George R.R. Martin warns of darkness and sadness in 'Winds of Winter'

It looks like the sixth book in George R. R. Martin’s A Song of Ice and Fire (AKA Game of Thrones) series is taking longer than expected. It’s highly unlikely that Winds of Winter will be released before the new season comes out on HBO next summer, so there will be no clues as to how things are going to go for the numerous kingdom’s characters.

There’s only one thing for certain; the story will get darker.

Martin revealed at the Guadalajara International Book Fair that we’re not in for a happy ending (though we’d be insulted if we were).

“There are a lot of dark chapters right now in the book that I’m writing,” Martin said. “It is called The Winds of Winter, and I’ve been telling you for 20 years that winter was coming. Winter is the time when things die, and cold and ice and darkness fill the world, so this is not going to be the happy feel-good that people may be hoping for. Some of the characters [are] in very dark places.

“In any story, the classic structure is, ‘Things get worse before they get better,’ so things are getting worse for a lot of people.

I’m not going to tell you how I’m going to end my book, but I suspect the overall flavor is going to be as much bittersweet as it is happy.”

He also shared that the complexity of his book is proving to be a bit of a pain. “Sometimes I look back and say, ‘Did it really have to be Seven Kingdoms?’” he said. “The Five Kingdoms of Westeros, that would have been good, right?”

The author has kept fans updated oh his progress to a certain extent and revealed that he is also working on the seventh and final book in the series, The Dream of Spring which he may release at the same time as the sixth book.

It’s taken him five years to finish a book previously, almost as long as it took Jon Snow to leave the bloody Wall. So for the sake of our health, we won’t be holding our breath.

Meanwhile across the seas in the Iron Islands (Ireland), Conor McGregor is said to be preparing for a role in Game of Thrones.

The UFC Lightweight Champion was apparently headhunted by HBO for a role in one of the remaining two seasons of the show, thanks to one of the directors being a huge UFC fan.

It’s not the first time famous faces have appeared on the show. Coldplay’s drummer Will Champion appeared as a drummer at the Red Wedding while Sigur Ros played as a three piece band at Joffrey’s wedding before he kicks them out.

Sure The Notorious probably won’t be making a bid for the Iron Throne but we bet he’ll be a solid eye-gauger.

Here’s a clip of McGregor sparring with The Mountain to whet your appetite: