#1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • The history of the Targaryens comes to life in this masterly work, the inspiration for HBO’s upcoming Game of Thrones prequel series House of the Dragon“The thrill of Fire & Blood is the thrill of all Martin’s fantasy work: familiar myths debunked, the whole trope table flipped.”—Entertainment WeeklyCenturies before the events of A Game of Thrones, House … Weekly
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 all-new black-and-white illustrations by artist Doug Wheatley. 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.
With all the scope and grandeur of Gibbon’s The History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire, Fire & Blood is the the first volume of the definitive two-part history of the Targaryens, giving readers a whole new appreciation for the dynamic, often bloody, and always fascinating history of Westeros.
Praise for Fire & Blood
“A masterpiece of popular historical fiction.” —The Sunday Times
“The saga is a rich and dark one, full of both the title’s promised elements. . . . It’s hard not to thrill to the descriptions of dragons engaging in airborne combat, or the dilemma of whether defeated rulers should ‘bend the knee,’ ‘take the black’ and join the Night’s Watch, or simply meet an inventive and horrible end.”—The Guardian
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When season one of Game of Thrones wrapped in June 2011, I immediately started reading/listening to the book series. I was THAT hooked! I had to know the rest of the story. Now, as I wait impatiently for the final season to begin, I remain one of many who has waited with equal impatience for the conclusion of the written series. Fire and Blood was a definite treat. This is what a reader gets when they crack open a story the author wants to write. If you don’t like stories with loads of characters, then you should probably skip this one (the whole sister/brother marriage thing might put you off as well).
Additionally worth mentioning is the fact that this is NOT a story, but more of an accounting of the balance and shift of power for rule over the Seven Kingdoms. The violent tug of war amid the succession of the realm’s leaders, their advisors and subjects kept me intrigued, outraged and surprisingly amused. The narrator Simon Vance was spectacular which was key given the weight of the material. I thoroughly enjoyed settling in for my morning/evening commutes with this account of lies, love, betrayal and…of course, dragons.
Disclaimer: If you’re not into history books and a super fan of GRRM’s A Song of Ice and Fire novels, you probably won’t find this as riveting as I did.
Just like A World of Ice and Fire, Fire and Blood is a faux history text written from the POV of a maester. I deducted a star because the section of Aegon’s conquest is copied and pasted from the world book. However, the sections on Jahaerys, The Dance of Dragons, and the regency of Aegon III were riveting.
Some tidbits in there hinting at the future of the main series as well.
Not a novel, but a history, and richly detailed in every way. It’s a tragic story peppered with moments of triumph for kings and queens and their dragons. As a fan of grimdark and Game of Thrones, it’s an absolute must for the backstory of Westeros, and all the people we read about– starting with the dragonriders.
Thank goodness I only got the sample. I would have been very upset if I’d purchased this. My high school history book was more exciting.
This is a macro-history of the Targaryen dynasty from Aegon the Conqueror through the civil war known as the Dance of Dragons. This book is for the obsessive Ice and Fire fans. Nothing here for the casual Thrones nerd. Martin throws around names and events like confetti. It is extremely difficult to keep track of, but often the effort is worth it because Martin is a true master. Still, the book is long and laborious and took a lot of extra effort to get through. I’m excited to see the new HBO show based on the book and am glad I have the book as a reference. Unless you read the other Ice and Fire books, steer clear of this one. If you can name all the direwolfs and map the continent of Westeros already, then prepare for a very unique and grand experience with Fire and Blood.
All GOT fans will love this!
Just.naritive no dialogue. Rambling no main character blah blah bla
Impossible to put down
I only recommend this book if you’re a huge ASOIAF fan and have read the series already.
Very good book to complement the existing world but I wish the author would focus on finishing the series.
I loved this book. I loved how it was written from a Maester’s approach. Really explains the Targaryen dynasty from Aegon the Conqueror. I think there will be a second part coming so I can’t wait!
This book takes place 300 years before his book series, Ice and Fire, began. It starts with Aegon I’s conquest, and moves through the Dance of Dragons. Around 130 years total are covered in this book, ending with Aegon III’s reign. It still has quite a bit of time to go before we get to when Robert Baratheon takes over, so I assume there is going to be another prequel.
Most of the book is told from the point of view of a Maester and of a fool named Mushroom who both had written accounts of the Targaryen history.
The book covers generation after generation of Targaryens, Valaryons, Baratheons, Lannisters, Hightowers, Starks, and the like. While the main focus is on the ruling of the Targaryens, and how they and their dragons maintain power over the years, you do get a small peak into the other families that you love.
I really loved this book. I am a huge fan of R.R. Martin, and – while I wish he would finish the Song of Ice and Fire – this was a book that helped unlock several mysteries for me about what happened leading up to Robert Baratheon usurping the throne. The start of the book is very easy to follow – from the Conquest and then when Aegon I’s first child takes over the throne. Then it starts to get complicated because Aegon I’s first child gets married and has around 13 children and the branches sprout like mad. You really have to be paying attention because – just like all of Martin’s books – there are 1000 characters to keep track of, and so many side stories that it will make your head spin.
This book is genius, and incredibly well written, just like his others. I enjoyed every word, and do hope he writes the second prequel to lead up to Robert Baratheon’s conquest, and ALSO finishes Winds of Winter, so that the series will be complete.
If you love Game of Thrones, you will LOVE this book. It is worth your time.
A nice history of Westeros
While not as entertaining as the Game of Thrones series for the devoted followers this is a must read! This book focuses on the arrival of the Targaryans and their conquest of the Seven Kingdoms in their quest of the Iron Throne. Next the author focuses on the next several generations of the Targaryans and their fiery tempered dragons. One could certainly make a case for the dragons to revolt against their masters. The Targaryans can be and are cruel to both man and beast. I’m surprised the Dragons didn’t take wing and fly away to parts unknown after scorching a few of their masters.
It’s an easy read once started and hard to put down for sure.
It would have been better if Mr. Martin could have devoted and found the time to write this history in with the detail and scope of his still unfinished Game of Thrones. But he might have needed another lifetime or two to finish it.
Carries in in game of thrones fashion, but follows the first men to land on this side of water. Brutal and viscious, has spots you’ll miss sleep for, already waiting for the next
its a good background about the dragon riders…it gives good history…BUT you have to really really pay attention to all the characters…as it gets twisty and a bit convoluted…
Such a good set-up to GOT. Much history and background to the characters we know and love.
I read this because I’m a huge GoT fan and wanted to know more about the new show they’re filming about the Targaryan conquerers of Westeros. Although it reads like a non-fiction history book, it’s still fascinating.
You may not always like the way females are portrayed in his books, but this female thinks GRR is a genius when it comes to world building.
A little too pedantic and expository rather than tale telling. Read more like a history book than an adventure fantasy.
Not up to the standards of his past works.