Back History of the Game of Thrones

The World of Ice & Fire: The Untold History of Westeros and the Game of Thrones by George R.R. Martin
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Before you watch or read Game of Thrones I think you may want to give this book a read . It gives you the whole back history of the series, especially Westeros.

Westeros is where the series takes place. Before men came over on a land bridge Westeros was inhabited by the children of the forest and Giants. The children of the forest worshipped their gods and carved their faces into the trees. Eventually the first men came over from Essos. They at first were friendly with the children of the forest but eventually hostilities would erupt and the children of men would drive them away. The first men set up small kingdoms which were petty for the most part. Then came the Andals on their ships from essos. THey were driven out by the wars over there, especially with the Valerians. When the Andals came they conquered all of Westeros and drove the children and the giants away further into the woods.

In Essos war was constant. Valeria is a volcanic land from where the Dragons and the Targaryans come from . The Valerians are known not only for dragons but also for their steal swords and their purple eyed women. Eventually the Valerians would set up 9 free cities in Essos each one independent. When the Targaryans came over first they settle on Dragonstone before conquering Westeros. Eventually they took kings landing for their own rebuilding the old castle. Other groups like the Royner came over on ships fleeing war between Andals and Valerians.

Agon the conqueror and his sisters would conquer the Westeros and it would be house Targaryans that would ruled Westeros for 700 years. During this time there would be uprising and civil wars. The Dance of the Dragons was the Civil war that saw the demise of the dragon. There would also be Valerian rivals like the Blackfires and the 9 simple kings .

The Royner would eventually join the Dorns. This is a desert land and home of formidable warriors. They would eventually bend the knee after a real long time. The Iron Born from the IRon islands would make their fortune off raiding and mining. Their main god was the drowned god. Eventually they would turn to trading.

There is history on Essos as well. The Dothraki civilization is discussed along with what lies beyond the bone mountains , like the Yi TI, Ying Island and a haunted city.

For all die hard GOT fans this book will be a good edition to your library. If you are just starting this will give you a good background and you will get more out of the stories you are following.

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Travel Through the Mediterranean

How Shall We Sing? : A Mediterranean Journey Through a Jewish Family by Aline P'Nina Tayar
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Jews have always been on the move so to speak, regardless of religiosity or politics. Aline’s family was constantly on the move for any variety of reason. Jews are always seen as the other, never being fully accepted where they settle. The authoress’s family came from two distinct points in the Mediterranean. Her mother came from Tunisia while her father came from Malta. Jews moved around quite fluidly in the Mediterranean. They were seen as the eternal business people or cosmopolitan, hence an outsider.

For a certain time Jewish life was rather stable in that region. Her mother Lina grew up in a religious house with a very strict grandfather. There was a clash between modernity and conformity to religious values.


Most of the Jews would leave either to find spouses or work opportunities. In Tunisia, A Muslim country Jews seemed to have warmer relations with their neighbor than they did in Catholic Malta.
World Wars shake things up and that bought in the colonial European powers. The powers did bring in economic opportunity and further chances for emigration. World War II saw an increase in antisemtism. The family moved for the Middle East to Italy and then back to Malta. The Nazis brought in anti-Semitism which most people living in Italy were not hip to, they hated the SS which oppressed everyone. Most of Italy’s Jews survived the Holocaust.
The family moved briefly back to Malta and then to Israel. Her family was disillusioned with life in Israel on the kibbutz. After an injury they move to Australia and then Finally to England.


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The Rise of King Matthias

Riding on the Tail of the Devil by Danielle DeVor
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

A great fun and entertaining read. Lighthearted and of good cheer. I would call this horror light as nothing in her was remotely frightening. The main character Matthias was your typical average American teenager. At an early age his parents are killed in a car crash and he is sent to live with his abusive aunt. Not only is the aunt abusive but her children are sadistic and resort to torturing young Matthias. After a particularly brutal session Matthias decides to run away. Living out on the streets he is taken in by Lucretia. She gives him a place to stay and she teaches him thee ways of the street. Alas good things never last, she is eventually killed by her pimp.

Eventually Matthias needs money so he consults a sorcerer named Nic. Nic sends him on a mission that practically gets him killed. It is Vladimir Tepes that saves him....by turning him into a vampire. Thus Matthias is thrust into the world of vampires.

The mythology on this volume original. Lilith was supposed to be the first vampire queen and someone else was supposed to be her consort. Unfortunately Adam messed thing up. They’re two types of vampires Lilitu and Myrdin. They are pretty much unified now. Matthias in an old incarnation was king of the Myrdin while Lilith was queen of the Lilitu. In another life she killed him.

Now that Matthias has been reborn as a vampire it is off to the university for him so he can learn what he needs in order too survive the vampires world.

Some parts of the plot are reminiscent of Harry Potter. Sort of like Matthias is the chosen one whose parents die in a crash and all the sudden he is given to relatives that do not like him and are rather mean to him. The University is kind of like Hogwarts. There is no romance in the book and we do not get a glimpse into the other vampire lives at the University. That would have been nice. This book could have made for a great young adult fiction but there is mention of certain situation and the there is profanity. The elements are in place to launch this into a classic .

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