Audio Review: Cruel is the Light by Sophie Clark

I received this book via the publisher Listening Library, Knopf Books for Young Readers. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of this review.

Cruel is the Light by Sophie Clark
Narrator: Fiona Hardingham, Ethan Reid, Steve West
Series: Cruel is the Light #1
Published by Listening Library, Knopf Books for Young Readers on 2025-05-20
Age Range: 12+
Length: 496 pages
Length: 15 hours and 36 minutes
Listening Speed: 1.7x
Reviewing Advanced Listening Copy, eARC from the publisher Listening Library, Knopf Books for Young Readers
Rating:
Reading Challenges: #NGEW2025, 2025 Audiobook Challenge, 2025 New Release Challenge

INSTANT #1 UK BESTSELLER • The epic young adult romantasy that caused an international sensation—a star-crossed, enemies-to-lovers saga about a war between demons and exorcists . . . and the forbidden love that could change the course of history.

“Sinister magic, crackling banter, and sizzling tension.”—Emily Thiede, author of This Vicious Grace

It is said that love conquers all. But will it tear them apart?

Humanity has waged a bloody war against demons for more than a century, with two elite soldiers now leading the fight: Selene Alleva, a powerful exorcist trained at the prestigious Vatican Academy, and orphan Jules Lacroix, unrivaled on the battlefield.

When their paths cross, the distrust—and unwelcome attraction—is immediately apparent. But to get to the bottom of a series of unprecedented demon attacks, Selene and Jules strike an uneasy alliance, agreeing to an unusual arrangement: a fake engagement. With Jules posing as Selene’s estranged fiancé, they head to the holy Vatican City in search of answers—only to discover a terrible secret.

Soon Jules is forced to question everything he’s ever known—including himself. And Selene, unable to ignore her growing feelings for Jules, must make an impossible choice between love and duty.

This was one of my most anticipated books for 2025, and sadly it left me a little disappointed. Cruel is the Light by Sophie Clark is YA romantasy about an exorcist and a soldier fighting in a war against demons. Selene Alleva is a high ranking exorcist, looked down on by her peers for rising to her rank potentially by nepotism. She’s constantly fighting to be recognized and respected. Jules Lacroix is an orphan turned soldier after being drafted into the Vatican’s army. In a battle against a high ranking demon, Jules watches his entire battalion die. Now, he’s looking for answers to where he came from and why he was spared.

What I Enjoyed: Set in a Vatican/Holy Roman Empire and an alternate Europe, the backdrop to the action is phenomenal. I loved this setting. I also liked both Jules and Selene. Selene is tough as nails, but she has to be. Her soft side comes through when she encounters children and orphans. She even has a tenuous friendship with a half-demon named Sebastian. Jules is softer than Selene, despite his rough upbringing and his time at the front. He sees people and wants to help.

What Needed More Work: The romance. While I liked both Jules and Selene, I didn’t buy into their romance. It was more insta-lust than love which makes some of what happens at the end of the book unbelievable.

The magic system and plot in general needed some polishing. The magic system is complex, but not well explained. There is a guide at the front of the book about the different ranks of exorcists and demons, but not much about the magic they possess or how they use it. The plot felt nonexistent. Jules is looking into who he is, who his parents were, and why the demons seem interested in him. This was interesting. Selene is trying to stop the war that’s been raging, but it’s mostly absent from the story (unless I just misunderstood).

Told in 3rd person dual POV, I struggled to figure out whose POV we were in as it isn’t clearly delineated. This made it hard to follow dialogue as well. I did receive an ALC as well as an eARC. The audio has two narrators, one for Selene and one for Jules. This was how I kept them straight.

Conclusion: Overall, Cruel is the Light was an okay read for me. I liked Selene and Jules, but the plot and magic system need some work. It is also being billed as YA romantasy. However, the content and age of the characters reads more like a New Adult or Adult fantasy. There is open door spice, smoking, drinking, cursing, and cutting (not for self-harm, it was how they accessed their magic). I’d recommend for 16+ or mature YA. If you are a fan of fantasy, this one might be for you.

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