Game of Thrones author George RR Martin releases new excerpt from latest novel Fire and Blood
Prequel is a history of House Targaryen as written by Westeros scholar Archmaester Gyldayn
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Your support makes all the difference.George RR Martin, the acclaimed fantasy novelist behind Game of Thrones, has released an excerpt from the long-awaited new novel in his Song of Fire and Ice series, Fire and Blood.
Posting on his blog, the author wrote: “I’m back from the Emmys and happy to be the first to share this exclusive look at my upcoming history of Westeros and the Targaryen lords in FIRE & BLOOD. I hope you’ll enjoy this tiny taste of what’s to come!
“Portions of the book have previously appeared here and there.The chapter about Aegon’s Conquest was published, pretty much as written, in THE WORLD OF ICE & FIRE.
“But although much has been previously seen there are still hundreds of additional pages of new material which has never appeared before in any form, abridged or unabridged.”
Martin says the latest instalment will be a prequel to the series told as a history of House Targaryen written by Westeros scholar Archmaester Gyldayn and the book itself illustrated by Doug Wheatley.
If you would rather read the new passage from Fire and Blood for yourself, you can do so on Martin's blog.
Otherwise, a brief synopsis of the piece follows.
In the year 58 AC, King Jaehaerys and Queen Alysanne plan to set sail from King’s Landing for White Harbour on a diplomatic mission to Winterfell and the north, their servants and her dragon Silverwing going on ahead.
But before they can depart, Jaehaerys is waylaid by the Archon of Tyrosh and the Prince of Pentos, who appeal to him to adjudicate in a dispute between their two cities.
Fearing angering Alaric Stark of Winterfell with the delay, the Queen ventures on ahead while her husband stays on to hear the case.
Arriving at the House of Manderly in White Harbour, Alysanne realises the merit of greater ties between King's Landing and her hosts, arranging marriages of convenience between three of her ladies-in-waiting and three of the Manderly menfolk.
After witnessing a tournament held in her honour, in which her squire, Jonquil Darke, the Scarlet Shadow, battles a wildling girl, she journeys on to Winterfell and receives a frosty reception from Stark, still grieving his late wife.
Alysanne nevertheless bonds with Stark before departing by Silverwing to Castle Black and the Wall as violence breaks out in King's Landing while Jaehaerys's negotiations rumble on.
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