Game of Thrones fans everywhere are eagerly awaiting the release of House of the Dragon, the new prequel series set to bring viewers back into the epic fantasy world introduced in George R.R. Martin's A Song of Ice and Fire. Premiering on HBO and HBO Max on August 21, the new show is based on Martin's Fire & Blood, a sweeping novel set 300 years before the first book in the saga, A Game of Thrones. So, even if you somehow missed out on the whole Game of Thrones craze, you can still jump into Fire & Blood and enjoy this fantasy series without any prior knowledge of the books or television series.
But what is Fire & Blood about? And what should we expect to see from the upcoming show? Here's everything you need to know before watching House of the Dragon.
Fire & Blood is a fantasy novel written by George R.R. Martin that was released in hardcover on November 20, 2018. This prequel was originally planned for publication after the completion of Martin's A Song of Ice and Fire series. However, Martin went forward with the prequel novel first; he anticipates writing a second volume in the future. HBO's television series will be an adaptation of the second half of the first volume of the Fire & Blood novel.
Fire & Blood is broken into six texts. The first text, "The Targaryen Conquest" follows Aegon I Targaryen's conquest of the Seven Kingdoms of Westeros. If you are unfamiliar with the world of Martin’s A Song of Ice and Fire, Westeros is the continent where the majority of the series (and television adaptation) is set, while some sections also take place on the continent of Essos. The major battle for the throne is fought between the Seven Kingdoms of Westeros. So, in "The Targaryen Conquest," listeners get an idea of how the Targaryen family gained control over Westeros centuries before the events of A Game of Thrones.
The second text in Fire & Blood, "The Peace of the Dragon" follows Aegon I's reign after his Conquest. The third text, "The Sons of the Dragon'' is, as the title suggests, the story of Aegon's I's sons, King Aenys I Targaryen and King Maegor I Targaryen. This section of the book ends with the death of Maegor I Targaryen and the ascension to the throne of Aenys's son Jaehaerys I, also known as the Conciliator. The fourth, "Heirs of the Dragon'' focuses on the reign of Jaehaerys I Targaryen and his search for a successor following the deaths of his sons.
A major section of the book is the fifth text, "The Dying of the Dragons," which details the Targaryen civil war between Rhaenyra Targaryen and her younger half-brother Aegon II as they battle it out for the throne. Finally, "Aftermath—The Boy King and His Regents" follows the first years of the reign of Rhaenyra's young son, Aegon III.
The HBO series House of the Dragon will focus on "The Dying of the Dragons" and what comes after. That means we can expect the following characters to be major players in this season's storyline:
Princess Rhaenyra Targaryen is the first-born child of King Viserys I and the king's only living child by his first wife, Queen Aemma of House Arryn. Although Rhaenyra was named her father's heir at the age of eight, her younger half-brother Aegon II Targaryen challenged her claim to the Iron Throne. This sibling feud is what sparked the civil war known as the Dance of the Dragons. During the war, Rhaenyra rode her dragon, Syrax. She is known to be proud and stubborn, and while she is generally a charming person, she is quick to anger and never forgets when someone has wronged her.
Prince Daemon Targaryen is a younger son of Prince Baelon Targaryen and a brother of King Viserys I Targaryen. Daemon is known as the most experienced warrior of his time and an expert wielder of the Valyrian steel blade, Dark Sister. Like Rhaenyra, Daemon is a dragonrider; he rides the dragon Caraxes. During the Dance of the Dragons, he supported his wife, Rhaenyra. Daemon is described as dangerous, daring, and ambitious. Like Rhaenyra, he is charming but equally hot-tempered and quick to anger.
King Viserys Targaryen was fifth Targaryen king to rule Westeros. He inherited the throne from his grandfather, King Jaehaerys I, after his father Baelon died. He became the king of the Seven Kingdoms at the age of 26; at the time, he was dubbed the Young King. A peaceful ruler, Viserys chose diplomacy over war and comfort over conflict, and he was known for his kindness and generosity. Viserys was a dragonrider who rode Balerion. After his dragon died of old age during the reign of Jaehaerys I, he was never able to bond with another dragon again.
Ser Otto Hightower served as Hand of the King for three different Targaryen kings. Otto Hightower is a major rival for Prince Daemon; under Otto's urgings, King Viserys removed his brother Daemon from his council positions. Otto's daughter Alicent has a son with King Viserys—Prince Aegon—and Otto supports his grandson's claim to the throne. Otto is considered to be an intelligent man of great learning. Thus, his major weapons in the Targaryen civil war are his wits and his methodical nature.
Alicent Hightower is the daughter of Ser Otto Hightower. She became the second wife to King Viserys I Targaryen after the death of his first wife, Queen Aemma Arryn. Many in the court did not approve of Viserys's marriage to Alicent. There were whispers that Alicent's father, Otto Hightower, had risen too high. There were also rumors that Alicent had a romantic entanglement with Viserys's brother, Prince Daemon. At first, Alicent had a close relationship with her husband's daughter, Princess Rhaenyra, but after Alicent gave birth to Prince Aemond, those feelings began to change. Alicent resents the fact that Rhaenyra remained the heir apparent to Viserys's throne, and she hopes that her son will one day rule over the Seven Kingdoms.
Lord Corlys Velaryon is known as the Sea Snake, the Lord of the Tides, the Master of Driftmark, and is head of House Velaryon. During the Dance of the Dragons, Corlys became Hand to Queen Rhaenyra Targaryen. Corlys is known to be adventurous and highly ambitious. He is married to Rhaenys Targaryen, the daughter of Prince Aemon, King Jaehaerys’s son and once heir to the Iron Throne before his death. Corlys was Jaehaerys’s Master of Ships, but he gave up the position after the king passed over Rhaenys as heir to the Iron Throne. Corlys and Rhaenys still believe their children are the rightful heirs to the throne.
Princess Rhaenys Velaryon, also known as the Queen Who Never Was, is the daughter of Prince Aemon Targaryen and Lady Jocelyn Baratheon. During the Dance of the Dragons, Princess Rhaenys sat on the black council of Queen Rhaenyra Targaryen. She is a dragonrider who flies on Meleys, also called the Red Queen. Rhaenys is known as clever and capable. And like many other Targaryens, she has a fiery temper.
Ser Criston Cole was Lord Commander of the Kingsguard for Viserys I Targaryen. After Viserys's death, it was Criston who convinced Viserys's son, Prince Aegon, to claim the throne of the Seven Kingdoms as his own. This ultimately led to the Dance of the Dragons, which landed Ser Criston with the name "Criston the Kingmaker." Criston serves as Hand of the King for Aegon during the civil war.
Mysaria, also known as Lady Misery or Misery, the White Worm, is the paramour of Prince Daemon Targaryen and the mistress of whisperers to Queen Rhaenyra Targaryen during the Dance of the Dragons.
Set three centuries before the events of Game of Thrones, HBO's House of the Dragon will chronicle the fall of the House Targaryen, the events leading up to the Dance of the Dragons, and the civil war itself. The long-awaited series will finally drop on HBO and HBO Max on August 21. It stars Emma D'arcy as Princess Rhaenyra, Matt Smith as Prince Daemon, Paddy Considine as King Viserys, Rhys Ifans as Otto Hightower, Olivia Cooke as Alicent Hightower, Steve Toussant as Lord Corlys Velaryon, Eve Best as Princess Rhaenys, Fabian Frankel as Ser Criston Cole, and Sonoyo Mizuno as Mysaria.
The 10-episode first season of House of the Dragon was co-created by George R.R. Martin and Ryan J. Condal. Miguel Sapochnik, who directed Game of Thrones, and Condal serve as co-showrunners, and they also serve as executive producers along with Sara Hess, Jocelyn Diaz, Vince Gerardis, Ron Schmidt, and, of course, Martin. Clare Kilner, Geeta Vasant Patel, Greg Yaitanes, and Sapochnik share the directing. Ramin Djawadi, the composer behind Game of Thrones and Westworld, scored the series.
How will the series play out? How closely will it follow George R.R. Martin's novel? We'll have to tune into HBO in August to find out. In the meantime, listen to the audiobook to catch all of the details of the story before it comes to your television screen.
