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

Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for the eARC!

Another one of my favorite books of 2024, my new obsession.

Dystopian world that you can compare to ‘The Handmaid Tale’ and ‘The Pawn and the Puppet’. Society with levels of oppression, violence, paranoia, inequality, and suffering.

We had destroyed the world, we the ancient Light People, we had set it on fire with firefuel, gone to the stars, and failed, almost completely wiping out the human race from the planet of Earth. The survivors rebuilt the society, lived in harmony with nature, appreciated Torches, people with special powers of telepathy - called songlight. Until it was noticed that they were corrupt, limiting people and progress, and humans took to arms. They raised the army that took over and now Brother Peregrine leads the country of Brightland. Boys are taught to be soldiers, girls are taught how to be good wives. The council of elders pairs the veterans and teenage girls barely of age to marry and repopulate the world. Women are to be polite, kind, opinion-less good wives. Men will think for them, fight for them, and punish them. Women have no rights. And then there are the unhumans. They are to be beaten, castrated, with surgeons cutting out their songlight and personality, turning them into mindless husk to serve those in power. Because there is nothing worse that the unhuman. Women are to be obedient, men straight, and unhuman destroyed.

It’s a grey, oppressive world. If you’re different, have an independent thought, you’re in danger. There is no one you can trust. Your father, brother, the entire town will turn on you, betray you to the executioner.

Elsa is a fisherman daughter, hiding her unhuman powers of Songlight even from her family. In love with Rye, another Torch. When the boy is caught using his powers and sent to the capital to be abused and mutilated, when her own brother betrayed his best friend and renounce any ties with her, Elsa is forced to finally face the world she lives in. She has choices: to fight for what’s right, for freedom and equality; to give up to despair and sorrow; or to quietly accept the horrid society and lose herself in oblivion of following the village’s expectations. A fierce and defiant girl, slowly grows into a determined soldier. Brave enough to reconsider her preconceived notions, acknowledges propaganda for what it is, embraces the unlikely companions and stands up to the cruel and hateful government.

Kaira, a sickly child of an Inquisitor, knows she must hide her songlight power from her own father. He’s a loving, dotting parent, who would sacrifice everything for his baby girl, except he may never forgive her for being a heinous monster. She discovers pain and suffering hidden in the least likely places, and decided she is ready to take charge. And the queen of court politics is about to be born.

It’s a huge risk to trust anyone in Britghland, and to trust with songlight is a matter of life and death. Throughout their experiences, the girls discover each other’s loyalty, love, and courage. They journey through the world and fight for their kind, whilst having no rights and no power in the society. How do you oppose the tyrants when the world wants you to sit quietly in the kitchen cooking dinner for your husband? How do you save your friends and family; how do you keep your freedom and sanity?
Through loving another Torch, fighting with your brainwashed brother, peering into the mind of an abused manipulator, appreciating the enemy culture, and digging into the soul of your war beaten husband.

The world is oppressive, depressing, hopeless. But these two young extraordinary women never give up. They keep each other going through all the tumultuous disasters, and always emerge fighting, biting, and kicking. Some men finally see their own mistakes, for some it’s too late. Some women pay the ultimate price of survival, the conscience stained irreparably. People will die, people will fight, freedom and equality is the goal and it’s worth the price.

I cannot wait for the next book! I know the rule, it has to get worse, to get better, and I can only imagine the destruction and desolation the second book with wreak.
Moira Buffini became one of my favorite writers and an insta buy.

YA is something I thought I had loved and then left behind as my tastes matured and moved onto pastures new…

How very wrong I was!!!!!

This is everything a YA fantasy should be and was gripping from start to finish.

The writing is so smooth you find yourself drifting through pages with ease and the before you know it, you are flicking back and forth with the final page desperate for more.

The characters addictive even the nasty ones, the FMC is just an absolute stunner. I wish I had the brazen energy she puts out with her attitude and her strong headed personality. If I did I would probably be the prime minister by now.

All round excellent read and I would highly recommend, if you loved the hunger games and the like when you were younger give this a go it will bring you straight back to that escapist happy place and more.

Thank you to the publishers and net galley for this ARC I cannot wait for the next

Songlight is set in a post-apocalyptic and divided world where there is a gift called 'songlight', hence the title of the novel. We have governments that are against the existence of those with the gift and bond over it. And men who have to go to war.
This is the first instalment in the series. You might also be familiar with Buffini's screenwriting.
Songlight is a worthy read. Although I am not the exact and ideal target audience for this (YA, first person POVs and multiple of them), I enjoyed this book plenty.

Elsa and all others with the gift live in constant danger.
Elsa's love for another character must also be kept hidden like her gift.
Then she encounters someone like her, and together they bring a bit of hope to each other, and those around her.

I found the opening and the worldbuilding gripping, ideally-paced and cinematically told.
I quite liked Elsa and reading Rye's perspective was thrilling.

I kept in mind that this is aimed for YA readers while reading and reviewing Songlight and here is a breakdown of my thoughts in bullet points.
- Concept 3/5: The political context is a nice addition. Overall, the concept at its core is not entirely fresh, though the gift of songlight and the solidarity between particularly two female characters provide a nice and nuanced layer.
- Characterisation 3.5/4: The characters are mostly likeable, relatable and complex (for a YA novel)
- Prose 3/5: The multiple POV narrative was both a strength and at times, a minor weakness of Songlight. The cinematic quality (also, a bit of dramatic quality) is engaging and gives the novel a good pacing. Though, I would not mind it being more literary.
- Pacing/structure: 4/5 (the length of the book is great for this topic)

Overall, 3.5 stars for me, rounded up to 4 because I recommend the book to YA audiences and readers.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for granting me free access to the advanced digital copy of this book.
4 stars book from me. Loved the plot and the stories in this book. Loved every single second reading it.

Thanks, NetGalley, for providing me with an ARC for an honest review.

The world is divided, and those with the gift of songlight need to hide their power. If they are discovered, they are sentenced to a life of mindless servitude.

Elsa and Rye both have the gift of songlight. They have kept each other sane and become each other's home in a world that would destroy them for being different. When Rye's songlight powers are discovered, their lives change forever.

I went into this book blind, and it was a story with a lot of depth, good world-building, layered characters, interesting politics, and unique magic.

There was a lot of character development, and I loved it. All of the characters have interesting individual stories and go through so much growth. I didn't love all of the characters. I actually kind of hated two of them, but they were written in a way that had me understanding and sympathising with them.

This is a thought-provoking and, at times, emotional book that deals with difficult themes (check your trigger warnings). By the end, I'd laughed, cried and wanted to punch a character (or two) in the face. I was emotionally invested in the story and the characters and I'm so sad that I have to wait, who knows how long, for book two.

If you're a fan of YA dystopian/fantasy books, add this to your TBR!

4.5 ⭐️

📖 Thank you Netgalley and Bloomsbury for the ARC and the opportunity to read this book pre-release. All thoughts are my own.

I have spoken so much about this book with my friends that I was so convinced I had already reviewed it, and surprise, I did not 🤡

Songlight is a post-apocalyptic, fantasy, a little bit sci-fi story that follows multiple character that live in a world where people with magic are demonised and killed for their gift. It’s a story of friendship and love and adventure and honestly it had me hooked in pretty fast.
It is so beautiful, I am so obsessed I cannot wait for the sequel!

Full disclaimer, I was a bit overwhelmed and weirded out at the beginning, for the first few chapters I wasn’t sure if I liked the pace/characters pov.
And I couldn’t be happier to have kept going because I soon became very obsessed and HAD to know what was next.

As many of you know at this point, I am a sucker for a good, unexpected and unguessable plot, and this book has them all!
My only (super) mild negative note is the overwhelming beginning and we got a bit of insta-love, which I am never the biggest fan of. The escalation from enemies to lovers was too quick, they burned too fast, I barely even realise it was happening.

But genuinely will be eagerly waiting for the sequel because I MUST know what happens next!

A good dystopian read. Set way into the future, after everything has gone wrong with the world, we find a society formed after an uprising. With shades of the Handmaid’s Tale and Animal Farm the setting is a patriarchy, where women are gifted as wives as reward for service to the state in war and anyone who has ‘songlight’ (telepathy) is shunned as unhuman and lobotomised. Not a promising start for our main character who is a female with songlight. It is told through multiple viewpoints, but that didn’t detract from the story and helped build a fuller picture.There is a bit of romance, there’s adventure and plenty of plotting. A great start to the series.

I found this a struggle to get through the first 30%, I wasn't bonding with the characters, struggled to understand what the songlight was all about and I just wasn't able to see where this was going. However after I hit that mark more of the story started to unfurl and the pieces started to fall in place for me. Bear in mind I had just finished an incredible fantasy series so my initial stuggles could have been caused by a slight book hangover!

The concept of the book is really interesting, I began to like our FMC Lark more and her impulsive decisions. The plot is fairly slow to unravel, but in a good way, as it keeps information a surprise later on in the book. As you progress through the book you also get introduced to more character POVs which bring in a good balance. Overall you follow 5 different POVs, but mainly we follow Lark and Nightingale - I did find them both naive but when they work together they are much stronger characters and I liked following their development (I did have to remind myself this is a YA book though as naive characters aren't typically my favourite!). I actually would have liked to see a little more from Rye in this latter part of this book as his story just kind of drops off, but I can see this will likely be a large part of the second book instead and I will definitely be intrigued to carry on the series.

I enjoyed the politics, but you do have to work to get to this in the book. For the majority of the story we are on the Brightland side of the story and only see this perspective, but once you get introduced to the wider picture it really opens this up to be an interesting trilogy. It's hard to say much about the politics without giving away some elements of the storyline I don't want to ruin. For me I would say the world building is minimal, but again I think this typical first book establishing the overall story and we'll see more of the world unravel in the next book.

Overall an enjoyable read which was different to my recent epic fantasy reads. It feels almost like a fantasy WW2 type setting and I really enjoyed this mix of historical elements with fantasy/magic infusion. My review is also on goodreads (linked below).

Caveat first: I am absolutely not the target audience for this book by many, many years, but I love great YA (Hunger Games, Chaos Walking, Divergent) and I like Moira Buffini's screen writing work. Second (weird) caveat: I also don't love books written in the first person present, especially from the POV of multiple characters, so this took a while to settle in to. But settle in I did, and whilst there's nothing wildly original here, it was an enjoyable, rich and exciting page-turner of a book, with good, strong female characters (extra points from me), and I finished it slightly grumpy that I'm going to have to wait a while to find out what happens next, which is always a good sign!

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.

This is my book of 2024! Okay. So I appreciate that is a bold statement to make in July but I loved everything single thing about this book (maybe with the exception of having to wait for the next instalments!)

The story is a very strong opening book of what is going to be an amazing trilogy and focuses on a group of characters in a dystopian future where some characters have a special gift called “songlight”..

Torn apart in a war, Elsa’s home town and those in the surrounding areas treat anyone with songlight as an “Unhuman” so Elsa is forced to hide her secret from all but her lover Rye who shares the same gift.

When Elsa’s world starts to unravel, a young girl appears in Elsa’s songlight - captivated by her grief. The world has to change to make it safe for those with songlight but the pursuit of freedom often costs lives.

It is told from different character viewpoints per chapter which I always enjoy as it allows me to understand the characters personal drivers and opens them up to understanding. The characters are stalwart, tenacious and imperfect. Each of them fighting their own personal battles which nearly costs some of them their lives.

This book is advertised as a YA book but reads traditionally older than the average YA book and the pacing, especially towards the end, is fast paced.

Thank you Faber and Faber for providing this ARC via Netgalley in exchange for my honest opinion.