Reddit What Will Happen to Roose Bolton in Winds of Winter

Game of Thrones has come to a polarizing conclusion with its series finale "The Iron Throne" — but the books the HBO series is based on, George R.R. Martin'due south A Vocal of Ice and Fire serial, remain unfinished, with no end in sight.

The Winds of Winter, the 6th book in what Martin hopes will exist a seven-book serial, yet has no planned release date. Martin says he volition just set a release date once he'south close to finished with the book — and he's still not finished, he confirmed again on Sunday, not long earlier the show aired its finale.

Martin's progress has been so slow that Game of Thrones showrunners David Benioff and D.B. Weiss take filmed and aired seven full seasons of their HBO adaptation since the last book came out in July 2011 (the testify debuted but a few months earlier, that April). In the process, they zoomed by Martin in his ain story and revealed several major twists that the author has been planning for years and even decades — including, it now seems, the long-planned catastrophe for the series.

"I don't remember Dan and Dave's catastrophe is gonna exist that different from my ending," Martin told sixty Minutes last month. He explained that, years agone, he walked the pair through his program for how the books will terminate. (However, Benioff and Weiss have made changes to Martin'south source material, so some of what nosotros've seen may not be volume spoilers at all.)

One small consolation to fans who've been waiting for years, however, is that a decent clamper of The Winds of Winter has actually already been released. Martin has posted the full text of seven chapters, and read some other 4 aloud at various events.

So here's a guide to the latest information on the release date, why it'due south taking Martin then long to finish writing, which chapters the author has already published (and where to discover them), and how much of the book the show seems to have already "spoiled."

1) When volition The Winds of Winter come out?

We don't know.

Martin's most contempo update on the book came Sunday, May 19, when he posted on his website that, contrary to contempo erroneous reports, The Winds of Winter "has Not been finished" — and that he is "working on" it.

He has non been especially forthcoming about his progress on the book or how close he thinks he is to finishing. It has at present been nearly eight years since the most recent book in the serial, A Trip the light fantastic with Dragons, was released.

2) Why is it taking Martin so long to write The Winds of Wintertime?

Clinton Gilders/FilmMagic/Getty

Martin himself is the but one who tin say, and in his telling, the biggest reason for the delay is that he has been struggling with the writing itself.

"You can blame my travels or my blog posts or the distractions of other projects and [his movie theater] the Cocteau and whatever, maybe all that had an touch," Martin wrote in a lengthy, self-flagellating blog postal service all the way back in January 2016. "You can blame my age, and peradventure that had an affect too." But, he continued, "If truth exist told, sometimes the writing goes well and sometimes it doesn't."

Indeed, to rebut accusations that he's lost interest in the series, Martin wrote that he was desperate to get The Winds of Winter out before Game of Thrones season six aired in spring 2016, and even set several deadlines to that consequence. "Unfortunately, the writing did non go every bit fast or also as I would have liked," he continued. "Every bit the suspicion grew that I would not make information technology afterward all, a gloom set in, and I establish myself struggling even more. The fewer the days, the greater the stress, and the slower the pace of my writing became."

It'due south worth noting that this slowness is not exactly new for Martin, though no book in the series has taken this long. He finished the first three relatively rapidly, but and so took five years to write book four (A Banquet for Crows) and nearly six years to write book five (A Trip the light fantastic toe With Dragons).

I think it's as well noteworthy that in book four and book five, Martin's writing way seemed to change. The first 3 books were taut, fast-paced thrillers, but beginning with A Feast for Crows, the footstep of the main story slowed downwardly. Martin added a plethora of new point-of-view characters and subplots, and seemed to grow more interested in cognitive, complex explorations of themes like the difficulty of governance and the aftermath of war.

Some readers love this new fashion and others find it dull, but whatever the case, it may well exist slowing down Martin'southward writing, every bit he now seems less interested in simply getting from point A of the plot to signal B efficiently, and more than obsessed with perfecting (in his mind) the work that it'due south now clear he'll be remembered for. (Peculiarly now that the TV series has revealed many of his points B.)

3) Just look, aren't there some chapters from The Winds of Winter floating effectually on the internet?

Indeed at that place are! Martin has officially released the full text of seven completed chapters as previews for the book. He also read some other four capacity aloud at conventions — and their contents take been dutifully summarized and posted on the net by fans who attended those events.

We don't know the order of these capacity in the terminal book — and the book volition begin with a prologue that Martin hasn't yet released — but if you want to devour the full-text versions correct now, here's where to find them:

1. Theon Greyjoy
2. Arya Stark ("Mercy")
3. Sansa Stark ("Alayne")
4. Arianne Martell (first affiliate)
5. Arianne Martell (second chapter)
6. Barristan Selmy: Released in the United states paperback version of A Trip the light fantastic With Dragons
7. Tyrion Lannister: Bachelor for free in the Earth of Ice and Burn app on iTunes or Google Play

The other chapters that Martin has read aloud at events, but non officially released the total text for, are:

• Another Tyrion Lannister chapter, summarized here
• Another Barristan Selmy chapter, summarized hither
• A Victarion Greyjoy chapter — at that place'due south a video of that reading here
• An Aeron "Damphair" Greyjoy chapter titled "The Forsaken," summarized here

Since Martin's longest book in the series so far contains 82 capacity, the fact that we've already seen 11 from Winds could hateful that well-nigh a 7th of the book is already publicly available in some grade.

4) I need my Game of Thrones fix, and then I'm going to read these chapters, but information technology's been years since I've read the books. Can you remind me how things left off, in comparing with the show?

Certain — here'southward where the major characters and storylines were at the conclusion of A Dance With Dragons:

In the North of Westeros:

Jon Snow, yet Lord Commander of the Night'south Scout, has just been repeatedly stabbed by his ain brothers afterward vowing to march south with an army of wildlings to fight Ramsay Bolton. His fate is unclear. Melisandre, Stannis'south wife Selyse, and his girl Shireen are all alive and nonetheless at the Wall, never having ridden due south with Stannis's army.

Stannis Baratheon is also alive, and preparing for battle against Roose and Ramsay Bolton near Bolton-held Winterfell. Theon Greyjoy just escaped the Boltons' abuse alongside Ramsay's bride — who isn't Sansa but instead a Northern girl named Jeyne Poole who'southward being passed off as "Arya Stark." These fugitives are now in Stannis'due south camp alongside Theon'due south sister, Asha (not Yara) Greyjoy. Likewise, several Northern lords ostensibly in the Boltons' camp are plotting against them. One, Lord Wyman Manderly, has sent Davos Seaworth on a mission to find the long-missing youngest Stark sibling, Rickon, and bring him out of hiding.

Bran Stark has traveled n of the Wall to the cavern of the Children of the Woods and the Three-Eyed Crow. He was final seen exploring his magical powers — skinchanging into animals, speaking through trees, and seeing visions of the past. Hodor and Summertime remain alive and well, every bit does Jojen Reed (or does he)? The White Walkers themselves, meanwhile, have not been seen on the folio since book three.

In the Southward of Westeros:

Sansa Stark remains rubber — well, relatively — in the Vale with Littlefinger, but since she's a wanted fugitive from the Iron Throne, she'south posing equally his bastard daughter "Alayne Stone." Littlefinger has increasingly gained influence over the Vale, and is plotting to ally Sansa not to Ramsay Bolton, but to "Harry the Heir," a strapping immature lad who will become Lord of the Vale should anything unfortunate befall the young and sickly Robert "Sweetrobin" Arryn. Littlefinger has also suggested that he plans to restore Sansa to ability in the North.

Jaime Lannister has been estranged from his sister Cersei since discovering that she had had diplomacy with other men. Then, after retaking Riverrun, Jaime was unexpectedly reunited with Brienne of Tarth, who claimed to have finally found the long-missing Sansa Stark. Just this is a lie — Brienne instead appears to exist unwillingly leading Jaime into a trap set past Lady Stoneheart, the resurrected Catelyn Stark. Stoneheart is now leading the Brotherhood Without Banners and is hell-aptitude on revenge confronting the Lannisters and Freys for the Cherry-red Wedding, and she holds Podrick Payne hostage. (Stoneheart was cut from the Television set adaptation.)

Queen Dowager Cersei Lannister has just been subjected to her "walk of atonement" ( the i we saw onscreen in Game of Thrones ' season v finale ) and is now sidelined from power in King'due south Landing and awaiting trial past the Faith (though she has the undead Gregor Clegane to protect her). Margaery Tyrell is also awaiting trial in the capital, but the Tyrell army has occupied the urban center to try to ensure her acquittal. Her brother Loras is said to accept been badly burned in boxing.

King Tommen, Cersei'south son, is notwithstanding on the throne, just he'due south much younger and not at all an contained actor in the books. Cersei'south uncle Grand evan Lannister had actually been running the show in Male monarch'southward Landing, just at the conclusion of the fifth book, he was murdered past Varys, who announced that he hoped to evangelize the Iron Throne not to Daenerys but to...

Aegon Targaryen! Await, who'south that? (Not Jon Snow!) Well, if you'll recall, back during Robert'south Rebellion, Dany'due south late older brother Rhaegar had two young children who were murdered by the Lannisters — or and so nosotros thought. Varys is at present challenge that he, in fact, managed to spirit baby Aegon to safe and has had him raised and educated in hugger-mugger, and so that he could be prepared to take over Westeros. Aegon is backed by the Gold Visitor, a formidable group of mercenaries. He was supposed to travel east and marry with Daenerys, merely he instead decided to turn w and invade Westeros without her. At that place is much fan debate nearly whether Aegon truly is who he claims to be, and this storyline, which was cutting completely from the Goggle box testify, looks to be a major part of The Winds of Wintertime.

In Dorne, Prince Doran Martell had a secret plan to ally with Daenerys Targaryen confronting the Lannisters, and sent his son Quentyn to suggest matrimony to her — but his plan went awry when Quentyn died in Meereen. Then Doran and his girl Arianne Martell (some other character cut from the prove) must at present determine whether to ally with Aegon instead. Meanwhile, some of the Sand Snakes are on their manner to Rex's Landing alongside Cersei's daughter Princess Myrcella (who is alive but had her confront badly scarred in an assassination attempt).

Euron Greyjoy — who in the books is a less clownish and much more sinister figure, with seeming magical ambitions — won the kingsmoot and was named king of the Iron Islands. He says he wants to marry Daenerys and use her dragons to conquer Westeros. Simply first, he and his Ironborn are pillaging the Tyrells' kingdom, the Reach — and they're threatening to accept over Oldtown, the urban center where Samwell Tarly has just arrived to begin his training as a maester. The Faceless Man Jaqen H'ghar (Arya'southward old friend) has also infiltrated the maesters' headquarters, for reasons unknown.

In Essos, the Eastern continent:

Arya Stark remains in assassinator preparation with the Faceless Men of Braavos, having merely carried out her first successful assassination for them. She frequently has dreams of her direwolf, Nymeria, who is leading an enormous wolfpack back in Westeros.

Daenerys Targaryen, after having flown away from Meereen on dragonback, is somewhere in the plains far away from the city. She has just been discovered by a group of Dothraki, just unlike on the Tv bear witness, this run into takes place while she's standing proudly beside her dragon, and then she may not finish up in their captivity.

Barristan Selmy is live and well and trying his all-time to run the urban center of Meereen, which is besieged past the slave masters in Dany's absence. Meanwhile, Euron Greyjoy'south vicious but uncomplicated brother Victarion Greyjoy is sailing toward Meereen with the Fe Fleet, hoping to spoil Euron'south plans by claiming Dany for himself. He has in his possession a magical horn given to him past Euron that can supposedly control dragons. We'll see if it works.

As for Tyrion Lannister, he'southward currently in the military camp of the slave masters who are besieging Meereen, but he recently escaped bondage by making a deal with a mercenary visitor, the 2d Sons. Tyrion'due south companions at this point are Jorah Mormont (who does not have greyscale) and a female dwarf named Penny. Tyrion hasn't really managed to meet Dany yet, and he's currently trying to convince the Second Sons to defect and fight with Dany'due south forces during the upcoming Battle of Meereen.

5) How much of The Winds of Wintertime has the HBO series spoiled?

It'due south difficult to say. We know that Martin told Benioff and Weiss in some detail virtually his plans for the major characters and the ultimate ending he had in mind for the series. "We saturday just down with him and literally went through every character and said, "So what'south the destination for Daenerys? And Arya?" Benioff revealed to Vanity Fair back in 2014.

(Warning, there are SPOILERS Ahead if you lot have but read the books and haven't watched contempo seasons of the TV show.)

And indeed, Benioff and Weiss have confirmed that certain twists in recent seasons of the prove — similar Shireen Baratheon'due south expiry past called-for and Hodor's origin story — came direct from Martin. Jon Snowfall'south resurrection, his true parentage, and his love matter with Daenerys are probable in this category too, as is the pair's ultimate fate.

Even so, in that location are three caveats here. First, the context and specifics of how these twists happen in the book may be dissimilar. For instance, Martin reportedly said at an consequence that the large Hodor reveal will happen in a dissimilar way in the books.

2nd, Martin may not have had solid plans for many characters and storylines when the evidence was filming. He does make up a lot every bit he goes along, and Benioff and Weiss have confirmed that when he told them about his futurity plans for the series, he left certain storylines "more open" than others. So for some characters, the showrunners could well have been making things up themselves, in the absence of a detailed programme from Martin. (Benioff and Weiss said in an interview with Deadline that they were working largely from scratch in flavour half-dozen, the offset mostly post-books season, "other than a few key things.")

Finally, Benioff and Weiss fabricated a great many changes to the plot of the novels. They've dropped some seemingly of import subplots and characters (like Aegon "Immature Griff" Targaryen and Lady Stoneheart) entirely, and condensed others. So it'south possible that Martin told Benioff and Weiss of his plans for some storylines, but that they decided to take their own tale in a different management.

Furthermore, nearly all of the chapters that accept been released from The Winds of Winter are wildly different from anything we've seen on the show to date. The Battle of Meereen, for instance, was dispensed with in about 15 minutes in flavour half-dozen of the Television set testify, only there are already 5 sample chapters of The Winds of Winter devoted to it, with very unlike characters taking key roles. If all y'all care about is who wins the battle, well, the show probably spoiled that fact (not that the outcome was seriously in question). But practically every detail of how it volition play out in the books will likely exist new.

And then fifty-fifty though some of Martin'due south biggest twists may accept lost a fleck of surprise by the time we finally see them on the page, I'm looking forrad to reading them regardless — and hopefully we'll have the chance to do and then someday before long. Or ever.

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Source: https://www.vox.com/2019/5/20/18631417/game-of-thrones-winds-of-winter-martin-release-date

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