The shockingly gruesome ways every main character dies in the House of the Dragon books

The ways in which every character dies in the House of the Dragon books is something that needs to be studied because they’re all very gruesome. Whilst some deaths, like Ser Criston’s, we’re all secretly looking forward to, others will be absolutely heartbreaking. Apart from Alicent, there isn’t a single main character who dies in a nice normal way, this is Westeros after all.

The deaths in the show might end up deviating from what happens in the books but obviously there are major spoilers ahead, so beware! So, from being eaten alive by a dragon to jumping out of a window, here are all the shockingly gruesome ways every main character dies in the House of the Dragon books.

Jacaerys Velaryon

Via HBO

I’m sorry but the fact that Jacaerys dies in the House of the Dragon books at all is an absolute travesty. During the Battle of the Gullet, Jace’s dragon Vermax is badly wounded by crossbow arrows and in order to save himself Jace decides to jump off. Tragically he is shot down by the same crossbow arrows and dies whilst trying to save himself.

Ser Criston Cole

Via HBO

I’m a Ser Criston Cole hater and I quite literally am counting down the days until his downfall. Criston dies in the House of the Dragon books when he is forced to walk alone to the South and is ambushed by a small army of Blacks. Ser Criston tries to surrender himself but he is obviously killed instead. Criston is killed by just three arrows and once he’s dead, his head is decapitated from his body and used as a warning to the Greens.

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Aegon Targaryen

Via HBO

There seems to be a trend of killing irritating kings with poison and honestly, I’m here for it. Aegon is mysteriously found dead with bloody lips, and whilst the murderer is never found, Larys Strong and Corys Verlaryon and the top suspects for the poisoning.

Aemond Targaryen

Via HBO

We’re all waiting for the inevitable showdown between Daemon and Aemond in House of the Dragon, and in the books, both of the characters shockingly die during their fight. They both use their dragons in the fight, which takes place above God’s Eye which is the largest lake in Westeros. Aemond is killed by Daemon when he is stabbed through his remaining eye, sending him into the murky depths below.

Helaena Targaryen

Via HBO

Halaena’s death is arguably one of the most tragic in the whole series and is self-inflicted. After both her sons are brutally murdered she falls into a deep depression and ultimately ends up throwing herself off one of the castle towers in King’s Landing.

Otto Hightower

Via HBO

It’s bad to say but some of Otto’s reactions so far this season have been nothing short of iconic. Still, that won’t save him from a grisly fate and he’s beheaded as a traitor when Rhaenyra takes King’s Landing.

Alicent Hightower

Via HBO

Out of all the ways you could die in Westeros, Alicent’s death is probably the nicest way to go. She spends most of her time alone mourning her children and then passes away after an outbreak of Winter Fever.

Daemon Targaryen

Via HBO

Alongside Aemond, Daemon also dies in their fight after he falls into the massive lake alongside his dragon Caraxes. His dragon manages to crawl to the shore before dying, but Daemon’s body is never found.

Rhaenyra Targaryen

Via HBO

This is a pretty brutal death, even by Game of Thrones standards. After she is driven out of King’s Landing, Rhaenyra is eventually captured by Aegon’s troops at Dragonstone. But instead of just killing her normally her half-brother decides to feed her to his dragon Sunfyre, so she is literally eaten alive.

For all the latest TV news, drops, quizzes, memes and more on when everyone dies in House of the Dragon books, like The Holy Church of Netflix on Facebook. 

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Featured images via HBO.