Author: George R. R. Martin

Rating: ⭐3.75 / 5

Average Reader Difficulty: 🟡5 / 10 (A Proper Read)

Recommended to: Dedicated fans.

The Book

Context: Fire and Blood is the first half of a lore-rich prequel chronicle set 300 years before the events of A Song of Ice and Fire.

Contents: Fire and Blood is not a novel in the traditional sense, but a fictional treatise on the Targaryen dynasty—the dragonlords who ruled over Westeros for centuries. The book stands out as a collection of fictional primary sources compiled by Archmaester Gyldayn of the Citadel, written years after the events it describes.

Here is what you should know

On one Hand:

1. The story illuminates the time period predating A Song of Ice and Fire, making it essential for dedicated fans.
2. The artwork is high quality and piques the imagination.
3. The form of a treatise is creative and risky, making this a literary piece.
4. The read is effortless and intrinsically rewarding when the story hits its stride.

On the other Hand

1. The "historical treatise" format makes for a clunky read, trading entertainment value for style and lore delivery.
2. The story took a significantly long time to hit its stride, the last quarter being where it truly flows. Given the book has 700+ pages, this is a significant wait.
3. The extensive information demystified the sense of yūgen that made the main series so captivating. Sometimes, less is more, and this book left much less to the imagination.
4. To read this book you must have read the main series first.

Judgment

This book is a large investment with a decent pay-off. A great work for what it aimed to achieve and a must-read for serious A Song of Ice and Fire fans.

Only for Dedicated Fans

⭐3.75 / 5

🟡5 / 10. A Proper Read.