Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the digital ARC of this!

What a delight this turned out to be!

I thoroughly enjoyed almost every moment of this book and am excited to see where the next book goes!

We've got a fictionalised version of Rome, which the Holy Vatican Empire runs. Two centuries ago, God walked the Earth to help protect humans from demons before being impaled. He's now neither alive nor dead, instead called the Deathless God. Rome and Europe (we don't see other countries) are turned upside down by this, and their religion changes accordingly. Exorcists train to fight demons with the help of artificers who wield weaker forms of magic in weapons.

Selene is an exorcist from a noble Roman family - her father was an exorcist, too, but he betrayed the Vatican. Her uncle is the current Imperium Bellum, the head of the Vatican's exorcists and the most powerful man. Selene's nickname is the Butcher of Rome due to her impressive ability to kill demons and her utter sense of confidence. Selene knows that she's good - she graduated top of her class at the academy and has utter faith in herself, her God and her abilities.

Jules is an orphan conscript into the Vatican Army, who ends up entangled in the world of Selene and the Vatican after deserting his post after a horrible battle with demons. There's a Demon Duke on the loose, the highest rank of demon, and it seems to be interested in Jules. To figure out what's going on, Jules and Selene return to the Vatican to unravel more than one mystery relating to their past and current events.

I adored Jules. He was sassy and exceptionally witty—the kind of wit that makes you laugh out loud and effortlessly charming. Yet he has an undercurrent of softness, a desire to find out who he is, and a deep love for friends. He's a great character filled with insecurities, concerns, strength, and pride.

Selene is everything Jules isn't - self-assured, confident and with a solid sense of self-belief. She's also much more serious than him, despite Jules having been on a literal battlefield for the last four years of his life. Maybe that's why Jules is more lackadaisical - he's seen what he has to lose and knows to grasp every day for the gift it is. Still, he manages to worm his way into Selene's heart and mind to help her see that things aren't what they seem.

My only criticism of this book is that the side characters don't feel hugely fleshed out - Sparrow, Catarina, Kian and Lucia deserved more page time than they got. On top of this, it would have been nice to get a little more explanation about the overall world as well - is it just Europe or outside of Europe? We're told that demons are more likely to attack Rome due to the Deathless God being there, but does this mean there are not any demons in, say, Canada?

Another criticism is that I can't believe that Jules and Selene fell in love within, like...what...a week? But that's just a trope of these kind of books. A final critique is that I can't take their ages seriously - Jules was conscripted at 15, so he's only 19 in the book, and Selene is 17 or something, yet they both feel like they're in their mid-to-late 20s. This is a bizarre thing to say, as most of the time it's complaining that people read younger than they are, but these two felt like they had way too much experience to be so young and confident. Not only that, but it felt like it should be categorised as NA - not sure if it's described as YA, but it's not!

This book was one of my most anticipated reads for 2025 and it did not disappoint, can you give a book a prolonged round of applause, because I’d like to give this book one. For me this book was the epitome of a perfect blend between fantasy and romance. Set in both an opulent and dark fantasy world inspired by Europe and specifically the Vatican where exorcists hunt demons like it is their job; we follow Selene and Jules as they journey to look past the curtain of information they’ve been forced to accept to the truth that lies beneath.

As mentioned our tale follows Selene and Jules, originally apart before a series of events drives them together, this initial time apart allows us to really understand the origins of both characters and who they start the story as. This fundamental work beautifully crafted by Sophie feels so important, and sets up the foundation for the remainder of an action packed story filled with twists and turns. Once Selene and Jules collide they have to make a decision to pretend to be engaged in order to return to Rome and the Vatican to answer the question, who really is Jules Lacroix? However, this isn’t the only mystery this pair will face and for Selene when love and duty are both on the line in a world where demons and exorcists are at war which path will she choose, and can love conquer all.

The world building is absolutely fabulous, set in Europe where exorcists and demons are at war, there is a contrast between the extreme carnage of the battle front alongside the opulence, wealth and exuberance of Rome and the Vatican where the exorcists are trained makes for the most intriguing mysterious world. I adore the historical almost steampunk vibes I get from this book, mixed in what the magic and demonic. Alongside this the magical system is fabulous, with the lore around the exorcists, their blades, the demons and the Deathless God it all works harmoniously to create an enticing and gripping tale packed with romance and action.

In terms of characters, Selene and Jules are both amazing, the grumpy and sunshine vibes that their dynamic provides is incredible. While reading this book I positively lived for their heated interactions and banter. Selene is so no nonsense and I respect her so much, despite her beliefs when faced with new information she challenges the status quo. Her character development is definitely the biggest throughout the story and it was a joy to read. Jules is my beautify ray of sunshine, I love how he pushes Selene’s buttons and brings out a more playful side of her. Also, I want to shout out Sparrow, I would have loved to see more of him but the content I did have was incredible.

I can’t understate how much I enjoyed this book, and I would love to read more of a story set in this world! Thank you so much to the publisher for sending me a copy to read and review.

Wow, what a book!!!

First I want to thank NetGalley & Penguin Random House for an arc copy of this book <3

This book was such a fun & refreshing read! From the very first page of the book, we are thrown into the action, which I will admit, can be sometimes hard to follow as we are not familiar with the characters, but i love when books don’t waste time and just hit us with the plot!

The book is set in Rome & Vatican City, which is being protected from demons by the magically trained exorcists. Our FMC Selene is a high rank exorcist, also called the Butcher of Rome. Our MMC Jules is a war deserter who’s killed more demons than anyone else. As Selene is hunting one of the most powerful demons, their paths cross and Selene is immediately intrigued by Jules’ potential link to the demon.

This book delivered everything I wanted: the fantasy world, the magic system, the romance, and i cannot forget the fake relationship trope??? I was gagged.

Can’t recommend this book enough & can’t wait for the second book to come out!!! <3

This was such a fun fast paced read! I had such a good time with Selene and Jules, I loved the magic, demons, the world and was kept on the edge of my seat the whole time! I can't wait to read more of Sophie Clark's writing!

This book took me on a journey I wasn't expecting and is a really unique story mixing war, magic, and demons through a strong theme of religion at its darkest. It's really something! I experienced a lot of emotions through this book, and definitely had a soft spot for Jules who is lonely, alone, battling his grief and searching for answers in dangerous places. Here's a male protagonist who can be vulnerable, even in front of a woman with her emotions under lock and key. I enjoyed seeing Selene and Jules together, with their relationship and feelings developing in a very high stakes environment. There's a lot of push and pull between these characters, buttons being pushed, and the deliciousness of forced proximity giving front row seats to parts of themselves they like to keep hidden. There are some serious plot twists, tension-filled slow burn romance, and all the danger you could need. This book has some really great side characters and some serious baddies (not the good kind!). All this together makes for a really great book which I enjoyed diving into!

I received a free copy of this book. All views are my own.

Thank you for letting me recieven this ARC, all opinions are my own. I LOVED this book whilst I'm only 70 percent through I have a special edition being delivered and want to actually annotate. I will say paperback would have helped alot with this title because I kept flipping back to the glossary at the front to start with. A war between humans and demons, with strong religious themes. I will come back and update this review when I finish the final part but so far it was a really enjoyable read!

Thank you for letting me read and review this book on Netgalley.

"An epic new fantasy about a demon hunter and a foot soldier thrown together in a centuries-old war… and the forbidden love that could change the course of history."

I really like this book. It took me a while to get into it but I'm really glad I did.

Cruel is the Light is a debut fantasy book by Sophie Kim. As with the best books, it is filled with demons, battles, love and strife. There is plenty of worldbuilding to enjoy for more hardcore fantasy fans, and lots of yearning and tension for fans of Romantasy.

When I first read the blurb for this book, I was so excited to start reading. Honestly, I love any fantasy story that involves demons. They bring a bit of horror and violence to the story which automatically makes the book more thrilling. I also liked the idea of reading about exorcist warriors and demon armies. If you’re a fan of the Shadowhunter Chronicles or shows like Supernatural, I think this book would work for you too!

I especially liked the worldbuilding and magic-wielding lore in this book. It took me a little while to understand how the hierarchy and military positions worked, but once I understood I was immersed in the world. One of the things I appreciated was that there was a clear cost for using magic. If there are no consequences, magic becomes more like a party trick than a skill or talent. The fact that Selene must bleed (warning for anyone who is squeamish about blood) and risk losing her soul in order to exorcise demons makes her a more interesting character as well. Similarly, I found the power dynamics in this world really interesting. There are class issues at play, corruption, secrets and more. I’ve never read a book set in the Vatican before and I think that the way that the hierarchy mirrors real life was really cool.

The main characters in the book were also well written. Both Selene and Jules have suffered immensely and have fought courageously. This makes them different from a typical YA character who usually begins their journey or quest at the start of the book. Instead, they are seasoned killers who are familiar with the world and war. A refreshing change! Nonetheless, I didn’t find many of the secondary characters memorable. I’m not sure if it was because so much time was spent on developing the relationship between Selene and Jules, but everyone else seemed to fade into the background.

Overall, this was a great book filled with action, tension and demons. Why wouldn’t you want to read it?

A demon-infested Europe and the army of super-powered Vatican exorcists who protect the continent—the exorcists themselves wielding demon blood in their veins to fuel their powers. And that’s just the start—wait till you see what’s lying in suspended animation in the centre of the Vatican itself.

As supernatural fantasy goes, it’s an incredible set up, the equivalent of starting a stage play with a nuclear bomb, and it’s a pitch designed for me. Luckily, Sophie Clark delivers on the premise of Cruel is the Light (which has just come out in the UK as I write this – Americans you’ll have to wait a couple more months), giving us what I suspect will be one of the year’s compelling romances but balancing this against an utterly addictive and devilishly dark conspiracy at the heart of Rome.

The heart of the story is Selene Alleva and Jules Lacroix, the star crossed lovers, or should that be crucifix crossed. Selene is an inspired creation; a notorious powerful exorcist whose blood magic may be the most powerful of them all but her ruthless personality making her as brutally quick with her quips as she is with her sword. We open the story in a hunt for demons in the middle of Rome with Selene and her exorcist team, and the complex worldbuilding and unashamedly dark and unforgiving nature of this world is quickly highlighted.

But as soon as Selene meet Jules – a French orphan and soldier in the Vatican army who is renowned as one of the most talented demon killers on Europe’s eastern front – we get a series of scenes of shord-sharp dialogue as the two hate-flirt. These aren’t just your usual strangers to lovers banter scenes, these are venomously glorious in their playful punches, Clark having that talent possessed by great writers of dialogue of extending a witty back and forth almost to the point of breaking but not quite. A long section on a train that should by all rights be sluggish becomes a fantastic meet-cute by way of a verbal barbwire contest.

Once the action gets going again, Clark reveals another asset to her writing; the crafting of an utterly addictive conspiracy mystery. She wields a mixture of complex demon backstory with modern day political shenanigans that had me desperate to uncover its secrets. Selene and Jules’ encounters are riveting, but what I liked about this book is what I prefer in a romantasy I’m reading – that the plot around it isn’t simply dressing but an equal main course, in this case a riveting and tour de force conspiracy at the heart of the Vatican. I saw some of the pieces coming but not a couple of key reveals – the twists here are sumptuous in their shock value.

Clark populates her story with compelling side characters, too. A half demon called Sparrow half steals the show; and Clark crafts a whole crew of young cocky exorcists around Selene who shine, her tongue-lashing and gun-wielding underlings Lucia and Caterina in particular.

Of course ultimately a book like this, however superlative the central mystery and world, also lives and dies on its central pairing. Selene and Jules are forces of nature, equally broken and equally hurting and equally compelling in their narrative arcs. As for the romance, when Clark turns up the heat you can feel the flames from the page; this is the ultimate demonstration that sometimes the electric touch of a palm against a back can be a whole spicerack on its own.

This book is proof that a good romantasy and a dark, brutal fantasy thriller can go hand in demon-blood stained hand, helped by Clark’s sharp, vivid prose and a natural gift for atmospheric worldbuilding, not to mention some of the best dagger-sharp dialogue I expect I’ll read all year. A fiery romance wrapped in a feverishly addictive mystery thriller I couldn’t put down – this dark romantasy burns hot like the demons who fill its pages.

She was a Roman exorcist. Protector of humanity. And sometimes that meant forgoing hers

— Young Adult Crossover Romantasy
— Third Person X Dual POV
— Enemies-To-Lovers
— Fake Engagement
— Demon Hunter X Foot Soldier
— Humans X Demons At War
— Forced Proximity
— Only One Bed
— Knife To Throat
— Forbidden Love
— Good Vs. Evil

This book started off so strong, I truly thought I would love it but unfortunately it fell flat for me.
The world & history was really interesting but it was not explained well or made sense so it was hard to keep track of what or why something was happening.
The story was pretty predictable too but i really hated the romance. There was no chemistry or build up as to why they would like each other at all. This was promoted as enemies to lovers but they were not enemies for even a second? It’s more like reluctant allies to lovers but it was very insta lovey.
I didn’t feel any tension or angst even though, considering who they were in the wider plot should have created which left the romance very meh. I did not care for it at all.

Cruel is the Light is a debut young adult romantasy set in Rome, Italy. Sophie Clark has woven a deeply enticing story that has been desperate for more. From the world building to the romance, this book is complete and utter perfection. I loved Selene and I was absolutely obsessed with her beautifully written slow burn romance with Jules.

Overall, Cruel is the Light is an exciting book that I can't recommend enough! If you're a fan of forbidden romance, you will definitely want to add this to your TBR!

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

My first five star read of 2025! I adored this book so much, I’m not quite sure where to begin —unique world-building, compelling character arcs, and a romance that took my breath away.

For over a century, a devastating war has ravaged Europe between demons and humanity. When a foot solider that has hidden secrets, and an exorcist that wishes to uncover them cross paths, they set out to discover the secrets hidden within the Vatican City. As they unravel the mysteries surrounding his past, their growing feelings for each other become undeniable.

This book had me hooked after the first couple of chapters and it did not disappoint. The world-building was rich and immersive without being overwhelming, and it unfolded at a perfect pace, mixed in with great character dynamics. The story also features a delightful take on the grumpy x sunshine trope, with the FMC Selene, who is cold and guarded, vs the MMC Jules who is the charismatic charmer. Their chemistry was electric from the start, and the dual POV offered a wonderful opportunity to experience their evolving relationship from both sides.

Main Tropes:
🗡️ Forced Proximity
🗡️One Bed
🗡️Fake Engagement
🗡️Enemies to Lovers
🗡️Knife to Throat
🗡️Forbidden Romance

This incredible story follows Selene, a high-ranking exorcist trained at the prestigious Vatican Academy, who is on a mission to hunt down demons. When she crosses paths with Jules, a foot soldier hiding secrets, her immediate distrust shifts to curiosity, and she becomes determined to uncover the truth about him. However, once inside Vatican City, Selene discovers that there are far more secrets than just Jules’s to unravel.

A forbidden romance, hidden secrets, and the difficult choice between love and duty—will love truly conquer all?

RELEASE DATE: 23rd January 2025

Special thank you to Penguin Random House UK, for providing me with this ARC via NetGalley. (Also received a copy at YALC where I won this arc as a prize.)

A very solid 3.5 stars!

My favourite part of this book had to be the two main characters— Selene and Jules.

While brilliant to read together, when separated in the story they hold up on their own. Their interactions with side characters and in their own inner reflections are compelling and interesting, only amplified together.

The banter between them was so much fun to read, especially with Selene being the more serious of the two. Their dynamic was very much black cat/golden retriever. It is not an enemies to lovers, more just “you inconvenience me but you’re attractive” which works, but don’t go into it expecting a true enemies - lovers.

When you first start, you’re immediately thrown into intense action and a lot of information all at once. I found myself struggling to understand the world for around the first 30%, the magic was a little lost on me and how it was used with weapons etc. but the war between demons and mankind was an interesting storyline. The plot kept me really hooked despite feeling a little lost at times.

This definitely scratched that upper-YA itch that really reminded me of books I devoured and loved when I was younger. I look forward to seeing what happens next!

Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for an early copy of the e-ARC! ⭐️

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for granting me an arc of this book! This was my first Sophie and I had a good time with it, I really liked Selene and jules and the enemies to lovers vibes of their relationship. I really liked the Roman vibes of the world I think it really worked well. It felt a lot darker for a YA so I would say it’s very much new adult. I will say sometimes there was a lot of characters to keep track off so I will reread it physically and I think it will stick with me more but overall I had a good time it was also a very quick read for me and once you are on you don’t want to put it down.
4 stars!

3 ★'s

great concept but poorly executed. the author has potential but needs to work on improving the writing style and world building. this book was very confusing and hard to follow at times. i did really like the characters and the romance was cute. i also want to mention that this is listed as YA but it reads like adult/new adult - lots of cursing and open door spice.

Immersive and fantastical with great worldbuilding and a bit of spice. It completely swept me away, and I'm excited to see what Sophie Clark writes next.

Cruel is the Light is following two main characters from their POVs, Selene and Jules. The book opens right in the action for both of these characters which gripped me instantly.

The setting for this book is very interesting since it is in our world but with the existence of magic and demons and this has a huge impact on how everything runs. We are mainly based in Rome but also get to see some other parts of Europe too.

I enjoyed the characters in this and thought there were some really great side characters that I'd love to see more of in future.

Thank you to Penguin and Netgalley for this eARC to review.

3.5*

An exceptional entry in the fantasy genre, this novel captivates from the very first page. The narrative plunges readers headfirst into relentless action, seamlessly maintaining a gripping pace that compels you to keep turning the pages. The writing is sharp and immersive, skillfully balancing intensity with moments of introspection.

The world-building is masterfully constructed, offering a rich and intricate setting that feels both expansive and authentic. Paired with well-developed characters, whose motivations and growth resonate deeply, the story becomes all the more compelling.

I devoured this book in a single day, a testament to its ability to engross and enthrall. This is a remarkable work of fantasy, and I eagerly anticipate exploring more from this talented author.

Cruel is the Light:

"𝑶𝒏𝒆 𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒔𝒉𝒆 𝒌𝒏𝒆𝒘 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝒔𝒖𝒓𝒆 - 𝑱𝒖𝒍𝒆𝒔 𝒘𝒂𝒔 𝒏𝒐 𝒔𝒉𝒂𝒅𝒆 𝒐𝒇 𝒈𝒓𝒆𝒚. 𝑯𝒆 𝒘𝒂𝒔 𝒂 𝒍𝒊𝒈𝒉𝒕 𝒔𝒐 𝒃𝒓𝒊𝒈𝒉𝒕 𝒊𝒕 𝒄𝒐𝒖𝒍𝒅 𝒃𝒍𝒊𝒏𝒅."

Set in a unique and enthralling fantasy world, Cruel is the light is a beautifully written romantasy by @sophieclark, that takes place in the heart of Italy, Rome.

In a world of a centuries long war between humans and demons, Selene Alleva is the most famous demon hunter and her mission is, to protect Rome and the Vatican from the outside threat of the demons.
Although after meeting the charming french Jules Lacroix, a foot soldier who fought at the front and now deserter, Selene starts to doubt everything she was raised to believe and together they uncover the intrigue and corruption of the world they’re set to live in.
This action packed story had me in it‘s grip from the very beginning!
Mind bowing plot twist kept me on my toes throughout the whole book and kept me glued to the pages.
The world building is grandiosely detailed and I literally had the feeling to be walking the streets of Rome alongside Selene and Jules.
Phrases in italian and french language add to this beautiful charm of the european culture.

Selene, as the Butcher of Rome is strong, fierce and powerful. Showing feelings has been something she has avoided ever since she was a small child. But with the heartening side of Jules, turning her world upside down, he touches her heart and soul and Selene‘s cold side begins to melt away.
The unfolding romance between the two characters is chefs kiss enemies-to-lovers and presents a magnificent love story, that I can‘t get enough of!

Altogether, I had an amazing time immersing into the story and getting swept away by Selene and Jules thrilling adventures.
Thank you so much to @Netgalley and @sophieclark from providing this ARC.