You need to sign in or sign up before continuing.
Take a photo of a barcode or cover
3.97 AVERAGE
3.97 AVERAGE
Very good book. it’s helpful to have a Targaryen family tree next to you because it can get a little complicated with keeping track of who is who. great read
challenging
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
slow-paced
informative
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
N/A
First thing about this book that you should know going in: this is not a novel. It is a history book, written in the style of a history book, from the POV of a Maester in-world. It is a made-up history about a made-up world, but it is still history, and there's a lot of it. If you do not like reading history, or fake history, you will not like this book.
It is very similar to A World of Ice and Fire, which was released several years ago, except that the illustrations aren't in color, and there is a significantly larger amount of content about a much more narrow topic. AWOIAF covered the entire history of Westeros and Essos. This one just covers the first 130 or so years of Targaryen rule in Westeros (the remaining 170 years will be covered in book two). In fact, most of this material was already written before that book was published, and it was cut because it was too large. If I'm remembering correctly, the Targaryen section in AWOIAF was only about fifty to sixty pages long.
Biggest takeaway: this is not a book meant to be read all in one go. I opted to read it in short bursts, usually a chapter or two at a time, for almost the entire month of January. It worked out very well. (Though the sections on the Dance of the Dragons did start to wear on me after a bit.)
I enjoyed this book because I enjoy extremely detailed nerd things and unnecessary backstory. I enjoy the mental exercise of sinking so far into a fictional world that you treat it like a real world. It appeals to me greatly. I enjoyed it because it gives context for what eventually happens in Robert's Rebellion, and what comes after, what kind of world and legacy Daenerys is trying to reclaim,.
If you are a hardcore ASOIAF reader, this book should appeal to you. If you're the kind of person who likes fake history and nerd things that have tons of unnecessary detail, you might like this. Casual readers: you will probably not. This is a 706 page hardcover with pretty small print, with no storyline to speak of, written like a history book. There are a shit ton of Targaryens, and you will get them confused. It is a literary indulgence, and it is supplementary material. I'm glad it exists, but YMMV, for sure.
It is very similar to A World of Ice and Fire, which was released several years ago, except that the illustrations aren't in color, and there is a significantly larger amount of content about a much more narrow topic. AWOIAF covered the entire history of Westeros and Essos. This one just covers the first 130 or so years of Targaryen rule in Westeros (the remaining 170 years will be covered in book two). In fact, most of this material was already written before that book was published, and it was cut because it was too large. If I'm remembering correctly, the Targaryen section in AWOIAF was only about fifty to sixty pages long.
Biggest takeaway: this is not a book meant to be read all in one go. I opted to read it in short bursts, usually a chapter or two at a time, for almost the entire month of January. It worked out very well. (Though the sections on the Dance of the Dragons did start to wear on me after a bit.)
I enjoyed this book because I enjoy extremely detailed nerd things and unnecessary backstory. I enjoy the mental exercise of sinking so far into a fictional world that you treat it like a real world. It appeals to me greatly. I enjoyed it because it gives context for what eventually happens in Robert's Rebellion, and what comes after, what kind of world and legacy Daenerys is trying to reclaim,
Spoiler
what kind of family Jon Snow is unknowingly apart ofIf you are a hardcore ASOIAF reader, this book should appeal to you. If you're the kind of person who likes fake history and nerd things that have tons of unnecessary detail, you might like this. Casual readers: you will probably not. This is a 706 page hardcover with pretty small print, with no storyline to speak of, written like a history book. There are a shit ton of Targaryens, and you will get them confused. It is a literary indulgence, and it is supplementary material. I'm glad it exists, but YMMV, for sure.
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
adventurous
dark
funny
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
dark
informative
mysterious
sad
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Very good and enjoyable as someone who is exceedingly nerdy with the history and lore aspects of fiction. Special shoutout to good king jaeherys and alysayne, they are the goats. All the different timeperiods are fascinating in their own way and makes for a great read, unless you dont want HOTD spoiled.