Review by Booklist Review
A young woman with a dangerous secret must keep her wits about her at a military academy full of her enemies, including the infuriatingly compelling son of the nation's dictator, in this first book in a dystopian trilogy. Military dictator General Redden has the genocidal goal of ridding the world of Modified people, those with a hereditary genetic mutation resulting in psychic abilities. When Wren's adoptive uncle is exposed as a former operative of the rebel Uprising and executed, she is detained on suspicion of aiding the Uprising (which is admittedly true) and forced into a military training program for the elite Silver Block. With escape stymied at every turn by the dangerously attractive leader of Silver Block, the general's son, Captain Cross, Wren is determined to use the opportunity to advance the Mod cause. Despite some awkward logic leaps (why would someone train a suspected enemy agent for their most elite military force?), this is a page-turner whose academy setting and blend of suspense and forbidden romance will appeal to fans of popular romantasies like Rebecca Yarros' Fourth Wing (2023).
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
Francis's debut launches a romantasy trilogy with this tense and steamy foray into a dystopian future. More than a century after a devastating war, the remnants of the U.S. are lorded over by General Redden, whose government persecutes Modified humans, people whose psychic abilities are the lingering result of a bioweapon. Among them is headstrong 20-year-old Wren Darlington, but she's unique in that her powers do not cause her veins to glow, allowing her to easily hide her abilities. After her adoptive father is captured and executed, Wren, who is known to be a sharp shooter, is conscripted into the program that trains the elite Silver Block soldiers, led by General Redden's son Cross, whom Wren both despises and is drawn to. When members of the Modified rebel Uprising reach out telepathically to Wren and insist she make it into the top tier special force as an operative for them, Wren is caught between her terror at being found out and her conviction that she's the best, all while unsuccessfully trying to stamp out her attraction to Cross. Francis expertly builds this high-stakes surveillance state and crafts beautifully flawed, emotionally complex characters. Readers will eagerly await the next installment. Agent: Kimberley Brower, Brower Literary. (May)
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Review by Library Journal Review
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. VERDICT A sexy, high-octane dystopian debut.--Maria Martin
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