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.