Silver Elite caught me right away. The chemistry between Cross and Wren is great—right from their first meeting and the lit tension amps at every meeting. It has echoes of Divergent. I'm not really into the dystopian world building but I'm one hundred percent here for a rocky power struggle, enemies​-to​-lovers romance. It was a great sign that I was forcing myself to s​top reading.

The plot set of complex mind reading people in hiding and the ‘elite’ corps academy that Wren ends up in keeps the pages turning. There’s an interesting cast of characters rounding out the tension and conflict. I did eye​ roll at the double plot twist because I saw it coming as soon as the thread was introduced. But it was a heartfelt sweet touch even though it took some of the tension off the table, and I was still cheering. Then the ending—no spoilers but another twist which I didn’t see coming that really sets the story up beautifully for a conflict filled book two.

Silver Elite still stole my heart and is now going to compete for my top slot of romantasy of the year. I think it would translate fabulously to a Netflix/Prime short series or movie—so hopefully we get that as a follow up. I don’t say this lightly (because I don’t say it often) but I’m looking forward to book two.  If you are watching movies like Mea Culpa or shows like Maxton Hall it should be on your TBR.

Thanks to @NetGalley and @DelRey @RandomHouseWorlds for an advanced reading copy

Ok, this might be my newest obsession. It is a combo of Fourth Wing and Divergent in all of the best ways.

Cross has made his way onto the list of book boyfriends, and I need more!!

Wren Darlington is different; she has multiple abilities, and her blood doesn't glow silver when she uses them. Raised by an "uncle" to hide her powers in a society where she will be put to death for having them, Wren accidentally calls attention to herself, getting her figutive "uncle" caught and executed. When she is apprehended after his public execution, she is given no option but to join the silver squad, the top tier of the military. There she falls under the snare of the Captain, who happens to be the son of the General. How can she keep herself and others like her safe if she becomes one of the people to hunt them?

This is an enjoyable and compelling read, but something was lacking. I am unsure what else I expected, but I wanted more from the story. Or I wanted the story tightened up. It was repetitive in a lot of ways.

The romance was predictable. I am torn on reading the rest of the trilogy, I am interested in where it will go next, because the end left me intrigued. We shall see.

Overall, a 3.5. I think there is potential for the series.

Thank you to Net Galley, Random House Worlds, and Del Ray for the ARC. All opinions are my own.

Thank you Dani Francis, Del Rey, and NetGalley for the free gift!!

From the very first page, Silver Elite had me absolutely hooked. This is dystopian romantasy at its finest—intense, addictive, and brimming with high stakes, sizzling chemistry, and heart-wrenching choices.

Wren is a force: fierce, vulnerable, and endlessly compelling. Her psychic abilities and secret alliances make every moment feel like a knife’s edge, and the worldbuilding—dark, dangerous, and vividly imagined—pulled me in completely. Cross Redden (the commanding officer/love interest) was perfection: the perfect blend of ruthless and vulnerable, making the enemies-to-lovers arc perfection. The pacing of their relationship was spot-on, with just the right amount of tension, longing, and emotional unraveling.

This felt like Divergent for adults, but with even sharper emotional depth and richer romantic tension. The action scenes were pulse-pounding, the emotional moments gut-wrenching, and the steamy scenes were so well done without ever feeling rushed or gratuitous.

I am completely, totally obsessed and already desperate for the next book. If you love dystopian settings, forbidden romance, elite training academies, psychic powers, and stories that will leave you screaming for more—Silver Elite needs to be on your radar.

An easy 5 stars.

Thank you, Netgalley and Del Rey, Random House Worlds, Inklore, for the chance to read this in advance!

Wow, I’m amazed. I loved the dystopian world, the powers! The writing was amazing, and Wren is a little firecracker.

We follow Wren, who is a Mod and she has to hide her powers from Primes, but eventually get into a training camp full of Primes where she has to hide her powers. The book is from her POV only. I liked that as readers, we aren’t smashed with some heavy world-building right from the start, it came gradually as the story was progressing.

About Wren, she is a strong badass FMC from the start with reckless tendencies, but she has good intentions. What I liked the most about her character is that she is smart, strong from the start, and she knows her strengths and weaknesses, so she knows how to play around with them. And she’s horny as hell for her captain 😂

Cross is tall, dark, and handsome. He’s a good character. He stays consistent with his actions, honestly, in my head, he’s a good guy. And thanks to him, the book is that spicy, and he should be growing on the list of book boyfriends.

The enemies to lovers, I could see why they should be and yes, there is some denying of the attraction from both of them, but really, if you expect enemies to lover where they’ll beat the hell out of each other while wanting to screw each other, that isn’t it. It kind of gives me Violet and Xaden.

There are good and bad guys, to the point we don’t know who’s good, who’s bad anymore, but there are many psychos and betrayals, oh, and good plot twists. By the end, I don’t know who to trust, and Wren probably feels the same way.

I’m so glad I had the chance to read this one early, and I’m intrigued to see how the story will progress in the next books!

Tomorrow I'll post my review on instagram and share the link on here too.

Silver Elite absolutely blew me away. It feels like a love letter to the dystopian fantasy era I adored growing up — think Divergent meets Fourth Wing (minus the dragons) — but aged up perfectly for adult readers. The worldbuilding is both familiar and fresh, giving me that nostalgic, heart-pounding thrill I used to live for in the 2010s, but with richer emotional depth and higher stakes.

I loved the balance between the military training, magic system, and emotional character arcs. It’s the kind of book that teenage me would have frothed at the mouth for, and adult me couldn’t put down. This story manages to capture both the spirit of classic dystopian rebellion and the complexities of a more mature fantasy world, and I’m already desperate for the next installment.

Highly recommend for fans of Fourth Wing, Zodiac Academy, Divergent, or anyone craving a gripping dystopian fantasy with heart, grit, and a spark of magic.

Thank you to Dani Francis, Random House Worlds | Del Rey, and NetGalley for giving me an eARC of Silver Elite in exchange for my honest review.

I am in love and absolutely obsessed with this book. This is going to be the next hit book series for sure. Let me tell you Dystopian is back. Wren has spent her entire life hiding due to the powers that she possesses. If she is discovered she would be put to death. But when she makes a mistake and lands herself captured, she is going to have to go to great lengths to prove that she is not in fact modified. Even if it means going through an elite training program that would land her working for the very government who wants her dead. And she absolutely will not fall in love along the way. Right?

There is not enough words to describe how much I loved this book. From the very beginning you are thrown into Wren's world and when it is quickly turned upside down, it hits you like a gut punch. The world-building in this book is outstanding, and the tension and hatred is palpable. I truly enjoyed Wren as a character. She is not afraid to stand up for what she believes in, and will not back down even if she knows it will mean trouble for her. Watching her grow throughout the book and figure out what exactly she believes in, and what she considers to be right and wrong is outstanding. As the book goes on you can tell that Wren is starting to realize that she does not fully agree with either side, and I cannot wait to see where the journey takes her with that newfound knowledge. Her character development? Outstanding. Additionally, watching Wren and Cross as they went from absolute enemies, with clear sexual tension, to caving it, to being together was one of my favorite romantic journeys. The pacing of their romance and falling in love made sense to me. When the first caved it I was so excited, and what happens after also felt right. This was such a well thought out romance that was paced and plotted out to perfection. I need to see where the next book takes them because with where they left off, I cannot even imagine but I have to know, even if I know deep down the book might be more about individual growth.

The plot is fast-paced, yet at the same time it isn't if that even makes sense. The plot moves as it needs to, and while I would have loved to spend the entire book with her training, I think that would have gotten old after awhile. There were so many twists and turns throughout the book and while I am glad that some of those twists I was able to guess (it made me feel smart lol), I also appreciated that there were some that I could not have figured out. This was such a fun read and I could not put it down. I need book two and I need it as soon as humanly possible please and thank you.

Thank you NetGalley, Del Ray, and Dani Francis.
10/10 will be recommending to everyone. Very reminiscent of the 2010s Divergent, Hunger Games dystopian trope, yet it stands completely on its own with an original plot. This book had all the elements I love—fast paced, suspenseful, fantasy, romance, etc etc. Also a great cast of characters and a relatable and likable FMC.

I loved the dystopian vibes of this one. The tension, the cloak and dagger, the romance, it truly was all on point. It brought me back to reading Divergent and Hunger Games as a kid, but aged up to meet where a lot of those readers- myself included- are now. The pacing was beautiful, and I love how Dani kind of threw me off by giving some hints to certain things happening with the interest of keeping us away from other information. Truly amazing to read, and I will be dying to get my hands on book 2!

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this early for an honest review. This one just wasn’t my cup of tea, unfortunately. I should have expected this going in, because I don’t read Romantasy, but the tag of an adult Divergent caught me. I’m sure others will like it, but I’m just moving on.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an advanced reader copy

Silver Elite by Dani Francis is a first person-POV dystopian romance. Wren is a Modified, one of those who is born with powers and greatly feared by the general population aka the Primes. When her uncle is revealed to be a Modified as well by the military and is killed, Wren is sent into the military camp to train to become a soldier or risk being sent to a labor camp with no chance of ever going home. But Cross, the son of the General, the same man who hates the Modified with a passion, can’t stay away from her and she finds it harder to resist him.

I am one of those people who wants my enemies-to-lovers to be two people who could kill or kiss each other and they don’t know what they’re gonna do. Wren and Cross never reach that point because Cross doesn’t fully realize just how much and in what ways Wren views him as her enemy as he’s in the dark about her being a Modified, but he is aware of her uncle’s execution and the part that his father played. Despite this, the romance really worked for me. There is strong sexual tension the second Cross is introduced, it’s very clear that he is going to respect her boundaries but he’s also not really hiding how attracted he is to her, and he does push her quite a bit in training. For her part, Wren very much does want to give in but holds herself back and reminds herself of who his father is but not in a way that felt excessive or overly telling without showing.

The magic system works a lot like psychic powers but has the added trait of making the veins of its users glow silver when they use it. It’s not something anyone can just learn, but it can be honed, including a shield that blocks out other Modifieds. Wren has several abilities (which is common) and can amplify other people’s feelings, read thoughts, and connect with other Modifieds over thousands of miles. For the most part, Modifieds can only connect to people they meet in real life but Wren has a link to a young man about her age who is far away that she’s never met nor does she know his real name nor does he know hers. I’m always a fan of telepathy in romances that could lead to very strong emotional and psychological bonds that will, hopefully, turn into something a bit more messy.

This is on the slower side and spends a lot of time with Wren at the training camp and her relationships with the people who would kill her if they knew who she really was. The structure reminded me somewhat of Hunger Games in that the lead isn’t making a ton of choices that dictate what is going to happen within the plot immediately but will have overarching ramifications that will come up later. I think this is where the romance being so prominent and being a roughly 50-50 split really does help the book feel like it’s moving forward in the moment as we have their relationship pulling us forward when Wren is still deciding what she even wants to do.

I would recommend this to fans of dystopian YA who want a more adult romance arc and readers of Romanasy who want a dystopian bend

Silver Elite- Dani Francis
4.5✨️ rounded up to 5.

- Dystopian society
- Military
- Political Intrigue
- Unknown enemies to lovers/forbidden romance
- Mind work Magical system
- Betrayal

Reading this book, felt like reading Divergent again for the first time. I really enjoyed dystopian novels growing up and I'm really glad to have read this.

This novel follows the FMC Wren Darlington who is forced into competing for a position within the Silver Elite department of the military all the while desperately hiding her psychic abilities which would be a death sentence should they be discovered.

I really enjoyed this novel. It kept me entertained from start to finish. I found it was a good pace, at times leaving me stressed. I found I liked the FMC more as the book progressed and her character developed. I enjoyed her sassy/sarcastic remarks but also her loyalty and bravery. And, I of course enjoyed the forbidden romance that grew.

I would highly recommend this novel for lovers of Divergent, Fourth Wing and the Hunger Games.

Thank you Netgalley and Random House Worlds- Del Rey for the opportunity to read this novel. I cant wait to see what else Dani Fancis creates, especially the sequels to this novel.

HOLY F**KING S**T. What did I just read. Y’all I can’t believe I’m saying this now. Hands down the best book of 2025. If I could give this 10 stars I would, but sadly Goodreads only allows 5 ⭐️. I’m still shocked, I can’t believe my favorite book of the year is from a freaking Dystopian of all places.

I just wanted everyone to know I had little expectations going in, and I only requested to read this because one of my mutuals was raving about. I thought to myself what the heck I’ll give it a go. I was greeted by a book that’s The Hunger Games, Divergent & X-Men all rolled into one.

This book seriously made me feel like I was 16 again discovering my love for the dystopian genre. Silver Elite starts off swinging and doesn’t let you go until you read the end begging for more. This book seriously had it all. The action, mystery, romance, intrigue seriously blew my mind. It kept me on the edge of my seat and I still don’t know who to trust. To top it off, Y’ALL the romance in this book is god tiered. The tension, the yearning, the spice. Hands down one of my new favorite book couples.

If you can’t already tell I highly recommend this book. To top it off I cannot stress this enough don’t just read this book go out and buy it on May 6th. I need everyone to catch up and get on this hype level. Lastly big thank you to Del Rey & NetGalley for providing me an ARC to read and review.

If you’re a fan of The Hunger Games, Divergent, Fourth Wing, Shatter Me, or Blood Over Bright Haven, stop what you’re doing and add this book to your TBR immediately. I got the exact same feeling reading this that I did with those favorites. It’s that good.

The plot is pure adrenaline. From the very first page, it kicks off with a bang. After a brutal event, Wren ends up training as a soldier, hoping to earn a spot in the elite Silver Block. The catch? She has psychic powers she has to hide, because if anyone finds out, it’s an instant death sentence. And of course, she’s assigned to report to the General’s son, Cross. Naturally, he’s infuriating, a little morally gray, completely magnetic, and way too attractive for Wren’s peace of mind.

The tension between Wren and Cross is off the charts. Their chemistry practically crackles off the page. Wren is fierce, strong, and unapologetically herself, giving serious Katniss Everdeen and Aelin Galathynius energy. Meanwhile, Cross walks that perfect line: tough on the outside, but unexpectedly soft when it comes to her. Together, they are just electric.

The world-building is spot on. It strikes the perfect balance, giving enough detail to pull you in without slowing down the story. (If you’ve ever been bored halfway through a fantasy info dump, you will appreciate this.) It leans more romantasy with a slight dystopian edge, and it absolutely works.

If I could give this book six stars, I would without blinking. It is already locked in as one of my top reads of 2025. And that ending? Goodness. I am counting down the days for book two.

Trust me, preorder Silver Elite like yesterday.

If you're a Fourth Wing fan, make Silver Elite your next read! It doesn't have dragons (sad, I know) but it DOES include a exclusive military program, people with magical abilities, edge of your seat political uprisings, and a really great romance storyline.

Pick it up for:
🕊️ Enemies to Lovers & fun banter
🕊️ Unique magic system
🕊️ Dystopian World + interesting politics
🕊️ Great pace & tension
🕊️ Emotional twists and turns

This one isn't hard to follow as far as fantasy books go. No strange names or lands to try and pronounce. It's our the future of our world post-war following a nuclear fallout, which resulted in the creation of mutations in some people, giving them special abilities and creating a new class system and political consequences . So, it's the same world we live in, but also very different.

Overall, this book was excellent. If you're new to fantasy, this could be a great one to dip your toes into the waters. I really enjoyed it and hope for a sequel to come out soon. I need more!
4.5/5 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ rounded up to 5 for this review

Very much enjoyed this book in the first half, the plot was fresh and interesting, bringing back some of that 2010’s dystopian and mixing it with some fantasy elements that I greatly enjoyed. The fmc’s character progression was great and fairly balanced in making sure she wasn’t a “is good at everything character” which made her more relatable. That being said, I have one critique that irked me after the halfway point, and that is the romance was unbearably predicable. This tends to be the new trend with romantasy books as of late, and it’s where the relationship is so predictable I can tell with 99% accuracy how them getting together will develop. It felt overdone, and gave me a big drawback unfortunately. Also, I found that the mmc was pretty underdeveloped and also fairly predictable, his character is something I’ve seen done in a lot of other books so again he was another boring mmc to me.

Thank you to NetGalley and Del Rey for this ARC!

As someone who was obsessed with dystopian books as a teenager, this was an amazing read! This book is divergent's older sister with some spice added🌶️

Everything was great about it from the worldbuilding, to the characters and the relationships! I love when an MMC falls hard for the FMC and my man cross was obsessed with Wren! 😫 as he should be! Although I could see some twists happening I was equally shocked with other parts. This book had me on the edge of my seat!

I can't wait to read book 2! But I hope Cross and Wren won't be apart for too long!

THIS. BOOK. IS. FANTASTIC. I was in a reading rut after Sunrise on the Reaping and this book knocked me right out of it. A great take on the dystopian genre that was more adult and the concept was new and interesting. Absolutely loved the main character, Wren. Smart but reckless and sassy. The romantic chemistry was amazing too. Loved the banter and the back and forth. Gave me Fourth Wing vibes even though the plots were very different. Only problem I have is that now I need book 2!

One of the easiest 5 stars I have ever given. The plot, the world building, the cast of characters... chefs kiss. I haven't felt this way about a book in so long. I cannot wait for the next book!!!

Thank you Netgalley and publisher Del Rey for an advanced reader copy in exchange for a honest review. All opinions are my own.

I'll admit I haven't read many dystopians in my life (Jokes on me I haven't even read the Queen of Dystopia Hunger Games) but only a couple of Orwells and the first book of the Shatter Me series but after this book? I might seriously develop a new passion/interest for it.

This book was not what I initially thought. I loved the whole subdivision, the name/terms used. Especially the copper/tin/gold/silver denomination we had here and all the relative divisions even in not particularly explained. I adored the relationship of trust Wren had with Uncle Jim, how the only person she trust was dead and that she knew there was truly nothing she could do.

Talking about Wren. I LOVED WREN. Okay, okay, I'm usually not so hyped for a main character because they usually act like they shouldn't. But Wren? Trust No One - and this sentence couldn't have been truer. She truly did not trust anyone. She was always on character, never faltering, always lying to save her ass (or to be sent back to her ward) or planning her next move to not get figured out. Yes, at times she may have been too much, but it was always on character, I especially loved how she reflected on her true self fading away each time she incited someone to kill themselves (especially Jayde), how her conscience slapped her in the face each time that happened. Plus the great bonus was her sass, good lord I loved her sass.

Talking about the other main character, dearest Captain of Silver Elite, Cross Redden. He was such on point too, such an amazing feat to achieve. In my eyes he's just a sweet potato who can move like shadow and has the uncanny ability to constantly piss Wren off. I really liked his character too, his loyalty to the few things that actually care to him, such as not bothering to stand against his younger brother as he decided to trust his own judgment instead the one their father planted into little maniacal killer Roe.

Now, what I didn't particularly like was the little close to none explanation we received on the world the whole story is set in, some lore would have been greatly appreciated, just as how Mods and Primes are differentiated in terms of DNA, how can a Prime give birth to a Mod and if a Mod can give birth to a prime,. Like what are the genetic factors that differentiate subject A from subject B?

The other small thing I did not appreciated (in some way I did but idk if it was really necessary for the story?) was the excess (if we can say that) of smut in the second part of the book. Like literally after passing the 50%/60% mark every tot number of pages we would have smut. Which again yes amazing perfect but maybe in this case we might have had too much.

Still this was such a solid debut for author Dani Frances both in terms of plot and writing, can't wait for this one to be released out into the world and for book 2 to come out!

4.25⭐️ 2/2.5🌶️