Review Detail

Blending forbidden magic, endless war, and a historic feel, Songlight is a gripping start to a new dystopian series centered on Elsa, a girl from a small town whose entire life is shaped by her magic and the war’s demands on every citizen. With her brother soon leaving for the front, Elsa has accepted her unhappy fate as a soon-to-be bride for returning soldiers. However, when her secret magic is nearly discovered and her best friend Rye is taken away, she realizes she can’t afford to continue living life without questioning the systems hurting everyone around her.

This story is mainly about the characters, with chapters from the perspectives of Elsa, Rye, her brother Piper, and others, including a girl who’s voice reaches Elsa with magic from across the sea. All of them are super interesting, and I was drawn into how their paths intertwine while they’re each trapped by the war machine in different ways. The focus on introspection makes for some sections feeling repetitive, but every time there were external conflicts, I was hooked right back into the story.

The magic system is also super interesting. People like Elsa have the ability to speak to each other at a distance and experience the far away surroundings, in a sort of telepathy or spirit projection. The exact nature of it varies from person to person, and the Elsa sometimes describes the experience as hearing a secret song in the world, a music that not everyone can hear. I’m definitely looking forward to learning more about all the possibilities related to songlight as the series continues.

While this is a YA novel, readers should be aware of the intense content. The ruling society has systems of forced marriage and sexual workers. Content warnings include frequent swearing, allusion to sex, depictions of emotional and sexual abuse, and mention of non-consensual mutilation.