Fire and Blood

 

Season 2 of the House of the Dragons has already aired. We are on episode 4 as of the writing of this blog where Princess Rhaenys Targaryen volunteered to defend the Rook's Rest and there she died behind her dragon Meleys.

Since June, I have been curious about the origins of the shows I have been watching. Ever since I have read Anne of Green Gables and Little Women, which I have reenacted in a play during my years in elementary, I have been obsessed about finding out the true story behind it. What the authors really wrote in the book.

Episode 5 is coming out on Sunday and will air on Monday in the Philippines. Consequently, I have finished Fire and Blood last night and decided to write about my experience and what this book has revealed to me.

Fire and Blood was set 300 years before Game of Thrones. This was during the conquest of King Aegon Targaryen I all the way to the reign of King Aegon Targaryen III, some years after the Dying of the Dragons where Princess Rhaenyra Targaryen, firstborn daughter and known heir to the throne of King Viserys Targaryen I, and King Aegon Targaryen II, fought and divided the realm to take the Iron Throne. These chapters were the inspiration for the House of the Dragons.

Worthy to note that all of them were Targaryens. Duh?

Anyway, here are my observations:

• Like Princess Rhaenys, daughter of King Jaehaerys I, dying behind her dragon Meleys, Queen Rhaenys I, sister wife to Aegon I, also died when her dragon, Meraxes died.
• I can't understand why they are so obsessed with the Iron Throne. The throne will also kill or maim the occupant. King Viserys I and Princess Rhaenyra were always bleeding after they had sat on the Iron Throne.
• Everyone was so obsessed with how great Aegon The Conqueror was that every generation of Targaryen had a firstborn son named Aegon. If Maegor had a son, surely he would name it Aegon too.
• It became viral that the 3 dragon eggs shown in episode 3 of the House of the Dragons brought by Princess Rhaena to the Vale, together with Joffrey Velaryon and his dragon Tyraxes, Aegon III and his dragon, Stormcloud, and Viserys II with his dragon egg, were Daenerys' dragons were also Dreamfyre's eggs. This isn't true because, in Chapter 9, all 3 of these eggs hatched in Dragonstone, the ancient seat of the Targaryens. There was no Dragonpit in King's Landings yet. It could've been Vhagar's, Syrax's or Silverwing's.
• Daenerys Targaryen (Game of Thrones) was not the first of her name. King Jaehaerys and Queen Alyssanne's first-born daughter was named Daenerys Targaryen and lived until 6 years old,
• Princess Rhaenys had black hair because she was a Baratheon. She was the daughter of Lady Jocelyn Baratheon, daughter of Queen Alyssa, mother of King Jaehaerys I and Queen Alyssanne, from her second marriage to Lord Rogar Baratheon, and Prince Aemon, 2nd son of King Jaehaerys and Queen Alyssanne.
• Addam could have been a Targaryen bastard, not a Velaryon since he's a dragon rider. He's about to ride Seasmoke. It could not have been Laenor because the realm knows he can't have a son. It could not have been Lord Corlys. The Velaryons, though the blood of Old Valyria, we're not dragon riders. 
• Damn! That fight between Aemon with Vhagar, and Daemon with Caraxes, should happen in the House of the Dragons.
• SPOILER ALERT! Aegon II's dragon, Sunfyre ate Rhaenyra in front of her son Aegon III.

Dying of the Dragons was divided into 6 chapters of Fire and Blood and also the most depressing parts of this book. This explains why there were no more dragons in Westeros until Daenerys (Game of Thrones) came with her three dragons which were gifted to her during her wedding to Khal Drogo.

Seasmoke, Tessarion and Vermithor died in the battle at Tumbleton when they fought with each other. Some were saying Tessarion and Seasmoke were doing a mating dance instead of fighting

So many dragons died but especially in Chapter 17, when the greens (King Aegon II's supporters) paraded Meley's head, the smallfolk lost respect and terror for the dragons and the Targaryens. That could explain why Queen Rhaenyra was easily overthrown, especially by that Shepherd who was saying that Westeros was cursed because of the incest and sins of the Targaryens.

Since the dragons were chained in the dragonpit, they couldn't fly away. Shrykos was the first dragon to succumb, and then Morghul. They were hatchlings from Dreamfyre. Tyraxes was next. And then Dreamfyre. Syrax didn't to escape the wrath of the drunken rage from the small folks. Someone jumped on her back and pierced her. That was the end of the known dragons.

Stormcloud died after safely delivering King Aegon III (when he was still a boy) to his mother Queen Rhaenyra, with broken wings.

Sunfyre fought with Grey Ghost. Sheepstealer was last seen at Storm's End. Moondancer fought with Sunfyre and died, which broke King Aegon II's feet, then died after a few days.

I have no idea what happened to Princess Rhaena's dragon, Morning which just hatched during King Aegon III's reign.

When the dream of "Working from Anywhere" became "Work from Home"

Even before the pandemic started, I was used to working from anywhere. I love having my alone time. I like doing things alone. I never got bored of spending time alone. I was never lonely alone. I would prefer being by myself than spending meaningless time with someone. Other than my now partner, of course. I love it when it is only us together in comfortable silence.

I could not stand being in crowded places. I only go to the mall if I have a definite reason to be there. I would always choose the high-end malls because there are no crowds and few people shop there. Since I don't go out often, I have the money to splurge.

Then the pandemic hit us all. My partner was stuck in Cebu without work. I worked at the City Government as a Legislative Staff. She could not go home since there was a lockdown and inter-island and inter-state travel were banned.

Working from anywhere is my ultimate goal. Working with this view.

Purple people

I saw this TikTok video where a girl showed the purple things she bought when she became an adult and I remember all the purple things I wanted to buy back when I was young, when I become an adult too.

Purple is my favorite color too. Back then, I wanted a purple Macbook. A college friend (Jhong) pledged that he would buy me one when he became a CPA. He did become one but the promise never materialised. And of course, we were young and full of dreams then.

I saw this exact color of Macbook as I was reviewing for the bar at a Starbucks in 2016 and I thought I would become a lawyer next year so I'll be able to buy it. But I know now that after several tries, I'm still not a lawyer and I haven't bought anything purple yet.

My problem now lies with how will all my devices communicate? Apple will only communicate with Apple.

For years, I have always been using Android devices and Windows  OS computers. I am partial with Samsung and LG.

But I don't know if I ever will.

This is the problem with me. I have a lot of uncertainties. I'll be turning 35 this year, but I am not certain of what I want. I am certain of the things that I don't want and I know what I need. But sometimes, these just make me feel powerless and make my goals unattainable. What are really my goals?

Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo

I have been curious about this book for so many months now. I've been hearing that it is very popular on BookTok. But for some reason, I am not on BookTok. I just let the TikTok algorithm show me what I need to see. Hahaha!

Anyway...

The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo was released a few years back. I saw a video on YouTube of a YouTuber I had just recently subscribed to talking about this book. Her video was a while back.

I read the book without any expectations. This year, when I committed to reading again, I said to myself, I am not going to lean on the genres I usually read. I will the Universe tell me what I need to read.

You will never guess what The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo is about, I'm sure everyone who has read it thought that this was an autobiography or biography, at first glance. You will also never guess the plot twist.

If you haven't read it yet, I suggest you do. I read it in January and I am re-reading it now for Pride Month. 🏳️‍🌈

 

The Song of Achilles

 Have you heard about this book? This was one of the books that the Universe told me to read. Maybe because I can relate?

I was drawn to this book probably because I had an obsession with Greek Mythology inspired by Percy Jackson. I have read all the Percy Jackson and The Olympians. As well as all the Heroes of Olympus by Rick Riordan. 

The Song of Achilles was the story of Achilles, the demi-god, and his companion Patroclus. Theirs was a forbidden love for in that period, same-sex love was not recognized yet. Patroclus was not even sure if Achilles felt the same. But he loved him. Achilles showed him that he loves Patroclus in his own way.

It's set in the Trojan War when Menelaus started a war to get his wife, Helen of Troy, back from Paris.

I read it in January and I am re-reading it now for Pride Month. 🏳️‍🌈

Anne of Green Gables

Since I don't have a budget in this period of my life and I wanted to read this, and since I am only getting the hang of reading again, I chose this book. Anne of the Green Gables is one of the books I wanted to read in my lifetime. 

While growing up, I didn't really know the full story of Anne of the Green Gables. I had the reference from cartoons and Anne of E (of late) but I want to know this classic creation of Lucy Maud Montgomery.

I was surprised to know that it was a novel series of 8 books, chronicling her life and adventures from being an orphan to coming to Green Gables, her life in Avonlea, as a student, as a woman bethrothed, as a wife and as a mother. The novel series included her childrens' life and adventures growing up and their experiences and thought during the World War I.

The Anne of Green Gables series is a charming collection of children’s books set in the beautiful scenery of Prince Edward Island, Canada. Written by L. M. Montgomery between 1908 and 1939, the novels follow the adventures of red-headed orphan Anne from the tender age of 11 right up until her own children are grown. In this blog, we’ve listed all eight Anne of Green Gables books in reading order, alongside a background of the treasured novels and their masterful storyteller, L. M. Montgomery.

When I learned that it was a novel series, I wanted to buy a boxed set.

I wanted to have a complete set of the eight books for my future coffee shop and study hub, I hope one day I can buy this. I also hope my coffee shop can be a bookstore.

I saw this on Amazon

It Ends with Us...

For those affected by domestic violence, as well as advocates and individuals striving to comprehend the complexities faced by victims when discussing their experiences, please read this book and consider the Author's Notes for deeper insight.

I think it's very confusing for a woman who grew up in an abusive household to realize that you are also in an abusive relationship especially since in this book, Lily thought she had found her happiness with her husband, Ryle.

The good times were really good. But the bad times were so bad that she ended up almost dying at the hands of her husband with anger issues.

After reading that, I got curious about Atlas' version of what happened to Lily and how he helped her overcome her confusion. This book was also about how Atlas was able to overcome his own trauma, growing up in an abusive household and how he became a gentle and kind person despite that.

These books were eye-openers. Have you read them?