Oh wow this was totally brilliant. I loved the first one and was so pleased to be given the second to read. I devoured it in a day and now I can't wait for the third book.

So Songlight was a 5/5 read in 2024 and I was wondering whether the second instalment would live up to the first story… and it did not disappoint.

The end of book one left us on a cliff hanger and all our hero’s are separated. “Elsa is on the run and is urgently seeking a safe haven. Nightingale is being held captive and forced to use her songlight against her own people. Piper has been promoted up the ranks of the Airmen, where nothing but bloodshed is demanded of him. Rye has stumbled across an incredible airship, the likes of which has never been seen before. All four are united by their desire for peace. Who will triumph? Those with songlight, or those without?”

Well, the truth is - we don’t know! In my opinion, the worst thing about this book is having to wait for the third one!

Buffini is an amazing writer who writes believable and flawed characters in a divided YA world that I honestly cannot get enough of. I’m going to be so sad when the series ends. For now, let’s simply say that this is my book of year and it will take some serious beating.

Thank you to netgalley and Faber and Faber for letting me read this pre release copy in exchange for my honest opinion.

Summary:
The world is at the verge of another war.
Will our rebels be able to stop it?
And is everyone who they say they are ?
People believed dead are alive, allies turn into enemies and vice versa.
Who will get the  victory in the end ?

Rating:

⭐⭐⭐⭐/⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

 
➡️:
We left our rebels in a tight pinch, and that's where we meet up with them again.
Buffini has a way of storytelling that makes you wish songlight was available to you to use.
It makes you want to know what will happen next, because there's this constant tension.
Well done!

I really enjoyed this second book, which did not disappoint!
The characters are still well fleshed-out, and I really enjoyed the new ones (Petra!) and the idea of songlight powers continues to be brilliant (no pun intended... well, maybe a little). Somehow, this book reminded me of the "Matched" trilogy, which I adored, and I loved seeing more of the world unfold.
The only reason I didn't rate it 5 stars was purely the first person narration, and though I was glad to read the point off views of so many different characters, having them all in the first person was slightly confusing to me and I had to go back to the beginning of the chapters to check who was narrating (but it's because I am not used to read books with 1st person pov).

I definitely recommand, and will be there for the final book!

I loved Songlight so was thrilled to have the chance to read Torchfire thanks to NetGalley and Faber.

The writing, the pace, the ideas, the energy are all on a par with Songlight making this a gripping read - and leaving me wanting to read the third instalment as soon as I can.

However, and the fault may be mine (it is after all 9 months since I read Songlight, and I haven't had an agile teenage brain for a long while now!) but I found it much harder to keep track of the different threads, locations and characters in this book. I think it would benefit from some kind of a recap at the beginning - or perhaps a list of characters (with both their names!) and how they are linked. I like the way they all have bird names but at times I did get confused as to which was which, and when some characters only refer to others by their non-bird name, well I just struggled! A sort of cheat sheet for the terminology used by the different people groups, and a list of the places and what they are to each people group as well would help. The map is nice but doesn't really remind me who lives in Reem for example. And, whilst I know it is part of the story and of the characters themselves, but the way in which e.g. Swan is both good and bad, is another element that just added to the slight muddle I felt.

All that aside, I was swept along with the various different elements of the story and each one is exciting in its own right - I am looking forward to seeing how they all tie together in the end.

Grateful to NetGalley and Faber. for the e-ARC.

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

I am eternally grateful to the author and the publisher for sending me this book. I loved the first volume, it was one of my favorite reads of 2024. I didn’t think it was possible to love the second more. But I did, It’s epic. The pacing is perfectly balanced, the plot hits all the beats. There is not a dull moment; every chapter and every sentence falls in precise order for a reason. The writing is beautiful and flawless, with congruous themes of oppression and discrimination, effortlessly flowing between descriptions, dialogue, and action, moving the story into the anticipated and desired direction. I devoured the book in one sitting and desperately need the third book. I’m breathing this story with my every cell, and I need the resolution.

The plot picks up right where the first book finished. Lark is running away from her village with her mother, Heron, and Kingfisher. She knows who she is, what she wants to fight for, and who she is willing to die for. Being chased by the Brethren militia, and making unlikely alliances, she’s still a young girl falling in love and fighting palpable attraction between her Kingfisher.
Nightingale is locked in the capital, in a scene of betrayal and treason. There is very little happening with her but her placing in the Kite’s palace puts her at the center of events and influences others’ life and death. We meet a Siren who’s trying to atone for her unfortunate situation. Rye’s choices bring a new power into play, and Piper’s redemption when he finally sees the truth. And there is also Petra, an eximian, a teenage naive ingenue who fell in love with an ordinary sapien. An illicit affair that her parents are trying to dismiss and hide as if she disgraced her family. The biggest character growth so far. I find Kite’s ending to be the most just and well-deserved, and I do hope he doesn’t recover. I’m looking forward to seeing Cassandra return to herself and reunite with Raven.

And the most facing portrayal of my favorite, horrifying Swan. Zara is volatile, most deliciously and dangerously. Such a detailed and realistic depiction of unpredictability, psychopathy, and mood swings fueled by survival. I hope she finds peace in the end, but at the same time, characters like that usually end up deceased in books. With a great sacrifice and redemption arc but no happy ending. If it does happen as predicted, I won’t be sad.

I’m glad the Aylish have a chance for peace, and I wish they could influence the future of the planet. Brightland population finally sees through the lies and demands peace. Eximians are the definition of the world the Brethren fear, a physical manifestation of what’s to come.

It’s a story you can’t forget easily; it stays with you and lets you see real life in different colors. It is a description of the world we live in today, full of discrimination and abuse of women, of castes controlling people and telling them they’re inferior. Where a minority, the last surviving members of a group, are exterminated because they’re undesirable. Those with power always oppress and control those without. But what makes them have the power is sometimes just a stroke of sheer luck. Where ordinary humans feared those who were different and subjugated them simply because they felt inferior and threatened by them. Where people with special powers are in charge, and they control and treat sapiens without a song as second-class citizens. It’s a true depiction of humanity at its worst and a true depiction of humanity as it is right now.

This book is truly divine and I’m invested in every aspect of the story, in all the characters. The third book can’t come too soon!

Easiest 5 star review. I loved the first book, and incredibly I think her second trumps the first. The pace never lets up, the characters are captivating and believable and I enjoyed the touch of romance thrown in.

The second novel picks up where the first left off, with Elsa fleeing with her mother and the magnetic Kingfisher.. Rye has evaded capture and is also on the run. Piper is starting to question his beliefs. And the star of show, Nightingale remains captive in the capital but overall seems to be faring well. The author has thrown in additional complexity by adding the return of a another race (Mars??) - they are scouting the Earth with hopes to re-occupy. Petra is our eyes-and-ears and faces issues of her own in an arranged marriage. And amongst this all is songlight which unites and divides, and constantly evolves in terms of what it can achieve.

Its a successful combination of vying politics, dystopian flavour, social commentary and persecution. The adventure is relentless, filled with unpredictable twists and turns and creativity. I felt fully connected to the many individualistic characters and fascinated by the introduction of a new "race".

There is clearly a third book and Ill be front of the queue .

Dystopian fantasy YA perfection! 5/5 stars. I thought I loved book 1 (I did) and book 2 was just a revelation. I could not put it down. I stayed up to finish it till 2am because it was THAT good. These characters will get under your skin and stay there for the foreseeable future. Their grey morality is both alluring and immensely frustrating and I found myself cursing their courageous minds and passionate hearts - and damnable decisions! Do not miss this incredible sequel where a revolution builds and Lark and Nightingale are tested time and again...The future of humanity and society hangs in the balance (and book 3 is to come!).

- Thank you to Faber for providing this ARC via Netgalley. All opinions are my own.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for granting me free access to the advanced digital copy of this book. A gorgeous 3 star read book from me. What an exciting plot, vivid storytelling and relatable, rich characters. I couldn't put this book down – absolutely loved it.

I was delighted to receive an arc for this book. I really enjoyed the first book and the world building is top notch. I enjoyed finding out more of the different type of people in this world. An excellent fantasy story where you can immerse yourself in an alternate reality.

Really enjoyed the first book in this series and this was a great sequel. I’m not a fan of more recent YA but this dystopian tale of power and resistance is an exception. Highly recommend this series.

Torchfire by Moira Buffini is a gripping and masterfully crafted second instalment in her dystopian fantasy trilogy. Returning to a world where sunlight—a powerful form of telepathy—is either a gift or a curse, the story raises the stakes as its characters are caught in a battle that will determine the future of civilisation.

Elsa is on the run, desperate for a haven. Nightingale is a captive, forced to wield her sunlight against her people. Piper, now rising through the ranks of the Airmen, finds himself entangled in a brutal system that demands nothing but bloodshed. Meanwhile, Rye stumbles upon an astonishing airship, unlike anything ever seen before.

Though these four are bound by their shared desire for peace, peace itself seems further away than ever. The tensions between Brightland, which seeks to stamp out Songlight, and Ayland, which hopes for harmony, are on the verge of collapse. But a new force enters the fray—the Sealanders, an elite race of Torches who have returned to Earth with their dangerous agenda.

With Torchfire, Buffini delivers an intense and immersive tale of power, resistance, and survival. The worldbuilding is rich, the characters are compelling, and the twists keep you turning the pages. As the conflict escalates, the future of Ayland, Brightland, and the world beyond hangs in the balance. A must-read for fans of thought-provoking and high-stakes fantasy!

3.5/5.

Read more at The Secret Book Review.

Torchfire by Moira Buffini was a masterpiece! This author is a genious! I rated this book 5 stars because it really deserves this quotation! So so good.

Songlight was my first ARC ever and I struck gold with that one because I loved it! As soon as I saw Torchfire I knew I needed to read it asap..
And wow. This second book leaves me even more hardbroken and curious for the next part of the story. Moira just keeps destroying me! She's created such a broken world with beautiful people who fight for what they believe in. The twists kept coming and..I just need the next book now!