The Winds of Winter: Everything We Know About the Next Game of Thrones Book

George R.R. Martin's highly anticipated The Winds of Winter, the sixth installment in the A Song of Ice and Fire series, remains shrouded in mystery. While fans eagerly await its release, the book's protracted development has fueled much speculation. This overview compiles everything currently known about The Winds of Winter, encompassing its potential release date, anticipated length, plot details, and key differences from HBO's Game of Thrones.

Release Date:

No official release date exists. Martin's past estimations, ranging from 2015 to 2021, have proven inaccurate. In October 2022, he claimed to be 75% complete, later stating in November 2023 that approximately 1,100 pages were finished – a figure unchanged from December 2022. A recent December 2024 interview hinted at the possibility of the book remaining unfinished in his lifetime.

Length:

The Winds of Winter is projected to be around 1,500 pages, potentially surpassing A Dance with Dragons as the longest book in the series. Martin himself indicated "hundreds more pages to go" as of November 2023.

Story Details:

The narrative will continue from A Feast for Crows and A Dance with Dragons, resolving cliffhangers from the previous books. Martin has confirmed the inclusion of major battles in Winterfell and Meereen. Daenerys Targaryen and Tyrion Lannister's paths will converge, while the Dothraki will play a significant role. The Wall will also be a focal point. Expect a darker tone, with Martin describing "dark chapters" and anticipating a less "happy feel-good" experience. An "interesting take on unicorns" is also promised.

Book vs. TV Series:

Significant deviations from Game of Thrones are expected. Characters' fates will diverge, with some surviving in the books who died in the show, and vice versa. New characters and expanded roles for existing ones (Victarion Greyjoy, Arianne Martell, Areo Hotah, Jon Connington, Aeron Damphair, among others) will reshape the narrative. Martin has explicitly stated that the ending will also differ substantially. A major twist involving a character deceased in the show but alive in the books is also teased.

Characters:

Confirmed POV characters include Tyrion, Cersei, Jaime/Brienne, Arya, Sansa, Bran, Theon, Asha, Victarion, Aeron, Barristan Selmy, Arianne Martell, Areo Hotah, and Jon Connington. Daenerys Targaryen is highly likely to return as a POV character. Davos Seaworth, Samwell Tarly, and Melisandre are also potential POV characters. Jeyne Westerling will appear in the prologue.

Future Works:

A Dream of Spring, the final book, is also anticipated to be lengthy and offer a bittersweet conclusion. Martin's other projects include a second Blood & Fire volume, Tales of Dunk and Egg stories, and continued work on Wild Cards. He also remains a producer for House of the Dragon and Dark Winds.