From

The first part of a dystopian fantasy trilogy about the power of friendship.

Elsa is used to hiding a lot of things from others—her feelings for Rye, her distaste for the male-dominated world, and, above all, her gift of Songlight. She keeps this third secret buried as deep as she can, because it could cost her her life. In Brightland, people gifted with Songlight are called sub-humans and are hated by the public. Rye is the only person Elsa knows who can control Songlight, and it is their shared bond that has brought them together.

But one terrible day, Elsa's world begins to crumble, and she doesn't know who to turn to for help. Until Nightingale appears. The girl with the mysterious nickname isn't actually anywhere near—it was Elsa's deep sorrow that drew Nightingale's Songlight to her. Neither of them knew they could connect through Songlight, but after some initial mistrust, the girls become friends from a distance.

Elsa lives in a remote seaside village, while Nightingale lives hundreds of miles away in a city teeming with cruel inquisitors responsible for exploiting people. And they both suddenly find themselves in the middle of a war that threatens their very existence.

Moira Buffini captures the human spirit and all its messy, beautifully complex emotions. A brilliant character study that explores the consequences of war, genocide, and misogyny.
— Kirkus Reviews

Buffini uses character conflicts to explore serious themes of reproductive freedom, internalised homophobia, and state oppression, creating a polished adventure that also offers tantalising hints of further conflicts in future instalments.
— Publishers Weekly

The author builds a complex world and creates a setting full of detail. Songlight will be loved by fans of Margaret Atwood's The Handmaid's Tale.
— Booklist