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3.97 AVERAGE
3.97 AVERAGE
More fun than I expected for a pretty dry history book, but I feel like it ended on a dud storyline. There was no saving any story coming at the heels of the Dance, but spending most of the last chapter describing the fall of the Lysene family felt a bit too self-indulgent even for GRRM tbh. Especially considering the fact that we'll probably never get part two so ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
I began reading this book on a warm summer morning; my children playing at my feet.
"Look papa," my eldest daughter cooed, "I'm playing with my trucks." I nodded, widening my eyes in response. Her younger brother mouthed at a train in his bouncer. Life was good.
I smiled as I cracked the spine, the chatter of my children fading into the background. Weeks morphed into months, as I drudged through the history of the Targaryens. Page after page of redundant detail. Chapter after chapter of trivial plot progression.
The names of every bannerman in Westeros for centuries. The financial expenditures of a whore-house in King's Landing. The colour of the Queen's dress. The mundane whims of a court jester. The internal floorplan of a now demolished building. The number of teeth a dragon has. The weather patterns of an isle 200km away from the main narrative. Everything. Everything is included.
Tears ran down my cheeks, as I murmured, "why. why. why." My fingers bleeding turning each page. My posture, permanently deformed. My eyes, barely able to stay open.
Time warped until I finally looked up. Defeated. The book fell to the floor; 706 pages. I was finished.
I called for my wife; my children. Gone. All of them. I don't recognise the people in the photographs. Could it be? My children have graduated university. Divorce papers are scattered across the dining room table, dated ten years earlier; 2057. I strangled cry escaped my lips. I have finished the book, but at what cost.
George R. R. Martin opens his window. The wind whipping his face. He smiles. It is time. He can sense another soul has been tortured. He cracks his fingers and begins a tweet: Winds of Winter will be out soon.
"Look papa," my eldest daughter cooed, "I'm playing with my trucks." I nodded, widening my eyes in response. Her younger brother mouthed at a train in his bouncer. Life was good.
I smiled as I cracked the spine, the chatter of my children fading into the background. Weeks morphed into months, as I drudged through the history of the Targaryens. Page after page of redundant detail. Chapter after chapter of trivial plot progression.
The names of every bannerman in Westeros for centuries. The financial expenditures of a whore-house in King's Landing. The colour of the Queen's dress. The mundane whims of a court jester. The internal floorplan of a now demolished building. The number of teeth a dragon has. The weather patterns of an isle 200km away from the main narrative. Everything. Everything is included.
Tears ran down my cheeks, as I murmured, "why. why. why." My fingers bleeding turning each page. My posture, permanently deformed. My eyes, barely able to stay open.
Time warped until I finally looked up. Defeated. The book fell to the floor; 706 pages. I was finished.
I called for my wife; my children. Gone. All of them. I don't recognise the people in the photographs. Could it be? My children have graduated university. Divorce papers are scattered across the dining room table, dated ten years earlier; 2057. I strangled cry escaped my lips. I have finished the book, but at what cost.
George R. R. Martin opens his window. The wind whipping his face. He smiles. It is time. He can sense another soul has been tortured. He cracks his fingers and begins a tweet: Winds of Winter will be out soon.
adventurous
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Fun until it wasn’t anymore. Then it just got stressful.
adventurous
dark
informative
slow-paced
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Loveable characters:
No
adventurous
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
adventurous
dark
medium-paced
Honestly I really enjoyed this. I can see why people aren’t as interested since it isn’t the typical style, but I eat up anything game of thrones lore related.
Review of Fire & Blood by George R.R. Martin (3.7/5 Stars)
Fire & Blood is a unique and exciting read, but it won’t be everyone’s cup of tea. George R.R. Martin dives deep into the history of the Targaryen dynasty. While the book is bursting with rich lore and fascinating details, its style as a fictional history book makes it feel very different from the A Song of Ice and Fire series.
The world-building here is incredible. Martin brings the Targaryens’ reign to life, from Aegon the Conqueror’s dramatic rise to the turbulent lead-up to the Dance of the Dragons. The book is packed with vivid details about politics, wars, and family drama, and the narration by Archmaester Gyldayn gives it a fun, in-universe feel. If you’re a fan of House of the Dragon or love diving into Westerosi lore, this book is a treasure trove of information.
That said, the format does hold it back. Unlike the main series, this isn’t a character-driven story—it’s more of a chronicle of events. While figures like Rhaenyra, Daemon, and Jaehaerys are fascinating, their lives are summarized rather than deeply explored. You get the facts but not the emotional depth, making it feel distant.
The pacing can also be hit or miss. Some parts, like the Dance of the Dragons, are packed with drama and excitement, but other sections drag on with repetitive accounts of alliances, battles, and political scheming. It’s a lot to take in, and it’s easy to feel bogged down sometimes.
If you’re a hardcore fan of Westeros, Fire & Blood is worth reading for the lore alone. It gives you a new appreciation for the Targaryen dynasty and fills many historical gaps. But this might not scratch that itch if you’re looking for the emotional depth and gripping storytelling of A Song of Ice and Fire.
Final Thoughts:
Fire & Blood is a beautifully detailed history of the Targaryens, perfect for fans who want to dive deep into the lore of Westeros. But its dry, historical format and lack of character focus mean it’s not for everyone.
Rating: 3.7/5 Stars
Fire & Blood is a unique and exciting read, but it won’t be everyone’s cup of tea. George R.R. Martin dives deep into the history of the Targaryen dynasty. While the book is bursting with rich lore and fascinating details, its style as a fictional history book makes it feel very different from the A Song of Ice and Fire series.
The world-building here is incredible. Martin brings the Targaryens’ reign to life, from Aegon the Conqueror’s dramatic rise to the turbulent lead-up to the Dance of the Dragons. The book is packed with vivid details about politics, wars, and family drama, and the narration by Archmaester Gyldayn gives it a fun, in-universe feel. If you’re a fan of House of the Dragon or love diving into Westerosi lore, this book is a treasure trove of information.
That said, the format does hold it back. Unlike the main series, this isn’t a character-driven story—it’s more of a chronicle of events. While figures like Rhaenyra, Daemon, and Jaehaerys are fascinating, their lives are summarized rather than deeply explored. You get the facts but not the emotional depth, making it feel distant.
The pacing can also be hit or miss. Some parts, like the Dance of the Dragons, are packed with drama and excitement, but other sections drag on with repetitive accounts of alliances, battles, and political scheming. It’s a lot to take in, and it’s easy to feel bogged down sometimes.
If you’re a hardcore fan of Westeros, Fire & Blood is worth reading for the lore alone. It gives you a new appreciation for the Targaryen dynasty and fills many historical gaps. But this might not scratch that itch if you’re looking for the emotional depth and gripping storytelling of A Song of Ice and Fire.
Final Thoughts:
Fire & Blood is a beautifully detailed history of the Targaryens, perfect for fans who want to dive deep into the lore of Westeros. But its dry, historical format and lack of character focus mean it’s not for everyone.
Rating: 3.7/5 Stars
challenging
dark
informative
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Written from the POV of Masters, past and more present. Reads like a history book, with a little added fluff from all the rumors surrounding the Targaryen's. I really enjoyed it, but I can understand why it may not be everyone's favourite.