This book had me feeling nostalgic and excited and all the warm fuzzies that come from a 🔥 Romantasy.

I loved this one thoroughly! It truly gave me the hunger games and divergent dystopia, something that I haven’t read in a while now. While giving my younger YA reading feels, it threw in a steamy romance and the fanfasy elements. Loved the way the romance was done honestly and how it developed, the forbidden nature of it and all. I enjoyed our FMC who just wanted to live and get out of there and watching her grow but trying to keep her morals as well. It truly makes me excited for the next book and see where it goes!

An absolutely great setup of a new dystopian series that will be loved by all of us that read the classic Ya dystopians in our youth. Now we just want it a bit 🌶️🌶️🌶️ 😈

Thank you to the publisher and to NetGalley for the chance to review this arc! I cannot wait to share more of it with friends and on social media!

Amazing. Incredible. I need more. Pls. The way this book gagged me from beginning to end. It was surprising, not gonna lie. At first, I didn't know what to expect but the more I read the more I liked it and the ending was just so good.

Jesus Fu** I don’t know what I just read. I’m going to start by saying I used to love the show Dark Angel in early 2000’ I was obsessed with it as a kid. And God that book feel like it it’s the mix between that and divergent, if they had a baby that will be it. I ate that up too fast and I honestly try to read it slowly because I never wanted that book to end. It’s not perfect literature, not the RF Kuang or Olivie Blake type, we are more of the Yarros writing, but with a fast paced story line and an incredible FMC. Wren isn’t perfect she is impulsive it’s an understanding but she is sarcastic, sassy and bad ass. And she made me laugh a lot of time, she doesn’t take sh*t and never takes no for an answer. Cross is the typical brooding mysterious book boyfriend I like their relationship even if I don’t think it’s a real ennemies to lovers (won’t spoil anything here.) It’s a relationship based on banter and chancing each other out.

The plot twist and the betrayals are made my heads turn, it’s a serious game of who can Wren trust and what she is able to say to people. I loved it and I’m a bit pissed that I have to wait next year for the next book or longer. If you are a fan of crazy dystopian world and betrayals secrets identifies and forbidden romance it’s made for you.

GUYSSSS!! You have to read this book!!

In the world of fantasy now there is a lot of over saturation of fae books and this was so damn refreshing to read. It’s a big YES to bringing back dystopian fantasy properly! I’m obsessed… this may have changed my brain chemistry 😅

If you loved hungers games and fourth wings military setting… Chuck in a dystopian world, action packed training regime, rebellions, secret identities, forbidden romance, mind magic and bam… this masterpiece!

I could not put this down!!

The book follows wren our badass FMC, who is a modified (person who survived the virus and can now use mind magic) as she finds herself in an inescapable situation that leads her into a military programme to become a silver elite soldier for command, her enemy.

The whole command programme to become a soldier was epic, the atmosphere, the training, the undercover operations! As a person who loves ‘SAS who dares wins’, this gave me all those vibes! Real life drills to be the best of the best… it was so fun to read!

I loved wrens character, her impulsivity, her stubbornness, her strength and knowledge of who she is! Then there’s cross, our soldier MMC, and them together… perfection! The slow burn tension was exquisite (the shower scene IYKYK) and the development of their relationship felt solid given the world they were in!

The plot was punchy, action packed and kept me literally on the edge of my seat! The writing followed nicely and I was not lost in the world building, and what a world it is, so much scope to go bigger and I’m sure there is so much more to find out. The ending was incredible… opening up more world, more questions and a whole heap of worry!!

I needed book 2 yesterday and this book isn’t even officially out yet! This will hypnotise you and I cannot recommend this enough!!

Silver Elite by Dani Francis is the kind of book that will definitely find its audience. If you love steamy, drama-filled dystopian romances where the heroine juggles multiple love interests, this might be for you! It has an elite military academy setting, a cadet x captain romance, and a telepathic heroine who has to hide her abilities—all intriguing elements that remind me of Fourth Wing with a mix of Divine Rivals (thanks to the secret telepathic connection between Wren and “Wolf,” a mysterious boy she’s communicated with since childhood). If you’re into that, you might really enjoy this one!

That being said, I was not the right reader for it. I’m giving it 3 stars here on NetGalley— despite me DNFing it—because I think it will be super popular with the right crowd, but personally, it didn’t work for me.
I don’t enjoy books that prioritize romance (especially overly sexualized romance) over character depth and world-building, and that was my biggest issue here. However, I won’t be unfair and act like this book is bad—it just wasn’t my thing, and I hope it finds the right audience!

Why It Didn’t Work for Me:

1. The Main Character (Wren) Was… Not It
This was my biggest struggle. From the very start, I had trouble connecting with Wren. She’s introduced as someone who sleeps around but refuses to be honest with the men she’s with—she lies, plays with their emotions, and then paints herself as the victim. The opening scene had her sneaking away from a soldier she hooked up with, and instead of just telling him it was a one-night thing, she kept up the act, kissing him like she cared while secretly planning her escape. Then she had the nerve to tell her friend that he "got a little needy at the end, kept begging to see me again.” Like, girl?? He was nice and respectful, but you manipulated him, and now you’re mocking him? That immediately made it hard for me to root for her.

2. Every Man = A Potential Hookup
The amount of horniness in this book was insane. It felt like every single male character existed just to be ogled or flirted with. She immediately sexualizes the captain the moment she meets him. The second a male cadet touches her, she gets tingles. Then, after a different cadet dies, she kisses her male cadet friend as a way to cope?? (Can we stop using random hookups as a replacement for actual emotional depth? Please?) It was exhausting.

3. The Moment I DNFed
I tried to push through, I really did. But once Wren—while already lusting over the captain—seriously considered sleeping with her cadet friend, I was done. There was no yearning in this book, no emotional build-up, just sexual desire driving every interaction. The fact that she could so easily be tempted by another man, even after spending chapters drooling over the captain, completely lost me. I skimmed the rest of the book in hopes that the plot would pick up and balance out the discomfort, but nope. I even skipped to the ending to see if anything major happened, but nothing intrigued me enough to care. And I purposefully avoided the spice scenes between Wren and the captain because if I was already so uncomfortable with her thoughts and actions before they even got together, there was no way I could handle the actual scenes.

4. The Romance Was Just… Uncomfortable
I wouldn't call this enemies to lovers—it’s more of a cadet x commanding officer romance. But the sexual tension felt so forced. The captain makes inappropriate sex jokes while still being her superior, and instead of being put off, Wren feels "warmth" and "hunger" toward him. And even though she’s already interested in him, she’s still tempted to sleep with her cadet friend. Like… what??

5. The Academy Plot Was Overshadowed
I love a good academy setting, but instead of focusing on her training, her struggles as a cadet, or the high-stakes tension of hiding her telepathic abilities, so much of the book revolved around who she was going to sleep with next. The actual world-building and dystopian elements took a backseat to Wren’s never-ending romantic entanglements.

Final Thoughts

I think this book will absolutely have an audience, and if you’re looking for a romance-heavy, fast-paced dystopian read with a lot of steam, you’ll probably have a great time! But for me, I need some level of emotional depth, and this book just didn’t give me that. If you're into books like Fourth Wing but wish they leaned even more into romance, this one might be perfect for you. Unfortunately, it just wasn’t for me.

Thank you, Netgalley, for the ARC.

This book screwed with my head so bad, I have been procrastinating writing this review! It's a sci-fi/dystopian romance with so many twists and turns. At no point in this book was I 100% sure of ANY character's morals or intentions, including our FMC.
In this world there are modified, or "mods" who are essentially banned and hunted by the government. Our FMC is a mod, and through a harsh turn of events she ends up working for the government that she hates against her will. They have no idea what she is.

For the most part, I really enjoyed this book. I think it is a unique take in a genre that is full of repetition. I could see some influences from other books but I didn't feel it was a copy and paste like some others are.
One thing I found odd was the pacing. It took until about 3o% into the book for the FMC to realize she could work her situation to her advantage and that drove me nuts while reading. I also found one aspect of the book - which I will not name because its a huge spoiler - incredibly obvious. As in, I guessed it from the second it was introduced. That being said, though, the rest of the book caught me very off guard and consistently went in the direction I didn't think it would go in. Which is impressive to me because I have very high pattern recognition and typically know what will happen before it does. There were so many twists I never could have predicted, especially around the end. The last 20% of this had me on the edge of my seat.
My other criticism is that I felt the relationship between the FMC and the MMC was incredibly underdeveloped. The romance wasn't the main plot, so it didn't ruin my enjoyment of the book but it did annoy me. By the time they were doing love confessions, I still felt like they hadn't connected on a real level.

All in all, I quite enjoyed this and will definitely read the next book when it eventually comes out! That's the pain with reading arcs :.)

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Wow! This!! Thank you Del Rey and NetGalley for this eARC. I couldn’t put this down, literally read it in 24 hours by staying up way too late. It’s a sci fi fantasy enemies to lovers with forbidden romance set in a dystopian future, like an adult version of Divergent/hunger games…I mean HELLO!!

I loved Wren, she was funny, gutsy, loyal and forced to join the continent’s military despite secretly being a Mod, the very people they are hunting. Cross, her ruthless commanding officer with whom she has sizzling chemistry with is also the son of her greatest enemy. We have an academy setting, secret identities, commanding officer/trainee and so much amazing banter and paranormal abilities

I think this book will be a huge hit, I know I couldn’t stop reading it and it’ll be a top read of the year

Tropes:
Sci fi fantasy
Forbidden love
Enemies to lovers
Academy setting
Dystopian romance

When I first received this ARC I had no expectations at all and I have been pleasantly surprised. Silver Elite had me hooked right from the start and I have devoured it over the last few days. From Wren’s sarcastic attitude to her determination to survive, she really brought the story to life and I am intrigued to see where the next book will go.

I did see some of the twists coming but that’s didn’t take away my enjoyment. I am looking forward to the next in the series!

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and rate this book!

I had a lot of fun reading Silver Elite - it was fast paced and had a good banter. I like the fact that it was a mixture of popular romantasy/dystopian novels I've read before as I like a bit of predictability in my books. But I'm not sure if I'll continue with the series...
The exposition and world-building felt very awkward at times (I prefer a balance of tell/show), characters were archetype-y and despite the fact I really wanted to like them, I didn't believe their personalities. The insta attraction was tiring at times because the relationship of main characters ended up not having much depth.
In the end, I'm torn - I enjoyed the reading experience and I finished this book in two days but I'm not curious when it comes to what happens next.

🔥 Book Review 🔥

Book: Silver Elite
Author: Dani Francis
Publication Date: May 2025

⭐️ Rating: 5/5 ⭐️

I am obsessed with Silver Elite by Dani Francis! This book was everything I was craving. It had the perfect mix of action, slow-burn, romance, and funny but fierce characters.

Wren Darlington is strong, smart, and powerful, which is the kind of main character I love! The banter between her and her friends had me giggling. Not to mention, the chemistry between Wren and Cross was top-tier, the flirting and tension was undeniably entertaining. The slow-burn between them kept me turning pages, in addition to the fast-paced events unfolding.

I could not tear myself from the book, the world was immersive, and Wren’s struggle to navigate her powers, secrets, and the brutal training program kept me reading on. Honestly, there is not much I can fault about this book. The story was incredibly engaging, the characters were exciting, and the pace was flawless.

If you’re a fan of Fourth Wing, this is the book for you! It’s got that same blazing energy, fierce characters, and a slow-burn romance that will keep you trapped in the world. I’m already counting down the days for the next book in the series… I desperately need it now!

#SilverElite #DaniFrancis #BookReview #DystopianRomance #FourthWing #SlowBurn #BookAddict #Bookstagram #Reading

okay, wow. what a debut novel!

silver elite feels like a love letter to the 2010’s dystopian empire of books and tv adaptations. the generation of teenagers during that time are now adults and we’re still craving those feelings left behind by the ginormous franchises. well, silver elite is grown up and is a must read for anyone wishing they could go back in time to experience the 2010 dystopian era once again.

my favourite part of the book and writing was how unpredictable it felt. in majority of the books i read today i feel like there’s this “safe cloud” surrounding the story. that no matter the situation the characters find themselves in everything will be okay, everyone will make it. silver elite is the complete opposite. every scene felt unpredictable, i never knew what would happen and who would suffer for it. it was exhilarating in the best way! i want to gasp out loud, feel my heart racing, and yell “fuck off” because the book has taken me for a wild ride. silver elite did that exceptionally.

the only thing holding me back from the full five stars is that i, at times, found the dialogue to be awkward. in some scenes it felt like the author knew what they wanted the characters to say but couldn’t quite get it seamlessly interwoven in the conversation. this also might just be a me issue, i am very sensitive to cringy dialogue. regardless, the prose was otherwise great and dani francis told the story phenomenally.

must also comment that wolf’s identity was pretty obvious from the first interaction lmfao. i had to cackle when it was revealed.

from start to finish this book didn’t have a single dull moment. it is fast paced, action filled, romantic and shocking. i had the time of my life in wren’s perspective and will not know peace until i have the second book in my hands.

eternally grateful to netgalley and random house for gifting me an arc in exchange for a honest review!

If this is the dystopian era coming back, I am 10000% here for it. I was addicted to this book I couldn’t put it down!! It consumed my soul.

I loved Wren’s don’t give a fuck attitude. I will say it took some time for Cross to grow on me. I wasn’t sure at first but I would say 60% he won me over.

When the tagline said trust no one it really meant that lol. There were some things I guess right at the end and some I was completely shocked by.

If you loved Fourth Wing and Divergent then you would love this book.

4.5⭐️
What can I say I think dystopian romances need to be more popular because I absolutely devoured this !
The world itself was intriguing from the very get go, Wrens character is both firey and impulsive but also extremely loyal and would go to great lengths to protect the people she loves. The entire concept had me hooked and the relationship forming between wren and cross from slow burn/ enemies to lovers was honestly incredible !! the last 20 percent had ME REELING the twists and revelations!!! And that ending!! I cannot wait for book 2 espeically after that reveal! Wren is just a badass fmc that is a force to be reckoned with. My only reasoning behind it not being a 5 star was that I do feel like some things were repeated to us as a reader quite a lot . But nevertheless it didn’t detract from my reading experience whatsoever!

And I recommend this to anyone who’s loved the divergent series or 5th wave or the hunger games or fourth wing!! And I cannot wait for other people to love these characters as much as I have enjoyed them!!

Thank you net galley and Del ray for a E- arc for this book in exchange for a honest review !!

Loved this book. Eagerly waiting for the next book. Reminded me of Divergent.
If you are a fan of dystopian, this book is for you.

Loved this book from page one! Kept me guessing, hoping and shocked at just the right moments. I’m ready for book number 2!

Dystopian world with magical elements. Independent strong female lead. Interesting second tier characters. slow burn romance in an elite academy. Fourth Wing/Red Rising vibes. Undoubtedly will be huge hit.

________________________________________________________
WHAT WAS THAT ENDING?????????
HELLO?????
Okay. Deep breaths.
________________________________________________________
I devoured this book. Ma’am Dani Francis you are one damn good author. Dare I say a debutante one?

Yes, ladies and gentlemen, this was a debut book, but you can hear it loud and clear: it read better than so many books I’ve read. The pacing was perfect. You don’t feel boredom whatsoever. I have an exam in a few days, and I choose to read this book at night. I'm convinced certain books have this emotion laced within them, one that will not let you stop unless you are done with it.
As such, it undoubtedly deserves 4.5 stars.

You get attached to every single character deeply. That is the gamble you take when you read this book.
Yes, the author’s not afraid to kill off her characters. Yes, the book’s not shy with betrayals.
Yes, the writing is splendid.

We have a female lead who is actually strong-willed.
I fell in love with her, our Wren, right from the very beginning. I hope Uncle Jim’s pillow is cold on both sides wherever he is. I love how every little detail is important here. (cough. wolf. cough.)
Yes, I love Kaine too. And certain other characters. Until well. You know. You will once you read this book.
I get what they did, but. Moving on.

Yes, you don’t have a clue about what else is left in store for the characters and their world.
The book doesn’t exactly end on a cliffhanger, but you know that feeling of… flapping around in deep water when your entire body is submerged and you need to breach the surface to breathe?
That is the kind of emotion this book builds at the end.
You know just enough about what the characters will be up to, but you crave reading about it all.


Needless to say, I will most definitely be picking up the next book in this trilogy.
Everything about this book was unique; it has the best dystopian vibe. The power system is super interesting.
I can’t wait to read the next books to figure more out about it.
I felt like I was 12 again, with my nose in a survival dystopia. A lot of the training scenes reminded me of The Hunger Games or Divergent.

Jumping off a plane? Check.
Sniping? Check.
Secret Identities? Check.
A competitive environment? Check.

If you crave a book that reads like the kind of gritty YA dystopian books we grew up with, Pick. This. Goddamn. Book. Up.

I’m extremely glad the publisher, Del Rey, provided me with an eArc of “Silver Elite” in accordance with NetGalley. I hope everyone who had a role to play in this book coming to life and it seeing the light of day has a pillow that’s cold on both sides as well.
________________________________________________________

This book will pull you in from the first page and not let go untill the book ends and you are staring at the wall.
That ending???

I love a good dystopian story, and this one had me hooked from the first page—once I got a feel for how the world worked. The stakes were sky high the entire time, keeping me on the edge of my seat with every twist. And in this world? You never know who—or what—to trust.
The training and tests of the Silver Block made the story so much better, and I can already tell this author has no hesitation when it comes to killing off characters… I’m stressed.

Wren is a fighter. Her world has been anything but normal—death and uncertainty have followed her at every turn. And yet, she perseveres, keeping her spirit unbroken with her sharp and witty tongue. I know she’s capable of so much more than she realizes, and I can’t wait to see just how strong she truly is.
The first time Wren and Cross met? I grinned—because you could feel the tension, and you knew exactly what was coming. I just hope to god that he gets on the right side of this fight.
Their romance is such a slow burn, and the tension is thick—you can’t not root for this odd pairing. And my god Cross is obsessed with her.

For a debut novel, this was fantastic. The author has left me with so many unanswered questions, and I need to know what happens next.

This book brought me back to the classic dystopian vibes I used to love when I was younger, but make it adult. Although the premise felt quite similar to a few other books I’ve read, it was written well enough with easy to follow world building. It started off great and really had such a surprisingly emotional impact early on that I was truly rooting for her and hating the people she did. Our main character is impulsive, cocky and stubborn but rightfully so. The forbidden romance in this is well developed and complex. Although I was a bit lost at times as to where the story was supposed to head, making it harder to stay engaged. It ended up making sense in the end.

The way this future dystopian society is written really shows the grey morality everyone has in such a place, whether they realize it or not. It really does a good job showing the effects of having such a control over people with the instilled propaganda, fear-mongering and dehumanisation of the oppressed. How it negatively impacts everyone, even the privileged who think themselves safe. Made me quite conflicted at times. You never knew who to trust.

When it comes to the plot and characters themselves, I’m not obsessed and attached as I could be. Though I am still intrigued to see where it goes next with the new setting and things heating up in terms of a rising war and new threats.

Thank you to @netgalley and @delreybooks for providing me with an e-arc in exchange for an honest review .

From the very first page of Dani Francis's captivating debut, “Silver Elite”, I was drawn into a world that left me spellbound and breathless—just the escape I needed. This novel not only rekindled my love for gripping dystopian narratives reminiscent of The Hunger Games and Divergent, but it also set my heart racing with its high stakes, intricate character dynamics, and an unforgettable enemies-to-lovers spicy romance that left me utterly obsessed.

Meet Wren Darlington, an intricately crafted protagonist who has spent her life honing her powers and aiding the Uprising while hiding from a society that sees her as a threat. When an ill-timed misstep lands her in Silver Block—the elite training program for those who would see her kind eradicated—Wren finds herself navigating a treacherous world where trust is a luxury she cannot afford. The tension, the fear of discovery, and the adrenaline of high stakes make “Silver Elite” a rollercoaster ride from start to finish.

Francis’s ability to maintain an impeccable pace ensures that not a single moment feels wasted. I was glued to the pages, devouring every word, as the plot careened toward shocking twists and revelations that had me gasping. The carefully woven threads of subterfuge and betrayal kept me on the edge of my seat, eagerly anticipating the next curveball. When Wren's journey culminated in a breathtaking finale, my jaw dropped—not once, but repeatedly.

The romance between Wren and Cross Redden is a masterclass in slow-burn tension punctuated by witty banter and palpable chemistry. Their snarky exchanges and inevitable pull toward each other have a richness that beautifully complements the darker themes of the story. Wren’s character growth, juxtaposed with Cross’s complicated past, creates a dynamism that is both compelling and relatable. If there is any fictional man who has made me swoon as hard as Cross Redden, it’s hard to say; he is, without a doubt, a new favorite crush.

Francis has also intricately crafted a world that brims with depth—a divide between the Primes and Mods across the Continent offering a rich landscape for exploration. The societal conflicts echo the best of early 2010s dystopian literature, yet retain a freshness that makes it distinctly its own. The lore of “Silver Elite” is nothing short of mesmerising and has left me yearning for more as secrets unravel in thrilling ways.

As I turned the last pages, I felt a sense of loss that this enthralling journey had come to an end, but also exhilaration for the adventure that lies ahead in future installments. This book has set an impressive stage for what promises to be an unforgettable series. Remember, these are just my initial impressions, and I’m sure that “Silver Elite” will resonate with readers for years to come—solidifying its place as a standout in the genre.

I leave you with a burning question: how is this an author’s first novel? Dani Francis has intricately woven narratives that linger in your mind and make an indelible mark. As we eagerly await the next installment, I find myself already reaching for my copy to revisit Wren's world. If you’re seeking a gripping read filled with suspense, relatable characters, and a dash of romance, look no further. “Silver Elite” has firmly secured a place on my list of favourites—and I cannot recommend it highly enough when I releases this May.

Forever captivated, I can only say: Thank you, Dani Francis for creating this world , and thank you, Del Rey, and NetGalley for allowing me the privilege to experience this astonishing debut via an ARC.