Fire & Blood is a fantasy book by world-famous writer George R. R. Martin and illustrated by Doug Wheatley. It tells the history of the beloved House Targaryen, the dynasty that ruled the Seven Kingdoms of Westeros in the backstory of his series A Song of Ice and Fire.
With the new HBO Original Series, House of the Dragon earning itself global praise, it’s only fair that we take a look at the epic story the series is based on! Whether you read the books or watch the series first, there’s definitely a lot to enjoy in Fire & Blood!
So come along and check out everything you need to know about George R.R Martin’s Fire & Blood!
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Fire And Blood
Centuries before the events of A Game of Thrones, House Targaryen—the only family of dragonlords to survive the Doom of Valyria—took up residence on Dragonstone. Fire & Blood begins their tale with the legendary Aegon the Conqueror, creator of the Iron Throne, and goes on to recount the generations of Targaryens who fought to hold that iconic seat, all the way up to the civil war that nearly tore their dynasty apart.
What really happened during the Dance of the Dragons? Why was it so deadly to visit Valyria after the Doom? What were Maegor the Cruel’s worst crimes? What was it like in Westeros when dragons ruled the skies? These are but a few of the questions answered in this essential chronicle, as related by a learned maester of the Citadel and featuring more than eighty black-and-white illustrations by artist Doug Wheatley. Readers have glimpsed small parts of this narrative in such volumes as The World of Ice & Fire, but now, for the first time, the full tapestry of Targaryen history is revealed.
“The saga is a rich and dark one, full of both the title’s promised elements. . . . It’s hard not to thrill to the descriptions of dragons engaging in airborne combat, or the dilemma of whether defeated rulers should ‘bend the knee,’ ‘take the black’ and join the Night’s Watch, or simply meet an inventive and horrible end.”
The Guardian
Our Overview
Fire and Blood is a historical fantasy novel by George R.R Martin, which is set in the world of his “A Song of Ice and Fire” series, but it is a prequel to the events of the series.
This novel tells the history of the Targaryen family and their conquest of Westeros, specifically focusing on the reigns of the first Targaryen kings and their struggles to maintain control of the Seven Kingdoms. The story covers the reigns of Aegon the Conqueror, his sons Aenys and Maegor the Cruel, and his grandson Viserys I. Throughout the novel, the Targaryens battle rivals for the Iron Throne, deal with rebellions and political plots, and contend with the fiery dragons that are their family’s symbol.
We also see the exploration of the Targaryen’s relationship with the other noble houses of Westeros and the smallfolk, which ultimately led to the Targaryen’s downfall and the beginning of the events in A Song of Ice and Fire series.
Our Review
We might not have book 6 yet, but thankfully we aren’t starved for delicious fantasy content from Martin! Whislt some people may not be a fan of prequels, we can’t find anything but love for Fire & Blood! The history of the house is so rich and dynamic, it’s interesting to see how their control over their land has changed; for better and for worse, through history.
The world-building in this novel is as impressive as always. Martin’s writing never fails to deliver on the promise of letting the reader feel as if they are living in the world of Westeros, and the use of dragons as a central aspect of the story adds an extra layer of fantasy and intrigue and reminds us of our favorite Dragon Queen. The novel also does a great job of highlighting the complex relationships between the Targaryens and the other noble houses, as well as the common folk, which ultimately led to their downfall.
One minor critique is that, because of the focus on history and politics, the novel may be less accessible to readers who are not already familiar with the world and characters of “A Song of Ice and Fire” series. However, don’t let that scare you! The book is written in such a way that it can be enjoyed by anyone who is a fan of fantasy or historical fiction. (But we would still suggest you delve into the main series first).
Our rating: ★★★★☆
Fire & Blood Adaptation: House of the Dragon
With the beloved HBO series adaption of A Song of Ice and Fire, A Game of Thrones, now over, fans of the series were begging for more. Thankfully, if there’s one thing this entire series is lacking, it’s not content!
House of the Dragon is the adaptation of the Fire & Blood novel by HBO. After its release on August 21, 2022, season two was greenlit only five days following. The first seraon was coveted with praise for its cast, visual effects, writing, score and character development.
The cast have received outstanding praise for their performances. And we can see why! With a wonderful range of cast members, it’s no surprise each episode only gets better and better.
Some notable cast include:
- Rhys Ifans as Ser Otto Hightower
- Matt Smith as Prince Daemon Targaryen
- Fabien Frankel as Ser Criston Cole
- Graham McTavish as Ser Harrold Westerling
- Paddy Considine as King Viserys I Targaryen
- Eve Best as Princess Rhaenys Targaryen
- Milly Alcock as Princess Rhaenys Targaryen
- Steve Toussaint as Lord Corlys
and many more!
Interested? Check out the trailer!
Check out the series now on HBO!
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the correct order of Game of Thrones Books?
The branching canons and miscellanies of genre fiction are commonplace to some fans but the unusual running order of A Song of Ice and Fire has been known to put off newcomers to the series. Have no fear though, the publishing order of the books is still the most sensible reading order.
Here are all the books in the A Song of Ice and Fire series in (publishing) order:
- A Game of Thrones (1996)
- A Clash of Kings (1999)
- A Storm of Swords (2000)
- A Feast for Crows (2005)
- A Dance with Dragons (2011)
- The Winds of Winter (unreleased)
- A Dream of Spring (unreleased)
What is Fire & Blood about?
Fire and Blood is about the history of the Targaryen family and their conquest of Westeros, specifically focusing on the reigns of the first Targaryen kings and their struggles to maintain control of the Seven Kingdoms.
Is Fire and Blood a prequel to the “A Song of Ice and Fire” series?
Yes, Fire and Blood is a prequel. Although it can be enjoyed as a standalone, we suggest reading the main novels first.
How many books are in the Fire and Blood series?
Currently there is one book in the series in the Fire and Blood series.
Is Fire and Blood available as an audiobook?
Yes, Fire and Blood is available as an audiobook, check it out here!
