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Silver Elite – Synopsis and Background

TRUST NO ONE.

Twenty-year-old Wren Darlington is not your ordinary Mod. She’s one of the most powerful in existence.

But her world is divided. On the Continent, being a known Modified means certain death, as the Primes – those immune to the biotoxin that nearly wiped out the population 150 years ago – want nothing more than to eliminate those who were enhanced by the toxin and developed psychic powers.

LIE TO EVERYONE.

Wren has survived all these years by concealing her abilities and keeping a low profile while doing what she can to aid the rebel Uprising in fighting against the Primes’ oppressive rule. But one careless mistake places her in the crosshairs of the Continent’s military, and she is forced to join their most elite program: Silver Block. Unwittingly, her enemy has given her – and the Uprising – the perfect opportunity to strike a devastating blow from inside their ranks.

AND WHATEVER YOU DO, DON’T FALL FOR YOUR GREATEST ENEMY.

That is, if she can keep her powers hidden, survive training, and prove herself to Cross Redden, her cocky, maddeningly attractive commanding officer.

Despite the explosive chemistry between them, Wren cannot let Cross get in the way of her mission. But as war rages between Mods like her and those who aim to destroy them, emotions run high and secrets are revealed, forcing Wren to decide how far she’s willing to go to protect herself . . . and how much of the Continent is worth saving.

In a dystopian post-apocalyptic world torn apart by war and biotoxins, humans are divided into two groups: Primes – ordinary survivors – and Modifieds (Mods), powerful telepaths and psychics hunted by the regime.

Wren Darlington, a Mod with several rare abilities, is forced into the Silver Block military training elite after her guardian’s cover is blown. Under the command of the cold, driven Captain Cross Redden, she must survive brutal tests while hiding her true identity…and grappling with tense chemistry that brushes dangerously close to enemies-to-lovers territory.

Silver Elite Review

I genuinely can’t remember buying Silver Elite – it just turned up in the post one day like a chaotic little gift from past me. Somehow, I completely missed all of the hype and discussion about it before reading, so I went in entirely blind…which, honestly, might have been the best way to experience it.

I thoroughly enjoyed this one. It’s snarky, and filled with enough tension and action to keep me turning the pages. That said, it’s not without its flaws. There are definitely a few plot holes and moments where the pacing faltered – certain events moved too quickly, while others dragged a little. I also wasn’t entirely convinced by the romantic chemistry between Wren and Cross until quite close to the end. But even so, the enemies-to-lovers-ish arc did eventually hit, and I found myself invested by the final chapters.

Despite the critiques I’ve since seen – especially around the dystopian setting and world-building – for me, this was a refreshing break from the heavier fantasy I’ve been reading lately. It doesn’t reinvent the genre, but it delivers a satisfying, high-stakes story with a strong, sarcastic heroine and a very readable style. Perfect if you’re in the mood for something fast, angsty, and a little bit spicy.

Writing Style

The writing in Silver Elite is clean, accessible, and easy to fly through. It’s the kind of style that doesn’t slow you down with dense descriptions or over-complicated world-building, and for many readers, that will be a huge plus.

That said, it’s not particularly ground-breaking. As someone who lives for lyrical, immersive prose (think Rachel Gillig levels of mood and atmosphere), I found the writing here serviceable but not especially memorable. In fact, I struggled to find standout quotes for this review – nothing really leapt off the page in that swoon-worthy, underline-it-immediately kind of way.

Still, the straightforward style does lend itself well to the genre, especially if you’re in the mood for something quick and drama-fuelled rather than poetic and philosophical.

Length and Grip (😏)

At just over 500 pages, Silver Elite isn’t particularly long by my usual fantasy standards – but I actually think the length suited the story really well. Any longer and it might have tipped into filler territory, but as it stands, the pacing kept things moving (mostly) at a satisfying clip.

That said, the flow isn’t perfect. There were a few plot holes and transitions that felt jarring – some events escalated too quickly without enough build-up, while others dragged a little longer than necessary. I wouldn’t call it a deal-breaker, but I did find myself momentarily pulled out of the story once or twice.

Despite that, the overall structure works. The tension ramps up steadily, and the blend of high-stakes action with quieter, more politically-focused beats kept me engaged. The story builds to a strong finish (with a plot twist I genuinely did not see coming!), and I turned the final page already wondering what chaos the sequel will bring.

World/Magic System

This is a dystopian-lite setting: biotoxins, elite training programmes, psychic abilities, rebellion, and government oppression – enough background to build tension. While I found thrilling and immersive enough, some critics note that the world-building can feel surface-level, with the romance and action often taking centre stage, which I can appreciate.

What really worked for me, though, was the Mod magic. It’s introduced in a way that feels easy to grasp, no glossary or info-dumps needed, but it’s still interesting and layered enough to stay engaging. Abilities like telepathy, mind control, and physical manipulation offer a lot of potential, both narratively and romantically, and I’m hopeful the system gets explored even further in future books.

One world-related choice that didn’t quite land for me was the mystery of Wolf’s identity. It was painfully obvious from very early on, and I kept hoping for a twist that never came. It would’ve been a genuinely bold move if the author had taken it in another direction. Still, the potential of this world – particularly the Mod vs Prime divide – feels exciting, and there’s definitely room to build on it in book two.

Smut

The romance between Wren and Cross starts fast – a little too fast for me, if I’m honest. There’s instant tension, sure, but the chemistry felt a bit forced at the beginning, like the story wanted them to be drawn to each other before it had truly earned it. The early moments of attraction leaned heavily into tropey territory without quite selling the emotional connection.

That said, the dynamic does improve significantly as the story progresses. Once some of Wren’s secrets come to light and their relationship shifts into something more honest, I started to feel it a lot more. Their connection deepens, and the emotional stakes begin to match the physical tension.

The spice level is definitely present – explicit in places, emotionally charged, but sometimes leaning toward insta-lust territory. If you like your romance with tension, sarcasm, and vulnerability, this one hits its stride…eventually.

Side Characters

Where Silver Elite really surprised me, though, was with a few key side characters. Kaine and Lyddie, in particular, were written so convincingly that I completely believed Wren’s perspective of them. I felt shocked – genuinely blindsided – by their eventual reveals. That kind of narrative manipulation only works when the groundwork has been laid well, and in this case, it absolutely was.

One area that didn’t land quite as effectively for me was the fate of Tana. It felt a little abrupt, and tonally out of sync with how the rest of the story treated emotional beats. I know some critics have felt strongly about how that plot point was handled, and while it didn’t ruin the book for me, I do think it could have been written with more care or nuance.

Checklist:

• ✅ Psychic powers & telepathy
• ✅ Strong FMC
• ✅ Spice
• ✅ Enemies-to-lovers-ish romance
• ✅ Betrayal and plot twists

Favourite Quotes:

“We spent our whole lives loving each other from a distance. We can do it for a little while longer.”

“I would rather fight a cougar barehanded than subject myself to an uncomfortable exchange. Truly.”

“Maybe we can’t change the fundamental trajectory of our lives, but we can adjust the details along the way. It’s like navigating an ocean current. We can’t change its course, but we can choose which path to take as we flow along with it.”

Overall Rating and Conclusion

⭐️⭐️⭐️.5

🌶️🌶️🌶️.5

Silver Elite was a pleasantly unexpected read for me. I went in completely blind, with no expectations and no spoilers – and I think that helped me enjoy it for what it is: a dystopian-lite romantasy with just enough bite to keep things interesting.

While the world-building isn’t particularly deep and the romance felt a little rushed at first, there’s still so much to like here. Wren is a sharp, non-damsel-in-destress heroine, and the twists involving some of the side characters were genuinely well executed. I also really enjoyed the Mod powers – they were easy to understand without being boring, and they added a great layer of conflict and intrigue.

There are a few rough edges. Some pacing dips, a questionable fate of a particular character , and a romance that takes time to settle – but overall, this was a refreshing change from the more intense epic fantasies I’ve been reading lately. It’s snarky, dramatic, and completely addictive. I’ll definitely be picking up the sequel.