What Happens After Game Of Thrones In The Books

What Happens After Game of Thrones in the Books?

Okay, so you loved (or maybe hated) the Game of Thrones TV show, right? But what about the books? George R.R. Martin’s A Song of Ice and Fire series is where it all began, and guess what? The story isn’t finished! The show went its own way, especially at the end. So, a big question remains: What happens after Game of Thrones in the books? Let’s dive into the unwritten future of Westeros, explore the characters’ fates, and talk about all the exciting stuff George R.R. Martin still has in store for us.

The Unfinished Story: Where the Books Stand

First off, it’s super important to know that the book series isn’t complete. We’re currently waiting for the sixth book, The Winds of Winter. The series is intended to conclude with a seventh book, A Dream of Spring. Unlike the TV show, these books will likely explore the storylines of characters and locations left mostly untouched by the show’s final seasons. The show wrapped everything up in a more conclusive way, while the books are more open-ended. This means that when The Winds of Winter finally comes out, it might not feel like a direct continuation of the final season of Game of Thrones that we watched on television.

Think of it this way: The TV show was like a fast train, speeding toward a final destination, sometimes skipping a stop or two. The books, on the other hand, are like a long, winding road trip where we can take our time, stop to see the cool sights, and maybe even take a different path altogether. This difference is crucial when we talk about where the book series might go.

The Fate of Key Characters: Divergences from the Show

The TV show made some big changes to characters’ storylines and their destinies. Let’s compare where some key figures stand in the books versus where they ended up on screen. This will help us understand where the book series might take them, and these potential divergences are one of the main reasons the anticipation for The Winds of Winter is so high.

Daenerys Targaryen

In the show, Daenerys… well, we all know what happens there. But in the books, Daenerys is still in Meereen, grappling with political challenges and the aftermath of the city’s uprising. She’s not even close to setting sail for Westeros yet, and her actions are morally much more ambiguous. The books provide greater insight into her Targaryen heritage and how it affects her choices. We also see that her dragons are quite unruly and hard to control, which adds to her difficulties in ruling Meereen. The dragons’ destructive potential in the books is even more prominent than on the show.

• Current Book Status: Managing Meereen, facing resistance and internal struggles.
• Potential Future: Her journey to Westeros is still a long way off, and her actions will continue to test her morality.

Jon Snow

Book Jon is very different from the show’s version, particularly after his “death” at the end of A Dance with Dragons. Jon gets stabbed by the men of the Night’s Watch, but in the books he may have warged into his direwolf, Ghost, as hinted by the prologue of the book. Whether he returns from beyond is still in question. While Jon’s destiny in the show is quite clear, in the books his story is more uncertain, with a lot of mystery surrounding his resurrection. It is also suggested that he might actually be Azor Ahai or The Prince That Was Promised, a legendary savior, and more of this prophecy is likely to be explored in later books.

• Current Book Status: Stabbed by his own men at Castle Black, his body lying at his watch.
• Potential Future: The mystery of his survival and his possible role in the great war remains a major plot point.

Tyrion Lannister

Show Tyrion becomes the Hand of the Queen and advisor, and in later season’s we see that he is very loyal to Daenerys Targaryen. However, in the books, Tyrion has traveled across the sea to join Daenerys but they have not actually met yet. He’s spent a lot of time with other characters such as Young Griff who claims to be Aegon Targaryen. Book Tyrion is still somewhat morally grey, and the books have explored his thoughts and motivations very differently from the show. Book Tyrion is a lot more complex and manipulative. His actions are not always motivated by a good intention. The character’s motivations and future alliances remain quite unclear.

• Current Book Status: In Essos, still traveling across the sea, with Young Griff and is yet to meet Daenerys.
• Potential Future: His relationships with other characters, especially Daenerys and Young Griff, will play a major role in future events.

Sansa Stark

Book Sansa is still in the Vale under the guise of Alayne Stone, and her storyline is very different from what happened to show Sansa. She’s learning political maneuvering under the wing of Petyr Baelish (Littlefinger). There is no forced marriage to Ramsey Bolton like in the show, and the focus on her story is more on her political development. The character is a lot more cunning and intelligent in the book version, and we are more likely to see Sansa taking on a bigger political role as the books continue.

• Current Book Status: Posing as Alayne Stone in the Vale, under the guidance of Petyr Baelish.
• Potential Future: Her political acumen will become more and more prominent, and she will likely play a major role in the politics of Westeros.

Other Characters

Many other characters are also in very different places in the books. For instance:

• Bran Stark: He is still north of the wall learning about the powers of the old gods.
• Arya Stark: She is still in Braavos training as a Faceless Man.
• Cersei Lannister: Her position is quite vulnerable in the books, especially due to her religious conflict with the Faith of the Seven.

Major Plot Points: What the Books Could Explore

The TV show cut some major storylines and characters that are very likely to play an important part in the books. Here are some of those plot points that will likely be explored more thoroughly when The Winds of Winter is finally released:

The North

The story of the North is very different in the books compared to the show. For instance, there is a group of Northern lords who believe that Rickon Stark is the true lord of Winterfell. This group is led by Wyman Manderly, who is a very powerful lord. The North is also dealing with a lot of other threats, such as the wildlings. All these factors make the storyline in the North a lot more complicated than in the TV show.

Young Griff

This is a very important character and a major addition from the books. Young Griff, who also goes by Aegon Targaryen, claims to be the son of Rhaegar Targaryen and Elia Martell. This is a huge point of contention, and he is the main reason why Tyrion crosses the sea in the book series. If he is indeed a true Targaryen heir, the throne of Westeros will become even more contested. The true parentage of Young Griff is still one of the biggest mysteries in the books.

Dorne

Dorne, a region in the south of Westeros, is a key area in the book series. The show didn’t develop this storyline as thoroughly, but the books provide a deep dive into their political structure and the motives of the Martell family. We have met characters like Arianne Martell who has her own plans for the Iron Throne. We’ll definitely see more of Dorne’s plot in The Winds of Winter.

The Others

In the books, the Others are still very mysterious, and we have yet to learn more about their motivations. They are an impending threat, and we will definitely get a deeper understanding of them and the long night in the last two books. The books haven’t revealed much about the Great Other. We may get more insight into their culture and reasons for invading Westeros.

Themes and Motifs: The Deeper Layers

George R.R. Martin’s books delve into complex themes and motifs that are not as thoroughly covered in the TV show. These themes add layers of depth and meaning to the story. These are some of the key themes that we will likely see explored more.

The Nature of Power

The books really make us question what it truly means to have power. We see many characters struggle with the power they have and what it means for their morality. George R.R. Martin really focuses on how power can change people, corrupting them or maybe even forcing them to make some difficult decisions. This is explored in so many different characters’ storylines, especially in the case of Daenerys Targaryen.

The Consequences of War

The books do not shy away from showing us the harsh realities of war. It portrays the violence, the losses, and the long term impact of the battle on individuals and the land itself. We see that even after the war, many will still struggle and life will not simply get better for the people of Westeros. The effect of war on individual lives and on communities is a constant theme in the books.

Moral Ambiguity

No characters in the book are purely good or evil. Most of them fall into moral grey areas and their decisions are often driven by their circumstances and their personal desires. This is a very important theme that George R.R. Martin explores through his many complex characters. Unlike some of the characters on television, the characters in the book have very complex and conflicting motives that drive their actions.

The Waiting Game: What We Know About The Winds of Winter

The biggest question for fans is, of course, when will The Winds of Winter be released? George R.R. Martin has been working on the book for many years, and has given updates and insights into his progress throughout the process. He’s described the book as very complex and the story as much more difficult to wrap up, and we all look forward to see how the last two books in the series will tie up all the loose ends and the unresolved conflicts.

While we wait, we can be sure that The Winds of Winter will offer a very different experience from the final season of Game of Thrones, with new characters, storylines and an ending that may be completely different than what we have seen on television. George R.R. Martin is creating a rich and complex world that is different from the show, and we are all eagerly anticipating its release to know what really happens after Game of Thrones in the books.

The books continue to be a living, breathing entity. The difference in how the show decided to end and where the books are headed means that for us fans, the story of the Seven Kingdoms is far from over. The series will likely continue to surprise and entertain us with the release of these upcoming books.

In the end, the books are a different experience, with a lot more depth and complexity than the show was able to deliver. So, if you are a fan of the series, this is a great opportunity for you to go back and read the books to have a better understanding of what is truly happening in the world of Westeros.