Fire and Blood by George R R Martin

Fire & Blood by George R.R. Martin
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Time taken to read - 29 days (from re starting)

Pages - 737

Publisher -

Source - I think I bought it

Blurb from Goodreads

With all the fire and fury fans have come to expect from internationally bestselling author George R. R. Martin, this is the first volume of the definitive two-part history of the Targaryens in Westeros.

Centuries before the events of A Game of Thrones, House Targaryen—the only family of dragonlords to survive the Doom of Valyria—took up residence on Dragonstone. Fire and Blood begins their tale with the legendary Aegon the Conqueror, creator of the Iron Throne, and goes on to recount the generations of Targaryens who fought to hold that iconic seat, all the way up to the civil war that nearly tore their dynasty apart.

What really happened during the Dance of the Dragons? Why did it become so deadly to visit Valyria after the Doom? What is the origin of Daenerys’s three dragon eggs? These are but a few of the questions answered in this essential chronicle, as related by a learned maester of the Citadel and featuring more than eighty all-new black-and-white illustrations by artist Doug Wheatley. Readers have glimpsed small parts of this narrative in such volumes as The World of Ice & Fire, but now, for the first time, the full tapestry of Targaryen history is revealed.

With all the scope and grandeur of Gibbon’s The History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire, Fire and Blood is the ultimate game of thrones, giving readers a whole new appreciation for the dynamic, often bloody, and always fascinating history of Westeros.


My Review

You guuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuys. I started this in 2022! I knew the dragon badness was coming and I think that is what made me stop back then. I started re reading it for a fundraising charity book challenge, this month, 24.5 pages every day and I have finally finished it.

If you know Game Of Thrones you know what he is like, do not get attached to characters because noone is safe. This covers the history of the Targaryen's, from way before the families we come to know in House of the Dragon (tv show) and after.

Dragons, skullduggery, abuse, poison, murder, betrayal, lust, love, and the longing to rule the iron throne. It isn't an easy read, some of the most ghastly people, behaviours and betrayals ooft. Weans aren't even safe and some of the murders are beyond barbaric. Incest, in house marriages, public consummation of the marriages - war, people rising up, beautiful but deadly dragons.

There are so many characters told over lifetimes, it is really interesting and if you like Game of Thrones you will like reading the back history of the dragons and families but yeah just prepare yourself cos it gets hella dark, body parts cut off and displayed, wars, families wiped out, actual wild madness, 4/5 for me!

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On Wings of Love by Briar Boleyn

On Wings of Blood by Briar Boleyn
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Time taken to read - 3 days

Pages - 575

Publisher -

Source - Wishlist rak

Blurb from Goodreads

Time taken to read - 3 days

Pages - 337

Publisher -

Source - Wishlist arc

Blurb from Goodreads

I didn't sign up for this.

A half-fae in a school of highblood vampires? That's a recipe for torment.

I'm Medra Pendragon—last of the dragon riders, or so they tell me. Funny thing is, there are no dragons left. Not a single one. But somehow, that hasn't stopped the vampires from deciding I'm worth capturing. Now I'm stuck at Bloodwing Academy, where the highbloods run everything and blightborn like me? We're just blood in their veins, pawns in their games.

But that's not even the worst part. Enter Blake Drakharrow. Cold, arrogant, and way too gorgeous for his own good. He's been tormenting me since the moment we met, and now, thanks to some ancient ritual, we're betrothed. He acts like he owns me, but I'm not going down without a fight.

Bloodwing isn't just a school—it's a battlefield. Highbloods fight for power, and if you're weak? You're dead.

Between deadly competitions, lies that could get me executed, and a dragon-shaped secret looming over my head, all I have to do is survive. Easy, right? Except I'm starting to think the real danger isn't the academy—it's what I'm becoming in this twisted game of power.

And Blake? He might just be the one who pushes me over the edge.

They think they can control me. They think they can use me.

But they have no idea what they've awakened.


My Review

Do NOT come for me lol! There is so much I did enjoy about this book but I also was annoyed and eye rolled a fair few times. Medra comes to and she is in a dangerous position, surrounded by dead decaying bodies and a vampire wants a taste of her blood, She then meets Blake and gets took off to the Academy were her fate is sealed. She will behave, she will toe the line, she will obey, perform and fight for her place in there whether she wants to or not! Before long the attraction between the two is evident but obvs they hate each other, aye sure they do and it is a bit of a dance between them of I hate you but cannot deny to the inner self they actually are attracted to each other.

So! I liked it but I didn't love it and have since checked and it is book one of four book series, the fourth coming later this year. So Medra is human but has dragon rider blood which makes her a hot currency despite there being no dragons but the Highbloods (powerful vamps) don't want to believe they are truly gone. Medra is surrounded by vamps and humans, humans are treated like crap, the vamps are entitled, shady and some worse than others. Medra's blood is elite so she has a bigger target on her back not to mention Blake's love interest really doesn't like her and the vamps can be vicious anyway.

There are games, powers it was very reminiscent of other series with echoes of some of those rolled in. Like it is such a busy book, magic, powers, my fave question I asked over and over was WHERE ARE THE DRAGONS, love interest, enemies, classism, murder, betrayal, friendship, mind control, danger, monsters, some spicey scenes like it has A LOT going on.

I think it was a good foundation book, I am looking forward to seeing where it goes and hoping to see some karma, growth, back bone and DRAGONS PLEASE, 3.5/5 for me on this one.

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Iron Flame by Rebecca Yarros

Iron Flame by Rebecca Yarros
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Time taken to read - in and out as able over 5 days

Pages - 640

Publisher -

Source - Bought

Blurb from Goodreads

“The first year is when some of us lose our lives. The second year is when the rest of us lose our humanity.” —Xaden Riorson

Everyone expected Violet Sorrengail to die during her first year at Basgiath War College—Violet included. But Threshing was only the first impossible test meant to weed out the weak-willed, the unworthy, and the unlucky.

Now the real training begins, and Violet’s already wondering how she’ll get through. It’s not just that it’s grueling and maliciously brutal, or even that it’s designed to stretch the riders’ capacity for pain beyond endurance. It’s the new vice commandant, who’s made it his personal mission to teach Violet exactly how powerless she is–unless she betrays the man she loves.

Although Violet’s body might be weaker and frailer than everyone else’s, she still has her wits—and a will of iron. And leadership is forgetting the most important lesson Basgiath has taught her: Dragon riders make their own rules.

But a determination to survive won’t be enough this year.

Because Violet knows the real secret hidden for centuries at Basgiath War College—and nothing, not even dragon fire, may be enough to save them in the end.



My Review

If you haven't read book one, do it then read this one as it is one of those series you absolutely need to know the history and backstory. So after the big reveal Violet and co need to appear as if all is normal and go back to school where everything kicks off. One teacher (lieutenant whatever his title is I call him teacher) clearly has something against Violet and pushes her through her paces. We jump between Violet and Xaden, Violet and co training, the new first years in the position Violet was and repercussions from that which passed in book one.

There is spicy scenes between Violent and Xaden, dragon dramas - I do LOVE Tairn's dry wit/humour and Andarna really comes into her own personality in this one, albeit in short parts. There is a lot of angst and back and forth between Violet and Xaden, trust issues (like more so than book one and a very different theme) which I think some folk will find a bit long in places.

It does have a lot of action, slow in some parts but I think if you are a huge fan you will be happy enough. Spice, emotive, jealousy, war threats and trials as with book one with threats of death if you fail (again like book one) but Violet and co are second years overseeing the first year hopefuls. Then having to do their own trials. Shady characters, some dodgy behaviours a hint of redemption maybe for some? Dun dun dun, 4/5 for us for this one, got book 3 on standby!

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The Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros

Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Time taken to read - as able, in and out over a week

Pages - 528

Publisher -

Source - Bought

Blurb from Goodreads

Enter the brutal and elite world of a war college for dragon riders from USA Today bestselling author Rebecca Yarros

Twenty-year-old Violet Sorrengail was supposed to enter the Scribe Quadrant, living a quiet life among books and history. Now, the commanding general—also known as her tough-as-talons mother—has ordered Violet to join the hundreds of candidates striving to become the elite of Navarre: dragon riders.

But when you’re smaller than everyone else and your body is brittle, death is only a heartbeat away...because dragons don’t bond to “fragile” humans. They incinerate them.

With fewer dragons willing to bond than cadets, most would kill Violet to better their own chances of success. The rest would kill her just for being her mother’s daughter—like Xaden Riorson, the most powerful and ruthless wingleader in the Riders Quadrant.

She’ll need every edge her wits can give her just to see the next sunrise.

Yet, with every day that passes, the war outside grows more deadly, the kingdom's protective wards are failing, and the death toll continues to rise. Even worse, Violet begins to suspect leadership is hiding a terrible secret.

Friends, enemies, lovers. Everyone at Basgiath War College has an agenda—because once you enter, there are only two ways out: graduate or die


My Review

I kept hearing about this one and one of my workies, Rachel, was like you HAVE to read this so I have someone to talk to it about, I mean how could I not, also huge FOMO. Violet Sorrengail is twenty, youngest of the family. Her sister and brother dragon riders and her mother hugely proud of their warrior abilities and paths chosen. Violet is more like her dad, not a fighter and destined for the Scribe Quadrant, those who document all the battles/history, lover of the written word not a warrior. However Violets mother is one of the highest ranked leader and Violet will enter/try for the Rider's Quadrant and or die trying, nothing less is unacceptable. Violet isn't one for rocking the boat and does what is expected of her, despite being ill prepared, despite huge numbers of cadets dying before getting past the first obstacle but this is her path and walk it she must! Oh and THERE ARE DRAGONS!

Guys for me, summing it up quickly I would say Harry Potter meets Game of thrones with echoes of The Hunger Games. There is also some spicey scenes in it which for me was a little cringe/funny but each to their own.

I was liking the book but it was the very last/end quarter that bounced it to a 5 star read for us. I LOVE that we have dragons but a dragon with sass and shade it absolutely outstanding/hilarious. There is so much going on in the books, family dramas, relationships, friendships, dodgy characters, death, murder & the whole when the riders bond with a dragon they develop abilities and all are very different.

It is a huge book but it has something for everyone, yeah it is fantasy but it has loads of stuff folk will find relatable/enjoyable am sure. 5/5 for us and we have the next one lined up which I suggest you do too because if you like this you will want to pick up the next one immediately. This is my first time reading this author, book two is lying in wait.

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