'Winds of Winter' spoilers: Author confirms show spoiled a brutal death

“Winds of Winter” author has confirmed that “Game of Thrones” Season 5 has already spoilt a brutal death of an important character. Fans of the book series were hopeful that the next book in “A Song of Ice and Fire” would be released before the next season of the TV series, but they should now prepare for more spoilers.

[Spoiler alert]

Author George R.R. Martin has confirmed a major death in the next book in the commentary of “Game of Thrones” Season 5, Den of Geek reports. The commentary is available in the Blu-ray edition of the season and it includes details about how some of the major scenes were filmed and other behind the scenes information.

Martin confirmed that it was always his intention to make Stannis (Stephen Dillane) and Melisandre (Carice Van Houten) sacrifice Shireen Baratheon (Kerry Ingram) to the Red God. The character was burned alive in Season 5, with Stannis hoping that the sacrifice would help him gain a victory against the Boltons.

In the end the brutal death did not have the desired effect that Melisandre and Stannis had hoped. Instead, the tiered and worn army of Stannis was thoroughly routed by the Boltons and Stannis himself lost his life.

Both Shireen and Stannis are still alive in “A Song of Ice and Fire” book series. Martin appears to have confirmed Shireen’s death in “Winds of Winter,” but it is still not clear if Stannis will lose his life in the book series too.

Martin and the producers of the TV series have stated multiple times in the past that the show and the books are diverging. It is not necessary that the show will spoil the books going forward. Some of the dead characters on the show may continue to live in the book series and vice versa.

With the premiere episode of “Game of Thrones” Season 6 fast approaching, Martin is putting in more efforts to complete the book. However, “Winds of Winter” is not expected to be released before the first episode of the show airs.