The series, A Song of Ice and Fire, which the show Game of Thrones is based on, does not have a finished ending. George R.R. Martin is still writing the final two books, so the answer to ‘how did game of thrones book end’ is that it doesn’t, yet.
The question, “how did game of thrones book end,” often pops up, and it’s understandable. The TV series wrapped up, but the books are a different story. George R.R. Martin’s A Song of Ice and Fire saga is still ongoing.
Many fans are still eagerly waiting for The Winds of Winter and A Dream of Spring. They want to experience Martin’s intended conclusion to the epic tale. It’s important to understand that the show’s ending isn’t the book’s ending.
How Did Game of Thrones Book End?
Okay, let’s dive into the real question that’s been on many minds: How did the Game of Thrones books actually end? It’s a bit of a tricky question, because, well, they haven’t… yet! The TV show famously finished, but the book series, A Song of Ice and Fire, by George R.R. Martin, isn’t complete. We have five fantastic books, but we’re still waiting on the last two, The Winds of Winter and A Dream of Spring. So, instead of talking about a definite ending, we’re going to explore what we know so far and what might happen based on the existing books. Get ready, because there’s plenty to discuss!
The Story So Far: What We Know From The Published Books
Before we even start thinking about the potential end, it’s important to remember where the books left us. The story is vast and complicated, but let’s break it down. We’re talking about a world filled with powerful families, dragons, magic, and a whole lot of political intrigue. It’s much more than just the fight for the Iron Throne.
Key Characters and Their Arcs (Up to Book 5)
Let’s look at some of the main players and their situations at the end of A Dance with Dragons, the last book published:
- Jon Snow: He is the Lord Commander of the Night’s Watch, but he just got stabbed by his own men in what is an apparent act of betrayal. Is he dead? Maybe not, and the possibility of magic saving him is definitely there. The book hints that he might be resurrected somehow, considering his unusual parentage. He is a pivotal character in this whole tale.
- Daenerys Targaryen: She’s in Meereen, ruling the city, but things aren’t easy. She has dragons, but it’s hard to keep everything under control. She faces rebellions and doesn’t have a great grasp of how to rule, her arc is quite different from that of the show by this point. She rides Drogon away to the Dothraki sea and encounters a Khallasar at the end of Dance.
- Tyrion Lannister: He has escaped from King’s Landing after being falsely accused of murdering Joffrey. He has traveled across the sea, and is now travelling with a group of mercenaries and trying to find Daenerys, and he believes that she is the only ruler that could bring peace and prosperity to the realm.
- Cersei Lannister: She is in a bad place. She was forced to do the walk of shame through King’s Landing by the High Sparrow, who holds a great deal of religious power at the time. She is stuck in the Red Keep, she has lost her authority and she is humiliated. She is filled with rage and wants revenge.
- Arya Stark: She is in Braavos, training to become a Faceless Man. She’s changing her identity, but still dealing with the emotional fallout from the loss of her family and she is conflicted.
- Sansa Stark: She is currently disguised as Alayne Stone, living in the Vale with Littlefinger. She has learnt much of politics and plotting from Baelish, and seems to be growing into a shrewd and cunning woman.
- Bran Stark: He is beyond the Wall, training to become a greenseer. He’s learning about his special powers and the magic of the world. He’s deep into the lore, and is not involved in the wars or politics, which is what makes him such a interesting point of view.
The Political Landscape
The political climate is super messy. The Seven Kingdoms are still in disarray. There’s no clear leader, many different factions are fighting each other, and the threat of winter and the White Walkers is looming large. King’s Landing is ruled by a child, Tommen Baratheon, which is manipulated by religious zealots, with no control over the realm. The North is in shambles. Many important characters have died, others are scattered, and alliances are constantly shifting. The battle lines of the ongoing wars are constantly shifting.
What We Think Might Happen: Theories and Predictions
Since we don’t have the final books, fans have come up with all sorts of theories. These aren’t spoilers, but fun ideas about what might happen. George R.R. Martin is known for surprising us, so everything is always open to change. But let’s have a look at some of the most interesting possibilities.
The White Walker Threat
The White Walkers, the real threat of A Song of Ice and Fire, are mostly in the background at the moment, but are building up their forces in the north. Many readers believe that they are not just some simple monsters, but rather, they have a complex origin and motivation. How are they related to the Children of the Forest and the long night? We just don’t know. This is something the final books are expected to answer. It’s predicted that the big conflict between humans and the White Walkers will be a major focus. We will see the culmination of the magic and the cold, the fire and the ice of this whole tale.
Who Will Claim the Iron Throne?
This is the question that has kept people hooked. In the books, there are so many characters who could potentially claim the Iron Throne, unlike the show where there are only a handful. It’s a game of alliances, betrayals, and, of course, dragons. Some characters may not even be alive in the final act, but there are a few who have a strong potential to claim the Iron Throne. Will anyone even want to rule over a devastated land? That’s a big question too.
- Daenerys Targaryen: She is the obvious choice, as she possesses dragons, and has the lineage for it. But is she truly suited for the crown? She has been struggling to maintain a city of her own in Essos. What makes people think she can rule over an entire kingdom?
- Aegon Targaryen (Young Griff): Another claimant has emerged in the later books, with a strong lineage, a better claim to the Iron Throne than Daenerys, and the knowledge of ruling in the manner that the Westerosians expect from their king. However, is he even a true Targaryen?
- Other Claimants: There are other characters who have some minor claim, or who could potentially claim the Iron Throne through marriage or conquest. However, the most likely outcome of this entire story, is the Iron Throne itself is no more, and the land is divided into different territories.
The Role of Magic
Magic plays a very important part in the world of A Song of Ice and Fire, and we see it through a lot of characters who have special abilities like Bran, Melisandre, and the Red Priests. It’s very possible magic will play a crucial role in how the story ends. We could see more prophecies and hidden truths come to light, with some characters finding their ultimate purpose and meaning.
The Fate of the Starks
The Starks have suffered so much in the books so far. Will they ever find peace and happiness? Many believe that they will play a big role in the end. Maybe one of them will take control, or perhaps they’ll find a way to establish a new order. Arya, Bran, Sansa, and maybe even Jon, will be very important by the end of this tale, their separate stories will most likely converge to some extent in the final acts.
Differences Between the Books and the Show
It’s really important to remember that the books and the show, while based on the same core story, have actually gone down very different paths. The show had to make changes, combine characters and story lines, and create a shorter version of the plot in order to fit into the screen. This means that what happened on the show might have absolutely nothing to do with what happens in the books. The book series is a much more expansive story with more characters, plot lines, and a slower pace.
Character Differences
Many characters in the books have much different character arcs. For example, Tyrion and Daenerys have quite different stories from what is portrayed on screen. The show has many characters in similar situations, but in the books they have completely different paths. This makes it hard to figure out how some story lines will end when the characters are in completely different situations. Some characters who died in the show are still alive in the books, with a lot more to explore before they meet their fate.
Storyline Divergences
Some plot points were left out of the show entirely. For instance, the entire plot line of Aegon Targaryen is missing, who might be very important in the ending. The plots in the North, with Sansa, Littlefinger and the politics of the Vale also play out very differently in the books, and may very well change the course of things. There are many storylines in the books that the show couldn’t accommodate, and these storylines may play key roles in the ending.
Why Is It Taking So Long?
The question on everyone’s mind: Why aren’t the books finished yet? Well, George R.R. Martin is a very careful writer. He builds a complex world, and he wants the story to be perfect. He doesn’t want to rush, he wants to make sure he gets everything right. And, let’s be honest, writing huge fantasy novels is a massive undertaking! It takes a lot of time, research, and concentration. This is a truly massive undertaking, with a great deal of detail in the story, and the world-building is so rich that it requires a lot of focus. The long wait is because he doesn’t want to disappoint his readers, he wants it to be the best possible outcome for his magnum opus.
What Will the Ending Look Like?
That’s the million-dollar question. Will the ending be bittersweet? Will it be tragic? Will we see a complete upheaval of the existing social structure? Or will it be a completely unexpected ending? The truth is, no one really knows except George R.R. Martin. We just have to be patient and wait for the final books to come out. There are so many possibilities and we can only speculate on what the real ending may look like. It may also be vastly different from what most fans expect from the story. This is what makes it such a complex and exciting saga to follow.
Ultimately, the ending to A Song of Ice and Fire is still unwritten. We can look at the clues, speculate about potential outcomes, and wonder what will happen. The books have left us with so much to think about, and it is a testament to the complex storytelling and worldbuilding of George R.R. Martin. We eagerly await the final installments of this epic fantasy series, but for now, we must be satisfied with the incomplete story that we have, and the many theories about what is yet to come.
How will George R.R. Martin’s final “Game of Thrones” books end?
Final Thoughts
The book series, A Song of Ice and Fire, remains unfinished; thus, it has no definitive conclusion. However, the last published book, A Dance with Dragons, ends with many characters in precarious positions. We must remember George R.R. Martin still works on the final volumes.
The television show concluded differently. Ultimately, the question ‘how did game of thrones book end’ cannot be answered fully yet. We simply have to wait for the author to reveal his true conclusion.
