Acting as a prequel to A Song of Ice and Fire, [b:Fire & Blood|39943621|Fire & Blood (A Targaryen History #1)|George R.R. Martin|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1532828095l/39943621._SY75_.jpg|61841009] delves into the history of the Targaryen dynasty and legacy as it shapes Westeros into what we see by the events of the main series. It is “written” as a “history” from the perspective of Maester Gyldayn as a quintessential overview of the Targaryens in Westeros.

What works for this book, is that the history is fairly interesting. If you have invested hours (and hours) of your life into the lore of this series, and this is what you find appealing, then this book will be compelling enough. The Targaryens are a fascinating family and this book covers the events of the first half of their ruling lineage, beginning with Aegon the Conqueror and ending with the Dance of Dragons civil war.

That said, what makes A Song of Ice and Fire so compelling is that it shifts between unique perspectives that expands the world in compelling ways. Fire and Blood solely exists to highlight the rule of the Targaryens while offering little to no perspective from the common folk experiencing the consequences of their rule. I feel like this focus takes away a lot of the true magic of the series, so to speak. Furthermore, the Dance of Dragons civil war being conveyed as a “history” also stripped it of potential exciting battle action scenes. These are my grievances.

Still, if you are a fan of this series, there is substance worth reading here. It’s not a top priority read, but if you find yourself missing Westeros, then this book is worth checking out while we wait the next billion years for The Winds of Winter to come out…