Songlight is a powerful and emotive debut novel that transports you into a world of fear and disharmony as our main characters carry the 'curse' of Songlight; a telepathic skill that casts them out as inhuman and fit only for mutilation and servitude. This is marked as YA, but it's worth noting that it is very dark YA with a focus on the persecution and dehumanisation of those marked as different; whether by power, sexuality or thinking. There's sexism, homophobia and outright hatred depicted on the pages here with people turned to tools for the crime of being different.

That said, this is an intricately woven novel made up of five different point of views that allow the world to be crafted in detail. The switching between point of views allows you to see different perspectives and areas, threading the world building together in a multi-layered arc. You've got the small town of Northhaven with Elsa and Rye, showcasing the patriarchal and misogynistic views of the land, Kaira in the larger city hiding her gifts from her enforcer father, Swan beholden to a powerful and cruel man at the heart of politics and spear-heading the charge into a more and more destructive war.

The narrative is tight, if a bit slow - partly because of the changing view points. I found some of them more difficult to get into than others - Swan's point of view was vexing at the beginning for instance as it always seemed to intrude to take me away from the important stuff. Once the threads start coming together though, everything is important and all the characters are critical. There's no hand holding here though; all of the characters are absolutely put through the wringer time and time and time again. Your heart breaks for them at points as they have to come to terms with whatever fresh peril the world has thrown at them.

And I couldn't help but fall for the characters here. They really shine and I was invested in both the small, personal stories along with the wider world changing narrative that slowly builds to a climax. The vast majority of the characters are complex and multi-faceted, with complex motivations, secrets and inspirations. They are very human; a landscape of greys rather than black and white morality. There's a couple of notable exceptions in the 'bad guy' camp, but the vast majority are flawed, real people doing the best they can in a landscape torn by war, grief, anger and the need for revenge.

This is absolutely an author to keep an eye on for future releases. I'll be interested to see how the series continues, but I'll also be keeping a watchful eye for unrelated releases. This is some excellent writing, with a vividly drawn world with all the messy human politics and machinations set alongside wonderful characterisations and a tightly written narrative.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for my free review copy of this title.

A brilliant dystopian YA fantasy novel and a great start to a pending trilogy. An eye opening yet relatable book showing the power of propaganda in a war which definitely leaves you wanting to pick up with the next book!

Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

I was really excited for this. It sounded like something I would absolutely love but unfortunately there was an aspect to this book that just rubbed me the wrong way which made the rest of my journey with this book a lot less enjoyable.

I did think the characters were quite interesting and thought the storyline was good (minus the forced marriages of a bunch of teenaged girls to soldiers who are a lot older than them) but unfortunately I won't be continuing with the series.

I loved this book, I really didn't want it to end and I'm glad that it doesn't and it's the first part of a trilogy, I'm just sad now that I have to wait for the next instalment.

Great world-building, fleshed out and interesting characters along side a fast moving plot made this an unputdownable page turner. I could definitely see some Margaret Atwood influence here in the story. I sometimes find books with lots of different POV a little confusing or disjointed but I never felt this with this book, and there were no characters whose chapters I wanted to skip to get back to another's, I was enthralled by all of them. Really intrigued as to what will happen next and I have already recommend this book to others.

Thanks to the publisher for the ARC!

I started this book a while ago, and although I have loved what I have read so far I just keep finding myself not wanting to pick it up. It could just be me and my mood, I’m not sure!

It took me a while to get into the swing of this book but once I got past the first few chapters, I found myself determined to keep reading to find out what happens next.

I like the premise of this book - the set up of the war and the political landscape. I found myself routing for Elsa all the way through - she is such a strong character and experiences so much in this book, all the characters do.

I'm already excited by the prospect of the next books in the series and will definitely be keeping an eye out for that!

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC.

There's been a dearth of good YA dystopia in recent years since fantasy and romantasy came to the fore, but Buffini's novel is definitely in the vein of classics such as The Hunger Games and Divergent. While the jumping POVs is a bit confusing at first (especially when characters suddenly change names), the worldbuilding is good enough that you soon settle into the narrative, and by the end I was excited for more in this series.

I received this book as an ARC from Netgalley, however all opinions are my own.

So the reason I wanted to read this book is because I read the description of it on Netgalley and it drew me in so quickly. So I applied for it and was lucky enough to receive it. Friends, I've not had a book this fast paced and well written in a long time. Every moment of this book was full of action, surprises and secrecy, and I just continuously wanted more. I spent quite a few nights up until the early hours of the morning reading this one and that is not something I have done in a while! The multiple POVs we got of this book were incredible, this is such a flushed out and information filled story that I don't think we would of got everything without it being multiple POV and the way that they wrote it made it so that it wasn't confusing at all of who was speaking. This book fully played on my emotions, there were so many times where I was rooting for the characters but also so many times where my heart hurt for them. I loved every single moment of reading this book and with a cliff-hanger like that, I can't wait until the second book comes out!

(If you'd like to see more of my reviews please go to my blog:
https://doesden.blogspot.com/)

Brightland has been at war for years. Young men go away to fight as youths. The girls become choir maidens taught how to be a good wife, preferably a first wife, if not a second. No-one wants to be a third wife- they go away to service the troops! Elsa doesn't want to be anyone's wife. Rye, her soul mate is arrested. In Elsa's world she knows that she has to keep the most important part of herself hidden. She has Songlight, able to communicate without words across long distance. In her society such people are considered 'unhuman' & dealt with brutally. The way they have treated Rye. Elsa's grief reaches Nightingale- a girl many miles away in the city. Will this madness never end?

What an amazing world Moira Buffini creates. The characters & the setting totally enthralled me & I was caught up in their world. I hadn't realised when I started reading that it was a trilogy so I was devastated when the book came to an end. I can't wait until the next one comes out. Thanks to Netgalley & the publisher for letting me read & review this amazing book!

Loved it! Depth, back-story, adventure, passion, intrigue, unpredictable - I couldn't stop turning the page.

Its so hard to summarize this epic book, without giving too much away or addressing all the nuances. The book is set in a world where those who have "songlight (telepathic powers) are hunted down. Lark knows this personally as her lover has been discovered, beaten and sent to be purged. She is on a personal mission to save him, but in her quest she finds herself on a much more meaningful mission - to save her land from an atrocious war. Friends, family, sexes are all pitted against each other.

I was completely engrossed, loved this new world, felt attached to many of the key characters and was quite disappointed to find it ending abruptly when it looked so certain there would be resolution. I guess I need to patient for the next book.

Absolutely loved this book! From page one I was hooked and couldn’t wait to pick the book back up.

I can’t wait for the next instalment!

Thank you NetGalley and publisher for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you Publisher and Netgalley for this advanced copy

Sadly this book is so so for me. There is nothing special about the story, yet still enjoyable enough

The narrative's power to mirror contemporary issues is particularly striking, as it encourages a dialogue about the beliefs we hold in this present times. SONGLIGHT is a mirror held up to our society, a call to examine our beliefs, and a reminder of how powerful literature is to stir the soul and ignite the mind. As the story reaches its climax, the tension is palpable, with Moira Buffini masterfully conveying a sense of immediacy that binds the reader to the fate of the characters. The cliffhanger ending leaves one eagerly anticipating the next installment, a testament to the author's mastery to engage and captivate her audience. She has crafted a world that is as haunting as it is enlightening, and her work stands as a beacon in the genre, illuminating the path for future explorations of dystopia.

Songlight is an extraordinary debut that captivated me from the very first page. Buffini’s world-building is nothing short of masterful, creating a dystopian future that feels both hauntingly real and vividly imaginative. The concept of “songlight” is unique and beautifully woven into the narrative, adding a layer of depth and intrigue that sets this book apart from other YA dystopian novels.

I don’t usually read YA, but this was fantastic! The second half especially had me glued to the pages—I could not put this book down. The characters are richly developed and their relationships, particularly between Elsa and Rye, are heartfelt and compelling. Buffini’s background in film and television shines through in her cinematic writing style, making the story come alive in a way that is both immersive and emotionally resonant.

What truly stands out is Buffini’s ability to tackle complex societal issues through the lens of her characters’ experiences, making Songlight not just a gripping read but also a thought-provoking one. The multiple points of view are handled expertly, giving each character a distinct voice and perspective that enriches the overall narrative.

In summary, Songlight is a storytelling masterclass that promises great things. It’s bold, bright, and haunting—a must-read for fans of dystopian fiction. I cannot wait for the second book!

I loved the premise, a dystopian future with elements of The Handmaids Tale that sees us pesky women firmly in our place, as wives in training for the brave soldiers who return from combat, and as their reward can choose a first, second, and heck why not maybe a third wife. And the women have to be completely compliant with this. So reader beware it contains oppressive themes and situations.

I’m glad that dystopian books are making a comeback - I’m a big fan and I was keen to see where this one was going to take me. We have multiple viewpoints as you see how telepathic people (those with ‘songlight’) are seen as unhuman, and you just know that’s not going to end well.

I would have liked more time devoted between Elsa and Kaira getting to know each other. It felt more like an insta- connection and the pacing is very slow. For me it felt the multiple viewpoints diluted each of their stories. I didn’t gel with this one as much as I’d like, but I’m sure other readers will connect more with the story than me.

After a slightly slow start for me and getting used to the multiple POVs, I found Songlight quite enjoyable! I loved the characters and their friendships (as well as their names too!). Every character was intriguing and I loved the world the story is set it. Overall a great YA dystopian book!

This book was gripping from the beginning. I couldn’t put it down, from a unique magic system to relatable characters, this is definitely one of my favourite teen books this year!

My first but not last book by Moira Buffini. Everything about this book was brilliant. I woukd fully recommend everyone grabbing a copy

Brightland and Ayland are two countries at work in a world that could be our not-too-distant post-apocalyptic future, in which some individuals develop songlight, a telepathic ability allowing them to communicate and commune with others like them, even over long distances.

The protagonist Elsa is a songlight but she lives in Brightland, a despotic society which calls her kind Unhumans, hunting them to lobotomise and turn into mindless slaves. In Ayland, on the other hand, songlights are called Torches, are well regarded and can use their abilities to actively participate in government.

Because of this, and the role of women in their society Elsa has to keep her love of Rye, another Songlight, a secret. When Rye is discovered and imprisoned Elsa needs to hide her powers to survive; in an attempt to free him and to escape from her fate of forced marriage, she undertakes a journey which will place her in the middle of the conflict.

Despite a slow first half, in which I found that the necessary world and character building was dragging a bit too long, I thoroughly enjoyed this book and once the main narrative took off I could not put it down until the final fireworks had taken me to the necessary cliffhanger (as this is the first book in a trilogy).

While many of the tropes are common in the genre, I particularly enjoyed how the author developed the theme of song (both of the telepathic and common kind) as a thread to unite people despite physical and cultural distance, the contrast between the two described societies, and Elsa's inner struggle when she discovers that Brightland's ruling class lies to their people and their enemies are not monsters but a better, fairer society.

While this is classified as a YA novel, I am happy to recommend it as an engaging and thought-provoking read for adults as well, and I'm looking forward to the next volume in the series.

Note: I received this book for free as an ARC from #NetGalley but the opinions above are mine and unbiased.

A clever idea but, unfortunately I got bored with this. I got halfway through and put it down, so, I did not finish. My thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for giving me the opportunity to read this book in return for an honest review.