Silver Elite exceeded all my expectations and completely lives up to the hype. It’s the kind of book that grabs hold of you and doesn’t let go. If you’re a fan of The Darkest Minds, Fourth Wing, or Shatter Me, you’ll definitely find familiar elements here, but Silver Elite forges its own path with a storyline that’s fresh and unique.

The characters are incredibly well-developed and genuinely relatable. I felt an instant connection to them—their emotions, struggles, and growth felt authentic and added an extra layer of depth to the story. Their choices felt perfectly in line with their personalities and situations, which made their journeys feel realistic and compelling, even if they didn’t catch me off guard.

The pacing of the story is masterful—it strikes that perfect balance between keeping the action moving and allowing moments for reflection and depth. The layers of the plot unfold in such a way that you’re constantly being drawn deeper into the world and its conflicts. Speaking of the worldbuilding, it’s beautifully done without being overly dense or overwhelming. Since the setting is dystopian, the focus isn’t on intricate world details, making it an excellent entry point for readers who might shy away from heavier sci-fi or fantasy. It manages to set the stage effectively while keeping the spotlight on the characters and their journey.

And let me tell you, there’s no shortage of action! The stakes are high, the tension is palpable, and the twists and turns kept me fully engaged. Every chapter seemed to offer something new—whether it was heart-pounding excitement, emotional revelations, or powerful moments that made me stop and reflect. It was a rollercoaster of emotions in the best way possible.

I would wholeheartedly recommend Silver Elite to anyone looking for an engaging read that combines action, emotional depth, and a captivating storyline. It’s a book that stays with you long after you’ve turned the final page. I’m already eagerly awaiting what’s next—it’s safe to say I’m hooked and can’t wait to see where the story goes from here.

Confession, I haven't read a dystopian book in a really long time. Dystopian was my jam as a younger reader but lately I've been really into books more along the fantasy side so this was a fun mix of the two. I also mostly read YA dystopian back then so this was a nice introductory to adult dystopian and also scratched my romance loving itch.

This was a lot of fun - I really won't go deep diving because most of the things I loved...were actually plot twists and I don't want to risk giving anything away.

The author throws you into the world pretty quickly which I love in books. It does plateau out just a bit through the middle as we're following the FMC but understandably so because we can't get to the end result without her going through the process. I enjoyed myself just being along for the ride.

Only thing I will say is that I was rooting for a certain outcome from the very beginning, and while it may be obvious for some, I was not disappointed at all. I wanted it lol. I also feel that it needed to happen in order to really root for our MC's.

What you can expect:
✧ Interesting fantasy/dystopian world
✧ Lots of shocking plot twists sprinkled throughout (it caught me off guard quite a few times actually)
✧ Fun banter
✧ Enemies to lovers
✧ Spice & Violence (not YA)
✧ A version of "hidden identity"

I'm settling on a 4.25★ just due to my pacing personal preferences, but now that we're in the thick of it at the end of the book, I'm super excited to continue on!! Will absolutely be watching for book two release dates.

Thank you so much to Random House Worlds & Del Rey for the opportunity to read and review this e-arc. As always, all thoughts and opinions are my own. :)

‘Silver Elite’ is a fast-paced, heart-pounding dystopian romance that will keep readers on the edge of their seats from start to finish. When I say this, I truly mean it. This is a dystopian unlike anything I’ve ever read before.

In a world where psychic abilities are not only dangerous but a death sentence, Wren Darlington must navigate the treacherous waters of survival, betrayal, and forbidden attraction. Having spent her life hiding her powers, Wren is thrust into the enemy’s ranks, where she must train as part of an elite program designed to break her spirit. But Wren has a different agenda—she plans to strike from within.

The novel is a masterclass in tension, as Wren faces the constant threat of discovery while also dealing with the fiery chemistry between her and her commanding officer, Cross Redden (you guys will be giggling over this man trust me). Cross, ruthless and infuriatingly perceptive, is both her greatest enemy and her greatest temptation. The slow-burn romance between them adds a so much to the plot and makes it that much more appealing and engaging that all you’ll want to do is keep turning the page. The push-and-pull dynamic between them is insane and impossible to resist.

With its compelling world-building, complex characters, and a plot that mixes action, intrigue, and romance, this book is a must read for fans of ‘Divergent’ and ‘Fourth Wing’. I’m already eagerly anticipating the next book and I hate that I have to wait! .

3.75 stars.

There was quite a bit I liked, and quite a bit I didn't. I'm not 100% sure how in this dystopian world the telepathic Mods are subjugated by the non-telepathic Primes but I'll suspend my disbelief since there's so much about the politics and wars I don't know yet. My main issue was Wren and being stuck inside her head; we're told she's the best and so great at fighting, shooting, etc, but we never see it (besides the one shot) and for half the book she is trying to purposefully flunk out of the military training program she's forced into, even though she's told repeatedly that if she flunks, she still can't go home. Her character trait of "recklessness" just felt more like idiocy and the inability to listen to a single word someone says to her. It was giving wannabe Aelin Galathynius vibes. Her inner monologue was so repetitive and lacked so much depth. If I had to hear about how she's so talented and would love this training program but ugh these are her enemies!!! Or omg he's so hot but ugh he's my enemy why do I find him so hot???

I really liked the secrecy around her identity and the Uprising. There were a few twists and turns I wasn't expecting, and I love an author who isn't afraid to kill off some characters. The "big" reveal of someone was quite obvious, and the insta-love felt a little forced/cringy. Overall, I thought the characters lacked depth but that can easily be expanded on in future books in the series.

Amazing book, one of my favourites of the year. Bringing dystopian back, it reminded me of all the books I loved as a teenager but was even better.

It seems I’m an outlier here in my opinion on this one. While the premise of a dystopian world with military training reminiscent of Divergent was exciting, the execution of the characters made this book a miss rather than a hit for me.

My main issue lies within our FMC and her inner monologue. The repetitiveness of it all, the way she couldn’t go three seconds without holding onto her morality, was hard to get through. Until about the 80% mark of the book, we stay very surface level with all the characters who we, the readers, are supposed to be growing to care about. I found the world building to be lacking, too. When there are opportunities to expand upon history and context, the author breezes over without detail.

I do think this will appeal to certain readers because of its wit and fast pace. But, I found myself constantly wanting more depth.

Thank you NetGalley and Del Rey for the ARC!

A huge thank you to NetGalley for providing me with the ARC of this incredible book. Silver Elite by Dani Francis is a five-star masterpiece that has quickly become one of my all-time favorite reads! From the first page to the last, I was completely enthralled. The book is a perfect blend of action, suspense, and emotional depth, packed with intensity that keeps you on the edge of your seat. The enemies-to-lovers dynamic is absolutely electric and SEXY, and the dystopian setting mixed with modern-day elements creates a world that's both captivating and gritty. The high-stakes trials add layers of tension and excitement. I love the Soldier vibe.

The characters are unforgettable—especially Cross Redden, who is now officially my new book boyfriend (NEED HIM). I couldn't get enough of him throughout the story.

The pacing is fast and relentless, making it impossible to put the book down. I need the second book yesterday, PLEASE!!!
I can't wait to see where Dani Francis takes us next!. I’ll be thinking about this book for a LONG time!!!

FIVE HUGE STARS

This book was insane (complimentary). I went into it completely blind and had no idea where the story was going to go.

I loved the dystopian/magical elements sooo much. Such a cool mix of lore in this story.

But let’s get to the highlights:
- sick abilities/powers
- hot men galore
- one guy in particular - good lorddddd i love him
- captain x soldier
- forced proximity
- he’s down bad and obsessed
- hidden abilities

Sooo many parts of this book that I loved that I refuse to spoil bc I need everyone to experience it for themselves without knowing what they’re getting into.

This was a bit of a miss for me, unfortunately. I'm not sure what the issue was for me here exactly. I did not click with the writing style and I just never really got hooked. Felt the story dragged on a bit. Towards the end I was waiting for some big twist or cliffhanger to make me look forward to the next book in the trilogy but unfortunately that did not come. I am not sure I would continue this series.

Silver Elite is a dystopian novel that follows Wren, a modified human with hidden powers, as she is forced into the recruitment process of an elite military unit filled with people who would kill her if they new what she was hiding, including her handsome and magnetic captain. This was a fast, entertaining read for people who enjoyed Fourth Wing, and are looking for an entry level dystopian/fantasy/sci-fi series. Nothing overly complex or confusing here. I'm looking forward to seeing how the world expands in book two.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishing team for this ARC!

5 stars. The dystopian genre is probably one of my all time favourite genres. It’s a far fetched reality of our own world which simultaneously makes you fear for what’s to come. Especially when such things begin to merge with our own lives in ways you once believed possible. Silver elite is what I can only consider an adult story of some of our favourite teenage dystopian books. This took me back to a time when I loved reading these types of stories when I was younger. Our leading lead, Wren, has lived an interesting life, guarded and taken care of by a man named Jim, who she refers to as uncle. Their first meeting and everything that comes after this is unconventional. There are so many interesting layers to the overall book, I want to say so much without giving too much away. I think wren was an incredible character and an incredibly interesting character to follow, the romance in this just as well done. Cross Redden was a butterfly inducing love interest. Their love story and gradual acceptance of feelings reminded me much of the dystopian romances I loved reading about. Overall an incredible debut novel and an incredible first book in the series. I cannot wait for more!

THIS IS THE BOOK OF 2025 AND ITS GOING TO TAKE THE WORLD BY STORM. As someone who grew up loving the dystopian genre this book absolutely blew my mind and I will never be the same again. From the very first page I was enthralled by the story and was consumed by every word on the page. If you loved The Hunger Games and Divergent, with a twist of Fourth Wing (minus the dragons), look no further this is the book for you.

Our FMC Wren is everything I want in a strong main character - clever, witty, funny, fearless, and slightly unhinged in the best way possible. In a world destroyed by war and consumed with power and control, watching her come into her own and try to discover what is true, what are lies, who can she trust, and what is the government hiding was truly spectacular and made for an incredible story. Even the side characters had amazing arcs and really shaped the plot that will carry on into the following books of the series.

The author flawlessly weaved an intricate story of political intrigue, rebellion, hidden identity, forbidden love, and secrecy. 20/10 recommend this book and I cannot wait to see what will happen in the rest of the series!

I LOVE a good dystopian romance and this one really fit the bill! This book was so hard for me to put down, mainly because of the chemistry between wren and cross. The political intrigue was also a major plus for me. Can’t wait for the next book in this trilogy!!

CWs for the book: Dubious Consent, Sexual Assault, Rape (off page), Unbalanced Power Dynamics, Violent Deaths, Forced Conscription

First, thank you NetGalley and Del Rey for the E-Arc in exchange for my honest review.

Second, I am so disappointed.

I was having an amazing time until about ch 15-17, and then it all went downhill from there especially chapter 46 in what was the worst reveal of a century. This review was a lot longer but I've cut it because I don't want the CWs to fall un deaf ears because I am livid due to not having any CWs mentioned before.

I found the MMC, Cross, to be irredeemable. I never recovered from what he said to Wren after she was so desperate to escape. It would have been one thing if he had showed any kind of remorse or at the very least growth, but that did not happen. Every single time he and Wren had a scene I shuddered. And no, I do not care about the reveal. If anything that made it worse. Not to yuck anyone's yum but this was not it for me and if I had known how hard this leaned into Dubious Consent I would have stayed away. Had I known what was going to happen to Tana I would not have touched this with a ten foot pole.

PLEASE ADD CONTENT WARNINGS! These elements were a very unwelcome surprise and it ruined the entire book for me. This was going to be a 4 star book for me and the undisclosed CWs made this almost impossible to get through.

0.25 Stars.

My very first ARC did not disappoint! So good! The only bad thing is waiting even longer for the next book! 😭 A huge thank you to NetGalley and the publishers! Dani Francis knocked it out of the park and I can see this being a huge hit once it’s released!

This was like dystopian meets romantasy and I am here for it let me tell you. I ate this up! The amount of times I was giggling, sweating, GASPING OUT LOUD… I was hooked from the very beginning and I never felt myself loosing interest at all. I think I was actually dragging it out towards the end because I didn’t want it to be over. I felt the plot was good, it was easy to read/understand, & there’s even a little spicy 🌶️

the ending tho…. 👀
I can honestly say I wasn’t expecting that

So please mark your calendars and add this one to your TBR!

Welcome to the world of dystopia America. A world where there has been biological warfare, civil warfare and now our favourite pastime Class War. Our journey takes our FMC Wren from random romps with the enemy soliders, to a not so carefree life as a government solider. With a few tricks up her sleeves, family trauma and the desire to disobey authority at everypoint.

Throw in a morally grey super tall super sexually aware hunk and it's a 2025 romance book that we all know and love. It wouldn't be complete without a few licorice twists and turns along the way. Some you'll see a mile away and simply accept, others will leave you shocked yet not horrified.

🗺️ The world building is akin to Panem, a post dysopia USA. Utilising wards to control populations. Thin

🌶️ The spice is here but it is slow burn spice and is fairly mild.

📚 This book is for you if you enjoy a FMC that throws herself head first into situations and then is shooked when things go wrong. If you enjoyed the world and vibes of Hunger Games minus the child slaughter than this book will peak your interest.

Please do ensure that you read the trigger warnings before reading as there are a few topics that could cause issues.

✈️ An easy read that's good for those train travel days. This is the first book in the series so if you're a lover of completed series maybe just wait as it does end of the emotional cliff hanger.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

The stakes? High. The tension? Thick. The plot twists? Relentless. My sleep schedule? Nonexistent. Silver Elite by Dani Francis had me hooked from the start, and every time I thought I had a handle on where things were going, another twist hit me out of nowhere. I remember one of the twists had me audibly gasping when I finally realized what was going on.

Wren is a fierce, compelling lead, and Cross? Exactly the kind of morally grey disaster we all love. But let’s be honest, the side characters within this novel really steal the show. It also has a complex military academy setting with deadly assessments, shocking betrayals, blurred allegiances in a rebellion and are uprising.

For a debut novel, I’m impressed. Was it predictable at times? A little. But honestly, I didn’t overly mind. The world-building is well-developed, making it easy to follow and immerse myself in. It had that nostalgic feel of the 2010s dystopian trend, but with a fresh, adult spin that I so desperately need right now. It reminded me of the Darkest Minds meets Divergent. However, the story stagnated a little about halfway through the book, I think it needed an extra bit of editing love to cut down on repetitiveness.

I see so much potential in this storyline and I hope we're starting to see more Dystopian books released. I can’t wait to see how Dani Francis continues to grow.

*Thank you to Del Rey for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

SOMEBODY SEDATE ME. Silver Elite was the dystopian fantasy of my dreams. It was the perfect bingeable mixture of immersive storytelling, forbidden romance and secret powers. If you aren’t a fan of love triangles do not despair- the tension was **chef’s kiss** off the charts and the payoff was so worth it. My only complaint is that Wren gave off “not like other girls” vibes, but she made up for it in other ways so I can’t fault her. I would recommend this book to fans of The Hunger Games, Divergent and Red Queen.

Silver Elite reignited my love for a genre I have struggled with recently. I will be foaming at the mouth and chewing at the bars of my enclosure until I have the next book in my hands.

What I loved

* academy setting
* enemies to lovers
* dystopian/sci-fi
* secret identities

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this arc.

I'm all for books that bring nostalgia if it contains its own uniqueness. This book did not. Usually with books, you enjoy the plot, romance, or both. I didn't enjoy neither. Again, the plot was too similar to other books and didn't contain its own uniqueness. The romance was too lust-filled. I need a slow burn- build on the angst, tension, and yearning. The lust was coming right at you in the beginning of the book and throughout. The MMC and FMC relationship was built solely on lust. Despite my issues with the book, I did; however, enjoy the friendships formed. I also feel that book 2 could potentially be more interesting.

Thank you for the opportunity to read this ARC! I enjoyed this book until the last 5 chapters. It was easy to visualize and it seemed like it would make a fun movie. While there’s a lot that will be familiar to dystopian readers, the characters were well developed and the world building was good. I wasn’t entirely sure what the main characters saw in each other, but it wasn’t an insta-love or implausible situation either. The side characters were interesting. There was too much blind trust involved in her espionage work, though.

The catalyst for the end of the book, and where everything unraveled from my perspective, was a supremely stupid move by the FMC that didn’t need to be made (could have just told him the truth), and wouldn’t have occurred had she experienced any personal growth whatsoever. The MMC seemed to share the sentiment. Lots of absurd lying ensued which nobody believed. It was chaotic and changed the trajectory of the story in a way that didn’t fit with the 50 preceding chapters. At the very end was my least favorite trope and I didn’t even care.

It was enough that I don’t plan to read on. Had I been rating only the last few chapters, it would be lower, but it was an easy and engaging read up to that point.