Fire & Blood is a fantasy book by American writer George R. R. Martin and illustrated by Doug Wheatley. Audiobook read by Simon Vance. It tells the history of House Targaryen, the dynasty that ruled the Seven Kingdoms of Westeros in the backstory of his series A Song of Ice and Fire. Although originally planned for publication after the completion of the series, Martin has revealed his intent to publish the history in two volumes as the material had grown too large. The second half of this first volume (an expanded version of The Princess and the Queen) has been adapted into the HBO series House of the Dragon, a prequel to Game of Thrones. Much material published in Fire & Blood originates from the writing of Martin's 2014 book The World of Ice & Fire. The World of Ice & Fire, written from the perspective of Maester Yandel, contains sections from the perspective of Archmaester Gyldayn. These sections were written by Martin on his own; however, he wrote much more than at first intended, and in the end delivered 180,000 words on Targaryen history. The great majority of this covered Aegon's Conquest up to the end of the Regency of Aegon III. Furthermore, Fire & Blood contains an overview of the entire Targaryen succession, and a family tree depicting the Targaryen family until 136 AC. Rather than a novel, Fire & Blood takes the form of a scholarly treatise about the Targaryen dynasty written by a historian within the world of A Song of Ice and Fire, Archmaester Gyldayn. Gyldayn cites a variety of fictional primary sources for the historical events he describes, whose accounts sometimes conflict with each other, reflecting medieval methods of historiography and thus making Gyldayn an unreliable narrator from the reader's perspective. George R. R. Martin has cited Thomas B. Costain's non-fiction books on the Plantagenet dynasty as an influence for Fire and Blood. The first volume of Fire & Blood contains the following texts: - "The Targaryen Conquest": Aegon I Targaryen's conquest of the Seven Kingdoms of Westeros. Published in more or less same version in The World of Ice & Fire. - "The Peace of the Dragon": Aegon I's reign after his Conquest. While Aegon I's reign is briefly glossed over in The World of Ice & Fire, no parts of the text have been published before. - "The Sons of the Dragon": Focuses on the lives of Aegon I's sons, King Aenys I Targaryen and King Maegor I Targaryen, ending with Maegor's death and the ascension of Aenys's son Jaehaerys I Targaryen to the throne. - "Heirs of the Dragon": It focuses on the reign of Jaehaerys I Targaryen and the succession crisis following the deaths of his sons. . "The Dying of the Dragons": it focuses on the great civil war known as the Dance of the Dragons, the Targaryen civil war between Rhaenyra Targaryen and her half-brother Aegon II for the throne. - "Aftermath — The Boy King and His Regents": Covering the first few years of the reign of Rhaenyra's young son Aegon III, when the realm was ruled by Aegon's regents.

Previously referred to as "The Peace of the Dragon". While Aegon I's reign had briefly been glossed over in The World of Ice & Fire, no parts of these texts had been published before.

Previously referred to as "The Peace of the Dragon". While Aegon I's reign had briefly been glossed over in The World of Ice & Fire, no parts of these texts had been published before.

The reigns of Aegon I's sons, King Aenys I Targaryen and King Maegor I Targaryen, ending with Maegor's death and the ascension of Aenys's son Jaehaerys I Targaryen to the throne. An edited-down version of "The Sons of the Dragon" was released in October 2017 titled "The Sons of the Dragon" in the anthology The Book of Swords.

Jaehaerys I Targaryen, also known as the Conciliator, the Wise, or later in life as the Old King, was the fourth Targaryen king to sit the Iron Throne. He ascended the throne in 48 AC following the death of his uncle, Maegor I Targaryen. Jaehaerys was the longest reigning Targaryen monarch, sitting on the throne for fifty-five years. He was a dragonrider, riding Vermithor, the largest dragon after Balerion and Vhagar.

Year 49 After the Conquest (49 AC) was a year of peace and plenty, with the celebration of three significant marriages: Rhaena Targaryen wed Androw Farman, lord Farman's second sond; the Hand Rogar Baratheon and the queen dowager Alyssa Velaryon married in a fastuous ceremony in King's Landing; and king Jaehaerys Targaryen and his sister Alysanne married in secretly in Dragonstone. For this reason, the year is known as the Year of the Three Brides.

After his secret marriage, Jaehaerys remained on Dragonstone, silently training and waiting to come of age with his queen. Alyssa and Roger both hoped to end the marriage before it was consummated and made public, so Alyssa devised to send Alyssane a group of servants, septas, and ladies, who would hopefully teach her and Jaehaerys that incest was immoral. Roger installed a spy and seducer within the group, Coryanne Wylde, a teenage girl who would later go on to write a book about her wild days before becoming a septa. In the book, Coryanne says that a man (either Rogar or his brother, the texts differ) sent for her, inspected her body, and bid her to seduce the king and report back to him. Meanwhile, on Fair Isle, Rhaena had married Androw.

Jaehaerys spent more of his reign on the road than at home, almost always travelling with his queen and their two dragons. He travelled with a smaller retinue than Aegon had, and spent less time at each castle, so he could see more of his people and be less of a burden on them. During his first journey, he brought Alysanne with him and she was attacked by a group of religious septas in Maidenpool while bathing in a spring where only women were allowed. Her ladies protected her, and she and her unborn child escaped unharmed. Afterwards, Jaehaerys asked Jonquil Darke, a female warrior, to be the queen’s sworn shield. Alysanne’s child was born early and died, but Alyssa and Rogar gave birth to a healthy son, Boremund.

With no new news of Aerea, Rhaena, or the dragon eggs, Jaehaerys dedicated himself to organizing and reforming all of the realm’s laws. He set off on another journey across the realm while Alysanne went to Dragonstone and gave birth to a boy, Aemon. In King’s Landing, construction on the gigantic dragonpit finally finished, and the monarchy held a great tournament there. Elissa Farman changed her name to Alys Westhill and took her boat around Westeros to Oldtown to find a crew to take her where only few had gone before, into the mythical sunset land she had dreamt of sailing since a girl. The Targaryen's heard about her intent, but by the time they arrived to capture her, she had sailed away and they could not find her. Aerea returned to King's Landing on the thirteenth day of the fourth moon of 56 AC, with a severely-ill Aerea clinging to the dragon's back. She was almost unrecognizable; she was stick thin, and whatever clothes she still wore were nothing more than tatters. Her hair was matted and a tangled mess, and her eyes were bloody. After speaking "I never", Aerea collapsed. Following Aerea's death Balerion became the first dragon to reside in the Dragonpit, guarded by the new Dragonkeepers. Barth began studies that caused him to write "Dragons, Wyrms, and Wyverns." He likely discussed the princess's death with King Jaehaerys, who issued an edict forbidding any ship suspected of having visited the Valyrian islands or sailed the Smoking Sea from landing at any port or harbor in the realm. Any Westerosi who visited Valyria would be executed.

In 59 AC, one of the ships travelling west with Elyssa Farman returned and said they had parted ways with her a year ago. She was never heard from again, but years later Corlys Velaryon swore he spotted her ship at a port in Asshai. Winter arrived and a deadly plague from somewhere overseas called the shivers broke out, killing thousands of highborn and lowborn people in Westeros. Chaos broke out in King’s Landing as all the guards were sick, and Rego Draz was beaten to death in the streets for being a Pentoshi. Jaehaerys rode into town himself and found the men responsible, then hung and disemboweled them. Daenerys Targaryen and many others died before the plague ran its course. Jaehaerys installed new members of his council and staff.

Previously simply known as Heirs of the Dragon: Detailing the succession crisis Jaehaerys faced in 92 AC and again in 101 AC, and continuing with the reign of Viserys I Targaryen. An abridged version, The Rogue Prince, was previously published in the anthology Rogues in 2014, uses the majority of this text, detailing the reign of Viserys I. After Aemon died in battle, Jaehaerys named his brother Baelon successor rather than his daughter, Rhaenys, by Jocelyn. But in 101 AC, Baelon’s stomach burst open during a hunting trip. In order to determine the line of succession, Jaehaerys determined to hold a Great Council at Harrenhal in order to decide on the next ruler. The council discarded bastards and females and came down to Viserys, son of Baelon, and Laenor, son of Rhaenys and Corlys Velaryon. The council decided on Viserys in a landslide that seemed to suggest succession would never pass through a female. In 103 AC, Jaehaerys died and Viserys ascended to the Iron Throne. Viserys was 26 and had married Aemma, who he shared a daughter, Rhaenyra, with. He made his wild younger brother, Daemon, Commander of the City Watch.

The period between 129 and 131, in which the two rival branches of house Targaryen fought for power, is known as The Dance of The Dragons. The moment King Viserys died, Alicent met with the small council to determine how to proceed. The only person who disagreed with their plot to place her son Aegon II (Aegon the Elder), the master of coin, was promptly killed. The conspirators keep the news secret for a week as they make preparations for the coming feud, and then Aegon was crowned in the dragonpit. When news reached Rhaenyra on Dragonstone, she went into labor and gave birth to a stillborn girl. Afterwards, she assembled her own council. She was woefully outdone in almost every category, but Alicent only had four fighting-age dragons, and Rhaenyra had 12.

Daemon went to Harrenhal on his dragon and captured the castle, along with a serving wench named Alys Rivers who some said had magical powers. Jacaerys went to the Vale and convinced Lady Jeyne Arryn to join by promising her protection by dragonriders. Then he flew to White Harbor and convinced Desmond Manderly by offering his younger brother to wed Desmond’s daughter. Then he flew to Winterfell and became friends with Cregan Stark. They betrothed their future children together, and then signed a pact. Meanwhile, Lucerys rode to Storm’s End to ask Borros Baratheon to join him, but Aemond Targaryen was there, promising to wed one of Borros’ daughters. Borros denied Lucerys and Lucerys left. Aemond, who had lost his eye to Lucerys, followed him on his dragon, then killed Lucerys and his dragon Arrax.

Rhaenyra’s supporters doubled as Aegon II’s supporters diminished. The king started drinking heavily and then named Ser Criston Cole Hand of the King. Two identical twin brothers had served Viserys on the Kingsguard, but Ser Arryk remained loyal to Aegon, and Erryk was loyal to Rhaenyra. Aegon sent Arryk to Dragonstone to impersonate his brother and kill the young princes in retaliation, but Erryk spotted him and the brothers fought until their deaths. Criston Cole organized a series of attacks in the Riverlands. Aegon himself took the field in a trap set by the Kingmaker at Rook's Rest, where he and Aemond fought and killed Princess Rhaenys Targaryen, the Queen Who Never Was, and her dragon, Meleys. However, Sunfyre was badly maimed by Rhaenys and Meleys, and Aegon suffered from burns that covered half his body, a broken hip, and numerous broken ribs. His armor had melted into his left arm, and it would take him a year to recover. Prince Aemond took over the rule in his stead as Prince Regent and Protector of the Realm. Aegon remained bent and twisted for the rest of his life, half his body covered in burn scars.

Aemond took Harrenhal and felt victorious until he heard what happened in King’s Landing. A series of battles took place in the Riverlands while Aemond remained in Harrenhal and Ser Criston Cole set off to wage battle by land on his behalf. To refill the treasury, which had been emptied, Rhaenyra imposed a series of harsh taxes. She had her enemies killed, and people began to think of her as a female Maegon. Aegon II’s youngest son, Maelor, was discovered at an inn and killed along with his sworn knight. Aemond attacked the realm by dragon. Ser Criston met a host of Northmen in the battlefield and tried to surrender to them, but they refused and shot him with arrows. Aemond’s younger brother, Daeron had an army moving across the south.

Aegon II remained on Dragonstone as he plotted how best to return to King’s Landing. His dragon died and he nearly had Baela killed, but decided he would use her to get the Velaryon’s, who had control of the sea, on his side. Meanwhile, Borros Baratheon heard of Rhaenyra’s death and went to King’s Landing and restored order with Alicent in the name of Aegon. Since Aegon could not get back without peace from the Velaryon’s, they conspired to agree to Corlys Velaryon’s terms to get his help, and then kill him later. Aegon returned to King’s Landing, still unable to walk, and executed the three pretenders. While Lord Velaryon urged Aegon to pardon those lords that supported Rhaenyra, the king had said lords of the crownlands brought to him in chains to swear fealty, pay a heavy ransom, and provide hostages to the Crown, hardening them against him. Meanwhile, the riverlords marched towards King's Landing, while a large host from the Vale of Arryn was hiring ships to bring them down on the capital. Aegon made efforts to hatch dragon eggs from Dragonstone, but to no success. Corlys implored the king to wed his daughter, Jaehaera Targaryen, to the captive Aegon the Younger, though Aegon II desired for his sister's line to end; Aegon decreed that the prince would either join the Night's Watch or serve him as a eunuch.

Despite the death of Queen Rhaenyra Targaryen at Dragonstone in the tenth moon of 130 AC, and the greens retaking King's Landing after the Moon of the Three Kings, Rhaenyra's supporters, the blacks, continued to fight in her name against King Aegon II Targaryen. Indeed in 131 AC, three blacks armies were marching on King's Landing: from Winterfell an army of northmen led by Lord Cregan Stark, from Riverrun an army of rivermen led by Lord Elmo Tully and from Gulltown an army of valemen commanded by Lord Leowyn Corbray and his brother Ser Corwyn Corbray in the name of Lady Jeyne Arryn. The rivermen were welcomed by smallfolk and the gold cloaks when they enter the city. The remaining loyalists of Aegon II throughout the Crownlands bent the knee to the advancing army of valemen. Lord Cregan brought his army into the city and took control of it. He intended to continue hostilities by carrying out reprisals against the main supporters of Aegon II (Lannisters, Hightowers and Baratheons) in the name of the new king, the son of Rhaenyra, Prince Aegon. However, Lord Corlys had already sent envoys to Casterly Rock, Oldtown and Storm's End in order to negotiate peace. If the terms of peace are rejected, the war can continue, like Cregan wanted. On the other hand, if they are accepted, attacking the former partisans of Aegon II would be considered as perjury and a breach of the King's Peace. Lord Cregan must therefore wait for their answers. The waiting lasted six days, during which Lord Cregan held the court in check thanks to his army. The Three Widows (The Three Widows was the nickname used by Archmaester Gyldayn to refer to Samantha Tarly, Johanna Lannister, and Elenda Baratheon,) accepted the peace, preventing Lord Cregan from continuing hostilities. Lord Cregan still intended to do justice, by condemning those who are guilty or let commit the regicide of Aegon II. Lord Cregan arrested twenty-two men, including Lord Corlys Velaryon, Lord Larys Strong, Ser Perkin the Flea and Ser Gyles Belgrave of the Kingsguard. He was named Hand of the King and presided over the trials.

The regency of Aegon III lasted from 131 AC to 136 AC while King Aegon III Targaryen was in his minority. It was a period of numerous political conflicts that occurred among the council of regents and several Hands of the King. The northerners left the capital and thousands flocked in to witness the royal wedding and coronation, Next, the king named his small council, installing both sides of the loyalists in equal numbers. A council of regency was then formed, featuring seven lords and ladies from the realm, in order to help run the kingdom. Ser Tyland Lannister, who had been horrifically tortured and had facial scars, was named Hand of the King. Queen Dowager Alicent refused to abide with the compromise, and was confined to her rooms. Grand Maester Orwyle bribed his way out of being shipped to the wall, and was found working in a brothel. Tyland, fond of the maester, sentenced him to be held in a tower, where he was allowed to write his confessions.

Aegon III was 12 when Tyland died. The young king tried to assert himself by making appointments to fill the gaps on the regents and small council, but Unwin Peake, now the Hand, countermanded the orders. As Hand, Protector of the Realm, and Lord Regent, Peake installed family members and favorites in the Kingsguard and other key roles. He created a personal guard called the Hand’s Fingers. Then Queen Jaehaera died by suicide. Rumors flew that she died of murder. Gyldayn speculates that Unwin was behind the murder. Seven days after Jaehaera’s funeral, Unwin told the king that he would be marrying Myrielle, Unwin’s daughter. The councils intervened. Unwin was forced to organize what Mushroom called “the Maiden’s Day Cattle Show” (647). The daughters of every house paraded in front of the king. Many potential rivals were killed, raped, and maimed before the ball, and Unwin was rumored to be behind the violence. Baela and Rhaena disrupted the ball to present their distant cousin, six-year-old Daenaera Velaryon, as the chosen bride. Unwin called this folly, but the regents forced his hand.

Alyn Velaryon started his voyage to conquer the roving bands of Iron Born from the Iron Islands who had been pillaging the western shores of Westeros from Fair Isle for years. He made peace with the flamboyant Tyroshi Rocallio Ryndoon who was styling himself King of the Narrow Sea, and then made peace with the Dornish. By the time he arrived at Fair Isle, however, one of Dalton Greyjoy’s wives, a lowborn girl stolen from the shores of Westeros, had slit his throat in his sleep, the smallfolk had rebelled, and the Iron Born had returned home. Alyn returned home, but while stopping in Dorne a messenger told him that Prince Viserys Targaryen, who all had thought dead during the Dance of Dragons, was alive in Lys and married to his captive’s daughter, Larra Rogare.

The final chapter of Fire & Blood Vol. 1, details the final years of Aegon III's regency, following the return of his younger brother, Viserys, and Viserys's wife and her family. The court celebrated the return of Viserys, but had no love for his wife and her foreign ways and gods, or her family, which they accused of being overly ambitious. Her father, a bank owner named Lysandro, became First Magister For Life in Lys, and her uncle Drazenki, married the Dornish princess and became Lord of the Stepstones. Rhaena’s small dragon Morning grew big enough to ride, and she flew it to Dragonstone where they stayed. Visserys and Larra welcomed their first child, Aegon IV. Baela and Alyn welcomed their daughter, Laena. They placed an egg in his cradle, but the dragon hatched malformed and bit the girl. Aegon III’s only friend, cupbearer, and food-taster died of a poison assassination, leaving Aegon bereft.