George R.R. Martin Confirms ‘Game of Thrones’ Books Will End Differently Than HBO Series

George R.R. Martin is slowly getting closer to wrapping up the Game of Thrones book series. And for fans that weren’t “thrilled” with how the series ended, it sounds like they may like the book ending more.

Martin, 73, is current working on The Winds of Winter, which is the penultimate story in the epic fantasy series.

“I have been at work in my winter garden. Things are growing and changing, as does happen with us gardeners,” Martin writes in a new blog post. “Things twist, things change, new ideas come to me, old ideas prove unworkable. I write, I rewrite, I restructure, I rip everything apart and rewrite again, I go through doors that lead nowhere, and doors that open on marvels.”

“What I have noticed more and more of late, however, is my gardening is taking me further and further away from the television series,” Martin continues. “Yes, some of the things you saw on HBO in ‘Game of Thrones’ you will also see in ‘The Winds of Winter’ (though maybe not quite in the same ways)… but much of the rest will be quite different.”

“The novels are much bigger and much much more complex than the series. Certain things that happened on HBO will not happen in the books. And
vice versa.” Martin writes.

A Tale of Two Endings

George R.R. Martin knows that people will compare the ending of the novels and the series. And he completely understands why fans would do so.

“No doubt, once I am done, there will be huge debate about which version of the story is better. Some people will like my book, others will prefer the television show. And that’s fine, you pay your money and you make your choice.” Martin writes.

How would you like to see the Game of Thrones book series wrap up? What did you think about the ending of the TV series? Sound off in our comment section below!