This reads much more like a run of the mill romantasy novel than it does a quality dystopian novel. Lackluster worldbuilding, shallow characterizations, and very little real social or political commentary. Its vibes only, a vaguely dark backdrop for yet another 'enemies to lovers' romance and training school.

𝙶𝚎𝚗𝚛𝚎: 𝙵𝚊𝚗𝚝𝚊𝚜𝚢/𝙳𝚢𝚜𝚝𝚘𝚙𝚒𝚊𝚗

“𝘞𝘦’𝘳𝘦 𝘵𝘸𝘰 𝘩𝘢𝘭𝘷𝘦𝘴 𝘰𝘧 𝘢 𝘧𝘳𝘢𝘤𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘦𝘥 𝘸𝘩𝘰𝘭𝘦, 𝘥𝘳𝘢𝘸𝘯 𝘵𝘰𝘨𝘦𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘣𝘺 𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘤𝘦𝘴 𝘣𝘦𝘺𝘰𝘯𝘥 𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘵𝘳𝘰𝘭.”

𝐓𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬💭:
Well I guess dystopians are back?? I didn’t expect to love this book, but wow did it impress me. I thought dystopians are now a thing of the past, but somehow they’re making a comeback!

Thank you so much to Del Rey Books for my advanced copy.

𝐁𝐥𝐮𝐫𝐛📝:
In the Continent, you are either a Prime - immune to the biotoxin that nearly wiped the world out years ago, or a Mod - enhanced by the biotoxin giving them psychic gifts and they are executed without trial. Wren has been in hiding for this reason, but when she is put in their crosshairs for a mistake, she is held captive and forced to join their most elite Silver Block.

𝐑𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5. The story picks up quickly with an intense couple of chapters that gives you an idea of the overall conflict and plot. So much tension rises, especially when the handsome and brooding captain Cross comes in. From there, you can expect alot of palpable chemistry and tension building that gets better and better each time!! So needless to say that I fell in love with Cross😍 Yet another book boyfriend has entered the chat you guys! We also have the badass female lead, so you can only imagine how the two mix SO. WELL👌🏼 Aside from the romance, I really enjoyed the politics and the dystopian world is set in. I feel like alot of its history is yet to be touched, but as a first book it did well to set the tone and the background of how the powers came to be, and the power struggles in its societal hierarchy. Simple, yet complicated enough to shake things up. A must read for all my romantasy girlies! I cannot wait for book 2!

𝙍𝙚𝙖𝙙 𝙞𝙛 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙡𝙞𝙠𝙚: 𝘋𝘪𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘨𝘦𝘯𝘵, 𝘍𝘰𝘶𝘳𝘵𝘩 𝘞𝘪𝘯𝘨, 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘏𝘶𝘯𝘨𝘦𝘳 𝘎𝘢𝘮𝘦𝘴, 𝘓𝘦𝘨𝘦𝘯𝘥, 𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘤𝘦𝘥 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘹𝘪𝘮𝘪𝘵𝘺, 𝘵𝘦𝘭𝘦𝘱𝘢𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘤 𝘱𝘰𝘸𝘦𝘳𝘴

Thanks to Netgalley, Hambright PR, and Del Ray for a gifted copy of Silver Elite.

I knew I needed to read Silver Elite from all the hype and mystery that surrounded its release.

I went into the story completely blind and I was absolutely sucked into the story. It was hard to put down. I loved the dystopia/romantasy mix.

I loved the characters. And the chemistry between Wren and Cross is fire. The ending left me wanted more and I can’t wait for the rest of the series.

I hate it when hyped books actually deserve the hype. Because this one actually did.

It’s best described as Fourth Wing and Divergent having a baby and living in the Hunger Games world. There were a LOT of fourth wing similarities, and it was very predictable. But I ate it up. I can’t wait to continue the series. I would gladly read this book a second time.

Spice: 3

4.5/5 stars!

This book was genuinely so amazing and I can't believe I have to wait until the next book is released now, its going to kill me!! It gave everything I was expecting and more - true dystopia, unexpected secrets and plot twists and TRULY loveable characters.
To say I got attached to all of the characters is an understatement and Dani Francis' ability to make me feel genuine real-time emotions towards them is something I truly appreciate as a reader and something I'm forever looking for in new books and series etc.

Silver Elite is the type of book you pick up and want to read slowly so you can appreciate it's full potential but end up sprinting through truly because I couldn't put it down! I read this book while on holiday and genuinely found myself making excuses to stay in so I could read more of this book on multiple days.

Thank you so so much for giving me the opportunity of recieving this book as an ARC copy and I'm sorry it took so long for my review - I truly hope I'm given the opportunity to review book 2 once drafts are done and ARCs are ready! Congratulations to Dani Francis for the amazing debut, I can't wait to see what is to come.

Silver Elite will have you on the edge of your seat for all 528 pages. This dystopian romance follows the FMC Wren as she finds herself as a recruit to the highest level of the military school for the tyrannical government she has spent her whole life hiding from. Wren is brave and compassionate but she is also reckless. As she navigates rigorous training while trying to keep herself alive, she finds the lines of who she was, who she is and who she needs to be starting to blur.

Thank you to the author/publisher/netgalley for the eARC! I could not resist requesting this one after seeing all the hype surrounding it upon release. I appreciate the chance to review it.

Despite some of the criticism behind this one, I did enjoy it. The pros: accessible prose, romance that is very much on-brand with what's trending out there, and interesting world (with a caveat to be explained shortly.) What I felt was lacking: the genre mashup on romance and dystopia didn't quite work for me, though there are merits to it. To be proper, and in my opinion, well-written dystopia, there should e a clear and proper critique of the systemic oppression the book is trying to address. While SILVER ELITE partially does so, it's overshadowed by the romance and the "spice," that it's hard to take seriously, and therefore, in some respects, may come across as being a little disrespectful. (I still believe that books like THG has done this the best, integrating romance in a way that feels both relevant and respectful.) Overall, enjoyable... but still very much a Romantasy book with a Dystopia label slapped on it.

This book felt like it was written by chatgpt and the prompt was "Re-make a worse hunger games and fourth wing that feels like every other popular romantasy books. I will not be purchasing this book for my shop because of how bland and boring this book felt.

I’m feeling pretty conflicted about this book. The comparisons to other popular dystopian novels are baffling to me—honestly, it’s nowhere near that caliber. The premise had potential, but the execution didn’t quite live up to the hype. Like many other books in this genre, it spends the majority of the story (about 80%) building up, only to deliver a payoff that feels too little, too late.

The book starts off promising, drawing you in with intriguing concepts, but as the story progresses, it loses momentum fast. The pacing becomes sluggish, and I found myself struggling to stay engaged, wondering if it was even worth pushing through to see if things would pick up.

It’s frustrating because I genuinely think this story had a lot of potential. There were moments that sparked my interest, but by the end, I was left with more questions than answers and a sense of disappointment. For a book that had such an interesting premise, I couldn’t help but feel like it fell short in a lot of ways. There’s just so much left to be desired.

I dnf´ed the book pretty early on.
The writing style was very generic and the story just couldn´t hold my attention.

Silver Elite is a fast, drama-filled read that doesn’t take itself too seriously and that’s part of the fun. It gives off just the right amount of 2010s dystopian YA energy: mysterious powers, intense stares, and a whole lot of over-the-top emotion. Not deep or life-changing, but super entertaining and easy to binge when you’re in the mood for something indulgent.

I’m not sure there’s anything else I can say about this book that hasn’t been said. There’s a reason it’s so popular.

Silver Elite was a good time, not a great time. I enjoyed myself reading, but found that I had figured out some reveals pretty early on and it took quite a while for me to feel really invested. Overall a fun read, but I admittedly don’t know that I’m itching to pick up the next one.

I get why people love this but I am feeling very conflicted.

Silver Elite is a dystopian romance that felt like nothing new or revolutionary. The plot was very predictable. I think it went for longer than I would have liked. There was no real politics or proper world building. I liked the magic system but needed to know more. I needed history and answers and any kind of substance. It was very focused on the romance, which would have been okay if I was connected to the romance, but I was not.

I was mostly entertained and did enjoy it for the most part. I enjoyed the training part of the story. Am excited to see where things progress with the next book.

I loved this!! This had all of the nostalgic 2012 dystopia era vibes that I enjoy so much! I also really enjoyed the romantic storyline as well and the plethora of interesting side characters. This in essence has some similar undertones to fourth wing but not enough to make me feel like I’ve already read it and just enough to make it feel almost familiar in a way that draws you in and you know it’s going to be a fun ride. I will be dying in the meantime while I wait for the next installment. GO READ IT!

Such a fantastic book, I did not want to stop reading. Just really easy to read, engaging storyline, characters I actually cared about. I just love when a book flows so well it's effortless to read. I can't wait for the next installment and I want all the special editions I can get my hands on.
Thank you netgalley for the e-arc.

Adicctive? Yes. But not because it was good, but it was a trainwreck.
I would still recommend this book if you need a laugh, enjoy formulated romance (this one is set in a futuristic America) or are just curious what this is about (without having high expectations).

The romance was a big no for me, because it was insta-lust, toxic and predictable. The MMC was so unlikeable, controlling and power-hungry and to this point I do not understand how anything (not even the *big* reveal) could make him likeable or redeem his actions in any way to our MFC.
The book was promoted as a dystopian romance but it was not a dystopia at all since it had none of the dystopian aspects, except for a vague setting which was not important at all. This made me so sad because I love reading about dystopian societs. And it was also too focused on the "romance", all the side characters were forgetful and interchangable.
The writing couln't save anything for me because it read very juvenile and basic, it lacked emotion and dept.

Overall it was a quick read, though forgetful and annoying at times, so I cannot recommend it.

I was on the fence about reading this book, but I heard so many people talk about it on social media, so I had to see what the fuss was all about. There were some exciting moments in the book, but it was also predictable with one or two surprises. I wanted to like the romance in this book, but it didn't pull me in like I wanted. Overall, this was a decent story and I think many others will enjoy it. Thanks to NetGalley and Random House Worlds for this ARC.

Silver Elite by Dani Francis is a dystopian romantasy set in a divided futuristic, post-war world where you are either the Modified with special abilities or you are the Primes who hunt them. With a Divergent like feel, pulse-pounding action and smoldering romantic tension, it is the perfect pick for fans of spicy romance, fast-paced storytelling, and characters brimming with intensity.

In a world where power dictates everything and danger lurks behind every polished smile; rebellion is stirring in the shadows. Wren Darlington, a rare Mod whose veins do not glow silver like the others, has spent her life hiding, training in secret, waiting for the moment she can help the Uprising. But when a reckless decision threatens to reveal her identity, Wren is forced into the elite military program known as Silver Block.

Surrounded by enemies and under constant surveillance, Wren agrees to spy for the Uprising. Her mission? Infiltrate, survive, and await her instructions. What she did not expect was him—Cross Redden, the cold, enigmatic commander of Silver Block…and the son of the regime’s most feared general.

Dani Francis weaves a gripping tale of secrets, survival, and shifting allegiances. The twists kept me on edge, the pace was relentless, and the emotional stakes? Absolute perfection. Wren is a fierce, flawed, and an utterly relatable heroine. The slow-burn, enemies-to-lovers romance? Chef’s kiss. Add in brutal rivalries, found-family bonds, and just the right dose of dark academia, and Silver Elite becomes your next binge-worthy obsession. The unanswered questions are living rent-free in my head, haunting me—and I’m clinging to the edge of my seat, absolutely desperate for the next book.

Thank you, Dani Francis, Del Rey, Random House, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an advanced copy of this book!

I am so sorry but I have decided to DNF this one, I even tried the audio but its not grabbing me and seems focused on smut instead of a plot line.

Thanks for the opportunity!