Torchfire Also in this series: Songlight Series: The Torch Trilogy #2
Published by HarperCollins on October 28, 2025
Genres: Young Adult Fiction / Action & Adventure / General, Young Adult Fiction / Dystopian, Young Adult Fiction / Fantasy / Romance, Young Adult Fiction / Science Fiction / Romance, Young Adult Fiction / Social Themes / Assimilation, Young Adult Fiction / Social Themes / Friendship, Young Adult Fiction / Social Themes / Values & Virtues, Young Adult Fiction / Social Themes / Violence
Pages: 452
Find the Author: Goodreads, Amazon, Instagram
Goodreads
The second book in the acclaimed Torch Trilogy, set in a future dystopia with star-crossed lovers, impossible friendships, and forbidden power.
Welcome to a world where songlight is either your greatest power—or your greatest curse.
Lark has fled Northaven with her mother and is urgently seeking a safe haven. Nightingale is being held captive and forced to use her songlight against her own people.
Piper has been promoted up the ranks, where nothing but bloodshed is demanded of him. Rye has stumbled across an incredible airship, the likes of which has never been seen before. . . .
All four are united by their desire for peace. But peace between feels more fragile than ever.
In this sequel to the brilliant and acclaimed Songlight, Lark and Nightingale see the glimmers of hope for a world in which they can live freely—but at what cost?
Torchfire is perfect for fans of Sabaa Tahir, Margaret Atwood's The Handmaid's Tale, and Adrienne Young.
Review:
Moira Buffini’s Torchfire is the kind of middle book that refuses to be quiet. Rather than acting as a bridge between beginnings and endings, it widens the world, deepens the emotional stakes, and pushes its characters into darker, more complicated territory. If Songlight introduced us to a society fractured by fear of difference, Torchfireshows what happens when that fear turns entirely into war.
This sequel drops readers straight back into chaos. The fragile hope for peace has crumbled, and every character is forced to confront what survival really costs — not just physically, but morally and emotionally.
A Story Fueled by Conflict
Torchfire thrives on momentum. The narrative splits across multiple points of view, each offering a different angle on the growing conflict. Elsa (Lark) remains the emotional core of the story, but Buffini gives equal weight to characters on opposing sides, refusing to simplify the idea of “enemy” or “ally.”
What stands out most is how personal the stakes feel. This isn’t just a fight between governments or factions; it’s about siblings torn apart, friendships strained by ideology, and people trying to hold onto empathy in a world that punishes it. Every choice feels heavy, and consequences linger rather than resetting between chapters.
World-Building That Expands, Not Explains
Buffini’s world-building continues to be one of the series’ greatest strengths. Instead of lengthy exposition, Torchfire reveals its broader political landscape through action, dialogue, and shifting alliances. New locations and cultures add complexity without overwhelming the story, and the contrast between technologically advanced societies and those ruled by fear is especially compelling.
The concept of songlight — connection as both power and vulnerability — becomes even more central here. Buffini uses it not just as a speculative element, but as a thematic lens for exploring control, resistance, and the danger of losing one’s humanity.
Emotionally Intense and Unflinching
This is not a gentle read. Torchfire delves into trauma, captivity, and psychological scars with an honesty that can feel raw at times. Characters don’t emerge unchanged, and there’s no easy healing arc. That emotional weight, however, is what makes the story resonate. Buffini trusts her readers to sit with discomfort and to recognize that hope, when it appears, is earned.
The pacing is relentless, but the quieter moments — reflections, regrets, and moments of connection — are what truly linger after the final page.
Final Thoughts
Torchfire is a bold, emotionally charged sequel that refuses to play it safe. It expands Songlight’s scope while sharpening its themes, delivering a story that is as thoughtful as it is intense. Readers who love character-driven dystopian fantasy, moral complexity, and high emotional stakes will find this installment both challenging and rewarding.
This is a series that demands attention — and Torchfire proves it’s building toward something powerful.
Recommended for: fans of layered YA dystopian fantasy, politically driven narratives, and stories that value empathy as a form of resistance.Best read: after Songlight, with tissues and time to process.
