The Torch Trilogy Book 1: Songlight by Moira Buffini

In Songlight, readers are taken into the harsh world of Brightland, where the government rules through fear and strict control. Boys are sent to the army at a young age, and girls are kept uneducated, groomed only for marriage. But Elsa, the bold main character, refuses to follow these rules. She loves sailing and fishing, with no interest in marriage, and harbors a secret—she has a rare power called Songlight, allowing her to communicate with others through thought alone.

In Brightland, people with Songlight are hunted, captured, and used by the government. Elsa must hide her ability to stay safe. The story starts with an introduction to Brightland, which might feel slow at first, but once you get familiar with this world, the adventure really begins. The tension rises when Elsa discovers another girl with Songlight living far away, making her journey even more urgent and dangerous.

Adding to the suspense, Elsa’s love interest, Rye, was captured because he too possesses Songlight. This personal connection makes Elsa’s struggle even more intense as she fights not just for herself, but for him as well.

The novel is a gripping blend of political drama and suspense, highlighting the strategic and emotional battles the characters, especially the women, face. Themes of rivalry, friendship, and resilience are explored as these women navigate their oppressive world. As the action heats up, Elsa’s journey transforms from a fight for survival into a battle against an unjust system. The women of Brightland, despite their challenges, show incredible strength and hint at the possibility of overthrowing the regime that controls their lives.

Thank you @netgalley and @harperkids for the ARC!

“Songlight” features telepathic humans who can speak to one another across great distances, known as Torches. This seemed like a really cool power, and was a little different than traditional telepathy and more like characters were speaking soul-to-soul, able to sense emotions in addition to information. The setting is a dystopian version of colonial New England, where girls must undergo “marriage training” and produce as many children as possible, and Torches are called Unhumans and are hunted for execution. Elsa has fallen in love with fellow Torch Rye, but their plans are thrown into chaos when his military unit is being sent to battle and Elsa will be assigned to marry a returning soldier. In classic dystopian YA fashion, Elsa is Not Like Other Girls and the prose is heavily overwritten. Some of the atmosphere and the Songlight were pretty cool, but the rest of the story failed to capture my interest.

This is a strange, if compelling story, set in a dystopian time and place, a story that covers a lot of territory. A story of those who feel the need to force their opinions on others, and shun those who don’t, or worse. Where women are subjugated, and boys are trained to rule in a time of war.

This story revolves around Lark and Nightingale, who connect, but not in a physical sense, they connect telepathically. They are both Songlights, and must carefully hide this from others, or they are likely to end up with a fate that would end their lives. This was my favourite part of the story.

A story that revolves around men wanting to subjugate women, and women who have no choice. Men who take multiple wives, and just as easily cast them aside, if not something worse. A story of ‘my home town is better than yours’ and variations on that theme, along with a somewhat epic journey.


Pub Date: 03 Sep 2024


Many thanks for the ARC provided by HarperCollins Children’s Books / HarperCollins

I was not super sold on the description for this book but ended up absolutely loving it. I found myself completely immersed in the world and unable to put the book down.

"Songlight" is a stunning debut YA novel from award winning screenwriter Moira Buffini. It follows a cast of characters, switching between 5 perspectives, but mainly focusing on 2 young women; Kaira and Elsa, who have to hide their true selves due to having a power called "songlight", which is similar to telepathy.

In this world, many groups are facing adversity, and accept their horrid lives due to the propoganda put out by the government. Women have no rights and are forced to be wives and prostitutes to the soldiers in the war effort. Anyone with the power of songlight is turned into a human shell that can only serve, losing all sense of their own being. Same sex couples are prosecuted, and people are hanged for trying to find their own relationships instead of accepting the husband/wife they are bestowed upon. At first, I thought I would absolutely hate this book. Everything about the world made me so angry! But truly, the entire point of the book is these characters fighting through adversity and coming into themselves to they can change the world to be something better and more accepting.

I thought the worldbuilding and character development was astounding. I really felt like every character was clearly defined, and I could understand their emotions and plights, regardless of if they were a hero or villain character. While I wasn't rooting for the villainous perspectives, I could understand where they were coming from due to the fact that they had been abused, listening to propaganda their whole lives, and just trying to protect themselves in the only way they knew possible. This story had 5 different perspectives that it flipped between, and each one was unique. I never felt like I didn't know who was speaking because each character had their own voice.

I also really liked the power of songlight. It is so cool, being both telepathic but also having other abilities unique to each person, such as healing. I enjoyed following Elsa and Kaira's perspective most because it was wonderful to see how their friendship grew through the power of songlight.

I absolutely flew through this book. I read it over 2 days and couldn't put it down! What originally caught my eye was the stunning cover, but I'm glad to say that the story really impressed me as well. I'm glad to have had the chance to have read this arc copy, as this brings me back to the really well developed YA dystopian novels I read as a teen. I think this is perfect for the older YA audience(16+), as it does deal with sensitive topics such as assault, prostitution, etc. However, as an adult, I really enjoyed it due to its fast pacing, intricate storyline, and well developed characters/world. This is a debut novel that you won't want to miss, and I can't wait for book 2!

Thank you so much to NetGalley for providing an arc in exchange for an honest review!

5/5 stars

This dystopian YA fantasy explores the oppressive world of Brightland where people born with a magical gift of Songlight (a complex form of telepathy?) are hunted, tortured, dehumanized and enslaved. The rest of society are manipulated by propaganda to fear and hunt down anyone with the gift. Friends and family are encouraged to turn each other in at any sign of the gift.

The story is told from multiple POV: main characters Elsa and Nightingale, Elsa’s brother, her boyfriend, and Swan a propagandist. At a few points I got really frustrated and impatient with the POV changes, but don’t skip them! They end up adding a lot to the overall story. By the second half, it was much much easier for me to settle in.

The world building is incredibly set up and terrifying. We have a hyper patriarchal social system where boys are trained young as soldiers and girls are married off as quickly as possible to have babies. Any independent thought or nonconformity can place someone in danger.

This book is a stunning debut novel and the first of a trilogy. I am thankful to have read the e-arc from netgalley and emotionally invested enough to have preordered a physical copy, coming out 9/3/24. Will be looking forward to the sequel!

I received an ARC from the publisher in exchange for an honest review

Songlight is a first person multi-POV YA dystopia mixing The Handmaid’s Tale with The Chrysalids with an examination of toxic masculinity and Christian fundamentalism. Elsa is a Torch, a telepath, living in a coastal town with her mother and older brother, Piper, and is secretly in a romantic relationship with her childhood friend, Rye. When Rye reveals to the local authorities that Rye is a Torch, Rye gets deemed an ‘Unhuman’ and Elsa struggles to leave their town.

The Handmaid's Tale meets the Chrysalids is certainly an apt description for this storyline. The telepathy aspects and the Chrysalid House, which essentially turns Unhumans into living dolls who cannot have children plus young women forced into relationships with older men they don't know anymore really took the main ideas of both of these major works of speculative fiction and blended them together. Unhumans includes Torches, Queer people, adulterers, and people who refuse to follow the rules, keeping everyone afraid and willing to tell on each other to the closest government official. Anyone could become an Inhuman, a lesson Piper has to learn the hard way.

On several occasions, Elsa is given a chance to leave her town for somewhere safer for Torches and almost does but she's frozen by her circumstances. While this might be frustrating for some readers, I found it really relatable. She's worried about what might happen to her mother or she's so shocked by what is happening around her or to her that it makes her kind of numb. She's not passive, but she's not active either. She's reacting in a muted way because that's the only thing she can do to survive in a society that would brand her as inhuman if they knew she had telepathy or had romantic feelings for someone other than a vague idea of a husband at least ten years older than her who she's supposed to welcome back from the front lines without ever getting to know him. I think a lot of readers’ first reaction would be to scream at her to run, but, really, where can she go?

The other main POV is Nightingale, a powerful Torch who is the only child of a high-up member of the government who dehumanizes people like Nightingale. She finds Elsa through songlight, forging a connection between them that spans miles and is unheard of as the two girls have never met before. Nightingale wants to run away from her father and find freedom to be herself, but the person trying to help her was captured, closing off the first door she had to escape. Despite her fears, Nightingale continues to talk to Elsa through songlight and wants to help.

Content warning for mentions of mutilation, forced marriages, homophobia, and the dehumanizing of others

I would recommend this to fans of YA dystopia who like slower pacing, readers of YA looking for a book like The Handmaid's Tale or The Chrysalids, and those looking for a YA exploring the toxic masculinity

This book was excellent! Buffini creates a fascinating dystopian/post-apocalyptic world that gives me elements of World War II, "The Hunger Games," and other similar leanings. I usually don't like multiple POVs, but Buffini uses them so well, placing secondary characters' POVs at just the right moments. Both Lark and Nightingale are powerful main characters, and the pacing is excellent. I can't wait to continue this series.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC!

This book is a breathtaking start to a trilogy that weaves together star-crossed romance, unbreakable friendships, and a richly imagined, perilous world. The writing vividly captures Elsa's struggles as she conceals her songlight, a dangerous gift in a society that loathes the Unhumans. The bond between Elsa and Rye, alongside her unexpected connection with Nightingale, creates a captivating dynamic of hope and defiance. The narrative's emotional depth and the tension of their fight against a hostile world make for an unforgettable read. I genuinely can’t wait to see what’s more to come in this poignant saga.

I am absolutely in awe at this book!! Thank you SO much to the publisher for the chance to read this early!!!

I was not expecting a dystopian book in the year of our lord 2024 to get five stars. I've read so many chasing the high of the Hunger Games and this is the first thing in 10 years that has come close.

The author is an experienced screenwriter, and this is her debut novel, and you can definitely tell - the imagery is so evocative. She is such a talented writer, and many paragraphs made me feel V emotional.

It's also multi POV, which is done really well - there is one 'main' character, but everyone else who you follow adds a different layer of experience to the world.

I am soooo excited to see where this trilogy goes, and will be preordering a physical copy!

Songlight by Moira Buffini is a captivating story that weaves together themes of love, loss, and memory through a richly poetic narrative. Set against the backdrop of an enchanting, otherworldly atmosphere, Buffini’s writing showcases her trademark lyrical style and deep emotional resonance. The story’s exploration of human connections and the passage of time is both poignant and thought-provoking. Buffini's characters are vividly drawn, and their journeys are rendered with a blend of tenderness and intensity. Overall, Songlight is a compelling and beautifully crafted piece that leaves a lasting impression.

I know I'm not the target audience for this YA Dystopian, and I going to admit I did struggle with the first half but boy, once I hit the second half of the book I was so immersed and invested in the characters Moira Buffini has created I couldn't put it down.

I was hooked from the start by Moira Buffini’s latest novel, Songlight. Set in a dystopian world, the book follows multiple POVs as the characters navigate their war-torn lives in search of peace and freedom. Lark and Nightingale, the two main characters, have a deep connection with another but can only communicate telepathically- but if anyone discovers their abilities as Songlights, they will meet a fate worse than death. These characters are incredibly well written and are strong female leads. I adored each of them and especially their relationship with one another.

I also really enjoyed the world building that took place throughout the novel. Everything felt expansive without being overwhelming, and I was able to connect to the characters and community to truly feel the desperation and perseverance of everyone involved.

I wasn’t a fan of the number of POVs, however. I had trouble remembering each character and found myself wanting to skip ahead to Lark and Nightingale’s chapters. I think 5 POVs was a few too many and the story would have been better served with less character shifts.

Overall, however, this was a captivating story and I can’t wait to see it continue in the following books.

Thank you NetGalley and HarperCollins Children’s Books for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Songlight is a novel set in a post-apocalyptic world - a world where the people who came before them destroyed the world, and themselves, with power, and the quest for power, in a world very like our own, except that Torches, people with telepathy and sometimes additional powers, are relatively common. Those powers manifest as sound and light for the sensitive person, often sounding like music; in fact, many Torches take, or are given, nicknames related to birds.

In Aylish, Torches are held in high esteem; unfortunately for Elsa, she doesn't live in Aylish; she lives in the neighboring country, which is at war with Aylish - and in her country, Torches are considered Unhuman by the Brethren, the patriarchal rulers of her country, not just different than humans, but less than human. Elsa has hidden her songlight since she became aware of it, knowing that being discovered could mean her death, or worse, being turned in a Chrysalid, a lobotomized drone trained to complete the tasks no one else wants to do, tasks involving drudgery, danger, or both. But her life as a woman in her society won't be much better; to support the war effort, all women are required to be married - as First Wife, assigned by the town to returning veterans, Second Wife, chosen by the veterans for themselves, or Third Wives, women who are not chosen as First or Second Wives, who are sterilized and sent to Pink Houses, available to meet the needs of any member of the military. Those who attempt to refuse their placement as a wife are considered traitors, and are often accused of being Torches, whether they are or not, and treated accordingly; Torches who admit their abilities and plead for their lives are turned into Sirens, who hunt other Torches; those who lack the power, or refuse to beg, are turned into mindless drones.

Many in this world want change, and peace with the Aylish. But others, especially those who hold power in the current structure, want things to remain just as they are. This is an interesting story, told from multiple points of view. I enjoyed it right up to the end, when it just... stopped. Rather than having a plot piece that leads into the next novel, this book feels unfinished - more of a serial than a volume within a series. Recommended for teens and adults.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.