Here’s what happens next in ‘House of the Dragon,’ according to the book

Need to know what might happen in House of the Dragon Season 2, but don’t want to wait until June 16 to get the answers you crave? Then you’ve come to the right place.

Below, we’ve outlined the events from George R.R. Martin’s Targaryen history Fire & Blood that you can expect to see in House of the Dragon‘s second outing — with a few caveats. First, House of the Dragon has already changed a considerable amount of plot points from Fire & Blood. We can expect that trend to continue as the show moves forward, meaning that some of what you read here isn’t guaranteed to happened. Second, we’ll be getting into major spoilers. If you don’t want to know who dies, who wins big battles, or who might sit on the Iron Throne at the end of Season 2, this is your final warning.

Still with us? Good. Let’s forge right on ahead and see what House of the Dragon Season 2 might have in store.

“A son for a son.”

House of the Dragon Season 1 ended with Queen Rhaenyra Targaryen’s (Emma D’Arcy) son Lucerys (Elliot Grihault) losing his life in an aerial battle with Aemond (Ewan Mitchell) and his dragon Vhagar. Season 2 will undoubtedly kick off with Rhaenyra seeking vengeance.

In Fire & Blood, that vengeance comes courtesy of Rhaenyra’s husband/uncle Daemon (Matt Smith). “An eye for an eye, a son for a son,” Daemon vows. And since Aemond has no sons of his own, Daemon decides that his brother (and Rhaenyra’s half-brother) King Aegon II (Tom Glynn-Carney) will pay the price.

With the help of secret-keeper Mysaria (Sonoya Mizuno), Daemon hires a member of the City Watch and a ratcatcher — nicknamed Blood and Cheese — to do his dirty work. This gruesome twosome threaten the lives of Aegon’s wife/sister Queen Helaena (Phia Saban) and force her to choose which of her sons they will kill. While she names Maelor, her youngest, they kill Jaehaerys, her eldest, instead. Helaena may survive, but the brutal attack leaves her traumatized for the rest of her days.

The taking of Harrenhal.

Coordinating child murder isn’t all Daemon will get up to this season! At the end of Season 1, he proposed that taking Harrenhal would be one of the best first steps in Rhaenyra’s war with Aegon, as whoever holds the castle holds a solid influence over the Riverlands.

Season 2 will likely see Daemon following through on this plan, to spectacular effect. Not only does Daemon secure Harrenhal for Rhaenyra — he also manages to do it without any bloodshed whatsoever. Turns out threatening people with dragons opens a ton of doors!

Jacaerys makes allies in the North.

Rhaenyra’s eldest son Jacaerys (Harry Collett) headed north at the end of Season 1 in order to secure new allies for Team Black. That means we’ll be seeing some familiar Game of Thrones locations in Season 2, like the Eyrie and Winterfell. And you can’t have Winterfell without Starks!

Jacaerys finds a strong ally in Cregan Stark (Tom Taylor), but accounts on their relationship vary in Fire & Blood, as it is narrated as a historical account with conflicting sources. In one version of the story, Jacaerys and Cregan become fast friends, even making a blood oath of brotherhood. In another, Jacaerys spends his visit trying to convert Cregan to the faith of the Seven. The final story — told by jester Mushroom, who is omitted from House of the Dragon entirely — sees Jacaerys fall in love with and marry Cregan’s bastard sister Sara Snow. House of the Dragon may well combine elements of these three storylines, or simply choose one to follow to the letter.

The Battle at Rook’s Rest.

Several pivotal battles from Fire & Blood could make it into this season of House of the Dragon, including the Battle of the Burning Mill and the Battle of the Gullet. However, since there are so many clashes in the book — this is a war, after all — there’s a chance a few will be cut or moved to Season 3. One that definitely won’t be cut is the Battle at Rook’s Rest, which has massive consequences for both the Greens and the Blacks.

Aegon, having tired of Otto’s careful politicking, appoints Ser Criston Cole (Fabien Frankel) as his new Hand. Criston then goes on a rampage through the Crownlands, crushing any lords who have declared for Rhaenyra. Among his stops is Rook’s Rest, seat of House Staunton, which he puts under siege.

Rhaenys (Eve Best) and her dragon Meleys come to Lord Staunton’s aid, only to find themselves ambushed by Aemond on Vhagar and Aegon on his dragon Sunfyre. Both Rhaenys and Meleys perish in the ensuing fight, while Aegon and Sunfyre are each grievously wounded. As Aegon heals from his many burns, he appoints Aemond as Regent to rule in his stead.

Finding new dragonriders.

When you’ve got Targaryens fighting Targaryens, the advantage goes to whichever side has the most dragons. Right now, Team Black has the upper hand — but they’re also missing several riders for the many riderless dragons that roam Dragonstone. We saw Daemon singing to one, named Vermithor, in the Season 1 finale.

So, how do you solve the problem of riderless dragons? By finding riders, of course! Jacaerys puts out a call for Targaryen bastards, known as “dragonseeds” (or just “seeds”) in order to find people who may have the ancestry needed to tame a dragon. The trials of these new potential dragonriders prove exceptionally bloody. Many die or sustain grievous injuries. However, Jacaerys’ plan is successful in the end, yielding four new dragonriders for the Blacks.

The Fall of King’s Landing.

Season 2 of House of the Dragon could end with a new Targaryen on the Iron Throne, because less than a year after the Battle of Rook’s Rest, King’s Landing falls to Rhaenyra. There are a lot of moving parts to this battle, including naval support from the Velaryons and air support from the Blacks’ many dragonriders. In the face of all this combined force, King’s Landing falls in less than a day.

While Aegon flees the city, Alicent stays behind and surrenders, becoming a prisoner to the victorious Blacks. Rhaenyra takes the throne that very night, but the Dance of the Dragons is nowhere near done. In Fire & Blood, certain accounts of Rhaenyra’s coronation see the Iron Throne cutting her legs and hands, effectively rejecting her and her right to rule. That doesn’t bode well for Rhaenyra’s reign, or for the rest of House of the Dragon.

House of the Dragon Season 2 premieres June 16 at 9 p.m. ET on HBO and Max.