This book is the offspring of a love affair between Divergent and Fourth Wing. I really enjoyed how it brought up the nostalgia of distortion world building and action from my teenage years, making it have a really compelling story telling pace and great balance between plot and characters. Although the plot was predictable at times, I felt like some of the plot twists completely caught me off guard which made this book even more enjoyable!

Now, the only thing that left me wanting more of was the characters themselves. Although they felt very individual and quite interesting, because Wren was infiltrating within enemy’s grounds, she couldn’t trust anyone - which made me feel very detached from all characters, including Wren herself. And because character relationships is a very big thing for me, Wren and Cross’ exclusive physical only relationship was a drag. I kid you not, its pure physical 90% of the book. I understand as she doesn’t trust anyone, he doesn’t trust anyone… I don’t know, I got bored of their relationship rather quickly. Doesn’t help that Cross is a little cliche (still better than Xander! Geez).

Either way, I can totally see the big appeal and the hype it’s receiving and I believe this debut is likely to dethrone Fourth Wing and it’ll bring an avalanche of new book lovers into the dystopian fantasy genre!

Many thanks to the publisher for the e-arc! All opinions are my own!

OMG, OMG, OMFG! I think I just found my book of the year!

Six stars 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

I am absolutely kicking myself that I didn't pick this ARC up sooner, but I'm also relieved as it means less time to wait for the next book, which I need immediately, please and thank you.

This book has my heart, my soul, my everything, and I just know I will be thinking about it until, well, probably forever. It is that good; the hype is real and totally justified.

If you absolutely adore the following, I just know you will love this book: dystopian world, badass FMC, secret identities, tension, the perfect amount of spice, a plot that keeps on giving, betrayal, military base, the twistiest twist cliffhanger ending, the perfect romance, amazing world-building, and the most interesting and likeable secondary character—until they are not.

All I'm going to say is you will 1000% not be disappointed in this book. It's giving all the best parts of *The Hunger Games*, *Divergent*, and *Fourth Wing* (minus the dragons), but better!!!!

I just want to say thank you Dani Francis, del ray & netgalley for giving me the opportunity to read this book early. It was incredible.

Silver Elite is an epic dystopian adventure that had me gripped from the first page.

In a world divided between Mods and Primes, a world where Mods, the one with powers, are rooted out and eliminated-Wren Darlington is used to hiding her modified ability. This is all made more difficult when she is forced to join Silver Block, an elite programme that is dedicated to finding and eliminating Mods, as well as keeping the continent thriving with Primes.

This book has truly brought dystopian back. It was packed full of action, adventure, secrets and romance. If you love dystopian books, academy settings, forbidden/enemies to lovers romance and high stakes, you will absolutely love Silver Elite.

I highly recommend everyone to pick up a copy in May and thank you to the publisher for the early copy!

Everyone was right. Dystopia is back and Silver Elite is leading the fray!!! I read this in pretty much one sitting and that ending had me gasping every five minutes! I’m desperate for the second book so we can learn more about the world, the Mod’s powers and ALSO!!! Wren’s history and her family!

You can tell that Dani Francis pulled inspiration from the 2010’s dystopian boom but she made it so unique and fun while still keeping the intensity thrumming through the plot. And that was great! This book felt nostalgic and new at the same time and I am going to be thinking about it for a really long time. The girls are gonna go feral for Wren and Cross!!

Dystopian books are so back!!

I could not put this book down! The world building, the plot, the politics, the TENSION?! Just *chef’s kiss*

The story was fast-paced and I loved how the world-building was sprinkled in throughout the book, rather than one big info-dump at the beginning. It made it easy to keep up while keeping you guessing and wanting more. The pacing continued throughout the whole book and I am so glad I had the time to read the last 20% in one go because the revelations just kept on coming! I also really enjoyed the political set-up in this book and the relevance it has to today’s state of the world. It offers an excellent backdrop for Wren’s story and the moral struggles she encounters throughout the book.

The romance aspect was insanely good, even though I would say it is more of a subplot for a majority of the book. The tension and dynamic between Wren and our MC was amazing, and a perfect execution of the enemies-to-lovers trope. I loved how their relationship developed throughout the book and how it impacted Wren’s character growth as an individual. Also the nickname - count me obsessed!

I feel like I could go on and on, but I don’t even want to give away a hint at any of the (many) twists of this story - this is the book you will stay up late reading and then immediately text your group chat to discuss. If you read a lot of YA dystopian books in your teens and are looking for something to hit the spot like that as an adult, this book is for you!

This book will be my newest obsession! I can’t believe this is still not released and I already want the sequel!

If someone asked me what book described my reading taste, it's this! This absolute masterpiece of a book!

From the very first chapter I was ready to fight for a new rating system, just for this book because 5 stars just doesn't seem like enough.

I would personally describe this one as Shatter Me meets Divergent but make it adult with a secret identity 'pen pal' twist. Epistolary is one of my favourite 'tropes' and I ate this one up so that on top of it being a dystopian novel is just chef's kiss! There wasn't a single lull or boring moment and every character had their own unique voice. I could never guess what was going to happen next and it was just so exciting, I got up early and stayed up late to read this one. Also when I tell you that both Cross (MMC) and Wren (FMC) are now my new book crushes, it's an understatement 🥵 these two were badasses and hot as hell and their romance and chemistry was off the charts.

I just know this is going to be the next viral book and I can't wait to hear more people rave about it!

Thank you to Del Rey and Netgalley for gifting me this advanced readers copy.

A new obsession- I love that this made me feel so nostalgic for the 2010s dystopian era whilst feeling so fresh and new in this new Romantasy era.

Our FMC Wren is so wonderfully fierce and stubborn, and her connection to Cross from the beginning was everything!! The forbidden relationship, but also her own secrets and objectives mixed in was so much fun to devour.

I’m not even sure where to start in reviewing Silver Elite by Dani Francis, it absolutely blew me away, but my goodness do I NEED book 2 now! I can’t believe that this is a debut; it’s that perfect mix of romantasy and dystopia that absolutely hits the spot. If you grew up loving The Hunger Games and Divergent, then fell in love with Forth Wing as an adult, you’re going to want Silver Elite in your life, trust me!

We’re thrust straight into action upon starting Silver Elite where we follow Wren Darlington, a Mod with physic powers. Mods gained these powers following a biotoxin that nearly wiped out the entire population 150 years ago, leaving them enhanced by it. The Primes fear the Mods and under the strict rule of General Redden being found to be a Mod can mean certain death. Wren has survived by hiding her abilities, helped by her Uncle Jim. But when a mistake places her in the crosshairs of the Continent’s military she is forced to join a program for their most elite force, the Silver Block. Unwittingly, her enemy has given her - and the Mod Uprising - the perfect opportunity to strike a devastating blow from inside their ranks. That is, if she can keep her powers hidden, survive training, and prove herself to Cross Redden, her cocky, maddeningly attractive commanding officer.

This book was entirely addictive and there is so much I could say about it, but I also don’t want to give too much away so let’s try a list:
🐦‍⬛ We’ve got a brilliant FMC in Wren, she’s brave, but also reckless and impulsive. She’s pretty cocky and very funny. She knows what she’s good at but has to figure out what she can show and what she needs to hold back to protect herself. She’s also going through a lot of personal turmoil in trying to figure out her place within the training program and how she feels versus how she thinks she should feel.
🐺 a brilliant MMC in Cross; this man is tough but man does he have it bad for Wren. I loved that we got a few see increasingly different sides to him throughout the book. The slightly feral and jealous edge worked very well.
🐦‍⬛ the chemistry between Wren and Cross was excellent, their banter worked brilliantly and I loved that he had to chase her. There is a little hint of a love triangle early on but this is quickly resolved leading to a brilliant slow burn.
🐺 a brilliant set of side characters, some of whom are wonderful (here’s looking at you Kaine) whereas others are downright awful, but together they make the most compelling story. The found family element worked so well, especially given the unease Wren felt.
🐦‍⬛ I really liked the training setting, it was giving all the best parts of Divergent and Fourth Wing whilst also being entirely unique. …and that undercover op phew 🔥
🐺 there are some brilliant twists and turns in this one. There is one storyline that I did guess but I was genuinely so happy to find I guessed right, whilst others took me by total suprise.

This book is insanely good. I cannot wait to see what happens next!

I absolutely loved this! It's been a while since I've read a dystopian book and I must say this was like the best parts of the hunger games and divergent with other unique aspects all together. It's an adult book so the relationships were complex and intimate. Characters had depth and mystery and the interactions between them invoked so many different emotions. I found the background story so interesting and the world was gradually developed in an engaging way. There were several plot twists, some of which I had an inkling but others came out the blue. Absolutely recommend this to anyone who loves, dystopian, fantasy, romance, politics and mystery. There was a bit of everything.

Thank you to Del Rey for an advanced copy through Netgalley.

Silver Elite drops us into a gritty dystopian world through the eyes of Wren, a Modified who’s spent her entire life hiding her true identity and abilities. But after a reckless decision lands her in the Military, Wren is forced to train to become one of the elusive Silver Elite—a path that comes with danger, secrets, and an inconvenient attraction to her Commanding Officer, who also happens to be the General’s son.

One of the things I loved about this book was the world-building. The power dynamics were so well-thought-out and explained in a way that made everything click. Following a war over 150 years ago, a biotoxin split humanity into two groups: the Primes, who were immune, and the Modified, who were enhanced by it. I appreciated seeing both perspectives—how Modified once ruled with cruelty while Primes were oppressed, and how now, the tables have turned. Modified are hunted down, their powers seen as threats, regardless of intent. It’s a brutal but fascinating world. I especially loved the details—like the silver veins that appear when some Modified activate their powers, while others, like Wren, don’t show them outwardly.

Unfortunately, this is where my love for the book ends.

The writing and pacing gripped me for the first 30%, but by the time I finished, I was left confused. While this is billed as a New Adult dystopian, the dialogue and character behavior felt much more YA. (And let me say, I will defend YA forever—but it just didn’t match the tone or themes I think Francis was aiming for.)

I expected the training to be the focus of the book, but that phase wrapped up surprisingly quickly. By 70%, Wren was already off on missions, and I was left feeling like I’d missed a huge part of her growth. The pacing felt off and rushed.

Then there’s Wren. She’s introduced as this incredibly skilled, dangerous, and trained-since-childhood survivor. But she also makes choices that are so baffling I wanted to scream. Two, in particular, made me lose all faith:

1. She willingly lets a healer erase the scar that’s been her only protection from being discovered as a Modified. Why?! She knows how dangerous the world is—she’s seen the torture, death, and experiments.
2. She fully trusts a Prime girl she’s known for all of three months to keep her secret. No backup plan. Just… trust.


These moments didn’t align with the strong, calculated character we were told she was. I genuinely couldn’t stand her. I was really hoping that we get some good development by the end of the book, but sadly I saw very little.

I also didn’t connect with the romance. Her Commanding Officer was written to be this brooding, intense figure—but nothing about him really stood out. Their chemistry just didn’t land for me. And the “big” twist involving him? I saw it coming before he even entered the story.

I debated whether I’d continue the series, but honestly, there just wasn’t enough here for me to feel invested. That said, I know this book will absolutely find its audience. It just wasn’t for me.

2025 is when we bring back dystopian, isn't it? Because what the hell is this so good and entertaining for if not for the big comeback!!!
Okay. Wow. I'm genuinely SO. SURPRISED. that this was just SO GOOD.

Welcome to the world forever altered by the release of a DNA changing toxin back in the day. That event, now more than a century in the past, helped create the so called 'Mods': new sub-species of humans with telepathic abilities and sometimes other, more dangerous gifts, too. However, after power was taken over by the Company, Mods are either hunted down and executed or forced to become slaves to the new system ruled by Primes (humans without altered DNA).

'Silver Elite' is a fast-paced (but not too much so which is an advantage, IMO) dystopian sci-fi novel that introduces you to a Mod FMC that isn't great at everything but what she is great at, she excells at. That, on itself, is refreshing. Wren is terrific and spunky, she's also introspective which is a rarity in majority of popular books these days. You want to be her but you'd also make the same mistakes as her. She is a DELIGHT to follow and root for as she's just relatable. The romantic aspect of this story is also something that starts off as your regular run-of-the-mill romance in a romantasy but then it changes course and it ends up surprising you, not only evoking blush in the cheeks but a more emotional connection to the couple, too. It is delightful through and through. The side characters spice things up, the alliances, the shaky friendships, the gruelling training sessions the characters are subjected to in order to finish their training and get to Silver Block (or Elite, in some cases). There's never a dull moment but the quick pacing doesn't overshadow moments when you, along with Wren, stop and ponder, doubting the fairness of one's actions in the name of something greater than the doers. So therefore while it is an entertaining read, it doesn't shy away from the heavier topics which I appreciated. I pulled half an all-nighter for this one and this doesn't happen with just any story.

Last but not least, while I guessed/suspected what one of the bigger reveals in this would be, the other one was a fantastic surprise and I have to say it got me GOOD. I love it when it gets me good. ;)

Yup, the hype is real and do join the bandwagon. Y'all will thank me later. <3

This book was everything I wanted and more! I haven’t been into dystopian books lately so I was a little worried starting this, but I really shouldn’t have because I was hooked from the first page. This book made me feel like I was a teenager again, reading Hunger Games and Divergent for the first time. The plot was plotting, Wren was a badass (a little too much at times? Maybe? Who cares, I enjoyed every second of it!), Cross was DELICIOUS, I think I highlighted every other sentence that came out of his mouth. The end threw me for a loop: I predicted one of the plot twists, but the others took me by surprise and gave me whiplash because they just.kept.coming!

Now I’m left with so many questions and theories, feeling empty and scared for these characters, counting the days until book 2 releases!

I might update this review later when I have more coherent thoughts, but for now I will be screaming into the void and making everyone read this book.

Thank you to Netgalley, Random House UK, and the author for this arc.

This is the hot, thrilling dystopian fantasy everyone’s been waiting for. Wren is Modified, in a world ruled by un-gifted Primes: she possesses silverblood gifts rare and powerful even amongst her kind. But they must be hidden, at all costs: Mods are sentenced to labour camps at best, death at worst.

When an error of judgement draws her to the attention of the Company, Wren is drafted in as a potential recruit for Silver Block, the secretive high-ranking military unit. Wren realises she also has a rare opportunity to infiltrate the enemy from the inside and obtain precious intel. But she will have to tread a careful line to work her way into the favour of the powerful: including the dangerous and attractive General’s son, Cross Redden. Can she protect herself, her own kind - and her heart?

This was loads of fun and played out as you might expect - but was no less enjoyable for that. Francis is giving the people what they want, which is:

- secret hidden powers!
- Academy setting with tests to pass or fail!
- Adrenalin-fuelled paced thriller!
- Unexpectedly found family!
- Secrets and betrayals and undercover spy missions!
- Sexual tension and spice!
- A lovely horse, who comes to no harm on page!
- Terrible, horrible decision-making!

you’re gonna love it chat

📚 Book Review 📚

#adprproduct

A huge thank you to NetGalley for approving me for an ARC of this book. Special shout-out to my buddy readers @bex_boys_and_books and @archerofpages, this was a great read.

After reading some early one-liner reviews of this one I was excited to dive into it and boy was I pleasantly surprised.

It was impossible to slow down when reading this book. I tried to drag it out but the writing was engrossing and the plot was very pacy.

Wren and Cross were fantastic MCs, the push and pull between them was torture but entertaining. The secondary characters certainly had some standouts, Kaine was one of my favourites and I'm intrigued to see where other character arcs lead too.

There are trials, plot twists, spice, friendship and unanswered questions, making this a highly entertaining and superb read. My only question is, when are we getting book two?

🌟🌟🌟🌟✨

This was such an addictive read with some great character, and I can see why everyone is buzzing about it! I really saw the Divergent x Fourth Wing vibes and the tension in the romance was enough to keep every page turning! The plot twist was no great surprise, but I loved the way it ended with so much unfinished business. Will definitely want a physical copy for my shelves!

Silver Elite by Dani Francis

4 STARS

A very impressive debut novel! The world building and setting is thorough - you feel immersed from the start. The characters are well developed and the plot moves along swiftly- wasn't prepared for the ending! Will definitely be reading further sequels.

I did not expect that extremely chaotic ending, I actually feel windswept!

This book was absolutely everything, especially when you consider the fact it’s a debut. The characters were so well developed, the plot was definitely plotting and we were feeling all of the emotions throughout.

My favourite character was Kaine, he was such a breath of fresh air, so easy going and saw the funny side of everything, which really helped to brighten up the book.

After that ending, I’m not sure how I feel about wren, our fmc, she went off the rails a bit at the end there and I can’t say I agree with all of her choices. It was quite the cliffhanger though so I look forward to seeing how her character develops in the next book.

Now can someone tell me when the next one releases, I need it right about now😭

R E V I E W

Silver Elite by Dani Francis

☆☆☆☆☆

Advanced Reader Copy graciously provided by Random House UK, Cornerstone | Del Rey via Netgalley

This book was completely addictive. I thought I'd outgrown my dystopian fiction era, but Silver Elite has happily proven me wrong. This narrative is a spicy adult amalgamation of Divergent, The Hunger Games, the Red Queen series, and Fourth Wing; effortlessly proving that you're never too old to escape reality and moreover, that the world we live in could always be worse.

Like the aforementioned YA offerings, Silver Elite revolves around a series of young adult characters, some going through the rigerous tests and trials necessary to grant them 'Silver Block' and 'Silver Elite' status in a world where humans rule and the Modified, or Aberrant (see: magically gifted) are subjugated, enslaved, hunted and killed.

Wren Darlington, our FMC, has been hiding in plain sight for years, gifted with four magical abilities marking her as one of the most powerful 'Mods' in the world. But when her careless actions see her uncle killed and her freedom taken, Wren is forced to enter the Silver Elite training program to prove her loyalty to the state. After spending a lifetime avoiding conflict and towing the line, Wren suddenly finds herself going against the grain and committing to her training at the behest of a Modified insurgency group. But with Silver Elite Captain Cross Redden's eyes never far from her, Wren quickly realises that she may be undercover, but she is not unnoticed, and what's worse? She's definitely noticing her gorgeous captain and unofficial captor right back.

This was a completely gripping first instalment, and I cannot wait to read the next. Whilst I predicted the major 'twists' in the plot, the writing was clever enough to leave a little room for doubt and engaging enough for me not to care when my predictions came to fruition. Did I find Wren's recklnessness a tad frustrating towards the end? Absolutely. Was I dreading the inevitable separation of our two main characters? Definitely. Author Dani Fancis graciously left my heart in tact- for now- but I don't doubt that she could do me some damage in the subsequent books, which I will most definitely be picking up.

Unfortunately I just don't think this one was for me. I liked the premise, the mods and command, but not enough to continue past 60%. It's definitely a me and not the book as I can see others have loved it. I think the academy setting just isn't my bag.

After a bit of a wary start, I absolutely ate this book up. We’re thrown into the world building from the first page, which felt a bit daunting and confusing initially. Once I found my feet with the terms of war and the who’s-who, I couldn’t put it down.

Silver Elite gives you an action packed plot, with a bunch of tension and peril to keep you reading and an enemies-to-lovers romance with the ‘he falls first’ trope we all know and love. The pacing was fast, but super engaging.

I loved the mix of characters, with the constant battle of trying to figure out who to trust and who to be wary of. A couple of the big ‘reveals’ were super predictable (Wolf being an obvious one), but I don’t feel it took anything away from my enjoyment at all.

With a story that’s chock full of telepathy, danger, desire, secrets and betrayal, this is definitely one you want to add to your tbr.