'The Winds of Winter' release date, plot news: White Walkers' background may finally be unveiled; plus, why a Stark-Targaryen union is forbidden
Six seasons are already in on HBO's epic, fantasy-drama series "Game of Thrones" but the show is still awash with unanswered theories such as the parentage of Jon Snow (Kit Harrington) and the more pertinent rightful heir of the titular "throne." All of these are now expected to be addressed once the show premieres its seventh season — its purported penultimate installment.
And as all of these queries will undoubtedly find their route to clarity once the season premieres, none of these will fare well once George R.R. Martin's much-awaited novel "The Winds of Winters" hits the shelves. The book, which is set to close some of the most conflicting yet middling chapters and questions its fans have asked since its first book, is set to be a blockbuster of revelations.
One of the more frequently speculated theories is the existence of the often-troubling White Walkers. While most of them seldom appear on the screen on the TV adaptation, their presence is ever-permeating and infinitely more important in the released novels. Some have also speculated that the zombie-like creatures behind the wall are after all, not dangerous. Ultimately, "The Winds of Winter" will surely tackle their origin and motivation once the new entry gets unwrapped.
Meanwhile, the sixth book in the "A Song of Ice and Fire" is also slated to reveal why the union between a Stark and a Targaryen is forbidden. University Herald surmises that the union between the two houses would mean a fusion of both powerful families into a single entity.
True-blue fans know that the Targaryens have the power to will dragons while the Starks have the ability to control animals and other human beings. As such, the union between the two could spell trouble for their future enemies.
"The Winds of Winter" is tipped to hit the shelves in 2017.
