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

George R.R. Martin's The Winds of Winter, the highly anticipated sixth installment in A Song of Ice and Fire, remains shrouded in mystery regarding its release. This article summarizes everything currently known about the book, from its projected length and storyline to its divergence from the HBO series, Game of Thrones.

Release Date:

No official release date exists. Martin's past estimations, ranging from late 2015 to 2021, have proven inaccurate. In October 2022, he claimed to be 75% complete, later stating in November 2023 that 1,100 pages were finished—a figure unchanged from December 2022. A recent interview suggests completion within his lifetime may be uncertain.

Length:

The book is anticipated to be approximately 1,500 pages, surpassing the length of its predecessors. Martin himself has indicated "hundreds more pages to go" as of November 2023. He's previously stated that the final two books will collectively exceed 3,000 pages.

Story Details:

The Winds of Winter will resolve cliffhangers from A Dance with Dragons and A Feast for Crows, beginning with major battles in the ice and at 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. Martin has hinted at a unique portrayal of unicorns and warned of darker themes, stating that "things will get worse before they get better."

Characters:

No new point-of-view characters are planned. Confirmed POV 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

Daenerys Targaryen is highly likely to return as a POV character, with Davos Seaworth, Samwell Tarly, and Melisandre also potential candidates. Jeyne Westerling's appearance is confirmed.

Book vs. TV Series:

Significant differences exist between the book series and Game of Thrones. Characters' fates will diverge, with some surviving in the books who died in the show, and vice-versa. New characters will be introduced, and existing characters will have expanded roles. Martin has emphasized the greater complexity and scope of the novels.

Future Works:

A Dream of Spring, the final book, is planned but lacks a release date. Martin anticipates a bittersweet conclusion. He's also working on other projects, including a second Targaryen history volume and further Tales of Dunk and Egg novellas.

This overview provides a comprehensive summary of the current information surrounding The Winds of Winter. The ultimate release and its contents remain to be seen.