Fire & Blood

George R. R. Martin
68 pages2-hour read
Fiction
Novel
Adult
Published in 2018

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Character List

Meet the key characters, with insights into their roles, motivations, and relationships—spoiler-free.

Major Characters

Gyldayn is an academic historian at the Citadel of Westeros. He compiles the history of the ruling dynasty from various primary sources and conflicting records. His personal biases, deference to noble authority, and preference for entertaining stories sometimes make his historical accounts questionable.

Key Relationships

Reader of Mushroom

Aegon is the founder of the ruling dynasty in Westeros. He uses his military might and dragons to conquer the continent, forcing the petty kings to surrender. He establishes the capital at King's Landing and forges the Iron Throne from the melted swords of his enemies, relying on careful administration to maintain his newly won lands.

Key Relationships

Husband and Brother of Visenya Targaryen

Husband and Brother of Rhaenys Targaryen

Father of Maegor I Targaryen

Visenya is the sister and wife to Aegon the Conqueror. She is a fierce warrior who carries the Valyrian steel blade Dark Sister into battle. She relies heavily on military strength and intimidation to secure her family's hold on the continent, eventually establishing the Kingsguard to protect the royal family.

Key Relationships

Wife and Sister of Aegon I

Mother of Maegor I Targaryen

Rhaenys is the sister and wife to Aegon the Conqueror. A patron of the arts, she focuses on diplomacy and cultural integration to stabilize her family's rule. She frequently rides her dragon Meraxes into battle alongside her siblings but dedicates her peacetime efforts to funding bards and establishing fair courts for women.

Key Relationships

Wife and Sister of Aegon I

Jaehaerys is the son of Aenys I Targaryen. He works to stabilize the kingdom after a period of intense conflict and rebellion. He uses careful diplomacy and calculated displays of power to earn the respect of both the nobility and the common people, eventually becoming known as the Conciliator.

Key Relationships

Husband and Brother of Alysanne Targaryen

Grandfather of Viserys I Targaryen

Political Opponent of Elissa Farman

Alysanne is the sister and wife of Jaehaerys I Targaryen. She leverages her position to advocate for legal reforms and protect vulnerable populations. Her charm and interpersonal skills help secure vital alliances for her family, making her an active participant in the governance of the continent.

Key Relationships

Wife and Sister of Jaehaerys I Targaryen

Daughter of Aenys I Targaryen

Grandmother of Viserys I Targaryen

Viserys is the grandson of Jaehaerys I Targaryen. He rules during a period of relative peace and is known for his amiable disposition. His strong desire to avoid conflict causes him to delay addressing the brewing succession crisis within his own family, leading to bitter factional divides at court.

Key Relationships

Brother of Daemon Targaryen

Father of Aegon II Targaryen

Father of Aemond Targaryen

Grandson of Jaehaerys I Targaryen

Daemon is the younger brother of Viserys I Targaryen. He is a hot-tempered warrior who commands the City Watch and actively seeks greater authority. His ambition, military skill, and unpredictable behavior frequently cause political headaches for his brother's administration.

Key Relationships

Husband and Uncle of Rhaenyra Targaryen

Father of Aegon III Targaryen

Alicent is the second wife of Viserys I Targaryen, originally hailing from House Hightower. She is deeply invested in securing the royal succession for her own children rather than her stepdaughter. She forms a powerful political faction at court known as the Greens to consolidate her influence.

Key Relationships

Mother of Aegon II Targaryen

Mother of Aemond Targaryen

Stepmother of Rhaenyra Targaryen

Political Ally of Larys Strong

Political Ally of Tyland Lannister

Rhaenyra is the eldest child of Viserys I Targaryen. Her father names her as his heir, a controversial decision that challenges the continent's strict patriarchal traditions. She builds a political faction known as the Blacks to defend her claim to the throne against her stepmother's family.

Key Relationships

Stepdaughter of Alicent Targaryen

Wife and Niece of Daemon Targaryen

Half-Sister of Aegon II Targaryen

Half-Sister of Aemond Targaryen

Mother of Aegon III Targaryen

Political Ally of Corlys Velaryon

Political Ally of Cregan Stark

Aegon is the eldest son of Viserys I Targaryen and Alicent Targaryen. He frequently overindulges in alcohol and possesses a quick temper. His mother and her political allies aggressively promote his claim to the throne over his older half-sister, viewing male primogeniture as absolute.

Key Relationships

Brother of Aemond Targaryen

Half-Brother of Rhaenyra Targaryen

Advised by Larys Strong

Advised by Tyland Lannister

Supporting Characters

Aenys is the eldest son of Aegon the Conqueror and Rhaenys Targaryen. He ascends the throne after his father but struggles to maintain control. He lacks his father's decisive military instincts and prefers to appease his lords, which leads to early political instability and religious uprisings during his rule.

Key Relationships

Son of Aegon I

Half-Brother of Maegor I Targaryen

Father of Jaehaerys I Targaryen

Maegor is the son of Aegon the Conqueror and Visenya Targaryen. He is a formidable warrior who frequently resorts to extreme violence to achieve his goals. His brutal methods quickly earn him a fearsome reputation across the continent as he actively suppresses religious rebellions and challenges his own family for power.

Key Relationships

Son of Aegon I

Half-Brother of Aenys I Targaryen

Aemond is the second son of Viserys I Targaryen and Alicent Targaryen. He is a highly skilled swordsman who holds deep grudges. An early childhood altercation leaves him permanently scarred and hungry for vengeance, traits he carries into adulthood as a fearsome dragonrider.

Key Relationships

Brother of Aegon II Targaryen

Half-Brother of Rhaenyra Targaryen

Aegon is the son of Rhaenyra Targaryen and Daemon Targaryen. He grows up during a period of intense civil war, which leaves a lasting, dark mark on his personality. He strongly dislikes dragons and struggles to assert his authority while surrounded by ambitious regents.

Key Relationships

Advised by Cregan Stark

Controlled by Unwin Peake

Advised by Tyland Lannister

Viserys is the younger son of Rhaenyra Targaryen and Daemon Targaryen. He spends part of his youth as a captive in the Free City of Lys before returning home. He eventually serves as a trusted advisor to his older brother, bringing foreign customs and a wealthy wife back to the capital.

Key Relationships

Brother of Aegon III Targaryen

Husband of Larra Rogare

Corlys is the ambitious head of House Velaryon and a renowned sea explorer. He commands a powerful fleet and controls significant trade routes, making his family incredibly wealthy. He frequently aligns his house with the ruling family through political pacts but shifts his allegiances when necessary to protect his legacy.

Key Relationships

Political Ally of Rhaenyra Targaryen

Political Ally of Daemon Targaryen

Mushroom is a court jester who observes the inner workings of the royal family for many years. He records a scandalous, highly entertaining version of historical events that frequently contradicts official accounts. He provides a unique perspective on the private lives of the nobility.

Key Relationships

Larra is a noblewoman from a powerful banking family in the Free City of Lys. Her foreign customs and close proximity to the royal family generate intense suspicion and rumors of sorcery among the local nobility. She finds the culture of Westeros isolating and hostile.

Key Relationships

Elissa is a noblewoman from Fair Isle who longs for freedom and maritime adventure. She spends time at court before setting out to explore the uncharted western oceans. She funds her ambitious voyage through highly controversial and risky means, angering the crown.

Key Relationships

Political Opponent of Jaehaerys I Targaryen

Cregan is the stern and rigid Lord of Winterfell. He commands a large force of northern soldiers and briefly holds absolute power in the capital. He maintains a strict adherence to oaths and honor, making him a formidable and inflexible political player who demands justice regardless of faction.

Key Relationships

Advisor to Aegon III Targaryen

Larys is the castellan and later Lord of Harrenhal. He possesses a physical difference in one of his feet, which causes others to underestimate him. He uses whispers, rumors, and calculated betrayals to manipulate political factions from the shadows, making him a dangerous operator at court.

Key Relationships

Political Ally of Alicent Targaryen

Advisor to Aegon II Targaryen

Tyland is a nobleman from Casterly Rock who aligns with the Green faction. He manages the royal treasury during a period of intense conflict and cleverly hides the crown's gold to prevent it from falling into enemy hands. He later wears a hood to cover extensive physical injuries sustained during the war.

Key Relationships

Political Ally of Alicent Targaryen

Subordinate to Aegon II Targaryen

Advisor to Aegon III Targaryen

Unwin is an ambitious lord who serves on the regency council. He actively works to isolate the young monarch and consolidate his own power by installing loyalists in key positions at court. He organizes political spectacles to manipulate the royal succession in his favor.

Key Relationships

Advisor and Rival to Aegon III Targaryen