The Winds of Winter is not an episode.
A nor'easter ( also northeaster ; see below ) is a macro-scale cyclone . Nor ' easters are usually accompanied by very heavy rain or snow , and can cause severe coastal flooding , coastal erosion , hurricane-force winds , or blizzard conditions . The Winds of Winter is the forthcoming sixth novel in the epic fantasy series A Song of Ice and Fire by George R. R. Martin . The previous installment , A Dance with Dragons , covered less story than Martin intended , excluding at least one planned large battle sequence and leaving several character threads ending in cliffhangers . `` The Winds of Winter '' is the tenth and final episode of the sixth season of HBO 's fantasy television series Game of Thrones , and the sixtieth overall .