The Winds of Winter
The Winds of Winter is the planned sixth and penultimate novel in George R.
The Winds of Winter is the planned sixth and penultimate novel in George R. R. Martin’s epic fantasy series A Song of Ice and Fire. It has been in development since 2011 and, as of January 2026, had not been published. Martin has said he is still working on the manuscript and has reported around 1,100 pages completed.
Background
The Winds of Winter is the next planned installment in George R. R. Martin's A Song of Ice and Fire series. The series is a high-profile epic fantasy franchise and also served as the literary basis for HBO's Game of Thrones.
Development status
Martin has discussed the book's progress in public updates over several years. Available reports in 2026 indicate that the manuscript is still unfinished, with approximately 1,100 pages completed.
Place in the series
The novel is described as the sixth and penultimate book in the series. It is expected to continue storylines that were left open at the end of A Dance with Dragons.
Reception and anticipation
The book has attracted exceptional attention because of its long development time and the popularity of the series. It is widely described as one of the most anticipated books in modern publishing.
Key facts
- The book is intended as the sixth novel in A Song of Ice and Fire.
- It follows A Dance with Dragons, which was published in 2011.
- Martin has said he is still writing the book and has reported about 1,100 pages completed.
- No official publication date has been announced.
- The novel is expected to continue major plot threads left unresolved in the earlier books.
- It is one of the most anticipated unreleased fantasy novels.
The book has a large Canadian readership through the international popularity of A Song of Ice and Fire and Game of Thrones, but it has no specific Canadian origin or setting.
Frequently asked questions
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References
- Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Winds_of_WinterSupports: Identifies the book as the planned sixth and penultimate novel in A Song of Ice and Fire, gives genre, status, and notes reported page progress as of 2026.
- IGN — https://www.ign.com/articles/the-winds-of-winter-book-release-date-story-characters-newsSupports: Confirms no release date, identifies the book as the sixth installment, and reports Martin’s later progress updates including around 1,100 pages.
- Goodreads — https://www.goodreads.com/en/book/show/12111823-the-winds-of-winterSupports: Describes the book as the forthcoming sixth novel in the series and summarizes Martin’s comments on unresolved plot threads.