#1NEWYORKTIMESBESTSELLER-ThehistoryoftheTargaryenscomestolifeinthismasterlywork,theinspirationforHBO’sGameofThronesprequelseriesHouseoftheDragon“ThethrillofFire&BloodisthethrillofallMartin’sfantasywork:familiarmythsdebunked,thewholetropetableflipped.“--EntertainmentWeeklyCenturiesbeforetheeventsofAGameofThrones,HouseTargaryen--theonlyfamilyofdragonlordstosurvivetheDoomofValyria--tookupresidenceonDragonstone.Fire&BloodbeginstheirtalewiththelegendaryAegontheConqueror,creatoroftheIronThrone,andgoesontorecountthegenerationsofTargaryenswhofoughttoholdthaticonicseat,allthewayuptothecivilwarthatnearlytoretheirdynastyapart.WhatreallyhappenedduringtheDanceoftheDragons?WhywasitsodeadlytovisitValyriaaftertheDoom?WhatwereMaegortheCruel’sworstcrimes?WhatwasitlikeinWesteroswhendragonsruledtheskies?Thesearebutafewofthequestionsansweredinthisessentialchronicle,asrelatedbyalearnedmaesteroftheCitadelandfeaturingmorethaneightyblack-and-whiteillustrationsbyartistDougWheatley.ReadershaveglimpsedsmallpartsofthisnarrativeinsuchvolumesasTheWorldofIce&Fire,butnow,forthefirsttime,thefulltapestryofTargaryenhistoryisrevealed.WithallthescopeandgrandeurofGibbon’sTheHistoryoftheDeclineandFalloftheRomanEmpire,Fire&Bloodisthefirstvolumeofthedefinitivetwo-parthistoryoftheTargaryens,givingreadersawholenewappreciationforthedynamic,oftenbloody,andalwaysfascinatinghistoryofWesteros.PraiseforFire&Blood“Amasterpieceofpopularhistoricalfiction.“--TheSundayTimes“Thesagaisarichanddarkone,fullofboththetitle’spromisedelements....It’shardnottothrilltothedescriptionsofdragonsengaginginairbornecombat,orthedilemmaofwhetherdefeatedrulersshould’bendtheknee,’’taketheblack’andjointheNight’sWatch,orsimplymeetaninventiveandhorribleend.“--TheGuardian
