'The Winds of Winter' 2016 latest news: George R.R. Martin warns of death and darkness for the upcoming novel

George R.R. Martin could be feeling pretty great about his upcoming and much-delayed novel, "The Winds of Winter," as he continues to tease about it in recent weeks. A welcome treat for fans who have been clamoring for the book since almost "A Dance with Dragon" hit the store shelves back in 2011.

It is no secret that Martin has been dodging questions about the novel, more particularly a targeted release date in the year to the point that he gave a half joke and half warning about killing more Starks if he continues to be pestered with such queries.

But during his guesting stint in Guadalajara International Book Fair in Mexico, the veteran author entertained a couple of questions during a question-and-answer session in which a fan boldly asked about the book.

"There are a lot of dark chapters right now in the book that I'm writing," Martin gamely said. "It is called The Winds of Winter, and I've been telling you for 20 years that winter was coming. Winter is the time when things die, and cold and ice and darkness fill the world, so this is not going to be the happy feel-good that people may be hoping for. Some of the characters [are] in very dark places."

Now, while that may not sound good for fans and their respective favorite Westeros characters in terms of narrative, this tease is still gobbled up by many "A Song of Fire and Ice" fans. It could also potentially mean that Martin's growing comfort in addressing the project is an indication that he has everything sorted out, at least in terms of writing the book. Just last week before he flew south of the border, he left a note on his Livejournal sneakily sharing that it will be "a good few months " until he re-emerges again as he tidies "The Winds of Winter."

Rumors that the sixth novel from the famed fantastical saga is being lined up for release before its small-screen incantation, "Game of Thrones," debuts its seventh and penultimate season. Since the HBO juggernaut series has already been moved to a mid-summer of 2017 comeback schedule instead of its usual April airing, it makes for an enough time for Martin to polish "The Winds of Winter" and ship it out.

"In any story, the classic structure is, 'Things get worse before they get better,' so things are getting worse for a lot of people," Martin belatedly added referring to where the aforementioned narrative of the book will be going, But in retrospect, his parting comment is also applicable to the long waiting game that fans have to endure before they can get their hands on "The Winds of Winter."