The Game of Thrones ending will not be reproduced in full in the books. George R. R. Martin has said that some events may overlap with HBO's adaptation, but several characters' fates and the routes leading to the conclusion will differ. That does not mean the ending of A Song of Ice and Fire is already known: the two remaining novels were still unpublished as of October 19, 2026.
That distinction matters. The television series ended in 2019 after eight seasons. The novels follow their own continuity, with characters and conflicts that never reached television or were adapted in substantially different ways.
What did George R. R. Martin actually say?
In May 2019, shortly after the series finale aired, Martin answered the question of whether the endings would be the same or different with a string of alternating affirmative and negative responses. In his post An Ending, he explained that he was writing in a different medium and that the two planned books had room for characters absent from the show. His statement therefore did not confirm that every television scene would recur.
In July 2022, he was more specific. In A Winter Garden, Martin said his writing was taking him further and further from the television version. According to him, some events seen on HBO would also appear in The Winds of Winter, though not necessarily in the same form, while other events would not happen in the books. He also said that not every character who survived the show would survive the novels and that some on-screen deaths would not be repeated.
In January 2026, speaking to The Hollywood Reporter in remarks later cited by Entertainment Weekly, the writer again discussed significant differences. He said he had planned to kill more characters than the series did. He also said he could not envision a happy ending for Tyrion and that an earlier plan involved Sansa's death, though he admitted he might reconsider. These are statements about writing intentions, not completed chapters or irrevocable confirmations.
Why are the books and the show already different stories?
Martin points to structural differences rather than just changes to the final episode. Characters with substantial book storylines but no complete television equivalents include Lady Stoneheart, Arianne Martell, Victarion Greyjoy and Jon Connington. The storyline involving Young Griff also matters in the novels. Moreover, Martin has emphasized that the show's Euron Greyjoy is very different from the version he wrote.
These branches affect alliances, conflicts and narrative possibilities. It is reasonable to expect them to influence the path toward the ending, but that observation cannot support a certain prediction about who will win, rule or die in the books.
Are Bran, Daenerys, Jon, Sansa and Tyrion's final fates confirmed?
Spoiler warning: the following table reveals events from the final Game of Thrones episode, aired in 2019. It does not spoil any unpublished book endings.
| Character | What happens in the HBO series | What is known about the novels' ending |
|---|---|---|
| Bran Stark | He is chosen to rule the Six Kingdoms. | His definitive literary ending has not been published. |
| Daenerys Targaryen | She dies after Jon Snow stabs her. | There is no published confirmation that she will meet the same fate. |
| Jon Snow | He is sent to the Night's Watch and is shown heading beyond the Wall. | His ultimate fate in the novels has not been confirmed. |
| Sansa Stark | She becomes queen of an independent North. | Martin said in 2026 that he had considered killing her but might change his mind; neither option is a fixed ending. |
| Tyrion Lannister | He becomes Bran's Hand of the King. | Martin said he could not envision a happy ending for him, without revealing a definitive outcome. |
There is thus a difference between an event shown on television, a possibility mentioned by the author, and an ending published in a book. Even Martin's statements should not be treated as finished pages, since he has also described his willingness to rethink plot directions while writing.
Which books have been published, and which remain?
Five novels in the main series have been published. The most recent is A Dance with Dragons, originally released on July 12, 2011, according to Penguin Random House's catalog. The sixth, The Winds of Winter, remains unpublished; the planned seventh, A Dream of Spring, is intended to conclude the saga.
As of October 19, 2026, neither book has an officially confirmed publication date. In April 2026, US publisher Bantam denied an alleged leak suggesting a secret release of The Winds of Winter. That denial did not establish a new release window. Martin's remarks about his progress and writing difficulties also do not amount to a publishing announcement.
What remains fan theory?
The idea that Martin had already fixed every fate in HBO's final season goes further than his public statements allow. He acknowledges overlaps between the versions but has not provided a public, definitive map of every protagonist's ending. Likewise, claiming that all fates will be reversed conflicts with his statement that some things will remain similar.
Until the novels are published, the most precise answer is this: the book ending will have major differences, may preserve elements of the series, and remains unknown in its central details.
Sources and references
- George R. R. Martin: An Ending (May 20, 2019)
- George R. R. Martin: A Winter Garden (July 8, 2022)
- Entertainment Weekly: 2026 interview remarks and publisher denial (April 13, 2026)
- Penguin Random House: A Dance with Dragons publisher listing
- TVLine: The Iron Throne series-finale recap (May 19, 2019)
- The Week: The Winds of Winter publication timeline, updated September 21, 2026
