Overall, I just think that this book was not the right genre for me. I am finding that "romantasy" may not be my cup of tea. The idea of the story is interesting enough to start it and the world-building is stunning. I could tell Clark did some great research while adding her own twists to the world of The Vatican. I didn't connect well with the characters as both Selene and Jules fell a bit flat for me. I never found myself rooting for them or wondering what was going to happen between them. The romance between them never felt more important than some of the other plot points. Overall, it felt like Underworld meets Mortal Instruments with romance tacked on. If the world-building had been accompanied by more of a war-focused story, I may have enjoyed it more, but I do think it simply comes down to preference.

Thank you to the publisher for an arc of this book. I have very conflicting opinions about this book which pains me to say because I was so excited for it. I really enjoyed the characters and the world and the plot and found myself thoroughly enjoying the story. It was definitely unlike anything I had ever read before and the cover is so alluring. But there was a lot of continuity issues with the writing where I found myself drawn out of the story because I didn’t understand how a character came to be at a location or why they were saying something. When I took a step back and allowed myself to overlook my confusion and just kept reading, I had a great time. But it was hard to stay engaged when I wound up confused often from a characters motives or the lore of the world, etc. I wish we got to learn the characters on a deeper level because sometimes I felt that I didn’t underhand Selene or Jules at all. I do think however, that any hiccups I had with the writing were due to this being the authors debut novel, and that she has huge potential. I’m excited to see where this story goes and learn more about these characters after that exciting ending.

This can’t truly be a standalone, right?? I need more!
4.5 stars

It’s safe to say that I absolutely adored this book. Will easily be in my top favorites of the year, and it’s only February! Featuring some of my favorite tropes—Enemies to Lovers, Forbidden Romance, Grumpy x Sunshine, Fake Dating… what’s not to love?

This book was everything I wanted it to be and had me in a chokehold from start to finish. From the first page you are thrown into the action, the world building grows at just the right pace, the plot is easy to understand and not overly complicated.

I loved both of the main characters and enjoyed seeing their arcs unfold, as well as their romance. I was living for their bickering and obvious attraction to each other, their chemistry literally jumped off the pages and I loved every second of interaction between them.

I do have to mention, this book is marketed as YA but reads more as NA. The scenes with sexual content are very mild compared to what you would find in an adult novel, but I think it’s worth noting since this is marketed towards a younger audience.

As a whole, this is an impressive debut for Sophie Clark and I can’t wait to see the amazing things she does going forward. Readers are going to eat this book up while falling in love with Jules and Selene in the Vatican City!

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing with me an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

I don't normally do this on ARCs because I truly want to give the entire book a chance, but I just needed to stop with this one. I was really intrigued by the premise, even more so with all the details we were given at the beginning of the book. Once we got into it though, I felt VERY confused even with the beginning info as a reference. The romance between our two characters wasn't compelling enough for me to push through the confusion.

Thank you to Knopf Books for Young Readers and NetGalley for the eARC!

Jules is a corporal in the Vatican Empire’s army who has the most kills under his name, surviving when no one else does. Orphaned, he has no idea who he was or is. Selene is the Butcher of Rome, an Exorcist Second Class and captain within the Vatican’s demon-hunting military arm. Personally I wasn't super IN LOVE with this book, but I did love this book. I think the writing was great and I had a blast seeing the character growth between both characters. My bestie truly loved this book, and I think this was a cute read. I typically don't read YA, and Sophie Clark did well hooking my interest throughout this novel!

3.75 stars—This starts off with a bang. Demons, exorcists, and weapon carrying nuns? I’m in. A badass FMC and an MMC who is head over heels for her? Decades of lies and corruption brought to light while our characters flirt and banter and beat people up? Say less.

Yet as the story continued, the momentum slowed to a crawl despite how invested I was in the premise, world, and central conflict. Perhaps my biggest qualm was that, despite our introduction to the long and bloody war going on between humans and demons, this fact fades away once our characters board a train to Rome. Surrounded by wards keep demons out and protect their God, Rome feels very far removed from just about everything as we delve into politics, grudges, and long held secrets<spoiler>—so much so that I had to remind myself that a demonic Anastasia Romanov is out on the front causing havoc even while our characters are getting all gussied up for a ball</spoiler>.

This is not to say I didn’t enjoy the book. In fact, I liked quite a bit of what was going on throughout, from character work to world building, and even how the plot unfolded. It just felt slow for reasons I cannot pinpoint. There are still a number of questions left unanswered that I’m sure will be addressed in the second book, and I look forward to reading it whenever it comes out. I also hope that the scope will widen beyond Rome and what will happen now with the war.

Thank you Net Galley, Random House Children’s, and Knopf Books of Young Readers for this ARC to read and review.

I simply cannot. DNF at 25% after fighting to continue reading this. The author had such an amazing idea for the plot and the characters, but neither were executed well, which to me is on the publisher and editors. I'm getting really sick of reading fantasy books in 2024 and now in 2025 that have these brilliant ideas and then an editor lets the book down. It needed so much more polishing and streamlining before being published. The plotline is very jumpy, especially when we just happen to skip days between things happening. There is little to no explanation of the world we're in which makes it incredibly hard to sniff out what the plot is even supposed to be. It honestly feels like when I used to take a class in college by a professor who knew the material so well that he had a hard time explaining it to others. It's like the author knows all the things, but can't translate it to the audience and instead it feels like I'm grasping at thin air trying to understand what's going on.

I can see the brilliance, but the execution lets it down.

I really felt like this story was a breath of fresh air. The world and magic was so unique and I had a great time. I really enjoyed the romance but also the optical aspect. There were times when it was really predictable but I didn't mind in the least. I cannot wait for the next book!!!

Sophie Clark’s ‘Cruel Is the Light’ is a gripping, atmospheric fantasy that expertly weaves forbidden love, political intrigue, and relentless action into a story that will leave you breathless. Equal parts epic and intimate, it’s a tale of love, duty, and the blurred lines between light and darkness, set against the backdrop of a centuries-old war between demons and the Vatican.

At the heart of the novel are Selene Alleva and Jules Lacroix, two characters who couldn’t be more different and yet, are perfectly matched. Selene is a high-ranking exorcist grappling with a dark family legacy, while Jules, an orphan turned Vatican soldier, is as dangerous as he is mysterious. Their dynamic is electric from the start, crackling with distrust, tension, and a slow-burning attraction that feels as inevitable as it is forbidden. Like this is the IT book when it comes to tension and romance.

Clark excels at creating complex, layered characters who are as flawed as they are compelling.

The worldbuilding in Cruel Is the Light is immersive and meticulously crafted. I vividly was able to imagine everything. Clark’s prose is both lush and sharp, painting vivid images of a world on the brink of collapse while keeping the tension taut. The mystery surrounding the demon attacks and the Vatican’s dark conspiracies adds layers of intrigue, making it impossible to put the book down.

But what truly elevates this novel is the romance. My the romance had me on the floor. The tension was up the roof. A love story worth telling.

If there’s one criticism, it’s that some of the secondary characters could have been explored more deeply. The supporting cast, while intriguing, sometimes fades into the background, leaving Selene and Jules to carry much of the emotional and narrative weight. However, this is a minor quibble in an otherwise exceptional story. Still a 5 star read.

This book delivers on every front: action, romance, intrigue, and heart. Sophie Clark has crafted a tale that will linger in your mind for so long that you’ll crave for more.

Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for an arc of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I'd give this book a solid three stars. It had an interesting premise and the first few chapters started off really interesting but then it got boring quick and it felt like the book really dragged on. I also didn't like either of the main characters much so it made it hard to care what was happening. Also Selene seemed like she was gonna be the super badass character but I feel like she didn't really actually do much. I also think the world building was a little underdeveloped. We learn a little at the beginning but then I feel like we never talk about that information ever again.

Cruel is the Light is set in a world painted is full of rich conflict, from the centuries-old war between demons and the Vatican to the deep personal struggles of Selene and Jules. I love how their uneasy alliance grows into something more complex, especially as they both question loyalty, identity, and truth.

This narrative has all the hallmarks of a gripping tale: forbidden love, betrayal, and high-stakes action against a backdrop of powerful institutions. There's a lot of room to explore themes of destiny versus free will, trust, and the cost of loyalty, not to mention the compelling tension between the two main characters as they uncover secrets that could unravel everything they’ve believed. I never felt like there was a slow part in the story. I tore through this book in one day!

Selene and Jules are such strong characters throughout this first book in the series. Will they defy their roles and go rogue, or will they try to preserve the Vatican's ideals while battling their personal demons?

There are so many pretty editions of this book and I will be adding the hardcover to my collection.

ᯓ★ˎˊ˗ net galley review
Thank you so much to Random House Children's for providing me with the ARC of this book.

The cover is stunning! I was a bit disappointed when I read this because I felt that the book had a lot of potential to be one of my favorite YA Romantasy books. This book has some of my favorite tropes of all time like enemies to lovers, grumpy x sunshine, knife to the throat, and even ONE BED, so please believe me when I say I was SAT for this book, but the more I read it the more I was confused by the writing style and the direction that the book was going in. I enjoyed the romance thoroughly that's not where the book fell flat for me. The book felt like it lacked in worldbuilding, but it is YA Romantasy so maybe I was expecting too much from it, I also found the writing style to be confusing as it's told in 3rd person's dual POV and we never really know who we're following which can be quite confusing to me personally. Other than a few complaints I had I do think that this book had potential and Sophie Clark is going on to write some of my favorite YA books.

2.5!
Thank you to Random House Children’s Books and Sophie Clark for the ARC :)
Wow I’m severely disappointed
I loved the concept of this book. Exorcists and demons… in Italy!!! What’s not to love? I’m an Italian, of course I wanna read about Rome and shit!!
However, as much as I loved the concept (plus it had a glossary, which is very cool) I couldn’t handle the writing or the characters
Selene and Jules didn’t appeal to me at all. To be honest, I liked Sparrow and Kian so much better!!
The pacing was fine, but there felt like no plot and I called from a mile away who the villain was
I liked Jules’s backstory, I found it interesting and not too predictable
Selene felt like she wasn’t overly “special” but she was hyped up by every character saying so
The plot was nonexistent since it was just finding out who Jules was. No explanation of who her family was, some brief shit about who her dad was but that’s it
Also, the love felt extremely forced. I felt no chemistry between them except for the train ride. I would’ve rather them be friends more
Also, I think this was targeted as a YA? There was one scene where I feel that it should be labeled as New Adult or something. Not that kids don’t know about sex, but usually there’s fade to black in YA.
Also, the writing was super confusing!! Like it was jumping around and I couldn’t keep up cause it felt like there was stuff missing or not explained.

This was genuinely one of my most anticipated books of 2025, and I feel like it lived up to my expectations quite well. One of the key parts of a good fantasy is the world building, which despite the massive dump of information at the beginning, was expertly crafted and amazing to read about. I was captivated by the dynamic between Selene and Jules, which was one of the initial factors that drew me to this book. Watching their relationship develop kept me constantly always wanting more. Initially, although action isn’t always my go to in a read, I was absolutely hooked by the moments in this book, as well as the twists constantly thrown in. Overall it was a great read and I highly recommend everyone give it a chance!

Thank you netgalley and Random House Children’s books for the free eBook!

⭐️1/5

The cover of the book is what caught my attention immediately. I find the artwork very beautiful! The book is also considered enemies to lovers which is one of my favorite tropes.

Unfortunately i had to DNF it. I felt a lot of information was thrown in the beginning before the first chapter even starts. Then, reading the first chapter felt more like a horror book than a fantasy one. I felt as if there wasn’t much world building either. I disliked that the chapters aren’t labeled to whose POV you’re reading..so you won’t know when you’re back to the other character. Sadly the story just felt confusing to me.

In the end this is just my honest opinion. If you want to give it a try, i say go for it!

Disappointed because based on the synopsis and tropes included in this one, I thought I would really enjoy this! Unfortunately it was just a struggle. The worldbuilding and magic system had me so confused, especially in the beginning. I had next to no idea what was going on, and the fact that it takes awhile for our two main characters to meet didn’t help capture my interest. I liked Jules OK but never warmed up to Selene or their relationship. The pacing was slow and I was able to predict most of the twists at times when I actually knew or cared what was going on. Bummed cuz I see a lot of other reviewers lauding this as such a great romantasy! Not for me unfortunately.

This book used the word "bicep" 37 times...and also all of my annotations about Jules call him "Lacroix Boy."

Cruel is the Light is a YA urban romantasy hat deals with the Vatican, something I'm not the most familiar with. I'd also like to admit that urban fantasy typically isn't my preferred setting, but I thought that with the focus of the book being exorcists and demons, it might not feel as "urban." Also, my review might be biased because I've been extremely busy lately, so I just want to throw that out there as a reason why I might not have loved this book.
The book follows two characters: Selene - an exorcist living in Rome - and Jules - a French footsoldier fighting demons on a distant war front. Their paths cross after a series of particularly brutal demon attacks, and suddenly they're forced to work together against the supernatural forces plaguing the Vatican city. I found this book to be very trope-y, so readers who enjoy the only-one-bed trope, the knife-to-throat trope, and the faking dating trope might enjoy this book more than I did. While it was supposed to be an enemies-to-lovers story, I found it to be a bit instalust-y (but I'm also not always a fan of romantasy). I enjoyed the action scenes and the unraveling of the mysteries. However, I also found the plot twists to be fairly predictable (I called one of the main plot twists before I even started reading the book). Also, despite the huge chunks of worldbuilding before the story itself even began, I still felt like I didn't have a great grasp of some parts of the world and the plot.
My other big issue is that I wasn't a huge fan of the main characters and their romance. Selene could have been so interesting, but she changed her mind abruptly on things I wished she'd created more tension on. Jules was fine on his own (I've seen a bunch of characters like him before), but I wasn't a huge fan of how quickly the relationship progressed between him and Selene. I really liked the scenes Caterina and Lucia were in; they seem like a super fun duo. Kian reminded me of Boq (I don't know what that means). Sparrow was my favorite character though I don't know why because he also gave me the ick. The villains and the other characters were fine, but no one really stood out to me so I wasn't super invested in anything beyond the mystery elements.
Cruel is the Light is a YA urban romantasy reminiscent of Cassandra Clare's Shadowhunters series and perfect for readers who don't mind certain tropes.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the free e-ARC!

3.25/5

I really loved reading this book and I can not wait for more by this author!! I flew through this book because it was that good. The author did an amazing job keeping the plot interesting without it getting boring or slow. I will be recommending this book to all of the family and friends.

Romantasy Readers—here’s your next obsession.

I am obsessed about this book. From the world building to the complex characters it’s all written with perfection.

A foot solider and a loyal exorcist pair up to figure out something happening in Rome. Demons are popping up more and more and ward coins are being destroyed so finding out what’s happening is on both of their minds.

I love the multiple POVs, and omg SPARROW. I want more of him!!!

Read if you love:
Forced proximity
Forbidden love
Enemies to lovers
TENSION

The cover for this book is what drew me in. Then I read the synopsis and I thought I would really enjoy this.

There was a lot of information at the beginning of the book, including the glossary. I found myself taken out of the story a few times because I would get confused. Especially during some of the action scenes and POV swaps. They happen throughout a chapter and sometimes it would take a minute for me to realized it had switched.

I thought the magic system was interesting but even with what we were told I don't feel like I ever got a good grasp of it. I wish it had been fleshed out some more. Same with the world. I loved the Rome setting but we don't see or hear much of anything outside of there.

I did enjoy Jules and their romance but I never warmed up to Selene. But they did have some beautiful moments. Overall I did enjoy this just not as much as I was hoping. I found myself putting it down a lot to go do something else. I think this is part of series and I will continue to read. I think this was a good debut novel and would recommend!