⭐ 2.5 - 3 stars
You've read this before and it was probably done better. This is definitely Fourth Wing but lacking the cool dragons and that nostalgic charm that harkens back to early 2010's dystopia like Divergent. The main love interest is even an incredibly tall and attractive, black-haired, tattooed son of a general who's her enemy. Not that that is particularly unique to Fourth Wing as well but the parallels are undeniable, especially as the story takes place within an academy-esque setting and later story details are revealed. It's simply undeniable that there was some copied homework here...Which I know isn't a drawback for everyone. If you'd like something similar to Fourth Wing, the same tropes but with worse writing, you might actually enjoy this!

2.5-3 stars is a mediocre-ish rating for me so I don't think it's terrible! I feel as though I could have ignored how expected/cookie-cutter the main characters were if the writing weren't lackluster. While not the worst I've ever read, it is incredibly mediocre at best and sometimes just distractingly cringe. The book is also uninterested with the world/genre it is writing within. There isn't really any message or meaningful critique of systems of government within the novel, which isn't bad, just disappointing as I found the romance (the actual main focal point) to be equally as flat.


Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC!

Silver Elite had me reminiscing on the heyday of dystopia media. It’s been so long since I’ve gotten the chance to read a dystopian novel, so this was a lot of fun.

We start off with Wren, who has secret powerful psychic abilities that if discovered, would result in her death or enslavement. Wren ends up far from her ranch, training for an elite military force, hiding her secret with even higher stakes.

The world of Silver Elite was very interesting, but limited in its scale because of the access our narrator had to information. I’m looking forward to reading future installments of this series, as there is already a ton of promise about expanding the world based on the cliffhanger. Good dystopia high needs stakes, and Silver Elite definitely has high stakes. I have a little confusion about the reasoning behind the fates of a few different side characters and it got a little old reading about a protagonist that’s good at everything, but nothing that would stop me from continuing this series. Plus, to be fair, the protagonist’s fatal flaw is her impulsiveness, and that did add some dimension to her characterization. The romance subplot was enjoyable and tastefully spicy as well (note - despite this emulating big YA dystopian novels, this book is NOT young adult and does not claim to be).

Ultimately I found this to be a little too derivative of titles like The Hunger Games and Fourth Wing, but because I enjoy those books, it was fine. This is Dani Francis’s debut novel, and I think based on Silver Elite, she shows a lot of promise. I would definitely recommend this to fans of 2010s dystopia.

This book was everything. Definitely in my all time top 5.

The plot, dystopia, romance, slow burn, the characters... So good.
All the emotions. The end….!!!! No spoilers but man I got a big smile on my face when what happened in the last couple of pages happened.
I cannot wait for book two.

firstly, thank you to the publisher for an arc!!

2.5 stars and that’s being generous.

i’m upset i didn’t enjoy this as much as i wanted to because unfortunately, while i love reading dystopian novels, dystopian fiction has made a huge come back due to the recent socio-political climate. so when i saw that silver elite was an adult dystopian novel, i was ready to ravenously eat it up.

well, i could barely touch this book. the writing is extremely juvenile and unserious despite the sense of urgency the author creates for readers. of course, since this is a dystopian ROMANCE, there was a heavy emphasis on the lust/smut… which is exhausting at this point. believe you me, i enjoy a good smut scene or two or five in a novel, but PLEASE actually have extensive world building and character development before diving into bed? it’s disappointing when a book with potential is thrown away for the unnecessary smut scenes.

i still don’t understand the difference between modified and abberant individuals, why they are so feared aside from their powers, especially if they have been crushed under the thumb of the general of this world.

and of course, the foreshadowing of who “wolf” actually was so easy to piece together if you’ve read so many similar novels like i have, that i immediately put two and two together. it would have been nice if the author led readers astray and let us think someone else was wolf before the big reveal, but alas, she did not and i was disappointed but not surprised.

while i’m positive this book will find its audience, it’s certainly not me.

This will be the next big hit in the Romantasy genre, y’all. I’m calling it.

5/5 stars!!!

I DEVOURED this book.

- Dystopian setting
- Self assured FMC
- Telepathy???!!
- MMC who isn’t afraid of confident females
- Training for military operations done RIGHT!


I was never bored throughout this book. I constantly had to figure out what was going to happen next. I found myself sacrificing sleep to just “get a little further in the book” then had to slow down because I didn’t want the book to end.

Wanting book two IMMEDIATELY, and then realized this one isn’t even out yet.

You’re not going to want to miss out on this one! Out in May 2025.

Thank you to the publisher for the E-ARC 🩷

I have mixed feelings about this book. The beginning dragged quite a bit, with too many info dumps that made it hard to stay engaged. Wren also wasn’t the easiest character to like at first—her decisions were frustrating, and I struggled to connect with her. But once the story found its rhythm, it completely pulled me in. The action was gripping, the romance had plenty of tension, and Wren’s character growth made me appreciate her much more by the end. While the pacing wasn’t perfect, the second half made up for it, leaving me eager to see what happens next. Fans of Divergent or fast-paced dystopian fantasy with strong heroines will likely enjoy this one. Flawed but still an enjoyable read—I’m giving it 4 stars.

Easiest 5 stars I’ve given a book in years. If this came out in 2012, everyone would have gone crazy over its similarities to divergent, the hunger games, shatter me, etc., so it’s really disappointing to see a lot of reviews labelling it as a “rip off” of those titles. For me it combined all the best features of that genre. I’m not usually a sci-fi reader but the world building, the characterisation, the romance was so deep and interesting, I couldn’t help but fall in love.

I did guess the main plot twist right at the start of the book BUT Dani did such a good job of making it seem like it couldn’t be true that I abandoned my instinct and forgot about it. BUT I WAS RIGHT and now I feel like I need to reread the whole book from a new perspective.

I was just honestly on edge all of the time with this book, the plot constantly keeps you on your toes.

5 STARS, MAYBE 6?

WOW I am nothing short of OBSESSED. Dystopian is SO BACK and mark my words, this book is going to blow up when it releases. The level of excitement I have for this series and its potential is through the freaking roof, because this book was a masterpiece in my eyes and I cannot stop thinking about it.

I fell in love with YA dystopian books years ago, and this adult dystopian romance was EVERYTHING I needed to fall back in love with the genre all over again. The way I devoured this book!!! Putting it down was simply not an option.

From the twists and turns, to the high stakes, to the lies & betrayal, this book truly had me on the edge of my seat from beginning to end. This was fast paced, addictive, and brimming with action and swoonworthy romance. While this had some of your typical dystopian elements, this book still felt original and unique in its own way. I also loved that this book was equal parts romance and plot, both perfectly paced and equally captivating.

Now let’s talk about the romance because BOY, did this DELIVER. The steamy tension, the witty banter, their undeniable chemistry - I was giggling and screaming at every interaction. But even more, I loved their guarded hearts, their tough exteriors, and their fear of complete vulnerability and trust, because it just made their love story that much sweeter and all the more epic.

I could go on and on about everything else I loved in this book: the main characters, the nostalgia I felt reading it, the plot twists, the STRESS of that ending, not to mention the cliffhanger. But I’ll just end by saying this: PLEASE GO ADD THIS TO YOUR TBR AND READ IT WHEN IT RELEASES MAY 6th - you’ll thank me later!!

Thank you to Net Galley, Del Rey and of course the author for an eARC!!

Silver Elite is an engaging book. As a "new adult" title it really does have that feeling of halfway between teen and adult. The characters and their relationships don't feel as deep as I usually like, and since that's the case, I do wish the plot had moved faster to make up for it. It picked up intensely toward the end though. I'm thinking that it was mostly set up for the next series that will have much more action. There's also not a really clear "good" side in the two factions, so be prepared for a lot of mixed feelings.

While I haven't held myself to a strict TBR this year, I loosely planned to read this one at the end of April. I quickly set everything else aside after @emilyisoverbooked started raving about it, and I'm glad I did! Silver Elite was FUN. I am a fantasy girlie, but before Bookstagram, I was an avid dystopian reader (The Hunger Games, Divergent, etc.). Silver Elite provided the same vibes in an adult package, and I liked that the FMC didn't put up with any crap.

I did feel that the elements that were supposed to be emotional and/or climactic were often missing depth that would have made this a 5-star read. That said, I'll definitely be recommending this one to others, and I can't wait to read the rest of the series when it's published.

A huge thank you to Del Rey and NetGalley for the early copy in exchange for an honest review!

If you're in a Fourth Wing slump, you need to read this! This is absolute perfection!!!!! The writing of this debute is done so well and I'm so impressed. While this isn't in the same realm as Fourth Wing with the dragons, this perfect if you like Hunger Games and Divergent. Enemies-to-lovers, forbidden romance, slow burn, uprising, secret identity, psychic abilities.

I already had this book preordered for months, so when I got approved to read the ARC, I couldn’t even believe it. It’s safe to say I was EXCITED—and rightfully so! From the second I started reading, I just knew "This is going to be goooood!"

I love a strong female main character, and Wren is everything I could have dreamed of. As stubborn as she’s powerful, and impossible not to fall in love with.
I just know this book is going to be big. How can it not be when it’s this good? The worldbuilding and power dynamics are so well thought out, and I still can’t believe this is a debut novel. The relationships, the tension, the yearning, and the spice... Simply no notes.
This is the dystopian book I’ve been looking for and it was even better than I could’ve imagined. I need the next book like yesterday.

Thank you, NetGalley and the publisher, for the e-arc

4.5 ⭐️

Basically, if Fourth Wing and Divergent had a love child.

This was a RIDE. Thank you Dani Francis for bringing back dystopian romance and also making it adult, because this was incredible. The only reason why I won’t give this 5 stars is because there were some things that could’ve been done better, also, I have no idea why we didn’t find out the color of Wren’s hair until halfway through the book. 😭

THE ROMANCE. THE TENSION. I ATE IT TF UP. Cross Redden could ruin my life and I would say thank you. I did feel like their relationship moved a little too fast at the end, because one moment they were only hooking up and the next they tell each other “I love you” (Yes, I know why but it still felt a little rushed). Despite that, I still love them with all my heart and I NEED TO KNOW WHAT THE HELL IS ACTUALLY GOING ON. The ending left me a but puzzled, despite not exactly being a cliffhanger, but I really want to know where the author is going to take the story now. Was the writing the best thing in the world? No, but I don’t care because I haven’t had this much fun reading a book since I read Fourth Wing last year.

Aaaaah I’m so happy dystopia is coming back because this book scratched an itch that I didn’t even know needed to be scratched.

Thank you so much NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group for providing me with this ARC of Silver Elite in exchange for an honest review.

When I see the word psychic in a summary… I’m ALL in!!

Silver Elite follows a society at war with those who are “different.” We are introduced to Wren, our main character whose has powers that set her apart. People like Wren are condemned for having these extraordinary powers. They are known as Silverbloods/Modified/Mods (lots of names lol), named after the glow of their blood when they channel their powers. Though these individuals are feared/hated and are often referred to as the Aberrants/‘fects.

After an unexpected accident, her life takes a dramatic turn. Half of the book is spent following Wren on her (often unwanted) journey to become a member of the Silver Elite.

This book was a quick read with good pacing. Not everything was revolutionary, but it was fun. Wren has heard a voice in her head for nearly her whole life (she had made a random connection) named “Wolf.” Let’s be real. We all know who this is the second we hear about this mysterious voice. That being said…. I’m 👏🏼 eating 👏🏼 it 👏🏼 up. I loved seeing the “report cards” for each class. It cracked me up! There was a slight twist at the end that was somewhat surprising. Overall I really enjoyed the book! I will look into reading the second one when it comes out. I think fans of dystopian fiction with elements of supernatural abilities will enjoy this book!

A huge thank you to this book’s publisher and NetGalley for letting me read this book in exchange for an honest review.

This was a highly anticipated read for me and I was not disappointed. The characters, the banter, the plot- all of it was top tier. I found myself easily immersed in a world that felt original but not daunting. I fully expect this one to take off in popularity. Highly recommend!

The writing was amazing and drew me in. The plot fit the setting and rushed past in a way that kept you reading.

This book was just not for me. If you love military training/opps and political dystopias, you will love this book. It just wasn’t my cup of tea. I didn’t relate to or sympathize with the fmc at all. There wasn’t enough world building to me also. I spent most of the book picturing an army base near a ranch because that was all the more details about the world that was given for a long, long time. I was confused by her randomly communicating with people telepathically. I didn’t understand her ever changing motivations-she wants to sleep with hot guys, she wants to play dumb/weak, she wants to not sleep with the hot guy, she wants to show everyone what skills she has. Again-just very confusing to me, but if someone loves military dystopias and commanding officer romances, they will love this book!

“We’re two halves of a fractured whole, drawn together by forces beyond our control.”
This book will be the dystopian novel of the late 2020s I’m calling it! I went through every emotion possible while reading this book and I was hooked up until the very last page. I’m not impatient to wait for the next book and upcoming series I wanna binge them all now!

Wren as a character is so complex, she struggles with her identity and her powers so I’m excited to see her blossom into herself and fully realise wren will be a force to be reckoned with. Cross… prince doesn’t even begin to cover all his attributes! The world building was amazing, it is reminiscent to 2010s dystopian novels which is probably why I loved it so much, it genuinely felt like a homecoming.

Another five star read, thank you Dani Francis. I will be seated for all the books in this upcoming series

5 stars, 10/10, gimme 14 more of em
~Fantasy~ Dystopian~ Romance/Spice~

Read this dang thing in 3 DAYS and when I tell you my flabbers were GHASTED.
Please if there is one book you are going to read this year I IMPLORE YOU let it be THIS ONE.
I'm already frothing at the mouth for the next one and I'm in damn near tears in suspense waiting and THIS one hasn't even been published yet!
In my opnion, juuussttt the right amount of spice mixed with angst and thrill. Couldn't get me to put it down and have already re-read it just so I could enjoy it all over again.

Silver Elite. ELITE being the operative word and this book certainly lived up to the hype.

Thank you NetGalley and Del Rey for an EARC in exchange for an honest review.

Dystopian books ruled my early middle school days — I loved bad ass heroines with secrets to hide, strong and powerful love interests that guided and supported our main characters through high stakes events and adventures.

Silver Elite follows our main character, Wren, with a huge secret to hide — psychic powers through a bio toxin mutation in a world ruled by Primes. In their world, these psychic powers mean execution without trial. These are high, high stakes for Wren, who is the most one of the most powerful Mod in the entire continent, and in the existence of the mutated population. After a careless mistake, she is captured and joins the elite Silver Block, forced to hide her powers under some of the most important Primes, especially our male love interests, Cross. Falling in love is dangerous and off limits — but Wren finds herself in his orbit and slowly begins to entangle herself with him.

Wren, as a character, was pretty solidly fleshed out. Besides that, I didn’t enjoy her much — her morality wavered easily, and I thought she had too many things to juggle about her character, especially her powers, that it made it seem rushed. The whole book, although the beginning was very fast paced, very quickly began to slow down and became weighed down by repetition. It became boring to read due to the book starting with a flash bang of fast paced scenes, and then quickly losing steam. If it had been paced a little more efficiently, I would have enjoyed it a lot more.

This has a lot of potential, and although dystopian novels aren’t for me anymore I understand the appeal that this novel can bring.