Though this seems exceedingly suspicious; the man was a renowned warrior and tactician, he would not have gone down so easily and stupidly.

It is NOT a novel, as I stated in my disclaimer at the top - at least, not a novel in the traditional sense. Fire and Blood explored the history of the Targaryen Kings from the time of Aegon I’s conquest up to the ascension of Aegon III.The bloodthirsty biographies of the world’s most infamous pirates are reproduced in this Folio edition of Captain Charles Johnson’s renowned work, including original woodcut illustrations and a fascinating introduction by Margarette Lincoln. Yet a more immediate threat lurks to the south, where Jon Arryn, the Hand of the King, has died under mysterious circumstances. The Rise of the Dragon chronicles the creation and rise of Targaryen power in Westeros, covering the history first told in George R. An abridged version of The Sons of the Dragon was released in October 2017 titled The Sons of the Dragon in the anthology The Book of Swords.

For a bit of comparison, I finished reading The Crippled God (385k words) in four days and Oathbringer (450k words) in six days. Of the five contenders for power, one is dead, another in disfavor, and still the wars rage as violently as ever, as alliances are made and broken. The author said with The Winds of Winter, ASoIaF will move "further and further away from the television series. Even a lord as stern and flinty as Alaric Stark found himself helpless before Queen Alysanne’s stubborn charm.The conceit here is that this is the first volume (more time wasting to come) of a two-volume series covering the Targaryen dynasty of Westeros. Joffrey, of House Lannister, sits on the Iron Throne, the uneasy ruler of the land of the Seven Kingdoms. Her knights and ladies he would receive when they got here, “and the king too, if he can find the way,” but they should not overstay their welcome. Thrice I flew Silverwing high above Castle Black, and thrice I tried to take her north beyond the Wall,” Alysanne wrote to Jaehaerys, “but every time she veered back south again and refused to go.