Centuries before the events of A Game of Thrones, House Targaryen—the only family of dragonlords to survive the Doom of Valyria—took up residence on Dragonstone. Fire & Blood begins their tale with the legendary Aegon the Conqueror, creator of the Iron Throne, and goes on to recount the generations of Targaryens who fought to hold that iconic seat, all the way up to the civil war that nearly tore their dynasty apart.
What really happened during the Dance of the Dragons? Why was it so deadly to visit Valyria after the Doom? What were Maegor the Cruel’s worst crimes? What was it like in Westeros when dragons ruled the skies? These are but a few of the questions answered in this essential chronicle, as related by a learned maester of the Citadel and featuring more than eighty-five black-and-white illustrations by artist Doug Wheatley—including five illustrations exclusive to the trade paperback edition. Readers have glimpsed small parts of this narrative in such volumes as The World of Ice & Fire, but now, for the first time, the full tapestry of Targaryen history is revealed.
This was officially my first foray into the works of George RR Martin. I was nervous, cautious, and kept my expectations low. Surely the show would be better than the book. And surely an author incapable of finishing their bestselling series, with millions of readers begging for years, can’t be that amazing of a writer anyway, right? Right?
Call me a believer! I finished this hefty tome in just a few days. I was glued to the pages every chance I got. This consumed my free time and I didn’t mind one bit. I’ve since read the first Game of Thrones novel and am working through the rest of the available catalog. Mr Martin, I apologize for doubting you.
This installment in the world of Game of Thrones is written more as a history accounting rather than a novel. It’s supposed to be the written words of an archmaester, telling the story of the Targaryens in Westeros. Because of this, there are very few scenes that share traditional setting details, character’s thoughts, or moment by moment interactions. It works in much broader strokes, spanning over a hundred years.
I can’t recall reading anything done in this style, but I enjoyed it. It gave me the chance to sample a whole roster of Targaryens and their defining battles and marriages and political choices. You were never stuck in one story arc for too long.
If you are thinking of starting this adventure because of the show House of the Dragon, I would take note that the Dance of the Dragons is but a small portion of what’s in store. You’ll need to start with Aegon the conqueror and work through generations before reaching familiar characters like Rhaenyra. The narration then continues past the end of her tale. And, as usual, the show has detoured from the original book content greatly at this point.
I find myself already considering giving this a re-read. I’ve heard a sequel might be coming to flesh out the rest of the Targaryen histories, and that will be an easy preorder for me!