George R.R. Martin has delivered a potential killing blow to anyone hoping the long-awaited next Game Of Thrones book will be releasing in 2018.
The next instalment in the author’s A Song Of Fire And Ice saga titled Winds Of Winter, has almost become mythic due to its repeated delays, with the last book A Dance With Dragons being released in 2011.
While interacting with fans on a recent Not A Blog post however, Martin practically confirmed we won’t be seeing Winds Of Winter in 2018 – because he’s busy writing other GOT books.
Asked by a fan what he had planned for 2018, Martin said how he was close to finishing the first volume of his Targaryen family history spin-off series, Fire and Blood.
Another fan however got to the crux of the matter, asking if the book will release before or after Winds Of Winter.
Martin then casually delivered the blow, replying: ‘F&B will be in two volumes. Vol 1 before [Winds Of Winter], vol 2 after.’
Essentially, Martin is focussed on getting the first volume of Fire And Blood out the gate in 2018, indicating Winds Of Winter has been placed on the backburner.
The book’s long delayed release is also particularly painful considering the show has overtaken the books, meaning our next dose of Game Of Thrones won’t be until the show’s return in 2019.
It was previously speculated Winds Of Winter could be released in September of this year, after a date appeared on the website of major bookstore.
In the meantime, we’ll have to cling to the increasingly wild fan theories over the Night King.
Game Of Thrones season 8 is expected to release in 2019.
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