Here's the link to the sample.He added, "And no, just to spike any bulls--t rumors, changing the sample chapter does NOT mean I am done. See the icon up above? Monkey is still on my back... but he's growing, he is, and one day..." Spoilers for Game of Thrones: Season 6 and for the released chapter continue below.
What's interesting about this chapter is that many of the characters either are dead on Game of Thrones or simply aren't in it. It follows the perspective Arianne Martell (who isn't a character in the show), the daughter of Doran Martell (who is now dead on the show), on her journey to meet with Jon Connington (who isn't in the show), a member of the Golden Company who serves the apparently still living son of Rhaegar Targaryen, Aegon (also not in the show). The chapter offers an interesting set-up to a conflict at Storm's End that likely will be ignored or consolidated on Game of Thrones.
End spoilers.Martin has previously released The Winds of Winter chapters featuring Arya Stark ("Mercy"), Sansa Stark ("Alayne"), Tyrion Lannister, Barristan Selmy, Theon Greyjoy and another on Arianne Martell. It's unclear when The Winds of Winter will be released; Martin's last update came in January, when he announced the book wouldn't be out before the start of Season 6.
When IGN talked to Martin in February, he teased that there is a big twist coming up in the forthcoming novel that won't be able to play out on Game of Thrones -- because it involves a character already dead on the show. "It’s something that involves a couple characters one of whom is dead in the show but not dead in the books. So the show can’t do this, unfortunately," he said.
Game of Thrones, meanwhile, airs Sundays at 9 p.m. ET/PT on HBO.