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.

Silver Elite was such a refreshing read! I think I'd actually give it a 4.5! I loved getting into a more sci-fi dystopian world after so many fantasy reads. Wren as a character is complex, she grieves and rages and yet has a deep well of compassion and empathy that drives her relationships. I loved seeing her grow into herself more as the book progressed. Having Cross there to mirror her in a lot of ways was also refreshing, he comes across one way but as we get to know him more we find a deeper well to his character and I think it really complements Wren's character and ultimately their relationship. I'm excited to see how the world expands in the next book; seeing places outside of the wards, learning about rare abilities, hopefully seeing Wren develop her own powers more, and even seeing the war between Mods and Primes from a new viewpoint as she goes deeper with the Uprising.

This book had me on the edge of my seat with the consistent high stakes. The pacing was done well and at no point did I feel like the plot was dragging. It is an enemies to lovers slow burn with plenty of angst.

Wren, the FMC, must keep her secret abilities under wraps to protect herself from being killed. In addition to learning about her powers I also enjoyed learning about the other characters, their abilities, and the world built by this author. The constant tension and fear of discovery, The training program aspect was giving me fourth wing vibes, minus the dragons.

What to expect:
- Dystopian
- Enemies-to-lovers
- Forbidden romance
- Secret identities

One word, incredible!

I'm so happy I got to read this book, it both saved me from a potential reading slump and completely had be enthralled with every word.

It really takes me back to reading books like The Darkest Minds, The Hunger Games and Divergent and I'm so here for it, I really missed being in stories like this.

I was on the edge of my seat the entire time reading this book, the consistent high stakes of the plot really drives this story and I couldn't put the book down. The pacing is done incredibly well and I don't think I even once felt like the plot was dragging at all.

Our fmc Wren, is thrown into the military and must keep her secret abilities under wraps to protect herself from being killed. I absolutely loved being in Wren's head and getting to see how she navigates the world with her powers and also learning more about other characters, all of the abilities, their society and its conflicts through that. The constant tension and fear of discovery, of being betrayed by those around her if they find out her secret, and of getting through the training programme all the while having people breathing down her neck really made me love our snarky fmc.

I devoured the romance in this one, I loved the angsty, enemies-to-lovers, slow burn, snarky banter between Wren and Cross (our mmc) which was so well written. and the spice! I adored the growth from both Wren and Cross throughout the story and I wish we could have gotten to see more of them! I don't care how long this story would have ended up, if it's got to be 800 pages, so be it!

I also wanted to mention the rest of the characters in this story as I really think they deserve an honourable mention. Usually I forget other characters names and honestly find then unimpressionable at times, but I loved these ones! I maybe feel a little bit bitter about one of them (you'll know who I'm talking about once you finish the book), but they all added such subtle but meaningful impressions on Wren that I find helped us understand some of the underlying conflict she might be feeling regarding her situation and stance in the story.

Overall, this book was amazing. I'm so glad I read this so early into 2025 as I feel like it's setting me up for such a good reading year, I'll probably be thinking about this story for the rest of the year and how incredible it was. I'm so excited for the next book in the series, I know it'll be a very long wait but it will be so worth it.

Thank you Del Rey and Netgalley for this early review copy!

5 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Hands down, one of my most anticipated future releases for 2025 that I feel will not disappoint!

If you’re looking for a return to Dystopian literature, look no further than Silver Elite! With vibes similar to Divergent, I devoured this book in one night.

I was drawn in from the beginning, the dialogue and the pacing of the book, I felt, were natural and flowed well.
The FMC (female main character), Wren, felt likable (most times lol), strong, and generally well-developed.
Cross, the MMC (male main character) has also become one of my new favorite male leads! I’m excited to get to know more about his character in the next book!

I also really enjoyed how the psychic abilities were both well thought out and explained, while also leaving more unknowns to discover!

Overall, I really enjoyed this book and I’m looking forward to the sequel!!

Thank you to Dani Francis, NetGalley, and Del Ray for the e-arc in exchange for my honest review! All thoughts and opinions are entirely my own.

‘Silver Elite’ by Dani Francis has ‘Divergent’ vibes. I devoured the 500+ pages in a day, making it an entertaining read. It’s engaging, nostalgic, and romantic. If you want a fast-paced, easy-to-read dystopian romance, this is great. The first book set up the series nicely.

IM SO HAPPY 2010s DYSTOPIAN VIBES ARE BACK! This was so Shatter Me x Divergent coded but make it adult romantasy. I loved the enemies to lovers/forbidden romance/slow burn between Wren and Cross. I always adore a rebellion uprising and this was no exception. So good.

"Maybe our choices are the catalysts that set the course of events in motion. Maybe our fate isn't so much predetermined as it is influenced by the decisions we make."

UM??? NEW FAV??? IM OBSESSED??? that was beyond amazing oh my god ??? this book was SUCH a ride and my jaw dropped so many times in the last 25% im still reeling from all those twists and reveals literally up until the very last page just !! i cant believe it, that took such a turn omg?? that was seriously the shortest 528 paged book i ever read in my life, i need more please i cant wait over a year for book 2 send help🆘

i started writing this review when i was only 38% in and that was such a bold move to make because really i still had literally the rest of the book which could change my mind about my rating but no!! i was just so sure and that should tell you something. it's so rare where i only read 11% of the book and then just get instantly hit with that feeling of "oh this is so going to be a 5 star" i genuinely had no doubt. because within that 11% SO much happened: my heart was racing in fear and excitement, i felt emotional and actually sad over characters i barely knew and really just ??? if youre getting me feeling like when ive barely anything... oh you know it's going to be an absolute hit. and if i wasnt so right about that !!

Wren had to be the absolute funniest FMC i have read in so long genuinely this girl had me laughing out loud so many times?? like literally i was reading a particular scene at 1am (for vague context: mess hall scene & plate of food) and i just burst out laughing, forgetting that hey its 1am and literally everyone at home is asleep i had smother my laugh but seriously this girl😭😭 had me dying i love how unhinged she is LOL. and outside of being funny, she's so cool, sweet, and loyal?? HER LOYALTY ESPECIALLY im genuinely in love with her, one of my favourite characters ever !! when Wren cares or loves someone, she will go to the ends of the earth for you, even when some might not even do the same for her?? and i just adored her strong conviction and seeing her sense of morality & the inner conflict with it so much. like in a world where so many people view her and her kind as an abomination that needs to be killed off, and where she actually has the power to use it against them if she chose to train and control it (especially as she KNOWS she is strong and has that potential).... she doesnt want to because its wrong, even though it would save so many lives but i just adore that inner conflict because she's so real. being able to control people's minds is a crazy neat ability to have for the Uprising but at the same time its so invasive and evil so?? although certain people would deserve it truly but seeing the inner conflict was so interesting i love that about her. and i just wanted to give Wren a big hug because truly she had to go through so much throughout this whole book ugh💔

and omg Cross?? the author was literally playing with my mind because immediately as soon as Wolf was introduced, my first thought was "hey i bet he's actually Cross!" but then there were so many conflicting scenes betweeen their personalities and ideals i was like ??? okay wait maybe not. and seriously it was just a back and forth. and that's all ill say on that part👀

but Cross was such an interesting character and i fell in love with him. was he a jerk at a times? oh yeah, but like Wren, there was something so hot about the guy so do with that what you will🫣 and oh if this guy wasnt so DOWN BAD for Wren?? truly was hilarious and im such a sucker for MMC looking like the lovesick fool for the FMC. it was so funny watching Cross admit how out of control he feels when he usually is and Wren being the one in control help. but genuinely the tension was absolutely hot between these two and soo slow burn, it killed me in the best ways possible. if you couldnt tell im unbelievably so invested in the romance THEY WERE SO ADROABLE it was (beautifully) sickening. i have so many favourite scenes that me swooning, giggling, and kicking my feet like Wren is truly so strong for being able to resist Cross so often because me?? id have given in so long ago, he really knows how to woo someone damn. he's such a romantic it literally melted my already fangirling heart even more🫠

and i love how likeable and hateable the author made the side characters because oh if i didnt want to murder some characters and feed them to white coyotes !!! (you may think thats oddly specific but if youve read the book, you get it🙂‍↕️) and then there were characters like Kaine, Lyddie, and Belima who were absolutely the sweetest?? kaine was such a flirt but also so sweet (never forgetting that one scene he unexpectedly was a source of comfort for Wren🥹). Lyddie was too pure of a soul and Belima was also just so kind and sweet ugh i love them all so much. and also unexpectedly i adored Xavier which i really didnt see coming (especially from first encounter with him help) but i love him so much!! he's an amazing best friend to Cross i love it.

another shoutout i have to give is for the world!! it is SO cool i am in love with it!! this whole book seriously gave me early 2000's dystopian vibes and i was completely hooked and entranced. i wont give away too much about it, but this divide between Primes and Mods (aka Silverbloods) and Mods being hunted down because theyre a disease to society?? my jaw dropped at finding out that even Prime children of Mod parents would report them and have them sent to camps or executed firing squad style like wow?? and the powers Mods posess is so insanely cool, the way it works and how many different abilities a Mod can posess is so interesting. being able to have telepathic powers sounds like the best part (especially if you dont have to worry about your veins turning silver which btw i really want to know why some Mods are lucky that their veins dont change while others do??👀). anyways the lore is seriously amazing and im eager to know more!!

my god though the twists at the end and betrayals??? i did NOT expect that and it pisses me off so much i wish i could go into the book and throttle that person, theyre so dead to me, i hope they suffer !!! and just the so many reveals where i genuinely gasped because i didnt see it coming at all?? the obsession i have with this book is absolutely insane. i cant believe i sent a netgalley request on a whim after being intrigued seeing this described as "adult shatter me" and let me say it really hit in all the best ways. i havent read Shatter Me in a long time so i cant really compare Silver Elite to it but the thrilling dystopian setting?? oh hell yeah it served so good. i almost regret reading this right now because wdym i have to wait until at least mid-2026??? crying. but at the same time im so happy to have read this before it gets so popular because i can so see this getting really popular (and even if not, im happy to gatekeep this book xxx)

anyways, im SO excited for book 2, and especially for more WrenCross theyre my new favourite obsession i adore them so much🥹 even though it's only the first month of 2025, there's no doubt that Silver Elite has become a favourite read of the year and also just *ever*. its the way it consumed my life for these last 24 hours, im not even exaggerating i couldnt do any of my uni work or anything because i couldnt stop thinking about this book😩 ill so be collecting all the SEs that i can (practically begging on my knees now for FL to choose it as a monthly pick pleaseee). now excuse me as i go scrambling for any crumbs that i can find on book 2.


Eternally thankful to Del Rey for providing me with an ARC via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review!!

The return of dystopia has been highly anticipated and Silver Elite gives the perfect balance of worldbuilding and romance that made series like Divergent so good.

This book felt so nostalgic to read for some reason! I had so much fun reading it. Despite this book being somewhat predictable, I was so excited to keep going through the story. I did not connect with the characters that well, but the fast-paced story made up for it. Overall, it was definitely an enjoyable and intriguing dystopian read for me. Looking forward to seeing how the story will continue in the future!

Thank you to Netgalley and Del Rey for ths e-arc.

This book made me feel like a teenager again. And I’m absolutely here for it.

Do you understand the power Dani Francis has to make someone feel nostalgic to a very specific time in their life? The whole concept of this book was amazing. The writing was amazing too and hooked me straight in from the first chapter. I did guess cross was Wolfe from the first point he was mentioned but I couldn’t guess who else was actually a mod and I loved that. The twists the turns, I feel like there will more like this for the rest of the series.

My ONLY note for this book is that there was no need to add the letter in the end. I felt like I could guess the rest of the series off it. As I was reading it I was like noooo can’t believe I don’t get to know what’s in the letter but to get it at the end voided all anticipation for me. Dani has done enough to hook the reader, adding the letter will only drive more curiosity.

I have done my initial reviews but I will definitely be making more content for this.

Can I rate this a billion stars? Because I anticipate this book to be the next big release and I have already told everyone I know about this book.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me to read an advanced copy of this novel in exchange for my honest opinion!

I feel like I have been so lucky to read so many amazing Romantasy novels lately, and Silver Elite is no exception! Wren truly is a badass main character, I loved watching her grow and the way she kept going through all the hardships she faced (and there were A LOT of those). I will admit, when I saw that the main love interest's name is CROSS, I did laugh a little. I think that the names for the MMCs keep getting crazier and crazier, BUT that being said I think it ended up fitting him surprisingly well and I absolutely adored him. Some of the plot twists I saw coming, and others I absolutely did not AT ALL; the last page of the book threw me for a loop in the best way possible! Dani Francis, this was an amazing debut and I truly can't wait to read more!!!

Arc review

I really enjoyed this book. The writing was done perfectly and I loved all the characters and the world was amazing to read about

The fantasy in this was what made me enjoy it more, I hasn’t read a dataset quite like this and I really loved reading about it

This book was so much fun! If you’re in the mood for a dystopian, this definitely hits the spot! There were definitely a few little plot twists I didn’t see coming! I can’t wait to see where book 2 goes!

This book would have benefited from being 100 pages shorter!! I think the author did a great job at writing complex characters! I would have loved to see the fmc using her powers more. She's strong , powerful and intelligent. The readers don't get to see it much. There were a few words that were used too often and the repetition sort of annoyed me!

My emotions! My mixed emotions!

This is the love child of dystopians I grew up on (the nostalgia hit hard and good) and the smutty romantasy that is oh-so-popular right now.

Silver Elite is set in a sort-of post-apocalyptic United States. The setting is intriguing, the opposing factions are compelling, and the prose is very easy to read. I finished this in a day and at no point did it feel like I was forcing myself to continue. There were interesting story elements around identity and loyalty as well as capitalism/contributing to society ("if you're not productive, you're destructive") that I wish had been explored more.

Our girl Wren, like many romantasy FMCs, is hotheaded and snarky and 20 years old, but honestly I didn't mind that. Her character worked even though she made some poor, shortsighted decisions.

What I did not enjoy, regrettably (since it's such a huge part of the book), was the romance. Our boy Cross is her commanding officer. That power imbalance is already a little icky to me, but since their relationship is initially 100% based on sexual attraction, it felt even ickier. Almost predatory on his end, particularly with some of their sexual "banter." Their first real conversation about anything personal takes place about 60% through, but it's very short and almost immediately followed by smut. Their first date is 80% of the way through. The blurb for this book is a little inaccurate: "a young woman must conceal her psychic powers—and her attraction to her handsome, infuriating commanding officer" ...girl she is all up on him immediately and constantly. Conceal what, where??

The relationship is very fuck-buddies-to-lovers (but again, between a new recruit and her CO, so not on equal footing). Then they throw around the L word at the end and I was like ...wha..? Was the sex really that good? But I suppose Cross "exudes a raw masculinity" that left her "mesmerized" so maybe it was??

I find romantasy as a genre almost dissonant sometimes because the settings are usually so dark (war, dystopias etc) but the characters are often more interested in sex than survival. I get that some people become hypersexual in stressful situations, but I'm asexual so... cannot relate, will never understand, side eye is permanent

But again, this was a quick and easy (and dirty) read with a decent cliffhanger, and the relationship between Wren and Cross did get more romantic towards the end after the unsurprising reveal. I'll be here for Book 2.

I took a break from reading at the end of 2024 to have a baby and this was the perfect book to start the year with.
Silver Elite is the first book in a new dystopian series, and I know it's still early but this may be my favorite 2025 read.

If you like Fourth Wing, Divergent, or The Hunger Games, you'll want to pick this one up.
I absolutely devoured this book. I finished it in a day. I couldn't put it down.
And now I'm left with the biggest book hangover, I'm sad it's over.
The writing was great and fast-paced, and the world-building made it easy to follow along and understand.
The characters were fleshed out and had character development. I even enjoyed getting to know all the side characters.
I felt betrayed not once but twice! And I didn't even see it coming.
So much tension, and angst, I didn't want this story to end and now I can't wait for the next book to see what happens.

You can expect:
Dystopian World
Sci-Fi/Fantasy
Psychic Abilities
Forbidden Romance
Commanding Officer x Recruit
Enemies to Lovers
Rebellion/Uprising
High Stakes

Thank you, NetGalley and Random House World for the arc in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you for providing me with a copy of Silver Elite. This book was absolutely fabulous and is one of my favourite reads in a long time. It reminds me of an adult version of Divergent and did not disappoint throughout. I was consistently wanting to pick this book up.

The characters were excellent and felt so complex and real and I loved that the romance aspects didn't take away from the story and each character felt necessary. The worldbuilding was also excellent and was so vivid, effortlessly creating a dystopian world where the characters have unique abilities that jump off the page.

If you love dystopian novels with politics, magic and action that is written for adults, this is a must read. I loved this so much.