Silver Elite

DEBUT Wren Darlington and her guardian, Jim, have been hiding from the Continent’s ruling government since she was a child. Wren is a powerful and rare Mod who would be put to death if anyone learned of her psychic abilities. Jim cautions Wren against drawing attention to herself, but her loyal and impulsive nature causes a cascade of events that places her among the Continent’s most elite soldiers. Wren mustn’t let her guard down, which becomes harder and harder as she gets to know her fellow soldiers, including magnetic commanding officer Cross Redden. The worldbuilding is told more than shown, leading to a confusing explanation of the Continent’s different factions and their history, but regular readers of science fiction will be able to pick out the classic plot pretty easily, and romance readers will enjoy the scene-stealing, steamy enemies-to-lovers relationship between Wren and Cross. This is a doorstopper of a novel, but Francis keeps the plot moving along at a fairly fast clip. The last half is full of twists that will keep readers on the edge of their seats.