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Jessica is Currently Reading

Jessica is currently reading

Storm in the Sky (The Book of Coming Forth by Day, #2)

by Libbie Hawker (Goodreads Author)

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Dec 29, 2025 07:49PM

Jessica is currently reading

Fire & Blood: 300 Years Before A Game of Thrones (A Targaryen History, #1)

by George R.R. Martin

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read in December 2018

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Jessica said:

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

" This book is a masterpiece.

Look, I get it. You want The Winds of Winter. I want The Winds of Winter. We all want The Winds of Winter. We wanted it three years ago, back when George R.R. Martin thought he could get it done in less than a few months. W This book is a masterpiece.

Look, I get it. You want The Winds of Winter. I want The Winds of Winter. We all want The Winds of Winter. We wanted it three years ago, back when George R.R. Martin thought he could get it done in less than a few months. When GRRM announced that he was releasing another book, none of us wanted to hear that it was a faux-history book instead of the next installment in the saga that has entranced us for decades.

And yet, when I heard about Fire and Blood, I was simply thrilled. I love history--I have a degree in it, after all--and GRRM blends history and fantasy like no other. I've been eagerly anticipating this book since it was first announced earlier this year, and it did not let me down. Creative, detailed, and enthralling, Fire and Blood was a wonder to behold. Here are some of the highlights:

The Rise of House Velaryon House Velaryon is name-dropped a few times in ASOIAF, but for the most part, they are a non-entity: formerly powerful under the Targaryens, and now fallen from grace. Here we see them at their prime, as one of the wealthiest and most influential houses in Westeros. There's Corlys Velaryon, the Sea Snake, who made nine voyages from one end of the world to the other and led the Blacks against the Greens in their fight for the Iron Throne; Addam, who gave up his life in order to prove his loyalty to the queen and save a village from destruction; Alyn, the Oakenfist, who served and saved the royal family time and time again; and numerous other sailors and dragon-riders. The Velaryons were the closest thing the Targaryens ever had to a true equal, and for that they both thrived and suffered.

Rhaena Targaryen The endless stream of flawless Targaryen princesses can get a bit boring, so it was nice to see a great deal of nuance added to the seemingly-perfect Valyrian women. Among the most compelling was the persecuted daughter of King Aenys who saw one husband killed in battle, was forcibly married off to the killer of the first, and then ended up feeding the last one to her dragon after he poisoned all of her friends. She was fiery, stubborn, rash, and more than a little pissed-off with the hand life had dealt her. But she was also a survivor, and a fascinating one at that. Oh, and it's also heavily implied that she was a lesbian.

The Complete Dance of the Dragons After numerous releases covering different parts of the Westerosi civil war, we finally get the uncut retelling of the Dance that tore the realm apart and led to the death of the dragons. We meet Daemon, the ambitious Rogue Prince who will do anything to win the Iron Throne; Jace, the charismatic heir apparent who excelled in both battle and diplomacy; and Rhaenyra, the rightful queen of Westeros who is transformed here from the mad tyrant history remembers her as to the tragic figure who was robbed of her birthright, her children, and her livelihood.

The Reign of Jaehaerys and Alysanne The true Westerosi power-couple, Jaehaerys and Alysanne ruled Westeros for decades, drafting laws, arranging marriage alliances, and serving the realm. Their story is a careful juxtaposition of extreme elitism and concern for the suffering, of a litany of accomplishments and an inability to be satisfied with their lot. Together they limited the abuses of lords and nobles, bound the realm closer together both physically and metaphorically and, unfortunately, set in motion the events that would eventually lead to the Dance of the Dragons.

Septon Barth As both a humble man of the Faith and Jaehaerys' loyal Hand, Barth proved one of the most capable men to ever occupy the Red Keep. Through him we also receive the disturbing account of the death of Aerea Targaryen, a young girl who ventured to Valyria and was met with unspeakable horror.

Mushroom Of all the many sources referenced in Fire and Blood, none are perhaps as memorable as Mushroom, the royal fool who tellingly and hilariously provided his own version of Westerosi history, ranging from the late days of Jaehaerys I to the regency of Aegon III. How much of Mushroom's account can be relied on is up for debate, but there's no denying that he brings these stories to life more than almost anyone else.

As I approached the end of Fire and Blood, I found myself torn between wanting to find out what happened next and not wanting the experience to end. I already look forward to eventually re-reading this terrific novel, and am eagerly anticipating the next installment of the Targaryen family history. Even if it's not The Winds of Winter, Fire and Blood is still a force to be reckoned with. ...more "

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— Aug 08, 2025 09:42PM

Aug 06, 2022 08:10AM · see review