Although there was plenty to enjoy about this book—a genuinely intriguing premise and a nostalgic return to classic YA dystopians (but with added spice)—there was one major element that completely killed it for me: the characters. Specifically, Wren. She might be one of the most unlikable protagonists I’ve ever read. Selfish, entitled, obnoxious—and somehow we’re constantly being told how amazing she is. It’s exhausting.

Her relationship with the male lead? Just two awful people being awful together. Nearly every character is introduced by how attractive Wren finds them (I wish I were kidding), and unfortunately, there’s just very little emotional or narrative depth beyond that.

I know so many people loved this book, and I really wanted to be one of them—but I just couldn’t get past how much I disliked the characters.

3.5⭐️
3🌶️
Age: Adult 18+

This will be this generations big dystopian hit like the ‘hunger games’ was for me growing up.

Thank you NetGalley for providing me with an eARC for my honest review.

Unfortunately the main plot twists were predictable but overall I still enjoyed the story. I’m left unsure with who to trust.

I loved the military setting and the powers that modified or aberrations can have. I look forward to reading book 2 and seeing where it goes and exploring the conflict more.

The ‘enemies to lovers’ was sizzling. But was a little cliche for my liking and felt more like instant lust. It didn’t sell itself for me. I honestly might have preferred this without that relationship dynamic.

However, I was hooked the military setting the politics I really enjoyed and I lieb stehe dystopian setting. Good vs evil and the blurred lines in-between during war. What are we capable of when we are faced with life and death?

Fast paced read that has all the vibes needed for a dystopian, romance loving reader. I don’t agree that it feels similar to Hunger Games but I could see how there would be some nostalgic feelings readers had with Divergent. I wish the world was built up a bit more and up front we had more information about the mutations, powers, etc. I’m interested to see where this all goes and how the world/politics continue to unfold. I need more likable characters to be introduced though cause it’s really kind of lacking in that. Wren’s character development also needs to be top notch. I have hope for book 2.

Silver Elite by Dani Francis was absolutely amazing!
This is the best type of dystopian! I don’t think I can quite put into words.
Francis‘ writing is captivating. She knows how to pull the reader into a magnificent and intriguing place.
The story was absolutely engaging and the work that went into the settings was noticeable and superb.
The attention to details in her writing really set the scene and tone.

I literally DEVOURED this book! This book deserves all the hype. I was craving a good dystopian book and this gave me everything and more. So much happened you uncover so much throughout the entire book to get to the ending and my mind was blown. I am in desperate need of book 2 because my jaw was on the floor with that ending. This book gives you all the feels you want in a dystopian book. Ok and Cross may be my new book boyfriend 🤭 definitely would recommend reading!!

Although I don't necessarily agree with the titles used to sell the book, I really enjoyed my read of SIlver Elite over all. I would say it reads more like a spicy divergent than an adult hunger games.

That being said I really enjoyed the romance in the book and how it builds. I also found that although a little predictable, the plot twist was still well done and added lots of intrigue to the book. It was a very fun read and I will be anxiously awaiting the next one.

I am so incredibly grateful to have received an advanced copy of Silver Elite from the author and NetGalley! 🫶

Silver Elite is simply everything! 🥹🫶 It gave me the feeling I got when I read Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros for the first time with thinking with how one day this book is going to become an absolute worldwide sensation! ❤️ If you imagine mixing Fourth Wing and Divergent together you get this incredible story and I love this with my whole heart and soul! 🫶
The worldbuilding was beautiful and I loved it so much that it felt like I was transported to a whole other world and I just didn’t want to leave it! 🥹

Wren is such an incredible FMC because she always stands her ground, never gives up, and is resilient. I absolutely love her friendship with Wolfie! 🐺 It’s seriously the cutest! 💕I also love the side characters a ton and thought they all brought a ton to the overall story. Meanwhile, the chemistry between Wren and the MMC in this book is goosebump worthy with the tension, banter, and the fact that it was so forbidden for them to be with each other! 🤭🔥 I also seriously need book two in my hands ASAP because that cliffhanger had me dropping my kindle on the ground! 🙀😱

If you love dystopian books, Fourth Wing meets Divergent vibes, forbidden romance, secret identity, epic world building, and a book that will bring you on such a wild ride then this is the book for you! 🫶

5⭐️ 3🌶️ 4.5🎧

Relationship dynamic: MF
Tropes/Microtropes/Vibes/Reps:
☢️ Sci-fi/fantasy romance
💣 Dystopian world
⚔️ Enemies to lovers
🙅🏻‍♀️ Forbidden
🎖️ Commander x recruit
🤫 Secret identities

Book Publisher: Del Rey
Audio Publisher: Random House Audio
Narrators: Amanda Dolan
Narration type: solo
Writing perspective: first person, single POV
Standard length (pages): 517
Standard length (time): 19:12
Listening speed: 2.5x
Listened via: Audible
Read via: Kindle
ARC provided by: Del Rey + NetGalley
Physical book provided by: Del Rey | Random House
(Audio purchased by me)

📖 I’ve been excited about this book since I saw it on IG a couple months ago. Coming off quite a few incredible fantasy books and having heard this compared to some of my fav series from youth (Hunger Games, Divergent, etc), I came in with some seriously high expectations… and I feel like Dani absolutely SLAYED!! The plot really took off right from the start and she expertly built the dystopian world for us as our FMC struggled through some very difficult situations. I thought she did a fantastic job showing me instead of telling me and set up just the right amount of knowledge while leaving room for surprises, twists, and turns. The tension and slow burn between our couple was delicious. The life or death secrets surrounding them kept the stakes high and the plot hopping. I absolutely can’t wait for the next book in the series!!

🎧 This was my first time listening to Amanda Dolan, and at first her voice sounded a little sharp to my ear. But once I got into this and got to know Wren’s character, I realized her narration was actually pretty spot on. Wren is bold, fearless, and powerful, so a strong, bold voice is the only thing that makes sense! Amanda also did a great job with the other characters voices, giving unique sounds to our fav side characters and of course the hunky captain.

Silver Elite had me from page one. Poignant, immersive, and so cool.
I think dystopian can be tricky in terms of the balance between world building and character development. Dani Francis did such a great job at keeping the world building informative to Wren and the world around her that learning about the world the story is set in was seamless and left me eager to understand and read more.

My only gripe is that I wish it was longer, or perhaps split into another book so certain scenes/character pairs could've had more time/depth. I didn't find these scenes or characters lacking, more that they would've benefitted from more focus so I could've loved them even more.

Twists and turns that were so fun to understand and wrap my head around, powerful characters, and forbidden romance. My ideal book!

Hooked from page one! I absolutely loved this dystopian! It gave me divergent vibes for adults and I ate it up. Highly recommend this book! It’s worth the hype imo!

Thank you to NetGalley for the arc!

What a fantastic read! I loved the pace, the characters, and the secrecy of everything. So happy to have a dystopian romance back in the hands of excited readers everywhere! I already can't wait for the next one.

WHAT A JOURNEY! hooked,hooked, hooked. New book hangover incoming

HIGHLY recommend to lovers of Fourth Wing, Divergent, Hunger Games and Red Queen- those series had a baby and it’s called Silver Elite.

The dystopian world, enemies to lovers, war college, uprising… CHEFS KISS.

I will say I am an avid fantasy/dystopian reader. This book may be confusing or hard to understand to readers who don’t always read this genre. Things are mentioned with no explanation but you learn as you go as with most dystopian series. Just saying imo it’s not the best introduction to the genre.

CANNOT wait for it to continue!!!

Silver Elite had me sucked in from the very beginning. This book was so well written and thoroughly thought out. I honestly didn’t know what to expect going in since this isn’t my typical genre but I’m so glad I took a chance on it. I’m still trying to gather my thoughts but the gist is: Read. This. NOW!
There’s angst, spice, twists and turns, and just a really beautiful story. I can’t wait to read the rest of this series!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️🌶️🌶️

4.25 stars!

Silver Elite was such a fun read, and I was a big fan of Wren’s from the beginning. She’s impulsive and headstrong and she doesn’t always make the right call. But her heart is in the right place and she does what she does for the right reasons.

I’m completely obsessed with Kaine who is a shameless, relentless flirt. He’s such a lovable supporting character and he makes things fun for Wren along the way.

Cross is Wren’s commanding officer who is stern and of course, super attractive. From the time they meet at the beginning of the book, you can see the sparks flying.

I think it’s really interesting that as readers, we’re sympathetic to Wren’s side, but as the book continues, we get to see that both sides have done, and are doing, some pretty messed up things to further their goals.

This was a really enjoyable dystopian read, and I can't wait for book two! If you're a big dystopia fan and if, like me, you've never gotten over The Hunger Games, you'll want to read this!

Thank you to Del Rey at Penguin Random House for the gifted e-arc!

Thank you to the publisher for an arc!
I received an eArc of this a while back and didn't think anything of it, until it started getting a lot of hype online.
Great for fans of Divergent or the Hunger Games, Silver Elite is set in a dystopian world where the Primes are the rulers and the Mods are forbidden. Our FMC, Wren, is a Mod in hiding with a special set of skills. She finds herself training at the enemy's program under our broody and mysterious MMC, Cross. This enemies to lovers starts out very faced paced with lots of action and twists.
Unfortunately, I felt like the action dipped around 75% and never truly picked back up, despite all the twists and turns at the end. The included tropes are enemies to lovers, hidden identities, training and trials, and a unique world. The does have explicit scenes, but I would rate it a medium spice level. Personally, I do feel Silver Elite is being overhyped. But it was a good time!

Silver Elite fucking ate. No crumbs. FAN-FRICKING-TASTIC!!!! Probably my favorite read of the year so far tbh.

This was a good fun time. Solid 4 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️. A dystopian adult romantasy with lots of action? I was thoroughly entertained. & thank you to LEO PR for gifting me a copy! Plot, pros, & cons below 👇🏼

PLOT
Wren has powers in a world where having powers gets you enslaved or killed. She was also raised by her uncle who trained her to be an excellent soldier to protect herself. One day she uses her skills to protect another & it catches the eye of the wrong people which puts her in tryouts for a military unit of her enemy. This book has
- dystopian vibes
- loooose enemies to lovers, not really but kinda
- stubborn/reckless but entertaining FMC
- military captain MMC
- military training & academic setting
- magic havers vs. not
- war, rebellion, & uprisings
- med-ish spice


PROS
- A really easy read. Easy to understand & digest & figure out this world, these characters, & their motivations.
- Super clear dystopian messaging/themes from the jump. I also liked the addition of some, “hey both groups did bad shit but how do we move forward from it so we don’t repeat violent regimes of the past” storyline which I find intriguing as it’s ripe for future conflict between the warring groups. One of my favorite themes in general is everyone being someone’s villain & idk if this is going to go that way but it seems like it could & I’m into that if it does.
- Tons of action. Very little downtime, which is just fun.
- SO much in the last like 20%! Loved!
- Wren is fun. She’s reckless but in a way where I wasn’t constantly like “you’re a dipshit” — even when she was objectively being one lol. Idk there was just something I liked about her.
- Cross is hot. & I like how he developed & we got to see his softer side over time. I’m interested in his further development.
- Kaine is a very fun side character. He was entertaining through & through.


MIDS
- I predicted 99% of this plot but I still had fun so idc really.


CONS
- Sometimes I don’t mind instalust but it made me sort of not invested in the romance until the very end when feelings started being shared. So my feelings on the romance are conflicted.
- There were a couple of things Wren did that were just objectively stupid & seemingly out of character for a woman who spent 15+ years protecting herself from harm & dangerous situations. Sure she constantly says she’s reckless but some of her actions just made no sense given her backstory, which made the resulting conflict feel like fodder.
- Something about their banter sometimes just felt off. Like so close to being so swoon-worthy but not *quite* there.


Will def read book 2 when it comes out!


⚠️ SPOILERS ⚠️
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- Knew immediately without question Cross was Wolf. Would have been so interesting if one of his brothers was Wolf though tbh. And him being Wolf meant we didn't really get to witness their relationship develop because it already had in the past, which does feel like we lost out on that.
- The ending about her parents is an interesting twist! Excited to see where that goes.
- I didn’t feel like we truly lost Kaine so when he was back that wasn’t surprising but him being the pilot is fun!
- Lyddie betraying was gooooood even if Wren getting her scar erased was objectively dumb.

Top read of the year for sure! Loved wren and cross the banter/ tension between the two was perfection. The pacing was everything and kept me on the edge of my seat especially towards the end things picked up and the twists kept coming. Cannot wait for book two.

Holy bloody moly. Dystopian romance readers I AM CALLING YOUUUUU!!!

I think I’ve just read the next big book that will take off in the bookish community!!! ❤️‍🔥❤️‍🔥❤️‍🔥 OH MY GOODNESSSSS 🤯🤯🤯

What you can expect;
🩶Dystopian romance
🩶Enemies to lovers
🩶Elite training program
🩶Fourth Wing meets Divergent (*cue happy dancing*)
🩶Powers (Mods) vs the Powerless (Primes)
🩶Swoonworthy MMC Cross (think Four & Xaden vibes)

Honestly this read absolutely blew me away and I. NEED. MORE. 🤯 DYSTOPIAN ROMANCE IS BACK GIRLIES !!!!

Thank you SO SO much to the beautiful team at Penguin Random House Australia for an ARC of this book (ISNT SHE BEAUTIFUL 🥹), the handwritten note (shoutout to the gorgeous Tanaya) and my Silver Elite badge pin 🩶feeling so grateful 🥹🫶🏻 cue the dreaded book hangover 🫠

Dani Francis explores the dystopian world in their debut novel, Silver Elite. We follow Wren, a modified hiding in plain sight, as she journeys through the military academy and unravels secrets of her world and her commanding officer, Cross Redden. This is an enemies to lover story between Wren and Cross and is incredibly fast-faced. Readers of romantasy novels will enjoy this.