This book had me hooked by page 2. What a fun, fast paced, dystopian fantasy. It truly was exactly what I was looking for. The banter, the flirting, the spice! Everything was perfectly paced. The FMC Wren, and MMC Cross are extremely likeable. The tension between the two, backdropped against what they are training for just makes for such an enjoyable read.

Mods and Primes are at war, The Mods (who are capable of mind reading, telepathy, etc) are being hunted and enslaved by Primes (regular humans). Wren is a Mod, but has worked her whole life at keeping that a secret. One day she finds herself captured and has to choose between a labor camp and enlisting as a Prime soldier. She manages to keep her identity a secret, and after some internal struggles decides to destroy the Primes from the inside. The story evolves from there, and Wren learns not everything is as black and white as she once believed.

What’s the Story?:

Wren’s a sharp-shooting rancher surviving in a post-apocalyptic U.S. of A., sometime in the vaguely defined future. After nuclear war wrecked the earth, radiation mutated animals, plants, and—plot twist—some humans. The ones with Special Powers™️ are now known as “Mods.”

Wren’s one of them. But she’s hiding it.

After a careless mistake, Wren is taken captive by the human military regime (think Hunger Games’ Capitol with even less chill) and forced into training with the Silver Force—an elite unit that would put a bullet in her head if they knew what she really was.

Leading this crew is Cross. The hot, broody captain who’s—you guessed it—perpetually cross. Also the king of smoldering stares and…well, orgasms. But I digress.

When Wren suddenly has the kind of access she never imagined, she realizes she has a rare chance to strike a deadly blow from within. But that mission gets a whole lot messier once she starts making friends… and reluctantly catching feelings.

Cue a high-stakes, slow-burn, morally gray, betrayal-filled, banter-heavy ride that delivers start to finish.

My thoughts: 5 stars, no notes.

This book is Hunger Games meets Divergent, but for grown-ups—with spice, snark, and sharper stakes. The worldbuilding is layered and original, and while Wren hits the Sassy FMC trope, I was fully obsessed. She’s clever, chaotic, impulsive, and just the right amount of unhinged. My kind of girl.

Her friendship with Kaine—golden retriever energy, silver tongue, and one corner of a sort-of-but-not-really love triangle—was a standout. Their banter was top-tier, sometimes even more fun than her back-and-forth with Cross (sorry, sir).

And yes, it ends on a cliffhanger. But not the cruel kind—just enough to leave you amped for book two without wanting to throw your Kindle.

Thanks to NetGalley, Del Rey, and Random House Worlds for the ARC. Silver Elite drops May 6, and it’s absolutely worth your time. Add it to your list immediately.

DNF @ 15%.

I was so excited about Silver Elite, since I grew up reading dystopian, and have been seeing such glowing reviews!
Unfortunately I just did not jive with this. The writing came across extremely juvenile, it's already extremely predictable (I looked up a spoiler about a secret identity and was correct), and I just could not stand the main character Wren - this could be a me issue but I loath the "perfect, hot, so powerful, amazing at everything, but so sassy and snarky" FMC trope.

Anyways, I know this is going to be an absolute banger for the romantasy genre, and love that everyone is loving it!! I wish I did as much as everyone else did.

My favourite read of the year so far!

Silver Elite is the first book in a dystopian romance trilogy and is set in a divided society where people are either Modified, enhanced by a biotoxin that nearly wiped out the world’s population 150 years ago, granting them powerful psychic abilities, or Prime. Most Primes believe that Mods shouldn’t exist and are determined to rid the world of them. The story follows Wren, a modified who was raised by her uncle and taught from a young age that deception is the only way to survive. When a careless mistake puts Wren in the crosshairs of the continent’s military, she is captured and forced to join the elite Silver Block Academy, a military institution designed to target Mods like herself.

I loved everything about this book! I was hooked from the very first chapter and couldn’t put my kindle down until I finished it. This book was over 500 pages long, but never felt like it. The story was fast-paced and action-packed. It reminded me of the young adult dystopian novels I loved when I was younger, like Divergent, Delirium, and Matched, but a more mature version. I had the best time reading this book, and can’t recommend it enough!

Silver elite by @authordanifrancis is the dystopian book of my dreams. The spice? *mmm* perfection! The magic system? Unique and super cool! The plot? UGH SO GOOD.

Hid from the evil Prime's since childhood, Wren has spent her days on a farm, living the quiet life with her uncle. There are weird things in the world since the collapse of the past, dark impenetrable areas of forest, weird and twisted creatures, and complete control of everything around them by the corrupt government who doesn't think Wren deserves to live, for her ability to read people's minds.

When Wren makes a crazy shot right in the eye of a White Coyote, to save the life of an 8 year old boy, she catches unwanted attention from the Primes, wreaking havoc on life as she knows it. The primes descend into town and take her uncle in custody. Now alone and on the run, she has to save everyone and everything she loves. The only person to keep her company is the mysterious boy she accidentally mentally linked with as a child, someone she has never met. She is thrown into the wolves den of the Primes and has to hide her identity while infiltrating the government and save people like her from a life of imprisonment or death.

I honestly couldn't put this book down, it was so engaging, intriguing and addictive! There were so many plot twists I just didn't see coming.

Make sure to pick up your copy when it pubs May 6th

Huge thank you to @delreybooks for picking up this amazing story!!

#dystopian #silverelite #danifrancis

Better clear your calendar, because Silver Elite is impossible to put down. In a grim future, a military dictator keeps an iron grip on the country and sends elite forces to hunt down "modified" humans -- those who have powers like ESP. Modifieds who are caught are either sent to work camps or executed, and most have a tell -- their veins glow silver when they use their powers. Wren is powerful and wants nothing more than to get revenge on the people who destroyed her family. And she has a secret: her veins don't glow at all.

Silver Elite starts with a bang and never stops. With non-stop action, a sassy heroine, great world-building, and a blisteringly hot enemies-to-lovers romance, this is a perfect vacation read. I can't wait for the next book!

If you liked The Hunger Games, Divergent, or The Maze Runner, this is the grown-up series you've been waiting for.

“Our gifts aren’t always a gift, little bird. Sometimes they’re a curse.”

Remember that feeling of your brain exploding at the ending of hunger games or divergent? Silver Elite will do just that! 🤯 4.5 ⭐️ rounded up!

Let me set the scene: we have a dystopian society divided into two distinct groups, the “Mods” who develop telepathy powers after being exposed to radiation, and the “Primes” who are determined to eliminate anyone with powers.

Our FMC, Wren, learnt from an early age that lying and deception are the only ways to keep her powers hidden. This lesson is put to the test when she is forced to join the Silver Block Academy, an institution designed to eradicate anyone with abilities like hers.

Adding to the tension is an oh so hot 🔥 forbidden enemies-to-lovers romance and plot twists that leave you questioning if anyone can truly be trusted.

This book is for those who love:
💙 Academy training
💙 Forbidden powers
💙 Undercover rebellion
💙 Enemies-to-lovers

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

The ending? My brain hurts and I need book 2 immediately!

“Please don’t leave me” 😭

Thank you NetGalley & Penguin Random house for the eARC in exchange for my honest review.

Thanks to NetGalley for the digital ARC! 3.5 stars. This was such a fast-paced read. The first 60% had me hooked—I loved the plot twists and the direction the story was taking. However, the last 40% fell a bit flat for me. Wren’s decisions felt inconsistent at times, making her a somewhat confusing protagonist, and while the romance was okay, it didn’t particularly stand out.

That said, the book had strong Divergent vibes, which I really enjoyed! If you’re a fan of fast-paced dystopian stories with intrigue and action, this one might be worth picking up.

It’s the 2010s, and every time you turn around a new dystopian book is being released. Movies are being made. You’re volunteering as tribute, throwing three fingers up in the air like a lighter at a concert, and whistling like a mockingjay. You wonder which faction you belong to, but obviously you’re divergent, because duh. The trend is literally catching fire… 🔥 You’re having the best time of your life living in an alternate futuristic reality, while secretly leading the rebellion….
𝐘𝐞𝐚𝐡. 𝐖𝐞’𝐫𝐞 𝐛𝐚𝐜𝐤 𝐛𝐚𝐛𝐲.

This is everything you loved, everything you wanted those other books to be, and more. 𝑩𝒖𝒕 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝒂𝒅𝒖𝒍𝒕𝒔. Yep, it’s spicy my friends. 🌶️😏

🕊️ 𝗥𝗲𝗯𝗲𝗹𝗹𝗶𝗼𝗻
🕊️ 𝗠𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘁𝗮𝗿𝘆 𝗮𝗰𝗮𝗱𝗲𝗺𝘆
🕊️ 𝗨𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗿𝗰𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝗮𝗴𝗲𝗻𝘁
🕊️ 𝗘𝗻𝗲𝗺𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝗹𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘀
🕊️ 𝗙𝗼𝗿𝗯𝗶𝗱𝗱𝗲𝗻 𝗹𝗼𝘃𝗲
🕊️ 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗺𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗼𝗳𝗳𝗶𝗰𝗲𝗿/𝗿𝗲𝗰𝗿𝘂𝗶𝘁
🕊️ 𝗦𝗲𝗰𝗿𝗲𝘁 𝗽𝗼𝘄𝗲𝗿𝘀
🕊️ 𝗦𝘁𝗿𝗼𝗻𝗴 𝗙𝗠𝗖
🕊️ 𝗦𝗹𝗼𝘄 𝗯𝘂𝗿𝗻 🔥

“𝑵𝒐𝒃𝒐𝒅𝒚 𝒍𝒊𝒌𝒆𝒔 𝒂 𝒔𝒉𝒐𝒘-𝒐𝒇𝒇, 𝑫𝒐𝒗𝒆.”

This 𝔸𝕋𝔼.
The writing flowed beautifully. It was so easy to follow, without feeling overly simple. The pacing was perfect. It never slowed down, or felt dull. Every scene mattered. The magic was cool, and felt fresh in a world of the same thing over and over again. The plot was impeccable. I’m pretty good at guessing where things are going, and this threw some major curve balls. This isn’t a short book, but it never felt long. Honestly, I’d like to order another 500 pages please! 🙏🏼

“𝑾𝒆𝒂𝒌𝒏𝒆𝒔𝒔 𝒅𝒐𝒆𝒔𝒏’𝒕 𝒃𝒆𝒍𝒐𝒏𝒈 𝒉𝒆𝒓𝒆. 𝑰𝒏 𝑺𝒊𝒍𝒗𝒆𝒓 𝑩𝒍𝒐𝒄𝒌, 𝒘𝒆 𝒆𝒂𝒕 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒘𝒆𝒂𝒌. 𝑾𝒆 𝒄𝒖𝒕 𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒎 𝒐𝒖𝒕 𝒍𝒊𝒌𝒆 𝒄𝒂𝒏𝒄𝒆𝒓.”

The ROMANCE.
Fuck me. I’m still catching my breath. The tension literally melted off the page. 🥵 It was a glorious slow burn, done right. The perfect amount of build up, the perfect amount of spice, and the perfect amount of emotional connection. 🤌🏼

“𝒀𝒐𝒖’𝒓𝒆 𝒊𝒏 𝒎𝒚 𝒔𝒐𝒖𝒍, 𝑾𝒓𝒆𝒏. 𝑰 𝒕𝒂𝒌𝒆 𝒂 𝒃𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒕𝒉 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒇𝒆𝒆𝒍 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒊𝒏 𝒎𝒚 𝒄𝒉𝒆𝒔𝒕. 𝒀𝒐𝒖’𝒓𝒆 𝒊𝒏𝒔𝒊𝒅𝒆 𝒐𝒇 𝒎𝒆.”

𝗖𝗿𝗼𝘀𝘀. ❤️
This perfect man. 🧎🏼‍♀️
He’s the perfect mix of bossy, masculinity with an endearing vulnerability that melts your fucking heart.
Picture Four from divergent, mixed with Xaden from Fourth Wing. 🤤
He’s 𝙢𝙞𝙣𝙚, and I won’t share. 🙅🏼‍♀️

“𝑨𝒓𝒆 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒐𝒇𝒇𝒆𝒓𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒕𝒐 𝒇𝒖𝒄𝒌 𝒎𝒆, 𝑫𝒐𝒗𝒆?”

𝗪𝗿𝗲𝗻.
This girl is everything I want an FMC to be. A stubborn, sarcastic, strong willed capable girl boss. She doesn’t question her abilities, or need anyone to save her. She can save her mother fucking self TYVM. 😆 I simply love her, and would like to be her. That is all. 🙌🏼

“𝑰 𝒑𝒓𝒆𝒇𝒆𝒓 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒘𝒉𝒆𝒏 𝒚𝒐𝒖’𝒓𝒆 𝒎𝒂𝒌𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒎𝒆 𝒄𝒐𝒎𝒆.”

Seriously, one of my favorite books I’ve ever read. I want to start over right now, and look for everything I missed. 😆
True story. The hype is real. Do yourself favor, and read this damn book!
The ending has me ravenous for more.
I have so many questions. 😩
𝗗𝗮𝗻𝗶, 𝗜 𝗻𝗲𝗲𝗱 𝗔𝗡𝗦𝗪𝗘𝗥𝗦 𝘄𝗼𝗺𝗮𝗻!
🙏🏼

When I saw EliteReading on Instagram read and reviewed this one, I knew I needed it! Thank you so much for letting me have the chance to read early! It was the perfect fantasy romance!

You know what? Hell yeah! When I first started seeing this book and all of the positive reviews it was getting, I caved to FOMO and requested the advanced reader copy. Once I started this book I was immediately hooked and I could not put it down. I absolutely loved every second of this novel and I am eager to read the rest of the trilogy. There are parts that were predictable but a couple of plot twists left me gobsmacked and I'm interested to see how they play out.

I really liked Wren as a character and I equally liked Cross. The instant attraction and tension between these two is impeccable and I couldn't get enough. I like my books plot heavy with spice on the side and this one is exactly that. The author tells a compelling story and gives just enough spice to keep it fun and interesting and the balance is wonderfully done.

There is definitely a lot going on that we don't know about yet and I wish the whole trilogy was released at once because I need it right now! Until then, I'll be (not so) patiently waiting.

Thank you NetGalley and Random House Worlds | Del Rey for access to the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Listen, there was so much emotional whiplash in this book that I don't even know where to begin with this review, but I will say this: THIS BOOK IS SO GOOD!

I'm sad for all of you who have to wait for the book to release (May 2025) before getting reading this gem. And I'm even sadder I have to wait even longer for the second book!

The story takes place in a fantasy world where the people are either Prime or Modified. Mods are called Aberrants by Primes. They are essentially gifted humans. Wren can read minds, for one.

I will say nothing else. I went into this book blind & I'm glad I did. I was a little confused in the beginning, as I discovered a new world, but everything made sense by chapter 2.

Thank you to NetGalley for an advanced reader's copy. I am so grateful.

this started off great! I was really interested in the world building and the characters, but it slowed down a lot in the middle for me at least and knocked it down a star. Would still recommend though

Great story for anyone looking for adult dystopian! I really enjoyed the twists and turns of Wren's story. It kept me guessing and intruigued. Well-written and fun!

Silver Elite is a quick paced dystopian novel that will keep you turning the pages. Wren has telepathic powers, among others, in a world where those with powers are persecuted. When her uncle is killed, Wren is drafted into a program to become a soldier for the people who would see her dead. The handsome captain of operations will not let Wren leave no matter what she does. Will she make the cut and will the captain notice her for the right reasons?

The novel kept me wanting to turn pages to see what happened next.

Dani Francis does it again. The queen of dystopian is back. This book did not disappoint, you need to pick it up!

I was so excited for Silver Elite debut novel, especially after reading that intriguing premise. A dystopian world filled with psychic powers, an undercover rebellion, and an enemies-to-lovers romance? It had all the makings of a book I’d adore, and to be fair, the first few chapters had me hooked. The pacing was strong, the tension was gripping, and Wren’s internal struggles made for an engaging lead. I was fully invested in her dangerous game of deception. The opening had such a strong start, with a well-paced introduction to the characters and the world. The development in the first few chapters was incredible, and I was sure I was in for a new favourite.

But somewhere after the 60% mark, the momentum fizzled out. The story started to lose its direction. I found myself wondering where it was all going, and rather than feeling immersed, i struggled to see where the story was heading. It almost felt like the plot was stalling, instead of escalating stakes, it felt like we were treading water, and the once-compelling intrigue started to drag.

And then came the ending… I love a well-done cliffhanger, but this one left me frustrated rather than desperate for the sequel. I get what Dani Francis was aiming for, but it felt abrupt and not as impactful as it could have been. I needed more resolution, or at least a stronger setup for what’s next.

That said, I do think Dani Francis has potential as a writer. Her world-building was compelling, the early tension between Wren and Cross was chef’s kiss, and the premise was fantastic. I just wish the second half had maintained the same energy as the beginning.

Will I read the sequel? Probably! but I’ll be hoping for a stronger, more focused storyline next time.

Thank you Random House Publishing Group - Del Rey & Netgally for the chance of reading this arc. All thoughts & opinions are my own.

—reminiscent of the YA dystopian heyday... but definitely for adults

—enemies to lovers with actual stakes

—rebellious girl meets "I have it SO under control" dude

—oh shit people are like... dying? for real?

Heat Index: 7/10

The Basics:

Wren spent her entire life hiding—and perfecting—her psychic abilities, in fear of an authoritarian regime that would kill her. But a single outburst has her the clutches of Command, with the only upside being that, though they don't trust her, they don't know what she is. The upside? Getting the opportunity to attempt to become one of the Silver Elite, a brutal special force, which could help her aid the Uprising from within. The downside? Her commanding officer is Cross Redden, son of the general who runs this entire thing, and very much capable of picking Wren apart. (In, like. So many ways.)

The Review:

I imagine there will be many thinkpieces at some point about the concept of "dystopian romance", and I imagine I will probably contribute something to some of them, so let's hold space for that for a moment and move on.

(Like, did I have moment where I sort of chuckled and went "I'm in danger" while reading this in 2025? Sure! But. Obviously. Anyway. Moving on!)

Everyone has already said things about this really harkening back to the dystopian YA days, and boy, does it! At first, I shall not lie, I was a little thrown off. It's been quite a while since I read any YA, let alone dystopian YA, which was something I dabbled in but was never devoted to. I wasn't like, desperate for Divergent, you know?

It took me a minute to adjust to some of the classic dystopian stuff you sort of have to expect—the slang that's like ours but isn't, the Resistance, the kickapow grrl power heroine, the military college vibes. And I shall not lie! There were moments when it was a little Much for me. Wren took some getting used to in particular, as she is... very much a rebel girl heroine. Mouthy, unsubtle, very Strong, etc.

... at first.

However, as the book went on, I realized that Dani Francis was like, pulling me into this thing. I feel like it's possible that it's going to get kicked for worldbuilding, because I didn't find it that hard to follow...? And I'm not the best at following worldbuilding. The basic setup of "psychics = oppressed, non-psychics = fascists, BUT PERHAPS SOME PEOPLE ARE MORE MORALLY GRAY THAN YOU THINK" isn't super complicated, and I was okay with that.

Because Wren actually did mature and grow with the story. She became less KICKAPOW! and more "Oh, very serious things are happening and I need to wake up and take this shit seriously"-core. And to be very fair to Wren, she is... twenty. So though this is an adult story, she's still quite literally a young adult who has a lot to learn. Is she still a bit of the Special YA Heroine in some ways? Yes, but I wouldn't call her a Mary-Sue, and I liked her journey throughout this book.

And a lot of her journey does basically take place over the course of a ton of really hard tests, many of which are violent, in this intense military-type setting. Which is how she ends up at a crossroads with... Cross! Get it? Anyway, I thought he was hot and I enjoyed how squirmy the big man got when the woman mouthed off at him. I am a simple girl.

But seriously, while I think there are definitely things you could pick apart on the Big Plot side of this book... I really enjoyed the romance. We meet Wren stumbling out of another guy's bed, basically. And then she meets Cross. I really liked that this was not an issue at all, yay for heroines who are in charge of their sex lives. At first, I thought we were going to get some standard "snark snark" banter, but... Dani Francis really knows how to write a hero who is very clearly losing his mind when he's Not That Type of Man.

Wren gets under Cross's skin as much as he gets under hers—more so, probably. And once I realized that Cross wasn't going to be one of those romance heroes who's soooo above it all, I kind of latched on to their love story. It does ramp up a good bit once they get going, but I bought into the chemistry and their "destiny" vibes.

(Which is why I'm very interested to see where Francis takes a particular aspect of the next book.)

Look, dude. You can get me when the romance is good. And though I have my nitpicks... the romance was good.

As a sidebar, I would also like to note that I love how Cross would be like "This is unethical" and do it anyway. I'm so over ethical romance heroes. It's like, if we're in a war... I want this guy on my side.

The Sex:

The sex! Is also! Good! Wren and Cross are more physically intimate before they let their guards down for emotional intimacy, which is a favorite approach of mine when it comes to love stories. You really get the sense that he is PANTING after this girl, and very aware of it, and very embarrassed about it. So many little fun things here! Chekhov's "I like it rough"! Comments about "servicing"!

You know, we may be in a dystopia, but who knows what the future holds? Maybe secret servicing?

Conclusion:

Look, there are some technical things I could critique here, and it took me a minute to get into it.... But what can I say? I had fun. I'm not going to overthink it. I've got my own dystopia to deal with. For a good time call Cross Redden.

Thanks to Del Rey and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

This novel followed the well-worn tropes of the hundred teenage dystopias before it. A girl who is extra-special. A mentor. Betrayals. A rebel group that is maybe also the baddies. It was a fun way to pass the time, but I wouldn't seek it out.

I enjoyed Silver Elite! It was easy to read, with some good parts of excitement and suspense to keep the story moving at a decent pace. The Blacklands reminded me slightly of Area X in Annihilation with the mutated animals, plant life and landscape — big fan of this!

I think the initial partnering of the FMC and MMC was missing some deeper insights into their feelings when they first get together and seemed almost too soon, however I am used to the slowest of slow-burns 🥲. I was left cursing some of Wren’s decision-making at times as it came across as rash and somewhat confusing to the plot.

I am a big fan of a dystopian-style fiction and I’m looking forward to seeing where the story goes and how some of the gaps in this book are filled as it progresses; especially with Wren’s character development. That was definitely a cliff hanger! 👏🏻

Thanks to NetGalley & Random House Publishing Group for the opportunity to read this ARC.