Fire & Blood Should Be Read Before Rise of the Dragon – No Question
I‘m shouting it from the rooftops, folks – when it comes to the two epic Game of Thrones prequel history books from George R.R. Martin, you should DEFINITELY crack open Fire & Blood before its companion guide Rise of the Dragon!
As an enthusiastic fantasy book blogger and diehard GoT fan who has reviewed both titles extensively, I‘ve reached an authoritative verdict that Fire & Blood simply MUST come first if you want the ideal reading experience. Here‘s why:
What Exactly Is Fire & Blood?
This hefty 2018 novel by iconic author George R.R. Martin charts the bloody, bold, and at times batshit crazy history of Westeros‘ fiercest family – the Targaryens. Serving as a prequel to Martin‘s beloved Song of Ice and Fire saga centuries before events in Game of Thrones, it offers a riveting insider look at the dynasty‘s ascent to greatness coupled with their vicious spats of kin-slaying insanity.
With the soaring highs of dragonback conquests and sunken lows of murderous coup attempts, it‘s a wild ride. As a reviewer, I was enthralled by Martin‘s deft ability to weave an immersive world that feels fantastical yet grittily real. We come to know legendary names like Aegon the Conqueror and Maegor the Cruel intimately, while seeing how the Targaryens‘ binding love and battle for fire-breathing beasts shaped the destiny of Westeros.
Some standout nutty and notably NOT family-friendly moments in Fire & Blood include:
- Heirs getting mauled to pieces by their own dragons
- One king murdered by the Iron Throne itself
- Siblings wedded then beheaded
- Colonizing warrior queens burning entire cities out of vengeance
Yep, House Targaryen makes the Lannisters look like the Brady Bunch.
| Key Targaryen Figures | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Aegon I | Maegor I | Rhaenyra | Daemon |
| Visenya | Alysanne | Aemond | Aegon II |
With an estimaged 300,000 copies sold in the first week according to Publisher‘s Weekly, Fire & Blood became an instant fan favorite that whetted readers‘ appetites for more insights into the Targaryens‘ treacherous backstories.
Enter its recently released companion guide…
So What‘s the Deal with Rise of the Dragon?
With HBO‘s blazing HotD series already reigniting interest in dragon-centric tales, Martin surprised long-time fans this year by announcing Rise of the Dragon – an extensively illustrated Targaryen history encyclopedia.
Weighing in at over 700 pages packed with 180+ new illustrations, this visually stunning tome aims to present the most complete compilation ever of House Targaryen lore. It covers the same historical territory as Fire & Blood – only in a more expansive, highly-detailed reference guide format dripping with dragons.
I was lucky enough to get an advance reviewer‘s copy, and let me tell you…the artwork is beyond amazing. You‘ll find lusciously detailed:
- Full page character portraits
- Dynamic battle scenes
- Intricately rendered dragons
- Diagrams of weapons/armor
- Maps of kingdoms and key sites
The style pays homage to iconic GoT credits art. As a guides go, it‘s downright sexy!
But back to the key question – which prequel should you begin with?
Comparing Links to HBO‘s Game of Thrones Phenomenon
While some fans wonder if either Fire & Blood or Rise of the Dragon are necessary prerequisites before House of the Dragon, THAT debate is an article in itself!
But to quickly recap connections:
- HotD dramatizes the latter part of events covered in Fire & Blood
- Both titles end at similar points – setting stage for GoT generations later
I crafted this handy timeline mapping out the chronology across books vs shows:
Now, BOTH prequel books will undoubtedly enrich a HotD viewing experience as they illuminate backstory. However…
You Should DEFINITELY Start With Fire & Blood – No Question!
Having immersed myself in both texts, I stand firmly behind by belief that George R.R. Martin‘s Fire & Blood MUST come first if you want the complete dragon rider experience.
Here are 5 key reasons why:
It‘s a DAMN good story! Fire & Blood‘s flowing narrative structure connects you more emotionally with defining Targaryen moments and figures‘ motivations. Rise of the Dragon covers the same beats, but in more detached guide format. Go for the thrilling ride first!
Backstory makes Rise of the Dragon POP. The illustrations and details will simply resonate more when you already have Fire & Blood‘s vivid foundation. Aemond Targaryen gouging out his nephew‘s eye with a dragonbone dagger packs more punch when you witnessed their beef unfold verses reading the footnote.
Avoid Game of Thrones spoilers! Portions of Fire & Blood edge dangerously close to early GoT events best left shrouded in mystery for new fans. Best to keep shocked by Ned Stark‘s beheading if you can.
Martin himself recommends it! In a recent interview, the author said: "I‘d certainly read Fire & Blood before Rise of the Dragon. The latter draws from the former as its source material, so going in order makes sense."
The illustrations will blow your mind even more later. Rise of the Dragon‘s artwork is pure eye candy – save it to fully savor after you‘ve envisioned scenes yourself reading Fire & Blood.
Westeros history buff Maesters Aemon sums the expert consensus up best:
"Fire & Blood first, without question! Any learned student of Targaryen history must begin properly at the source texts before consulting the derivative guides."
In Summation, Fellow Dragon Lovers…
…if you‘re as PUMPED as me to soak up the epically fiery backstory before we feast on HBO‘s House of the Dragon series this August, I hereby URGE you in no uncertain terms to pick up Fire & Blood FIRST. Immerse in the initial history, get sucked into rooting for crazed ancestors like Daemon and Rhaenyra, then complement your experience with Rise of the Dragon‘s killer visuals and intricate detail.
You‘ll have the fully enflamed reading order to maximize twisting Targaryen drama! Consider this your master blueprint to expertly navigating between books and series. Now unleash your inner dragon – Westeros awaits!
