looking forward to book two.

This book was such a crazy ride! The concept and world are so cool and had me intrigued the whole time. The worldbuilding and the mystery it led to were my favorite parts of this book.

The main characters were really interesting. Selene is one of the strongest Exorcists and comes from a powerful family. Her background, trauma, and goals make her a strong, yet vulnerable character. I love how she changes throughout the story. Jules is an orphan and a soldier who ran from the war front. His back story is a mystery to everyone, even himself.

I loved a lot of the side characters, especially Eliot and Sparrow. I'm excited to see more of them in the sequel!

The romance was really fun. Considering Selene and Jules's personalities, there was a lot of fun banter. But I especially loved how they grew to love and trust each other.

Overall, the worldbuilding in this book was amazing, and I cannot wait to see where the sequel takes the story!

Any time a book has a glossary of terms, I know I'm in for an...experience.
The premise for this book was really intriguing, and that's what originally drew me to the story. I did end up enjoying it, though I will say that the main characters weren't my faves/I had a hard time connecting with them in a meaningful way. The world was vibey, though at times a little too much at once, and the characters were okay---they needed more depth and their interactions felt very staged instead of the banter evolving naturally. Overall, I can definitely see why people will like this, it just wasn't quite for me.

This one definitely gets points for an interesting premise. The leads weren't my personal cup of tea but did fit well into the world the author has created--which was enough to keep me engaged in and of itself.

I don't know if I'll continue the story, but for those who enjoy vibes like Discovery of Witches or the Da Vinci Code might find it interesting.

I am extremely grateful for the advanced copy of this book! Unfortunately I DNF’d this book though.

I found the world building to be too complicated and there were too many different words to remember specific to the plot, even with the glossary. I imagine that a physical copy would be easier to quickly reference the glossary, but unfortunately I was reading on my kindle.

I also didn’t care for either of the main characters. I found their banter to be forced and both were very one dimensional.

I actually had to check a couple of times that this was actually, REALLY, definitely being published as young adult. To me, this is New Adult. The characters aren't teenagers and don't act like teenagers, the plot lines are not really coming of age, self-discovery, or other typical YA novel themes. The prose and setting is complex, and the content includes explicit sexual content and a lot of violence. For most teenagers, I would say this borders on inappropriate, but more than that, it simply lacks the hallmarks of what makes a YA novel YA.

Having said that, I wonder if some of the very obvious signaling and lack of subtly in the big, "shocking" reveals were an attempt to be more teen-friendly? Unfortunately, the tension between where this shines the most and what it is being marketed towards, in my opinion, leaves a muddled end product.

If this were simply a NA romantasy, I would say it met genre expectations fairly well. The main couple goes through a very stereotypical enemies-to-lovers trope checklist (hate each other but are very attracted -> forced proximity -> completely falling in love within about a week). I liked the banter, especially towards the middle of the book (the sparring scene with kissing? fantastic!), and the chemistry was generally good, if rushed. I think this had a unique premise. I wish that the world building had been a little more fleshed out. To me, it feels like it's trying to tackle complex family issues, religion and propaganda issues, and also political intrigue/war, and there's so much there that some of it ends up shortchanged. The religious aspect was the most interesting, with the last 10-15% of the villains being sort of 2D comic book supervillains and running around trying to torture/kill people the least interesting.

I feel very torn on whether to continue the series. I have some interest in knowing what comes next for Jules, specifically, but I'm not sure whether it'll be worth the rest.

This was a solid YA romantasy read for me but it did leave me wanting a little bit more! I really enjoyed the setting being in the Vatican/Roman Empire because it truly made for an incredible setting for the book and events to take place. This story follows Selene and Jules as they battle demons. Selene is a exorcist and Jules is a soldier who is being drafted into the Vatican's army. While Selene is a badass character, I really enjoyed seeing her more vulnerable side especially in her scenes with the children. I liked Selene and Jules individually but felt their romance left more to be desired. It felt a bit insta-lusty to me. Overall, an okay read for me that I would recommend for a more new adult age range!!

Rating: 4.25 stars | Spice: 0.5/5
Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC — this is my honest review.

This review is coming in just after the US release — my Kindle slump hit hard, but once I picked it back up, I devoured the last 60% in one sitting. Definitely revenge reading at its finest.

From the start, the angels vs. demons premise had me hooked (Patch Cipriano girls, rise up). I really enjoyed the worldbuilding and lore that Sophie Clark created. Selene and Jules were strong leads with fantastic chemistry, and the banter throughout the book was sharp and fun. The side characters, especially Kian and the nuns Lucia and Caterina, were standouts that added unexpected depth and humor.

One scene toward the end involving a certain temper tantrum was so unhinged it was wildly entertaining — I loved it.

If I had one critique, it would be that the final fight sequence dragged a bit for me. I found myself just wanting to push through to the resolution, but that’s more personal preference than anything.

All in all, Cruel is the Light is a strong debut with a compelling world, fun characters, and an addicting pace once it gets going. I’ll definitely be watching for the sequel.

Not exactly what I was expecting but a decent enough story.

The characters were well-developed, there was a hint of mystery and intrigue, and the plot moved fairly well. Can't say it was my normal kind of read, but there was plenty of action and plenty more to explore in any potential sequels.

Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for providing me with a review copy of Cruel Is the Light by Sophie Clark in exchange for writing an honest review and promoting the novel.

Cruel Is the Light is a debut first in a series that has elements of dark fantasy, theology, and slow-burn romance. Set in the Vatican City where demons prowl int eh shadows, the story follows Selene, a high-ranking exorcist with a dark legacy, and Jules, an orphaned soldier. Their paths cross amidst a series of demon attacks, leading to a rocky alliance somehow strewn into a fake engagement.

If you liked this, then you might like…
Divine Rivals by Rebecca Ross
Medici: The Magnificent (TV Show)
Kingdom of the Wicked by Kerri Maniscalco
The Rose Bargain by Sasha Peyton Smith
City of Bones by Cassandra Clare



Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
Elements:
-Italian Setting
-Enemies to Lovers
-Forbidden Romance
-Slow-burn
-Fake Engagement
-Humans versus Demons
-One Bed
-Knife to Throat


- Please note exact ratings are not shared with our audience on social media. They are only used when considering whether a book will be one of our monthly picks.

Thank you to NetGalley and Knopf Books for Young Readers for the review copy, all thoughts are my own!

I had a lot of fun with this! Fake dating (but with almost instant sexual tension), demon hunting, cool magic powers, and lots of fun banter. I do feel like the romance in this book progressed so fast that it is in danger of being instalove, but I’m not going to complain because I still had fun.

Overall a fun time. Not groundbreaking, but still incredibly fun. I’m so excited to see where the sequel takes us!

I began reading this the day Pope Leo was elected and it was so fun stepping into a fantasy Catholism plotline as a Catholic. I enjoyed reading how Lark threaded fantasy through Rome and created such a fascinating story that stepping into Cruel is the Light gripped me from page 1. Lark's writing was at times flowery which made fast paced scenes like the fighting scenes a little confusing. Overall, I was enthralled with the story and read the entire book in a sitting. I loved where Lark took both Jules and Selene and looking forward to seeing how their story develops in the future.

What a debut! The moment I started reading Cruel is the Light, I became completely invested. Sophie Clark is a talented writer and I will definitely keep supporting her work. This book had everything I love. I love reading anything with fantasy, forbidden romance, and paranormal elements. I adored our main characters. I loved Selene and Jules. I really appeciated the author taking the time to introduce the characters and slowly building up the romance. I can’t thank you enough NetGalley and publisher for giving me this amazing opportunity. I will definitely be purchasing a physical copy for my personal collection and for my class. I am positive my students will enjoy this amazing story.