The eagerly 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 on the edge of their seats. Since the release of the fifth book, *A Dance with Dragons*, in 2011, readers have been eagerly awaiting the next installment. During this period, HBO not only completed Seasons 2-8 of *Game of Thrones* but also launched the first two seasons of its spinoff, *House of the Dragon*. As Martin continues to craft this next chapter, we bring you a comprehensive overview of everything known about *The Winds of Winter*, including insights into its length, expected release, narrative details, and how it differs from the television adaptation.
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 no set release date or window for The Winds of Winter. Initially, Martin and his publishers aimed to have the manuscript ready by October 2015 for a release ahead of Game of Thrones: Season 6 in March 2016. However, this deadline slipped to the end of 2015, and then to the end of 2016, neither of which were met. Martin expressed optimism in January 2017 about a release by the end of that year, but this did not materialize. In 2020, he set a goal to finish the initial work by 2021, which also did not come to fruition. The most recent update came in October 2022, when Martin stated he was about 75% done with the manuscript. By November 2023, he had completed 1,100 pages, a figure he had already mentioned in December 2022 on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert. In a December 2024 interview, Martin acknowledged the possibility that he may never complete The Winds of Winter in his lifetime.
Winds of Winter Length
The Winds of Winter is expected to span around 1,500 pages. As of November 2023, Martin had written approximately 1,100 pages and indicated there were "hundreds more pages to go." The final two books in the A Song of Ice and Fire series are projected to exceed 3,000 pages combined. If The Winds of Winter reaches 1,500 pages, it will surpass the current longest book in the series, A Dance with Dragons, which was just over 1,000 pages in its hardcover edition.
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, resolving the cliffhangers from the fifth book early on. Martin has stated that the book will open with two significant battles: one in the ice between Stannis Baratheon and Roose Bolton around Winterfell, and another 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 intersect "in a way," according to Martin. Both characters will play substantial roles, with Tyrion striving to survive amidst the unfolding chaos, and Daenerys embracing her Targaryen heritage. The Dothraki will feature prominently, and significant events are expected at The Wall. Martin has also teased an "interesting take on unicorns." He has warned readers to expect a darker tone, reflecting the harshness of winter in the world of A Song of Ice and Fire.
Winds of Winter Characters
As of 2016, Martin confirmed he would not introduce new point-of-view characters in The Winds of Winter. 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
While not officially confirmed, it is highly likely that Daenerys Targaryen will return as a POV 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 a POV character.
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Winds of Winter: Book vs. TV Show
The Winds of Winter will diverge significantly from the narrative seen in Game of Thrones. Martin has indicated that characters who died in the TV series will not necessarily meet the same fate in the books, and vice versa. New characters will be introduced, and those absent from the screen will have pivotal roles. In a 2022 blog post, Martin elaborated on these differences:
What I have noticed more and more of late, however, is my gardening is taking me further and further away from the television series. Yes, some of the things you saw on HBO in Game of Thrones you will also see in The Winds of Winter (though maybe not in quite the same ways)… but much of the rest will be quite different.
He emphasized the novels' larger scope and complexity, mentioning characters like Victarion Greyjoy, Arianne Martell, and Jon Connington, who did not appear in the show but will have significant impacts in the books. Martin also noted that the fates of characters like Lady Stoneheart, Young Griff, and Jeyne Poole will unfold differently in the novels. Furthermore, he teased a major twist in The Winds of Winter involving characters, one of whom was dead in the show by the end of Season 5 but remains alive 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 around 1,500 pages or more. Martin has described the ending as likely to be "bittersweet" rather than purely happy. No release timeline has been set for this final volume.
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 additional 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 is a producer for House of the Dragon and AMC’s Dark Winds.
For more information on the A Song of Ice and Fire series, check out our guide on how to read the Game of Thrones books in order.
