As a big fan of dystopian fiction, I knew I had to get on The Write Reads tour for Songlight by Moira Buffini. The prospect of these people with powers having to stay hidden may have been done a fair few times, but it's an idea that often intrigues me. So I was hoping for a very fun read with this one.

In this book, we mainly follow a teenage girl named Elsa, who, later in the book is referred to as Lark. She has powers and has been using them to speak to a secret boyfriend in her town. But when he gets caught, Lark wants to save him but realises she could be in danger too. When another girl with power starts speaking to her through their telepathy, a bond is formed and the two need to try to figure out a way to survive in a world that's dangerous to them.

I do have to say that the worldbuilding in this book probably was my favourite part. I always love a dystopian and seeing how the world has changed and everything about the community and the places these characters live is different. In many ways, the setting almost feels like it could be historical, but you know that this is actually a future version of our planet. Even the way the characters talk was often individual to this world, something that I think we can attribute to Buffini's screenplay experience and I really appreciated that. Even if there were some…interesting ways to talk about genitals that made me laugh. The bad descriptions did make sense within the context of the story.

As stated previously, our focus is mostly on Lark. She's the character referenced in the summary so you see the world through her eyes. In some ways, she's more experienced in the world due to her sneaking around with her being unhuman, but there was also a naivety to her. On top of that, you do get the odd chapter in other characters' perspectives to highlight different things that are going on in the world around them. The way this was done also felt like a callback to Buffini's screenwriting, and I did like that.

Overall, I do think that this book was an interesting read. I can't say that I hugely enjoyed it myself, but I can definitely see how it'll appeal to others. This could be a great book for getting teenagers into dystopian and sci-fi, and will definitely open up those genres for them.

SONGLIGHT is the first in a dystopia trilogy about people with the ability to communicate telepathically who are persecuted, and three girls fighting to survive.

It's a fast paced story, with a war destroying the country from the inside and dystopian elements reminiscent of THE HANDMAID'S TALE in how the society treats women. It puts a lot of obstacles in the girls' paths, forcing them to rely on each other and unusual allies in order to survive.

There are a few POVs in this book, with the main two being Elsa/Lark and Kaira/Nightingale (people with songlight have an inner name, usually an animal). Kara/Swan is the third biggest POV and I really liked her inclusion. She has such a different perspective to the other two - she's lived through the horrors of being found out, and it now being used by an ambitious man to further his own ends, years of fear and desperation turning her into someone pretty unpleasant to be around when she drops her mask.

There are two minor POVs from Piper and Rye. Rye has very few chapters and I was a little confused whether he was alive or not by the end, so I think I'd have liked more from him, a story of his own. Piper was very interesting, someone who believes in the society's propaganda. I want to see his journey evolve over the series as his eyes open further, forcing him into a choice.

It was interesting to read in the acknowledgements that the original idea was for the screen (I read acknowledgements first.) It meant I went into the book thinking about it as if it was a TV show (I think it would suit a short TV show better than a movie - more time to flesh out the characters.) It also meant each part felt like an episode of its own within the overall story.

Fantasy isn’t my usual genre and this also felt distinctly YA from the beginning. Once I gained an understanding of the story though, I thought it was wonderfully written.

Elsa Crane and her love Rye Tern have Songlight; the ability to communicate through a form of telepathy. However it is forbidden in their homeland and the fate of those discovered with Songlight is a fate far worse than death.

Rye is betrayed by someone they both love; Elsa, along with her peers, is betrothed by law to a returning soldier fighting in the war; the war, Elsa will soon discover, that isn’t as just as the Brethren, their rulers, would have them believe.

The writing is beautiful and I was swept up in the imagery of this world and the beauty of Songlight. This is a very strong start to a trilogy and I look forward to reading the rest of the series.

Thank you so much to Netgalley & Faber and Faber Ltd for the ARC.

I absolutely adored this book, it is a debut by this author and I am really looking forward to reading the rest of the trilogy.

It is set in the future and is a dystopian novel but it does read like a fantasy. There are mentions of the old days when people's inventions destroyed the earth. Lark is the main character in this story and she has a secret. She has the ability to communicate with people who can be miles away, she is considered to be an unhuman. She has songlight in her and this acts like telepathy, but it is considered to be illegal, unwanted and a blight on the people of Northaven.

Lark has kept her secret for many years, and she is not the only one. There are several of these special people and if they are caught then they have a choice, they can use their powers to hunt for others like them or be operated on, basically lobotomized!

Northaven has its rules and it sticks by them, they are at war and some things are in place that are followed. Such as young women marrying the soldiers who return from war. They may be a first wife or a second wife, or there is the third wide scenario which none of the girls want.

Lark is a fabulous character and the author has brought her out to be quite stubborn but equally as loyal. Along with Lark, there are several other characters consisting of friends, family and enemies. They each have a role and while you may not always be aware of where they stand, they do on the whole leave a mark. Working out the truth from the political deception is an interesting one and there are several dilemmas for the characters to overcome.

I enjoyed this book, it does have a young adult reader feel to it, but I would suggest the older end of it. I enjoyed it immensely and I liked that there were no unfathomable names or places, things make sense and it has all the right feeling of the first book in a trilogy and has left me eagerly awaiting the next one. There is a lot of imagination in this novel and it flows wonderfully.

If you are looking to start a new fantasy trilogy then this one may be of interest to you. I adored it and would definitely recommend it.

This was a fun read! I originally expected this to be more fantasy oriented, but in reality it felt more like a wartime story disguised as fantasy. For that reason, I didn't super love it, but that doesn't take away from the fact that I had a good time reading. I liked the characters, I really did love the atmosphere that Buffini created and also loved having some obsessed with the sea-girl rep in a book! Would recommend it if you like war stories and fantasy! 3,5/5

I enjoyed reading Moira Buffini’s Songlight, debut novel so much!

This is a post-apocalyptic and dystopian science fiction novel tackling themes of racism, sexism, and homophobia and of course internalised homophobia. The world of Songlight is filled with broken hearts and broken people, and so many twists. I kept being surprise at to where the story was going next. It culminated in an action-packed climax with multiple perspectives. Buffini's background in theatre, film and television is quite evident in this cinematic storytelling style, the dialogue is very strong. It gave me vibes of Hunger Games and Pullman's Dark Materials.

The novel focuses on community, acceptance, tolerance, and friendship, exploring the consequences of a society abandoning these principles. The protagonist, Elsa (aka Lark), undergoes personal growth and challenges her naiveté as she sets out to rescue Rye and forms unlikely alliances. Then you have Piper dealing with internalised homophobia, Nightingale’s power makes her an incredible pawn in this game of chess and Swan's struggle with power and privilege - do we love them? do we hate them? - all characters are complex beings, seamlessly integrated, fighting for survival.

Buffini’s skilfully captures the intricacies of the human spirit and its complex range of emotions. I am looking forward to the next book in the series.

Many thanks to Netgalley and Faber Books for the arc.

It’s a dystopian novel aimed at a Young Adult audience, making it an absolute must-read for anyone seeking a bit of epicness and truly exceptional worldbuilding. The presence of multiple POVs helps keep track of all the subplots in this first volume of a trilogy. As a debut, you couldn’t have asked for or imagined a better start! Highly recommended.

A dedicated article will be published soon on my blog on Medium (medium.com/@inabookhole).

This is one of my favourite books I've read this year. It kept me captivated. The plot and the characters were beautifully written.

Debut dystopian fantasy full of potential

Another opening novel of a trilogy, this is full of interesting ideas but fails to satisfy. Following three inter-related characters in a dystopian new Earth and wrestling with post-nuclear warfare, the bare details sketched in this unresolved novel offer hints of great potential; but there is little depth to the science fantasy, with the evocative title and magical/non-magical system of songlight never described in any novel or considered way. If you like your fantasy with a hefty amount of 'the writer must know,' this one's for you.

As one example of inconsistency, take the use of a portmanteau word for petrol, firefuel, and the use of a trademarked word, rizla [sic], for a roll-up. Why invent one word for an Old English word, and then use a trademarked word for another? The book lost me in this clear lack of oversight by the author, and made me question what songlight was supposed to be (not actually about song or even light, it's a novation for *spoiler* telepathy).

The dystopia is horrific, the offscreen action on which turns unforgivable, but there's still potential here, and sure to satisfy fans of YA dystopian fiction.

Two and half stars, rounded up to three.

I loved the magic system in this, based on a form of a telepathy. It was very intriguing to see how two different nations treated those with Songlight. In one, they are treated as unhumans, and songlight is a genetic anomaly that must be eradicated. In the other, they are free. The clash between these two nations has led to war for decades.

A post-apocalyptic book set after humanity has pretty much destroyed itself and is trying to claw its way back, there are elements of genocide, torture, betrayal, prostitution, forced sterilisation, SA, and the worst of humankind throughout this book. Whilst most isn't explicit, there is a dark undercurrent to what has been written. However, there is also love, loyalty, forgiveness, and redemption to counterbalance the darker side.

I would like to see more of the Aylish in the next book, and I think that we will. I would love to see both Lark and Nightingale learn to use their Songlight more effectively.

This was an excellent read, and I'm looking forward to what will come next.

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.