This article is being repromoted in light of the Game of Thrones series finale. For more on the finale, read our review of “The Iron Throne” as well as our full Game of Thrones ending explained.
Update 04/15/2019: Game of Thrones author George R. R. Martin has offered further insight into the difference between his planned final books and the HBO TV series.
During an interview with 60 Minutes, he said that the show, created by David Benioff and D. B. Weiss, “would have to run another five seasons” for it to be completely faithful to the story he has lined up for the final books in the A Song of Ice and Fire series, Winds of Winter and A Dream of Spring.
Source: IGN.com How the Game of Thrones' Books' Ending Will Compare to the Show