House of the Dragon will have its international premiere on August 21. A prequel to Game of Thrones, it is set some 200 years before the events of the aforementioned series.
The stories behind the development of the two titles are quite similar, because House of the Dragon is also based on the book by George R. R. Martin. If you cant’t wait for the premiere of the series, you can read Fire and Blood, which will introduce you better to the story of House of the Dragon.
The Chronicles of House Targaryen
Fire and Blood book was published on November 20, 2018. Not a novel like Game of Thrones, the book was written in the form of a chronicle. This form of conveying content, typical of the Middle Ages, has proven to be an ideal option for presenting the events of the Game of Thrones world.
As you read it, it adds a lot to the atmosphere, making such an experience seem a little closer to reality than a regular novel. The Fire and Blood itself was originally supposed to be one book, however, there was so much content that Martin decided to split it into two volumes.
The first volume has two parts. The release of the second volume is on schedule, though there is no exact release date yet.
Part one of Fire and Blood covers the beginnings of House Targaryen, a time when they were just starting to control Westeros with the help of dragons. That part describes the first hundred years of the reign of that family, from the history of Aegon the Conqueror to the reign of Viserys I.
An excellent introduction to the Dragon’s House, the book is a worthwhile introduction, so if the series were to be the beginning of your adventure with Game of Thrones, it is worth reaching for it before watching it.
A Dance with Dragons vs. Chronicles part two
Unless you want to spoil House of Dragons for yourself, you would best get acquainted only with the first part of Fire and Blood. This is because the second describes in detail the famous Dance of Dragons, or the power struggle between the children of Viserys I.
And we know from trailers and other promotional videos of House of the Dragon that this war within the family will be the main theme of the series. So if you don’t want to know who will win the power struggle, skip the second part of Fire and Blood.
