This book was my adrenaline shot.The universe was pointing its finger towards it and I took my leap. Do I regret it? Absolutely not!! I devoured it in two sitting which itself shows how enamored I am 😍.

This book lured me into the complex regime of Prime and Modified. In a world where psychic abilities are scrutinized rigorously, Wren has been keeping a secret, but a slip foreshadowed her mask and forced her to join the elite Silver block.

What's harder than to sustain the trials is the commanding officer itself, Cross. The instant connection between them was rousing. Their scenes are the snippets of warm hug in the cold weather.I savored it with my life!!

Cross has officially entered my list of book boyfriends and the sweet gesture moment was my favorite scene....DREAMY!!

The whole building was intricate and rhaprodising with an academic setting playing a major role. The fast-paced and visionary writing makes it intractable for readers to stop themselves from slipping into the world of dystopian romance.

The plot twist opens the Pandora box for readers to tag along for the book two, because the story has just begun.The characters are the squad team collected but with their flaws whispering around the line.The elements are like Joker cards waiting for their revelations with secret identities, deception and betrayal.

The story doesn't shy away from drama but also signifies healing through relationships and self acceptance.

If you're a fan of enemies to lovers, found family, a world where you are on quest to sustain, this is the gem to hold. A thrilling ride with slow burn romance!!

Fast-paced, with a psychic twist and an enemies-to-lovers slow burn that actually delivers.

Wren is a powerful heroine hiding in plain sight. And Crss is cold, dangerous, and impossible not to fall for. The world-building is sharp, and the plot keeps moving with twists I didn’t see coming.

If you love rebellion, found power, and forbidden romance, this one’s worth the hype.

Can’t wait for Book 2. 👀🔥

I loved this romantic fantasy by Dani Francis. It was a quick read, and I was hooked from the very beginning. It was hard not to love the main character, Wren, and empathize with her tragic upbringing. Concealing her special powers is key because if anyone were to find out who she really is, she would be put to death. Soon she finds herself falling in love with a military man of importance, also the enemy. Cue the enemies to lovers banter and the forbidden love tropes. I hated that it ended on a cliffhanger and I really hope the next book comes out soon!

Silver Elite by Dani Francis

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 5/5

I’m going to stand on business when I say this but … FIVE STARS! I’ve read the opposition pieces and the critiques, and I don’t care. Five stars. No less. It has to be. This book was goooooooood!!! It scratched my dystopian itch in a way I didn’t even know I needed! This is for the Shatter Me and Divergent girlies that grew up and became Fourth Wing and Throne of Glass girlies.

I’ll start with the world building. I actually kind of loved it? I’m so excited to see more of it? I like the way it’s set up. I feel like I got just enough world building to get my bearings but not so much that I was lost and confused the whole time. That’s exactly how I like it. I cannot wait to see how it gets expanded on even more in future books. I wanna know what the rest of the world is doing because I could totally see them just alienating the continent to not have to deal with how ridiculous the future Americas are being. What is Tierra Fe up to really? 👀

Characters?? HIT! There were so many characters I loved in this book. Kaine might go down as one of my all time favorite book characters. UGH! That man has my whole heart. And don’t get me started on Cross Redden … whewwww 🥵 I even grew to love Xavier by the end. Wren might be one of the most reckless characters I’ve ever read, especially when Kaine is involved, but for some reason, I loved it, even though I normally wouldn’t? She made it work somehow. I can see the vision for the character growth, and I can’t wait.

I am obsessed with the “magic” system. It isn’t really magic, but I loved the silver veins and modified vs. prime debate. I’ve seen some critiques saying they wish this book had gotten more into the political workings and government commentary that tends to come with dystopian novels, but I’m choosing to trust the author on this one. I feel like the next book will definitely have more focus on that. Our narrator is in the dark, too, so it doesn’t make sense for us to know about things even she doesn’t know about yet. I can see the pieces that will eventually come together, though.

The reveal at the end? 👀 Kicking, screaming, giggling, twirling my hair! I was not expecting that AT ALL! Now, one of the other big reveals of the book is pretty obvious from the start, but I think that’s what makes it so interesting. When it finally does get revealed, the anticipation for it has built so much that you’re just champing at the bit for it to finally be out! I still gasped out loud because it just hit so good. 😌

I am down bad for this book! 10/10 would recommend. If your first crush was Four in that one scene in Divergent or Aaron Warner pining hard for Juliette in Shatter ME 😏 … then this might be the book for you!

Thank you to Dani Francis, Del Rey, and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review! All opinions stated are my own.

SO MUCH FUN! This is a spicy dystopian romance that is set in a military like school. I preferred the second half to this when the romance kicked in more, but was having fun from the beginning. Go into this knowing it's more about the couple, and that the FMC can be kind of dumb. I think the worldbuilding was set up really well, but it is going to take some time for us to get it fully.

3.5 stars. A good book with an intriguing story. I enjoyed the world building and the characters. There was some repetition that made it clunky but overall it was enjoyable.

I was not a fan of this. It read like someone trying to mash a bunch of romantasy troupes into one book but I don’t think it was done very well.

just finished Silver Elite by Dani Francis and I’m not being dramatic when I say this book has become my entire personality 😮‍💨🔥

how did I sleep on this for so long?? if you’ve been waiting because of the mixed reviews… respectfully: IGNORE THEM. this book was one of the best reads of 2025—hands down. it gave me that same “I can’t function until I finish this” energy I got from Fourth Wing. I was feral. I was obsessed. I was betrayed 😭

the twists?? THE BETRAYALS?? I trusted NO ONE and still got wrecked. Dani Francis does not hold back and I am unwell in the best way. fantasy, angst, secrets, slow burn that burns like molten lava—chef’s kiss 👑

if you love morally gray characters, high-stakes tension, and plot twists that will punch you in the face and then ask if you’re okay—read this immediately.

Yo. This book is giving “I woke up hot and dangerous but I don’t wanna be here” energy and I’m kinda obsessed. Wren is out here with four mental powers—FOUR—like she’s some psychic Swiss Army knife, but all she wants is to vibe on her little ranch. Instead, she gets dragged into this elite bootcamp for mind-wielding kids and suddenly she’s locking horns with Captain Tall-Dark-and-Grumpy who’s just *so* obsessed with her failing. Obviously, that means sparks fly. It's enemies-to-lovers with the emotional stability of a raccoon in a thunderstorm.

The plot? Wild. The vibes? Feral. I didn’t know if I wanted to punch Cross or marry him. Wren’s like “I hate this place,” but also “let me absolutely ruin every exam without trying.” There’s drama, mind games, sexual tension so thick you could cut it with a butter knife, and a government that’s like “you’re either useful or disposable.” Amazing. I had zero idea what was going on half the time and didn’t care because I was too busy eating the chaos like popcorn. 10/10 would re-enlist in this nonsense just to watch Wren roast her instructors again.

Silver Elite is the start of a new series. It’s set in a future dystopian world where there was a global catastrophe that destroyed four continents. Because of the nuclear fallout there are now the “primes” (regular people) and the “mods” (people affected by a toxin 150 years ago).

When mods use their powers their veins light up silver, giving them away. Except for Wren, the main character - she can use her powers without anyone seeing signs. After tragedy befalls someone Wren loves, she is conscripted into the Command school against her will and works to take down Command from the inside.

This is a pretty formulaic story - main character is different but special, she is stronger than she looks, and powerful. There is a friends to lovers aspect and ends on a bit of a cliffhanger. The book is a bit tedious and predictable. The friend that Wren has, Wolf - it is obvious who that person is. There were also a few missed details like they have a bag over their head and then a bag is thrown on their head - even though there already was one.

I probably would read the next one whenever that comes out but I won’t rush to find it. Thanks NetGalley for the ARC.

Honestly, I found the concept interesting, but the writing mid. The story blending could use some cohesion. At times it felt rushed just to justify a plot, like when it randomly justified the lack of condoms by mentioning everyone getting birth control shots right before Wren hooks up with a certain male for the first time. Felt clunky, especially when std concerns weren't mentioned at all? Still worth a read, just could've been better.

I was generously sent the Arc for Silver Elite by NetGalley and Dani Francis for a genuine and honest review.

I absolutely LOVED it. 5 stars. No doubt. No question. It had everything and more.

I tend to go into most of the books I read almost blind so I have less expectations for what they are advertised as by publishers etc. I actually requested the Arc because a good friend of mine had raved about it. Let me tell you this... she was not wrong.

I felt butterflies, I felt shock... I was fully IMMERSED in the story like I was there with these characters. I found it hard to participate in real life because I was glued. I think that's the sign of a fantastic book. I both wanted it to last to eke out all of the enjoyment at the same time as eating it up as if there was going to be a book famine.

My take on the hidden identity of the author? Whoever it was did a bloody fantastic job. Dani Francis you have written a phenomenal book and the additional PR over the mystery hopefully has helped the success of the book.

My take on the criticism of it not being a dystopian book? When I was reading it, in my imagination it was very dystopian! The environment, the concept, the magic - all dystopian! I don't need every single dystopian description spoon fed to me to be able to imagine dystopia. The books this is being compared to are books people read in their teens and fell in love with, nothing is going to measure up to that first dystopia love... just because they were there first.

There were also twists, did I see them coming? Yes some, not all. Did it spoil my enjoyment? Not at all.

Bonus points for writing no main characters I found annoying at all!

I have subsequently bought both of the hardback editions out currently - one with silver edges and one with blue... I sincerely hope it is picked up by one of the sub boxes for some amazing edges to match the story (and which I will also buy)

Now pretty please can I get on the Arc list for book 2 😁🙏🏻👌🏻

I absolutely loved Silver Elite! It was an amazing read for me that once I started I just couldn’t put it down. It was one of those books that truly pulled you in for both the story and the characters. I actually read this book in 2 days!
The world building was fantastic and so creative and the magic system used in the book was so creative. I loved that I was fully able to understand the different types of magic that were in the book.
The characters were amazing and it was one of those books where your left rooting for the main characters.
I was a huge fan of Wren as she had such fire about her and I loved that she had a sense of loyalty and bravery.
Cross was such an enigma of a character to start and I loved that as we got to know him we understood why he was the way he was.
I loved the enemies to lovers of this one and it came across so well, I liked that they were both interested in each other but also that there was also negativity as well.
There was such a wide range of characters who all had their own backgrounds and own stories and it tied together so well.
I fell in love with several of the side characters and this book wasn’t afraid to give you all the feelings from happy to sad and at points it was an emotional rollercoaster.
The plot moved fairly quick in this book and I loved that there was lots going on and there was plenty of action.
I honestly cannot wait for the next book after that endings
Overall I definitely recommend this book!

Wren Darlington has been hiding a secret her whole life. She is Modified, possessing psychic powers that could get her arrested, sentenced to a labor camp or even killed. When her uncle is arrested and accused of working for the rebel Uprising, she is given a choice: go to a labor camp, or begin training for membership in the Silver Elite squad, joining the very people who want her dead.

There was absolutely nothing new here: every dystopian trope you've seen a million times, a rebel who's "not like other girls," supernaturally gifted at shooting and fighting; enemies to lovers romance between Wren and her brooding sexy commander; a secret life-long friend who shows up in an unexpected place; surprise twist endings setting you for a sequel.

This was 100% fabricated with pre-made pieces but - it totally works. I knew exactly what was going to happen and I was totally on board, read the whole thing in a day. A bit too much spice for me, but even that was well-written. I've seen speculation that Dani Francis is a pen name, if so, whoever wrote this knows what they are doing.

Okay so I went in expecting 5 stars and got a little underwhelmed but still had a great time.
Does it lift a lot of character dynamics, plot points and tropes from popular romantasy titles? Yes. Is it truly dystopian? No. The pacing was a bit odd - we veered off into a tangent for the middle third which I think was supposed to build the romance but instead it read as insta-love. Once I got to the end it did all make sense and as a dystopiance it was good but not amazing. I predicted a lot of the plot and most of the book was a backdrop to hang the romance/smuttier aspects on (which is fine, but not how it was marketed).
That being said I was motivated to finish it and predict that the next book will really bring home some of the plot and worldbuilding that appears shakier in this one, I'm keen to read more!

Thank you netgalley and the publisher for my #gifted copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

I’m still very undecided on how I feel about this one. It took me a little to get into it and then I was hooked and then was feeling meh towards the end. I actually spoiled the ending and was intrigued so I finished.

I’ll definitely read the next one to see where this goes and I’m hoping I love that one! There were definitely things I called from moment one, and things I definitely didn’t see coming! I’m certainly intrigued where some of these are going to go.

I want more of Cross in the next book. I would love dual POV or a few chapters in Cross’s head. I would love to see more of the romance between him and Wren.

If this one sounds good to you, pick it up and try it! This one is out now!

One of my favorite books this year. I was sucked in from the very beginning. I loved the military style training set in the dystopian setting

Great for fans of Fourth Wing, divergent, and hunger games!

Silver Elite is a thrilling, binge-worthy romp across a psychic dystopia with commanding enemies-to-lovers vibes. Wren’s tenacity and Cross’s allure make it a heart-pounding pleasure—though at times emotionally rushed and trope-heavy. If you’re in the mood for a fun, edge-of-your-seat romance with plenty of tension (and just enough steam), this debut is a satisfying pick—and a strong launch for a new series!

This took me a while to get interested in. I did not care for Wren, I felt her actions never made sense and she fell for Cross too quickly, all things considered. The stakes really never felt high enough and the world was underdeveloped. However, I did end up finishing it and it was well paced to keep me involved once I committed to reading it.

There's been a lot of hype surrounding this book, so I was curious to see what it was all about. At its base, it's a dystopian story about a young woman who has to hide her powers from the regime in charge but ends up smack dab in the middle of it. Told from a single POV, we get a fairly limited view of the wider world. There are a lot of plot points that are reminiscent of other books. That being said, things like that can make it easily consumable.

There were things along the way that made me go hmm, and I know there's been some controversy around these exact things (plus more). Given that it is part of a series, we will have to see how all the things pan out.

Thanks to Del Rey and NetGalley for an eARC of this book for an honest review.