"Madness and greatness are two sides of the same coin. Every time a new Targaryen is born, the gods toss the coin in the air and the world holds its breath to see how it will land." — Ser Barristan Selmy, A Storm of Swords
The Targaryen dynasty, known for its dragonlords and fiery rule, has many secrets that the "Game of Thrones" TV show only hinted at.
While the TV series touches upon the Targaryens' unique bond with dragons, the books reveal much more about their origins. Dragons were not just pets but crucial to the Targaryens' power and status in Valyria.
The catastrophic event known as the Doom of Valyria wiped out most of the dragonlords, but the Targaryens survived. The books suggest that this wasn't mere luck.
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