Game of Thrones has now come to an end after the final episode of season eight aired earlier this week.
Now many fans are turning the attention back to the books that the TV show is based on.
Writer George R.R. Martin still has two more novels planned for his A Song of Ice and Fire series, but it has been a long wait since the last one was published.
Here is everything you need to know about the next book The Winds of Winter and when you can expect it to be published.
When is The Winds of Winter release date?
George R.R. Martin has refused to say when he expects his newest book to be finished, and told Entertainment tonight: ‘I’ve given up on giving dates because I give one and then I miss it and everybody gets mad.
‘It’ll be done when it’s done.’
The most recent book in the A Song of Ice and Fire series was A Dance with Dragons, which was first published in 2011, around the same time that season one of the TV show first aired.
Since then A Game of Thrones has produced eight seasons, and reached the conclusion of the story before the next book has been released.
Back in 2011 he had originally estimated that it would take him around three years to write, but his progress has been delayed by distractions like the TV show, and several spin-off books like Fire & Blood and The World of Ice and Fire.
In 2016, George R.R. Martin confirmed that he had missed a deadline with his publisher, and he later dropped all other projects to focus on writer The Winds of Winter.
George then confirmed that the book would not be released in 2018, but since then he has remained silent on when it could be expected as he puts all his focus on finishing it.
There were rumours that the final two books in the series were already finished and that George was waiting until the HBO TV show had finished before releasing them.
George has since denied the claims and said in a blog post: ‘Why would I sit for years on completed novels? Why would my publishers – not just here in the US, but all around the world – ever consent to this?
‘They make millions and millions of dollars every time a new Ice & Fire book comes out, as do I. Delaying makes no sense.’
What can we expect from The Winds of Winter?
George R.R. Martin has already released a few sample chapters from the new book including chapters for Sansa Stark, Arya Stark, and Theon Greyjoy.
He also confirmed that there would not be any new viewpoints added for The Winds of Winter, and both Areo Hotah and Melisandre are both set to receive new chapters after having their first viewpoint in A Dance with Dragons.
In a Dance with Dragons readers discover various new twists leading into the next book, including some that don’t feature in the TV show.
This includes the revelation of Aegon Targaryen, Danerys’ nephew being alive, although it’s also possible that he is an impostor trying to claim the crown.
Also, Stannis Baratheon is preparing to fight against Ramsey Bolton at Winterfell, while Brienne of Tarth encounters Lady Stoneheart.
The book ends with Varys killing both Maester Pycelle and Kevan Lannister at King’s Landing, and it seems like he is preparing to help Aegon Targaryen become the new King of Westeros.
In a recent blog post George also hinted that the books could end a bit differently to the TV series, saying: ‘I am working in a very different medium than David and Dan, never forget. They had six hours for this final season. I expect these last two books of mine will fill 3000 manuscript pages between them before I’m done.’
‘There are characters who never made it onto the screen at all, and others who died in the show but still live in the books’.
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