Fire & Blood
2018 • 719 pages
Ratings72
Average rating3.7
15
Ratings72
Average rating3.7
The first volume of a definitive two-part history of the Targaryens in Westeros is set centuries before the events of "A Game of Thrones" and answers key questions about the dynasty's origins, conflicts and relationships with dragons.
Series
5 primary books7 released booksA Song of Ice and Fire is a 7-book series with 5 primary works first released in 3 with contributions by George R.R. Martin, Jorge Candeias, and 3 others.
Series
1 primary bookA Targaryen History is a 1-book series first released in 2018 with contributions by George R.R. Martin.
Reviews with the most likes.
I liked reading about the history, but if I put it down, I wouldn't pick it up again. So I read this in one sitting to prevent that from happening.
This was an interesting companion piece to Martin's abandoned Song of Ice and Fire series*. It's written from an in-universe perspective, chronicling the history of the earliest Targaryen rulers of Westeros. Written as a history book, it initially feels dry and lifeless, but as you get more engaged with it (and as Martin gets to the more interesting parts of Westerosi history), it becomes sometimes fascinating. On the whole, the Targaryens are a great argument against hereditary monarchy, and it's interesting to see the Westerosi narrator struggle to attempt to justify their failings and present them as beneficial parts of the development of his society.
Due to the scope of the material that Martin's going over, he unfortunately doesn't have space to include all the parts of the history that fans are most interested in - there's no Aegon the Unlikely or Rhaegar Targaryen here, which is a bit of a shame. On the other hand, he does include a comprehensive look at the Dance of Dragons that is epic in scale and rivals anything he's written in this world.
Rating:⭐⭐⭐✨/⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Characters:3/5
Plot:3/5
Prose:3/5
Storytelling:2/5
Magic System:3/5
Worldbuilding:4/5
Overall:3.5/5 Stars.
Review:
This is the first book from A Song of Ice and Fire because of HoTD, the adaptation of HBO.
Alas, I was disappointed that this was written like a historical record and that doesn't make an enjoyable story for me. George RR Martin could have made 10 books from this book, to be honest. I'm not tripping fr. He could have I swear. He's a lazy writer that's why. He has such a huge fanbase who would gobble up anything from him. I'm not eager to pick up ASOIAF because of its hiatus status. I loved GoT a lot and I'm a fan, and I know that would be the case with the books but I don't want to be in misery like the book fans yet. Maybe when it's clear when TWoW will be out
