Who Wins in House of the Dragon, According to the Book?
That’s a difficult question even for George R.R. Martin’s novel fans.
House of the Dragon ’s season 2 has just kicked the long-promised full-scale war off with an epic dragon battle that caused major problems for both the Blacks and the Greens, but everything that happens next might be well predicted, despite the show’s rebellious manner to ignore George R.R. Martin’s novel in so many aspects.
However, still based on the author’s novel Fire & Blood, House of the Dragon is likely to have no other choice but to follow the original source’s instructions since it eventually won’t have that many options.
House of the Dragon’s tragic history was actually spoiled in a couple of ways by its predecessor Game of Thrones. The latter kicked it off with a clear statement that the Targaryens have never been in such a big crisis, since Daenerys is the only surviving family member to claim the Iron Throne.
Additionally, in season 4 Game of Thrones’ most repulsive character award winner Joffrey Baratheon reveals the truth about Rhaenyra’s fate to Margaery Tyrell saying that the Blacks’ Queen was burnt and then devoured by her own brother’s dragon during the Dance of the Dragons.
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Still, Rhaenyra’s death actually never signaled the Blacks’ defeat in the war — in fact, her team was in a much better position, though never got to thrive anyway.
According to what George R.R. Martin tells about the whole outcome of the feud between the Blacks and the Greens in his novel, both teams never succeeded in winning over one another, yet, unlike the Blacks, the Greens lost it all completely.
All of Alicent Hightower’s children eventually perish during the Dance of the Dragons, with Aegon II being the last one to survive, yet he’s still bedridden and unable to rule Westeros properly.
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Successfully taking King’s Landing, Rhaenyra seemingly wins the battle and becomes Westeros’ ruler, but only half a year of her reign passes until she’s eventually overthrown.
She then faces yet another, final danger when Aegon II orders his dragon Sunfyre to burn Rhaenyra, but this is followed by the King’s own death when he’s poisoned by some of his advisors.
With no other challengers for the Iron Throne left, Rhaenyra’s son Aegon III inherits the power, proving that technically the Blacks did win the war. However, he too dies pretty young at the age of 36, leaving the throne to two sons that don’t survive either.