Silver Elite is a dystopian novel that follows a predictable storyline with all the usual tropes. The insta-lust between the main characters feels rushed, making their connection feel more superficial than deeply developed. The plot is highly predictable, following a formulaic structure with few surprises along the way. Despite this, it remains an entertaining and fast-paced read, with enough action and intrigue to keep readers engaged. While it doesn’t bring anything particularly new or groundbreaking to the dystopian genre, it’s a decent choice for those looking for a quick, effortless escape into a futuristic world.

Thanks to Netgalley and Random House for this eARC.

I’m still wondering how I feel about this book. On the one hand I’m desperate to read a sequel, having loved the last 60% of it, on the other, the first 40% was pretty slow going with lots of plodding info dumps I could have done without. Wren at first was also a tough character to like, making some poor decisions but I was ultimately won over by her later development. I’d recommend this to fans of “Powerless” and anyone who likes a strong female lead, the action is well written and the romance spicy. I decided to give it a 4⭐️, because despite its flaws, it still enjoyed my time reading.

This was such a fun read! It was kind of nostalgic in that it was very reminiscent of the dystopian books popular in 2010’s. It has similar vibes as Divergent, but more adult. I found the overall concept/world interesting. It was nothing revolutionary or crazy unique, but it was still intriguing and easy to understand. I think the world building could have been expanded on, just to give a broader understanding of how everything has gotten to this point, but maybe that will happen as the books go on. There were a few twists that were fairly predictable, but exciting nonetheless. I enjoyed the characters and their interactions and am excited to see their relationships further develop. I think this series has a lot of potential and this book was a really good stepping stone. I can see this book gaining a lot of traction and popularity (similarly to FW). I am definitely excited to continue this series and see where the story goes.

I really enjoyed this book. It was like Divergent but with sex!! A brilliant dystopian story, that explores the history and tension between Mods and Primes. Yes some of it was predictable, but that didn’t make me enjoy it any less? There’s a little bit of spice, but it was done well. The story didn’t revolve around it, and the slow burn was 👌🏼 I was purely here for the vibes and the vibes delivered. Excited to see what Wren gets up to in the next book!

Thanks NetGalley for the ARC.

Silver Elite by Dani Francis hooked me from page one. This dystopian novel is about a rich ruling class that is in opposition with the Modified, people who have psychic powers. Wren has lived her whole life hiding these powers from everyone except her Uncle Jim, the man who raised her. When Wren saves a boys life, her Uncle Jim gets arrested for treason and desertion. Wren gets thrust into the enemies hands as she gets sent to Silver Block to train as a soldier. She begins to struggle with her identity and her purpose, while not knowing who to trust if anyone.
Dani Francis has made this new world come to life. The characters are varied, some you root for and some you despise. Silver Elite is a great addition to the romantasy genre.
Thanks to NetGalley, Random House Worlds, and Del Rey for the opportunity to read this ARC.

Silver Elite is a solid entry into the dystopian romance canon. I had a good time reading it and it was fun to be in a dystopian world, even if it treads on some pretty familiar ground.

It's a dystopian world we've seen before -- an oppressive ruling class, or Primes, that seeks to eradicated the Modified, a subjugated class of people who have powers ranging from telepathy to healing as the result of toxic mutations. from toxic fallout from a long ago war. Naturally there is a revolution called the Uprising that is working to free the Mods from the tyrannical reign of General Redden, an anti-Mod fanatic.

Our MC, Wren, is an incredibly powerful Mod who has lived in hiding her entire life but ends up accidentally forced to join the elite military academy. She spends much of the first quarter of the book trying to get kicked out and this is where the book really struggles. It doesn't make much sense why she can't get kicked out other than the hottie Captain says no (also her plan to get kicked out makes little sense when its very obvious they'd never let her go home, they'd just stick her in a labor camp). It makes MUCH more sense when Wren is recruited by the Uprising to try and make Silver Elite, the coveted top squadron, to be their eyes and ears on the inside.

My other main issue with this book is that there are basically no emotional stakes because there is no time spent building out any of the secondary characters (even though they are pivotal for some of the back half plot twists). There is one major death and one betrayal that have little emotional impact bc I'm just not invested in these characters.

Bracketing all of this, I had a good time reading it and will absolutely read the next one.

This was such an unexpected 4.5 ✨ read! I loved it! It was so refreshing to read a dystopian fantasy that wasn’t the same as anything else I’ve read. This book has so many good tropes too: Slow burn, forbidden romance, enemies to lovers, corrupt government…i could go on. If you’re a fan of dystopian/sci-fi/fantasy you definitely need to read this book! What a fantastic journey. I cannot wait to see where the next book takes us!

I loved the growth of the FMC. Her development from the beginning of this book to the end was insane. It really shed light on questioning everything you’ve been taught to think, and to appreciate that things may not always be as they seem. I really appreciated that.

And the MMC- Omg. This grumpy, cold-hearted man. I don’t wanna divulge too much. But holy smokes.

They both grow and become such lovable characters. I really loved this story so much. What a great book!!

OH my GOSH.

So… I’m trying to rein in all my feelings and thoughts about this book. This is 100% a Fourth Wing vibes book. It will appeal to the masses in the way that FW did. And if you liked one and not the other, I have no idea what to say because they definitely come from the same place 😂 Even though FW is romantasy and this is dystopian romance, the vibes… they are the same.

What I really truly adored in this book was the concept of no one being completely right. In many dystopian books, we get this “resistance” that is perfect. They are right; the government is wrong. End of story. But here… the reader finds themselves confused by who to support. The Mods aren’t always the good guys just like the Primes aren’t always the bad guys. There are good and bad people on both sides. There will always be good and bad people on both sides.

I adored Wren. She is such a powerful and resourceful woman, not always in physical strength but in heart. Yes, she made a few stupid decisions…. But I can’t blame her for some. And there were times that she surprised me by making a very difficult but important decision… no spoilers but I LOVED the relationship between her and Cross. It developed perfectly and was solid from beginning to end in a way that some books don’t do. Pleasantly surprised by this!

I know that some readers will hate this book on principle because it’s “too similar to other dystopian” or “it’s too much like FW and is just capitalizing on its success” but I just sat back and ENJOYED the story. I smiled, I teared up, I screamed and laughed. I enjoyed reading it and I hope others can too!

Silver elite had me hooked from the chapter 1. It got me out of my reading slump because of how captivating it was. I read it in two days which is huge considering I couldn't read the a single word the last two weeks because of my reading slump

Wren Darlington, our protagonist is a powerful MOD (ones who have psychic abilities) who's in hiding and aiding the Uprising Rebel group.
One mistake from her leads her into the arms of the enemy, where she's forced into joining their Elite Training Program i.e Silver Block that trains soldiers to hunt and kill MODS
Thus concealing her true nature, Wren faces many deadly challenges in the Silver Block . Here our MMC enters, Cross Redden, the ruthless yet captivating commanding officer who seems determined to uncover Wren's secrets. As tensions rise, Wren must navigate those secrets, her enemies, and an undeniable attraction to Cross—all while determining how far she’s willing to go to protect herself and those she loves.

my review : I absolutely loved Silver Elite! While some parts of the plot were predictable, the unexpected twists kept me on edge and made for an exciting, tension-filled read. Wren’s recklessness frustrated me at times, but I still liked her a lot. And Cross, omg I Loved him !!!! he completely stole the show! I only wish we had his POV because I would have loved to see more of his thoughts. Let's hope we get his POV in the next book
Guys this book hasn't even been published and I'm talking about reading the next one 😭😭 ohhhh I cannot wait !!!!

4.5 stars

wow, this book was a wild ride. dani francis successfully captured every good thing about the dystopian romantic novels i read as a teenager. the book had me invested in all of the characters' fates early on, and toward the end of the novel it had me in a chokehold. seriously, the second book cannot come fast enough. i thoroughly enjoyed the main character, wren, and was so invested in her journey: both the romantic subplot and the main plot. this book had everything that it should have: elegantly paced, well-done romance, good character development, and super action packed. this book really impressed me and i firmly believe everyone who enjoyed the dystopian era of the 2010s will enjoy this book.

the only things to comment on was that i felt like the dialogue, at times, was a bit unnatural and awkward and the information conveyed a bit more smoothly. it wasn't a huge issue in the novel, but in the beginning it drew me out of the few times. but despite this the novel left me with a really good feeling, and made me miss when i read divergent, red queen and those other dystopian franchises. the fact that this book for me belongs in the same league as those says a lot!

all in all, this was a very well executed debut novel and i am so impatient for the second book in the series. pls announce it soon, lol.

thank you to netgalley and random house for the gifting me an e-arc in exchange for an honest review<3

I had high hopes for this book after hearing so many great things, but unfortunately, I don’t think I was the right audience for it. There were several points where I wanted to put it down because I was completely exhausted by the main character and her love interest, but I kept pushing through just to see where it would go.

The premise itself had potential, a dystopian world ruled by an oppressive regime, where the protagonist, gifted with four hidden abilities, is given the opportunity to aid a rebellion in taking down the regime from within its elite military forces. It gave me strong 2000s dystopian vibes, which made me excited to dive in. But in the end, the execution just didn’t live up to its potential. The worldbuilding felt underdeveloped and needed more explanation. While the pacing was fast, not much actually happened, and the book could have been shorter since a lot of scenes felt repetitive and like filler.

There were several things that frustrated me, starting with the main character, Wren. Her entire character seemed to revolve around men—constantly thinking about them, obsessing over them, and even lusting after those tied to the very regime she’s supposed to be fighting. Her morals were all over the place, making her actions feel inconsistent. On top of that, she was insufferable. She came across as immature, impulsive, and prone to making incredibly reckless decisions, especially toward the end. The moment she removed her scar just to prove her love for Cross was downright ridiculous. Then, there were the side characters, who barely had any personality, including the love interest, Cross. Everyone in this book felt flat and one-dimensional, making them forgettable.

The romance didn’t help either. It wasn’t even romance. It was pure insta-lust with no emotional depth. Even when Wren and Cross declared their love for each other, it felt empty and unconvincing. If the author wanted to establish a long-standing connection between them since Cross had loved her for years, there should have been more meaningful development through their telepathic communication, but that aspect was barely explored. To make matters worse, some of Cross’s actions felt straight-up problematic, bordering on sexual harassment, which made me extremely uncomfortable. On top of all that, the twists were very predictable, making the story feel even more underwhelming.

Overall, this book just wasn’t for me. It had the potential to be a great dystopian read, but the lack of depth, frustrating characters, and forced romance made it a letdown.

Thank you to Netgalley and Random House Worlds - Del Rey for the e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Many thanks to the publisher and netgalley for the e-arc!

Where to begin? I was excited to read this based on the synopsis, and while it took me a couple chapters to get into it, I ate this story up like it was the end of the world. It’s got the action, the friendship, found family, love interests, mystery, and violence. I couldn’t change the pages fast enough. My only criticism is that I wished all of the mind to minds speaking was differentiated with italics or something to clearly make it know who is talking to who in their minds (it was confusing for me at least in the beginning).

Silver Elite is absolutely phenomenal — a perfect blend of The Hunger Games and Divergent, but with its own addictive, heart-pounding twist. From the first page, I was completely hooked. The world-building is vivid, the characters are layered, and the stakes couldn't be higher.

Finally, we have a dystopian story made for adults — darker, smarter, and more intense. Every chapter left me breathless, and the twists kept coming. I need the audiobook ASAP because I want to live in this world for as long as possible.

This book is going to be the next big obsession—I'm already counting down the days for a sequel. If you're looking for your next binge-worthy read, this is it.

I can't recommend Silver Elite enough — it's absolutely amazing.

Read this in one sitting, this was such an addicting read! It sucks you in right from the very beginning and doesn't let you put it down. The writing, plot and characters all complemented each other so well and resulted in a very solid dystopian debut with an enemies to lovers forbidden romance. Our FMC was very confident and strong and I loved that; she could be impulsive and stubborn but I think it just added to the plot so I don't begrudge that, but I can see how that could impact some readers' opinion of her. Our MMC was so so down bad for her and that always gets me.

My favourite part of this book was definitely the magic/power and the way it worked. It was so interesting to follow along and also very easy to understand AND ALSO THE END!!!!! The twists and betrayals... woah. You're not going to want to miss out on this gem! Thank you to NetGalley and Del Rey for the ARC!

Thank you Netgalley and Del Rey for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This book is very much dystopian, and reading it takes me back to my middle school years. It is fast paced, filled with twists, and just addicting to read.

However, some parts I feel were predictable, like I’ve read those kind of scenes in other books. I feel like the author could’ve taken a different approach to make it more unique.

As for the leads, I think they could’ve had more time to process everything after the reveal. Their relationship seems to progress too quickly.

Overall, i enjoy this so much! This is the perfect book to unwind after a hectic day and don’t want to think too hard as it’s easy to pick up and follow. Will definitely read the next book.

I really enjoyed this book! I was intrigued right away, and I loved that I got the chance to read an arc of the author’s debut. Her writing was captivating, and the world-building was easy to follow. The fast-paced plot kept me hooked—something was always happening! I also loved that it’s dystopian, one of my favorite genres.

Our female main character, Wren, is a total badass—stubborn, fierce, and delightfully cocky, which made her character so entertaining. Then we have our male lead, Cross Redden. I didn’t really like him at first, but by the end of the book, he started to grow on me. Surprisingly, I found myself liking Kaine, Wren’s friend, even more—he was sweet, caring, and flirty.

The romance was a slow-burn, enemies-to-lovers dynamic, which I enjoyed. However, I wish there had been more tender moments between them instead of them just lusting over each other. Honestly, I was more invested in Wren as a character and the overall plot than the romance itself.

Overall, I had a great time reading this and would recommend it, especially to fans of Divergent, though this one leans toward a more mature audience.
A huge thank you to NetGalley and Del Rey for the e-arc!

I swear I have been waiting for this book for 10 years. This goes out to all the book lovers who fell in love with dystopian books in the 2010s. Divergent, Hunger Games, Maze Runner, and now Silver Elites. I was so excited to get into this book and it didn’t disappoint. Not only is she insanely powerful but she’s also a badass. There are so many great plot twists and a great balance of training scenes, plot development, and of course a little romance. This is going on my top books of 2025 list no hesitation. Can’t wait for book 2!

4.75 ⭐️ I love reading so much!!! This was absolutely incredible. I had such a good time reading this! The pacing was so slow but I didn‘t care at all. I could‘ve spent another 500 pages with them and I need the next book like yesterday!

The fmc was so funny, I really enjoyed her character! She was so unapologetically herself and didn‘t care what anyone thought of her. A bit reckless too, which put her in some dire situations.
The mmc made me SO giddy!! I was giggling and kicking my feet every time they were in a scene together, I just ate it up.

I‘m really intrigued by the concept of this world, the whole mods and primes split and the corresponding abilities that some characters possessed are so interesting. Can‘t wait to figure out more about that in the sequel!

The side characters were also amazing, i absolutely hated some of them with my whole heart & loving the friends the fmc made along the way. Some plot twists were really predictable but I didn‘t care, it was still so so good, and other were crazy!

There were also some scenes that made me cry so much, which I didn’t expect at all considering I didn’t really know these characters in the beginning.

The plot was so fun, i enjoyed the whole training to become a silver elite and the tasks they had to complete so much!

I highly highly recommend reading silver elite!!
Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for this arc!! And Dani thank you for writing this!!!

Loved this book. Fourth Wing vibes all over again. Romance was good but spice could be better. Love brooding, mean Cross. My type of male character. There were times where plots were predictable, but the ending made up for it.

4.75⭐️ rounded up.

Meet my new obsession! Silver Elite by Dani Francis ticked all the boxes. I absolutely devoured this book! I loved it so much that I've pre-ordered a copy for my bookshelf.

Silver Elite is a new adult dystopian fantasy romance (and yes, there is spice 🌶).

I can honestly see this book blowing up on BookTok!

This story gave Fourth Wing and Divergent vibes, and it was glorious! Basgaith war college but in a world similar to that in Divergent.

Wren, forced to join the military's most elite silver block program, constantly butts heads with Cross, her commanding officer. The tension and banter between Cross and Wren reminded me so much of Violet and Xaden.

There are so many secrets, plot twists, betrayals, and revelations. It literally had me on the edge of my seat the entire time.

It's fast-paced and well-written, and the world-building is easy to digest and spread out evenly throughout the book. It was one of those books that I struggled to put down and made me forget I was reading; I was so immersed in the story.

The only reason I didn't give this book 5⭐️ is that there's a major plot twist that was so easy to guess, and I could see it coming a mile off. I wasn't shocked or blindsided, which was a shame, but there were still plenty of other plot twists that still shocked me enough for me to gasp audibly.

I can't wait for book 2! So much went down towards the end of the book, and I NEED to know what happens next!