Outstanding! This is how you write a fantasy novel. Emotional, suspenseful, steamy- I need book 2!!! Highly recommend to romantasy readers.

Oh my gosh! This book had me in a chokehold, at first I was a little hesitant as I haven’t read many dystopian fantasies. BUT, I was pleasantly surprised, Wren’s character was fun to read, her turmoil when being recruited by the enemy. I LOVED her interactions with Cross it was just so 🤩😍. The plotline and the intricacies of it were really easy to follow too. Definitely can’t wait for the next book!

“𝘏𝘦 𝘴𝘢𝘪𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘨𝘪𝘳𝘭 𝘰𝘧 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘥𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘮𝘴 𝘭𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘴 𝘥𝘢𝘪𝘴𝘪𝘦𝘴.”

4.5 stars.

I really, really liked this book. Yes, I had some issues with it, but the story is so good and I am so hooked on this new world and all the characters. I’m well and truly invested. I want the second book like yesterday.

Okay, to get the negatives out the way quickly. There are certain words, or misused words, that I found really hard to look by. For example, using ‘keen’ at the end of a question where the word ‘okay’ would be used. Or answering that question with ‘keen’ instead of ‘okay’. I’ve since discovered the author is Australian and I don’t know if this is an Australian thing or a regional dialect but I found it very confusing (and annoying). Similarly the word ‘quat’ and ‘hellfuck’ - never seen or heard them used before, unsure if this is an Aus thing?

It also did take me a little bit to get into the book, I was worried at the beginning that I wasn’t going to love it. There are quite a few different words for the same thing which, to start with, was a little confusing. But once I got to around 15% of the way in I was gripped.

I wanted the Wolf reveal to be more dramatic but at the end of the day I guess it’s pretty sweet. By the end of the book I didn’t mind at all, I quite liked it.

I loved the friendships Wren formed, the side characters were amazing. I liked how she was constantly facing this internal battle of growing to care for people she shouldn’t care about.

Cross is a babe - spectacular, give me 14 of em right now. I like an enemies-to-lovers with a bit of slow burn but not too slow (I’ve been reading a lot of glacially paced romance recently) and this was the perfect pace for me.

All the different tasks and training for Silver Block gave the book a really nice structure without making it feel too rigid, it was so incredibly easy to read.

I will definitely be pushing this book on people when it releases, I think it’s going to be big, and rightfully so!

First five-star fantasy of the year! This one blew me away, I truly believe this is the next hit book. I got the same feels I did when I read Fourth Wing for the first time before it blew up. Don’t miss this one!

- enemies to lovers
- dystopian future
- telepathic powers
- captain/recruit
- training class/competition
- spy missions

The story is set in a futuristic world, after life as we know it was destroyed thanks to environmental disasters and war. A new authoritarian regime is in place with a despotic General bent on eradicating Mods, people with special mind powers like telepathy (that trope sure hits wayyy differently these days).

Our FMC, Wren, is one of these Mods, living in an outer ward, basically hiding in plain sight. She is fierce, talented and unapologetic, but also flawed and makes stupid mistakes, loved her character so much. Our MMC Cross is of course on the other side (Primes) to set up a delicious enemies-to-lovers romance.

Wren ends up forcibly recruited into competing to join Silver Block, the most elite of the General’s Command units, and there’s a lot of spy training and missions that kept the action moving. The world building and magic system is well-rounded but easy to understand, and it’s clear that there’s so much more to come as the trilogy unfolds, there’s all kinds of delicious Easter eggs that made it fun to speculate. I did guess some of the twists, but others surprised me, and at the end my jaw dropped!

All the reviews are saying it’s a mix of Hunger Games, Fourth Wing and Divergent, and I absolutely agree with that, but it doesn’t feel copied the way that fantasy imitating the greats often does, like you’re reading the same story with slightly different words. Silver Elite felt fresh and exciting, and a much-needed injection of the dystopian genre into the saturated romantasy market. It also stands out in the dystopian genre by being an adult book rather than YA, so romantasy fans will feel right at home with the feels and spice! It’s not overly spicy though, and it incorporates well into the overall plot so it also doesn’t feel like smut for the sake of smut.

Still not sure how I got so lucky to get a DRC - thank you kindly, Del Rey Publishing and Netgalley - but glad I did as I knew it was worth preordering that gorgeous silver-edged special edition before it’s gone 🤩🤫. Dani Francis will be one to watch!

DNF this at 50% but I don't want the DNF to impact my overall percentage, so I will be giving this one star.

Thank you NetGalley, Del Rey and of course Dani Francis for an early copy of this book.

I didn’t know what to expect from this book, a friend told me it was the new big dystopian series so I was intrigued.

And she was absolutely right.
Wren is a modified and so should already be dead, but instead, she caught the eye of her (very sexy) enemy and has to going to train in the Silver block.

I loved the morally grey side of her but also the found family trope going on between the members of the silver block.

The world building is well developed and easy to understand which could be a plus to people who have never read any dystopian Fantasy/SF.

In all I had the best time reading it and feel like it’s going to be the new hit of the year.

Silver Elite follows Wren, an ‘aberrant’ young woman who, after catching the eye of a high-ranking military commander, finds herself in a race for a place in the ranks of Silver Elite, a secret corps of elite soldiers. A young woman who will struggle against her demons, while also trying to meet the expectations and demands placed upon her by the Resistance, as she finds out what attracts her so much about Cross Redden, her superior and the General's son.

Silver Elite arrived on my shelves at the best possible time, considering the revival of dystopias, and it has far exceeded my expectations. A book that I devoured in three days and that I can only recommend if you like to delve into stories about revolutions, seemingly impossible love stories, and fictional analyses of the construction of us versus them.

First let me just say thank you to Dani Francis, the publishers and netgalley for the chance to read this amazing book! I couldn’t put it down and I absolutely can’t wait to read book two!

Rating:⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice: 🌶️🌶️

In a dystopian world where the elite make the rules, and anyone who doesn’t fall in line runs the risk of being eliminated, Wren has more than one secret to hide. Except her life gets tossed on its head when she makes the decision to save a child’s life… drawing the eyes of the very people she’s meant to be hiding from, and when those eyes take away one of the few people that have ever mattered to Wren she vows revenge. Even if it means becoming one of the prime to enact that revenge. What started out as a one track mind mission begins to change though when Wren realizes that maybe all of the Primes aren’t what she has always believed them to be. Especially when she feels an inexplicable draw to her commander… a man she certainly can’t and shouldn’t have feelings for. Even if he seems to feel the same unexplainable draw to her as well…but can love ever truly bloom between two people born to be enemies? All of that to say I really enjoyed this book! I connected with the characters, the story kept me wanting to know what was going to happen next and the slow burn romance kept just the right of tension to leave you wondering when they might just succumb to their mutual attraction! So, if you love books filled with interesting dystopian world building, an intriguing magic system, a military like academy, plenty of twists and turns to keep you on your toes, characters you’ll love and despise, a slow burn enemies to lover romance, a few spicy moments and a cliffhanger ending that will leave you gasping and looking for book two immediately than I would highly recommend grabbing a copy of Silver Elite!

Happy Reading 📖

this was interesting! 3.5 stars ⭐️

at first, i wasn’t sure if i was gonna enjoy this tbh. our main character was supposed to be a young adult doing adult things but i couldnt help reading from her pov envisioning a girl in her mid-late teens and it kinda threw me off for a bit but she grew on me as the book went on!

i ended up enjoying the story overall by the end.

(more detailed rtc as i’m traveling atm!)

What a whirlwind of a book.

This was an incredible debut book from Dani Francis. The dystopian setting was very interesting and easy to understand. I loved the competitive military academy setting that the book takes place in and the tense stakes. The relationships that pan out between members of Silver Block are nice and give that found family vibe in some ways. There were aspects of the book that were predictable and some totally unpredictable. The beginning was incredibly heart-wrenching and powerful whilst the end was shocking and suspenseful.

The only reason that I’m giving four stars is because I’m not totally convinced on Cross as the love interest. It felt, at many times, that he was trying very hard to come off as mysterious and alluring but instead came off a bit icky and narcissistic. He reminds me of the kind of love interest that would be in a dark romance, which is fine but not my cup of tea. I just felt that his and Wren’s relationship was very physical attraction-based instead of connection-based for at least 70-80% of the book. I wish that the author would have opted for a love triangle angle (which I do not say often) because I really loved the character of Kaine. He’s very funny and naturally charismatic. He’s also easily my favorite character in the entire book.



Overall, I highly recommend this book and hope others follow Francis’s lead in re-popularizing the dystopian genre (please).

Also, thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for providing me an ARC of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review!

A amazing debut. Dystopian trope , I'm in.
Mostly I read this book because of Wren , she is hella fighter.
She is really strong person who know how to fight. She is a little morally grey. But she is very loyal person.I feel bad for her when she is betrayed by her most trusted person.

This book is full of action, betrayal,pain , romance,friendship and political drama.
The plot was good but its focus also on romance (cause it's romantasy). The romance this book is slow burn , very slow but tension is so thick. Especially when its for forbidden 🙈.

Wren ,I really enjoyed his character. I will never shut up about her character. can't wait see more growth in her character.

Cross, this man ,he is obsessed with Wren but will not admit (but he did).
This man hella loyal to Wren. In order to keep her safe ,he was ready to betray his people (in beginning he was reluctant but in the ending , there was no hesitation).

Kaine, I'm looking forward to read more about him.

This book has also lot of hilarious moments. They were so funny. This book has dose of everything. This has romance, funny moments, drama, betrayal, secret.


Looking forward to read more about this book.

Thanks Net galley and Del ray to providing the copy of this book. This is my honest review.

Dystopian is so in right now! If you like dystopian stories and enemies to lovers romance than this is going to be a hit for you. While Silver Elite doesn't break the mold and utilizes themes we've seen before, I found the characters and story both intriguing and exciting. I started the book a few days ago and today I read the entire second half in one sitting because the plot started happening and I needed to know what came next. Its fun, its enjoyable, and it feels nostalgic.

Wren is complex - she's smart, resourceful, impulsive, and compassionate in a world where she should be hardened. She's a Modified girl in a society where having powers is bad and she's grown up with her uncle Jim protecting her from the Primes trying to out them. The world-building is easy enough to follow and we as readers find out more as Wren's journey takes place.

After a series of events unfold, she's recruited to train for the Silver squad of the Prime military. Trying to remain undercover alongside her enemies is a risky endeavor and what makes most of this book such a page-turner. Not to mention, her superior officer is none other than the love interest and he is quite charming. His layers are slow to peel back but he is a simp for Wren and despite his position, trying to do the best he can in a complex system. The two have excellent chemistry and the way their story unfolds feels both familiar and new - sometimes the enemies to lovers stories feel too repetitive but there's something electric about them together that I really enjoyed.

There are a few plot twists along the way that I saw coming but they were still enjoyable to read. Overall I give it 4/5 stars and really enjoyed the story!

Vibes:
Dystopian
Enemies to lovers
Secret identity
Forbidden Romance
Elite training academy
Magical Powers
Political intrigue
Baddass FMC
"I would burn it down for you"

Oh man!! It’s been way too long since a dystopian story captured me the way Silver Elite did. Add in romance (enemies-to-lovers, yum) and fantasy? Absolute gold.

Wren is the FMC I’ve been desperately looking for, and I’m calling it now—Cross is about to become everyone’s next favorite book boyfriend.

Wren felt so real, raw, and complex. Lately, I’ve been a little disappointed with the typical FMCs, but Wren breaks the mold in the best way.

The general premise of a secretly powerful FMC and a “bad boy on the ‘enemies side’” MMC isn’t exactly new—but Silver Elite does it so well. The plot twists kept me guessing and on the edge of my seat, which not many books manage to do these days.

Am I going to reread it in physical form? Absolutely.
Everyone should go preorder Silver Elite!

Thank you Netgalley , Dani Francis and Delrey books for this ARC!! So ready for book 2

April 28, 2025: I still think about this book almost daily. It is my new Roman empire. I love it with every fiber of my being. I can't wait for it to be released next week, so I can see my US copy and my UK copy on my bookshelf next to my physical arc.

Feb 6th, 2025: I am pretty sure I think about this book once a day. Hands down my favorite read of the last year.

Jan 5, 2025: This was the best book I've read in a year. The foreshadowing was spot-on, the writing flowed well, the plot worked and the pacing was smooth, the worldbuilding is extremely logical, the "magic" system fits in well, the romantic slow-burn legitimately burned, and I have nothing but good things to say about this book. When I wasn't reading it, I was thinking about it. I'm still thinking about it a week later.

I could easily see this book going global, and I'm shocked it is Dani Francis's first.

Thank you to Del Ray and NetGalley for the ARC. This was a real treat.

I am obsessed with this book, to the point that I'm declaring it my favorite read of the year already. I'd give it more than 5 stars if I could. It combines romantasy into a dystopian world in the perfect way.

Wren Darlington is a Modified, someone who has psychic powers, and has spent almost her whole life hiding from the Primes who control the Continent. When she makes the careless mistake of helping a child in her village, she finds herself forced to join the Continent's military in the elite silver block. There, she meets Cross Redden, her commanding officer who is unbearably good looking, and maddeningly cocky. Despite Wren and Cross refusing to trust one another, they find themselves inexplicably drawn to one another.

I love Wren's character so much. She's smart, witty, and dangerous, with plenty of secrets. She grapples with so many different emotions throughout the book, but still was able to develop some strong relationships. Cross is also dangerous, but still loveable and charming. His protectiveness of Wren is absolutely adorable given his broody nature. The pair have fantastic chemistry and swoon-worthy banter. Even though they struggle to trust one another, its clear pretty early on that they would do almost anything for each other.

The world building is pretty easy to understand. This book also features political intrigue, with Primes trying to eradicate those who are Modified and the Modified rebelling through the Uprising. There are plenty of secrets and of course betrayals. Everything is impeccably well-paced and kept me invested and engaged in the story. I love everything about this one and am so ready for the next book in the series!

I listened to the audio which was absolutely fantastic. The narrator, Amanda Dolan, was fantastic at portraying Wren's character and bringing her emotions to life. Cross also had a distinct voice, which I appreciated!

Thank you to NetGalley and Del Rey for the advance copies!

Y’all, dystopian is back!! If you’re like me and haven’t really read dystopian since you read The Hunger Games in 2008 (ouch), this is your sign to dive back in. As Dani Francis’ debut novel “Silver Elite,” packs a punch with fast-paced storytelling and multifaceted characters. In this post-apocalyptic world, those without psychic abilities, called Primes, are pitted against those who do, called Aberrants or Modified. Primes and Modified have been locked in a brutal power struggle, resulting in persecution and bloodshed. Enter our Modified FMC, Wren, who is forced to join an elite military training program for Primes. Wren has to survive the program without being discovered as a Mod, while also fighting her growing desire for her commanding officer, who also happens to be the son of the Prime general. I really enjoyed the world building and the slow burn yearning, and I definitely think this new series will be the Romantasy benchmark for 2025.

As always, thank you to NetGalley and Del Rey Books for access to this eARC for review; all thoughts are my own.

Dystopian is back! When such reads are more important than ever due to current events, I'm glad there are authors willing to dip their toes back in. This isn't a super critical read on its distopian politics, but its a good stepping stone for the romantasy lovers to get a taste of the vibes of the genre. Wren and Cross have excellent chemistry, and the reveals were fun. I would recommend this to adult readers who want some x-men flavor or a bit more scifi in their romantasy. Romansci? Scimance?

okay, immediate 5 star read. one of those books where you’re reading, and reading, and then check the time and it’s 2:30am, but there’s no way you can put it down - that’s Silver Elite.

for me, this was a perfect blend of fantasy, dystopian fiction, and romance, with elements of science fictions scattered in there too. not too much emphasis on any genre made that blend seamless and a true joy to read (particularly as a fan of all 4!!!).

wren. i loved her entire character, highs and lows. i feel like so many FMCs in fiction, particularly in fantasy, are written as pure, or delicate but then become fierce, or gaining power creates this whole new side of them. wren is none of these things. she’s tough from the beginning, she’s not afraid to be feminine and tough at the same time, or to talk about sex and not feel ashamed. if anything, we see her more gentle side later, but it feels natural and developed in the right way.

cross. as we see through the development of Silver Elite, there’s so much more to him and his personality, and i like that we’re drip fed this - it feels much more natural, of course he’d be guarded, of course he’d be driven to distraction by a woman not falling at his feet.

the pairing of them? i cannot wait to see their unstoppable forces combine.

ive seen several reviews comparing it to divergent, the hunger games, the red queen - and whilst the genre is the same, and the feeling of not being able to stop reading and obsessing over it, is also the same, this one stands out on its own for giving the readers of divergent et al, a grown up version as we’ve aged.

my only negative here, is how long am i going to have to wait for the next one?!?!

Thank you to NetGalley & Random House UK for giving me an eARC of this book.

Thank you to NetGalley for allowing me the chance to read this as an ARC!
5⭐️ easily!
Silver Elite is an absolutely explosive debut from Dani Francis—perfect for readers craving high-stakes dystopian action, forbidden romance, and intense emotional tension. It’s a fast-paced, unputdownable story that will have you hooked from the very first page.

The book follows Wren Darlington, a fierce and sharp-witted heroine with rare psychic abilities, fighting for survival in a world that hunts her kind. After a single mistake puts her in the crosshairs of the military’s elite unit, Wren is drawn into a dangerous game of loyalty, rebellion, and betrayal. The tension between her and her commanding officer, Cross—who may be more deeply connected to her past than she ever realized—is absolutely electric, making the slow-burn romance one of the book’s standout elements.

Francis expertly balances political intrigue, rebellion, hidden powers, and complicated emotions without ever slowing the momentum. Every twist kept me guessing, and the emotional payoff was just as satisfying as the action. It’s hard to believe this is a debut—the writing is polished, the world is compelling, and the stakes feel real on every page.

A must-read for fans of dystopian fantasy with rebellion, secret powers, forbidden love, and characters you’ll root for (and cry over). We’ll definitely be recommending Silver Block to readers looking for the next big book in fantasy and dystopian spaces.
I’ll be making a special edition of this one for my company!

Oh I LOVED this one!! It gave major divergent/hunger games whilst still being original and standing on its own two feet.

I loved Wren, she was everything I adore in an FMC, and Cross felt like your typical cold, bad-boy until you started to peel back some of those layers (I particularly enjoyed seeing him with his mother). It felt a little insta-lovey towards the end with how quick their feelings changed but this is accounted for with revelations coming to light, which I did guess, but I did NOT guess that ending.

I'm really looking forward to the next book, and the vibes throughout were just the perfect dystopian world; definitely give this one a try if you loved dystopian novels as a teen, this is the perfect adult version!