Book Spotlight: Songlight by Moira Buffini

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?

GENRE: Young Adult Dystopian

PURCHASE LINK: Amazon

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Moira Buffini is one of the UK’s leading playwrights and screenwriters. Most recently she wrote the screenplay for The Dig (directed by Simon Stone), which earned her a Bafta nomination, and co-created and showran the Hulu TV series Harlots, which ran for three seasons. Moira’s other film work includes Jane Eyre (directed by Cary Fukanaga) Tamara Drewe (directed by Stephen Frears) and Byzantium (directed by Neil Jordan). She has also written four plays for the National Theatre, including Welcome to Thebes (Writers Guild Award nominee), and Dinner (Olivier nominee), which later transferred to the West End. Her other plays include Handbagged, for which she won an Olivier Award.

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What Book Bloggers Are Saying

• "I think that what I liked most about this book was the escape that it provided, especially if you read to escape, as I do. I also think that readers will invest in the characters." — Tea and Books
• "Moira builds her world beautifully, giving us just the right amount of background at just the right time. I was never confused by what's going on - and there's a lot going on, starting in the crushingly patriarchal village Elsa lives in, where soldiers returning from the glorious war are given two wives. The duty of every woman is to provide more sons for the endless war. Girls not chosen for this wonderful purpose are sterilised and sent to a brothel instead. Shades of Handmaids Tale, but very engrossing!" — Read and Reviewed
• "It was interesting to read in the acknowledgements that the original idea was for the screen (I read acknowledgements first.) It meant I went into the book thinking about it as if it was a TV show (I think it would suit a short TV show better than a movie – more time to flesh out the characters.) It also meant each part felt like an episode of its own within the overall story." — Sifa Elizabeth Reads
• "The character development, word building, and the war and politics of this story are so well written and thought out. Every single character was explained with a background. It also tackles a lot of heavy subject matters that are relevant to the plot but may be hard to read for some." — Sarah Reads

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Hi! I'm Marie, a Filipino SFFH author and book reviewer currently based in the UK. I’m the co-author of The Prophecies of Ragnarok, a Norse myth new adult urban fantasy trilogy, and I also have several short stories published in anthologies and literary journals.

You can find more info about me and my books, and also subscribe to my newsletter for more content, here. And if you like what I do, please also consider supporting me on Ko-fi! 🩷 https://ko-fi.com/mariesinadjan

If you fancy a short read, I have a cozy reimagining of the Norse myths about Hel, but it's just under 70 pages and can be read in one sitting. ✨ Plus there's a swag kit coming soon! Includes a "membership card," a bookmark, a sticker, an origami dog, and an exclusive 500-word story 🫶🏼

All things end, and all must die.

But death is not always the end.

When Geiravor Lokisdottir was stripped of her name and cast out of Asgard, torn from her family and the life she had known, she thought she’d lost it all. But in the shadows of Niflheim she discovers the path to her destiny, and what it truly means to be queen.

This is a prequel short story to THE PROPHECIES OF RAGNAROK trilogy by Meri Benson and Marie Sinadjan, and a retelling of the myths involving Hel, the Norse goddess of death and the queen of the underworld.