Fans of George R.R. Martin's "Song of Ice and Fire" novels had to wait six years for the release of "A Dance with Dragons" in 2011 and fans are once again awaiting the release of its follow-up, "The Winds of Winter." According to Martin's publisher, in a report from Newsweek, the book may be taking a while but it is still on track.

In the report it is pointed out that the gap between the last book and "The Winds of Winter" is still 5 years, meaning it is not the longest that fans have had to wait for a new entry in the series. It is further stated that the book is still on track and that it may be able to launch on bookshelves in 2017, prior to the premiere of "Game of Thrones" season 7.

As previously reported, even Martin is disappointed at the book's delay and he did manage to cancel numerous public appearances in order to concentrate on finishing the book, since the task required more than writing but also editing and proof-reading. Despite this, the book did not launch before "Game of Thrones" season 6 premiered on HBO.

Australia Network News reports that the book, which is likely to be very different than "Game of Thrones" given that the HBO series had strayed from the books in its adaptation, will portray Daenerys Targaryen as a person teetering on the edge of madness, possibly turning her into another mad ruler like her father.

The books have touched on the subject of madness regarding the Targaryen royal family and it was also brought up to Daenerys in "A Storm of Swords." Her father, King Aerys, was also known as the Mad King and it would make sense that she may have the tendency of going crazy when the pressure of war becomes too much to handle.