Silver Elite: Chapter 1
Jul. 3rd, 2025 10:15 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
penwallaWelp. No idea when the next Empyrean book is coming, and this is apparently popular on BookTok. No BookTok rec has ever done me right, so let's read this one and see how it goes.
I know nothing about this book. So it may be good!
The chapter opens with our POV character reminiscing about her horrifying childhood. She was raised in a pitch dark forest and is now immune to the usual fears. This book is in first person. We also learn that our protagonist could identify a skull by feel at the age of five. I don't know if I believe that, but sure.
Okay, after a couple paragraphs of backstory we shift into the present. Our protagonist is out late, having had an ill-advised hook up with a Command soldier.
Apparently today is Liberty Day, a holiday celebrating some event where people who are Modified (this is the book's capitalization, not mine) were slaughtered. Hence our protagonist (who I guess is also Modified) taking the opportunity to hook up with a member of what I assume is an oppressive military force. Said soldier clearly doesn't want their hook up to end, commenting on our protagonist's rifle as she gets dressed and straps it on. We learn that she's allowed to have the weapon because she and her uncle live on Ward Z, where they are ranchers and have a legitimate reason to need guns.
Having failed to penetrate this guy's thoughts, our protagonist tries to flee. She pretends to have to use the bathroom, and the soldier walks her over there. There's a good tension to this scene, even though it's pretty backstory and worldbuilding heavy. You can feel that something is off about this interaction with the soldier, but it's subtle. I like it.
Based on the fact we've gotten multiple descriptions of this guy being hot and a good lover, either he's gonna be an enemies-to-lovers style love interest or a villain. I feel it.
Deep sigh.
Mysterious hot guy and our protag banter as he pins her against the door and kicks away her gun. He does some gross shit where he ogles her and then suggests she could have come by earlier so she could have been in a threesome with him and another woman. Is this supposed to be hot? Because it's honestly just annoying to me.
Our protag tries to escape by kneeing him in the groin, but fails and ends up on the floor underneath him as he chokes her out.
I love it when our protagonist is introduced as a badass who had to hide how skilled she was with weapons as a child and the first time she's in a fight a hot guy immediately manhandles her. And despite being choked out, she has time to notice he's hot for her as she decides to flirt with him to escape.
The banter continues as our protag tries to figure out who this guy is, since she doesn't recognize him and there aren't normally strangers in this part of the world.
We finally learn our protag's name when the soldier she was with before comes looking for her, still besotted. Mysterious hot guy finally gives her her weapon and lets her go, and she tries and fails to run before her one night stand catches up to her.
Her name's Wren. Wren reluctantly gives the solider her ID and he adds himself to her comm, which is some kind of mandatory tracking/communication device.
Wren gives us more worldbuilding as she leaves. She lives in some kind of dystopia run by the Command, a military government, in a world where all media is censored and all communications are monitored. There are different groups at play here.
1. Primes, which I guess are just normal people. Most of them also hate the government, though Wren notes that there are diehard supporters among them.
2. Modified, who appear to be people affected by some kind toxic exposure and who have mindreading abilities. They are hunted and have to conceal their gifts or be turned in to the government.
3. Aberrants, or silverbloods. Not sure who these people are, except that our protag is one.
Wren meets with another Modified person, and they communicate telepathically. In this world, people's arm veins glow when they use their powers. Well, most of them. A select few don't have this problem, including our protag, which is why she's invaluable to the Uprising.
Okay, I have to complain here. The Command? The Uprising? Modified? These names are boring as hell. Star Wars can get away with calling it "The Empire" and "The Rebellion". I kind of expect a little more from a whole novel.
Anyway. Wren's uncle is telepathically demanding she come home. Wren is willing to do so, if only to get away from this besotted soldier, but before she can, there's some screaming.
Wren realizes help won't reach the child before the wolf-coyotes drag him off, so she picks up her rifle and takes aim.
Chapter end.
Okay! Not bad so far, actually. The naming conventions kind of suck, and it's not a very original novel so far, but it's competently written and the worldbuilding is integrated into the story decently well. I personally prefer a lighter touch than this, but I won't complain too much.
Honestly, the mysterious hot guy is the only part of the book I don't like. That portion of the chapter feels like it comes from a completely different book. Nothing is more annoying than the book setting up a character as one thing and then immediately undermining itself to obey some generic romantasy trope that doesn't belong. Like, Wren is apparently a rebel member of a marginalized group and she starts the story desperately trying to avoid having to spend time with her one night stand outside of bed, so when she suddenly can't shut up about how hot this dangerous stranger who nearly killed her is, it feels like she's been bodysnatched by someone else. Hey, shouldn't this character be less concerned about this guy's hotness and more concerned about the danger he might present to her and her loved ones?
Whatever. See y'all next time.
I know nothing about this book. So it may be good!
The chapter opens with our POV character reminiscing about her horrifying childhood. She was raised in a pitch dark forest and is now immune to the usual fears. This book is in first person. We also learn that our protagonist could identify a skull by feel at the age of five. I don't know if I believe that, but sure.
Okay, after a couple paragraphs of backstory we shift into the present. Our protagonist is out late, having had an ill-advised hook up with a Command soldier.
My burns, which dip below my waistband and stretch midway down my thigh, are a permanent reminder of who I am and why I can’t be in this guy’s presence longer than necessary.
I told him the scarring was the result of an accident. A pot of boiling water spilling on me when I was a child.
That wasn’t entirely a lie.
If he knew what the mangled flesh hid, though, he probably wouldn’t have been stroking it with such infinite sympathy.
Apparently today is Liberty Day, a holiday celebrating some event where people who are Modified (this is the book's capitalization, not mine) were slaughtered. Hence our protagonist (who I guess is also Modified) taking the opportunity to hook up with a member of what I assume is an oppressive military force. Said soldier clearly doesn't want their hook up to end, commenting on our protagonist's rifle as she gets dressed and straps it on. We learn that she's allowed to have the weapon because she and her uncle live on Ward Z, where they are ranchers and have a legitimate reason to need guns.
When it comes to the Command, I err on the side of paranoia, so I quickly open a path to prod at his mind. His shield is thicker than steel. I could probably find a hole in it if I tried long enough, but it’s too strong to penetrate on the spot. Not a surprise. One of the first things soldiers like him are taught is how to shield themselves from Mods. And they’re right to do it. Primes don’t have enhanced gifts. They also don’t experience any physical signs when someone infiltrates their thoughts, whereas Mods feel it like an electric shock. People like him should be on guard.
Having failed to penetrate this guy's thoughts, our protagonist tries to flee. She pretends to have to use the bathroom, and the soldier walks her over there. There's a good tension to this scene, even though it's pretty backstory and worldbuilding heavy. You can feel that something is off about this interaction with the soldier, but it's subtle. I like it.
I start to object, but he’s already climbing out of bed, sliding a pair of pants up his trim hips. At least he’s not wearing the navy-blue standard-issue Command uniform. Not sure I could’ve mustered up any arousal if he’d been wearing that. Outside the occasional ale-induced soldier romp, I hate those assholes, and most of them hate me right back. They’re dedicated to wiping out people like me. The Aberrant, as they call us. Or silverbloods, when they’re feeling nice.
The only aberration around here is General Redden and his irrational hatred for Mods. We didn’t ask to be this way. Some thoughtless war a hundred and fifty years ago released the toxin that made us like this. We didn’t have a choice in the matter.
Based on the fact we've gotten multiple descriptions of this guy being hot and a good lover, either he's gonna be an enemies-to-lovers style love interest or a villain. I feel it.
The book pauses to have our protag look in the mirror and describe herself to us. It's not terrible--only a paragraph or so, and all we find out is that she has her mother's eyes (which the soldier complimented her on) and that she's flushed and has "bronzed" skin. "Bronzed" is the favorite word of authors who want their characters to be racially ambiguous, so I already dislike it.
As she attempts to again run away, she sees the soldier's door start to open and panics. She runs into another room and immediately the book gets so much worse.
I was wrong. This guy is a love interest.
This guy is…inconceivably attractive. I don’t think I’ve ever seen a better-looking human, male or female. I’m momentarily lost in his cobalt-blue eyes, peering down at me from beneath thick lashes. His hair is dark, swept away from flawless, symmetrical features that could’ve been chiseled out of stone. Just the right amount of stubble shadows a strong jaw, and one corner of his mouth bears the indentation of a dimple. I wonder how pronounced it gets when he smiles, although judging by the cold, dangerous glint in his eyes, I get the feeling he doesn’t smile often.
Deep sigh.
Mysterious hot guy and our protag banter as he pins her against the door and kicks away her gun. He does some gross shit where he ogles her and then suggests she could have come by earlier so she could have been in a threesome with him and another woman. Is this supposed to be hot? Because it's honestly just annoying to me.
Our protag tries to escape by kneeing him in the groin, but fails and ends up on the floor underneath him as he chokes her out.
I can’t answer, because he’s cutting off my air supply. I take another weak swing at him. God, he’s strong. I thought I was a skilled fighter. My uncle’s been training me since I was five. But here I am, flat on my back, unable to do a thing while he crushes me with his body.
No, that’s not true. I can do something.
I love it when our protagonist is introduced as a badass who had to hide how skilled she was with weapons as a child and the first time she's in a fight a hot guy immediately manhandles her. And despite being choked out, she has time to notice he's hot for her as she decides to flirt with him to escape.
The banter continues as our protag tries to figure out who this guy is, since she doesn't recognize him and there aren't normally strangers in this part of the world.
We finally learn our protag's name when the soldier she was with before comes looking for her, still besotted. Mysterious hot guy finally gives her her weapon and lets her go, and she tries and fails to run before her one night stand catches up to her.
Her name's Wren. Wren reluctantly gives the solider her ID and he adds himself to her comm, which is some kind of mandatory tracking/communication device.
Wren gives us more worldbuilding as she leaves. She lives in some kind of dystopia run by the Command, a military government, in a world where all media is censored and all communications are monitored. There are different groups at play here.
1. Primes, which I guess are just normal people. Most of them also hate the government, though Wren notes that there are diehard supporters among them.
2. Modified, who appear to be people affected by some kind toxic exposure and who have mindreading abilities. They are hunted and have to conceal their gifts or be turned in to the government.
3. Aberrants, or silverbloods. Not sure who these people are, except that our protag is one.
Wren meets with another Modified person, and they communicate telepathically. In this world, people's arm veins glow when they use their powers. Well, most of them. A select few don't have this problem, including our protag, which is why she's invaluable to the Uprising.
Okay, I have to complain here. The Command? The Uprising? Modified? These names are boring as hell. Star Wars can get away with calling it "The Empire" and "The Rebellion". I kind of expect a little more from a whole novel.
Anyway. Wren's uncle is telepathically demanding she come home. Wren is willing to do so, if only to get away from this besotted soldier, but before she can, there's some screaming.
From what I can discern in the darkness, there’s a kid on the ground, but all I see is the frenetic blur of arms flailing and legs kicking. Other children stream away from the clearing, shouting for help.
“It’s that damn white coyote!” Tana curses. “He’s been prowling the woods on the outskirts of the village all week.”
Wren realizes help won't reach the child before the wolf-coyotes drag him off, so she picks up her rifle and takes aim.
Chapter end.
Okay! Not bad so far, actually. The naming conventions kind of suck, and it's not a very original novel so far, but it's competently written and the worldbuilding is integrated into the story decently well. I personally prefer a lighter touch than this, but I won't complain too much.
Honestly, the mysterious hot guy is the only part of the book I don't like. That portion of the chapter feels like it comes from a completely different book. Nothing is more annoying than the book setting up a character as one thing and then immediately undermining itself to obey some generic romantasy trope that doesn't belong. Like, Wren is apparently a rebel member of a marginalized group and she starts the story desperately trying to avoid having to spend time with her one night stand outside of bed, so when she suddenly can't shut up about how hot this dangerous stranger who nearly killed her is, it feels like she's been bodysnatched by someone else. Hey, shouldn't this character be less concerned about this guy's hotness and more concerned about the danger he might present to her and her loved ones?
Whatever. See y'all next time.
