*Silver Elite* by Dani Francis is a thrilling and emotionally charged entry into the realm of paranormal fantasy, blending supernatural elements with compelling character development. The story follows a strong, nuanced protagonist navigating a world of hidden powers, secret societies, and dangerous alliances, all while grappling with identity and loyalty. Francis masterfully balances action and intrigue with heartfelt moments, creating a narrative that is both fast-paced and deeply immersive. With crisp writing and a vivid, atmospheric setting, *Silver Elite* hooks readers from the first page and doesn't let go, making it a standout in the genre.

Thank you to @delreybooks and @netgalley for the chance to review this book early!

Wren is a mod forced to hide her abilities because of the primes who seek to kill every mod. But when she makes a reckless choice, she is thrust into an institution she never thought she’d ever be a part of. She is faced with an impossible choice: train in Silver block to become an Elite for the Uprising, or be delegated to a labour camp for the rest of her life. Even though she is reckless at times she knows the only way to freedom is to work with the uprising.
The politics were interesting because you have the primes who don’t have the abilities Mods do, and are trying to irradicate the mods. But then you have the rebellion who don’t really seem like good people either. It’s very hard to know who to rout for. I guess that’s by design because Wren just wants to live her life free and not be hunted for what she is.
I really enjoyed seeing the different abilities Mods have. Incitement is brutal, and it added a darker element to the story.
At times I found Wren to be a little annoying and horny. She hates her superior officer because of the family he comes from, but has little self control when it comes to his advances?! Idk it kinda killed the “romance” for me. It felt like they were just using each other’s bodies for pleasure. It did get better when some truths were revealed, and I found I enjoyed their relationship more.
I loved the training and camaraderie between the recruits. Despite being surrounded by people who hate mods, Wren manages to form positive connections with a few of the trainees.
Oh boy there were so many twist I did not see coming and I’m gonna need book 2 ASAP!
Silver Elite is out TODAY! May 6th, 2025
Content warning:
Violence
Mention of SA- off page
Sexual content - on page

Happy publication day @authordanifrancis Silver Elite 🩶
Thank you @delreyuk @netgalley for my first ever ARC and what a great book to start with!!

I was intrigued when I saw this book compared to Hunger games and Fourth wing, and boy did it deliver but also with an influence of Divergent! It had the hit of dystopian nostalgia from teenage reading but with adult elements and themes.

Wren is both smart and reckless, possesses psychic powers that if found out are punishable by death, and she’s undercover in enemy territory competing in an elite soldier training program.

Any of the book girlies will spot the main “twist” coming a mile off, but I think that might have been a tactical move to throw the reader off from the other twists, as there were a couple that I did not see coming!

My only slight gripe of was that Cross, the mmc, at times his character felt abit rushed. But I’m so excited for the next book which based on the ending should delve into his character past, present and future even more!!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.25
Silver Elite ended up being my favourite read for April and I can’t wait for the rest of the trilogy!!

Silver Elite was such a wild ride! Think dystopian drama meets psychic powers, with a dash of forbidden romance. Wren’s just trying to survive with her secrets intact—but then she’s thrown into a deadly elite training program and stuck with Cross, the broodiest commander ever (and yeah, the tension is real).

It’s fast-paced, high-stakes, and gave me Fourth Wing meets Divergent vibes. Super fun read—I’ll definitely be picking up the sequel!

Silver Elite by Dani Francis is the first book in a dystopian trilogy that follows Wren, a young woman that is trying to keep some secrets. When an inciting incident occurs, she is forced into Silver training where every day is a new test to keep her true identity a secret.

This was fun. It was exactly what I wanted from a dystopian story. Fast paced, some romance, and some political intrigue. This feels very much like Divergent for adults as far as the vibes go. I think a lot of people will love this book because it feels nostalgic and also fresh.

I wasn’t the biggest fan of the main romance. I didn’t really connect with the love interest but hopefully that changes in the sequel. I think the world could have been a little bit more fleshed out as well.

Overall, I did have a good time with this book and I know a ton of other readers I can recommend this to!

This book was pure fun... which sounds really weird for a dystopian novel.

Silver Elite is set in a future world torn by conflict between people immune to a biotoxin that has wiped out half of Earth’s population and those who developed psychic gifts as a result of exposure to the toxin. Wren Darlington must conceal her powers after she is forced to join the Continent’s military. As she infiltrates the Primes, Wren finds herself drawn closer to her commanding officer and lines become blurred.

I couldn’t put this one down! I was fully wrapped up in this story, and I can’t wait to continue the series. The tension between Wren and Cross was delicious. I loved the action sequences and fast-pace as well.

I think readers who enjoyed Fourth Wing will eat this up. The military setting, training sequences, and romantic tension between recruit and commanding officer definitely hit all the marks. There is a heavier emphasis on the romantic elements of the story and spice than other dystopian novels that I’ve read. So if you enjoy spice and romantic tension, definitely check this one out!

My rating: 4.5⭐️

Hello this book is amazing I give it six stars. I’m OBSESSED. Dystopian is so! back!

When wren finds herself in enemy territory, she’s forced to join the army- the very one that’s killing her kind. Trust no one. Lie to everyone. And whatever you do, don’t fall for your greatest enemy.

The TENSION in this book is palpable. The MOUTH on cross redden!! There are so many side characters that will win you over as well. The concept of this universe is so interesting, where people with psychic/telepathic abilities are feared and killed. The plot is so gripping and paced perfectly, and with the world building I was never confused about what was going on.

Wren is such an awesome FMC, I can’t wait to see her journey in book two because that ending ?!?! Excuse me ?!

For lovers of fourth wing and divergent: meet your new favorite series

Thank you so much Dani Francis, hambright PR, Del Rey books, and NetGalley for the eARC!

🤍 happy pub day!! 🤍

(?) tell me your latest read you could NOT put down!

Silver Elite was *so* fun - I truly ate this one up & my enjoyment kept building throughout the story! This is book 1 in a planned trilogy, and I already know I will be CRAVING the next book 🤤

check this one out if you like:
▫️ dystopian & fantasy mash-up
▫️ binge-worthy reads
▫️ telepathy, psychic powers, & healing magic
▫️ forbidden romance
▫️ moderate spice & tension/angst mixed in
▫️ uprising/rebellion action
▫️ hidden identity & forced proximity
▫️ reckless & impulsive characters
▫️ Divergent vibes
▫️ endings that have you BEGGING for book 2

thank you to @delreybooks @authordanifrancis and @netgalley for the e-ARC! I think y'all are gonna be absolutely feral for this one, so grab your copy ASAP!! 😏
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#silverelite #dystopianbooks #bookrelease #danifrancis #readthisbook #romantasybooks #magicalreads #newbook #fantasybookrecs #2025books #instagramreads

Hell of a good time
We follow Wren, and her secretive 'modified' abilities as she is forced into recruitment for the elite 'Silver Block' program. 'Mods' with these telepathic powers are persecuted in this military dictatorship, and she is now finds herself in the most dangerous place for people like her.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book and I didn't want to put it down. It has perfect pacing and was well plotted, truly likeable characters and great plot twists.

While Wren wasn't always likeable as a character (can be bratty and thinks highly of her abilities), she was still fun to follow her journey through the recruitment process. Seeing her learn to be less impulsive and the following consequences.
Although a few of her actions (maybe two at most) had me rolling my eyes at her behaviour. To quote Wren herself: "I'm an obnoxiously curious person"

I love Cross. That man is adorable and completely obsessed with her. Some of his lines honestly had me giggling and kicking my feet hehe.
My only criticism is, I do wish the their relationship wasn't so quick, the tension and attraction could have gone on longer and that would have made it so much better. Maybe seeing that continue into the next book with a slow burn

The other side characters were also really likeable (well the ones that are actually nice people) and all felt fairly fleshed out.

Plot wise, I usually don't like a purely training story as it can be boring but this was not at all. The training tied in so well to the overall uprising plot, the balance being perfect I felt.

The world building was great, it felt thought out and realistic. With enough intrigue for things that haven't been explained yet - I basically just want to know about the Blacklands plz
I'm honestly so intrigued to see where this series goes!

Silver Elite by Dani Francis

4.5/5⭐️
2/5🌶️ (spice)
1.5/3🦋 (swoon)

•My Thoughts•
I feel like I’m still staring into the void blinking. This was a non stop, action packed ride and that ending has me SO excited for more. The world building was well done and the dystopian vibes were absolutely fascinating. Our FMC, Wren is impulsive with the biggest heart and while she was sometimes (ok…all the time) reckless, she didn’t annoy me and I was rooting for her the whole time. I enjoyed the characters and the friendships and the dynamic of Wren being undercover but developing relationships with her enemies. Wren’s relationship with the MMC brought some great tension and swoony moments and I love their progression! I CAN NOT wait for the rest of this series (a trilogy?)! Definitely recommend!

Thank you to @authordanifrancis and @delreybooks for the early copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

#silverelite #danifrancis #dystopianromance

What a rollercoaster of emotions!! Honestly. There were so many secrets and betrayal and heartache but the romance factor was on point. The tears were definitely flowing toward the end! Your girl Wren, was getting on my nerves at times though. I absolutely loved Wren & Cross's relationship. I can't wait to see how this story continues!!

You all can finally read this masterpiece. This dystopian read had it all, but also was very unique. I enjoyed it so much, constantly questioning who is right, who is wrong. Some parts had me gasping, other parts I was screaming! It held my attention, I also REALLY loved Kaine loool. His flirty attitude was so funny, but his friendship is amazing with our FMC Wren. But there’s also Cross, he can command me anyday. If you love dystopian reads, that keep you on your toes on every turn, then this is perfect for you!

If I can give this book 10 stars I would! This is going to be booktoks next sensation into this new dystopian trilogy. This books deserves the hype it can get! I want ppl screaming about this book this summer.

If you loved hunger games, divergent, maze runner and vibes of fourth wing, this book is for you! Like if those books had a baby together it would be this masterpiece!

This book already grabbed my attention from the first chapter to the end! This is bringing back dystopian and it will make you cancel your plans to read more because I kid you not I could not put this book down. I needed to know what was going to happen in each chapter as there is so much going on and the character development and training scenes were incredible.

Wren is such a badass FMC I really enjoyed her character and let’s just talk about Captain Cross Redden 🔥🔥 he is absolutely delicious. He is so possessive, powerful and ruthless I loved everything that came out of this man’s mouth. He will be on your top book BF list! 🥵

This was in fact a true enemies to lovers with lots of banter and the slow burn was done right in this book. Thank you to Del Rey for sending me an early copy of this 🫶🏼 I devoured it guys and I can’t wait for more readers to pick this baby up because this is going to be the next big thing to talk about!

This was such an amazing read. I went in with really high expectations after seeing loads of glowing reviews on TikTok, and somehow it still managed to surpass them. A solid 5 stars from me.

I was completely hooked. I went from 24% to finishing it in a day because I just couldn’t put it down. It was one of those books where you keep saying “just one more chapter”... and then suddenly you’ve finished the whole thing. Such a good time.

The writing style is great – really easy to follow – and the plot was clear, well-paced, and had me gripped the entire way through. The friendships, the romance, the action... everything felt really balanced. I often find books like this lean too much into either the fantasy or the romance, but this struck the perfect middle ground.

I did guess one of the twists, but there were definitely a couple I didn’t see coming at all. It kept me on my toes and delivered some proper shocks.

I loved the characters. Wren is a fantastic lead, and I was fully invested in the dynamic between her and Cross. The little comments from the test results were such a clever, fun touch too.

I didn’t want it to end. I was genuinely ready to start the next book the second I finished.

A huge thank you to NetGalley and Random House Worlds for the advanced copy. This is my honest, unbiased opinion.

And for anyone interested, it’s out today – definitely worth checking out!

Damn I absolutely loved this, it gave me Divergent vibes in the best way possible and I was in complete shock at the end, I definitely didn’t see it coming! I managed to pick up on some of the other reveals early but still loved it regardless and can’t wait for the rest of the series! Also gimme Cross right now.

The era of dystopian novels is finally back, and the genre is better than ever! Silver Elite felt like a nostalgic journey back to the early 2000s when books like The Hunger Games and Divergent dominated the book market. Combined with a good dose of romance, Silver Elite is definitely the hottest book this spring! I loved the characters—Wren, Jim, Kaine, and Cross—with a big plus for thorough character development. The plot is intriguing, and despite a few brief low-tempo moments here and there, it was mostly fast-paced throughout the book. Be prepared for several twists and turns along the way, heartbreak, and new love. Friendships and loyalties can shift at any moment. I can't wait to read book two. This was very, very good!

5 STARS
**Read twice

New favorite book of 2025 right here?????

Silver Elite follows Wren, a hidden *modified girl, who is trying to avoid notice of the government. The government is all-controlling, and people even suspected of helping rebel groups or having powers are executed. Although Wren is not a full member of the rebellion, she’s helped with multiple supply missions, and her uncle was an invaluable from asset. Wren also has four abilities as a mod, which is unheard of, and deadly. When her considerable weaponry skills get noticed by a guard, she’s placed in an Elite training group for the very government that kills her type. Of course, there’s also Cross, Silver Elite’s broody, but objectivity hot, commander, who is determined to make life difficult for her. In a deadly dance of secrets and love, can Wren beat the odds, all while keeping her secret? Or will she die trying?

Wren is honestly a character who is really relatable. She’s a bit cocky, but in the best badass way possible. She almost reminds me of Tory Vega from Zodiac Academy. The two of them both have the “don’t give a fuck” attitude that I absolutely love in fantasy characters. Cross… the moment you think he can’t get better, he does. Wren and Cross’s relationship is like a game of cat and mouse, with them switching roles frequently.

Overall, the writing style worked really well for me, which was a big plus. There were a couple of times where quality itself went down, but for a debut novel, this was really solid. The plot twists were a bit predictable, but I honestly didn’t mind it in this book.

I had really high expectations going into this one because of previous reviews that I’d read, and it lived up to the hype in every way possible. But that cliffhanger… yeah, I think Dani Francis will be getting my therapy bill after that. Not to mention that I also read this book twice before it was released, because it was that good???

*Modified people are people with special abilities

Features -
- Dystopian/Fantasy/Romance
- Enemies to lovers
- Secret identity
- Forced proximity
- Single POV
- Touch her and die
- Political plot
- First person
- Spicy

>> thank you to netgalley and the publisher for an arc - all thoughts are my own <3

🔮 Psychic Powers
🧪 Dystopian
⚔️ Elite Military Program
🗡 Enemies To Lovers
✨️ Wolf & Daisy 🐺🌸
💔 Betrayal & Loss

This book is AMAZING! If you loved Divergent like I did growing up, you'll love this kind of story!

I have emotional whiplash from this book. The last 30% especially. Oh my god. 😭 The relief, then the horror, then the excitement, then the sadness, it's an emotional rollercoaster for sure. The entire time you read this, you'll be tense lol.

*I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. This is my honest feedback about the book as an avid reader.*

I need the next book. NEED IT. I absolutely recommend this to anyone who likes sci-fi, dystopian stuff. Oh man. I wish I could read this for the first time again. The whole thing was so well done. Easy 5 stars for me.

Huge thank you to the author & NetGalley for letting me read & review this book. 💜

So I’ve been thinking about how to rate this book, and I’m happy to round it up to a 4 ⭐️… to set the scene, Silver Elite gives MAJOR Divergent vibes, though in this world the “Divergent” people are much more common, were caused by a toxin during wars, and are called Modified/Aberrant/‘fects (depending on who is talking).
Wren is a mod, one with more than one talent, who faces a pretty traumatic event early and her impulsiveness earns her a sentence of government training and service.
Through training, she almost makes friends with people who hate her kind, masks her skills well, and takes an interest in the broody (hot), tattooed (even hotter) Command Officer. This book is mostly her debating whether to try her hardest to break out, give up, or pass the training. All while trying to figure out if the Uprising is as genuine and good as they say they are. I’m definitely anticipating the sequel(s) to pack even more punch as we learn more about this Uprising (that letter? Her parents? Why did they do that and were they right to do that?) and this world, but I felt like this is a great start to a new series!
If some of this seems familiar, yes there are threads of books like THG, Divergent, Shatter Me, and other dystopian novels, but I still really enjoyed it. I went from 20% finished to 100% finished during a 5 hour plane trip, so it definitely kept me engaged, excited, and racing to find out how it was going to end!
thank you NetGalley for an ARC of this book, these are my own honest thoughts.

ARC REVIEW
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Silver Elite had me on the edge of my seat and heart racing. I could not put this book down. I think I'm in love with Cross. His possessive and controlling demeanor is attractive. Wren is an absolute badass. She's cocky, sarcastic, and loyal. You will absolutely love the well written side characters too.

This is my new favorite book. I've been craving a book like this for years now. This dystopian romance brings back all the feels of Divergent. The tension and yearning paired with spice was perfect. If I could inject this book into my veins I would, it's addicting. I NEED BOOK TWO.

Tropes:
🕊️ dystopian
🕊️forbidden romance
🕊️ slow burn
🕊️rebellion
🕊️enemies to lovers
🕊️ he's obsessed with her
🕊️ strong FMC
🕊️academy
🕊️special abilities

Thank you Dani Francis, NetGalley, and Hambright PR For the e-ARC.