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3.97 AVERAGE
3.97 AVERAGE
informative
fast-paced
I enjoyed the artwork in ‘Fire and Blood: Being a History of the Targaryen Kings of Westeros’ by Archmaester Gyldayn of the Citadel of Oldtown, aka George R.R. Martin, best. They are black and white drawings by Doug Wheatley, but lovely just the same.
The book is a fictionalized history (part I) of the Targaryens. It starts with the beginning of the family’s takeover of Westeros, from the first King Aegon Targaryen, Conqueror of Westeros, to Aegon III, the Broken King’s reign, on the Iron Throne. ‘Fire and Blood’ relates the how and why of the Targaryens leaving Valyria and moving to Dragonstone. Aegon the Conqueror was born on Dragonstone in 27 BC (Before the Conquest). The history stops at 136 AC (After the Conquest).
There are some interesting tidbits I gleaned:
-the new HBO show, ‘House of the Dragon’ is happening mostly about when Viserys I is on the Iron Throne (103 AD). Near the end of season one, the war between Aegon II and Rhaenyra is starting. This show is 300 years before ‘Game of Thrones’.
-a bit of what dragons are like and how they are tamed is told here and there
-
-
George R.R. Martin gave an interview to Dan Jones in London, which is reprinted in back of the book. Some of the interesting things Martin said:
-he started writing ‘Game of Thrones’ in 1991
-he didn’t have this huge fictionalized genealogy at the start - it grew as he wrote
-the map of Westeros is actually the map of Ireland turned upside down with changes
-he got things wrong as he wrote the other books in the series, but fans are quick to set him right for corrections in the new editions
-he used as templates for his fictional history of Westeros actual real-world histories: the War of the Roses; the Crusades; the Albigensian Crusade; the Hundred Years War; and the history of Scotland
There is a family tree of the Targaryen’s, thank the Seven!
I was interested to read ‘Fire and Blood’ because the book fills in some of the backstory for the ‘A Song of Ice and Fire’ series (start here - [b:A Game of Thrones|13496|A Game of Thrones (A Song of Ice and Fire, #1)|George R.R. Martin|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1562726234l/13496._SY75_.jpg|1466917]), ‘Fire and Blood’ is supposed to be something like a history textbook written by a Westeros Archmaester, with some dialogues included by reputable sources that have been “verified.” Maesters in this fantasy series are seemingly equivalent to the Catholic monks of the medieval era in our real world. ‘Author’ Gyldayn adds in a few stories which are considered unsubstantiated gossip, so this book isn’t entirely dry as, well, a textbook.
I do not recommend reading ‘Fire and Blood’ straight through like a novel! Unless you are that kind of bookworm, you know, the kind who gets hot and excited and feeling just gotta/needy-to-know when reading textbooks, especially history textbooks (ok, I kinda have been there). Or you are that reader who has to finish every read you’ve started of every kind, no matter what, maybe even the cereal boxes that you’ve started at the breakfast table (when I was a kid, I did this). But in this case, I was simply curious enough to read ‘Fire and Blood’ since I loved the ‘A Song of Fire and Ice’ books and the HBO show.
Frankly, the new series, ‘The House of the Dragon’, is continuing to be on my watchlist currently because it has a LOT more dragons. The characters are not really drawing me in. So far. Bite me.
Personally, I do have a DNF stack now, where I have given away books (or returned to the library) that I definitely will NEVER finish, and some I hope to pick up and try again later, maybe, if I feel like it. I changed my bookworm reading habits because I got more old with more broken down body bits, like eyes going watery and bifocally and a touch of cataracts. Plus, ticktock. Time is running out. ☹️
I read ‘Fire and Blood’ on an occasional basis. Because I bought this at Apple Books, I was notified by them that another Martin book, [b:The Rise of the Dragon: An Illustrated History of the Targaryen Dynasty, Volume One|60636502|The Rise of the Dragon An Illustrated History of the Targaryen Dynasty, Volume One|George R.R. Martin|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1647528908l/60636502._SX50_.jpg|95583327] was newly published, and would I like to get it? Fool that I am, I did. Why am I a Fool? Shut up. Anyway, I read both ‘Fire and Blood’ and ‘The Rise of the Dragon’ together, once I realized they were almost the same read, even if having different art drawings. Skimmed ‘The Rise of the Dragon’, actually. It is the duller of the two books to read.
Ok, then. ‘The Rise of the Dragon’ is ‘Fire and Blood’ redone but more concise, using much the same info as is in ‘Fire and Blood’. There are paragraphs exactly the same, but a lot of the scandals and rumors descriptions in ‘Fire and Blood’ are gone or extremely compressed down into a sentence. However, there are gorgeous color drawings, entirely new ones, that are not at all in ‘Fire and Blood’. Even in an ebook, they are gorgeous! ‘The Rise of the Dragon’ is probably a better buy as a coffee table book. But I like looking at the dragons, even if on my phone, passing the time…
The book is a fictionalized history (part I) of the Targaryens. It starts with the beginning of the family’s takeover of Westeros, from the first King Aegon Targaryen, Conqueror of Westeros, to Aegon III, the Broken King’s reign, on the Iron Throne. ‘Fire and Blood’ relates the how and why of the Targaryens leaving Valyria and moving to Dragonstone. Aegon the Conqueror was born on Dragonstone in 27 BC (Before the Conquest). The history stops at 136 AC (After the Conquest).
There are some interesting tidbits I gleaned:
-the new HBO show, ‘House of the Dragon’ is happening mostly about when Viserys I is on the Iron Throne (103 AD). Near the end of season one, the war between Aegon II and Rhaenyra is starting. This show is 300 years before ‘Game of Thrones’.
-a bit of what dragons are like and how they are tamed is told here and there
-
Spoiler
most of the dragons died during a terrible war between Aegon II and Rhaenyra-
Spoiler
the last Targaryen dragon died during the Broken King’s reignGeorge R.R. Martin gave an interview to Dan Jones in London, which is reprinted in back of the book. Some of the interesting things Martin said:
-he started writing ‘Game of Thrones’ in 1991
-he didn’t have this huge fictionalized genealogy at the start - it grew as he wrote
-the map of Westeros is actually the map of Ireland turned upside down with changes
-he got things wrong as he wrote the other books in the series, but fans are quick to set him right for corrections in the new editions
-he used as templates for his fictional history of Westeros actual real-world histories: the War of the Roses; the Crusades; the Albigensian Crusade; the Hundred Years War; and the history of Scotland
There is a family tree of the Targaryen’s, thank the Seven!
I was interested to read ‘Fire and Blood’ because the book fills in some of the backstory for the ‘A Song of Ice and Fire’ series (start here - [b:A Game of Thrones|13496|A Game of Thrones (A Song of Ice and Fire, #1)|George R.R. Martin|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1562726234l/13496._SY75_.jpg|1466917]), ‘Fire and Blood’ is supposed to be something like a history textbook written by a Westeros Archmaester, with some dialogues included by reputable sources that have been “verified.” Maesters in this fantasy series are seemingly equivalent to the Catholic monks of the medieval era in our real world. ‘Author’ Gyldayn adds in a few stories which are considered unsubstantiated gossip, so this book isn’t entirely dry as, well, a textbook.
I do not recommend reading ‘Fire and Blood’ straight through like a novel! Unless you are that kind of bookworm, you know, the kind who gets hot and excited and feeling just gotta/needy-to-know when reading textbooks, especially history textbooks (ok, I kinda have been there). Or you are that reader who has to finish every read you’ve started of every kind, no matter what, maybe even the cereal boxes that you’ve started at the breakfast table (when I was a kid, I did this). But in this case, I was simply curious enough to read ‘Fire and Blood’ since I loved the ‘A Song of Fire and Ice’ books and the HBO show.
Frankly, the new series, ‘The House of the Dragon’, is continuing to be on my watchlist currently because it has a LOT more dragons. The characters are not really drawing me in. So far. Bite me.
Personally, I do have a DNF stack now, where I have given away books (or returned to the library) that I definitely will NEVER finish, and some I hope to pick up and try again later, maybe, if I feel like it. I changed my bookworm reading habits because I got more old with more broken down body bits, like eyes going watery and bifocally and a touch of cataracts. Plus, ticktock. Time is running out. ☹️
I read ‘Fire and Blood’ on an occasional basis. Because I bought this at Apple Books, I was notified by them that another Martin book, [b:The Rise of the Dragon: An Illustrated History of the Targaryen Dynasty, Volume One|60636502|The Rise of the Dragon An Illustrated History of the Targaryen Dynasty, Volume One|George R.R. Martin|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1647528908l/60636502._SX50_.jpg|95583327] was newly published, and would I like to get it? Fool that I am, I did. Why am I a Fool? Shut up. Anyway, I read both ‘Fire and Blood’ and ‘The Rise of the Dragon’ together, once I realized they were almost the same read, even if having different art drawings. Skimmed ‘The Rise of the Dragon’, actually. It is the duller of the two books to read.
Ok, then. ‘The Rise of the Dragon’ is ‘Fire and Blood’ redone but more concise, using much the same info as is in ‘Fire and Blood’. There are paragraphs exactly the same, but a lot of the scandals and rumors descriptions in ‘Fire and Blood’ are gone or extremely compressed down into a sentence. However, there are gorgeous color drawings, entirely new ones, that are not at all in ‘Fire and Blood’. Even in an ebook, they are gorgeous! ‘The Rise of the Dragon’ is probably a better buy as a coffee table book. But I like looking at the dragons, even if on my phone, passing the time…
Meh. Some good battle scenes, but it mostly lists off dozens and dozens of characters who come into power, torture and murder their enemies, get overthrown or die, which is then followed by a struggle over who can claim the throne. Not much character development. Lots of incest and child brides. Not anywhere near as good as Song of Ice and Fire or his short stories.
For the love of god, I have two words: SECTION. BREAKS.
4 stars out of 5
I would say half of this book was really interesting, and the other half was a slog. The world of Westeros is highly imaginative and the grimdark nature of the Targaryen reign can be fascinating -- most of the time. There were many jokes that I didn't really jive with (most of the Mushroom jokes) and parts that were hard to get through. That aside, the main portion of the book, which House of the Dragon season 1 was based upon, ended up being riveting. I will have to go back and finish the show now!
I would say half of this book was really interesting, and the other half was a slog. The world of Westeros is highly imaginative and the grimdark nature of the Targaryen reign can be fascinating -- most of the time. There were many jokes that I didn't really jive with (most of the Mushroom jokes) and parts that were hard to get through. That aside, the main portion of the book, which House of the Dragon season 1 was based upon, ended up being riveting. I will have to go back and finish the show now!
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
N/A
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
dark
funny
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Even fierier and bloodier the second time around! On par with Storm of Swords as GRRM’s greatest work (if not better because of the B&W artwork that goes with it). Martin did what Tolkien couldn’t with the Silmarillion - albeit while procrastinating on his own ROTK.
So much lore and mythos to love, but Daemon Targaryen stands out as a fantasy character for the ages while Rhaenyra’s breaking-bad arc surely foretells the one Dany will play out in WoW and DoS. Can’t wait to see what the HBO machine does with a fully-finished Westerosi blueprint this time!
P.S. Jaeherys for President! Mushroom for Vice!
So much lore and mythos to love, but Daemon Targaryen stands out as a fantasy character for the ages while Rhaenyra’s breaking-bad arc surely foretells the one Dany will play out in WoW and DoS. Can’t wait to see what the HBO machine does with a fully-finished Westerosi blueprint this time!
P.S. Jaeherys for President! Mushroom for Vice!