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Fire & Blood: 300 Years Before A Game of Thrones (The Targaryen Dynasty: The House of the Dragon) Paperback – August 4, 2020

by George R. R. Martin (Author), Doug Wheatley (Illustrator)
Editors' pick Best Science Fiction & Fantasy
See all formats and editions
#1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • The thrilling history of the Targaryens comes to life in this masterly work, the inspiration for HBO’s Game of Thrones prequel series House of the Dragon

“The thrill of Fire & Blood is the thrill of all Martin’s fantasy work: familiar myths debunked, the whole trope table flipped.”—Entertainment Weekly

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-five black-and-white illustrations by artist Doug Wheatley—including five illustrations exclusive to the trade paperback edition. 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.

With all the scope and grandeur of Gibbon’s The History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire, Fire & Blood is the first volume of the definitive two-part history of the Targaryens, giving readers a whole new appreciation for the dynamic, often bloody, and always fascinating history of Westeros.

Praise for Fire & Blood

“A masterpiece of popular historical fiction.”—The Sunday Times

“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
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  1. Print length
    752 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publisher
    Bantam
  4. Publication date
    August 4, 2020
  5. Dimensions
    6.05 x 1.5 x 9.08 inches
  6. ISBN-10
    1524796301
  7. ISBN-13
    978-1524796303
  8. See all details
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Customer reviews

4.5 out of 5 stars
4.5 out of 5
32,350 global ratings

Customers say

Customers find the book very well written and amazing. They also say it provides great insight into the birth of certain customs and expanded material. However, some find the characters confusing and the story hard to follow. Opinions are mixed on the history content, with some finding it incredible and helpful, while others say it's bleak and reads like a dressed up textbook.

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ReadabilityContentHistory contentComprehensibilityCharacterization
121 customers mention "Readability"92 positive29 negative

Customers find the book well-written, reliable, and does a good job explaining how the realm ebbed and flowed. They also mention that it's not uncomfortable to read and incredible to compare to the TV show, House of the Dragon on HBO.

"...Of course the writing is great and the story is awesome and I'm loving it..but the fact that there's beautiful illustrations every 3-5 pages is..." Read more

"...It reads like a history book. It is so very well written and I highly encourage all fans to read it, especially fans of House of the Dragon...." Read more

"Great writer but he writes real real real slooow" Read more

"It is a history. No dialogue, no real character development...." Read more

69 customers mention "Content"53 positive16 negative

Customers find the book gives great insight into the birth of certain customs, and is a great addition to the world of Westeros. They also appreciate the writing and world building from GRR Martin. Readers also mention that the book contains interesting stories about politics, alliances between ancestors of the characters we've come. They mention that it contains expanded material.

"...This is a history book. It's also a world-building lesson, one I think any aspiring writer (and even some already established authors) can learn from..." Read more

"...The book just really adds to the masterful world building that G.R.R. Martin has built, filling in so much color and interesting history to the world..." Read more

"...This gives the reader the unique perspective of each character, helping the reader empathize with many characters s/he might otherwise have written..." Read more

"Way too many insignificant details to try to remember. A rather long and boring story. Glad when I finally finished." Read more

407 customers mention "History content"221 positive186 negative

Customers find the history content interesting, easy to make up, and alive. They also say the book contains plenty of adventure. However, some readers feel the history is very bleak and leaves much open to interpretation.

"...Of course the writing is great and the story is awesome and I'm loving it..but the fact that there's beautiful illustrations every 3-5 pages is..." Read more

"...Like a real history, it appears to be a story without a plot, as instead of plot twists, the supposed nature of the ‘real’ events sometimes rears up..." Read more

"...ADVENTURE: Yes, there is plenty of adventure, even if it is not as layered through as creative writing would be in an epic story of conquest...." Read more

"...Because it has no real narrative, it often has pages of a king traveling to various places in Westeros and, so, without a map the reader has no idea..." Read more

111 customers mention "Comprehensibility"50 positive61 negative

Customers are mixed about the comprehensibility. Some find the amount of detail in the book immaculate, complex, and interesting. They also say the story moves quickly. However, some readers feel the book is confusing and a rambling repeated mess.

"...It is not the easiest or quickest read...." Read more

"...nearly as interested, but the overall story was so enthralling and complexed, I loved it!" Read more

"The book is sometimes hard to follow, but if you watched HOUSE OF THE DRAGAON AND GAMES OF THRONES then you will like this book" Read more

"...The amount of detail in this book is immaculate...." Read more

127 customers mention "Characterization"27 positive100 negative

Customers find the characterization confusing with too many characters and names to remember. They also say the book is detached, with exposition related to dragon-lore.

"...So, the characters are often "two-dimensional" since there is no effort by Mr. Martin to make the reader care for any of the characters...." Read more

"...There are a ton of characters in the book, he reuses names so it is, at times, hard to tell exactly who he is talking about, and the story is not..." Read more

"...There was no reverence to scene and scenery and he jumped from character to character, and frequently from era to era...." Read more

"...includes pictures of dragons and a family tree, which is helpful to keep on who is who." Read more

Didn't know there was illustrations! 😍
5 out of 5 stars
Didn't know there was illustrations! 😍
I didn't read reviews so I had no idea there was pictures and I'm so happy! Of course the writing is great and the story is awesome and I'm loving it..but the fact that there's beautiful illustrations every 3-5 pages is really cool. I feel like a grade schooler again reading a picture book with the level of excitement lol. If you're looking to get this book, make it this edition.
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Top reviews from the United States

Emma James
5.0 out of 5 stars Didn't know there was illustrations! 😍
Reviewed in the United States on July 2, 2024
Verified Purchase
I didn't read reviews so I had no idea there was pictures and I'm so happy! Of course the writing is great and the story is awesome and I'm loving it..but the fact that there's beautiful illustrations every 3-5 pages is really cool. I feel like a grade schooler again reading a picture book with the level of excitement lol. If you're looking to get this book, make it this edition.
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Emma James
5.0 out of 5 stars Didn't know there was illustrations! 😍
Reviewed in the United States on July 2, 2024
I didn't read reviews so I had no idea there was pictures and I'm so happy! Of course the writing is great and the story is awesome and I'm loving it..but the fact that there's beautiful illustrations every 3-5 pages is really cool. I feel like a grade schooler again reading a picture book with the level of excitement lol. If you're looking to get this book, make it this edition.
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8 people found this helpful
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Lora S.
5.0 out of 5 stars A history that's a bit more of a story
Reviewed in the United States on April 29, 2020
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People criticize George R.R. Martin for writing such books as The World of Ice and Fire and Fire and Blood because they think these books are interfering with the completion and publication of the next books in the Song of Ice and Fire Series. But I think I know why he writes this type of book. It is to provide for himself the backstory to the Song of Ice and Fire. Of course, in the case of Fire and Blood, I believe there was supposed to be a television series that was to have taken this as its premise, although I heard recently that it was canceled.

Anyway, as the Song of Ice and Fire Series is inspired by actual history, and in the case of actual history the events of one generation are frequently heavily influenced by those of previous generations, the events in the Song of Ice and Fire are similarly tied up with those of the preceding generations of the rulers and nobles of Westeros. And given the complicated nature of the place, it must have been difficult to keep all that straight without a map of some sort. Hence the two books of the history of Westeros, with a possibility of others to come.

It is worth comparing Fire and Blood to the earlier The World of Ice and Fire. The World of Ice and Fire was written in the style of a history book that covered not only the history of Westeros but also the history and geography of the other lands in their world. Fire and Blood, in contrast, focuses primarily on the Targaryen family after Aegon the Conqueror took over Westeros. This one reads much more like a story, although the conventions that would apply to a scholarly history are still preserved, such as citing multiple and sometimes conflicting sources and giving several versions of events where the true story is supposedly unknown.

Like a real history, it appears to be a story without a plot, as instead of plot twists, the supposed nature of the ‘real’ events sometimes rears up and sends events off in a sudden new direction. For example, certain people die of a random plague foiling all their plots without the benefit of other intervention, or the kingdom is deprived of a popular princess unexpectedly.

Anyway, there is a sizeable gap between the end of this book and the beginning of A Game of Thrones, so that there could be a sequel to this book. If so, that would be a highly interesting read.

But I still want to read the ending to the Song of Ice and Fire series too.
4 people found this helpful
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C Wm (Andy) Anderson
4.0 out of 5 stars Dryer Than A Novel But More Interesting than True Histories
Reviewed in the United States on November 26, 2018
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I rarely bother posting a review of a book with nearly a hundred reviews. For one, neither the book nor the prospective buyer need my thoughts in order to make an informed decision. And second, for me it requires some soul searching and a good deal of thought when I am trying to shed some light that others might find of interest. In other words, I cannot simply state, "Loved it," or "Hated it," and call that a review. And, further, I abhor reviews that tell us all the intricate details of a plot and then go on and try to read the novel. Okay, now you know, I am a stubborn curmudgeon. If that annoys you, at least you can't say I didn't warn you...

My review of Fire & Blood is sure to be a different take than any other review. In such light,. My review may be the least helpful to most readers. Why? I have not yet successfully read any works of Mr. Martin, because I find them a daunting challenge. Note that I state challenge, not that his writing is unappealing or uninteresting. What I mean is, I greatly respect his ability to weave great yarns. I just have difficulty in immersing myself into the worlds he creates.

Anyway, I decided to approach his works from a different angle. I chose to read the history he prepared, then I will move on to Game of Thrones.

I mention all this so you can skip my review if you are already a Martin fan, because what little light I might shed on the topic probably will be of little use or interest to you.

On with my review…

BLUSH FACTOR: You probably won’t want to read this story to your children aged 13 and younger due to three eff-words and a reference to men and sheep. Unless, that is, you have raised your children to on a farm and providing you have a sense of humor regarding sheep and find them prettier than the local maidens… Okay, I am parroting Martin’s humor at location 5406.

POV: Third person.

WRITING & EDITING: Readers tend to gage the writing of history somewhat differently than fiction. At least I do. With a history I don’t expect quite the same sort of flow. With “Fire & Blood” we don’t get the same flow as with, say, Game of Thrones. But, since we don’t expect to, we can more readily accept such ebb and flow as exists in “Fire & Blood.”

ADVENTURE: Yes, there is plenty of adventure, even if it is not as layered through as creative writing would be in an epic story of conquest. To better show the adventure and character building that does exist in “Fire & Blood,” please refer to the below excerpt.

EXCERPT

‘…his summons. Lastly he descended upon the seat of House Doggett, reducing it to ash. The fires claimed the lives of Ser Joffrey’s father, mother, and young sister, along with their sworn swords, serving men, and chattel. As pillars of smoke rose all through the westerlands and the riverlands, Vhagar and Balerion turned south. Another Lord Hightower, counseled by another High Septon, had opened the gates of Oldtown during the Conquest, but now it seemed as if the greatest and most populous city in Westeros must surely burn.

Thousands fled Oldtown that night, streaming from the city gates or taking ship for distant ports. Thousands more took to the streets in drunken revelry. “This is a night for song and sin and drink,” men told one another, “for come the morrow, the virtuous and the vile burn together.” Others gathered in septs and temples and ancient woods to pray they might be spared. In the Starry Sept, the High Septon railed and thundered, calling down the wroth of the gods upon the Targaryens. The archmaesters of the Citadel met in conclave. The men of the City Watch filled sacks with sand and pails with water to fight the fires they knew were coming. Along the city walls, crossbows, scorpions, spitfires, and spear-throwers were hoisted onto the battlements in hopes of bringing down the dragons when they appeared. Led by Ser Morgan Hightower, a younger brother of the Lord of Oldtown, two hundred Warrior’s Sons spilled forth from their chapterhouse to defend His High Holiness, surrounding the Starry Sept with a ring of steel. Atop the Hightower, the great beacon fire turned a baleful green as Lord Martyn Hightower called his banners. Oldtown waited for the dawn, and the coming of the dragons.

And the dragons came. Vhagar first, as the sun was rising, then Balerion, just before midday. But they found the gates of the city open, the battlements unmanned, and the banners of House Targaryen, House Tyrell, and House Hightower flying side by side atop the city walls. The Dowager Queen Visenya was the first to learn the news. Sometime during the blackest hour of that long and dreadful night, the High Septon had died.

A man of three-and-fifty, as tireless as he was fearless, and to all appearances in robust good health, this High Septon had been renowned for his strength. More than once he had preached for a day and a night without taking sleep or nourishment. His sudden death shocked the city and dismayed his followers. Its causes are debated to this day. Some say that His High Holiness took his own life, in what was either the act of a craven afraid to face the wroth of King Maegor, or a noble sacrifice to spare the goodfolk of Oldtown from dragonfire. Others claim the Seven struck him down for the sin of pride, for heresy, treason, and arrogance.

Many and more remain certain he was murdered…but by whom? Ser Morgan Hightower did the deed at the command of his lord brother, some say (and Ser Morgan was seen entering and leaving the High Septon’s privy chambers that night). Others point to the Lady Patrice Hightower, Lord Martyn’s maiden aunt and a reputed witch (who did indeed seek an audience with His High Holiness at dusk, though he was alive when she departed). The archmaesters of the Citadel are also suspected, though whether they made use of the dark arts, an assassin, or a poisoned scroll is still a matter of some debate (messages went back and forth between the Citadel and the Starry Sept all night). And there are still others who hold them all blameless and lay the High Septon’s death at the door of another rumored sorceress, the Dowager Queen Visenya Targaryen.

The truth will likely never be known…but the swift reaction of Lord Martyn when word reached him at the Hightower is beyond dispute. At once he dispatched his own knights to disarm and arrest the Warrior’s Sons, amongst them his own brother. The city gates were opened, and Targaryen banners raised along the walls. Even before Vhagar’s wings were sighted, Lord Hightower’s men were…’

Martin, George R. R.. Fire & Blood (A Song of Ice and Fire) (Kindle Locations 1270-1300). Random House Publishing Group. Kindle Edition.

BOTTOM LINE

I enjoyed this fiction that felt like a true history. I confess that I enjoyed the Audible edition a bit more than the Kindle edition, but, for me, that is becoming the case with most reading. I read the Kindle edition when I can, and listen to the professional narration edition while commuting or otherwise enjoying the countryside in what “The People’s Almanac” referred to as ‘The Empty Quarter.” Listening to “Fire & Blood” while cruising through these wind-blown prairies, I found myself speculating that perhaps, just perhaps, when the ancient ones entered these lands several eons ago, they may have slew dragons and brute goliaths to wrestle the Upper Midwest free from some precursors of the human race…THAT is one mark of a good writer of fantasy, the learned one some refer to as George R. R. Martin.

The one downside of this epic history is that this book is only the first volume and the author himself admits that he has other pressing epics to bring forth before he can get around to writing the conclusion. In that sense, this book ends without being complete. An annoyance to me and, I’m certain, many other readers.

At least now I can tackle “A Game of Thrones.”

Four stars out of five.

I am striving to produce reviews that help you find books that you want, or avoid books that you wish to avoid. With your help, my improvement will help you and me improve book reviews on Amazon. Together, you and I can build a great customer review process that helps everybody. Will you join me? It is people such as you who have helped me improve over the years. I'm still learning, and I have a great deal yet to learn. With your help, I'll improve every day.

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842 people found this helpful
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Ashley
5.0 out of 5 stars Targaryens and Dragons
Reviewed in the United States on July 7, 2024
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I recommend reading this book while we wait for the next of Game of Thrones book. There are so many references to Targaryen’s history and about dragons in Game of Thrones and this book puts it to life. It’s starts from the beginning of the Targaryen lineage. This books also includes pictures of dragons and a family tree, which is helpful to keep on who is who.
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Lisa
5.0 out of 5 stars Fire and Blood paper back book.
Reviewed in Canada on July 11, 2024
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I was so happy to get this book in paperback! I just started reading it as I am also watching House of the Dragon, and wanted to see what happened in the book.
Would highly recommend this book to Game of Thrones fans,or House of the Dragon fans. I'm excited to keep reading it!!
😊😉❤️
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Bruno O.
5.0 out of 5 stars Assim como todo livro q ele TERMINA de escrever, maravilhoso rs
Reviewed in Brazil on April 24, 2024
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Assim como todo livro q ele TERMINA de escrever, maravilhoso rs
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Carlos E Moreno
5.0 out of 5 stars Excelente libro!!
Reviewed in Mexico on April 4, 2024
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El libro llego en buenas condiciones y a tiempo, la historia te atrapa y sus ilustraciones son muy bonitas!
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Tara
5.0 out of 5 stars Amazing!
Reviewed in Germany on July 9, 2024
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So happy I've added this to the collection. Perfect book, text is rather on the small side but love the pictures which are included in the book.
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Tara
5.0 out of 5 stars Amazing!
Reviewed in Germany on July 9, 2024
So happy I've added this to the collection. Perfect book, text is rather on the small side but love the pictures which are included in the book.
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Selim
5.0 out of 5 stars Güzel
Reviewed in Turkey on July 4, 2024
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Ciltli versiyonunu aldım ve bir günde gayet iyi durumda geldi. Kitap bir tarih kitabı gibi yazılmış. Osmanlı padişahlarının dönemlerini kısaca anlatan bir kitap gibi düşünün. Game of Thrones'tan yaklaşık birkaç yüzyıl önce, Targaryen hanedanının Valyria'dan kaçıp, sonrasında Aegon önderliğinde Westeros'u ejderhalar ile nasıl fethettiğini ve sonrasında nasıl hüküm sürdüklerini anlatıyor. Şu an yaklaşık sayfa 200 civarlarındayım, HotD dizisindeki olaylara daha gelemedim ama meraklısına okuması zevkli ve sürükleyici gelecektir diye düşünüyorum. Tabi böyle bir kitabı almadan önce Game of thrones evrenine ne kadar meraklısınız veya House of the dragon dizisi sizi ne kadar meraklandırdı bunu bence bir sorgulamanız gerekiyor. Öyle diğer kitaplar gibi hikaye kitabı değil çünkü. Bir yazarın kendi kafasında kurguladığı evrenin tarihini okumuş olacaksınız sonuçta. Her ne kadar kitapları ve dizileri sevsem de böyle bir düşününce garip geldi :D Eğer genel anlamda Game of thrones evrenine meraklıysanız (kitapları, dizileri vs. okuyup izlediyseniz) bence alınacak bir kitap ama ben sadece dizi izliyorum casual takılıyorum detaylara takılmıyorum diyorsanız da çok bir şey kaçıracağınızı düşünmüyorum.
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