"Winds of Winter: Latest Updates on Game of Thrones Sequel"

The Winds of Winter, the highly anticipated sixth installment in George R.R. Martin's A Song of Ice and Fire series, remains one of the most eagerly awaited works of fiction. Since the release of the fifth book, A Dance with Dragons, in 2011, fans have been on the edge of their seats. In the 13 years that have passed, HBO has aired Seasons 2-8 of Game of Thrones and the first two seasons of its spinoff, House of the Dragon.

While Martin diligently works on the next chapter of this epic fantasy saga, we've gathered all the latest information about The Winds of Winter. This includes insights into the book's projected length, potential release timeline, narrative developments, and how it might diverge from the television series.

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

Currently, there is no confirmed release date or window for The Winds of Winter. Initially, Martin and his publishers aimed to have the manuscript ready by the end of October 2015 for a release in March 2016, ahead of Game of Thrones: Season 6. However, this soft deadline was pushed back to the end of 2015, which also passed without completion. In January 2017, Martin expressed hope that the book would be out by the end of that year. By 2020, he targeted 2021 for the initial draft, but that timeline did not materialize. The last public estimation from Martin about the book's completion was in 2022, when he stated he was 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 not 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." He has also mentioned that the final two books in the A Song of Ice and Fire series will collectively exceed 3,000 pages. If The Winds of Winter reaches 1,500 pages, it will be the longest book in the series to date, surpassing A Dance with Dragons, which was just over 1,000 pages in its original hardcover release.

Winds of Winter Story

The Winds of Winter will pick up where A Feast for Crows and A Dance with Dragons left off, continuing the parallel narratives of these fourth and fifth books. Martin has promised 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: one in the ice between the forces of Stannis Baratheon and Roose Bolton around Winterfell, and the other at Meereen, dubbed the battle of Slaver's Bay, involving Daenerys Targaryen and the slavers of Yunkai.

In a 2014 interview with Entertainment Weekly, Martin hinted that Daenerys Targaryen and Tyrion Lannister's paths will cross "in a way," 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. Martin also confirmed the return of the Dothraki "in a big way" and noted that "a lot of stuff is happening at The Wall." Additionally, he teased an "interesting take on unicorns." Martin has warned that things will "get worse before they get better," describing the book as containing many dark chapters and emphasizing that winter, a time of death, cold, and darkness, is truly coming.

Winds of Winter Characters

Martin has not planned to introduce new point-of-view characters in The Winds of Winter, as stated in 2016. 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
• Jon Connington

While not officially 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. Martin has also revealed that Robb Stark's wife, Jeyne Westerling, will appear in the prologue, though it's unclear if it will be from her perspective.

Winds of Winter: Book vs. TV Show

The Winds of Winter will diverge significantly from the Game of Thrones television series due to the broader scope and larger cast of the books. Martin has stated that some characters who died in the show will live in the books, and vice versa. New characters and those who never appeared on-screen will play crucial roles. In a 2022 blog post, Martin elaborated on these differences, noting that his "gardening" approach to writing has led the book's plot further away from the TV series. He mentioned characters like Victarion Greyjoy, Arianne Martell, and Jon Connington, who are absent from the show but will have significant impacts in the book. Additionally, secondary characters like Lady Stoneheart, Young Griff, and others will feature prominently. Martin also teased a major twist involving characters, one of whom is dead in the show but not in the books.

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 expected to be at least 1,500 pages long. Martin has hinted that the ending will be bittersweet. There is no set release date for this book.

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 the basis for HBO's upcoming Game of Thrones spinoff, Knight of the Seven Kingdoms. He also continues to edit the Wild Cards series and serves as a producer for House of the Dragon and AMC's Dark Winds.

For those eager to delve deeper into the world of A Song of Ice and Fire, be sure to check out our guide on how to read the Game of Thrones books in order.