"Winds of Winter: Latest Updates on Next Game of Thrones Book"

The eagerly awaited sixth installment in George R.R. Martin's epic fantasy series, A Song of Ice and Fire, titled *The Winds of Winter*, continues to be one of the most anticipated works of fiction. Since the release of the fifth book, *A Dance with Dragons*, in 2011, fans have been eagerly awaiting the next chapter of the saga that inspired HBO's *Game of Thrones*. Over the past 13 years, HBO has aired Seasons 2-8 of *Game of Thrones* and launched its spinoff, *House of the Dragon*, with Seasons 1 and 2 captivating audiences worldwide.

As George R.R. Martin diligently works on *The Winds of Winter*, we've put together a comprehensive overview of what we know so far. From insights into the book's expected length and potential release timeline to details about the plot and how it differs from the television series, this article aims to keep fans updated on the latest developments.

Jump to:

• When will it come out?
• How long will it be?
• Story details
• Book vs. TV series

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Winds of Winter Release Date

There is currently no confirmed release date or window for The Winds of Winter. Initially, Martin and his publishers hoped to complete the manuscript by the end of October 2015, aiming for a release in March 2016 ahead of Game of Thrones: Season 6. However, that soft deadline shifted to the end of 2015, which also passed without a completed manuscript. In January 2017, Martin expressed optimism about finishing the book before the end of that year, but this did not happen. By 2020, he set a goal to finish the initial work by 2021, which also did not come to fruition. This marks the last time Martin publicly estimated a completion date.

In October 2022, Martin revealed he was about 75% done with the manuscript. However, by November 2023, he reported having completed 1,100 pages, the same number he had mentioned during a December 2022 appearance on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert. In a December 2024 interview, Martin acknowledged the possibility that he might not finish The Winds of Winter within his lifetime.

Winds of Winter Length

The Winds of Winter is expected to be around 1,500 pages long. As of November 2023, Martin had written approximately 1,100 pages and mentioned having "hundreds more pages to go." He has stated that the final two books of the series will collectively exceed 3,000 pages. If The Winds of Winter reaches 1,500 pages, it will be the longest book in the A Song of Ice and Fire series, surpassing the fifth book, A Dance with Dragons, which was just over 1,000 pages in its original hardcover release.

Winds of Winter Story

There are no spoilers in this section, save for the names of characters who will appear in The Winds of Winter.

The Winds of Winter will pick up where A Feast for Crows and A Dance with Dragons left off, continuing the parallel narratives of the fourth and fifth books. Martin has teased that the book will start with a bang, resolving the cliffhangers from A Dance with Dragons early on. He plans to open with two major battles: the battle in the ice between the forces of Stannis Baratheon and Roose Bolton near Winterfell, and the battle at Meereen, known as the battle of Slaver's Bay, between Daenerys Targaryen's forces and the slavers of Yunkai.

Daenerys Targaryen and Tyrion Lannister's paths will finally cross "in a way," according to Martin, though they will remain apart for much of the book. Both characters will have significant roles, with Tyrion focusing on survival and Daenerys embracing her Targaryen heritage. The Dothraki will return "in a big way," and significant events will unfold at The Wall. Martin has also hinted at an "interesting take on unicorns." He has warned that things will "get worse before they get better," with many dark chapters in the book reflecting the harshness of winter.

Winds of Winter Characters

As of 2016, Martin had no plans to introduce new point-of-view characters in The Winds of Winter. Confirmed characters with chapters from their perspectives include Tyrion Lannister, Cersei Lannister, Jaime Lannister and/or Brienne of Tarth, Arya Stark, Sansa Stark, Bran Stark, Theon Greyjoy, Asha Greyjoy, Victarion Greyjoy, Aeron Greyjoy/Damphair, Barristan Selmy, Arianne Martell, Areo Hotah, and Jon Connington. While not confirmed, it is highly likely that Daenerys Targaryen will again be a point-of-view character. Other potential POV characters include Davos Seaworth, Samwell Tarly, and Melisandre. Additionally, Robb Stark's wife, Jeyne Westerling, will appear in the prologue, though it's unclear if she will be the POV character.

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Winds of Winter: Book vs. TV Show

The Winds of Winter will diverge significantly from the Game of Thrones TV series due to the books' larger cast and more expansive scope. Martin has indicated that some characters who died in the series will survive in the books, and vice versa. New characters not seen on-screen will have crucial roles, and existing characters may have different fates and developments.

In a 2022 blog post, Martin elaborated on these differences, noting that his "gardening" approach to writing has taken the story further from the TV series. He mentioned several characters unique to the books, such as Victarion Greyjoy, Arianne Martell, and Jon Connington, who will influence the narrative. Other secondary characters like Lady Stoneheart and Young Griff will also play significant parts. Martin emphasized that not all characters who survived until the end of Game of Thrones will make it to the end of A Song of Ice and Fire, and not all who died in the show will die in the books. He also teased a major twist involving characters, one of whom was dead in the show by the end of Season 5 but not in the books.

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A Dream of Spring and Other Future Works

The seventh and final book in the A Song of Ice and Fire series, A Dream of Spring, is also expected to be around 1,500 pages or more. Martin has hinted that the ending will be "as much bittersweet as it is happy," but there is no timetable for its release.

In addition to The Winds of Winter and A Dream of Spring, Martin is working on a second volume of his Targaryen history, tentatively titled Blood & Fire, and more stories in his Tales of Dunk and Egg series, which will serve as the basis for HBO's upcoming Game of Thrones spinoff, Knight of the Seven Kingdoms. He also continues to edit Wild Cards, a shared-universe sci-fi series he created in 1987, and is a producer for House of the Dragon and AMC's Dark Winds.

For more on A Song of Ice and Fire, check out our guide on how to read the Game of Thrones books in order.