Fire & Blood: 300 Years Before a Game of Thrones (The Targaryen Dynasty: The House of the Dragon)

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So as soon as this book popped up on my radar a while back, I added it to my to-read list despite being done with the series because I was curious to read about the crazy, power-mad Targaryens and their hotbed of dragons and incest that could make even a Lanister blush. Fire and 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. And its pop culture prevalence persists thanks in part to HBO's excellent follow-up series, House of the Dragon. His work can also be seen in the stunning binding designs, the chapter heading illustrations, and even in a special image hidden on the inside of the unique slipcase.

This entire historical account is said to cover Targaryen history through the reign of Aegon V Targaryen. Though it was summer and the Wall was weeping, the chill of the ice could still be felt whenever the wind blew, and every gust would make the dragon hiss and snap. Robb plots against his despised Lannister enemies, even as they hold his sister hostage at King’s Landing, the seat of the Iron Throne. Several years had passed since the king had last made a progress, so plans were laid in 58 AC for Jaehaerys and Alysanne to make their first visit to Winterfell and the North. The series is also loved for its rousing action scenes, and Burton supplies a dragon’s horde of these too, with atmospheric illustrations that summon giants, wights, sea battles, and more.A story as epic as A Game of Thrones deserves an edition fit for the Iron Throne, and this lavish two-volume set drips with exquisite details.

As for whether this announcement holds any clues about the House of the Dragon premiere date, it’s undetermined. As a prophecy of doom cuts across the sky—a comet the color of blood and flame—six factions struggle for control of a divided land. To the contrary, one of the reasons I started A Game of Thrones, despite a fantasy aversion, was the promise that it was gritty and realistic, with the fantastical elements backgrounded.Having originated in the Reach centuries before, they had found refuge near the mouth of the White Knife when rivals drove them from their rich lands along the Mander. She also gets to go on the coolest adventures and she has three flipping dragons that she rides around like a BAMF.