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 📖

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!

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.