Songlight was an absolute joy to read - many thanks for sharing it. I requested it because I'd heard a writer I admire singing its praises online, and I guessed Moira Buffini would write an incredible novel, but it still exceeded my expectations. It is a masterclass in creating tension and high stakes, with a wonderful cast of characters, both heroic and flawed, it was a delight to spend time with. The prose is just gorgeous, but also accessible, deftly painting a picture of a believable post-apocalyptic world (though I would have welcomed a map or just a little more detail about where everything lay in relation to each other). I especially loved Elsa and her mother, the brave women resisting the narrow roles allotted to them. World-building is meticulous and immersive - I enjoyed the bird-themed names for example - and it worked very well to interweave the different locations and plot lines. Above all, I treasured the message of love and resistance, hope and friendship. I wish this book so much success and am sure it will find it.

Thank you to NetGalley, Moria Buffini and publisher faber and faber ltd for providing me this arc.

4.5 stars

This book had me right from the very beginning chapters. Reminiscent of stories like the handmaids tale and the power mixed in with some hunger games this first book, of a trilogy, enticed me and kept me hooked through multiple POV. Each character is well developed and I found myself becoming attached to several. The story and world is captivating and I can’t wait to read the other two books within this trilogy!

Thank you Moira Buffini, Faber and Faber Ltd & Netgalley for this free ARC in exchange for a review.

It's rare that we get a novel in recent years which does everything right. The characters are distinct. The heroes are relatable. The villains have nuance. The story-line holds ones attention, whether it's action or more character based.

Whether or not I get an advance copy of the next book, I'll be reading it.

I was excited about the premise of this book and the beautiful cover. The magic of songlight is a wonderful concept and I appreciate how the it draws on inspiration from dystopian classics such as The Chrysalids and the Handmaids Tale.
I found that at the beginning it was hard to feel any distinctions between the characters, they didn't seem to have unique voices. I also felt the writing alternated between short sentences that were all action and the occasional imagery that felt forced and uninspired.
I eventually got the feel for the writing style though, and found myself more absorbed in the story as it continued.

This may not stand out as the best example of dystopian literature but, there is definitely an audience for this book and my library will probably purchase it.

A great start to a new series! I love a dystopian read, and Songlight had all the world building needed to achieve this. I haven’t read a dystopian series since I was a teen and so I was super excited when NetGalley and Faber and Faber Ltd gave me the opportunity to read this prior to release!

Multiple POVs helped with the flow of the story & it was super encapsulating from the start!

A promising start to a trilogy with great world-building.

This first book of a trilogy was a fun and entertaining read. The characters all have their own personalities and you quickly get attached to some of them and feel their struggles, as they try to naviguate the complicated and strict society they live in. The book alternates between different narrators, which I liked less, but that is a very personal opinion. I see what it brings to the story, but I would have liked to have discovered some of the actions at the same time as the main character, rather than getting other characters’ perspectives too. All in all though, this was an enjoyable read and I am convinced that many fantasy readers will be very enthusiastic about this new book series!

Thank you to NetGalley and Faber & Faber for the ARC. This is my honest opinion of the book. This review will be available on Goodreads and TheStoryGraph.

This book was amazing, I couldnt put it down.

It has a unique magic source and I loved that we get multi POV due to the sparse location of our various main characters.

The war has wreaked havoc on 2 nations, one nation fighting for peace and another fighting to rule. There’s ignorance and prejudice throughout, but we get to see so much growth in our main characters. There’s an archaic religious feel to this book which gives it a bit of a dark side.

It’s a heart-wrenching story and we’re only really into the beginning of what’s to come! I loved this so much.

I want to thank the author and netgalley for this ARC.
I liked the characters and the world building. The plot is captivating. The romance is very much a side plot but you become so invested in each of the characters that the romance is actually not as important. I loved the dystopian aspect of the book. I really enjoyed this book.

The Power meets the Handmaid's Tale.

Star-crossed lovers that use their song light to communicate while apart, living in a war torn dystopian society that is much more complex than our protagonists are led to believe.

Men take first and second wives to bolster the ranks of the army, where all sons are sent. All the while anyone discovered to have song light are persecuted for being u human. Both our protagonists share song light and are faced with the decision, do they run away?

I loved Elsa, she had moments of strength and extreme vulnerability. Normally I'm not a big fan of multi POV but it really worked and it meant the world, and song light, had so much depth. She was my favourite characters but they all had so much depth and were truly a joy to read.

Ok in many ways this is John Wyndham’s The Chrysalids (even referenced in the book with Chrysalid House) but I really liked what the author did with that premise. The almost folkloric juxtaposition between the pretty perfection of the town and its folk and their hidden actions are chilling and believable. Nor is that the only thread. Like all good ‘mutant’ stories, Songlight questions the boundaries of power ownership and humanity. This took me by surprise and I can see it being a big hit.

From the first pages I could tell this book was going to be EPIC, and it really was! The characters are all amazing and Moira Buffini really lets you understand them and the choices they make. Also, the wordbuilding is nothing short of amazing. I love how you become part of a community you don't really want to be a part of and how Moira keeps giving you hope and then crushes it again (I really hope that everything will turn out great after book 3 though).
My only problem at this point is waiting for the next two books to come out!

*Thank you to NetGalley and Faber and Faber Ltd for giving me this ARC in exchange for and honest review.*

4.5 stars, before i go any further. Im sad that goodreads dont allow us to give half star ratings, so unfortunatly on goodreads its listed at 4 stars, as for me it didnt quite have that 5 star spark.

There are people with Songlight (think telepathic abilities) and people without. Those without call those with it Unhuman.

The unhumans (or torches as they call themselves) keep to themselves and try not to get noticed. Because to b noticed means being shamed and denounced and sent to Crysalid House where thier songlight will be locked up and they will be slaves.

We follow 3 or 4 characters as they try to navigate the world in which they live and what the must endure in a time of war.

Again 4.5 stars very good and even though i understand this is only book 1 in the trilogy so it will be a while before we see book 2 i look forward to it.

They are hunting those who shine. Don’t be deceived by the beauty of the town. In truth, many of its townsfolk are ruthless hunters. They revile those who have developed song light, the ability to connect telepathically with others. Anyone found with this sixth sense is caught, persecuted and denounced.

Welcome to the future. Lark has lived in grave danger ever since her own song light emerged. When she encounters a young women in peril, from a city far away, an extraordinary bond is forged. But who can they truly trust? Their world is at war. Those with song light are becoming pains in a dangerous game of politics. Friends, neighbours and family are known to turn on one another. When power is everything, how will they survive?

An extraordinary debut that questions the cost of power, the dangerous game of politics and the ability to trust even in a time of chaos. Everyone you know could turn against you in an instance if they knew the truth but some would still be willing to trust, some would still be willing to open their hearts. Bonds forged in moments of pain can be the greatest of all but can you trust someone you don’t know. What would you do?

𝘛𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘬 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘵𝘰 𝘍𝘢𝘣𝘦𝘳 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘍𝘢𝘣𝘦𝘳 𝘓𝘵𝘥 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘢𝘯 𝘢𝘥𝘷𝘢𝘯𝘤𝘦𝘥 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘥𝘦𝘳 𝘤𝘰𝘱𝘺 𝘰𝘯 𝘕𝘦𝘵𝘎𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘺 𝘰𝘧 𝘚𝘰𝘯𝘨𝘭𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵 𝘣𝘺 𝘔𝘰𝘪𝘳𝘢 𝘉𝘶𝘧𝘧𝘪𝘯𝘪

The captivating Songlight by Moira Buffini deserves a perfect 5-star review! It delves into a fictional war, intricate politics, profound love, and personal growth. With multiple points of view, the characters are both heartbreakingly lovable and remarkably resilient. We experience the grief, the traumas of war, and its lasting effect.In this world, appearances can be deceiving, and the trauma of conflict profoundly shapes each individual. It's a thought-provoking tale where unfair divisions arise from differences among people. I was personally held hostage by this book until the final pages, and in a good way. The world is captivating, the plot moving, forever evolving, growing, and producing a tidal wave of emotions. While I sometimes dislike multiple points of view, the author allowed every character's story to play a critical role. I find myself missing the comfort of this story, the places, and the people. This was a delightful read and I will be waiting for the next release, truely a phenomenal novel debut.
Thank you Net Galley, for this Arc for me to read. In exchange I give my unfiltered opinion.

5 stars book from me. Loved the plot and the stories in this book. Loved every single second reading it.