Rating 3.5, rounding up

I don't think I'm the first or last to say that this is a gorgeous cover. I believe some of the best moments in this book revolves around Jule's (our poor orphaned foot soldier who has a keen ability to kill demons) and Selene's (a decreased daughter but one woman demon killing machine as an exorcist) descriptions. From the scars on Jule's bodies to the gloves the two of them share, these moments where the book slowed down a bit were some of my favorite. Even some of the description that the author provides around this version of the Vatican and some of the contents inside, were truly beautiful.

However, I did feel like some of those moments got lost just in the pacing of this story. It does come with a glossary which is both needed and somehow still left me lost. I was confused for the first 25% of this story until some of the paces came together. However, we are introduced to so many characters, only for some to quickly die off or for others to make a sudden appearance chapters later. Don't get me wrong I love me a good cast of side characters, but besides them being friends/acquaintances with the main characters - none of them felt like flushed out characters that could stand on their own. For this reason, I was lost in the who's who.

This story is also very predictable. From reading the synopsis, you have a pretty good idea as to what you're getting into - and after the first 10% there were no "ah ha" moments.

If you like your fantasies that play with religion in different in unique ways, a romance subplot but with moments that bring you joy, and epic/well choreographed fight scenes - I think you'd enjoy this.

Thank you to the author, Random House Children’s, NetGalley for this e-ARC.

When I describe this book to people, I say it’s a YA fantasy take on the DaVinci code.
Sophie gives us such a unique story with Selene and Jules struggling to fight for their current society of dystopian Rome. With demons able to get through the Roman wards, the exorcist are the only ones to protect the world. These two “unlikely” characters need to come together for the good of humanity, but the secrets that they unfold can destroy everything they ever knew.
I enjoyed reading and getting lost in this story. The setting and plot was so strong, but I struggled slightly with the accessory information. A lot of the story revolved around a couple of characters and themes, but not sure how much I needed to know from the glossary to still get the story.

I wanted to enjoy this, I really did. A war, demons, and a hidden history? Sign me up.

Instead I got childish banter, a plot that didn't know where it wanted to go, and a terrible, bitter ending that I couldn't even muster the will to care about.

There was so much I wanted to enjoy about this, especially the demons and the whole history. Instead, while a WAR IS RAGING, they act as if they have all the time in the world to frolick around. What use is a map if they barely travel?

The plot wasn't plotting. I didn't care for this or the massive info dump in the beginning.

Not something I'd recommend. Or want to slog through near 500 pages again.

I felt uncomfortable reading this book. I really tried to like it and give it a fair chance but it was too much for me especially with the concept that “God became a man” or “took man form”. I kept going even after that just to give it a fair chance but I couldn’t get into it. It sucks because this cover is so pretty and I really wanted to like it.

Thank you to the author, Random House Children’s, NetGalley for this e-ARC.

Selene is a high ranking exorcist of demons while Jules is a wanted army deserter. One night, their paths crossed and Selene saw a connection between Jules and a powerful demon. Jules has no idea why and who he really is before he was left as a baby. In exchange for information, Jules agreed to pretend to be Selene’s fiance back to Vatican at the same time, Selene is trying to figure out the connection between Jules and the demon…

The world building in this is very interesting! I honestly thought this would be a young adult romance and don’t get me wrong there is romance on it but it was mainly political and I love it! This was great and I enjoyed this very much! 👏🏻 The only reason I’m giving this 4⭐️ is that there is some parts that got a little too long and confusing for me but overall highly recommend!

Thank you Netgalley and Random House Children for this ARC! ❤️

Spicy rating: 🌶️/5

Thanks to NetGalley & Knopf Books for Young Readers for the early copy in exchange for an honest review. Sadly, I DNF'ed at 30% of the way through.

Nothing about this book made a lick of sense. The plot, characters, and weak worldbuilding are so chaotic and poorly developed that it feels like you're navigating a maze without an end.

It cracked me up how we got an introduction of her LONG LOST FIANCE that she hasn't seen in years...but he has no personality other than to create a stupid bit of drama. Literally could have just removed him entirely and it wouldn't change the """"story""".

The dialogue was just a battle of wits between the love interests and it felt kind of cringe considering a ton of people died and more will die soon. It's like quipping in the middle of a battle...so weird.

It's a shame too, considering how pretty the cover is! Honestly, the worldbuilding had a LOT of potential but it's just bogged down by the "romance"...I wish this book focused more on the worldbuilding/fantasy and less on the two hooking up. It would have been an exceptional fantasy book if it wasn't for the push for romantasy....

Thank you to Penguin Random House for the advanced reader copy!

𝘊𝘳𝘶𝘦𝘭 𝘪𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘓𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵 is a lush, escapist tale set in a stunning Roman backdrop amidst a warring Vatican and demons. It's rich in historical vibes with religious intrigue and strong (yet gentle) bantering characters. I so desperately wanted to love it, but it ultimately fell a bit short of my expectations.

I was immersed in action from the start, dropped into battle alongside demon-hunter Selene. We follow her journey through the war as she crosses paths with Jules, an efficient soldier. Together they head to the Vatican to uncover a conspiracy.

The writing was beautiful yet simultaneously bizarre and incomplete, if that's even possible. I enjoyed it, yet I couldn't fully conceptualize elements of the scene, and thoughts quickly jumped around at times, leading to confusion and difficulty following the scene logistics. I'm a reader that usually effortlessly imagines the scenes, easily picturing characters and settings, but I struggled to do that with this story.

The writing style also negatively impacts the romance subplot - where I should have felt something, I was left unconcerned for the characters and their relationship and well-being. It had a bit of an insta-attraction element going on as well, which doesn't feel as genuine or realistic and therefore loses me a little. We end up being told how much they care about each other, but we dont really feel it as it develops. It's just suddenly there.

I enjoyed the dual POV approach, but it switches so frequently, even mid-chapter. It's overdone and disorienting.

I loved the idea of this book, and the world itself, but I'm left disappointed and wishing we, as readers, had been given just a bit more. So many elements are there, just not well executed.

I'm struggling to settle on a rating, so I'm awarding 4 stars for now, but that's subject to change.

Thank you to netgalley for my e-arc copy of Cruel is the Light!

This book was a highly anticipated read for me, from the cover (😗🤌🏻) to the synopsis, I thought I would eat this book up.

First, let me express how excited I was about the concept. Demons, demon hunters, and magic thrown into a novel was something that immediately hooked me. Unfortunately, I was left disappointed with the pacing, writing style, and overall lack of explanations.

I usually don’t mind an underdeveloped world and being immediately thrown into the story. However, with the writing style being so choppy and the plot line being rushed, I kept getting taken out of the story because of how confused I would get. I found myself having to reread bits to make sure I wasn’t missing anything, and most of the time… I wasn’t.

The magic system had an interesting take in this world of demons and demon hunters (exorcists). But, included with the world building, I feel like the magic wasn’t fleshed out enough, and left me confused about how it actually worked.

I was sad that this book wasn’t necessarily enemies to lovers as was advertised, but more reluctant allies to lovers. I wish there was more tension between the two, I think especially since I’m over the whole “insta attraction” trope. There were cute moments between the two which I loved, especially the banter. I did feel like any arguments Jules and Selene had, however, felt a little forced and out of place.

I also didn’t necessarily hate the characters, I just feel like the characters traits weren’t fully fleshed out. Selene, a badass exorcist, seemed a bit too emotional and erratic at points. And I just feel like Jules was a little bit all over the place.

Overall, with tweaks like fleshing out the world, magic system, and characters more would improve this book. The dialogue could also be reworked to create more tension or romance between the characters. I decided Im giving it 3 stars for the overall concept, but again, the writing and pacing needs a lot more work. The bones are there, so I just hope the final copy is smoother and more connected than my arc copy!

4.25 stars!
This was such an engrossing read! I did take longer to finish this, but only due to being busy.

My favourite aspect of the book was definitely its characters. I adored Selene and Jules, along with their allies! Focusing on the two main characters, I found that their voices were well-written, as I was immediately able to tell their perspectives apart without the book explicitly stating a POV change. I also loved the writing style in general!

The scenes between Selene and Jules were (almost) always fun, what with their contrasting personalities. Amazing bickering and I found their developing relationship a treat to read about! I was glad that they always tried to work things out together and stayed considerate of each other's feelings. For example, even when they might say things to hurt each other, it was resolved quickly, which I liked. Maybe it's also because the characters are more mature and have been through a lot (this book feels like upper YA/NA crossover), but this was quite refreshing to me.

The plot kept me hooked, though I would sometimes get a little confused by a certain term or detail and have to go back (this is likely my own fault because I spread my reading out over a few weeks). But other than that, I was captivated and found this to be a great fantasy read!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This book had so much hype around it but ultimately fell flat when it came to worldbuilding. It was severely underdeveloped and the magic system was difficult to immerse myself in. I was confused for most of the story. The magic system was also not fully fleshed out, and there were too many elements that made it hard to follow the story.

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for an early copy of this book! Below is my honest review.

DNFed at chapter 9. I couldn’t find myself to continue. I thought the concept was really interesting, but nothing really caught my attention. It was a little slow getting into it, and I don’t think it would be a good use of my time to keep reading. I loved the cover though and I hope other people enjoy this better than me.

Depuis que j'avais vu passé des ARC sur tiktok, j'étais clairement intriguée par ce livre et j'ai eu l'opportunité de le recevoir également en ARC numérique!

Nous allons plonger dans un univers où le Vatican mène une guerre contre les démons en utilisant des exorcistes. Nous allons suivre Selena Alleva, une de leurs plus puissantes exorcistes qui va devoir s'allier avec Jules Lacroix, un soldat qui a un beau palmarès mais qui cache un secret... Mais à force de mener leur enquête ils vont découvrir des secrets qui risque de tout bouleverser...

Comme je le disais, j'ai été attiré par les ARC sur tiktok mais après j'ai été obsédée par cette couverture!! J'ai beaucoup aimé ce premier tome qui nous introduit un univers qui est certes simple mais très efficace! J'ai lu ce livre très rapidement étant donné que le rythme est assez addictif même si parfois certains éléments de l'intrigues sont un peu long ou inutiles. J'ai beaucoup apprécié les personnages qui sont attachants et j'ai hâte de savoir ce qu'il va advenir d'eux dans le prochain car vu cette fin l'attente va être longue jusqu'en 2026!

En bref, un très bon premier tome!

3.25 stars! I think "Cruel is the Light" is perfect for readers who like strong female characters, an urban fantasy setting, and a sprinkle of spice. While I don't love this book's main character, I still think the story does a good job of setting things up for the next book in the series.

This story follows Selene, a demon-hunting prodigy, as she tries to protect Rome from the return of a powerful demon. Her mission seems straightforward—until she runs into Jules. He's a common foot soldier who deserted the war effort, and he also shares a mysterious connection to the powerful demon. Selene and Jules agree to a fake engagement while they investigate Jules' past. Of course, things rarely go according to plan...

Usually, this is the part of my review where I start gushing about the romance. Fantasy romance is my favorite genre, and I have a weakness for books with the enemies-to-lovers and the fake-dating tropes. Unfortunately, I feel that the romance falls flat in this book. While Selene and Jules ogle each other's physical features, they rarely comment about what they like in each other beyond that. I think it's possible to find someone attractive and build an emotional connection later, but that doesn't happen here. I think Selene and Jules' relationship needed a stronger base for some of their decisions to be believable, especially at the end of the book.

That said, I like the forbidden aspect of their relationship. Selene is a high-ranking exorcist, and Jules is a common foot soldier who deserted the front lines. If anyone sees through their fake engagement and recognizes Jules, he'll be killed. The stakes for a forbidden romance don't get much higher than that!

I also like how this book's magic, religious, and political systems are intertwined. I've never read a fantasy book that involves the Vatican. I think it's clever to write a book about Vatican exorcists fighting actual demons. Plus, this book comes with a demon hierarchy index. The index (as well as a list of the side characters and the Vatican political structure) is included at the start of the book. This makes it easy to keep everything straight. I can tell the author put a lot of time and thought into the world-building!

While I didn't love Selene or her romance with Jules, I still believe there's a lot to like about this book. I think "Cruel is the Light" is perfect for readers who enjoy romantasy stories with unique magic systems and mild spice. Overall, I'm rating it 3.25 stars!

I received an eARC of the book courtesy of Netgalley and the publisher; all opinions are my own.

Cruel is the Light is a new YA fantasy about a high-ranking exorcist and a foot-soldier who cross paths in the midst of a centuries-old war between the Vatican and demons. With the battle against demons, Vatican politics, and mysteries abound, Selene and Jules must navigate these challenges while fighting that spark between them.

Overall, I enjoyed some parts more than others. I really liked the MMC, Jules—his banter and charm won me over. I found myself rooting for him above any other character in the story. The FMC, Selene, was fun, but she was also a bit arrogant and cold at first, so it took me longer to warm up to her. The chemistry was there, but I would have liked to see a stronger build-up between them. Outside of the MCs, I did enjoy the side characters and varied personalities.

The writing was confusing at times and felt somewhat distracting. The world itself was intruiging and there was plenty of action to keep the story moving forward. I always love taking a deep dive into the politics and power systems in fantasy books—the magic at play in this book was interesting. I am curious to see what happens next. I really want to see Jules get all the happy moments.

—Thank you NetGalley and Random House Children's, for sending this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own.—

I waited so long for this book and the GORGEOUS cover! I enjoyed this read but it took me a while to get into. I found the writing to be a little confusing and strange - the world building needed just an extra layer or a few more adjustments - I almost felt as if this book was like reading anime written into a novel and you’re thrown into action immediately. I enjoy action scenes in books but I had to reread the first chapter to figure out what was happening. I loved the setting and the premise - it was so unique - and I really loved the characters. There could have been some more rounding out of the plot overall but .. this was a fun read and I enjoyed it! Looking forward to the next one by Sophie Clark!

If I could give this 10 stars, I would!

Where. Even. Do. I. Start. You have demons, you have demon hunters, an army of Vatican exorcists, a centuries old war, and a Deathless God! Like, say less!

This book was absolutely beautiful from start to finish! The banter between characters was off the charts, and I felt like I was highlighting every other page because I wanted to remember it all.

I fell in love with these characters, their flaws, their strengths, and their journeys, and I can’t wait to see where we go from here!

The plot is PLOTTING throughout the entirety of this book as well! There is a labyrinth of secrets to uncover, and I was on my toes through the whole story! The cast of side characters had me rooting for them as well! Hoping we get to explore even more of them in the next book!

Just please do yourself a favor and add this book to your tbr! It was such a unique, magical, *intense*, plot-filled story, and I WILL be picking it up again for future rereads!!

Swoon.

Five stars all around. This was the fantasy we need. High fantasy but easy world building. Chainsaw man x demon slayer x anastasia x rome but such an original story telling that I was immediately sucked in from CHAPTER ONE. 6% into the book I already knew this was going to be my personality trait. The characters grew on me every turned page, the banter, the plot, the twists and betrayals. Also don’t get attached because death upon death.

Nuns as exorcists, demons being hunted. Soldiers being labeled as deserters and a corrupt justice system with lies breaking it down day by day. This story was so gripping and I literally could not put it down.

“Cruel Is the Light” marks an impressive debut for Sophie Clark. I was captivated by the Roman setting, gothic atmosphere, dark fantasy elements, and the swoon-worthy romance. Clark excels at creating well-rounded characters, and I was particularly drawn to Selene Alleva, who has quickly become one of my favorite protagonists. As someone who reads a lot of YA fantasy and can usually predict plot twists, I was genuinely caught off guard by Clark’s surprises—something I truly admire in a writer. I’m certain this book will be a standout on Bookstagram this summer!
Thank you to NetGallery and Random House Children's | Knopf Books for Young Readers for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Review 5.7/10🗡️ I wanted to love this so bad, it started off strong with a great concept but the execution of it was not as grand as I was hoping.

Picture an alternate version of Rome where demons have come to cause havoc so god had to come down and help fight them off. Then god is impaled and kept locked in the Vatican neither dead nor alive so the generations of demon hunters can use gods power to keep fighting demons.

Before you even start the book there is quite a few pages of pre story reading about the Vatican hierarchy and cast of characters. It was a bit overwhelming, but also even more intriguing to me. The atmosphere at the start of the book was very gothic and dark. The book opens with some fight scenes as we are introduced to the two MCs that share the books POV. There was A LOT going on with the world building and characters, but I really liked what was being set up and this is a first time author so I didn’t mind it was a bit messy.

I knew this book was a romance fantasy so I was ready for that to make or break the story, and for me it’s just completely disintegrated once the two MCs met up. The atmosphere from the start of the book basically fizzled out and the MCs went from edgy/mysterious to kind of witty/ cliché badass vibe. But they weren’t actually that witty and the jokey flirting felt so out of place from the tone of the book at the start. I was wincing anytime there was spicy thoughts/banter because it came across as like ogling in a juvenile flirt way. The romance also stalled the plot quite a bit, there were large chunks where nothing was really going on. I didn’t get any chemistry between the MCs so it was reading flat and taking up all the page time.

The book also had minimal diversity so overall it just didn’t work out for me. The concept was really neat but the book just needed more work in a lot of places.

Thanks to Netgalley and Knopf Books for Young Readers for a copy of this book!

I will be totally honest: even after reading and loving this story, there is a lot about this world that I don't completely understand. How does the demon hierarchy work? What is the relationship of this Roman Empire to the rest of this world? For a Catholic city, they seem very unstressed about the two main characters living together before they're married.

The reality is that none of this matters: the book is an incredibly romance and adventure novel. In some ways, it reminded me of my childhood favourite: His Dark Material. The worlds have a similar fear of rigid church hierarchy and a female main character who begins to question her place in it. Plus, the lush European landscapes - it would be worth becoming a demon fighter to get to hang out in this version of Nice. The main characters in this book also had incredible chemistry (they smoulder!), but what I loved even more was how kind they were to each other. Both of these characters have been through incredible trauma, but by loving each other, they also begin to forgive themselves.

I really enjoyed this book and recommend to anyone who enjoyed His Dark Materials, Divine Rivals or the Shadowhunters series.