The Winds of Winter, the eagerly awaited sixth installment in George R.R. Martin's epic A Song of Ice and Fire series, remains one of the most anticipated 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 intervening 13 years, HBO has not only completed its original series, Game of Thrones, but also launched the first two seasons of its spinoff, House of the Dragon.
As Martin continues to craft the next chapter of the fantasy saga, we've gathered all the latest details about The Winds of Winter. From insights on its length and expected release to key story elements and notable differences from the television series, here's what you need to know.
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 confirmed release date or window for The Winds of Winter. Initially, Martin and his publishers aimed to complete the manuscript by October 2015, hoping for a March 2016 release ahead of Game of Thrones: Season 6. However, this timeline was not met, and subsequent deadlines in 2015 and 2017 also passed without a finished book. In 2020, Martin set a goal to finish the initial draft by 2021, which he did not achieve. His last public estimation came in October 2022, when he reported being about 75% done. By November 2023, he confirmed having written 1,100 pages, the same number mentioned in a December 2022 appearance on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert. In a December 2024 interview, Martin candidly acknowledged the possibility that he might never complete The Winds of Winter in his lifetime.
Winds of Winter Length
The Winds of Winter is projected to be around 1,500 pages long. As of November 2023, Martin had written approximately 1,100 pages and noted that he had "hundreds more pages to go." He has mentioned that the final two books in the series will together exceed 3,000 pages. If it reaches 1,500 pages, The Winds of Winter will surpass A Dance with Dragons, the current longest book in the series at 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 previous books. Martin has promised a dramatic start, opening with two major battles: one in the ice between Stannis Baratheon and Roose Bolton near Winterfell, and another in Meereen between Daenerys Targaryen and the slavers of Yunkai. In a 2014 interview with EW, Martin hinted that Daenerys Targaryen and Tyrion Lannister's paths will intersect "in a way," though they will spend much of the book apart. He also confirmed the return of the Dothraki and significant developments at The Wall. Additionally, Martin teased an "interesting take on unicorns" in the narrative. He warned fans that the story will take a darker turn, aligning with the ominous title, The Winds of Winter.
Winds of Winter Characters
As of 2016, Martin confirmed he does not plan to introduce new point-of-view characters in The Winds of Winter. Here's a list of characters who will have chapters from their perspectives, based on Martin's released preview chapters, blog posts, and public readings:
- 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 also have a point-of-view chapter. Other potential POV characters include Davos Seaworth, Samwell Tarly, and Melisandre. Jeyne Westerling, Robb Stark's wife, 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 Game of Thrones television series due to the books' larger scope and cast. Martin has stated that characters who died in the show will live in the books, and vice versa. New characters will also play important roles. In a 2022 blog post, Martin elaborated on these differences, noting that his "gardening" approach to writing has taken the book series further from the TV adaptation. He highlighted characters like Victarion Greyjoy, Arianne Martell, and Jon Connington, who are absent from the show but will have significant roles in the books. Martin also teased a major twist in The Winds of Winter involving characters who were dead in the show by the end of Season 5 but are still alive in the books.
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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 over 1,500 pages. Martin has hinted at a bittersweet ending, though no release timeline exists. Alongside finishing The Winds of Winter and preparing for A Dream of Spring, Martin is working on a second volume of his Targaryen history, potentially titled Blood & Fire, and additional stories in his Tales of Dunk and Egg series, which will serve as the basis for HBO's upcoming Game of Thrones spinoff, Knight of the Seven Kingdoms. Martin also continues to edit the Wild Cards series and produce 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.
