Really enjoyed the first book in this series and this was a great sequel. I’m not a fan of more recent YA but this dystopian tale of power and resistance is an exception. Highly recommend this series.

Torchfire by Moira Buffini is a gripping and masterfully crafted second instalment in her dystopian fantasy trilogy. Returning to a world where sunlight—a powerful form of telepathy—is either a gift or a curse, the story raises the stakes as its characters are caught in a battle that will determine the future of civilisation.

Elsa is on the run, desperate for a haven. Nightingale is a captive, forced to wield her sunlight against her people. Piper, now rising through the ranks of the Airmen, finds himself entangled in a brutal system that demands nothing but bloodshed. Meanwhile, Rye stumbles upon an astonishing airship, unlike anything ever seen before.

Though these four are bound by their shared desire for peace, peace itself seems further away than ever. The tensions between Brightland, which seeks to stamp out Songlight, and Ayland, which hopes for harmony, are on the verge of collapse. But a new force enters the fray—the Sealanders, an elite race of Torches who have returned to Earth with their dangerous agenda.

With Torchfire, Buffini delivers an intense and immersive tale of power, resistance, and survival. The worldbuilding is rich, the characters are compelling, and the twists keep you turning the pages. As the conflict escalates, the future of Ayland, Brightland, and the world beyond hangs in the balance. A must-read for fans of thought-provoking and high-stakes fantasy!

3.5/5.

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Torchfire by Moira Buffini was a masterpiece! This author is a genious! I rated this book 5 stars because it really deserves this quotation! So so good.

Songlight was my first ARC ever and I struck gold with that one because I loved it! As soon as I saw Torchfire I knew I needed to read it asap..
And wow. This second book leaves me even more hardbroken and curious for the next part of the story. Moira just keeps destroying me! She's created such a broken world with beautiful people who fight for what they believe in. The twists kept coming and..I just need the next book now!