8 ways House of the Dragon changed Rhaenyra Targaryen from the book
By Anwesha Nag
5. In the book, you can plausibly argue that Laenor Velaryon was the birth father of Rhaenyra Targaryen’s sons
The show pretty much confirms that the father of Rhaenyra Targaryen’s first three children is Harwin Strong, despite her being married to Leanor Velaryon at the time. Fire & Blood, being “written by” an Archmaester, does not concretely confirm any such scandalous claims.
One of the obvious signs that Jace, Luke, and Joffrey are not Laenor’s children is their hair color. Laenor has the silver-colored locks typical of all Velaryons, while Rhaenyra’s boys are have black hair. In the book, Laenor’s mother Rhaenys has dark hair, since she is half-Baratheon. She is the only child of Jocelyn Baratheon and Prince Aemon Targaryen. This makes it easier to argue that the boys could be Laenor’s.
But on the show, Rhaenys has the silver-white hair of all the other Targaryens, so Rhaenrya’s sons have no logical defense against the accusation that Laenor Velaryon is not their father. (They still have Daemon’s sword, though, as Vaemond Velaryon found out the hard way.)
In the book, Jace and Luke are also stronger and more skilled in arms as they are in the show. The “Pink Dread” scene is not in the book. It is written that Alicent’s sons were simply resentful of Rhaenrya’s sons for stealing their “birthright,” the Iron Throne.
6. Rhaenyra is never told about Aegon’s prophecy
In the series premiere of House of the Dragon, King Viserys tells Rhaenrya about a prophecy passed down the Targaryen family for generations. This is not drawn from the book. However, House of the Dragon showrunner Ryan Condal told Insider that it was Martin’s idea to include the prophecy in the show.
“Aegon foresaw the end of the world of men,” Viserys says. “‘Tis to begin with a terrible winter, gusting out of the distant North.” To survive this great winter, the prophecy goes, a Targaryen must be seated on the Iron Throne. After spending half his life hoping for a son, Viserys makes Rhaenyra his heir, believing she fulfill this prophecy. He sticks to his decision until his dying day, when Alicent misinterprets his dying words and argues that her firstborn son by Viserys, Aegon, should inherit the throne instead.