Red Queen by Victoria Aveyard | Chapters 8-14 | A Pawn in the Silver Court

In Part 2 of our Red Queen series, Books Between Friends continues our discussion of Red Queen by Victoria Aveyard, covering Chapters 8–14, where power is subtle, survival is strategic, and nothing is as simple as it seems. After the shocking events of the Queenstrial, Mare Barrow is pulled into the heart of the Silver court—a world built on spectacle, control, and carefully crafted appearances. As she’s forced to learn new rules and play a role she never asked for, we unpack what it means to survive in a system designed to use her. In this episode, we discuss: Mare’s loss of agency and growing role as a political pawn The dynamics and power plays of the Silver court Early impressions of Cal and Maven How performance, fear, and manipulation shape this world Why these chapters quietly escalate the stakes This episode contains spoilers through Chapter 14 only and is perfect for readers following along or revisiting Red Queen with fresh eyes.