Until now, author George R.R. Martin still has not revealed a release date for his upcoming novel, "The Winds of Winter." It has gone on for too long that HBO's adaptation of his novel series, "Game of Thrones," has already extended well beyond the source material. However, that has not stopped plot rumors from circulating.

Martin is known for his broad imagination and penchant for killing off beloved characters just when readers begin to get attached to them. It is a literary trope with whom the author has become most associated. And while speaking at the Guadalajara International Book Fair, Martin revealed that more deaths are coming, which does not come as a surprise at this point.

"Winter's the time when things die. And you know, cold, and ice, and darkness fills the world," he said.

And although character deaths are inevitable, there has been recent talk of a certain fan-favorite getting the axe in "The Winds of Winter." Fans were introduced to the capable and feisty Bear Island ruler, Lyanna Mormont, in season 6 of "Game of Thrones." And even though Bella Ramsey is set to reprise her role in the upcoming installment, her "The Winds of Winter" counterpart may not fare very well.

It has been speculated that Lyanna will perish in the upcoming novel. It remains to be seen if the HBO fantasy series will imitate the novel, especially given the fact that it has strayed from the material before. However, fans will surely grieve the loss either way.

A release date for "The Winds of Winter" has yet to be announced. Martin has been working on the novel for a long time, and rumors of his time being taken up by other commitments have also surfaced.

On the bright side, another widely speculated notion is that the delay is being caused by Martin's last book in the series, "A Dream of Spring." It has been rumored that the author is finishing both books in order to release them simultaneously, hence, the release date setback.

Right now, though, nothing can be confirmed for sure. For this reason, readers are advised to take this news with a grain of salt.