How Did The Game Of Thrones Books End

How Did the Game of Thrones Books End?

Okay, let’s talk about something that’s probably been on your mind if you’re a fan of Westeros: how do the A Song of Ice and Fire books, the ones that inspired the Game of Thrones show, actually end? It’s a question with a pretty complicated answer, mainly because, well, the story isn’t finished yet! That’s right, unlike the TV show, George R.R. Martin’s books don’t have a final, set-in-stone ending. We’re still waiting for the last two books, The Winds of Winter and A Dream of Spring, to find out the true conclusion. However, we can still explore where the story left off, what major events happened, and how the book plot differs from what you saw on TV.

Where We Left Off: A Dance with Dragons

The most recent book we have is A Dance with Dragons, which came out way back in 2011. Think of it like the end of a super long season of TV, but with more characters and way more twists. This book set a lot of things in motion, but also left many storylines hanging. Let’s see where some of our favorite characters ended up:

Key Characters and Their Fates (As of A Dance with Dragons)

Here’s a quick rundown of what happened to some major players. Remember, these are the book versions, and they can be quite different from the show:

• Jon Snow: Jon is brutally stabbed by his own Night’s Watch brothers at Castle Black. His fate is left very uncertain, with his last vision being of his own blood in the snow. This is similar to the show, but book fans expect his resurrection to be quite different.
• Daenerys Targaryen: After taking over the city of Meereen, Dany struggles to rule. Her dragons are becoming increasingly wild, and she faces a lot of resistance. She also encounters Drogon who takes her away from Meereen after an assassination attempt and flies to the Dothraki sea. She does not return to Meereen or begin her trip to Westeros until the end of the book.
• Tyrion Lannister: Tyrion is on the run, having killed his father, Tywin. He ends up traveling to Essos and joins forces with Daenerys, or so he intends. He doesn’t directly meet her by the end of this book. He is in the company of Illyrio and a young man called Aegon Targaryen, whom Varys claims to be the real heir to the Iron Throne.
• Arya Stark: Arya is training as a Faceless Man at the House of Black and White in Braavos. She is becoming more skilled in the art of disguise and assassination. She’s far away from Westeros, on her own journey.
• Sansa Stark: Sansa is still in the Vale, disguised as Alayne Stone, and playing a political game with Lord Baelish (Littlefinger). He seems to have some pretty dark plans for her.
• Bran Stark: Bran continues his journey north of the Wall, learning more about his abilities and the history of the land. He becomes closer to the Three-Eyed Raven, which is very different from the show.
• Cersei Lannister: Cersei is imprisoned by the Faith Militant in King’s Landing for her many sins. She is waiting for her trial, which does not happen until the next book,

Key Differences Between the Books and the Show

It’s super important to realize that the books and the show tell the story in some very different ways. Here are a few major differences to keep in mind:

• Character Arcs: Many characters’ storylines take very different turns in the books. Some characters who are alive in the show are dead in the books, and vice versa. Some characters are much more important in one than the other.
• Pacing and Events: The books have much more detail and a slower pace than the show, with more characters and more complex storylines. The plotlines are sometimes totally removed or cut out of the show.
• “Young Griff”: A major difference is the existence of a character called Aegon Targaryen in the books. He is said to be the son of Rhaegar Targaryen, who everyone thought was killed in his infancy. Varys and Illyrio Mopatis claim that they kept him safe in order to bring him back to Westeros to claim the Iron Throne. This character does not exist in the show.
• Lady Stoneheart: A resurrected Catelyn Stark, known as Lady Stoneheart, leads a band of outlaws in the Riverlands, seeking revenge on anyone who wronged her family. She is a major character in the book but does not exist in the show.

The Unfinished Story: What We Know and What We Don’t

Now, for the tricky part: since the story isn’t finished, we can only speculate about where it’s going. This is where fan theories, interviews with George R.R. Martin, and careful reading of the books come into play. Here are some of the big questions we’re still waiting to have answered:

Major Unresolved Questions

These are the questions that keeps book fans up at night.

• What will happen with Jon Snow? Will he be resurrected? If he is resurrected, how will this change his personality? What will his role be in the wars to come?
• Will Daenerys finally get to Westeros? How will she use her dragons? What will her rule of Westeros be like? Will she be a tyrant or a good ruler?
• Who will be the final contender for the Iron Throne? Is it Aegon, Daenerys, or someone else entirely? Or will the Iron Throne be destroyed?
• How will the White Walkers be defeated? What role will Bran, Jon, and the others play in the final battle? What is the role of magic?
• What is the true fate of many characters? There are so many plots, that it is hard to understand where each individual character may end up.

George R.R. Martin’s Hints and Plans

George R.R. Martin has given some hints about his plans for the last two books. He’s said that the ending will be “bittersweet” and that not everyone will get a happy ending. He has also said that there will be further storylines, and a big focus on the Starks. He’s also said that there will be many deaths and some shocking surprises.

Theories and Predictions

Because of the wait for new book releases, fan theories have become a very popular part of the A Song of Ice and Fire community. Here are some of the common ones:

Common Fan Theories

Here are some popular theories that are circulating among the fandom:

• Jon Snow is Azor Ahai: This theory posits that Jon is the legendary hero who will save the world from the White Walkers. It is related to the prophecies of ice and fire.
• Aegon Targaryen is a Fake: Many fans believe “Aegon” is not really Rhaegar’s son, but a pretender, a pawn in a bigger game. They may believe that he is actually a Blackfyre, an offshoot of the Targaryen house that had contested for the Iron Throne in the past.
• The Others are not completely evil: Some fans believe the White Walkers, or the Others, might have a more complex motivation than simply destroying all life, they may have a reason for their actions.
• The ending will be more politically focused: Rather than a grand battle of good and evil, the ending may focus more on the political machinations in Westeros.

Why the Books Matter: A Different Ending to Look Forward To

Even though the show is finished, the books are still important for several reasons. They provide a deeper and more nuanced story and they may offer an alternate ending. With more storylines and characters, there are many things that were cut from the show that the readers will experience. For book fans, The Winds of Winter and A Dream of Spring are highly anticipated and will probably give us a whole new look at Westeros.

The ending of the Game of Thrones books is still a mystery, but the anticipation of that mystery is what keeps so many fans engaged. The final books promise to be an experience that is both familiar and surprising and will make up the true ending to the epic story of Westeros.