2018 Game of Thrones holiday gift guide

Yes, A Song of Ice and Fire author George R.R. Martin released a new book this year. No, it’s not that book. Fire & Blood, the first volume in his fake history of House Targaryen, hit shelves in November, and it’s quite an adventure:

"Centuries before the events of A Game of Thrones, House Targaryen—the only family of dragonlords to survive the Doom of Valyria—took up residence on Dragonstone. Fire & Blood begins their tale with the legendary Aegon the Conqueror, creator of the Iron Throne, and goes on to recount the generations of Targaryens who fought to hold that iconic seat, all the way up to the civil war that nearly tore their dynasty apart. What really happened during the Dance of the Dragons? Why was it so deadly to visit Valyria after the Doom? What were Maegor the Cruel’s worst crimes? What was it like in Westeros when dragons ruled the skies? These are but a few of the questions answered in this essential chronicle, as related by a learned maester of the Citadel and featuring more than eighty all-new black-and-white illustrations by artist Doug Wheatley. Readers have glimpsed small parts of this narrative in such volumes as The World of Ice & Fire, but now, for the first time, the full tapestry of Targaryen history is revealed."

The book is beautifully illustrated by artist Doug Wheatly and goes into great detail about some of the most famous (and infamous) Targaryens in Westerosi history.

A lot of the book has already been covered in A World of Ice and Fire, but in Fire & Blood, Martin expounds on some of the major events that helped shape Westeros. You can currently pick up a copy from Amazon for $20.99.

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