Genres: Dystopian, Fantasy, Romance, Romantasy, Science Fiction, Young Adult
ASIN: B0CPWXDMZP
ISBN: 9780063358232
Goodreads
Source: ARC, Netgalley
Buy on AmazonStar-crossed lovers, against-all-odds friendship, and a brutally unforgiving world make this first in a trilogy utterly unforgettable.
We’re two songs joined. And there’s a word for that. A harmony.
Elsa is used to hiding the most important parts of herself—her feelings for Rye, her distaste for a world ruled by men, and, most crucially, her gift of songlight. She buries that secret deep inside. In Brightland, those with songlight are called Unhumans and are abhorred. Rye is the only other person Elsa has known with songlight, and their shared bond has brought them together.
Elsa’s world begins to fall apart one desperate, heart-wrenching day and she doesn’t know where to turn until a girl appears before her. But the girl isn’t really there—her songlight has been drawn to Elsa’s frantic grief.
Elsa lives in a remote seaside village; Nightingale, her new friend, lives in a city hundreds of miles away with her father, a government official responsible for rooting out Unhumans. The two never expected to connect via songlight. But when they do, and when they realize the extent of their power, they’ll be thrust in the middle of a war that threatens their very existence.
From an award-winning screenwriter making her novel debut comes this powerful, page-turning trilogy perfect for fans of Sabaa Tahir and Adrienne Young.
Tropes:
- Dystopian Society
- Forbidden Love
- Hidden Powers / Telepathy
- Oppressive Regime
- Dual Point of View
- Resistance / Rebellion
My Review
I’ve had this book on my to read pile for a while, when I initially started reading it, I only managed to reach 16% and I thought to myself, I can see a good story here but I just wasn’t feeling it.
I decided to give it another shot.
This story gave me hunger games vibes, not necessarily similar, just familiar. I don’t tend to read much, or even pay attention to politics.
Songlight has provided a very deep approach to history met with the future,
The premise of the story revolves around war. War for exterminating any one seen as other, a complete genocide approach, which, has never ended well in the past.
Buffini has managed to provide a view point for the others in the world, she has managed to capture death in the way that doesn’t necessarily make me sad, but rather horrified for the characters witnessing those events. The loved ones who suffer. Forced to shun those who are other. Aberrations they are called, unhumans.
While I do feel the multi POV is a little hard to keep up with, I think it does work, given the timing and placement of each characters chapters. An inside look, spread across many people, to drive home the conflict and consequences of war.
I was a little miffed at some story developments, I did really enjoy the theme and progressing turmoil the plot twists brought forth.
While it isn’t something I’d recommend to a YA perhaps, I would recommend it those who are nature enough to read about death, destruction, homophobia, war, sex slavery etc.
I’m glad I decided to give the story another shot.
I look forward to seeing how the rest of the trilogy pans out.
A solid 4 stars.
I hope the following editions give more devotion to specific characters.. I feel the balance was a tad off.
The ending made me furious, yet hopeful.
I was definitely saddened by deaths arrival. Those characters didn’t deserve that fate. But I also understand it was necessary to the plot to sow the seed of rebellion.
I’d definitely give this another read.
Full of all the heavy subjects, but leaves a tingling in my bones that the path is unset.
The war is by no means, ready to end.
Peace for now, is just a dream.
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