Honestly, I found the concept interesting, but the writing mid. The story blending could use some cohesion. At times it felt rushed just to justify a plot, like when it randomly justified the lack of condoms by mentioning everyone getting birth control shots right before Wren hooks up with a certain male for the first time. Felt clunky, especially when std concerns weren't mentioned at all? Still worth a read, just could've been better.

I was generously sent the Arc for Silver Elite by NetGalley and Dani Francis for a genuine and honest review.

I absolutely LOVED it. 5 stars. No doubt. No question. It had everything and more.

I tend to go into most of the books I read almost blind so I have less expectations for what they are advertised as by publishers etc. I actually requested the Arc because a good friend of mine had raved about it. Let me tell you this... she was not wrong.

I felt butterflies, I felt shock... I was fully IMMERSED in the story like I was there with these characters. I found it hard to participate in real life because I was glued. I think that's the sign of a fantastic book. I both wanted it to last to eke out all of the enjoyment at the same time as eating it up as if there was going to be a book famine.

My take on the hidden identity of the author? Whoever it was did a bloody fantastic job. Dani Francis you have written a phenomenal book and the additional PR over the mystery hopefully has helped the success of the book.

My take on the criticism of it not being a dystopian book? When I was reading it, in my imagination it was very dystopian! The environment, the concept, the magic - all dystopian! I don't need every single dystopian description spoon fed to me to be able to imagine dystopia. The books this is being compared to are books people read in their teens and fell in love with, nothing is going to measure up to that first dystopia love... just because they were there first.

There were also twists, did I see them coming? Yes some, not all. Did it spoil my enjoyment? Not at all.

Bonus points for writing no main characters I found annoying at all!

I have subsequently bought both of the hardback editions out currently - one with silver edges and one with blue... I sincerely hope it is picked up by one of the sub boxes for some amazing edges to match the story (and which I will also buy)

Now pretty please can I get on the Arc list for book 2 😁🙏🏻👌🏻

I absolutely loved Silver Elite! It was an amazing read for me that once I started I just couldn’t put it down. It was one of those books that truly pulled you in for both the story and the characters. I actually read this book in 2 days!
The world building was fantastic and so creative and the magic system used in the book was so creative. I loved that I was fully able to understand the different types of magic that were in the book.
The characters were amazing and it was one of those books where your left rooting for the main characters.
I was a huge fan of Wren as she had such fire about her and I loved that she had a sense of loyalty and bravery.
Cross was such an enigma of a character to start and I loved that as we got to know him we understood why he was the way he was.
I loved the enemies to lovers of this one and it came across so well, I liked that they were both interested in each other but also that there was also negativity as well.
There was such a wide range of characters who all had their own backgrounds and own stories and it tied together so well.
I fell in love with several of the side characters and this book wasn’t afraid to give you all the feelings from happy to sad and at points it was an emotional rollercoaster.
The plot moved fairly quick in this book and I loved that there was lots going on and there was plenty of action.
I honestly cannot wait for the next book after that endings
Overall I definitely recommend this book!

Wren Darlington has been hiding a secret her whole life. She is Modified, possessing psychic powers that could get her arrested, sentenced to a labor camp or even killed. When her uncle is arrested and accused of working for the rebel Uprising, she is given a choice: go to a labor camp, or begin training for membership in the Silver Elite squad, joining the very people who want her dead.

There was absolutely nothing new here: every dystopian trope you've seen a million times, a rebel who's "not like other girls," supernaturally gifted at shooting and fighting; enemies to lovers romance between Wren and her brooding sexy commander; a secret life-long friend who shows up in an unexpected place; surprise twist endings setting you for a sequel.

This was 100% fabricated with pre-made pieces but - it totally works. I knew exactly what was going to happen and I was totally on board, read the whole thing in a day. A bit too much spice for me, but even that was well-written. I've seen speculation that Dani Francis is a pen name, if so, whoever wrote this knows what they are doing.

Okay so I went in expecting 5 stars and got a little underwhelmed but still had a great time.
Does it lift a lot of character dynamics, plot points and tropes from popular romantasy titles? Yes. Is it truly dystopian? No. The pacing was a bit odd - we veered off into a tangent for the middle third which I think was supposed to build the romance but instead it read as insta-love. Once I got to the end it did all make sense and as a dystopiance it was good but not amazing. I predicted a lot of the plot and most of the book was a backdrop to hang the romance/smuttier aspects on (which is fine, but not how it was marketed).
That being said I was motivated to finish it and predict that the next book will really bring home some of the plot and worldbuilding that appears shakier in this one, I'm keen to read more!

Thank you netgalley and the publisher for my #gifted copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

I’m still very undecided on how I feel about this one. It took me a little to get into it and then I was hooked and then was feeling meh towards the end. I actually spoiled the ending and was intrigued so I finished.

I’ll definitely read the next one to see where this goes and I’m hoping I love that one! There were definitely things I called from moment one, and things I definitely didn’t see coming! I’m certainly intrigued where some of these are going to go.

I want more of Cross in the next book. I would love dual POV or a few chapters in Cross’s head. I would love to see more of the romance between him and Wren.

If this one sounds good to you, pick it up and try it! This one is out now!

One of my favorite books this year. I was sucked in from the very beginning. I loved the military style training set in the dystopian setting

Great for fans of Fourth Wing, divergent, and hunger games!

Silver Elite is a thrilling, binge-worthy romp across a psychic dystopia with commanding enemies-to-lovers vibes. Wren’s tenacity and Cross’s allure make it a heart-pounding pleasure—though at times emotionally rushed and trope-heavy. If you’re in the mood for a fun, edge-of-your-seat romance with plenty of tension (and just enough steam), this debut is a satisfying pick—and a strong launch for a new series!

This took me a while to get interested in. I did not care for Wren, I felt her actions never made sense and she fell for Cross too quickly, all things considered. The stakes really never felt high enough and the world was underdeveloped. However, I did end up finishing it and it was well paced to keep me involved once I committed to reading it.

There's been a lot of hype surrounding this book, so I was curious to see what it was all about. At its base, it's a dystopian story about a young woman who has to hide her powers from the regime in charge but ends up smack dab in the middle of it. Told from a single POV, we get a fairly limited view of the wider world. There are a lot of plot points that are reminiscent of other books. That being said, things like that can make it easily consumable.

There were things along the way that made me go hmm, and I know there's been some controversy around these exact things (plus more). Given that it is part of a series, we will have to see how all the things pan out.

Thanks to Del Rey and NetGalley for an eARC of this book for an honest review.

This was...not bad but also not very good?
idk. I wasn't a fan of the subliminal messaging and tone of the book but for a trashy drama set in a political background this was an ok read.
The characters all lacked depth as did the world building.
I don't wanna use any more energy on this but I will say that the author should definitely consider leaving this at a duology and not stretching it out anymore than that.

This is the unhinged, high-stakes, enemy-to-lovers dystopian romance I’ve been waiting for since the Hunger Games hangover wore off. Psychic heroine with war trauma? Check. Grumpy commander who wants her dead but also maybe wants to kiss her? Check. A morally gray training compound where betrayal is baked into the floorboards? Inject it.

Disclaimer: This is unfortunately the most negative review I've ever had to write.

DNF, DNF, DNF!!!!

This was one of the worst books I've read in recent memory.

Silver Elite is a dystopian book that includes NONE of the meaningful political commentary of the dystopian genre, written to be "spicy dystopian for adults." If that wasn't enough, the main character has ZERO consistency from one chapter - or even one page - to the next, seemingly saying and doing whatever the author needs her to for the sake of the plot. And for the cherry on top, it read like it was written by ChatGPT.

Unfortunately, I wish I had better things to say about this book because I was so excited to read it, but Silver Elite was NOT IT for me, and I cannot in good conscience recommend it to anyone.

Thank you to Netgalley, Dani Francis, and Random House Del Rey for providing an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.

To be honest, I didn't finish it. So take my review with a grain of salt. I was hoping for more of a complex dystopian society with some spice sprinkled in. From what I've read (of the book and of reviews), that isn't what I was going to get. I've heard that the apocalyptic setting was just a backdrop for the spice. Don't get me wrong, I have no qualms with any level of spiciness, but I don't like my stories to be centered around it.

Wren Darlington has always known she was different. She has abilities that her uncle that raised her helped her develop and protect. When she finds herself in a situation without her uncle she must decide how to proceed to protect herself and others like her. Then there is Cross. A high ranking official that she knows she should hate, but the electricity she feels when he is near is undeniable.

I am always on the fence when it comes to fantasy books. However, this one dragged me and didn’t let go. I’m already chomping at the bit for part 2!

A wonderful story with many twists and turns. I love how the character goes through difficult choices, it keeps me wanting to read :)

This was such a fun, page-turning read—the protagonist's conflict of hiding her true identity while surrounded by enemies was extremely compelling, as was the very enemies-to-lovers romance! The ending did take a few turns that didn't feel as believable for me, but I will absolutely be picking up book two!

Okay so I waited a good while mulling over what I was going to rate this book.

This book had so many things that I enjoy in a fantasy read:
enemies to lovers
powers of some sort
banter and tension between MCs

I liked the plot and the story line I just think that there was a lot that fell short. I feel like the story was drawn out so that this book would be a multiple book story when there's a lot that I would've taken out because it felt unnecessary or redundant. I also felt that this book didn't seem dystopian. Yes, it has a few dystopian tendencies (which were only depicted a little at the end) it just seemed more other worldly than dystopian. Also, I just feel like I kept comparing this book to a lot of my favorite fantasy books vs enjoying this book. for that and that I probably won't continue this series I'm giving this book a 3. I feel like a lot of people will enjoy it, it just isn't up to the fantasy book I'm dying to continue or read.

There's a world where the population is divided in two: the Mods, who possess a gift perceived as an aberration by the Primes, and those who have not been contaminated by the bacterium and are therefore immune. Wren belongs to the Mods, but since she was a child, she has had to live in total secrecy. That all changes when she decides to save a child from certain death.
A dystopia that keeps us on the edge of our seats until the end, with a well-crafted, fast-paced plot.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC of this book.

Wow, Silver Elite is definitely a throwback to the days of gobbling up as many dystopian stories as possible. This book reminds me of the Divergent series with a more romantic-heavy plot. Did this story take seriously the end of civilization as we know it? Not at all, but it was entertaining, which might be the ultimate purpose. It definitely hit all the popular tropes of the dystopian book explosion in the 2010s, which gave me a lovely dose of nostalgia.