Of Dragons, hatred and journals
What is hiding between the pages this week?
«Rhaenyra said, «Tell my half-brother that I will have my throne, or I will have his head»Â
To nobody’s surprise my mind has been in Westeros lately. As the premiere date for season two of House of the Dragon approached, the more I craved returning to that world. A Song of Ice and Fire had such a huge impact that it has created a void when it comes to the fantasy genre. I have been trying to find a new book or a series that will fill that void. It really was that good. Epic fantasy at its finest.
This is not to say I have not had any great read since finishing the series or had some great reading experiences. Because I definitely have!
However, within the epic fantasy genre - I am still looking. Abercrombie fills up my cup when I am looking for some great grim dark fantasy, and yet it is not the same or enough. Since I reread The Lord of the Rings only a couple of months ago, I decided to do a reread of the book instead. There is simply nothing that beats returning to Westeros these days. It is my safe space, my comfort world.
A lesson in history
Fire and Blood, is a retelling of the old stories of the conquering of Westeros. From Aegon’s conquest and through the regency of Aegon III Targaryen - here we get a closer look on the story of how the Targaryens and their dragons came to rule the sky and the Seven Kingdoms. It is a story retold by Archmaester Gyldayn, who in returns references to other sources as he tries to get the true story behind that marked the rise and fall of House Targaryen.
Just like a history book, it sites and sometimes even dismisses other sources and their telling of events, drawing conclusions across the board, and tries to clear up the confusion and wrong ideas of this long history. Thus it can for some, be a dry and long book to get through. Unlike A Song of Ice and Fire, we are not getting the perspectives of the actual characters, rather just told what they supposedly said and did. It keeps its distance, viewing the events from the outside, interpreting the events years later and not always as objectively as one would like. For some, this made the book a disappointing read - as one wanted more of what the series brought. For others, like me, this was an absolute treat. I loved the historical take on it, the conflicting sources, the retelling and reframing of a long and important history through the accounts of long dead kings, council members, witnesses and archmaesters.Â
Personally, I loved to read the stories we have only heard through the characters of A Song of Ice and Fire, through the small snippets of lore we get. How the Targaryens turned on each other, the dance of dragons, the conflicts and tragedies that followed. What makes it even more intriguing to me, as an historian, is how Martin has done his work when it comes to truly show off how unreliable sources can be. Every one telling the story has their own agenda, own ideas on what should be told and how it should be told. In the end, Fire and Blood, is an unreliable source - because nobody knows what actually happened. None of the storytellers where there to witness it.
Even a history book can have a powerful storytelling going on, and by the time the dragons danced, I was in tears. It is such a beautifully written book, that only made me want more of it. I need more of this amazing history! Alas, this is only the first volume - so prepare to wait forever on volume II.
House of the Dragons second season picks up right where the first one left it off. War is coming. Blacks agains Greens. Kin against kin. Dragon against dragon. The opening sequence might be even better than the original in Game of Thrones. Ramin Djawadi brings Westeros back to life with his amazing soundtrack, and as the raven flies over the north and we are reunited with Winterfell and the Starks - my heart might have skipped a beat.
I know I am going to cry my heart out by the time the season ends, just as I did with the book. But it is a sacrifice I am willing to make, because well, The North remembers! I will not spoil anything for you, in case you have not seen the first episode or read the book - but be warned. In true George R.R. Martin style, this is indeed a grim start of the second season.
And yet…I cannot wait to get more of it.
Between the pagesÂ
Even when my head was in Westeros, exploring more of the lore introduced in Fire and Blood, I have also visited other universes. Currently I am invested in three very different books:
Children of Earth and Sky is my first Kay book, which is a bit of a surprise considering his status within my favourite genre. I am not sure how I have never come across his books before, but here we are. There is one on the 100 Best Fantasy Books of All Time, Tigana, but I picked this one up instead. It is a slow fantasy read for me, it is a more historical fantasy clearly inspired by renaissance Italy and the Ottoman Empire.
At the very beginning I found it to be a bit too slow, but then something shifted and I have slowly but surely been drawn more and more into it. Mainly due to Kay’s wonderful prose. I am amazed by his writing skills - it sort of… just flows. In a wonderful lyrical way. I am excited to see where this is going.
The Journals of Sylvia Plath.
This one ended up on my list of books to read this year a bit randomly. I have not read the Bell Jar, nor any of her poems. However, I somehow always found myself collecting quotes by Sylvia Plath. On life, on writing, on love, on living and dying, on sadness, happiness, friendships - in short, her quotes always resonated with me. So, it was time to pick it up. My next project will have to be The Bell Jar.
A Little Hatred is my trusted companion wherever I walk these days. Abercrombie gives me things to laugh about, to stop dead in my tracks, distracts me when I need it and in short: this audiobook is a life line these days. I am so invested. So invested! I have no clue where this is going, and everything is changing the more the story progresses. The best part so far? I am reunited with my favourite Inquisitor. Inquistor Glokta, how I have missed you!
I hope you are exploring wonderful worlds in your books this week too!
Until next time,
happy reading! ✨
Ooh Gabby!! You are making me yearn for GOT! I haven’t read Fire and Blood or watched House of Dragons after the gut wrenching disappointment of the GOT series finale. But I devoured all the other books and hope still that the final ones (whenever they are actually completed) will deliver a more fitting ending. I read The Blade Itself so perhaps now it’s time to read the rest of the series!! I am still waiting and hoping that one day there will be Doors of Stone to follow The Name of the Wind and Wise Man’s Fear - have you read them?