Songlight

Set in a post-apocalyptic future, Songlight is an extraordinary debut from a renowned screenwriter. A cinematic masterpiece in storytelling, the explosive first book in the Torch trilogy is the hottest release of the decade!

They are hunting those who shine . . .

Don't be deceived by Northaven's prettiness, by its white-wash houses and sea views. Many of its townsfolk are ruthless hunters. They revile those who have developed songlight, the ability to connect telepathically with others. Friends, neighbours, family will turn on each other in an instant . . .

Lark has lived in grave danger ever since her own songlight emerged. Then she encounters a young woman in peril, from a city far away. An extraordinary bond is forged. But when power is everything, how will they survive?

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

Review

Urgent. Ambitious. Mesmerising.Think The Handmaid's Tale but with mindreading. A class act. The standout young adult novel of the year. ― The Times, Best Children’s Books of 2024

Thrilling, post-apocalyptic drama ... with shades of The Handmaid's Tale. ― Daily Mail, Best Books for Christmas

One of the most gripping reads of 2024. ― Sunday Times Ireland

A storytelling masterclass and a powerful piece of world-building... The start of something big. ― SFX Magazine

This hard-hitting, imaginative, wide-ranging YA dystopia will leave readers thirsting for the next instalment. ― The Guardian

Truly unique and one of the most compulsive reads of the year so far. ― Irish Examiner

Rich and immersive storytelling, playing out against a turbulent backdrop of war and power. ― The Observer

The multiple perspectives allow Buffini to inflect her dystopian thriller with a nuanced and touching sensitivity to the torments of teenagers straining against their elders' expectations ... it has Hunger Games-style franchise potential written all over it. ― TLS, Best Books of 2024

This literary fantasy is one of the best YA dystopias in years. ― The Bookseller Buyer's Guide, Highlight of the Season

I just loved this book. An unforgettable and mesmerising debut. Bold, bright and haunting. A beautiful celebration of the best of humanity in the face of a brutal future. -- Josh Silver ― author of Happy Head

A superb opening instalment of a dystopian YA trilogy. A clever concept, an intricate plot and lashings and lashings of secret telepathy... meaty and mesmerising. ― The Times

Action-packed and simmering with fury, Songlight leads a chorus of fierce young narrators coming into their power. Like the hook in your favourite song, her melody will stay in your head long after you turn the last page. ― Michael Grant, author of GONE series

Written with passion and energy, this dystopia will enthral and inspire a new generation to question the world they are inheriting and to heal it. ― New Statesman

With shades of The Handmaid's Tale and The Chrysalids ... desperately exciting ... The most gripping dystopia to be published this year. ― The Bookseller

The Handmaid's Tale for teenagers, Songlight is a thrilling, feminist examination of a world where men fear the powers of women. ― iNews

About the Author

Moira Buffini is one of the UK's leading dramatists. She has written acclaimed films and plays, including The Dig (BAFTA-nominated), Jane Eyre, Byzantium, Tamara Drewe, Dinner and Handbagged (Olivier Award winner). For young adults she has written Silence, A Vampire Story and the musical, wonder.land. She was co-creator and showrunner of the TV series Harlots. Songlight was her debut novel.