However, The Targaryen Dynasty: The House of the Dragon books may be read in publication order, by following this sequence:[5-12]
| Order | Cover | Title | First published | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
|
Fire & Blood | 2018[5-7] | A dynastic history of the Targaryens. |
| 2 |
|
The Rise of the Dragon | 2022[8-10] | An illustrated retelling of the same historical span. |
| 3 |
|
House of the Dragon: The Official Coloring Book | 2024[11-12] | A coloring book of scenes and characters. |
Works in sequence
The core reading experience consists of the principal Targaryen historical narrative. For readers who want the main sequence rather than every related companion title, the essential work is Fire & Blood.[2]
The supplementary works, namely The Rise of the Dragon and House of the Dragon: The Official Coloring Book, expand or re-present the same material in non-core forms. They can be left aside at first, especially by readers who only want the main historical sequence.[3-4]
1. Fire & Blood
Fire & Blood (2018)[5-7] is the core work in this series.[2]
It presents the Targaryen dynasty as a long historical sequence, beginning with the family’s survival after Valyria’s Doom and continuing through Aegon’s conquest, the formation of royal rule in Westeros, the reigns of Aenys, Maegor, and Jaehaerys, the Dance of the Dragons, and the regency of Aegon III.[2]
2. The Rise of the Dragon
The Rise of the Dragon (2022)[8-10] covers the same historical span rather than extending the series beyond Fire & Blood. Its place in the order is therefore supplementary rather than sequential.[3]
It is most useful for readers who want an illustrated reference version of the Targaryen material after, alongside, or instead of the fuller narrative history.[3]
3. House of the Dragon: The Official Coloring Book
House of the Dragon: The Official Coloring Book (2024).[11-12] not an independent narrative and does not create a separate chronological reading path.[4]
It belongs outside the main reading sequence, serving as a visual companion built around scenes and characters connected to the series rather than as another installment in the dynastic history.[4]
Which book to start with
Most readers should start with Fire & Blood. It is the only historical narrative, and it establishes the dynasty, the major reigns, the succession disputes, and the broad sequence of Targaryen rule covered by the collection. Readers who want the main story should not begin with the coloring book, and The Rise of the Dragon is better understood as a reference retelling of material already covered in the core history.
A reader primarily interested in illustrated reference material may choose The Rise of the Dragon as a more visual way to explore the same broad period. Readers seeking a non-reading companion can use House of the Dragon: The Official Coloring Book independently, but it should not be treated as a substitute for the narrative history.
References
- The Targaryen Dynasty: The House of the Dragon. Penguin Random House.
- Fire & Blood. Random House Worlds. ISBN: 9781524796280.
- The Rise of the Dragon. Ten Speed Press. ISBN: 9781984859259.
- House of the Dragon: The Official Coloring Book. Random House World. ISBN:: 9780593581940.
- Fire & Blood (HBO Tie-in Edition) by George R. R. Martin: 9780593598009. Penguin Random House.
- Fire and Blood by George R.R. Martin. HarperCollins Publishers UK.
- Fire & Blood by George R. R. Martin. Penguin Random House Canada.
- The Rise of the Dragon by George R. R. Martin, Elio M. García Jr., Linda Antonsson: 9781984859259. Penguin Random House.
- The Rise of the Dragon by George R.R. Martin, Elio M. Garcia Jr. and Linda Antonsson. HarperCollins Publishers UK.
- The Rise of the Dragon by George R. R. Martin, Elio M. García, Jr., and Linda Antonsson. Penguin Random House Canada.
- House of the Dragon: The Official Coloring Book by Random House Worlds: 9780593581940. Penguin Random House.
- House of the Dragon: The Official Coloring Book by Random House Worlds. Penguin Random House Canada.