Songlight by Moira Buffini (author)

‘Urgent. Ambitious. Mesmerising.’ THE TIMES
‘Feels like the start of something big.’ SFX
‘One of the most gripping reads of 2024.’ SUNDAY TIMES IRELAND
‘One of the best YA dystopias in years.’ BOOKSELLER
‘One of the most compulsive reads of the year.’ IRISH EXAMINER

WINNER OF THE YA BOOK PRIZE 2025
LONGLISTED BRANFORD BOASE AWARD 2025
NOMINATED CARNEGIE MEDAL 2025

LOVE. POWER. BETRAYAL …

Brightland has been at war for years. Young men are trained to fight, whilst young women are raised to be obedient wives. The Brethren rule with an iron fist, and those born with Songlight – a forbidden, powerful form of telepathy – are hunted without mercy.

ELSA is a choirmaiden, training for a future that has been chosen for her. But she’s risking everything to connect with RYE, a soldier on the brink of deployment, who shares her dangerous gift of Songlight. Between them something perilous exists – an illegal love that could destroy them both.

One fateful day, Elsa’s hidden world begins to unravel. And as dangerous political forces edge closer to home, there is no one she can trust. Then she meets KAIRA, a stranger from the Capital, who is in a situation even more desperate than her own. Their friendship sows a seed of hope . . . but will it be enough to keep them alive?

An epic new trilogy from an award-winning, internationally acclaimed screenwriter, Songlight promises to set the world alight!

Readers are already hooked:

‘This book was amazing, I couldn’t put it down.’ ?
‘The Power meets The Handmaid’s Tale . . . truly a joy to read.’ ?
‘I was personally held hostage by this book until the final pages, and in a good way.’ ?

Read the sequel, TORCHFIRE, now!