Fans may finally have their hands on the long-overdue sixth book of "A Song of Ice and Fire" late this year if the latest leak is to be believed.
A New York City bookstore Strand recently included George R.R. Martin's "The Winds of Winter" among the most popular book releases and listed a specific release date. The post has since been edited, but it stayed online long enough for fans like Redditor alchak to notice.
According to the user, the report originally stated that "The Winds of Winter" would arrive on Sept. 6 before it was changed to "fingers crossed." Most commenters were quick to dismiss the post, claiming it may be a "mistake, or a joke, or a misunderstanding" again just like the past rumors. Still, as Strand is a reputable retailer that has been there since 1972, there is a reason to believe the listing may be somewhat credible.
It is worth noting, however, that bookstores including online sites generally have a placeholder for popular unreleased books, which is not necessarily the official release date. This could very well be the case with the recent "The Winds of Winter" "leak."
Martin, who has been taking his time in writing the "Game of Thrones" book series, has yet to confirm the completion of its sixth installment. He has previously debunked rumors that he is sitting on the finished book for some reasons, saying he will announce the release himself once the book is ready.
Apart from "The Winds of Winter," Martin is also working on a two-volume prequel titled "Fire and Blood" that centers on the Targaryen dynasty. The first book does not have a specific release date either, and he is not sure which of the spin-off and the "A Song of Ice and Fire" installment would arrive first. He did say, though, that at least one Westeros book would hit the shelves this year. If he is feeling generous, he may even roll out both.
As Martin teased, "Who knows...A boy can dream."
