Kit Harington stars in “Game of Thrones”

Winter may have come and gone here in North America, but for the citizens of Westeros, winter is still coming, and at an alarming rate. Dragons have evolved from myth to threat, self-proclaimed kings have been disposed of, and the safety of the realm is at stake. Luckily for us, the much-anticipated return of "Game of Thrones" is in sight. The new season of the critically acclaimed fantasy drama premieres Sunday, April 12, on HBO.

For those unaware, "Game of Thrones" is the television adaptation of author George R.R. Martin's seven-part fantasy novel series, A Song of Ice and Fire. While the first book in the series, "A Game of Thrones," was released in 1996, there has been little information presented as to when the sixth novel, "The Winds of Winter," will be released. In January, Martin's publisher stated that there was no new information on the expected delivery date of "The Winds of Winter," but it likely won't be in 2015.

Since then, Martin has canceled several appearances at various conventions, stating that he has too much to work on. Optimistic or not, fans hold mixed feelings -- the demand for new content is high, but the necessity of that content being flawless is greater. And let's be honest -- while Martin has joked that every time someone asks him when the next book will be completed he kills a Stark, we've learned not to poke the proverbial bear.

Season 4 focused heavily on the unraveling of the powerful Lannister family. The Lannisters, like their neighbors to the north, suffered their own version of the infamous "Red Wedding," which resulted in the poisoning and death of the greatly despised and twisted child-king Joffrey Baratheon (Jack Gleeson, "Batman Begins," 2005). With Joffrey dead, his younger brother Tommen (Dean-Charles Chapman, "Before I Go to Sleep," 2014) is set to take over his brother's role -- in all aspects. The royal tween will wed Joffrey’s widow, Margaery Tyrell (Natalie Dormer, “The Tudors”), who is now on her third fiancé, shortly after his coronation as king. Bad things do come in threes, as they say.

The Lannisters, however, are just one piece in the Game of Thrones. A major development in season 4 was set thousands of miles to the north, with Jon Snow (Kit Harington, "Pompeii" 2014) protecting the realm from the Wildlings, who intended to raid the Seven Kingdoms by passing through the Wall, an immense fortification made of solid ice. After the Wildlings’ failure to take the Wall, Jon’s plans to broker a peace with their leader, Mance Rayder (Ciarán Hinds, "Rome"), are immediately interrupted by the arrival of Stannis Baratheon (Stephen Dillane, "The Tunnel"), who plans to put Mance on trial for his crimes against the realm.

Season 5 will play out this trial and lay the groundwork for the future of the Wildlings, Stannis' claim to the throne, and Jon's inner struggle of sworn duty vs. his own beliefs.

Sophie Turner and Aidan Gillen as seen in “Game of Thrones”

It's important to remember that Jon, bastard by birth, is still half a Stark by blood. As for the Stark children who are still breathing, Arya (Maisie Williams, "Robot Chicken"), rumored to be dead, is in fact on her way across the Narrow Sea to the free city of Braavos, and Sansa (Sophie Turner, "The Thirteenth Tale," 2013) has fled to the Eyrie with the aid of Petyr Baelish (Aidan Gillen, "The Wire"). Still AWOL and believed to be dead, Bran (Isaac Hempstead Wright, "The Awakening," 2011) and Rickon (Art Parkinson, "Dracula Untold," 2014) won't be making an appearance in season 5.

This season will also expand upon the Martell family, which rules the independent nation of Dorne. The "Sand Snakes," a group of bastard daughters of Prince Oberyn Martell (Pedro Pascal, "Graceland"), seek retribution for the death of their father. Obara Sand (Keisha Castle-Hughes, "The Almighty Johnsons"), Nymeria Sand (Jessica Henwick, "Silk") and Tyene Sand (Rosabell Laurenti Sellers, "Mia and Me") will spend the bulk of season 5 plotting, misleading and eliminating all those who stand in the way of providing justice for their slain father.

Speaking of justice, season 5 will explore the responsibility of power in Daenerys Targaryen (Emilia Clarke, "Dom Hemingway," 2013), who is struggling to keep the peace in her conquered establishments. In retaliation of her forced authority and dragons murdering innocent civilians, a group of rebels known as the Sons of the Harpy begins a shadow war against Daenerys and her military. She may not be alone in this struggle, however, as one Tyrion Lannister (Peter Dinklage, "X-Men: Days of Future Past," 2014) will find himself upon Daenerys' shores after fleeing Westeros at the end of season 4.

In a recent interview with the Oxford Union, HBO's "Game of Thrones" creators Dan Weiss and David Benioff confirmed that once this season wraps up, the show and books will be on par.

"Luckily, we've been talking about this with George for a long time, ever since we saw this could happen, and we know where things are heading," Benioff said. "There might be a few deviations along the route, but we're heading towards the same destination. I kind of wish that there were some things we didn't have to spoil, but we're kind of stuck between a rock and a hard place. The show must go on ... and that's what we're going to do."

Indeed, the show must go on, and for fans of all things Westeros, the show must happen soon. Catch the season 5 premiere of "Game of Thrones" airing Sunday, April 12, on HBO.