The Winds of Winter Spoilers: 10 Fan Favourites Cut From George R.R. Martin's Next Book

George R.R. Martin has left fans hanging for over a decade on The Winds of Winter, the sixth instalment in his epic A Song of Ice and Fire series, and speculation is rife that ten beloved characters from earlier books Tywin Lannister, Robb Stark, Joffrey Baratheon, Khal Drogo, Oberyn Martell, Renly Baratheon, Ygritte, Robert Baratheon, Eddard Stark, and Viserys Targaryen will stay firmly in the grave when it finally drops.​

The HBO adaptation Game of Thrones raced ahead and wrapped up in 2019, killing off some figures who linger in Martin's published novels up to A Dance with Dragons, while speeding others to the chopping block much sooner. Readers who devoured the books first often recoiled at the show's divergences, like Catelyn Stark's resurrection as the vengeful Lady Stoneheart, absent from the screen.

Now, with Martin himself teasing more deaths in recent interviews admitting he once plotted Sansa's demise but might spare her thanks to her TV popularity these ten stand no chance of revival. Their stories ended brutally in the pages, and while echoes of their influence ripple through Westeros, physical returns look impossible.

The Winds of Winter's Irrevocable Losses

Tywin's end still packs a punch, even years after A Storm of Swords. Tyrion, freshly escaped from the dungeons by Jaime, cornered his father on the privy and unleashed a crossbow bolt over slurs about Tysha, Tyrion's lost wife. That shot didn't just fell the Lion of Casterly Rock; it shattered House Lannister's iron grip, leaving Cersei scrambling and the realm's power balance teetering. Tywin haunts the series still his strategies puppeteer events from beyond the grave but don't hold your breath for a spectral boardroom comeback in The Winds of Winter.​

Robb's slaughter at the Red Wedding defines betrayal in Martin's world. Lured to the Twins for Edmure Tully's nuptials, the Young Wolf watched Frey bannermen turn arrows on his men before Roose Bolton's blade pierced his heart. Decapitated, wolf-head sewn grotesquely in place, Robb's corpse screamed finality no warging tricks or resurrections here, unlike his mother's undead turn. The North weeps for him yet, but The Winds of Winter will mourn from afar.​

Joffrey's choked out his last on his wedding feast in that same book, pigeon pie and poisoned wine doing the deed. As Ser Meryn Trant futilely spooned his throat, the boy-king's clawing finger damned Tyrion in Cersei's eyes. His cruelty lingers in the power vacuums he left, but no encores for the sadistic monarch.

Ghosts Exiled From The Winds of Winter

Khal's flame sputtered early, in A Game of Thrones. A chest slash festered untreated until blood magic from Mirri Maz Duur catatonicked him; Daenerys ended it mercifully with a pillow before birthing dragons amid his pyre. That Dothraki horde dream died with him The Winds of Winter charts Dany's path without her sun-and-stars.

Oberyn's spectacle in A Storm of Swords mesmerised and horrified. The Red Viper speared the Mountain repeatedly, demanding Elia's murder confession, only for Gregor to pulp his skull mid-admission. Gore-drenched justice, but Oberyn's Dornish fire extinguishes there, his sisters carrying the grudge.

Renly's fell to shadow-assassination in A Clash of Kings, Melisandre's sorcery stabbing through his tent. War of Five Kings pretender, gone in a puff of magic mentions persist, but no royal resurrection.

Ygritte's arrow-riddled death at Castle Black broke Jon Snow. Cradled in his arms, her final breaths and 'You know nothing' echo through A Dance with Dragons. Wildling passion snuffed; she'll torment memories, not pages ahead.

Robert's boar-gored hunt in A Game of Thrones crowned his slothful reign's close. Ned penned the will as he bled out background titan still, flesh no more.

Eddard's beheading shocked from page one. Joffrey overruled mercy, Ice severing the honourable head. Winterfell's lord, paradigm of duty, reduced to a spike in King's Landing.

Viserys molten gold crown in Vaes Dothrak capped his beggar-king folly. Impatient for Drogo's army, he threatened Dany and paid with a screaming skull.

These cuts sting because Martin wields death like a maester's knife precise, irreversible, fuelling the living's chaos. Lady Stoneheart roams, but these ten? Buried deep. Whispers in taverns or dreams might nod their way, yet The Winds of Winter marches their shadows aside, propelling survivors toward spring's bloody dawn.

Fans clutch sample chapters, eyeing Euron and Stannis clashes, but these favourites' arcs snapped shut long ago. Martin's delays Fire & Blood spinoffs, TV consults only sharpen the ache. Still, when the book lands, it'll carve fresh wounds.