George R.R. Martin
Co-executive producer George R.R. Martin arrives for the season premiere of HBO's "Game of Thrones" in San Francisco, California March 23, 2015. Reuters/Robert Galbraith

Things will not be pretty in “Winds of Winter,” George R. R. Martin warned at the Guadalajara International Book Fair. The author has apparently written some “dark chapters” and teased that some characters will have to face some challenging times ahead.

Martin took the stage and answered fan questions for over an hour in Mexico. The author revealed at the event that his next book in “A Song of Ice and Fire” contains “a lot of dark chapters.” He has been warning about winter arriving for 20 years, the author reminded. Now that it is finally here he explained that this is a time when the cold and darkness fills the world and things die.

Some of the characters are in a “very dark place,” Martin teased. The author said that this book will not be a “happy feel-good” story that some readers may be expecting. This story, like many other stories, will see things get worse before they get better, according to Martin.

One of the fans asked Martin about the relationship of Brienne of Tarth and Jaime Lannister. The author replied that it is “evolving” in “Winds of Winter.” He said the relationship started off as being antagonistic, but they are getting to know each other. He said the fans will need to continue to read the books to see where that ends.

One city that the fans will not get to see in the upcoming book is Ashhai. Martin, however, said that the fans will get to know more about the mysterious city in the future books. Details about the city could be revealed through the point of view of Melisandre, who has been there. The character may think back about her time in Ashhai in her chapter.

Martin is eager to finish “Winds of Winter” and the book after that, but explained that he also has other commitments such as writing more “Dunk and Egg” stories and working with HBO for more TV shows. The author did not say when he expects to finish the book and release it to the public. A video of the full interview of the author at the event has been posted on YouTube.

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