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A review by graveyardbook
Fire & Blood by George R.R. Martin
adventurous
challenging
dark
informative
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Finally, we see Aegon’s Conquest in depth and it sure is the spectacle that we were promised. I cackled every time Dorne was a thorn in his ass. His sons Aenys and Maegor were bumbling idiots but their successors Jaehaerys and Alysanne had a productive reign that was interesting to follow and I loved me some lesbian Rhaena Targaryen interludes.
Viserys’ rule was uneventful and felt like a speedy prologue for the Dance. The TV show and his actor Paddy Considine fleshed out his character with hardly any worthy source material so I respect that. The Dance itself got boring fast. I did not care about most of the lords named and there were a lot of names. The pacing was a slog to get through and the relentless violence became tedious. It only hurt every time a dragon died and I had a soft spot for the Velaryons who were always badass.
After the Dance of Dragons, Cregan Stark and Tyland Lannister were familiar and compelling guardians but Unwin Peake got on my every last nerve. It was unbelievable that he could replace the whole castle’s staff with his relatives and not piss off any lord. He never got punished enough for the Lyseni Spring either.
The book ended abruptly before the most interesting Targ history of Baelor the Blessed, the Blackfyre rebellion and my beloved crown prince Rhaegar so I’m glad GRRM updated his writing progress for the sequel.
Viserys’ rule was uneventful and felt like a speedy prologue for the Dance. The TV show and his actor Paddy Considine fleshed out his character with hardly any worthy source material so I respect that. The Dance itself got boring fast. I did not care about most of the lords named and there were a lot of names. The pacing was a slog to get through and the relentless violence became tedious. It only hurt every time a dragon died and I had a soft spot for the Velaryons who were always badass.
After the Dance of Dragons, Cregan Stark and Tyland Lannister were familiar and compelling guardians but Unwin Peake got on my every last nerve. It was unbelievable that he could replace the whole castle’s staff with his relatives and not piss off any lord. He never got punished enough for the Lyseni Spring either.
The book ended abruptly before the most interesting Targ history of Baelor the Blessed, the Blackfyre rebellion and my beloved crown prince Rhaegar so I’m glad GRRM updated his writing progress for the sequel.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape, Suicide, Violence, Fire/Fire injury, and War