Three and a half
Yes this certainly grabbed and held my attention but I'm not one who reads a lot of young dystopian fiction so for this reader it had a freshness. Wren is our protagonist and she has been born in a future when due to wars a biotoxin has changed the world irrevocably. The toxin gave some humans psychic powers and they are referred to as being Modified and those without abilities are known as Prime. It's clear that previously the Modified had held power but now they are hiding as its usually a firing squad that awaits them if discovered. Wren watches as her uncle is shot and struggles to help him but her actions both then and previously have got the attention of Cross the leader of the Silver Elite. Wren has zero interest in joining or helping the Prime military and will do all she can to sabotage her chances of being constricted but cannot deny there's a chemistry between her and Cross that is proving difficult to ignore !
Hmm this was definitely entertaining although if brutal the romance didn't quite work for me. Lots of hook ups between the couple but apart from that they didn't really seem to interact with each other very much. I'm a little conflicted with my opinion of Wren because whilst I enjoyed her willingness to help if she could towards the end she makes mistakes that simply bamboozled me. After all that has happened why do oops I cannot say more but yes a TSTL few moments. The ending however took a turn I hadn't expected so if as I believe this is a debut kudos to the author for the shock.
This voluntary take is of a copy I requested and my thoughts and comments are honest and I believe fair

I didn't expect this book to sink its claws into me the way it did, but wow it exceeded my expectations. Its raw, smouldering tension between our two leads is all I've ever wanted and MORE. It might be slightly predictable and cringey, but undeniably addictive to know how their relationship develops over the course of the book.

The world is a battleground in Silver Elite - psychic-powered humans on one side, and those who fear them on the other. As tension continues to build in a tightly controlled rule under the Primes, the pacing is off the charts. It reads like a full throttle action film and I devoured every single scene. The world is sleek and gritty, and we occasionally glimpse the dark underbelly of outlawed pockets which I loved as a contrast to the sterile, hawkish new world that General Redden commands.

Our headstrong heroine squares off against her icy, enigmatic captain - a romance that just works, it felt indulgent and gratifying. The rest of the plot are complemented by our colorful side characters, and make you question your allegiance as Wren races her moral compass to seek justice and truth.

I really enjoyed the start of this one but sadly when it neared the middle it seemed to lose all steam and I found myself not wanting to pick it up anymore.

Firstly thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for sending me an E-arc for review.

This book started out so so good, you were thrown into the story from the get go which is so exciting when you start a new book, it's almost like you have no time to think because the action is just going and going. This also was quite an easy read in terms of not getting overwhelmed by the world building, it's a gradual info dump which I find a lot easier to process.

Overall I really like the concept of this book and the overarching plot, however I had to DNF at around 25-30% and it's purely because I think it just lost steam at this point. I think that there is sometimes a struggle to keep that fast pace going when a book starts out that way and I definitely felt it around this point, so much that I didn't even want to pick it up and any progress felt like none at all. I'm disappointed by this but I do still think that for some people it will be a great read that is just a bit slower than anticipated.

Thanks to Netgalley and Random House UK for this eARC.

I’m still wondering how I feel about this book. On the one hand I’m desperate to read a sequel, having loved the last 60% of it, on the other, the first 40% was pretty slow going with lots of plodding info dumps I could have done without. Wren at first was also a tough character to like, making some poor decisions but I was ultimately won over by her later development. I’d recommend this to fans of “Powerless” and anyone who likes a strong female lead, the action is well written and the romance spicy. I decided to give it a 4⭐️, because despite its flaws, it still enjoyed my time reading.

3.5 stars rounded down.

Silver Elite does nothing new, has a plot twist I predicted on page 30, and a protagonist who makes some of the most idiotic decisions I've seen in a while. Despite that, I found it hard to put down.

The writing style is nothing special (first person, present tense by the way) but not grating either. The romance bored me: it's based entirely on physical attraction until near the end, and without getting into spoilers, we still don't get to see how most of their emotional bond developed. The love interest's personality is also completely unchanged from the usual dominating romantasy archetype. There really was nothing interesting or original about him.

After listing all that it sounds like I didn't like this book at all, but after getting through the first 50 pages or so I flew through it. I think if you turn your brain off and just go along for the ride you can have a fun time with this. That said, I wouldn't recommend it to anyone who really can't stand romantasy.

Thanks to NetGalley for the digital ARC.

SYNOPSIS:

Wren Darlington is Modified - enhanced by a biotoxin that gives her psychic abilities - and in her world, that means she is in danger from the Primes - those without abilities. Keeping her head down has kept her safe, but when her emotions get the better of her, Wren is forced to join the military, trying out for Silver Block. Can she defeat her enemy from the inside? Her commander Cross Redden stands in her way…

REVIEW:

Dani Francis’ debut, Silver Elite, is a fast paced novel full of twists and turns - once it’s hooks are in, it doesn't let go. Set in a dystopian future, this book hits all of the beats that I would expect from the genre and despite that being a little predictable, I really enjoyed it. This is the nature of the genre, particularly if you are someone like me who has read a LOT of YA dystopian over the years - however, it's what I expected and even wanted from this story.

Main character Wren is a fierce heroine, lifted from wanting to keep to herself to fighting for her people. She's fun and feisty and complemented by a great host of side characters. I particularly enjoyed the sarcastic Kaine and his ‘banter’. There's a huge amount of chemistry between Wren and other characters in this book, not just with her forbidden captain - though if you enjoy the enemies to lovers trope you certainly won't be disappointed!

Fast paced action in a dystopian future - 4 out of 5 stars.

Thanks to NetGalley and Del Rey for the review copy. Silver Elite by Dani Francis is out 6th May.

This book was such an incredible debut—I’m so grateful I got the chance to read it early! Romantasy has been my go-to genre lately, and this one completely sucked me in. I devoured it in no time. The world-building, the characters, the romance—it all just *worked*.

I’m already counting down the days until this author releases more. If this is what they can do with a debut, I can’t wait to see what’s next. Absolutely amazing! 📖✨

The new Divergent. It brought back so many feelings I had being a teenager reading Divergent, but with a darker, adult twist. Sexy & smart, this book had me hooked.

My first 5 star read of 2025!
Silver Elite starts off running and doesn’t stop, its fast paced and entertaining, the dialogue and characters are engaging and the writing flows really well, its gripping and makes you not want to put it down!

In a dystopian world where some people have been modified by radiation after the Last War we follow Wren who is modified, certain things happen and she ends up in military training to become Silver Elite all while hiding her powers.

It is high stakes and will have you on the edge of your seat but also swooning at the budding romance.

I will definitely be continuing this series!

I didn't realise how ready I was for an amazing dystopia read.
Before starting Silver Elite, I was having difficulties sticking with a book because my mood reader self was restless. This book changed that.
I loved it! It hooked me and I cannot wait to find out what happens next.
I absolutely devoured this book, I enjoyed every second of reading it and I hope so many more people read and love it too.
I 100% get the hype surrounding it!

This book was so good! It took a minute to get into with all the new information on this new world and how it all works. But once that was done I was in for the ride!

"Silver Elite" is such a delicious throwback to everything I loved about dystopian fiction, but with a decidedly adult edge that had me absolutely hooked. Following Wren, a powerful psychic trying to survive in a world that wants her dead, this story delivers on action, tension, and slow-burn romance that'll keep you up way too late turning pages. The chemistry between Wren and her commanding officer Cross absolutely sizzles, even as you know their attraction could get them both killed.

While some of the plot twists might feel familiar to genre veterans (and I definitely called one major reveal pretty early on), it honestly didn't diminish my enjoyment of watching it all unfold. The military training setting provides the perfect pressure cooker for both character development and rising stakes. Fair warning though - the pacing does slow a bit in the middle before ramping up to a finale that leaves you desperately wanting the next book.

Thank you to NetGalley and Del Rey for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

My Dystopian era of reading 15 years ago was probably one of my favourite periods of my reading life so when I heard Silver Elite being called a Dystopian Fourth Wing, I was so excited.

I was hooked from the first page, the author does a great job of setting up the world, society and magic system whilst also throwing us straight into the plot. Wren was a great character to follow, she feels familiar but in a good way, like you’re with a trusted old friend.

I always love any kind of school/ training facility setting and this military style programme was really fun. The friendships, rivalries and romances developing between different characters kept me hooked and I struggled to put it down.

I will say that nothing really surprised me, but I don’t think that’s a bad thing. There’s a reason why some of these tropes and plot lines are so beloved and I really enjoyed the feeling of nostalgia I had for all the old Dystopian stories, I sure hope they are having a resurgence.

I was definitely rooting for the underdog when it came to the romance 👀 I really can’t wait to hear what everyone thinks when it publishes, I think it’s going to be huge.

Thank you so much for letting me read this early copy :)

2.5 stars rounded down.

Silver Elite follows Wren Darlington, a Mod - someone who possesses psychic abilities caused by a biotoxin that nearly wiped out the population 150 years ago. The Primes - who are immune to the biotoxin and possess no powers - want nothing more than to eliminate the Mods. Wren has kept herself alive by concealing her abilities while doing all she can to aid the rebel Uprising in fighting again the Primes’ oppressive rule. One careless mistake gets her involved with the Continent’s military, and she is forced to join their most elite program: Silver Block. All Wren has to do is keep her powers hidden, survive training, feed the Uprising information from inside enemy ranks, and try not to fall for Cross Redden, her cocky and maddeningly attractive commanding officer.

This book is reminiscent of the dystopian novels we saw in the 2000s, and I was so excited to read it. Unfortunately, although the premise was fantastic, the execution was lacking for me.

While this book started off very fast-paced, the pace quickly slowed down. I got to the 50% mark and realised that nothing much had really happened, and although there was a bit more action towards the end, I still came away from this book feeling like there was too much filler and repetitive scenes. It was also very predictable, and I guessed one of the big reveals very early on, which made it feel anticlimactic.

I wanted more from the world-building. There are sentences here and there about the world and how it’s ruled, but it felt lacking and was clumsily done. I also found the training program slightly ridiculous. The recruits are only training for two months before they’re trusted to go on dangerous missions, which even in a dystopian world, felt far too soon.

I initially quite liked Wren, but she ended up becoming one of the most irritatingly stubborn FMC’s I’ve ever read about, and she made some truly idiotic decisions. Her impulsivity made her read like a child. She was also morally inconsistent, and also a bit of a hypocrite. I found it really strange how she would go through something really traumatic, and would barely react to it. I almost forgot some of the things that had happened when they were brought up again, because it seemed like Wren had completely forgotten them too, and we are reading from her POV.

The MMC and love interest, Cross, is just another romantasy archetype - dark hair, tattoos, muscles upon muscles, broody, makes some questionable decisions etc. He didn’t have much of personality, although I possibly liked him a bit more than Wren as he was less annoying. The romance between them was based purely on physical attraction. I didn’t feel any emotional connection between them, which made the love declarations feel really out of place.

There was one reveal at the end that I didn’t see coming, and it seems like the sequel could be interesting based on the ending. However, there just wasn’t enough that I liked about this book for me to consider picking up the sequel.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House UK/Del Rey for providing me with an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

THIS BOOK IS AMAZING! Dystopia was my first genre true love so it was incredible to return to it in an adult context that absolutely sizzled from start to finish. Wren is brash and impulsive and reckless and I fell in love with her almost immediately as she carried me through the story in her brazen fashion. The dynamic between her and Cross was flawlessly executed and there were several plot twists throughout that left me reeling. Seriously, read this book when it comes out, you won't regret it

This is what dystopias are meant to be.

Dystopias are one of my favourite genres and this book certainly delivered. Their main purpose is to explore the exaggeration of societal fears, and at certain points I was reminded so vividly of current politics that it could have been pulled straight from a newspaper (minus the psychic part).

This book was never boring and the characters are deeply impactful. I love the main character, who is flawed and stubborn in a way that is believable as opposed to annoying.

The setting has just enough of a foundation in reality to create a personal connection with it from the get go. But, all additional world building removes it far enough from the real world that it still feels like escapism.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for sending me this ARC.

5 stars!!!!

Thank you to NetGalley and Del Rey for the early arc of this debut of a book. OMG! I loved every minute of this book. It reminded me so much of the Divergent books that I read when I was younger and I was hooked. I couldn't put this book down. I need the next one if there is one! I loved the characters so much especially Cross and Wren. They were my favourite throughout the whole book!.

Silver Elite feels like a return to the high point of the late 2000s and early 2010s. But this book is far from Young Adult, with spicy scenes and plot lines as dark as the later Hunger Games books.

Silver Elite is a fantasy dystopia that’s almost borderline romantasy in its feel, with co-running plot lines of romance and classic dystopia. This makes it feel a little closer to Divergent in its set up, but I thought the story was a little more compelling. There was a nice little reveal as part of the plot which was really nicely developed and set up. The build up to it allowed you to slowly work it out yourself which I loved – that it didn’t come out of nowhere was fab.

What marks this book down a little for me was how annoying and slightly toxic the main romance couple were. I think fans of books like A Court of Thorns and Roses, and Fourth Wing would probably enjoy the unfurling of the relationship, but for me it was a bit much and hard to swallow at points. It was also more explicit than I was expecting but if that’s your thing you’ll be happy!

The world building of this dystopian world was really cool, I loved the way it was developed and not a copy paste of every other dystopia. I mean some of the cliches are there. Wren is special and different than other silver bloods, because of course! It wouldn’t be a dystopia without a little cliche. What makes Silver Elite stand out from some of the weaker dystopia is that there were realistic politics behind what occurred in the book, compared to other dystopia stories hopping on the success of The Hunger Games and Divergent in the mid 2010s.

I loved the world building and the non-romance plot of this book and I will definitely be back to read the sequels when they’re published. If you love dystopia and spicy romantasy novels you’ll be all set with Silver Elite. Some scenes were just a little too blue for me!

Happy Reading! xx

Screaming about this #gifted copy of Silver Elite!

Dystopic fantasy novels have always had a special place in my heart, as books from this genre were some of the formative books for me as a teenager and young adult that made me love reading. When I heard about Silver Elite by @authordanifrancis , a new adult dystopian series that hearkened back to series like Hunger Games and Divergent, I just knew I had to get my hands on this copy ASAP. Basically I had no chill.

Wren is a Mod with multiple abilities that has grown up in a dangerous place where Mod’s are hunted by Primes, humans with no abilities. By concealing her powers with the help of her Uncle Jim, Wren is able to remain hidden as a Prime in her community. When tragedy strikes, Wren finds herself forced to join the most elite program of the military, Silver Block. Can she use this opportunity to take down those who want to kill her and those like her from the inside? Or will she get distracted by the handsome commanding officer Cross Redden and their explosive chemistry?

This books hits the ground running and does not let up. It’s exciting, addictive, and extremely well written. I did not want to put it down at all. Wren is a likable and relatable FMC, but I also really enjoyed the side characters. Silver Elite is top tier dystopic fantasy. Ever since finishing it I haven’t been able to stop thinking about it.

Silver Elite is out in May and I’ll be waiting here with bated breath for all the love. Huge thanks to the publisher @delreyuk for this gorgeous arc. This baby will be treasured forever.

What’s your favorite dystopic fantasy novel or series?

#dystopian #silverelite #hygge