"Game of Thones" fans are no strangers to waiting, seeing as their favorite author George R. R. Martin always takes his sweet time in releasing new material. However, Martin did give a clue as to when he will publish "Winds of Winter," the long-awaited installment to "A Song of ice and Fire" ("ASOIAF").

In a comment section on one of his personal blog posts, author Martin conversed with his readers regarding details of his planned book releases. They touched on the subject of "Fire and Blood," a two-volume book that will detail the entire history of the Targaryens. Martin said that "Fire and Blood" volume one is about to be completed, while the second volume is "hadly begun."

In the course of the conversation, a reader asked about when "Winds of Winter" will be published in relation to the "Fire and Blood" books. Fortunately, the author gave a concrete reply. Martin said that "Fire and Blood" has two volumes, and "Winds of Winter" will be published sometime between those two.

So in the expected release timeline, "Fire and Blood" volume one comes out first, followed by "Winds of Winter," and then "Fire and Blood" volume two.

Seeing as the first volume of the exhaustive Targaryen history is about to be completed, it is a safe bet that "Winds of Winter" will be following soon after.

Martin's statement dashed the hopes of fans eagerly expecting the "ASOIAF" installment to be released this year. It seems that the awaited installment will have to give way for a 2018 release of "Fire and Blood." Knowing Martin's publishing habits, it would seem too much to ask for two books in one year.

Martin's "A Song of Ice and Fire" is an epic fantasy saga that was often praised for its compelling story and believable world-building. It inspired the HBO hit series "Game of Thrones" which is now filming its eighth and final season.