4.5 Stars, SJ, Romance Junkies

SILVER ELITE is a fantastic addition to the dark fantasy romance genre, with the enemies to lovers and academy tropes doing great service to the conflict in the book. But the main thrust of the story, having a special young woman doing her best to survive, "hidden" in the midst of the enemy, gives the book its real depth, watching how Wren hides her abilities while doing her best to get in tight with the enemy. I liked that the author made her a distinct voice, in that Wren is headstrong yet loyal. She doesn't always make the best decisions, but she was pretty consistent throughout the book. I didn't exactly agree with some of the choices she made toward the end, which seemed to go against her character, but that also might be because I got so invested in the story I was upset about her path. Still, the building romance and sensual tension in the story is stellar, and the side characters have real presence.

For an outstanding dark, magical romance filled with intrigue, danger, adventure, and mystery, don't miss SILVER ELITE by Dani Francis. My biggest complaint is that the next book isn't out yet!!!!

This book has quickly climbed to one of my favourite reads of the year so far. Wow!

In a dystopian future, the Continent is divided into two; Primes and Mods, and to be Modified is a crime. Due to extreme circumstances, Wren, a powerful Mod, is forced to join the Continents elite military Silver Block. Wren sees this as an opportunity to help the rebel Uprising.

I loved everything about Silver Elite. The world is dystopian, brutal, and harsh, but also so richly described I felt I was right there with Wren. An austere military dictatorship with total control of its citizens, the politics of the Continent, and subsequent rebellion kept me hooked every page.
I had so much fun with the academic/college setting, and the dynamic between Wren and the side characters was so well done. There was witty banter, inappropriate flirting, and lots of action!

Wren’s commanding officer Cross Redden is determined to uncover her secrets, but there is an undeniable attraction between them. When telling the truth could mean death, how much can they trust one another?

The romance was just amazing. I loved every minute shared between Wren and Cross. It was a perfect balance of banter, flirtation, friendship and heartfelt moments.

I honestly could not get enough of this book! As a first in a trilogy, there is a perfect setup for more adventure and secrets to be revealed in book two. I will be eagerly waiting for the next book, I can’t wait to see where the story goes.

Thank you Random House Worlds and Netgalley for this ARC

This fast paced dystopian novel deals with themes of identity, propaganda, hatred, and discrimination. The romance is light in the first half, but ramps up in the second half, almost a secondary story to the bigger world problems.

Thank you to Del Rey, Dani Francis, and NetGalley for this e-arc in exchange for an honest review!

What a return to my dystopian era! This was such an easy 5 star for me as I was having the best time all the way through. The pacing was absolute perfection.

This story started off with Wren, a Mod hidden in plain sight, accidentally drawing the attention of the Company, putting herself and her Uncle in danger. Wren is then recruited to join the Silver Block, a notorious section of the Company's militaristic might, and compete for a spot in the Silver Elite.

First of all, I'd just like to say how much I really liked this magic system, I thought it was so unique! The Modified's power came into existence from a toxin that was released in a past war 150 years ago that essentially gave them different mind powers - mind reading, projection, inciting, and so many other cool powers that I can't want for Dani to write about. Also, when Mod's use their powers, their arms will light up, and is a dead giveaway of their treason. With Wren being a Mod herself going through the recruitment process to prove herself worthy, she had to keep her powers hidden.

And I have to touch on Cross mf Redden, the general's son and commander of Silver Elite! He was literally everything I was hoping him to be, which was absolutely obsessed with Wren. The bantering and bickering was top tier and spice was giving. I thought their relationship dynamic was totally realistic given the situation of the book. Also, I need more of Daisy and Wolf <3

The reveal at the end got me good, and I can't wait for book 2 omgggg!

Infinity stars! This is an absolute masterpiece of fantasy and romance. I am obsessed with Wren and Cross, the banter and yearning and willing to die for each other attitude. Ugh, swoon! Wren gives Calaena Sardothien vibes and we will NOT be afraid. Female rage, empowerment and intellectual strength are not aspects we get enough of in fantasy books but Silver Elite delivered!

First of all, thank you to the author, the publisher and NetGalley for allowing me to read this book in advance.
It was such a great book. It reminded me SO much of the dystopian hooks of 2015 like Divergent, The Hunger Games, The Maze Runner. Specially the training and trails Wren and her teammates had to go through reminded me A LOT like the Divergent's Dauntless trainings and elimination process. What. A great callback!
I loved Wren a lot. And Cross... Oh Cross what to say about you man. That tough exterior had to have soft inside, for the right person of course. Their chemistry damn it if it was off the charts. From the frost encounter, I had a feeling it was him and it was and I liked them already.
I love hie their relationship progressed with her being restrained to protect her secret and gmnot going all in at first.
Also I gotta say I saw coming the Wolf thing and I was so happy about it which consequently brings one aspect of Cross to the table that I thought about and was happy about.
The last few chapters had my head spinning. What happened what the Jubilee, the thing with her Bloodmark, the way she was betrayed and by Whom (I just wanted to slap slap slap!!!) and when the very last chapter, ANOTHER BETRAYAL??? And from that person??? WTH damn I didn't see that one coming. And I liked that person and now I hate them, the same with the other person who betrayed her on the Jubilee night. Hate them.
I'm so curious now to see what will happen in book 2 both with her and Cross, the Uprising, his brothers, the General, her traitorous "friends".
Gosh this was fantastic. 5 stars for sure!

This book has similarities with Red Queen, but this is definitely not a book for junior high school libraries. The main character is a mod (modified person) and is forced into the military. As much as she hates it, she has feeling for her commander, and the uprising is asking her to work with them from within the silver elite unit. This really does lend itself to a fantastic plot. The sex scenes are the only thing that keep me from being able to share the book with my junior high readers. Depending on your state, you might be able to put it into a high school library.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5 Thanks to NetGalley and the author Dani Frances for letting me read an ARC of this amazing read. Definitely going to be a hit this year. Loved the world, characters and absolutely loved the romance aspect. I cannot wait to get the next installment in this world as it definitely left us on a cliffhanger haha.

I have read some truly fantastic books so far this year, but in terms of reading experience, this one blows all of them out of the water. I could not put this down, and was irrationally upset anytime I had to go work or sleep or other boring things.

This is a dystopian fantasy where the world has been infected with radiation from atomic bombs, and one of the side effects are people called “Mods” or people whose genetic makeup has been modified and they possess powers like telepathy, mind reading, healing, etc. Mods are villainized and feared by the current dictator, and either eliminated, thrown into labor camps, or enslaved by the Command. Our main character, Wren is a Mod in hiding who was kidnapped by the man she calls her Uncle when she was little. Her veins don’t glow when she is actively using her powers, a telltale sign of a Mod, so she has been able to keep her abilities a secret for most of her life, but when her Uncle is sentenced to death and she tries to stop it, she gets thrown into the military training program of the highest ranking soldiers, known as the Silver Block, against her will by their suspicious Commander.

This book throws you into the action immediately and doesn’t let go until the final page. The emotional whiplash I experienced was criminal, and I loved every second of it. I liked this story’s take on morality and the effects of villainizing an entire group of people - the brainwashing, distrust, detachment and acceptance, and even the small glimmers of humanity. There are good and bad people on both sides, and you never really know who to trust - even when you think you do.

This book!!! just wow, I was captivated from the start, I loved the premise of the book and the plot and it was executed perfectly and I am soo happy that it is the first in a trilogy!!
The people on the continent are divided into two sectors - either Prime's or Modified (psychic abilities that ultimately mean death). The MFC Wren has managed to hide her psychic abilities as a telepath however when her uncle dies she ends up being forced to train for the Silver Block, a military sector who fight against the Modified, however she is fuelled with so much anger and hate she decides to work against the enemy and relay information back to the Uprising, from the inside, as no-one knows of her own abilities. This was sooo good, and I loved the romance between Wren and Cross Redden (the commanding officer) is fab and a perfect enemies to lovers, slow burn romance trope, and I love their banter.
The book was well written and the plot and characters were easy to follow, which is a thumbs up as usually world-building in the first book of a series can sometimes be a bit heavy but this was not.
Really excited for the next book!

In a post-apocalyptic world, the citizens of the Continent are divided into Primes and Modified. Primes are regular old humans, but Mods have mutations giving them telepathic abilities. Mods have to hide their abilities because giving away their secret could mean being sent to labor camps or it could mean death. Wren Darlington is a powerful Mod who has been living in hiding with her Uncle Jim since she was a child. After a careless mistake, she finds herself taken into custody. To prove her loyalty to the continent, Wren must join the training program for the Silver Block, the most elite section of the military. She also finds herself under the command of the General's son, Cross Redden, who she finds infuriating and infuriatingly attractive. Wren must keep her abilities secret and try not to fall in love while deep behind enemy lines.

Silver Elite was a really fun read and I think it would be perfect for fans of Fourth Wing or adult fans of Divergent. I found the world building to be interesting and while not everything is explained, I'm sure that the books are setting up to explore more of the world later in the series. Wren has a very distinct voice that is quite snarky, so it was entertaining to see the world through her eyes. The plot wasn't super unique and you could see where it was going, but it's enjoyable just to be along for the ride. This was a great setup for the series and I'm excited to see what's in store for Wren next. I would recommend Silver Elite to readers who are looking for a fun and steamy dystopian adventure.

I really enjoyed this book, I think fans of dystopian YA books will make this an instant hit, and to me it read similarly to books like the Hunger Games trilogy, Shatter Me series, and the Divergent trilogy. I loved the protagonist and thought that the world building and reasoning behind the suspenseful sequences was backed by very sound reasoning by the author. I have already put this book on my library's collection management team's radar and will be likely to recommend this book to teens and adults following its publication in the near future!

This is going to be everyone’s new obsession. It’s giving grown up Divergent. I really enjoyed Wren and it was interesting to see her straddle the line between duties to command and duties to herself. I cannot wait to see how Dani Francis continues the story. The only heartbreaking thing is now I have to wait even longer for it!

This review was difficult to write because I have mixed feelings about it. I almost put this book down multiple times, but I forced myself to continue. Although I'm glad I pushed through, I do not think I am the book's target audience, which is a shame because I want to dig my teeth into a dystopian story.

I want this book to find its right audience because I believe those readers will eat this story up. This book is for readers who love a strong, cocky, and impulsive FMC. The book is narrated from Wren's pov, and it is voicey writing. The writing and style of the book exudes Wren's personality. The writing may grate on some people, but it is accessible and easy to read. Although I did not vibe with Wren at the beginning of the book, I did start to appreciate her as a character as she realizes she's not infallible and starts to soften up.

The plot is not unique and it is somewhat predictable. This book stands upon the shoulders of more famous dystopian books from the aughts (ex. Hunger Games, Divergent). The world relies heavily on preconceived dystopian tropes, such as an oppressor and an uprising, and there are hints that good and bad might be as definite as they seem. Additionally, there is very little history about how the Continent became this way. There are mentions of wards, other countries, and cities, but that's pretty much all we get to see of this world. It seems very Hunger Games-esque in terms of how the Continent is divided up. Likewise, there isn't much depth into all the different types of mods or why mods are being haunted. The reasons, the history, and the explanation remain surface-level. I hope the next book provides more information about this world.

Wren is the only character who has a bit of complexity, and that's probably because we're in her head all the time. Other characters are boiled down to a singular trait or stereotype, ie., the jealous ex, the timid girl, the flirt, etc. There is very much a sense that these people don't matter, which is unfortunate. Even the romantic interest is a stereotype of what readers find attractive. The romance will appeal to those who like insta-lust, banter, and swirly tattoos.

While the ending does have a few twists and turns, I do not know if I will be continuing this series. In the end, I do not think I'm the right audience for this as I wasn't a fan of the writing, the characters, or the world. But I would still recommend this book to others as I see the book becoming a big hit.

Thanks to Del Rey and NetGalley for providing me with an eARC to review.

DYSTOPIA IS SO BACK!!! i loved this book so much; i felt as though i was being transported back to my teenage years and reading divergent. this is definitely a book for those who lived and breathed divergent growing up, i got the same vibes from this book as i did with that one.

the slow burn is this book was amazing and the enemies to lovers was to die for. i felt so connected to the characters in this book and genuinely wanted to find out more about them all. i genuinely cannot believe that this is a debut novel. it had some absolutely brilliant writing throughout the book. but some of it could have been cut down a tiny bit which is why i knocked i off a star - some aspects dragged, but this was still FANTASTIC for a debut. the last 25% had my head spinning and i just could not put it down for a second (like i really struggled to stop reading even for a second.)

this book has romance in it (not the main plot) with wren and cross. i really enjoyed reading about their relationship, but i just wish it was a tiny bit more developed. maybe this will happen in book two? there was a twist that i wasn’t expecting (if you know, you know), but i’ve seen from other reader reviews that they could guess it. i can see why but i thought it was going to be something else.

i will be recommending this book for a long, long time. I AM SO HAPPY DYSTOPIA IS BACK

Thank you Netgalley for letting me read an eArc of this amazing book!

Honestly I believe everyone needs to read this book when it comes out! The writing, the plot & the character were amazing! I can't not fault this book & it may be my #1 read of 2025!

Cross & Wren were characters that I wanted to get to know! I didn't want to stop reading the story they were telling! And the side characters kept me intrigued in the story as well

🔸️sci-fi/fantasy
🔸️ dystopian world
🔸️ commanding officer x recruit
🔸️ enemies to lovers
🔸️ forbidden romance
🔸️ slow burn
🔸️ undercover/secret identity
🔸️ telepathic/psychic abilities
🔸️ rebellion/uprising

Thank you netgalley.com and Dani Francis for granting me the privilege of reading this ARC. I saw it mentioned on bookthreads and applied as others mentioned it was great and could be the next big thing. I am not much of a science fiction reader normally and it did take me a bit to get really into it. Sometimes it almost felt too dark considering the world right now but I am glad i stuck with it as it was engaging and then I got further along it was addictive. I have no doubt this can be a big series many will talk about and I will want to read more of. I also do feel it will stay with me for quite some time now that I finished it.
I look forward to reading more in the series when it gets written.

Loved this book! I was hooked from the beginning. Excited to read on and discover what would happen next. Interesting characters, suspenseful chapters and just the right amount of spice!! Can’t wait to read more from this author!!

Great character development drives this story and keeps you engaged. A dystopian world where toxins from a war have modified part of the population and given them psychic abilities.

I AM UNWELL! This very well might be my top read of the year. It’s giving Divergent and Hunger Games vibes with undercover ops and characters you can’t get enough of (and maybe a few you’ll want to punch in the face), but it’s not YA. The Enemies to Lovers trope goes hard. An extremely fast paced dystopian / fantasy that I’m so close to just immediately starting again because I want to be back in this world. Our FMC, Wren, is so likable from the start. So often when I read a book there’s something about the FMC that gets on my nerves. Even something small. But I have to say, I think I like Wren just the way she is. And holyyyy smokes when our MMC, Cross, enters the mix… Well god damnnn! But then there is Kaine too and well… he’s a fun one. Did I hope for something that ended up being true? Yes. Did I also have so many moments where my mind was blown? Yes. Did the ending completely catch me off guard? Yes. I’m obsessed. You will probably be obsessed. You can just thank me later…

Thank you to NetGalley and Del Ray for the ARC! I’m now gonna go stare at a wall while I figure out what to do until the next book comes out…. 😂