A Song of Ash and Smoke | a continuation of A Song of Ice and Fire

𝑵𝒐𝒕𝒆𝒔 𝒇𝒓𝒐𝒎 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒂𝒖𝒕𝒉𝒐𝒓...

09/26/2023 This story is a first draft edition; changes will be made as it progresses.

09/26/2023 I think it is important to highlight that this fanfiction utilizes a combination of background from both the show and books, as to not misguide any fans who may be looking for something specific.

03/24/2024 I am laughing at myself. After over two years (I originally started this in 2022) of work, I am just now realizing that I've been misspelling DAENERYS's (not Danaerys) name this entire time. Feel free to laugh at me too. This will be adjusted in the first revision, which is TBD. My goal is six full parts, with an epilogue so y'all might be waiting on that revision for a while.

03/25/2024 You may notice the chapter lengths getting a bit longer; expect that the shorter chapters will eventually be edited and have more substance. I've been challenging myself to be more descriptive, which has obviously skyrocketed my word count.

07/27/2024 I just want to remind any readers here that their feedback is noted and appreciated, as long as it's respectful of course! Please be mindful that the Game of Thrones world is a very complex one, and while I do my best to keep up, there may be a lot that appears to be overlooked right now. As I draw part three to a close this week, please know that I have a lot of thoughts on what I'd like to add, but right now my focus is finishing the main plotlines for you guys to enjoy! I may not have many readers right now, but you guys truly are why I'm inspired to keep writing.

11/09/2024 I am so beyond amazed that I saw this story through to the end. I used to be one of those people who was like, "Meh, fanfiction", but when Game of Thrones ended the way, it did, I felt like I wanted to write my own story in this universe. A huge thing in GRRM's writing is the fact that there are no such things as happy endings, and it's true. But the path to finding peace is much different than the one to self-gratification, and happiness can be born of either - and it is human nature to push those limits and cross those lines. When I began to first conceptualize Jaehaera, I wrote her as this young, dumb girl that just blindly follows everything that everyone else wants. In my first attempt at this story, that's all she was, just sort of one dimensional and not a character that inspired any sort of confidence in her ability to grow. While the story will change and grow during my editing process, I can say that I am so proud of who Jaehaera became. A character that represents conflict, pushing the limitations of nature versus nurture to become somebody capable of self-autonomy and the struggle that comes with that. This isn't a story about kings and queens and a game of thrones, it's a story about being born into a world where that premise becomes the map of how your life is lived and breaking free from that. Maybe you'll take away something completely different, but I'm proud of myself for writing this and I'm proud of Jaehaera for making it possible. Thank you, readers, for giving me the confidence to finish a story of my own. Maybe someday, you'll see my name on a story that was written independently of someone else's, and I'd still thank you then, for laying the groundwork to make it possible for me to see myself in that. Until then, I'll see you in the edits. Much love, Emma.