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

George R.R. Martin's *The Winds of Winter*, the sixth book in the highly anticipated *A Song of Ice and Fire* series, remains one of the most eagerly awaited works of fiction. Following the 2011 release of *A Dance with Dragons* (Book 5), its creation has spanned over a decade, a period that saw HBO air eight seasons of *Game of Thrones* and two seasons of its prequel, *House of the Dragon*. While Martin continues his work, let's delve into everything we know about *The Winds of Winter*, from its anticipated length and publication timeline to its characters and key differences from the television adaptation.

**Jump to:**

• Release Date
• Length
• Story Details
• Book vs. TV Series

A Song of Ice and Fire Box Set

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

Winds of Winter Release Date

Unfortunately, there's no official release date or even a window for *The Winds of Winter*. Initial hopes for completion by October 2015, aiming for a March 2016 release ahead of *Game of Thrones* Season 6, proved optimistic. Subsequent deadlines in late 2015 and late 2017 also passed without the manuscript's completion. A 2021 target was mentioned in 2020, but that too, didn't materialize. In October 2022, Martin reported being approximately 75% finished. However, by November 2023, the reported page count remained at 1,100, the same figure mentioned in December 2022 and December 2024. In a recent interview, Martin acknowledged the possibility that he may not complete *The Winds of Winter* within his lifetime.

Answer
See Results

Winds of Winter Length

Estimates place *The Winds of Winter* at around 1,500 pages. As of November 2023, Martin reported writing approximately 1,100 pages, with hundreds more to go. He has indicated that the final two books in the series will collectively exceed 3,000 pages. If it reaches 1,500 pages, it would surpass *A Dance with Dragons* as the longest book in the series.

Winds of Winter Story

This section avoids spoilers beyond character names. *The Winds of Winter* will continue the narrative threads from *A Feast for Crows* and *A Dance with Dragons*. Martin has stated that the book will open with two significant battles: the conflict between Stannis Baratheon and Roose Bolton near Winterfell, and the battle in Meereen between Daenerys Targaryen and the slavers. Daenerys and Tyrion's paths will intersect, though they remain largely separated throughout much of the book. The Dothraki will have a substantial role, and significant events will unfold at The Wall. Martin has also hinted at an "interesting take on unicorns." Overall, he anticipates a darker tone, with things worsening before improving.

The 25 Best Game of Thrones Episodes

Winds of Winter Characters

As of 2016, Martin planned to avoid introducing new point-of-view characters. 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, and Jon Connington. Daenerys Targaryen's return as a POV character is highly likely. Other potential POV characters include Davos Seaworth, Samwell Tarly, and Melisandre. Jeyne Westerling's appearance in the prologue has been confirmed.

House of the Dragon Season 2 First Look Images

Winds of Winter: Book vs. TV Show

Significant differences exist between *The Winds of Winter* and *Game of Thrones*. Martin has confirmed that character fates will diverge considerably. Characters who died in the show may live in the books, and vice versa. New characters will be introduced, and those absent from the show will play crucial roles. He highlights the inclusion of POV characters like Victarion Greyjoy, Arianne Martell, Areo Hotah, Jon Connington, and Aeron Damphair, as well as important secondary characters like Lady Stoneheart and others. He also notes differences between book and show versions of existing characters, such as Yarra and Asha Greyjoy, and Euron Greyjoy. Martin emphasizes a major plot twist involving a character dead in the show but alive in the books.

A Dream of Spring and Other Future Works

*A Dream of Spring*, the planned seventh and final book, is also anticipated to be 1,500 pages or more. Martin suggests a bittersweet ending. Beyond *A Song of Ice and Fire*, he's working on a second Targaryen history volume, additional *Dunk and Egg* novellas, and continues his involvement with *Wild Cards*, *House of the Dragon*, and *Dark Winds*.