WiC Reads: Fire & Blood

9) Birth, Death, and Betrayal under King Jaehaerys I

This time around, the title does not exaggerate. After giving Rogar Baratheon the heir he had always wanted, Queen Alyssa is pregnant again. But the birth does not go well, and the only way to save her daughter is to sacrifice the life of the mother.

Her daughter Rhaena reaches Storm’s End too late to reconcile with her mother. Later, all the women around her are murdered by Rhaena’s husband Androw Farman, who uses poison. While Rhaena is the clear victim here, she does not come across as particularly sympathetic. She is still bitter about her daughter Aerea not being recognized as queen or at least as a legitimate heir, though it seems clear the girl is not cut out to be either. She reminds me of Arya Stark: willful, spirited and interesting. Later, she proves her ability when she escapes from her mother’s supervision on Balerion the Black Dread.

Between all that we get a legless High Septon and another dead Aegon, this one a child of Jaehaerys and Alysanne. Alysanne is convinced that an attempt at her life during her pregnancy is the reason for the baby’s death. We are reminded how strong the anti-Targaryen faction within the Faith still is.

We also get the birth Corlys Velaryon and another mention of three dragon eggs; here, they’re stolen by Elissa Farman and taken to Braavos. Have Game of Thrones fans seen these eggs before?

There is also a character called Jonquil Darke. I assume we will see more of her. She is Alysanne’s sworn shield and has a superhero-style name that probably won’t be wasted.