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dark
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I've seen some comments of people saying they thought this was written by AI and I can see it. The writing is jagged, like a video with too many jump cuts.
The FMC is also horrendous, the love is toxic, the relationships unbelievable etc etc
The FMC is also horrendous, the love is toxic, the relationships unbelievable etc etc
Content Warnings
Graphic: Slavery, Violence, Xenophobia, War
Moderate: Death, Sexual content, Kidnapping, Death of parent, Murder, Abandonment
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
The dystopian YA revival we didn’t know we needed—but are now quietly obsessed with.
If you were a teen in the 2010s living off Divergent, Legend, or Shatter Me, may I introduce you to your adult self’s new fixation? Silver Elite has that unmistakable energy: high stakes, shadowy governments, and one girl who might just crack the system—only this time, she’s not reluctantly special… she knows she is, and she’s worked her whole life to earn it.
The worldbuilding hits that sweet spot: immersive without turning into an infodump. There’s tension, there’s verve, and there’s just enough backstory to make you feel like this society really could exist. (Though let’s be honest—I’d take a spin-off dossier any day.)
And then there’s the MMC. He knows he’s the MMC. The energy is dangerous swagger meets morally grey—he's on the enemy's side, but good luck convincing my brain to care. Add to that side characters who feel like real people (not cardboard plot-movers), and you’ve got the start of something solid.
Bring on the next installment—I’m emotionally invested now.
If you were a teen in the 2010s living off Divergent, Legend, or Shatter Me, may I introduce you to your adult self’s new fixation? Silver Elite has that unmistakable energy: high stakes, shadowy governments, and one girl who might just crack the system—only this time, she’s not reluctantly special… she knows she is, and she’s worked her whole life to earn it.
The worldbuilding hits that sweet spot: immersive without turning into an infodump. There’s tension, there’s verve, and there’s just enough backstory to make you feel like this society really could exist. (Though let’s be honest—I’d take a spin-off dossier any day.)
And then there’s the MMC. He knows he’s the MMC. The energy is dangerous swagger meets morally grey—he's on the enemy's side, but good luck convincing my brain to care. Add to that side characters who feel like real people (not cardboard plot-movers), and you’ve got the start of something solid.
Bring on the next installment—I’m emotionally invested now.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Sexual content, Violence
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Seeing as this book was the latest rage to be released and hyped about across social media (as well as my favourite independent bookstore, The Imaginarium), what could I do but read it straight away. My reaction? OMG!! Dani Francis has kicked herself into the stratosphere of great storytellers with this book that I could not put down. My only gripe? I did not want it to end when I realised I had, once again, invested myself into the first of a series! (I’ve lost count but I think this one makes it 7 cliffhangers so far in 2025 🤓🤬).
Its description as a dystopian romance novel does not do it justice. Think La Femme Nikita crossed with Divergent and X-Men vibes (NOT Hunger Games) in a Fourth Wing military academy setting (minus the dragons). In other words, even though the romance plot is definitely present, it adds to but does detract from the overall dystopian themes: bigotry, hatred, and the dangers of corrupted military, power hungry political regimes.
I loved the writing which was descriptive, emotive and engrossing all at once. Dani Francis has built a great (and frightening world) with a kick ass FMC (my favourite kind), an unforgettable MMC (am definitely adding Cross Redden to my list of book boyfriends) and a host of others which I invested in emotionally. Witty dialogue, great action [Violence level 🩸🩸🩸] and a plot with enough twists and turns that kept me reading until the wee hours. I will admit that one of the plot reveals was obvious to me from the get go (this did not detract from my enjoyment one iota BTW) but others had me gasping. As for the spice, make sure you keep a glass of ice water handy 🌶️🌶️🌶️. Needless to say, between the violence and spice, this is not a YA book despite the Divergent vibes, so be warned.
For those of you who appreciate trope lists, here’s what you can expect:
- Psychic abilities
- Military training / Academy setting
- Friendship / Divided loyalties
- Secret identity
- Forbidden attraction
- Enemies to lovers
The booktok / bookstagram community has been riding the romantasy wave for a while now (not that I mind, SJM’s TOG and ACOTAR are still my God tier series) but “Silver Elite” would seem to indicate that the dystopian novel is once more in ascendancy. And when you add a good dash of spice…? Dystomance maybe? A preview of our literary future? All I can say is that if they are of this calibre, we all need to clear a space on our bookshelves for more “Silver Elite” and other tomes to come. 🤞🏻
5 stars 🤓📚
#SilverElite @authordanifrancis
#booksbooksbooks #bookish #bookaddict #reading #bookstagram #booktok #bookreview #booksof2025 #bookdragon #bookworm #lovebooks #bookrecs #booklovers #booklove #booknerd #bibliophile #passionforbooks #readingcommunity #bookaddict
#dystopian #romance #adventure #fiction #action
@Imaginarium.Books
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness, Sexual content, Violence, Murder
adventurous
challenging
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Sexual content, Blood
Moderate: Cursing, Drug use, Gun violence, Grief, Death of parent
dark
tense
fast-paced
Loveable characters:
Complicated
I found the dystopian world very intriguing but I didn't like the FMC much. Too "not like other girls" with how good she is at everything and how the guys are just dying to sleep with her
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cursing, Sexual content
Moderate: Rape
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
sad
tense
medium-paced
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Violence, Murder
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Thank you netgalley and Random House UK for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.
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!
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!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual content
Welp, I was wrong about being sucked into another trilogy!
DNF @ 21%
There is nothing wrong with this book’s writing style; just a serious problem in the way of depicting “unlikeable” characters. Everyone is over sexualized to the point of being completely indifferent to the idea of CONSENT; including characters the reader is supposed to like. The FMC, Wren, is absolutely insufferable and (tbh like me) causes most of the problems she gets into and (unlike me) gets upset when other people won’t help her out of them.
I got to a conversation that made me instantly uncomfortable if it happened in real life and that’s why I’m taking the out.
Thank you to NetGalley for the eArc in exchange for an honest review.
DNF @ 21%
There is nothing wrong with this book’s writing style; just a serious problem in the way of depicting “unlikeable” characters. Everyone is over sexualized to the point of being completely indifferent to the idea of CONSENT; including characters the reader is supposed to like. The FMC, Wren, is absolutely insufferable and (tbh like me) causes most of the problems she gets into and (unlike me) gets upset when other people won’t help her out of them.
I got to a conversation that made me instantly uncomfortable if it happened in real life and that’s why I’m taking the out.
Thank you to NetGalley for the eArc in exchange for an honest review.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gun violence, Violence, War
Moderate: Sexual content, Sexual harassment
fast-paced
Thank you Dani Francis, Del Rey, and NetGalley for the free gift!!
From the very first page, Silver Elite had me absolutely hooked. This is dystopian romantasy at its finest—intense, addictive, and brimming with high stakes, sizzling chemistry, and heart-wrenching choices.
Wren is a force: fierce, vulnerable, and endlessly compelling. Her psychic abilities and secret alliances make every moment feel like a knife’s edge, and the worldbuilding—dark, dangerous, and vividly imagined—pulled me in completely. Cross Redden (the commanding officer/love interest) was perfection: the perfect blend of ruthless and vulnerable, making the enemies-to-lovers arc perfection. The pacing of their relationship was spot-on, with just the right amount of tension, longing, and emotional unraveling.
This felt like Divergent for adults, but with even sharper emotional depth and richer romantic tension. The action scenes were pulse-pounding, the emotional moments gut-wrenching, and the steamy scenes were so well done without ever feeling rushed or gratuitous.
I am completely, totally obsessed and already desperate for the next book. If you love dystopian settings, forbidden romance, elite training academies, psychic powers, and stories that will leave you screaming for more—Silver Elite needs to be on your radar.
An easy 5 stars.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Sexual content, Blood, Death of parent
Moderate: Sexual assault
adventurous
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This is me telling everyone to READ THIS BOOK!
I was fortunate to get an ARC of this book through NetGalley… and oh my god.
This book was MADE for the kids who have been trying to fill a hole in their life since they read Divergent and The Hunger Games in middle/high school. I was hooked from the very start. It truly gave me everything I didn’t know I needed.
The plot and writing was so good. I was on the edge of my seat for nearly the entire book. The characters were lovable yet flawed. The tension was *perfect* and I was internally screaming constantly.
I really appreciate that this book gave me everything I wanted from a dystopian novel, without feeling like it was coping other series that I’ve read. I felt like the plot twists and overall conflict was unique. Imagine your favorite dystopian novel from childhood, but turned on its head, and with spice!!!
I can’t say it enough how much I enjoyed this book and cannot WAIT for the next one. 5 stars. Read it ASAP!!
I was fortunate to get an ARC of this book through NetGalley… and oh my god.
This book was MADE for the kids who have been trying to fill a hole in their life since they read Divergent and The Hunger Games in middle/high school. I was hooked from the very start. It truly gave me everything I didn’t know I needed.
The plot and writing was so good. I was on the edge of my seat for nearly the entire book. The characters were lovable yet flawed. The tension was *perfect* and I was internally screaming constantly.
I really appreciate that this book gave me everything I wanted from a dystopian novel, without feeling like it was coping other series that I’ve read. I felt like the plot twists and overall conflict was unique. Imagine your favorite dystopian novel from childhood, but turned on its head, and with spice!!!
I can’t say it enough how much I enjoyed this book and cannot WAIT for the next one. 5 stars. Read it ASAP!!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Animal death, Confinement, Death, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Gore, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Slavery, Suicide, Torture, Violence, Blood, Medical content, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Fire/Fire injury, War, Injury/Injury detail, Classism