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3.97 AVERAGE
3.97 AVERAGE
Very good storyline with a good history of those before game of thrones began.
TOOK ME FOREVER BUT I DID IT!!
As someone who can’t stand reading real history books, I actually thoroughly enjoyed this.
There were definitely some areas that it took me awhile to push through, but I still liked it.
I was reading this prior to House of the Dragon coming out, and reading this did enhance the story for me. Seeing parts of this book come to life on screen had me giddy with excitement (Battle of Storm’s End I AM LOOKIN’ AT YOU!)
If you’re questioning reading this, I really do recommend giving it a shot. I will admit it did take me awhile to finish, but I do think reading it in bursts was more enjoyable for me so it didn’t feel bogged down and boring.
Dracarys
As someone who can’t stand reading real history books, I actually thoroughly enjoyed this.
There were definitely some areas that it took me awhile to push through, but I still liked it.
I was reading this prior to House of the Dragon coming out, and reading this did enhance the story for me. Seeing parts of this book come to life on screen had me giddy with excitement (Battle of Storm’s End I AM LOOKIN’ AT YOU!)
If you’re questioning reading this, I really do recommend giving it a shot. I will admit it did take me awhile to finish, but I do think reading it in bursts was more enjoyable for me so it didn’t feel bogged down and boring.
Dracarys
Fire and Blood: A History of the Targaryen Kings from Aegon the Conqueror to Aegon III by George R.R. Martin is an engaging and meticulously crafted book that I found nearly impossible to put down. Every time I had to step away, I was eager to dive back into the vivid world of Westeros and its most infamous ruling family, the Targaryens.
This book covers the first half of the 300 years that the Targaryen family ruled Westeros, and while it’s structured like a history book, it's written in a way that feels deeply narrative-driven. Martin brings the events to life with his signature style, making this not just a recounting of facts but an engaging story filled with intrigue, battles, and the often brutal realities of power.
As someone who’s watched the Game of Thrones series, I recognized many of the names mentioned, which added an extra layer of enjoyment. It was fascinating to read about how the Targaryens, with their dragons, conquered Westeros and navigated the challenges of ruling this complex land. The book also serves as a prequel of sorts, offering insights into the backstories of characters and events hinted at in both Game of Thrones and House of the Dragon.
Having watched the first two seasons of House of the Dragon, I was especially eager to read the sections that inspired the show. The book doesn’t disappoint, providing a rich narrative that goes beyond what’s been shown on screen. It was thrilling to learn what happens after season 2, and now, I’m even more excited to see how these events will be portrayed in the upcoming seasons.
One of the highlights for me was the story of King Jaehaerys I. His rise to power and the way he ruled was, in my opinion, one of the most compelling parts of the book. Martin’s portrayal of his reign is full of depth, showing both the triumphs and the tragedies that defined his time as king.
With a second book rumored to be in the works, covering the latter half of the Targaryen dynasty’s rule, I can’t wait to see what Martin has in store. If he ever releases it, I’ll be one of the first in line to read it.
For any fan of Game of Thrones, whether from the books or the TV show, I highly recommend Fire and Blood It’s a hefty read at over 700 pages, but every page is worth it.
This book covers the first half of the 300 years that the Targaryen family ruled Westeros, and while it’s structured like a history book, it's written in a way that feels deeply narrative-driven. Martin brings the events to life with his signature style, making this not just a recounting of facts but an engaging story filled with intrigue, battles, and the often brutal realities of power.
As someone who’s watched the Game of Thrones series, I recognized many of the names mentioned, which added an extra layer of enjoyment. It was fascinating to read about how the Targaryens, with their dragons, conquered Westeros and navigated the challenges of ruling this complex land. The book also serves as a prequel of sorts, offering insights into the backstories of characters and events hinted at in both Game of Thrones and House of the Dragon.
Having watched the first two seasons of House of the Dragon, I was especially eager to read the sections that inspired the show. The book doesn’t disappoint, providing a rich narrative that goes beyond what’s been shown on screen. It was thrilling to learn what happens after season 2, and now, I’m even more excited to see how these events will be portrayed in the upcoming seasons.
One of the highlights for me was the story of King Jaehaerys I. His rise to power and the way he ruled was, in my opinion, one of the most compelling parts of the book. Martin’s portrayal of his reign is full of depth, showing both the triumphs and the tragedies that defined his time as king.
With a second book rumored to be in the works, covering the latter half of the Targaryen dynasty’s rule, I can’t wait to see what Martin has in store. If he ever releases it, I’ll be one of the first in line to read it.
For any fan of Game of Thrones, whether from the books or the TV show, I highly recommend Fire and Blood It’s a hefty read at over 700 pages, but every page is worth it.
This was... fine. Like, I know what George was aiming for, here. Tacitus for the Seven Kingdoms. All right. But you know who reads Tacitus? History nerds. You know what everyone else reads? Stories derived from Tacitus. Because Tacitus is boring. So is this, except when Tyrion - I mean Mushroom - gets to have his second-hand input.
Don't get me wrong. There are good stories in here. I'm not shocked to figure out that the latter chunk of this book is apparently what makes up the material for that House of the Dragon show. It probably is a lot of fun to watch. But, you know why that would be? Because the material is probably given some love and care and attention. Characters will have been given room to breathe, and voices with which to speak, and moments of reflection, crisis points, etc etc. None of that is here. It's just monotonous telling, telling, telling. By its very nature, it can show us very little.
It's a shame, because George hasn't lost his capacity for some very imaginative stuff. I'll probably always remember the bit where the girl came back from flying around on her dragon and she was full of... worms? Proper body horror. Love it. But moments like that aren't enough, especially when they're stripped of all their impact. Who even was this kid, really? Who were the people around her, and how did this affect them? We can be told, but we can never feel it for ourselves. It all becomes very lame.
I expect this is the last book we'll get from George, or close to it. It's probably fitting. Low investment from him because he checked out ages ago. Low investment from me because I started reading these books twenty-something years ago and I checked out ages ago, too. The world will move on.
Don't get me wrong. There are good stories in here. I'm not shocked to figure out that the latter chunk of this book is apparently what makes up the material for that House of the Dragon show. It probably is a lot of fun to watch. But, you know why that would be? Because the material is probably given some love and care and attention. Characters will have been given room to breathe, and voices with which to speak, and moments of reflection, crisis points, etc etc. None of that is here. It's just monotonous telling, telling, telling. By its very nature, it can show us very little.
It's a shame, because George hasn't lost his capacity for some very imaginative stuff. I'll probably always remember the bit where the girl came back from flying around on her dragon and she was full of... worms? Proper body horror. Love it. But moments like that aren't enough, especially when they're stripped of all their impact. Who even was this kid, really? Who were the people around her, and how did this affect them? We can be told, but we can never feel it for ourselves. It all becomes very lame.
I expect this is the last book we'll get from George, or close to it. It's probably fitting. Low investment from him because he checked out ages ago. Low investment from me because I started reading these books twenty-something years ago and I checked out ages ago, too. The world will move on.
adventurous
challenging
dark
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
N/A
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
N/A
i liked how this felt like a history book but at times it was overwhelming to keep up with all the characters, especially when they mentioned in just slight passing
dark
emotional
informative
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
forget twow, give me f&b p.2
felt good to reread and immerse into the world once again
felt good to reread and immerse into the world once again
adventurous
dark
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
some parts were really good and some were a snoozefest. i liked aegons conquest, the dance, and the hour of the wolf (duh) a lot.
adventurous
dark
informative
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Es la historia de los Targaryen desde sus inicios, con muchos enredos familiares y momentos épicos. A veces puede sentirse un poco denso, como si estuvieras leyendo las crónicas de un maestre o Cien años de soledad, con todos los nombres similares, pero a medida lo vas leyendo te vas acostumbrando. Además, hay DRAGONES. Muchos dragones.