3.5. Wren was born with abilities that make her easily identifiable to the enemy. She’s lived her whole life hiding her abilities and pretending not to be “modified” but she’s so powerful that she gets noticed by Cross (he’s noticed her for several reasons) and she’s not supposed to fall in love with him.

I am new to dystopian and while this wasn’t a terrible intro to it, I feel like it could have done a lot more! The most interesting part was the romance which I also felt was lacking but it could have been really fun getting more into the abilities or how they came about. I would have loved more world building since this is going to be a series (I think) I was entertained though!

Thank you so much to Netgalley, Dani Francis, and Del Rey for providing this free ARC. This is my honest review! This published on May 6th.

Not my genre but gave it a go. I liked the premise but the fact romantic character development not so much.

4 ⭐️

Okay as we all know this is not at all similar to how it was marketed but I knew that going in so, I purely read this based off of vibes ✨ and had a blast!

My girl, Wren, is hot mess express and we love her for it! The amount of times I put my kindle down and stared at the imaginary camera with a “are you kidding me?” face every time she pulled a dumb move (especially that dumbass move ifykyk) I think I would be a $100 richer.

And Cross…. Cross gave what needed to be gave. He was everything, we would want in a dark, brooding MMC. But the real star of the book is KAINE oooooweeeee 😮‍💨 girl I would’ve folded that’s all I can tell you. You’re hot AND funny = deadly combo.

Now, I wouldn’t even say this is even dystopian fully, I think the blueprint has been laid out so more world building is definitely possible in the second book. This reminded me of fourth wing (minus the dragons) because of the war/military college aspect, which I loved.

Overall, this was a fun and goofy time. If you haven’t read it yet and want to, go into it blind and forget what you’ve heard, and I promise you’ll at least enjoy yourself reading!

Thank you, NetGalley and Random House Worlds | Del Rey for this ARC for review. This book was highly anticipated and did not disappoint! I really enjoyed the psychic gifts, secrets, world-building, and dystopian not knowing who to trust. I can’t wait for book 2 and where this author plans to go next with these characters and in this series! This is definitely on my list for must read!

This was an interesting romantasy read, but the world building was lacking. I know it’s considered dystopian, but it felt more like a military read that just mentions an ongoing war and didn’t feel like a dystopian book. I liked the FMC, Wren, she was strong and kept moving forward against impossible odds. The MMC, Cross, I don’t feel we ever learned much about, but maybe he will be featured more in book 2. I’m not a fan of the mystery around the author, I wouldn’t mind it if the publisher confirmed that this book wasn’t written by AI, because I don’t want to support AI written works. For now the publisher is remaining silent on the issue and because of that I don’t plan to continue reading the series.

Wren has a secret that could cost her life, and when her uncle is captured and murdered, she is thrown into the middle of the society she has tried so hard to stay away from. Cross is her commanding officer, forbidden from having any relationship with Wren, but from the moment they lay eyes on one another, they can't resist the temptation. Wren wants to trust him, but could he end up being her downfall?

Hunger Games and Divergent meets Fourth Wing (minus the dragons) in this super fast-paced distopian romance. I was hooked from the first page and could not put it down. I've seen many negative reviews for this book, but I absolutely loved it and had a blast!

Thank you, NetGalley and Random House Worlds, for providing me the e-ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Silver Elite is giving Divergent all grown up with a shot of adrenaline, a dash of spice, and a heroine who could kill you with a paperclip.

Set in a brutal dystopian world where humans are split into “Primes” and “Modifieds” (Mods), it’s the kind of high-stakes, secret-identity setup that immediately pulls you in. And Wren? She’s not your typical “learn to be strong” girl. She’s already dangerous. She knows how to survive. She has to tone it down to pass as a Prime. And girls with that kind of competence? Yes please. She’s cunning, magnetic, and kind of terrifying in the best way. Her telepathic connection with a mysterious man she’s known most of her life is decidedly one of my favorite microtropes in this book. The other side characters shine too (if you loved getting attached to the tributes in The Hunger Games, you’ll vibe with this cast).

Now, let’s talk romance. Wren is training for a position under the command of Cross (cue the “he’s the broody, intense captain of the unit” trope), and their slow-burn, enemies-ish-to-lovers arc? Hot. Their banter is addictive, the tension is delicious, and yes, it’s spicy, especially in the second half. The dynamic is so charged you’ll be blushing and giggling like you’re a tween reading Divergent again… but this time with actual heat.

It’s easy to read, high-octane, and doesn’t waste a single scene. If you’ve been missing the dystopian fantasy romance of your YA days but want it with more grit, more steam, and an FMC who could stab you and you’d say thank you, Silver Elite is it!

i massively regret putting this off for so long, this gave me everything i hoped it would and more. i laughed, i cried, i gasped. i just wish the romance had been a little more slow burn.

What can I say about Silver Elite that hasn’t already been said? I know this book has caused a lot of controversy lately but personally, I loved it.

The characters?
The story?
The twists?
Amazing.

If I had to say anything even remotely constructive, it would be that I would have liked a little more explanation around the lore of the world, but this didn’t take away any enjoyment of the book for me.

Cross Redden, the man that you are.

In this dystopian world, Wren, a Mod, has to conceal the powers she holds - or risk death. So when she is forced to join Silver Block, an elite training programme for the military. When she meets Cross, a commanding officer, sparks fly… can she keep her powers hidden?

I LOVED this. It feels like it’s been a lifetime since I read a dystopian romance that truly gripped me, and this did exactly that. The tension between Wren and Cross was insane - enemies to lovers at its best.

I need the second book yesterday!

I read this mostly because I was curious why everyone was freaking out in booktok😂 But I don’t understand the hate! I thought it was a great start to a series. Literally binged it in two days and was sad when it was over.

I’m not 100% sold on Wren and Cross but I think that’s mostly due to the fact their relationship was heavily lust based throughout most of the book. I’m interested to see where it goes though after the ending!

The writing style felt a lot like fourth wing with similar vibes to divergent (her completing a series of tests to get into the army program) so if you enjoy those two things, I highly recommend this book.

This is a dystopian romance following Wren Darlington, a young woman who has spent her life honing and hiding her psychic abilities. As a mod human aiding the uprising, one small mistake puts her in enemy hands. Forced to join a cutthroat military training program, she aims to strike from within enemy ranks. As the stakes grow higher her most formidable obstacle becomes the infuriatingly irresistible Captain Cross. Wren must decide how far she's willing to go and what exactly is worth saving.
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The inciting incident of this novel hooked me. However Wren's training became tedious and there was a sense of deja vu with characters that weren't fleshed out enough. This was a dystopian romance yet I wished for deeper political commentary and romance instead of just lust.
Despite that the novel was still an entertaining page turner. Stories with an academic or military competitive setting will always grab my attention. I also loved Kaine's character!

If you like dystopian, action, or enjoy reads like Fourth Wing or The Hunger Games, then I'd recommend picking this up.

Rating = 3.75 stars
Thank you to Penguin Random House for the digital ARC.

FIVE STARS FIVE STARS FIVE STARS!!!!! Idk what was in this but it was freaking CRACK for me!! If this is trash then I’m a raccoon because I ate this shit up and could not and would not put it down! I need book two IMMEDIATELY

This book seems to be everywhere right now, and I was having FOMO so I had to pick it up. I had seen such mixed reviews online, some people raving and loving this book and others saying it was a one star read. I went in with lower expectations and I had a really good time with it. I do love a training academy setting and all the banter between recruits, so I loved the setting for this book. Wren was a fun FMC and there was only one part in the book where I really questioned why she did something. Parts of the story were easy to guess but there was a twist towards the end that made me gasp. The writing was not the greatest and there was not a lot of world building, but the storyline was fast paced, and I loved the vibes. Reading is about having a good time with a book, and I had fun with this one. I will definitely continue this series.

The premise of this book was straightforward and the story was compelling. The simple, flowing worldbuilding hooked me from the start and I just couldn't put this book down. Some of the plot got a bit predictable but the main character was fun to follow. No big plot twists or anything that genuinely shocked me, but it was an enjoyable book nonetheless. Easily digestible. Can't wait to see what's to follow!

This book isn’t a true dystopian; it’s more of a romance set against a dystopian backdrop. However, I was here for the vibes and enjoyed it overall. I had a feeling going in that it was going to miss the mark on being a true dystopian, and I was correct in that assumption. This prepared me for how I would view the book. Unfortunately, I was disappointed by the lack of dystopian themes, which affected my rating.

The female main character (FMC) annoyed me at times with her questionable decisions, and the romance felt like it happened too quickly. I found it hard to believe that I would fall for a man who has been killing people like me. The story was heavily focused on lust, which wasn’t what I was looking for.

On the plus side, the action was interesting. While some twists were predictable, they were still enjoyable. The instant romance made the FMC somewhat insufferable, but I have to admit that the male main character (MMC) did make my blood boil—in a delicious way. The stakes were high, and loyalties crumbled, which certainly kept me on my toes. Throughout the book, I thought I knew whom I could trust, but in this world, trust can shatter easily. I found myself shouting profanities during those moments!

I wish the world had been more fleshed out. We do get some information about the magic systems and the reasons for the world’s state, but it felt too sparse. I struggled to grasp the motives of the characters as well as I would have liked. Maybe I wasn’t paying enough attention, but I believe that to be a dystopian story, it needs to clearly show an oppressive government and include some sort of political or social commentary that reflects real life. I understand my definition of dystopian may differ from others, but that’s how I approached this book.

While there was an oppressive government in the story, it felt as if it was just an afterthought. There was no political or social commentary at all, as if we were expected to accept the situation and move on. But then, it doesn’t really feel like a dystopian narrative, does it?

I truly believe marketing this book as the next spicy, adult version of "The Hunger Games" was its downfall. It seemed to miss the mark on what a dystopian story truly entails. They aimed for the vibes of a dystopian without delivering on the substance, which is why many readers were disappointed.

To me, without any political discourse and with the main focus being the romance and the "spice," the so-called "dystopian" elements became mere background in what essentially is a romance novel with some dystopian vibes.

Overall, despite the disappointing absence of genuine dystopian themes, the book kept me engaged enough that I would consider picking up the next installment to see what happens.

(I hope to god this isn’t AI, I would be so embarrassed)!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for sending me an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

I loved this book! It is very similar with the fourth wing plot wise, but it brings new thing to the table as well! i read this book on one sitting for starters and could not but it down!

I cant wait for the next book!

I think comparing this to Hunger Games wasn't the move. Is it dystopian? Yes. Was it more dystopian that I'd hoped? Also yes. The FMC gave "written by a man" so I don't know how I feel about that.. It was an enjoyable read, but the marketing for this one was a miss.

Absolutely stupendous book. I was slow to read because i got behind but ti was great. Amazing and loved it so much. I can't wait to read more of this series!

I went into this with really high hopes! I don’t really think this was so much dystopian as it didn’t seem the political component was lacking a bit.

Was it spicy, sure! Was it cute? Yes! I just think the way this was marketed was a bit misleading and I would’ve loved way more political intrigue out of this.