The hit HBO show House of the Dragon is based on the George R.R. Martin anthology Fire and Blood. The book is a fictional historical account of the Targaryen dynasty, and it leave a lot of room for interpretation, given the unreliability of some of the “historical sources” the tale is drawn from. Here are the ten biggest ways House of the Dragon has deviated from its source material.
Mushroom’s Conspicuous Absence
Many passages from Fire and Blood are told from the point of view of Viserys’s court jester, Mushroom. He’s a bit of a wild card among the historians represented in the book, often making the most outlandish claims. Interestingly, many of his claims are shown to be “fact” in House of the Dragon, but the diminutive jester himself is nowhere to be seen in the show. Well, that ism unless you believe a background extra in Season 1 might be a sly nod to the character.
Laenor’s Escape
Laenor, Rhaenyra’s first husband and the ostensible father of her children, meets very different fate in Fire and Blood than he does in the show. His lover actually does murder him in the book—or, at least, it looks like he does. It’s possible that in the book, Rhaenyra and Daemon’s plan to fake Laenor’s death is so successful that his demise becomes part of history.
Vaemond’s Fate
Corlys’s brother Vaemond meets with a brutal fate in House of the Dragon after he claims that Rhaenyra’s children are illegitimate. In the books, Vaemond’s vying for the seat of Driftmark isn’t a one-off, either. He has several cousins who support his claims. Rather than just executing Vaemond, Rhaenyra sends Daemon to take their tongues. They’re thusly remembered as “the silent ones” after this act.
Rhaenys Interrupts the Coronation
As the Greens elevate Aegon II to the throne, they’re met by Meleys and Rhaenys in the show. However, in the book, Rhaenys wasn’t in King’s Landing when the Greens usurped the throne. In fact, the Greens are much more patient in Fire and Blood, as they obscure the truth of Viserys’s death for days while they quietly arrange their allies and execute their coup.
Blood and Cheese
When Daemon sends Blood and Cheese to assassinate Aemond after the death of Lucerys, they fail to find him in either the book or the show. However, in the book, they’re arguably even more brutal. When they find Hellaena, they ask her whether she wants Maelor (a younger child who wasn’t included in the show) or the elder Jahaerys to survive. She chooses for Jahaerys to live, so the assassins take him to spite Hellaena and tell Maelor his mother could have lived without him.
The Battle of Rook’s Rest
During the Battle of Rook’s Rest, Rhaenys battles both Aemond and Aegon as all three ride dragons. In the chaos, Aegon is badly burned. Fire and Blood makes it unclear how Aegon was harmed. However, House of the Dragon makes it clear that Aemond purposefully harmed his brother in attempt to seize the throne for himself.
Harrenhal Dream Therapy
Daemon’s bizarre dreams in Harrenhal are a major focus of the second season of House of the Dragon. These are never recounted in Fire and Blood, but that makes sense. Daemon is a historical figure in the book, and his inner thoughts and personal experiences aren’t relayed by historians, just the rote facts of his life.
Rhaena and Sheepstealer
Rhaena claims Sheepstealer, the wild dragon, in the second season finale of House of the Dragon. This is a major departure from Fire and Blood, as a commoner named Nettles was the one who claimed Sheepstealer in the book. It’s possible that Rhaena will claim “Nettles” as a nickname, though the character in the book was described as possibly having a romantic relationship with Daemon. That would be a bit unsettling to see replicated in the show, given that Rhaena is his daughter.
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Rhaenyra and Alicent’s Ages
Alicent was 18 when she married Viserys in the book, while Rhaenyra was only 8 at the time. This means they weren’t childhood friends like they were depicted being in the show—or it means that the Westerosi historians who wrote the firsthand accounts in Fire and Blood didn’t have their facts straight about when Alicent and Rhaenyra were born.
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The Song of Ice and Fire
Aegon the Conqueror’s dream of ice and fire is unique to the show. Viserys sharing his forebear’s prophecy, that the White Walkers will descend upon Westeros someday, is never recounted in the book. However, the show covers this rather well. The Conqueror’s Dream is only shared from a ruling Targaryen to their heir apparent, and is never uttered in the company of others. As such, there’s no way it could ever pass into a history book.
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