There was no fault in this book. Perfect from the first page to the last. I adored it and would recommend everyone grabs a copy. You will not be disappointed

Okayyyyy this was so fun!!

PLOT - I feel like its unique enough, with lots of worldbuilding and a very gripping story. I kept turning the pages, needing to know what happened next.

CHARACTERS- loved Kaine so much!!! Cross is also ended up loving, more so as the book goes on. Wren, omg Wren. This girl. Honestly someone needs to tell her how protagonists are meant to behave because she don't care!! So unreliable yet so fun!!

WRITING - fun, easy tonread, very relatable actually considering it's dystopian! I loved the pace, the way the interactions were written.

I get the hype!

The hype surrounding this book is 100% deserved. A gritty, dystopian novel with a rich plot and unique world-building that I would give more than 5 stars to if I could. Every page had me hooked and every twist had me gasping. I can’t wait to see where this leads in future books and how Wren and Cross’ relationship develops!

This was a complete masterpiece of a dystopian romance with hints of The Hunger Games, Divergent & Fourth Wing.

Wren has hidden what she is for over a decade until her uncle's shocking capture leads to her landing herself in the hands of the enemy captain, Cross. With a choice between life in a labour camp or training to be part of the very institution that hunts her kind, Wren must choose between revenge, survival, and the ever-growing attraction that burns between her and the man who holds her fate in his hands.

This was gripping and steamy, and the tantalising slow-burn development of both the plot and the enemies-to-lovers romance kept me reading well into the early hours.

Thank you to Del Rey, NetGalley and author Dani Francis for this eARC

Holy shit I loved this book!
I have been waiting for a book that makes me feel like The Hunger Games and Shatter Me did back in the day and THIS IS IT!
I loved (almost) everything about this and read it in one afternoon cause I just could NOT put it down!
I missed dystopian novels so much and this is one of the good ones.
It was everything - the characters (main and side), the world, the story.
I can not wait for the next one.
The only thing I was kinda meh about was the romance - I‘m not a fan of the whole „he is so hot and for some unexplainable reason I feel drawb to him/can not stay away even though he is my enemy and stands for everything I hate“ it always feels sort of lazy and disappoints my hopes for a real/good enemies to lovers.
Francis did sort of save it in the end but I would‘ve prefered more development and less just-can‘t-stay away.

This book is my new obsession. I can’t even explain how this made me feel! I was completely hooked the whole, entire time. The perfect dystopian fantasy with such an interesting story and characters. Plus, the chemistry and tension between Cross and Wren is just insane and will keep you on the edge of your seat every time they’re together. Going to be thinking about this one for a very long time!

This is everything that I love in dystopian, it was gripping and intriguing, I was hooked from page one. I also don’t see a lot of dystopian with romance sub-plot and it was the perfect addiction to the story. I can’t wait to read the rest of the series!

Well, that was quite the ride, and then some! At over 500 pages, it's a chunky book, but it took me only two evenings to absolutely devour it. The prose flows easily, the pages turn themselves. Loved the premise and the pacing!

I'm expecting to see Silver Elite pop up all over booksta as a new favourite - it has all the trapping of a great adult fantasy romance:
- dystopian setting
- one hotshot enemy commander
- one clever heroine trapped in enemy territory
- an uprising looking to overturn the military regime
- mind-reading, telepathy and other awesome mental abilities
- elite military training with dangerous trials and ops
- friendships forged against the odds

I enjoyed reading Silver Elite and got as caught up in it as I did with Fourth Wing - no dragons here, though. There was one major twist that I found quite obvious, but having guessed expected it from quite early on didn't diminish my enjoyment of the novel. The ending held some surprises that will have me reach for the next book as soon as possible!

(4.5 stars, rounded up to 5)

5 Stars

I am a huge dystopian fan and this did NOT let me down.
Silver Elite is like a mix of Divergent, Shatter Me and Fourth Wing. Three of my favourite series, so it was utter heaven for me!

The plot is based around a society split in two. There are the leaders, the Primes who are normal humans. Then there are the Modifieds (Mods), who have psychic gifts. The two are in a constant battle for control. However when using their powers, the Mods veins glow and so are easy to spot.
Our lead female is Wren, a Mod who has been in hiding since she was Five. Now aged 20, she makes a mistake and ends up captured but they don't know she is a Mod! Due to her excellent shooting skills she ends up in training for a prestigious fighting group called the Silver Elite and goes undercover for the Uprising. The Silver Elite is lead by Cross Redden, a gorgeous but dangerous officer.

The worldbuilding is EXCELLENT. It isn't necessarily that unique but there are so many brilliant features that give it so much depth. The storyline is addictive and I was so HOOKED I read it in a day! There were so many twists and turns and although I guessed a few of them, I didn't care as I just loved it SO much. The ending I did NOT see coming!

The characters are the stars for me. Wren is a badass. She is clever, tough, reckless and so entertaining. Her humour was fantastic and I was constantly smiling and laughing. She goes through a lot and I loved seeing how she coped.
Cross is a mix of Four from Divergent and Xaden from Fourth Wing. Determined, ruthless and hard but also has a soft centre for those he loves. The romance, the chemistry and banter was firing and the smut was HOT.
The side characters played such important roles and I especially loved one called Kaine who is a hilarious, flirty gorgeous human!

A brilliant first book in this new Adult Dystopian trilogy. I am obsessed and cannot wait for the next book! But be warned, this book is addictive!

Thank you to the publisher for the eARC to read, however unfortunately I have found myself DNFing this book and nobody is more disappointed than me about it. I’ve had so many mutuals raving about Silver Elite with ample praise so I had been highly anticipating a new favourite read of the year, so I’m definitely gutted that I’m not able to join in on the hype.

From the very beginning I found myself struggling to connect with the writing style/prose from the author with the stilted dialogue and character interactions that had me cringing and wanting to roll my eyes at times. Wren, the FMC, comes across and arrogant and impulsive with an unwillingness to actually listen to her peers with more experience in the Uprising than she did. She refuses to slow down and actually think things through which causes complications that other people are expected to clean up on her behalf. Wren also seemed to cling to an obsession and toxic regard to the kind of men that she’s supposed to hate, yet can’t seem to help but note their physical attractiveness as she lusts after them. The emphasis on just how “strong and skilled” she is in combat felt like too much without the actions to back up those claims. I just couldn’t connect with her character at all and consider her a likeable main character to root for in a rebellion.

I’m begging authors to please pick a different scent to associate MMCs other than “pine, leather and some sort of spice” because there are a ton of other options out there to choose from. How a man smells should be the least of my concerns when reading a book… but when men in multiple books by multiple different authors all describe them smelling the same… it becomes generic and predictable. Cross himself read like a generic ‘alpha’ main character. He was fine, but I didn’t feel like I was experiencing anything new and noteworthy. I immediately predicted his identity from the second that Wren’s mysterious childhood friend came into the story early on through telepathic communication, so I just didn’t find myself enjoying Silver Elite as it lacked the tension and suspense that I was looking for.

Something else I struggled with was the lack of clear indication when communication transferred from verbal to telepathic. Usually in a book a change in dialogue will offer a clear indicator such as being written in italics… or literally anything to avoid confusing the reader. The swift change into telepathic communication wasn’t clear to me at all from the beginning as I found myself having to backtrack and figure out what was actually going on.

I’m really sad that this book hasn’t worked for me and my tastes. I can definitely see *why* it’s becoming a huge favourite for readers, it’s just unfortunate that I’m not going to be one of them. I feel bad rating a book I never finished with 1 star as maybe I would’ve liked the second half more than the first, so I’ve settled on 2 stars as a middle ground.

Silver Elite is a book that as soon as you start reading you know it’s going to be so good....then you get to the half way point, you just want to put it down forget everything and start again just to relive every moment and that’s before you even know how it’s going to end!

Dystopian books have always been a favourite type of genre for me to read, so to have those feelings brought back to life reading Silver Elite makes me so happy, this book is amazing. The story is gripping and the writing instantly pulls you in keeping you on the edge of your seat trying to work out what is going to happen and who you can trust but like it says trust no one and that is so true when you get to all the twists and turns that unfold throughout.

The slow burn romance between Wren and Cross is everything, I was living for every interaction between these two and it certainly develiverd. This is the type of thing I love to read about the gradual development of a romance that gives you all the tension and then for it to pay off in the best way possible makes it worth the wait.

This book really is phenomenal and has the perfect balance between plot and romance, action and twists and turns. I cannot wait to have the second book in my hands. Highly recommend. 

Thank you so much to the publisher and NetGalley for opportunity to read and review this book before publication, these are my honest thoughts and opinions.

Silver Elite is a dystopia romance, following Wren as she infiltrates her enemy's elite program: the Silver Elite. She meets the mysterious Cross, her captain who she seems to have a strong connection with.
I was put off dystopians about 10 years ago when I finished a certain popular trilogy and was disappointed by it's ending - since then I've really avoided picking them up. But, I am so glad I picked up Silver Elite - I think it's healed my dislike for dystopia stories! I was instantly hooked and intrigued by Wren's story. I really love the romance between Wren and Cross and can't wait to see more of them in the next book. The world and powers were really interesting and I can't tell where things are going in the next book. I don't know who Wren should trust but I love being along for the ride.
And I had forgotten how good these kind of series can get at the end of a book - that anxious, heart pounding end when you know everything is going to wrong but you just need to keep reading to see what happens. I felt that and loved it, even though I now need the next book and have no idea when it'll be out.
I loved Silver Elite and highly recommend, especially if you're a fan of dystopia romance!

This is one is for the girlies that grew up during the 2010s dystopian YA era! And I am so here for it!

amazing !!! I’m obsessed like actually wow I can’t believe I put off reading this for so long. The concept of this book was insane I’m in love with everything about this book. Cross Redden !!!! Wren !! ahhhh I love the characters so much. loved the plot twists, just can’t wait for the next book!! wolf & daisy

A fast paced dystopian read which kept me wanting more!

I go through phases with dystopian but I had heard that Silver Elite was very action packed and pacy so I decided to give it a try, and I’m so glad I did. The dystopian element is almost more of a backdrop for the story than part of the plot itself - for this book, I get the sense that it will become more central to the story as the series continues.

The characters were engaging - I did work out who Wolf was immediately, but there were plenty of other twists and turns, and it didn't negatively impact my experience to have worked it out already - and I enjoyed getting to meet a variety of people from across her world as the story progressed. Some of the decisions Wren had to make were impossible, and I felt this was dealt with in a realistic (and difficult for her) way.

Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed Silver Elite and I’m excited to see where the series goes next! I can see why people are saying it gives Fourth Wing vibes because it has that same addictive, I-finished-this-in-one-go energy. Definitely one I would recommend to anyone who enjoys fast paced romantasy.

Thank you NetGalley and Random House UK, Cornerstone for this eCopy to review

Silver Elite by Dani Francis is a thrilling dystopian novel that had me hooked from the very first page. The story follows Wren Darlington, a young woman living in a world where being "Modified" means possessing psychic abilities, which is punishable by death under the current regime. Wren has spent her life hiding her status and supporting the Uprising in secret. However, after a fateful incident, she finds herself imprisoned and forced to join the government's elite training program, Silver Block, under the watchful eye of the enigmatic commander Cross Redden.

The plot is packed with action, political intrigue, and a simmering romance that adds depth to the story. Wren's journey is one of survival, resistance, and self-discovery as she navigates the dangerous world of the Primes and the Mods. The tension between Wren and Cross is palpable, and their dynamic keeps the reader guessing about their true intentions and feelings.

Francis has created a rich and immersive dystopian landscape that feels both familiar and fresh. The societal divisions and the history of the biotoxin that led to the emergence of psychic abilities are well-explained and add layers to the narrative. The story moves swiftly, with plenty of twists and turns that kept me engaged. The last hundred pages, in particular, are filled with shocking revelations and cliffhangers that left me eagerly anticipating the next instalment in the trilogy.

Silver Elite is a compelling start to a new series that fans of dystopian fiction will surely enjoy. The blend of action, romance, and political intrigue makes it a must-read for anyone looking for their next great adventure.

I would give this 10 stars if I could. I am loving the dystopian resurgence and this does not disappoint.

Set In a dystopian version of our world where a biological weapon has mutated some of the human population so that they now have mental powers and are now hated by the ‘primes’ unmutated humans. A truly bleak and terrifying dystopian authoritarian world is created in this story.

Enemies to lovers but he doesn’t know she’s the enemy. Wren and Cross's relationship is steamy perfection. The twists and turns this book takes have me counting the days already to book 2.

Silver Elite! Wow, wow! Wow! That's my review, okay? I'm joking, obviously, but when I tell you I finished this book literally half an hour ago and was like okay I need to write the most unhinged review because I'm absolutely feral for this story. It's a god tier read for me, all the stars, in my top books of the year, I mean the whole shebang!

I honestly think it's best not to know too much of the plot because when I tell you, this book had me dry eyed manically reading till very early hours in the morning like I was telepathically communicating with Wren and Cross Redden themselves, literally shouting at them whilst simultaneously covering my eyes.

The world building is phenomenal, I've seen people say this is like a mash up of Divergent and Fourth Wing, and it's not. It's better, I said what I said.
The Dystopia, The Mods v Primes, The psychic powers vs. soldiers, the incitement! Ahhhh, the plot just plots! but let's talk about my gal Wren. Wren is out here purposefully failing tests, so people don't know how powerful she is! I mean, come on!!! She's a bad ass. Sarcastic and Cocky as hell I loved her.

Cross Redden is rude, grumpy, and also sexy as hell! I swear, every time he called Wren Broken Dove, I swooned harder. He gives off so much I hate you, but I want you energy, and I was so here for it. The forced proximity, the tension between them both sign me all the way up!

I could genuinely be here all day talking about this book, but if you like dystopia, politics, all the drama, and just a book you can completely obsess over, then this is for you. Please talk to me about it once you've read it. Please!

Summary

Overall rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 5/5

Spicy rating: 🌶️🌶️ 2/5

Trust no one is absolutely right!
Oh my days the twists this book took especially towards the end practically gave me whiplash. What just happened?! I need book 2 like now 😫

Dystopian Romances are well and truly back my friends and I am so grateful! This gave all the nostalgia of reading books like divergent for the first time but with a fresh and more adult feel to it. Absolutely obsessed with this book and no idea how I’ll cope with waiting to find out what goes down for Wren next!

The characters were interesting and well written and definitely had me engaged in their stories and journey and not just our MCs but side characters as well! Just when you think you’ve got it all figured out… bam 💥 another double cross! Seriously no one is safe 😅

Nothing is ever as it seems and I really loved the undertones of how no one side is wholly right when it comes to war and how awfully grey and muddy everything becomes, even when you think you’re doing what’s right the lines become blurred so quickly.
It was depicted especially well through this slow realisation reading Wren’s POV.

It was face paced and will keep you turning pages long in to the night and past your bedtime but just hold on to the handle bars and just run with it

Yes there are probably a few bits I could nit pick about but honestly this book was such an enjoyable ride I’m not sure why I’d bother.

I've been on a roll with debut fantasy authors lately and this is another corker!

Psychics hunted for being different, through no fault of their own, a rebellion to oust a corrupt leader (sound familiar!), intolerance of those deemed different, a dystopian world which may just be a place we know very well that has succumbed to climate change and civil unrest. This is a brilliant mix of action/adventure/science fiction & romantasy.

Where most fantasy worlds feel a bit samey, Silver Elite said "hold my beer" and gave me a world that resembles Earth but with a few added extras, name changes, etc but enough similarities I can kind of track where we are in "the real world". The world building in complex and there are lots of big themes handled so well. There are some tough scenes and I'll admit I wanted to hit things a few times when it looked like things were going pear-shaped but everything kind of worked out - even though I'm now standing on the edge of an almighty cliffie!

Wren is by turns annoying, funny, pragmatic, world weary but always, always deadly! She may have to hide her "light" under a bushel but there is no way that can last long because this girl is just too good! It's also nice to see some equality and she is the one who sneaks out of a morning!

Cross really puts the enemy in enemy to lovers! He can be ruthless, determined and downright scary but "things" put it in perspective and between him and Kaine, you won't be short on eye candy.

There are complex relationships all over the place, new friendships, allies won and lost and no small amount of treachery. I did have a wobble on the big reveal of Wolf but I'm glad to say I was right in the first instance. There are side characters aplenty who really fill out the MC's as characters and I was cheering them on through training but be warned - sadly one of my fave's doesn't make it to the end and I was big mad for a while!

TW: Murder/death/war/bigotry/discrimination/alluded to SA/drugs/mental illness & institutionalisation