Absolutely amazing!! Dystopian must read! I was so invested and loved all the characters. Definitely recommend! 5/5

What an absolutely gorgeous book!

The story follows three women with a form of telepathy called songlight, which they can use to find other telepaths, or 'Torches', and communicate in images and words. In the world of the book, two countries are at war. One values songlight, and gives their Torches important places in society, while the other fears their ability to manipulate the minds of others, and routinely sends them to be lobotomised and used as mindless servants.

Elsa cannot afford to tell anyone she has songlight – she knows she will be taken away from her family and operated on to destroy her ability. When someone close to her is imprisoned and taken away for having songlight, her distress draws another telepath to communicate with her, and they begin a long-distance friendship that must remain secret to protect them both.

Meanwhile, in the capital city, another telepath is keeping her abilities hidden as she lives and works at the top of government. As tensions rise between the warring parties, these three women find themselves at the heart of the negotiations – and risking discovery and betrayal to influence the course of the conflict.

While the narrative switches between various characters who find themselves caught up in the war, these three women are the focus of the story. Elsa is a strong protagonist – an outsider in her community, and resentful of the rules that dictate her life and her future. A strong sense of justice and fairness drives her story, and she finds her assumptions and beliefs challenged as she makes contact with telepaths across the two countries at war.

The other women face their own challenges, and as they become aware of each other, the danger of discovery increases.

My only disappointment with this book is that I didn't know it was the start of a trilogy until I reached the end. I will be waiting very impatiently for the next instalment to find out what happens next! I can't wait to meet these characters again.

This book was gripping. The dystopian Handmaid's Tale style world, blended with the telekinetic mutation along the vein of Jean Grey from the X Men was really immersive. Told from multiple perspectives this book shows how hostile and isolating it is to exist as other or undesirable in an authoritarian regime. It showed a spectrum of lives, attitudes and constraints within the world as each character tries to survive amid a hostile slew of war propaganda and brutality. But the complexities and love of the human soul cannot be completely suppressed, as Lark shows in her friendship with another girl who also has the gift of songlight, a type of telekinesis that shares your thoughts and shows your surroundings to another with the gift.

Pacey and immersive, this author creates a scene quickly and moves to the the next one incredibly effectively. I actually longed to get back reading, and sped through this book. I am looking forward to the next in the series. Really intense and eloquent YA must read.

It’s hard to believe this accomplished and captivating novel is Moira Buffini’s debut! The premise for this first book in the trilogy is both cleverly crafted and expertly executed, with well-developed characters and a gripping tension that pulls you in from the start. Buffini’s storytelling is so engaging that I’m already eager for the next installment. The only downside is knowing I might have to wait to see what happens next with Lark and her family and friends—I can only hope Buffini writes quickly because I can’t wait to dive back into this world!

Fantasy for YA and older teens. Such is the story given to the reader I wouldn’t suggest that under sixteens are given this book. It saddens me that much of this fictional story can be seen in the non-fiction world we live in today. Not the story’s setting which is fiction world building at its best, but in the themes that run through this story. The basis of the story is a war, of conquest and freedom. The world this book is set in is a dark place of subjugation, especially of women, and prejudice by political intent. There are many characters to hate and despise. Yet in the story there also characters to hope for, to worry for, and to cheer for. There is hope, and friendship, and courage. Songlight is not to be feared, but it needs to be freed. I dont know why but I found it difficult to settle to read this book at first, but by the end I was captivated. Thank you to Faber and Fabre Ltd and NetGalley for the ARC. The views expressed are all mine, freely given.

4.5**

As an avid fan of Buffini's other work I was so excited to read her first novel and it did not disappoint.

This is a multiple POV dystopian fantasy that takes place on a future earth (but with added magic), with so many parallels of today's society. Themes of extremism, LGBTQIA+, radicalisation, abuse, PTSD - it sounds bleak but it's wonderful, and each character had a different story to tell. Some are likeable, some less so...

After I adjusted to the writing style (shorter sentences - it has a bit of a screenplay vibe in places) I was absolutely gripped.

My one main question - what happened to Rye? He doesn't appear in the last third of the book and I feel like there could have been a wrap up chapter towards the end. I'm assuming they'll collide in the later books, but it would be good to get an update on his journey!

This book was amazing! I finished it and was so upset that I couldn’t IMMEDIATELY start the next book!! By the end I was so invested in the characters and the story that when it ended I just sat there like “that’s it!?!?!?!?!” Despite all of this, I almost put the book down about 20% of the way through because I had such a hard time actually getting into the story. There are a lot of POVs which is not usually a bad thing for me, but it felt quite choppy between chapters, jumping from character to character. Almost as though it was written as a tv show in scenes rather than a book in chapters. I’m glad I stuck with it though because once I was familiar with all the POVs I was able to actually get into the story itself which is BRILLIANT! I definitely recommend this 100% and I’m so so thankful to NetGalley and the publisher for the advanced copy!

Can’t believe this accomplished and riveting novel is Moira Buffini’s debut. The premise of this first book in the trilogy is well thought through and brilliantly delivered with well drawn characters and lots of exciting tension. I hope Buffini is a quick writer, because the worst thong about this book is how long I may have to wait to find out what happens next to Lark and her family and friends. I wait with great anticipation for books 2 and 3.

Brilliant book. The characters are written so well and each fit into the story perfectly in their own ways. Incredible world building and the plot is so interesting. The varying point of views were so refreshing to read and seeing the way each character reacts to certain things is fun to see.
I need the sequel right now!

Songlight is a YA dystopian fantasy which is narrated in several POV's, most notably Elsa, or Lark as she's otherwise known, as she struggles to hide her telepathic abilities in a repressive governed world that labels those with her gifts as 'unhuman'.

It's been a long while since I have read a dystopian fantasy and I'm glad to see they are making a comeback again! This was an interesting story with many parallels to that of World War II. It has a Handmaid's Tale feel about it, women are seen as inferior and are purely for child-birthing and good wives - the theme of womanhood is well explored through the differing points of view of Lark, Nightingale and Swan.

It wasn't made clear as to how there were those that had telepathic abilities and I was left confused at times with how the system works, especially when some can mind control others despite the target not being a telepath themselves. However, considering this is the first in a series (trilogy, I think), perhaps this is fleshed out in latter books.

I thought the characters each had their own personality and were well thought out, however, I found how quickly some relationships developed to be a little too fast and characters actions not making sense despite their narrative throughout most of the book.

All in all, it was a good book and a strong start for a series.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a copy of the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

3.5*

Songlight was really interesting. It had elements of fantasy and a bit of sci-fi dystopia elements.

It follows a girl, Elsa, wanting to save her best friend and love interest, Rye, when its discovered he has songlight — an ability that allows people to essentially astral project themselves to others who have the same ability. She meets a girl who also has songlight together they work to change how the world sees people like them.

The books varied between the POVs between Elsa/Lark, Nightingale and Elsa's brother Piper with a very occasional POV chapter from Rye. I didn't like Piper's chapters, I just find him very boring but enjoyed everything else.

When I first picked up Songlight, I wasn’t entirely sure what to expect. But as soon as I started reading, I was hooked. This dystopian YA fantasy felt like a bit like The Handmaid's Tale, with its bleak world, oppressive society, and a deeply exciting magic system that kept me on the edge of my seat added to the mix.

The world of Brightland is a terrifying place, where those born with the gift of Songlight are hunted down, dehumanized, and turned into lifeless chrysalids. From the very beginning, I was drawn into the lives of Elsa and Rye, whose struggle to hide their powers and their love made my heart race. The stakes were always high, and the tension was palpable as they navigated a world where trust could mean life or death.

What really captivated me, though, was the connection between Elsa and Rye, and later, the bond that forms between Elsa and Kaira. The depth of these relationships was so beautifully portrayed that I felt every moment of pain, fear, and hope alongside the characters. Even the side characters were richly developed, each with their own complex motivations and backstories. I found myself caring about them all, even those I was supposed to hate.

Buffini’s worldbuilding is nothing short of brilliant. The society she created, with its rigid rules and terrifying punishments, felt oppressively real. The propaganda, the war, the way history was manipulated—it all served to paint a vivid picture of a world gone wrong. And yet, within this darkness, there was light in the form of friendship, love, and defiance.

The magic system, centred around the concept of Songlight, was another highlight for me. It was unique, well thought out, and integral to the plot in a way that never felt forced. The way Buffini wove this element into the story, using it to explore themes of power, control, and resistance, was masterful.

As I read, I couldn’t help but draw parallels to The Handmaid’s Tale with its exploration of gender roles and societal control, but Songlight stands out on its own with its fresh take on these themes and its gripping narrative. The multiple POVs worked seamlessly, adding layers to the story without ever feeling overwhelming. Even characters I didn’t initially like became fascinating as their perspectives were revealed.

Overall, Songlight was a wild ride that I couldn’t put down. The writing was sharp, the pacing was perfect, and the twists kept me guessing until the very end. This is definitely a book that I’ll be rereading, and I’m eagerly awaiting the next instalment. If you’re a fan of dystopian YA with deep character connections and a thrilling magic system, this is a must-read.

Thank you NetGalley and Faber and Faber Ltd for my ARC of 'Songlight'

This surprised me! I wasn't sure if I'd enjoy it going in, but once I warmed up to it I had a blast!

At first I was concerned about the number POVs - more characters were getting added to the narrative by the minute - but it works really well to get a better idea of the horrors of the Peregrine regime.

This was a really stressful read in places, there are heart stopping moments all the way through but the pace is set so well that the action mingles easily with the world-building.

It took a while to get going, I would have given it 3 stars when I started, then 4 stars around halfway, until I had to give it the full five. Can’t wait for the next two instalments.

This was such a surprise! I pretty much went in blindly, as I didn't remember what it was about from when I read the blurb. But from the very first moment I was intrigued, and the more I read the more I became invested in this story. There were quite some povs, and sometimes I would struggle to remember who was who and where, but luckily the book read very easy. Definitely one I can recommend! I cannot wait for the next installment.

The first book in a trilogy starts very strong - and fast paced. It’s really early on in the story that our hopes are raised and then dashed into pieces on the ground, setting quite honestly the tone of the whole story.

A wide range of characters, a lot to take in, a lot of heart stopping moments, and a lot of time spent on edge.

What a great start to what is going to be a fantastic trilogy. I need a lie down!

My thanks to Netgalley and Faber and Faber Ltd for the advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

I really enjoyed this dystopian novel. There were elements which reminded me of the Rose Society books by Marie Lu. Elsa (aka Lark) can communicate with songlight - but to do so is forbidden. Those with songlight are deemed ‘unhuman’ and their songlight must be hidden.
This is a story of flawed rulers and potential heroines. It did come to a relatively satisfactory ending but also clearly feels as if a sequel must surely follow. I do prefer nice neat endings, but having said that I'd also be eager to read the next instalment. Thanks to Netgalley for the opportunity to read this ARC.

What an extraordinary book- set in a dystopian world. Wasn’t sure what to expect when I started it but was delighted I continued on. Looking forward to what happens in the next two books of this trilogy. I don’t often read young teens novels, but this has changed my mind and I’ll be reading more from this section.

After a slow start, I really got into this story. It is a mix of fantasy and dystopian worlds, where people with Songlight are persecuted as Unhumans and dehumanised in a terrible way. The citizens in Brightland are brainwashed by propaganda and rulers, who are manipulating the citizens to their own ends.

I liked the way the characters came to life as the book progressed, both good and bad. They were well rounded and I felt a good connection to them. There are a lot of points of view in this story, maybe too many, but I got used to it as the story progressed.

I felt the first half of the story was slow but after that I became hooked. You can see that Moira Buffini is used to writing screenplays and maybe this is why there was so much scene setting. It is, however, a really good YA story and I will look forward to the rest of the series.

I really wanted to love this one, given the beautiful cover and the positive things other reviewers were saying. However, although I liked the magic and the plot was good, the characters weren't my favourite. I enjoyed it enough to keep going to the end, but probably won't continue with the series as I'm not that interested in what happens next!

I received a copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review