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Silver Elite #2
Broken Dove
In the heart-pounding sequel to the New York Times bestselling dystopian romance Silver Elite, lines will be crossed, loyalties will be tested, and the fight for the Continent is only just beginning as Wren Darlington finds herself caught in the middle of two wars: one for the fate of her home and another for the fate of her heart.
LINES WILL BE CROSSED.
After blowing her cover as a double agent within Silver Elite and fleeing the Prime-controlled capital, Wren Darlington is finally safe behind allied lines. As her lover and former commander Cross Redden works to disrupt the Primes from inside their ranks, Wren turns her focus toward assisting the Uprising in overthrowing their rule once and for all.
LOYALTIES WILL BE TESTED.
Though she’s back among her own people, trust is hard-won and hidden agendas abound on the Mod base. And beyond those walls, Wren can’t help but worry that Cross is keeping secrets of his own . . . secrets that could jeopardize everything. Complicating matters even further is her shocking reunion with hotshot fighter pilot and undercover operative Grayson Blake. Once her closest friend in Silver Elite, Gray seems to understand Wren on a level she never thought possible.
AND THE FIGHT FOR THE CONTINENT IS ONLY JUST BEGINNING.
With the war between Mods and Primes growing more brutal by the day, and with her own role in the conflict becoming more essential than ever, Wren must confront some gut-wrenching questions. Who is she fighting for . . . and who is she willing to lose?
LINES WILL BE CROSSED.
After blowing her cover as a double agent within Silver Elite and fleeing the Prime-controlled capital, Wren Darlington is finally safe behind allied lines. As her lover and former commander Cross Redden works to disrupt the Primes from inside their ranks, Wren turns her focus toward assisting the Uprising in overthrowing their rule once and for all.
LOYALTIES WILL BE TESTED.
Though she’s back among her own people, trust is hard-won and hidden agendas abound on the Mod base. And beyond those walls, Wren can’t help but worry that Cross is keeping secrets of his own . . . secrets that could jeopardize everything. Complicating matters even further is her shocking reunion with hotshot fighter pilot and undercover operative Grayson Blake. Once her closest friend in Silver Elite, Gray seems to understand Wren on a level she never thought possible.
AND THE FIGHT FOR THE CONTINENT IS ONLY JUST BEGINNING.
With the war between Mods and Primes growing more brutal by the day, and with her own role in the conflict becoming more essential than ever, Wren must confront some gut-wrenching questions. Who is she fighting for . . . and who is she willing to lose?
608 pages
First published May 12, 2026
About the author
Dani Francis
3 books5,031 followersDani Francis is the New York Times bestselling author of Silver Elite. She is an avid reader, a lover of all things breakfast, and a hopeless romantic. When she is not creating high-stakes fantasy worlds and complex characters, you can find Dani spending time with family or trying to figure out why the printer never works.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 2,804 reviews
May 16, 2026
🚫 RANT REVIEW- Contains Spoilers 🚫
Honestly I thought the first 120-150 pages were really good and started off stronger than Silver Elite for me. My hopes were high but I had no idea of the emotionally constipated love triangle lied ahead of me in this journey.
Firstly, the lack of plot. This one is full of fillers. Don't get me wrong, I liked that we were expanding on the world building and getting in new character dynamics in play. But it lacked action and pacing. Silver Elite in contrast was a very action focused, fast paced book and I liked that about it. Here there's fillers after fillers until something substantial happens. About 65% of the book can go for me.
Secondly, I went in with this book hoping that I will like Cross. I did, I loved him even though he was barely in it. And it's what happened in the absence of him that pisses me off. Because Wren truly never gave that man a chance. What was the point in giving us their strong history, strong foundation, when the story and Wren couldn't honor it? Like you're telling me that you couldn't stick to your own narrative from book one?
Cross is being tortured and Wren can't even ask how he's doing? She goes off to party by telling him she doesn't have time? All that mention of love and history, and she's shutting him out over people she's know weeks?
If you're going to give me a love triangle. At least make it seem like it has an emotional grounding. This one had none. No, Cross was simply sidelined. Grayson is a good character but he's just a masculine version of Wren. I didn't appreciate the constant reminder of him being on and off with Karra cause no one was taking it seriously. We're made to show that Karra is this jealous territorial woman. But Wren is also stepping on her boundaries??
Now, Grayson is a likable character. Or at least better than Wren. Not as good as Cross. But him and Wren just come across as a rebound. Like what even is he? Just to be used by Wren because he's conveniently there? But the fact that this love thing comes up, I don't want Cross sticking out for Wren. For all I care, put him and Karra together. They'll at least match their intensity and be appreciated for it.
Idk what the point of this love triangle was. I'm honestly so done with books doing this: Setting up a strong lead, only to go in the next book- "Yeah no. Scratch that. Everyone's doing it, we wanna have our own Rhysand." BRO BUT YOUR RHYSAND IS NOT EVEN QUALIFYING FOR TEMU VERSION!!!
There was no reason for Cross to be sidelined. He had a good arc running with his brothers in their territory. We could have expanded on that. Cross and Wren had the intensity of a healthy dynamic and we could have elaborated on it instead of just doing shit for the sake of it. This is such horrible storytelling because all it tells me you can't write a plot where a couple thrives and takes on the world together. That you need constant conflicts, betrayals, to be pitted against each other, jealousy to further a romance.
The plot twists and ending were meh. I really gave up on the book and finished it for the sake of it. I'm not sure if I want to read the next book. If I do, it will be just to see if Cross gets justice and Wren to be unalived because fuck her manipulative and selfish ass. Extremely poor writing and fyi I still think this is all written by a man!
~•~•~
OMG this bad boiii is in my hands!! Silver Elite was an average read for me but I'm oddly feeling super excited for this one. Going in with the hopes this is better than book one.
Honestly I thought the first 120-150 pages were really good and started off stronger than Silver Elite for me. My hopes were high but I had no idea of the emotionally constipated love triangle lied ahead of me in this journey.
Firstly, the lack of plot. This one is full of fillers. Don't get me wrong, I liked that we were expanding on the world building and getting in new character dynamics in play. But it lacked action and pacing. Silver Elite in contrast was a very action focused, fast paced book and I liked that about it. Here there's fillers after fillers until something substantial happens. About 65% of the book can go for me.
Secondly, I went in with this book hoping that I will like Cross. I did, I loved him even though he was barely in it. And it's what happened in the absence of him that pisses me off. Because Wren truly never gave that man a chance. What was the point in giving us their strong history, strong foundation, when the story and Wren couldn't honor it? Like you're telling me that you couldn't stick to your own narrative from book one?
Cross is being tortured and Wren can't even ask how he's doing? She goes off to party by telling him she doesn't have time? All that mention of love and history, and she's shutting him out over people she's know weeks?
If you're going to give me a love triangle. At least make it seem like it has an emotional grounding. This one had none. No, Cross was simply sidelined. Grayson is a good character but he's just a masculine version of Wren. I didn't appreciate the constant reminder of him being on and off with Karra cause no one was taking it seriously. We're made to show that Karra is this jealous territorial woman. But Wren is also stepping on her boundaries??
Now, Grayson is a likable character. Or at least better than Wren. Not as good as Cross. But him and Wren just come across as a rebound. Like what even is he? Just to be used by Wren because he's conveniently there? But the fact that this love thing comes up, I don't want Cross sticking out for Wren. For all I care, put him and Karra together. They'll at least match their intensity and be appreciated for it.
Idk what the point of this love triangle was. I'm honestly so done with books doing this: Setting up a strong lead, only to go in the next book- "Yeah no. Scratch that. Everyone's doing it, we wanna have our own Rhysand." BRO BUT YOUR RHYSAND IS NOT EVEN QUALIFYING FOR TEMU VERSION!!!
There was no reason for Cross to be sidelined. He had a good arc running with his brothers in their territory. We could have expanded on that. Cross and Wren had the intensity of a healthy dynamic and we could have elaborated on it instead of just doing shit for the sake of it. This is such horrible storytelling because all it tells me you can't write a plot where a couple thrives and takes on the world together. That you need constant conflicts, betrayals, to be pitted against each other, jealousy to further a romance.
The plot twists and ending were meh. I really gave up on the book and finished it for the sake of it. I'm not sure if I want to read the next book. If I do, it will be just to see if Cross gets justice and Wren to be unalived because fuck her manipulative and selfish ass. Extremely poor writing and fyi I still think this is all written by a man!
~•~•~
OMG this bad boiii is in my hands!! Silver Elite was an average read for me but I'm oddly feeling super excited for this one. Going in with the hopes this is better than book one.
Want to Read
August 13, 2025I need this book like I need air 😫 and the cover is so prettyy!!
May 14, 2026
⭐️ 4.5 ⭐️ Lines will be crossed and loyalties will be tested but its only a beginning to a villanous start...
Where do I begin? I have lots of thoughts and no right words to fully express how much I enjoyed the continuation of this story. Silver Elite was a vibe. The author came out of nowhere and the book swept the internet by a storm. I thought it brought back 'dystopian' elements with such ease and delivered a fast paced, heart-pounding story that can literally appeal to everyone on some level. It was the easiest 5 star read for me and even though it wasn't written in an 'epic' way, I still strongly believe that its simplicity made it more entertaining and perfect for anyone who wants to get into romantasy genre without the headache of complex world building and political intrigue. I know that a lot of readers were unhappy about the dystopian elements not really being dystopian and felt that the book mainly brushed on a lot of plot points and made the characters seem very superficial compared to the romance that felt more like a wattpad story. I also think a lot of readers always compare new books to the major dogs--The Hunger Games, The Divergent, ACOTAR, leaving no room to breathe for anything new to develop in their own way. Lets be real--fantasy genre is a mixed bag of all the common core tropes and the inspiration comes form the big players. With that being said, the cross over will always be there. What one may like, may be hated by another person. I always like to go in with an open mindset & formulate my own thoughts--so my advice is, for anyone who is reading this review.. go in with an open mind, don't compare or contrast and just enjoy the ride and if you don't like it, its ok!
This review will have spoilers ahead! DO NOT READ FURTHER.
Now on to the story:
Silver Elite ended with a major cliffhanger. Wren and Cross survived but they are separated. Her true identity is exposed, we learn a huge twist about her past and her parents. The Uprising now has her and she no longer knows which side she belong to. We also learn that her friend from Silver Elite block is a flight commander, works for The Uprising and is very much alive. Cross, a Mod himself, is now exposed and in danger. He is taken back to the Command base and gets locked up. His brother, Travis Redden is now the general and the face of the government/regime.
Broken Dove begins with Cross locked up in a cell, beaten and tortured by his younger brother Roe. The story then follows Wren and her journey for 98% of the book where we see major character development, a lot of action, growth and sharpening of her skills while minimally interacting with Cross. We meet a lot of new characters and learn more about The Uprising-about their base and operations, their politics, their powers, their people. Unlike Silver Elite, the sequel heavily focuses on political manipulation and hidden agendas. Where Silver Elite lacked, Broken Dove made up for it. It shined in character development, dystopian elements and a slower burn of romantic tension/conflict. In essence, this book felt more GROUNDED in solid world building and while it may come off as BORING and a CHORE to get through--in my opinion it's more SOLID than Silver Elite. It's giving readers a better understanding of the rebellion and the allied territory portraying the downsides and the upsides of the cause, the drive, the greed. Silver Elite exposed us to the Prime-controlled capital, while here much of the novel is rooted in the Blue Dagger base of the Uprising. We learn that nothing is as entirely heroic as it may seem! There is so much action in this book that drives the plot forward, it was honestly so interesting, I could not put this book down. I really felt it was the heart of the book and a major improvement (in terms of propulsive writing) from that of Silver Elite.
Through out the story, Cross and Wren have minimal communication. Since Cross remains embedded within the Prime Regime, their only way of communication is telepathically. Distance and personal beliefs put a heavy strain on their relationship and the romance in this novel becomes complicated. I was NOT ready for what came for Wren and Cross..it was brisk, brash and very cutthroat. I wanted more than just a a single page but I’ll bite my tongue now before I say something I shouldn’t… so I waited and waited some more for some justification, we ultimately get none. But as quick as that was, in fairness Francis was leading us to this point since the very end of Silver Elite. They were on opposite ends of war, it was crystal clear that things would lead to what it led to and Francis prepared us with many cues and easter eggs. It was bound to happen! Not saying I liked how it happened and I certainly wanted MUCH more and after everything Cross has done for Wren, he did not deserve that treatment.
In my opinion, the emotional stakes were much higher here. There is a SERIOUS (might I say delicious?) growing (emotional) tension between Cross and her friend Grayson Blake (known as Kaine from Silver Elite). What Wren has/had with Cross in the first novel..was so complicated, impulsive, bold even? They had this hot tension, desire and burning lust and this intense enigma around them, you just couldn't look away…Their chemistry was off the charts and that spice was amazing! Entering Broken Dove...I did NOT think this would happen...but I was ALL IN (ok maybe I was a little feral) for GRAYSON. I stand my ground when I say this...I LOVED the love triangle here! Grayson just understands Wren in different ways. He's good for her, it’s easy being with him, he is open with how he feels about her. I think he is quite a romantic and has good intentions. I think he loves her in his own way and I loved them together and I loved their spice. I am LOST at who is better for her, I just need book 3 to make that decision!
Before I go into the last 10% of this book, I wanted to point out a few more things: side characters.
Unlike Silver Elite, Broken Dove really shined in development of side characters and their importance to the story. For those who have read Silver Elite, we know that Cross's best friend Xavier helps Wren escape. He goes to the other side with her but The Uprising imprisons him because he is obviously a Prime who cannot be trusted. I wanted to praise Dani Francis for giving all side characters, especially Xaviers, more voice and time in this book. Xavier added the perfect comedic relief amidst all the heavy layering. His fool like demeanor was a perfect addition to this book--any time he spoke, I laughed. He sort of reminded me of Carrion Swift (Quicksilver/Brimstone) and of Kenji (Shatter Me series)--so chaotic and carefree, but what he values the most is friendship and it was so palpable in this book. His loyalties are to himself and Wren and no one else; I reveled in that friendship! There are other side characters that are very crucial to the plot, betrayals and twists--so I'm not going to say anything!! PAY ATTENTION!
In the last 10-15% of the story..this is where SHIT GOES DOWN. Yes, so much happens. It's entertaining, you're going to be at the edge of your seat and when you get to the VERY last chapter, expect to be hard slapped by your very missed character! DANI FRANCIS YOU AND I NEED TO HAVE A TALK. That cliffhanger was something else. It left me with so many questions, so much emotion and NOW we really enter very UNCHARTED WATERS.
HAPPY READING!
Where do I begin? I have lots of thoughts and no right words to fully express how much I enjoyed the continuation of this story. Silver Elite was a vibe. The author came out of nowhere and the book swept the internet by a storm. I thought it brought back 'dystopian' elements with such ease and delivered a fast paced, heart-pounding story that can literally appeal to everyone on some level. It was the easiest 5 star read for me and even though it wasn't written in an 'epic' way, I still strongly believe that its simplicity made it more entertaining and perfect for anyone who wants to get into romantasy genre without the headache of complex world building and political intrigue. I know that a lot of readers were unhappy about the dystopian elements not really being dystopian and felt that the book mainly brushed on a lot of plot points and made the characters seem very superficial compared to the romance that felt more like a wattpad story. I also think a lot of readers always compare new books to the major dogs--The Hunger Games, The Divergent, ACOTAR, leaving no room to breathe for anything new to develop in their own way. Lets be real--fantasy genre is a mixed bag of all the common core tropes and the inspiration comes form the big players. With that being said, the cross over will always be there. What one may like, may be hated by another person. I always like to go in with an open mindset & formulate my own thoughts--so my advice is, for anyone who is reading this review.. go in with an open mind, don't compare or contrast and just enjoy the ride and if you don't like it, its ok!
This review will have spoilers ahead! DO NOT READ FURTHER.
Now on to the story:
Silver Elite ended with a major cliffhanger. Wren and Cross survived but they are separated. Her true identity is exposed, we learn a huge twist about her past and her parents. The Uprising now has her and she no longer knows which side she belong to. We also learn that her friend from Silver Elite block is a flight commander, works for The Uprising and is very much alive. Cross, a Mod himself, is now exposed and in danger. He is taken back to the Command base and gets locked up. His brother, Travis Redden is now the general and the face of the government/regime.
Broken Dove begins with Cross locked up in a cell, beaten and tortured by his younger brother Roe. The story then follows Wren and her journey for 98% of the book where we see major character development, a lot of action, growth and sharpening of her skills while minimally interacting with Cross. We meet a lot of new characters and learn more about The Uprising-about their base and operations, their politics, their powers, their people. Unlike Silver Elite, the sequel heavily focuses on political manipulation and hidden agendas. Where Silver Elite lacked, Broken Dove made up for it. It shined in character development, dystopian elements and a slower burn of romantic tension/conflict. In essence, this book felt more GROUNDED in solid world building and while it may come off as BORING and a CHORE to get through--in my opinion it's more SOLID than Silver Elite. It's giving readers a better understanding of the rebellion and the allied territory portraying the downsides and the upsides of the cause, the drive, the greed. Silver Elite exposed us to the Prime-controlled capital, while here much of the novel is rooted in the Blue Dagger base of the Uprising. We learn that nothing is as entirely heroic as it may seem! There is so much action in this book that drives the plot forward, it was honestly so interesting, I could not put this book down. I really felt it was the heart of the book and a major improvement (in terms of propulsive writing) from that of Silver Elite.
Through out the story, Cross and Wren have minimal communication. Since Cross remains embedded within the Prime Regime, their only way of communication is telepathically. Distance and personal beliefs put a heavy strain on their relationship and the romance in this novel becomes complicated. I was NOT ready for what came for Wren and Cross..it was brisk, brash and very cutthroat. I wanted more than just a a single page but I’ll bite my tongue now before I say something I shouldn’t… so I waited and waited some more for some justification, we ultimately get none. But as quick as that was, in fairness Francis was leading us to this point since the very end of Silver Elite. They were on opposite ends of war, it was crystal clear that things would lead to what it led to and Francis prepared us with many cues and easter eggs. It was bound to happen! Not saying I liked how it happened and I certainly wanted MUCH more and after everything Cross has done for Wren, he did not deserve that treatment.
In my opinion, the emotional stakes were much higher here. There is a SERIOUS (might I say delicious?) growing (emotional) tension between Cross and her friend Grayson Blake (known as Kaine from Silver Elite). What Wren has/had with Cross in the first novel..was so complicated, impulsive, bold even? They had this hot tension, desire and burning lust and this intense enigma around them, you just couldn't look away…Their chemistry was off the charts and that spice was amazing! Entering Broken Dove...I did NOT think this would happen...but I was ALL IN (ok maybe I was a little feral) for GRAYSON. I stand my ground when I say this...I LOVED the love triangle here! Grayson just understands Wren in different ways. He's good for her, it’s easy being with him, he is open with how he feels about her. I think he is quite a romantic and has good intentions. I think he loves her in his own way and I loved them together and I loved their spice. I am LOST at who is better for her, I just need book 3 to make that decision!
Before I go into the last 10% of this book, I wanted to point out a few more things: side characters.
Unlike Silver Elite, Broken Dove really shined in development of side characters and their importance to the story. For those who have read Silver Elite, we know that Cross's best friend Xavier helps Wren escape. He goes to the other side with her but The Uprising imprisons him because he is obviously a Prime who cannot be trusted. I wanted to praise Dani Francis for giving all side characters, especially Xaviers, more voice and time in this book. Xavier added the perfect comedic relief amidst all the heavy layering. His fool like demeanor was a perfect addition to this book--any time he spoke, I laughed. He sort of reminded me of Carrion Swift (Quicksilver/Brimstone) and of Kenji (Shatter Me series)--so chaotic and carefree, but what he values the most is friendship and it was so palpable in this book. His loyalties are to himself and Wren and no one else; I reveled in that friendship! There are other side characters that are very crucial to the plot, betrayals and twists--so I'm not going to say anything!! PAY ATTENTION!
In the last 10-15% of the story..this is where SHIT GOES DOWN. Yes, so much happens. It's entertaining, you're going to be at the edge of your seat and when you get to the VERY last chapter, expect to be hard slapped by your very missed character! DANI FRANCIS YOU AND I NEED TO HAVE A TALK. That cliffhanger was something else. It left me with so many questions, so much emotion and NOW we really enter very UNCHARTED WATERS.
HAPPY READING!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Currently Reading
May 13, 2026ITS TIMEEEEE 🗣️🗣️🗣️
DaisyWolf are coming home to meee 🤭😋💗🌷🌸💐🎀🕊️
***
You don’t understand how perfect that cover is 😫🤚
I cannottttt wait for my daisywolf to come home 🙏
DaisyWolf are coming home to meee 🤭😋💗🌷🌸💐🎀🕊️
***
You don’t understand how perfect that cover is 😫🤚
I cannottttt wait for my daisywolf to come home 🙏
May 17, 2026
2 🌟 • . ݁₊ ⊹ 🌼🐺 ⊹ ₊ ݁. • 💔🕊️
*SIGH* i really liked book 1 until a certain questionable choice Wren makes (ended up giving it 4 ⭐️) and well… book 2 is just a bunch of questionable choices Wren makes and i was tired.
i was bored.
i was pissed.
i considered a dnf but hopium.
what i really enjoyed in this book was the dystopian world + magic system with the Mods. the plot was okay but unfortunately im not enjoying where the story is headed and felt very disconnected from it around the 30% mark. specifically the romance disappointed me so much… cause wtf??? highkey fuck Wren 🤭😋
ᵎᵎ .˚ 𝚜𝚙𝚘𝚒𝚕𝚎𝚛𝚜 𝚋𝚎𝚕𝚘𝚠 ˚. ᵎᵎ
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i usually eat a love triangle up. but this sucked so bad sorry lmaoooo. LIKE WHERE EVEN WAS CROSS MY MAN???!!! i do not care about Grayson at all holy hell!!!
*SIGH* i really liked book 1 until a certain questionable choice Wren makes (ended up giving it 4 ⭐️) and well… book 2 is just a bunch of questionable choices Wren makes and i was tired.
i was bored.
i was pissed.
i considered a dnf but hopium.
what i really enjoyed in this book was the dystopian world + magic system with the Mods. the plot was okay but unfortunately im not enjoying where the story is headed and felt very disconnected from it around the 30% mark. specifically the romance disappointed me so much… cause wtf??? highkey fuck Wren 🤭😋
ᵎᵎ .˚ 𝚜𝚙𝚘𝚒𝚕𝚎𝚛𝚜 𝚋𝚎𝚕𝚘𝚠 ˚. ᵎᵎ
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i usually eat a love triangle up. but this sucked so bad sorry lmaoooo. LIKE WHERE EVEN WAS CROSS MY MAN???!!! i do not care about Grayson at all holy hell!!!
May 4, 2026
4.5⭐️ I am so invested in these characters and this story, I couldn't put it down!
It took a turn that I didn't expect but LOVED!
It focused a lot more on the politics, the effects of war and picking between the lesser of two evils.
While also making me giggle and kick my feet.
I loved Silver Elite a tiny bit more (I can’t say why because it’s a spoiler) but thats why this got 4.5
But if you loved Silver Elite and don’t mind the turn this one takes, you should enjoy the rollercoaster 😅
It took a turn that I didn't expect but LOVED!
It focused a lot more on the politics, the effects of war and picking between the lesser of two evils.
While also making me giggle and kick my feet.
I loved Silver Elite a tiny bit more (I can’t say why because it’s a spoiler) but thats why this got 4.5
But if you loved Silver Elite and don’t mind the turn this one takes, you should enjoy the rollercoaster 😅
May 21, 2026
Sorry still haven’t gone back to finish my review (i will) but I just have to come on here and say that I’m so annoyed by the hate this book is getting 😭 like yall are SO damn dramatic 😭 everyone’s spoiling it so i’ll do it too—I ate UPPP the love triangle. Ate and left no crumbs. I loved both of the love interests. Now that all of ur reviews are annoying me I’m probably gonna be a total biatch in my review 😭 Apologies in advance. Still love u tho 🫶🏻
4.75 or 5🌟 can’t decide yet
Bro…. that ending…..!!!!!!! i’m sorry I’m gonna need a minute or like maybe the night to process everything that happened in this book….. SO GOOD. Dani Francis just set the next book up to be so good, again. Omg I can’t believe I have to wait another fucking year for the next book 😭 Review to come!!!
_______________________________________________
pre-read 🧡🕊️
it’s time!!!!
4.75 or 5🌟 can’t decide yet
Bro…. that ending…..!!!!!!! i’m sorry I’m gonna need a minute or like maybe the night to process everything that happened in this book….. SO GOOD. Dani Francis just set the next book up to be so good, again. Omg I can’t believe I have to wait another fucking year for the next book 😭 Review to come!!!
_______________________________________________
pre-read 🧡🕊️
it’s time!!!!
May 23, 2026
WHAT THE ACTUAL FUCK WAS THAT?!
Such a disappointment in the direction this book was taken - my advice if loved Wren and Cross treat Silver Elite as a standalone and come up with your own happy ending as this second book is diabolical. Had to come back to this review and just say this is giving Oro/Grim vibes if you know you know and I don’t like it.
I loathe love triangles and this is like one of the worst ones I’ve read?
*Spoilers* and no this was no some minor crushing on two guys situation like with powerless where Kai was the obvious choice. No, this was a full on relationship with Kaine/Gray for MONTHS and even I love yous were shared.
If I’m honest Cross appeared maybe for like 15% of the book overall? My girl Wren started off strong and she didn’t let the flirtatious ways of Kaine/Gray sway her then all of sudden? It’s like a switch flipped and it was honestly painful to read.
Now I know some will argue Cross and Wren broke up but come on! He is the obvious choice but THIS BOOK we had a whole new MMC? Like this wasn’t just a fleeting kiss it was a whole relationship so I’m like who is the real MMC?
The last chapter hello??? Poor Cross has been mourning Wren think she was dead as he couldn’t feel the mental connection whilst she’s playing house with Gray? No sorry, as love triangles go this was just pure EVIL
Dani Francis do better Cross got done dirty and quite frankly with the way it’s gone I don’t think Wren deserves him!
Such a disappointment in the direction this book was taken - my advice if loved Wren and Cross treat Silver Elite as a standalone and come up with your own happy ending as this second book is diabolical. Had to come back to this review and just say this is giving Oro/Grim vibes if you know you know and I don’t like it.
I loathe love triangles and this is like one of the worst ones I’ve read?
*Spoilers* and no this was no some minor crushing on two guys situation like with powerless where Kai was the obvious choice. No, this was a full on relationship with Kaine/Gray for MONTHS and even I love yous were shared.
If I’m honest Cross appeared maybe for like 15% of the book overall? My girl Wren started off strong and she didn’t let the flirtatious ways of Kaine/Gray sway her then all of sudden? It’s like a switch flipped and it was honestly painful to read.
Now I know some will argue Cross and Wren broke up but come on! He is the obvious choice but THIS BOOK we had a whole new MMC? Like this wasn’t just a fleeting kiss it was a whole relationship so I’m like who is the real MMC?
The last chapter hello??? Poor Cross has been mourning Wren think she was dead as he couldn’t feel the mental connection whilst she’s playing house with Gray? No sorry, as love triangles go this was just pure EVIL
Dani Francis do better Cross got done dirty and quite frankly with the way it’s gone I don’t think Wren deserves him!
Want to Read
August 11, 2025Glad we won’t have to wait too long for this one! For some reason I was worried it would be years… 😅
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ღthe-nope-list
May 12, 2026IT'S RELEASE DAY!!
Spoiled the story for myself and I’m not even mad about it. It sounds great, but I’m holding off on reading until the third book comes out. Future me will thank me.
because what do you mean
that there is
a love triangle?!!
After everything that happened between Wren and Cross, there's a third person involved and it's not just anything casual like flirting or stuff but 100% intimacy?!!
Like Cross thinks he’s feeling her death but he’s actually just feeling her replacement. Wren playing domestic bliss with this new guy while Cross rots in his own grief?!!
WHAT. IS. THIS.
Spoiled the story for myself and I’m not even mad about it. It sounds great, but I’m holding off on reading until the third book comes out. Future me will thank me.
because what do you mean
that there is
a love triangle?!!
After everything that happened between Wren and Cross, there's a third person involved and it's not just anything casual like flirting or stuff but 100% intimacy?!!
Like Cross thinks he’s feeling her death but he’s actually just feeling her replacement. Wren playing domestic bliss with this new guy while Cross rots in his own grief?!!
WHAT. IS. THIS.
May 7, 2026
4.5⭐️ An absolute clusterfuck but I ATE IT UP!!!
Ahhhh! The ending!!!! WHAT A TEASE!!! This entire book had me screaming WTF?! WTF?! WTF?! Especially in the last several chapters. It was an emotional roller coaster all the way to the very end.
Broken Dove is an incredible sequel full of new adventures, new friendships, twists, turns, betrayal, and revelations. But honestly, I don’t know how I feel about *redacted. It kind of broke my heart and left me feeling uneasy. I’m here for it…cautiously. And definitely with some side eye. 😒🫣😆
But wow. What a story! I ate it up! And it was simply unputdownable. There was something exciting in every chapter. I devoured this fast paced story and fell in love with some new characters. Mako, Gray, and Xavier especially.
OMG, I cannot wait to see everyone’s reactions to this story and relive your shock, denial, and heartbreak. It was so freaking good even with the *redacted. I’m still in denial. 👀
But I NEED BOOK 3 IMMEDIATELY!!! Because the shit is about to hit the fan!!! 😳😬🫣
Thank you so much to Del Rey for the gifted book.
***************************************************************
Finished: ahhhh!!!! The ending.😩 What a tease.
Update: Only a few chapters left and this book is the start of my villain origin story.😩
Update: DelRey is sending me an ARC! I CANNOT CONTAIN MY EXCITEMENT!!!!😆 I will be anxiously stalking my mailbox until it arrives. 🫶🏻
I NEED THIS NOOOWWWW! Silver Elite emotionally waterboarded me and I fear Broken Dove is going to finish the job. Whoever this anonymous menace of an author is, just know you’ve ruined me. Ruined!! I don’t know your name, but I do know I’d sell my soul for your drafts. How dare you hide behind a curtain of mystery while casually dropping one of my favorite reads this year!! Come out and face me, coward (or don’t, hehe just kidding) Just PLEASE keep writing in this world!
Ahhhh! The ending!!!! WHAT A TEASE!!! This entire book had me screaming WTF?! WTF?! WTF?! Especially in the last several chapters. It was an emotional roller coaster all the way to the very end.
Broken Dove is an incredible sequel full of new adventures, new friendships, twists, turns, betrayal, and revelations. But honestly, I don’t know how I feel about *redacted. It kind of broke my heart and left me feeling uneasy. I’m here for it…cautiously. And definitely with some side eye. 😒🫣😆
But wow. What a story! I ate it up! And it was simply unputdownable. There was something exciting in every chapter. I devoured this fast paced story and fell in love with some new characters. Mako, Gray, and Xavier especially.
OMG, I cannot wait to see everyone’s reactions to this story and relive your shock, denial, and heartbreak. It was so freaking good even with the *redacted. I’m still in denial. 👀
But I NEED BOOK 3 IMMEDIATELY!!! Because the shit is about to hit the fan!!! 😳😬🫣
Thank you so much to Del Rey for the gifted book.
***************************************************************
Finished: ahhhh!!!! The ending.😩 What a tease.
Update: Only a few chapters left and this book is the start of my villain origin story.😩
Update: DelRey is sending me an ARC! I CANNOT CONTAIN MY EXCITEMENT!!!!😆 I will be anxiously stalking my mailbox until it arrives. 🫶🏻
I NEED THIS NOOOWWWW! Silver Elite emotionally waterboarded me and I fear Broken Dove is going to finish the job. Whoever this anonymous menace of an author is, just know you’ve ruined me. Ruined!! I don’t know your name, but I do know I’d sell my soul for your drafts. How dare you hide behind a curtain of mystery while casually dropping one of my favorite reads this year!! Come out and face me, coward (or don’t, hehe just kidding) Just PLEASE keep writing in this world!
May 12, 2026
OH MY FUCKING GOD! 😡😤😡😤😡😡
There is no amount of words to describe HOW MUCH I HATED THIS BOOK! 😡😤😡😤
I could cry since Silver Elite was one of my favourite books of 2025... BUT THIS?! NO
I HATED THE FUCKING LOVE SITUATION?!?! LIKE FUCKING WHY?! It's not even a love triangle since Cross was completely cut out of the book... How can you just cut out the main character and replace him?!?! It was FUCKING CHEAP! And for what?! For the shock factor of having a new love interest???
FUCK NO! TEAM CROSS FOREVER! JUSTICE FOR CROSS because this is NOT how you do a love triangle.
By just cutting out the MMC and replacing him forcefully and shoving it in the readers faces! 😡😤😡😡😡
Also don't even get me started on the plot!! BECAUSE WHAT PLOT?! The plot was not in the room with us. Nothing happens except of course everything necessary to switch the love interest.
THIS BOOK could have been an EMAIL. It was absolutely a filler book... AND MY BIGGEST DISAPPOINTMENT OF THE YEAR! 😡😤😡😤😡😡😡😡😡
There is no amount of words to describe HOW MUCH I HATED THIS BOOK! 😡😤😡😤
I could cry since Silver Elite was one of my favourite books of 2025... BUT THIS?! NO
I HATED THE FUCKING LOVE SITUATION?!?! LIKE FUCKING WHY?! It's not even a love triangle since Cross was completely cut out of the book... How can you just cut out the main character and replace him?!?! It was FUCKING CHEAP! And for what?! For the shock factor of having a new love interest???
FUCK NO! TEAM CROSS FOREVER! JUSTICE FOR CROSS because this is NOT how you do a love triangle.
By just cutting out the MMC and replacing him forcefully and shoving it in the readers faces! 😡😤😡😡😡
Also don't even get me started on the plot!! BECAUSE WHAT PLOT?! The plot was not in the room with us. Nothing happens except of course everything necessary to switch the love interest.
THIS BOOK could have been an EMAIL. It was absolutely a filler book... AND MY BIGGEST DISAPPOINTMENT OF THE YEAR! 😡😤😡😤😡😡😡😡😡
anticipated-books
October 11, 2025➤My excitement to read that book is an understatement🙏
May 17, 2026
4.5 stars!
Wow... my head is spinning right now with all that happened in this book. Where to start, where to start? I absolutely loved Silver Elite and knew I was going to enjoy this one too. I wouldn't say that this book was as action packed as the first one but it was still fast paced and enjoyable. In no way was the writing in this book superb but that just made it more relatable and entertaining and especially good for readers who don't want the additional stress of wrapping their head around politics and word building.
!spoilers ahead!
Let's get right into it, starting with Wren and Cross. Safe to say it was not what I was expecting. Cross was basically non-existent in this book?? The last book ended with these two getting separated for their safety. Wren joins The Uprising and Cross is locked up back at the Command base where his brother Travis Redden is now the general. At the start of the book they communicate telepathically and meet a couple of times but then that's it. You can start to see that the distance and their own personal beliefs are taking a toll on their relationship. And eventually it leads to just one argument and it's over... like what?? After all they went through in book one I found this a bit unbelievable how their relationship ended. Honestly, Cross did nothing to deserve that.
After that debacle, Wren continues to go about her life at The Uprising, training, partying and plotting. She starts forming friendships, alliances and bonds with old friends. Enter: Grayson Blake. Previously thought dead as Kaine (from Silver Elite) but is not only very much alive but is the hotshot pilot for The Uprising. Wren and him start to grow closer and closer in this book and then they eventually find their way together. I am slightly scared to say this but I actually like them together? Their relationship didn't feel rushed or based on lust and it was just easy for them to be open and happy together. In saying this I am still rooting for Cross as I don't think he was treated right but also Grayson... UGHH. Let's just say this...If Wren doesn't want them in the next book I'll gladly take them from her hands because at this point I don't even know if she deserves either of them.
ALSO THAT ENDING? Prepare to cover you face before the last chapter because that twist WILL swing at you. I did NOT expect Cross to cross my path again (I'm cackling rn). Someone get me Dani Francis on the phone, I have questions. Cross the line, Gray the rest, (ok I'm stopping now) I have no idea where the next book is heading but I'm so excited to see!
Wow... my head is spinning right now with all that happened in this book. Where to start, where to start? I absolutely loved Silver Elite and knew I was going to enjoy this one too. I wouldn't say that this book was as action packed as the first one but it was still fast paced and enjoyable. In no way was the writing in this book superb but that just made it more relatable and entertaining and especially good for readers who don't want the additional stress of wrapping their head around politics and word building.
!spoilers ahead!
Let's get right into it, starting with Wren and Cross. Safe to say it was not what I was expecting. Cross was basically non-existent in this book?? The last book ended with these two getting separated for their safety. Wren joins The Uprising and Cross is locked up back at the Command base where his brother Travis Redden is now the general. At the start of the book they communicate telepathically and meet a couple of times but then that's it. You can start to see that the distance and their own personal beliefs are taking a toll on their relationship. And eventually it leads to just one argument and it's over... like what?? After all they went through in book one I found this a bit unbelievable how their relationship ended. Honestly, Cross did nothing to deserve that.
After that debacle, Wren continues to go about her life at The Uprising, training, partying and plotting. She starts forming friendships, alliances and bonds with old friends. Enter: Grayson Blake. Previously thought dead as Kaine (from Silver Elite) but is not only very much alive but is the hotshot pilot for The Uprising. Wren and him start to grow closer and closer in this book and then they eventually find their way together. I am slightly scared to say this but I actually like them together? Their relationship didn't feel rushed or based on lust and it was just easy for them to be open and happy together. In saying this I am still rooting for Cross as I don't think he was treated right but also Grayson... UGHH. Let's just say this...If Wren doesn't want them in the next book I'll gladly take them from her hands because at this point I don't even know if she deserves either of them.
ALSO THAT ENDING? Prepare to cover you face before the last chapter because that twist WILL swing at you. I did NOT expect Cross to cross my path again (I'm cackling rn). Someone get me Dani Francis on the phone, I have questions. Cross the line, Gray the rest, (ok I'm stopping now) I have no idea where the next book is heading but I'm so excited to see!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 18, 2026
4.5 stars rounded down
so i know a lot of people are not liking this one but HEAR ME OUT. full review to come
so i know a lot of people are not liking this one but HEAR ME OUT. full review to come
May 14, 2026
Fuuuuuuuuuuuuuck. I went into this thinking that the story would conclude that which was started in Silver Elite. Wrong. This was an amazingly devastating interim book.
So much life lost. Poor Mako. But a huge Kudos to Prince!!!! If only he finished the job.
Feel so sorry for Poppy too.
The way the book ended.......a helicopter crash? Really?
Now that Cross is back, what will happen to Grayson? I kind of liked a Wren with Grayson more than I liked her with Cross. Did not see that coming at all.
I cannot wait until the next book.
So much life lost. Poor Mako. But a huge Kudos to Prince!!!! If only he finished the job.
Feel so sorry for Poppy too.
The way the book ended.......a helicopter crash? Really?
Now that Cross is back, what will happen to Grayson? I kind of liked a Wren with Grayson more than I liked her with Cross. Did not see that coming at all.
I cannot wait until the next book.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 13, 2026
This would have been such a good book, but the love triangle ruined it for me sadly.
First the good parts:
- The story, the developments between the primes and the mods
- Xavier! He is so fun and honestly deserves the world
- The found family
- the betrayals and plot twists
- the writing style
- basically everything but the romance
Now as for the romance... Why? Is it not possible for an author to keep a love story going over three books? Was this really necessary? I just don't get it. I have read love triangles that have worked for me before, but this one really didn't. A bit of turbulence, sure, but not this, when Cross was so well written for Wren.
First the good parts:
- The story, the developments between the primes and the mods
- Xavier! He is so fun and honestly deserves the world
- The found family
- the betrayals and plot twists
- the writing style
- basically everything but the romance
Now as for the romance... Why? Is it not possible for an author to keep a love story going over three books? Was this really necessary? I just don't get it. I have read love triangles that have worked for me before, but this one really didn't. A bit of turbulence, sure, but not this, when Cross was so well written for Wren.
May 17, 2026
What even happened here. Can you even call that a love triangle?! That was absolutely AWFUL. Worse than Lightlark and I cannot at the last couple of those.
🚨‼️Spoilers below because how can I rant around them‼️🚨
At least there was a bit of plot…a few turns? Nothing can redeem whatever the heck happened with the romance though. Who in their right mind would go, ah yes let break up the main characters over a half argument (seriously it was even that big of an argument?) Why did they break up over that of all things? I totally understand why Wren wouldn’t run away (the end of me understanding anything she does) with him but to break up…😑 End my misery and kill Wren off in the next book…whoops did I say that? AND THEN, she gets with the guy she thought was dead half the first book?? Please. Gray is literally a crumb. His only personality is being a pilot. Cross was near non existent in this book.
This might just be my biggest anticipated release disappointment of the year and it’s only May.
🚨‼️Spoilers below because how can I rant around them‼️🚨
At least there was a bit of plot…a few turns? Nothing can redeem whatever the heck happened with the romance though. Who in their right mind would go, ah yes let break up the main characters over a half argument (seriously it was even that big of an argument?) Why did they break up over that of all things? I totally understand why Wren wouldn’t run away (the end of me understanding anything she does) with him but to break up…😑 End my misery and kill Wren off in the next book…whoops did I say that? AND THEN, she gets with the guy she thought was dead half the first book?? Please. Gray is literally a crumb. His only personality is being a pilot. Cross was near non existent in this book.
This might just be my biggest anticipated release disappointment of the year and it’s only May.
May 20, 2026
5 stars no notes!
I loved this one. I thought it was better than book one, personally. The romance hits for *reasons* and the conversations around who is right and who is wrong vs. trying to be on the right and wrong side? Incredible. I also really loved getting to learn more about how her powers worked and how the world works.
I loved this one. I thought it was better than book one, personally. The romance hits for *reasons* and the conversations around who is right and who is wrong vs. trying to be on the right and wrong side? Incredible. I also really loved getting to learn more about how her powers worked and how the world works.
May 23, 2026
ME: I fuckin' hate this book.
HUSBAND: Why? You were so excited for it.
ME: The author pulled a Sarah J. Maas!*
HUSBAND: You mean...
ME: You know how SJM did my beautiful Tamlin wrong?
HUSBAND: Say no more. Want me to get rid of it for you?
UPDATE: this book is no longer in my house. Hallelujah!
🌹*A clarification because the comment apparently caused misunderstandings and drew some ire from Rhysand's girls: I was one of the early readers of ACoTaR, when it was sold as a standalone—a singular, finished love story. There were no plans to turn it into a series.
Sure, SJM cleared the way by villainizing the canon MMC, so of course he’s going to look bad in comparison to the new one. All cheap and convenient ways to say, ”The signs were there all along.” There were no signs; it was a standalone. Events were later chosen and turned into “signs.”
That's where the feeling of the bait and switch came in for many early ACoTaR readers. We were essentially told, ”Your understanding of the first book was wrong,” when it wasn’t. We weren’t annoyed because an established MMC got villainized; we were annoyed that our intelligence was insulted.
When I say that Dani Francis (and Romantasy authors who do similar) ”pulls a Sarah J. Maas,” it’s irrelevant whether she bothers to villainize Cross first or not, because “pulling a Sarah J. Maas” here means taking a couple that’s solidly established and canon, and introducing a love triangle for cheap and lazy reasons. I’m talking about an author taking a couple whose relationship she’s cultivated with care and asked readers to emotionally-invest in, only to randomly throw in a new guy in the next book—unplanned. Readers aren’t stupid (I hope not), they can tell when something is planned versus made up for spectacle (I hope so).
But, I’ll readily concede that how Dani Francis does it is much worse, because not only does she not bother to destroy Cross’s character first (still would have been bad, but at least would have taken efforts), but he doesn’t even get to be present or have a say or a chance to fight for his relationship; he’s just bumped off of the book for an overwhelming 95% of it.
OKAY, LET'S RETURN TO BROKEN DOVE:
As I read Broken Dove, I immediately saw that most of the story wasn't part of whatever the original outline was (if Francis even had one). The weird love triangle? Obviously made up on the fly. The fact that the novel essentially had no plot? That’s the proof.
THE ROMANCE: In Romance, having the love triangle happen after a relationship is already established, after the couple has already fought to stay together, and the man has shown his devotion in the first book, is just...a cheap way to pad the second book.
Imagine pulling a cheap stunt just to potentially promote another character to MMC status...AFTER you've told your readers to emotionally invest in the canon relationship. This makes the events in the first book irrelevant, as well. Honestly, it made me regret reading and caring about the relationship in Silver Elite because it all wounded up being for nothing.
I will not be continuing with the series because any of the outcomes will piss me off.
If Wren ends up with Cross: I'd be angry because she no longer deserves him.
If Wren ends up with the other guy: I'd be angry because now Cross is heartbroken, after everything he's gone through out of devotion.
If the three end up in a Why-Choose situation: Wren doesn’t deserve to have this good of an ending.
I just can’t wrap my mind around the idea of giving such a morally-bankrupt character a happy ending because my sense of loyalty and fairness just doesn’t allow me to. I already saw Wren’s lack of moral courage and principles in the first book, but I thought that she was being set up for character development. Nope.
The author was too lazy (or perhaps didn’t know how) to write longing and yearning during the months of separation between Wren and Cross, so she threw in this love triangle in order to have spicy scenes. Sorry, but in Romance (books with plots, remember them?), spicy scenes are fun to read because readers care about or are at least supportive the couple. Otherwise, they’d only annoy us.
In Broken Dove, Wren spends the book begrudging Cross for not having done more to help, even though he's been held captive!
Anyway, Wren carries on a whole-ass relationship with someone else (who has a girlfriend of his own)...while feeling sorry for herself. She also smugly tells this man’s girlfriend that she will not stop being inappropriately-close with him, and the narrative treats this as Wren being strong. That’s the weirdest part: the narrative supports her, just like how it presents her idiocy as intelligence. It’s presented as a “badass, strong independent woman” thing to do.
I'm actually leery of Romantasy relationships, but Cross and Wren's relationship in Silver Elite was airtight, so I let my guards down, only for the author to make the cheapest shot.
Also, Broken Dove isn’t really about anything. Stuff happens, people say things, and visit places, but there isn’t really a plot? I don’t even know what the point of the book is.
Oh, my God. This is so stupid.
Here is an example of love triangle done right.
REVIEW FOR THE REST OF THE BOOK:
Look, I can handle an imperfect or even unlikable protagonist.
But a STUPID one, where the stupidity is presented as normal, moral, and smart? That’s where I draw the line. If an author presents a character’s stupid actions as smart, then they aren’t an author worth reading.
If someone started out stupid, but gains experiences as the story continues—as part of their character development? That’s fine. Perfect, even!
Or if the narrative understands that this character’s stupidity is harmful—either to their self or others? Fine, too.
But here, the stupidity is presented as rational, a non-issue, as if that’s how the author herself thinks. 😭😭😭
After all the events in Silver Elite, after witnessing firsthand all of the crimes against humanity that the Primes have committed against her people—including those she loves—Wren somehow manages to double-down and become even stupider.
The narrative keeps insisting that Wren is this hardened, highly trained soldier who grew up in a brutal world, yet she reacts to basic realities of guerrilla warfare like somebody who’s been sheltered in a convent for the last twenty years.
Wren is presented as a capable badass, but if you take a step back and look at everything through a more critical lens, you'd see that her survival is 100% dependent on the competency and mercy of the men in her life.
The narrative makes it sound like these men need her just as much as she needs them, when they actually don't.
Her moral outrage also feels weirdly selective, because she constantly extends harsh judgment toward the oppressed rebel group, while barely directing that same energy toward the genocidal regime actively subjugating her people. If the book framed this as trauma, denial, internalized propaganda, or psychological contradiction, I would have understood it. However, the narrative presents her reactions as reasonable, which creates this huge disconnect between who the story tells us Wren is and how she actually behaves on page.
If you are reading this review, then you probably have read the first book, which means you already know that Wren is someone without any moral backbone, moral courage, or principles of any kind to stand on—this is proven to us over and over again in the first book, despite the narrative trying to sell it to us as acceptable behavior. But now in the second book, she’s passing moral judgment, even though she’s still someone who lacks moral.
Wren’s philosophy on war doesn’t match her upbringing or the brutality of her world. Her outlook reads like if the author imports the philosophy of someone who grew up in peacetime 1990s America (you’re giving yourself away, author!), which is not Wren’s time.
Also, the prose in Broken Dove is so bad. It’s simplistic—not in a natural, down-to-earth way that moves the story along swiftly, but in a way that reads like Wren (first person POV) is a simple-minded person, someone severely lacking in intelligence. While we’ve established that she’s stupid, I don’t think this is intentional; I think the author looked at her draft and thought, ”Ah, Wren—so intelligent and kind with moral courage. This is good work.” 💀
Knocked down one star because I was trapped inside this unintelligent woman's head for 600 pages.
The stupidity of this book, combined with its military setting, makes me suspect that this is Rebecca Yarros’s pen name.
HUSBAND: Why? You were so excited for it.
ME: The author pulled a Sarah J. Maas!*
HUSBAND: You mean...
ME: You know how SJM did my beautiful Tamlin wrong?
HUSBAND: Say no more. Want me to get rid of it for you?
UPDATE: this book is no longer in my house. Hallelujah!
🌹*A clarification because the comment apparently caused misunderstandings and drew some ire from Rhysand's girls: I was one of the early readers of ACoTaR, when it was sold as a standalone—a singular, finished love story. There were no plans to turn it into a series.
Sure, SJM cleared the way by villainizing the canon MMC, so of course he’s going to look bad in comparison to the new one. All cheap and convenient ways to say, ”The signs were there all along.” There were no signs; it was a standalone. Events were later chosen and turned into “signs.”
That's where the feeling of the bait and switch came in for many early ACoTaR readers. We were essentially told, ”Your understanding of the first book was wrong,” when it wasn’t. We weren’t annoyed because an established MMC got villainized; we were annoyed that our intelligence was insulted.
When I say that Dani Francis (and Romantasy authors who do similar) ”pulls a Sarah J. Maas,” it’s irrelevant whether she bothers to villainize Cross first or not, because “pulling a Sarah J. Maas” here means taking a couple that’s solidly established and canon, and introducing a love triangle for cheap and lazy reasons. I’m talking about an author taking a couple whose relationship she’s cultivated with care and asked readers to emotionally-invest in, only to randomly throw in a new guy in the next book—unplanned. Readers aren’t stupid (I hope not), they can tell when something is planned versus made up for spectacle (I hope so).
But, I’ll readily concede that how Dani Francis does it is much worse, because not only does she not bother to destroy Cross’s character first (still would have been bad, but at least would have taken efforts), but he doesn’t even get to be present or have a say or a chance to fight for his relationship; he’s just bumped off of the book for an overwhelming 95% of it.
OKAY, LET'S RETURN TO BROKEN DOVE:
As I read Broken Dove, I immediately saw that most of the story wasn't part of whatever the original outline was (if Francis even had one). The weird love triangle? Obviously made up on the fly. The fact that the novel essentially had no plot? That’s the proof.
THE ROMANCE: In Romance, having the love triangle happen after a relationship is already established, after the couple has already fought to stay together, and the man has shown his devotion in the first book, is just...a cheap way to pad the second book.
Imagine pulling a cheap stunt just to potentially promote another character to MMC status...AFTER you've told your readers to emotionally invest in the canon relationship. This makes the events in the first book irrelevant, as well. Honestly, it made me regret reading and caring about the relationship in Silver Elite because it all wounded up being for nothing.
I will not be continuing with the series because any of the outcomes will piss me off.
If Wren ends up with Cross: I'd be angry because she no longer deserves him.
If Wren ends up with the other guy: I'd be angry because now Cross is heartbroken, after everything he's gone through out of devotion.
If the three end up in a Why-Choose situation: Wren doesn’t deserve to have this good of an ending.
I just can’t wrap my mind around the idea of giving such a morally-bankrupt character a happy ending because my sense of loyalty and fairness just doesn’t allow me to. I already saw Wren’s lack of moral courage and principles in the first book, but I thought that she was being set up for character development. Nope.
The author was too lazy (or perhaps didn’t know how) to write longing and yearning during the months of separation between Wren and Cross, so she threw in this love triangle in order to have spicy scenes. Sorry, but in Romance (books with plots, remember them?), spicy scenes are fun to read because readers care about or are at least supportive the couple. Otherwise, they’d only annoy us.
In Broken Dove, Wren spends the book begrudging Cross for not having done more to help, even though he's been held captive!
Anyway, Wren carries on a whole-ass relationship with someone else (who has a girlfriend of his own)...while feeling sorry for herself. She also smugly tells this man’s girlfriend that she will not stop being inappropriately-close with him, and the narrative treats this as Wren being strong. That’s the weirdest part: the narrative supports her, just like how it presents her idiocy as intelligence. It’s presented as a “badass, strong independent woman” thing to do.
I'm actually leery of Romantasy relationships, but Cross and Wren's relationship in Silver Elite was airtight, so I let my guards down, only for the author to make the cheapest shot.
Also, Broken Dove isn’t really about anything. Stuff happens, people say things, and visit places, but there isn’t really a plot? I don’t even know what the point of the book is.
Oh, my God. This is so stupid.
Here is an example of love triangle done right.
REVIEW FOR THE REST OF THE BOOK:
Look, I can handle an imperfect or even unlikable protagonist.
But a STUPID one, where the stupidity is presented as normal, moral, and smart? That’s where I draw the line. If an author presents a character’s stupid actions as smart, then they aren’t an author worth reading.
If someone started out stupid, but gains experiences as the story continues—as part of their character development? That’s fine. Perfect, even!
Or if the narrative understands that this character’s stupidity is harmful—either to their self or others? Fine, too.
But here, the stupidity is presented as rational, a non-issue, as if that’s how the author herself thinks. 😭😭😭
After all the events in Silver Elite, after witnessing firsthand all of the crimes against humanity that the Primes have committed against her people—including those she loves—Wren somehow manages to double-down and become even stupider.
The narrative keeps insisting that Wren is this hardened, highly trained soldier who grew up in a brutal world, yet she reacts to basic realities of guerrilla warfare like somebody who’s been sheltered in a convent for the last twenty years.
Wren is presented as a capable badass, but if you take a step back and look at everything through a more critical lens, you'd see that her survival is 100% dependent on the competency and mercy of the men in her life.
The narrative makes it sound like these men need her just as much as she needs them, when they actually don't.
Her moral outrage also feels weirdly selective, because she constantly extends harsh judgment toward the oppressed rebel group, while barely directing that same energy toward the genocidal regime actively subjugating her people. If the book framed this as trauma, denial, internalized propaganda, or psychological contradiction, I would have understood it. However, the narrative presents her reactions as reasonable, which creates this huge disconnect between who the story tells us Wren is and how she actually behaves on page.
If you are reading this review, then you probably have read the first book, which means you already know that Wren is someone without any moral backbone, moral courage, or principles of any kind to stand on—this is proven to us over and over again in the first book, despite the narrative trying to sell it to us as acceptable behavior. But now in the second book, she’s passing moral judgment, even though she’s still someone who lacks moral.
Wren’s philosophy on war doesn’t match her upbringing or the brutality of her world. Her outlook reads like if the author imports the philosophy of someone who grew up in peacetime 1990s America (you’re giving yourself away, author!), which is not Wren’s time.
Also, the prose in Broken Dove is so bad. It’s simplistic—not in a natural, down-to-earth way that moves the story along swiftly, but in a way that reads like Wren (first person POV) is a simple-minded person, someone severely lacking in intelligence. While we’ve established that she’s stupid, I don’t think this is intentional; I think the author looked at her draft and thought, ”Ah, Wren—so intelligent and kind with moral courage. This is good work.” 💀
Knocked down one star because I was trapped inside this unintelligent woman's head for 600 pages.
The stupidity of this book, combined with its military setting, makes me suspect that this is Rebecca Yarros’s pen name.
May 14, 2026
And the Oscar for Best Performance by an Insufferably Dumb and Hypocritical Main Character goes to… Wren Darlington! Everybody clap.
This is easily the worst book I’ve read this year, and possibly the worst one I’ve read in years. Which is honestly impressive, considering the premise is literally horny teenagers fighting an oppressive regime.
This is easily the worst book I’ve read this year, and possibly the worst one I’ve read in years. Which is honestly impressive, considering the premise is literally horny teenagers fighting an oppressive regime.
May 23, 2026
This was a painful read. The direction this took was so disappointing. I hated every page. I actually can’t think of a single thing that would have made this book worse. My hope for book 3 is that they all die.
The 1 star is for Cross and Cross only and that’s me being very generous.
The only reason I didn’t dnf this book was because I wanted to leave a bad review
The 1 star is for Cross and Cross only and that’s me being very generous.
The only reason I didn’t dnf this book was because I wanted to leave a bad review
May 13, 2026
Broken Dove was one of my most anticipated reads of this year so it pains me a bit to say what a disappointment it was. I, like many others, went into this book with one question on my mind: Will this book be a love triangle?
So very unfortunately, it was.
We leave off with Wren finding out her old pal Kaine isn't dead but actually alive and working with the Uprising as well as Cross being stuck with his older brother, Travis, in charge after the death of his father.
After Silver Elite, the premise of this book had so much potential and the author did a good job of expanding the world. I got to know a lot more background to the Uprising and some of the other locations in the world, which I enjoyed. The problem was that nothing significant happened for 90% of this book. I was drudging along, barely getting through until that end. It had the action, intensity, and stakes the rest of the book was lacking. The betrayals were well thought out and I found my interest finally resuscitated back to life.
I thoroughly enjoyed the side characters introduced in this book. Poppy has a lot of potential. I loved that Tana was back and became present as the book progresses. And I was invested in Luisa, Evlynne, Mako, Saint, Jasper, and Xavier as well. But god was it infuriating to watch Wren fawn over Grayson the whole book.
If you are more interested in the politics and world building side of things, you might not be as disappointed as I was with this book. But if you, like me, are here for the romance, I am so sorry in advance.
I can tell you with confidence that if Cross did not get a POV in the beginning, I would have skimmed at least the first 30%. He was his down bad self while being interrogated, calling Wren his reason for being, and just chef's kiss. Wren seriously did not deserve him at all. Besides that prologue, there isn't much to write home about on the romance front. Pretty instantaneously I was staring at the book in horror as Wren toed the line with Grayson. While Wren and Grayson were flirting with each other, it was utter insanity that she would constantly remind him that he had a girlfriend instead of asserting a boundary that she has a guy she is in love with! I think it says a lot about how Wren acted when, by the time she and Grayson got together, he didn't perceive her relationship with Cross as more than a hookup.
Frustration doesn't begin to cover how I felt about the romance in this book. If there is going to be a love triangle, at the very least I would like there to be a valid reason for and against each guy. The whole reason Wren and Cross break up (officially, because she was emotionally cheating) is because they come from different worlds. Cross would get shot if he went to the Uprising and Wren had a kill order on her in the Company. Cross wants to run away, Wren wants to stay and fight. Wren and Cross break up, causing a two-month time jump to push Wren and Grayson together. And at that very moment, I was checked out.
There are only two reasons that I gave this book two stars and not one. Firstly, I have to pay my respect to Captain Cross Redden. Secondly is because I really do like the world and premise of this book. It has the right blend of dystopian and fantasy elements to draw you in. But where was the romance? I wanted tension, yearning, chemistry, and high stakes love that this book did not deliver. I refuse to believe Grayson and Wren are meant for each other just as Cross and Wren were all of book 1. Despite all of my issues with this book, I will have to read book 3. I have to hope Wren's decisions in this book were a result of brainwashing so she and Cross can ride out into the sunset but I totally understand if you choose to wash away these pages from your mind and end the series here.
So very unfortunately, it was.
We leave off with Wren finding out her old pal Kaine isn't dead but actually alive and working with the Uprising as well as Cross being stuck with his older brother, Travis, in charge after the death of his father.
After Silver Elite, the premise of this book had so much potential and the author did a good job of expanding the world. I got to know a lot more background to the Uprising and some of the other locations in the world, which I enjoyed. The problem was that nothing significant happened for 90% of this book. I was drudging along, barely getting through until that end. It had the action, intensity, and stakes the rest of the book was lacking. The betrayals were well thought out and I found my interest finally resuscitated back to life.
I thoroughly enjoyed the side characters introduced in this book. Poppy has a lot of potential. I loved that Tana was back and became present as the book progresses. And I was invested in Luisa, Evlynne, Mako, Saint, Jasper, and Xavier as well. But god was it infuriating to watch Wren fawn over Grayson the whole book.
If you are more interested in the politics and world building side of things, you might not be as disappointed as I was with this book. But if you, like me, are here for the romance, I am so sorry in advance.
I can tell you with confidence that if Cross did not get a POV in the beginning, I would have skimmed at least the first 30%. He was his down bad self while being interrogated, calling Wren his reason for being, and just chef's kiss. Wren seriously did not deserve him at all. Besides that prologue, there isn't much to write home about on the romance front. Pretty instantaneously I was staring at the book in horror as Wren toed the line with Grayson. While Wren and Grayson were flirting with each other, it was utter insanity that she would constantly remind him that he had a girlfriend instead of asserting a boundary that she has a guy she is in love with! I think it says a lot about how Wren acted when, by the time she and Grayson got together, he didn't perceive her relationship with Cross as more than a hookup.
Frustration doesn't begin to cover how I felt about the romance in this book. If there is going to be a love triangle, at the very least I would like there to be a valid reason for and against each guy. The whole reason Wren and Cross break up (officially, because she was emotionally cheating) is because they come from different worlds. Cross would get shot if he went to the Uprising and Wren had a kill order on her in the Company. Cross wants to run away, Wren wants to stay and fight. Wren and Cross break up, causing a two-month time jump to push Wren and Grayson together. And at that very moment, I was checked out.
There are only two reasons that I gave this book two stars and not one. Firstly, I have to pay my respect to Captain Cross Redden. Secondly is because I really do like the world and premise of this book. It has the right blend of dystopian and fantasy elements to draw you in. But where was the romance? I wanted tension, yearning, chemistry, and high stakes love that this book did not deliver. I refuse to believe Grayson and Wren are meant for each other just as Cross and Wren were all of book 1. Despite all of my issues with this book, I will have to read book 3. I have to hope Wren's decisions in this book were a result of brainwashing so she and Cross can ride out into the sunset but I totally understand if you choose to wash away these pages from your mind and end the series here.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 21, 2026
DANI FRANCIS, WHAT WAS THAT ENDING?! I haven't read such a juicy love triangle since 2013.
Before reading
May 2026? Dani Francis, babes, I'll read book 2 for you right now.
Before reading
May 2026? Dani Francis, babes, I'll read book 2 for you right now.
May 14, 2026
I want book 3 😭😭😭😭😭😭😭
not-released-yet
August 17, 2025if this becomes a love triangle (hinted in the synopsis!), im team gray idc
physical-tbr
August 9, 2025SAY WHAT YOU WANT. I loved the first book, and I've already preordered a signed copy from BAM.
down HORRENDOUS
down HORRENDOUS
May 8, 2026
4.5 Stars
Dani Francis, you got a lot of explaining to do
Dani Francis, you got a lot of explaining to do
May 16, 2026
Excuse me, what the fuck was that?!?!?!!
May 16, 2026
This book is AMAZING! I loved every wild minute of the plot twists and world building, the characters, EVERY.THING. I already can’t wait to reread and I will be here….unwell….until book 3.
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