I Read an Early Copy of 'Silver Elite'—Here's Why I Think It's Bound to Be the Dystopian Book of Summer

And the first printing is gorgeous

Author image: natalie bio photo e1692204716113

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Published May 2, 2025

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For readers who grew up with favorites like The Hunger Games and Divergent, I have some good news for you: There's a new dystopian must-read hitting shelves, and it's bound to be the book of the summer. Make room on your TBR list for Dani Francis's upcoming book Silver Elite—which is for all of us chasing the nostalgic, can't-put-it-down feeling after finishing Sunrise on the Reaping.

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Dani Francis

From the very first page I was hooked on this story. But before I get ahead of myself, you might want to know that Silver Elite follows Wren Darlington, who has been hiding her status as Modified (which would mean instant death under the current regime due to her psychic abilities) and supporting the Uprising in secret her whole life. After an incident occurs, Wren finds herself imprisoned in the hands of commander Cross Redden, with no choice but to enroll in the government's most elite training program under his instruction—which she takes advantage of as a chance to dismantle her enemy from within.

This is one of those rare reads that captured my attention from the first page to the last—the kind that will make you want to cancel your plans to get to the next chapter. It feels like a grown-up version of the dystopian books we know and love thanks to the sizzling romantic subplot, and it included such a surprising twist at the end that I found myself literally gasping out loud, complaining to my dog that he would simply never understand. (If for no other reason, please pick up this book so I have someone to discuss with!) Needless to say, I'm counting down the days until book two—because, yes, this is a start of a brand new trilogy, so we have so much more to look forward to.

And if you're thinking, "OK, but is anyone else just as obsessed with this book?" The answer is a definite yes. I've already seen it popping up on my TikTok feed ahead of its release, like in the video above where creator @lkcreads calls it her, "Favorite of 2025." Lauren also shares, "If you've ever enjoyed, even slightly, Divergent, Fallout, Twilight, X-Men, The Hunger Games—welcome to your new obsession...I feel like I've been searching for this book for the past 15 years." And to back her (and me) up, creator @gabikozreads said in this video, "Seriously, it has everything! But it still feels so fresh and unique."

Honestly, there's so much I wish I could tell you about this book without spoiling it, but alas, you'll have to trust me that this deserves the number one spot on your TBR list. (I swear it's that good.) And BTW, if you preorder one of the stunning first editions with silver foiled edges now, you can fill out this form with your proof of purchase to score a signed bookplate, sticker and a truly gorgeous piece of character art. So go ahead and wrap up your current read because Silver Elite releases May 6 and you're gonna want to dive into it ASAP.

~~$33~~; $23 at Amazon

~~$33~~; $31 at Bookshop

~~$33~~; $28 at Barnes & Noble

Natalie LaBarbera

Associate Commerce Editor

Writes commerce stories and features that span multiple topics, including fashion, beauty, travel, home and sales/deals
Has contributed to reports on ethical fashion and continues to stay up-to-date on sustainablility developments
Completed a bachelor's degree in psychology at the University of Pittsburgh and a master's degree in fashion studies at Parsons The New School

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I Read an Early Copy of 'Silver Elite'—Here's Why I Think It's Bound to Be the Dystopian Book of Summer

And the first printing is *gorgeous*

Dani Francis

Associate Commerce Editor

Why You Should Trust Us

And the first printing is gorgeous