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

The highly anticipated sixth book in George R.R. Martin's epic fantasy series, A Song of Ice and Fire, titled *The Winds of Winter*, has fans eagerly awaiting its release. Since the publication of the fifth book, *A Dance with Dragons*, in 2011, HBO has aired several seasons of *Game of Thrones* and its spinoff *House of the Dragon*. Here's a comprehensive look at everything known about *The Winds of Winter*, including its projected length, expected story developments, and how it will differ from the television adaptation.

Jump to:

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

A Song of Ice and Fire Box Set

50 Contains the set of 5 books.
$85.00 save 46%
$46.00 at Amazon

Winds of Winter Release Date

There is currently no confirmed release date or window for The Winds of Winter. Initially, Martin and his publishers aimed to complete the manuscript by October 2015 for a March 2016 release ahead of Game of Thrones Season 6. Subsequent deadlines in 2015 and 2017 were missed, and Martin's latest public estimation in 2020 to finish the initial work by 2021 also did not materialize. In October 2022, Martin reported being about 75% done with the manuscript. By November 2023, he had completed 1,100 pages, the same number he mentioned in a December 2022 appearance on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert. In a December 2024 interview, Martin acknowledged the possibility that he may never finish The Winds of Winter in 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, with "hundreds more pages to go." The final two books in the series, The Winds of Winter and A Dream of Spring, are projected to exceed 3,000 pages combined. If The Winds of Winter reaches 1,500 pages, it will be the longest book in the A Song of Ice and Fire series to date, surpassing A Dance with Dragons, which was just over 1,000 pages in its original hardcover edition.

Winds of Winter Story

The Winds of Winter will pick up from the cliffhangers of A Feast for Crows and A Dance with Dragons. Martin has promised that the book will start with two significant battles: one in the ice between Stannis Baratheon and Roose Bolton near Winterfell, and another in Meereen, known as the battle of Slaver's Bay, between Daenerys Targaryen and the slavers of Yunkai. In a 2014 interview with Entertainment Weekly, Martin hinted that Daenerys and Tyrion Lannister's paths will intersect "in a way," though they will spend much of the book apart, each playing significant roles. The Dothraki will return "in a big way," and events at The Wall will be central to the narrative. Martin has also teased an "interesting take on unicorns." He warned fans that the book will be dark, with things getting "worse before they get better," aligning with the ominous title The Winds of Winter.

Winds of Winter Characters

As of 2016, Martin did not plan to introduce new point-of-view characters in The Winds of Winter. Confirmed point-of-view characters 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
• Jon Connington

Although not confirmed, it's 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 have a POV chapter.

The 25 Best Game of Thrones Episodes

27 Images

Winds of Winter: Book vs. TV Show

The Winds of Winter will diverge significantly from the Game of Thrones television series due to the books' larger scope and cast. Martin has confirmed that some characters who died in the series will survive in the books, and vice versa. New characters will appear, and those who never made it to the screen will have significant roles. In a 2022 blog post, Martin explained that his "gardening" approach to writing has led to substantial differences between the books and the show. He highlighted that the novels are more complex, with characters like Victarion Greyjoy, Arianne Martell, and Jon Connington having pivotal roles. Martin also teased a major twist in The Winds of Winter involving characters, one of whom died in the show by the end of Season 5 but remains alive in the books.

House of the Dragon Season 2 First Look Images

7 Images

A Dream of Spring and Other Future Works

A Dream of Spring, the seventh and final book in the A Song of Ice and Fire series, is also projected to be over 1,500 pages. Martin has hinted that the ending will be "bittersweet" rather than purely happy. There is no current 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 is being adapted into HBO's Knight of the Seven Kingdoms. Martin also continues to edit the Wild Cards series and serves as a producer for House of the Dragon and AMC's Dark Winds.

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