One of the most captivating mysteries leading into The Winds of Winter is the actual author of the Pink Letter. Game of Thrones fans will remember the moment in the season 5 finale when Jon Snow was brutally stabbed to death. In A Dance With Dragons, this moment occurs after Jon received a threatening letter from Ramsay Bolton, claiming to have defeated Stannis Baratheon in battle and captured Mance Rayder. Angered by the smarmy, taunting letter, Jon announces that he’ll be marching south to reclaim the North from the Boltons. This leads to the mutiny and Jon’s death, though book readers still wonder how or if he’ll return.

Jon Snow’s resurrection is among the top Winds of Winter theories, along with discussion about the Pink Letter. While Game of Thrones simplified political conflicts, George R.R. Martin’s novels have a lot more going on in the North, leaving several characters with the motivation to send the letter. Of course, Ramsay himself can’t be ruled out as a possibility, but there are clues in the letter’s language that indicate other possibilities. Mance Rayder, who died earlier on in the TV version, has a motive to send it. So does Stannis Baratheon, who isn’t defeated as the letter claims.

6Stannis Baratheon

Stannis could use the support of Jon’s forces and Stark heritage to help him win the North.

Stannis Baratheon is one of the Game of Thrones characters most likely to die in The Winds of Winter, but not necessarily at the hands of the Boltons like the letter implies. Like in the show, Stannis has led his campaign south toward Winterfell, though when he is last seen, Stannis indicates that he has a plan to defeat his enemy. It’s also important to note that Stannis has captured Theon Greyjoy and Jeyne Poole, who are referred to in the letter. Jeyne Poole is believed to be Arya Stark.

No one has a better motive for Jon to ride south than Stannis Baratheon, who could utilize extra wildling and Night’s Watch troops for a clear victory in the North. Assuming he isn’t defeated as the letter claims, he’s capable of writing it. The biggest flaw in the Stannis theory is that he abides by a strict code of honor and wouldn’t resort to such deception to bring Jon to his side. Unlike the Game of Thrones version, George R.R. Martin’s Stannis Baratheon is far more serious about his morals and values. It’s also plausible that he doesn’t need Jon to defeat the Boltons.

5Ramsay Bolton

Ramsay’s name is on the paper, and Jon doesn’t question his handwriting.

Ramsay Bolton is, of course, a possible suspect, given that the Pink Letter is signed by his name. Regarding its assembly, comparisons can be made to his previous letters, which he’d written in blood and sent skin. Prior, he’d sent a letter to Asha Greyjoy with these qualities. While the taunting nature clicks with his style, there are language choices, bits of information that Ramsay isn’t known to possess, and inconsistencies. If Ramsay had defeated Stannis as he claimed, he would have Theon. The name “Reek” is also not widely known, and using it in a letter to Jon is strange.

It can be said with certainty that the battle didn’t occur as described in the letter, but that doesn’t omit Ramsay from writing it. He could be lying out of anger for Theon and Jeyne escaping. His writing the letter in anger could also explain the inconsistencies. Not to mention, Jon isn’t thrown off by the handwriting, which implies that it could be Ramsay’s, since he’s seen it before. Also, if Ramsay had Mance imprisoned, he could have used him for information.

4Melisandre

Melisandre could be running an Azor Ahai test on Jon.

Melisandre has mysterious motivations, and there are two possibilities for why she’d want to send the letter to Jon. If she believes Jon is Azor Ahai, this would be an opportunity to prove it, either on the battlefield or through his death and resurrection. The other option is that she’s doing the dirty work to bring Stannis aid. The biggest flaw in the Melisandre theory is that she isn’t knowledgeable of many of the points described unless she’s seen them in visions. These visions would be far more precise than hers realistically are.

3Asha Greyjoy

Asha Greyjoy might prefer Jon in power in the North over Stannis.

One of the more outlandish Pink Letter theories is Asha Greyjoy, also known as Yara Greyjoy in Game of Thrones. As mentioned, Asha has received letters from Ramsay and is familiar with his tone. She has information from Theon and Stannis’ camp, and her motivation would be to bring Jon south to help win the battle. Jon is a more familiar force to Theon, and their relationship from childhood could be more favorable to her than Stannis. It’s a dicey motivation, making her an unlikely suspect. But anything is possible in A Song of Ice and Fire.

2Wyman Manderly

Wyman Manderly wants a Stark ruler in the North.

Wyman Manderly is an integral player in the North in the novels who’s actively plotting against the Boltons and who hopes to establish a Stark king to unite the land. Wyman has access to information regarding Stannis, Mance, and the spearwives and has spent enough time in proximity to Ramsay to emulate his style. Wyman has shown a willingness to use deception and would have a motive for trying to trick Jon into rallying men to ride south and defeat the Boltons. Even if Wyman supports Stannis, there’s no one better to unite the North than Ned Stark’s son.

1Mance Rayder

The language of the Pink Letter suggests Mance could have written it.

In Game of Thrones, Mance Rayder is burnt alive at the order of Stannis Baratheon after the wildling refuses to bend the knee. In A Dance with Dragons, this event is fabricated by Melisandre. Jon discovers that Arya Stark (Jeyne) is allegedly being wed to Ramsay Bolton, and Melisandre offers to send Mance to Winterfell to rescue her. Since Jon has Mance’s son captured, Mance is willing to do so and heads south with the six spearwives to find Arya.

Language theories lean toward the wildling King-Beyond-The-Wall, Mance Rayder, being the author of the Pink Letter. Phrases like “false king” and “black crows” point to Mance, and it makes sense that he’d want the wildlings to come south to support him. However, when Mance was last seen, Theon and Jeyne escaped Winterfell, and Mance was seemingly captured. If he’s caught, he likely wouldn’t be in a position to write the letter.