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L.L. Stephens

@triempery.bsky.social

1.8K followers 570 following 1.8K posts

L.L. Stephens, author of epic fantasy Triempery Revelations series and other SF&F fiction. SFWA member. Player of board games and painter of minis!

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L.L. Stephens @triempery.bsky.social · May 10

Five out of six books are now published! I'm hip deep in editing Book 6 for release in early 2026...

◾️Gods coming of age
◾️Transformations
◾️ Betrayals
◾️ Everything will be on the line

#epicfantasybooks #Sordaneon

Graphic shows all five published books of the Triempery Revelations series by L.L. Stephens: (from left to right) SORDANEON, THE KHELD KING, THE SECOND STONE, THE GOD SPEAR, THE WALLED CITY.

The main heading says "What changes him changes EVERYTHING.

The subheadings say (from left to right above each book): Dorilian inherited a god... Stefan a throne... Hans wanted to fix what they broke. He thinks maybe he did. Dorilian is about to find out.

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Reposted by L.L. Stephens

Tru Skies @trudieskies.readindiefantasy.com · 3h

Not done a #WIPSnips in a while, but we just happen to have a couple of dungeons in the end game 😂

A screenshot from my WIP, The Chosen Con, with the following text:

“If you’d come with us, sir,” said one of the Argents.
What now? They’d escort me to [redacted]—my—rooms and let me run riot alone? Lock me inside? We took the elevator down to the second level and entered a nondescript corridor lined with rooms.
No. Cells.
Oh, they’d brought me to the fortress dungeons. Of course, the Archons had their own private dungeons. Why wouldn’t they?

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Reposted by L.L. Stephens

[email protected] @darkspires.bsky.social · 3h

Kindle and Kindle Unlimited on all Amazons. Paranormal Romance with a twist.. Who is good and who is not? Will the seemingly evil kill? Or will the apparently good? One path leads to life, but which? www.amazon.com/gp/product/B...

Darkspire Reaches

Amazon.com: Darkspire Reaches eBook : Lesley, C.N.: Kindle Store

www.amazon.com

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L.L. Stephens @triempery.bsky.social · 5h

By the events of the final book readers witness the world's most disastrous arranged marriage, genocide, sorcery unleashed against cities and armies, and some affirming romances and friendships. One friendship changes Dorilian forever... and maybe it will be enough to save the Second Creation. Fin.

L.L. Stephens @triempery.bsky.social · 6h

Dorilian starts the series as a teen but grows into a man. His life sees the crumbling of a great empire--the Triempery--and the rise of a malevolent Aryati-imprisoned god. Along this path emerge other characters, evil Rill-obsessed cartels, a Time-spanning Wall (another of the Three), and trouble.

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L.L. Stephens @triempery.bsky.social · 6h

Leur and a human, Amynas, sought to grow the Leur godhead by creating a human-god hybrid, the Highborn. Dorilian is a descendant of that effort. The Highborn have gifts tied to the original hybrids, the Three. Dorilian's bloodline ties him to the Rill, a god-machine inhabited by one of the Three.

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L.L. Stephens @triempery.bsky.social · 6h

The series starts in Sordan, one of the Five Cities. Only three Cities are left. They were created by Leur, the Creation god, for an extinct race, the Aryati. The Aryati got too big for their britches age ago and destroyed the Creation. Leur sacrificed much of its godhood to create a Second World.

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L.L. Stephens @triempery.bsky.social · 6h

The main character of the series is Dorilian Sordaneon. The story follows him from his mother's murder (which he witnesses) when he is seven. Dorilian is... unusual. He is godborn, not completely human. But he is a little human and maybe human enough to not become a tyrant-god.

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L.L. Stephens @triempery.bsky.social · 6h

Sorry to get to this late. I could not imagine doing this on a phone.

My WIP is the Triempery series. Five books published (and you've been there for most of that journey) and the sixth book will be published in April. I'm wrapping things up!

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L.L. Stephens @triempery.bsky.social · 6h

After you look it up--it's quite a fascinating sport--take a look at the novel THE HORSEMEN, by Joseph Kessel. That book is the source inspiration (for me) for this game. I read the book as a teen and it left quite an impression!

L.L. Stephens @triempery.bsky.social · 6h

It's Book Quote Wednesday and the word is STRONG

Below is a key scene from SORDANEON, first book of the Triempery Revelations series. In it, Marc Frederick--a man Dorilian has considered an enemy--counsels him about strength and its price.

#WritingCommunity #WriteSky #Sordaneon #bookqw

Left side of image is book cover of SORDANEON, Book 1 of the Triempery Revelations series by L.L. Stephens. Cover shows a small lone figure facing a golden, fantastic city with a core of shining power.

Left side is a text excerpt from SORDANEON, showing a scene between Dorilian, the young MC, and older, wiser Marc Frederick:

“You are crueler than any blade to deliver hope only when hope is gone. He would have ruled this land in a way I never could, been truly just in a way I never could be. He would not have had to fight the way I did.” When Dorilian looked away, Marc Frederick laughed hollowly in recognition of the reason. “Oh, you think I fought because I wanted to, don’t you? You would think that, given your history. But think again—and take a good, long look at yourself when you do. Because you are less like him than you want to believe, and much—much—more like me. You fight because you can, because you are strong and tough and have the stomach for battle that others do not. Because others will look to you to fight their battles for them—and you will do it, because they will have convinced you that you must. You will fight until you have killed or enslaved or silenced them all, every perceived enemy, every people that does not speak and think and act as you think they should—and then you will step back one day and see what you have wrought. You will see that you are alone. You will have wanted to create a world for people like you, only to find that there are no others like you and never will be. But then it will be too late. You will have destroyed even hope.”

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L.L. Stephens @triempery.bsky.social · 7h

#WIPSnips The word for October 8 is DUNGEON

"Dungeons" come up a few times in the series but just this once in THE RILL LORD. Interestingly, Dorilian has not yet ended up in a dungeon--though he's often threatened with being tossed into one. As is recalled here...
#WritingCommunity #WriteSky

Screenshot of a text excerpt from THE RILL LORD, sixth and final book (April 2026) of the Triempery Revelations series by L.L. Stephens. The snip shows post-battle Dorilian relaxing with Robdan and relating his thoughts about the palace they've just taken:

With a sigh, Dorilian flung himself back upon the rumpled bed covers, the wings of his Armor spread across his broad chest like those of an exhausted eagle. He stared up at the flickering shadows on a ceiling traced with gold. “Have you noticed that this palace is a cold place? The ones who lived here are all dead now. All gone.”
Surprised by such melancholy, Robdan wondered what demons strove with the shadows of Dorilian’s memories. Stefan perhaps. It had been here, after all, somewhere in this vast palace, some tower room or deep dungeon, that Stefan had planned to incarcerate him—the same palace in which the ill-fated Sordaneon Hierarch Labran had ended his world-weary days. But Dorilian was thinking along different paths.
“This palace is hollowed, Robdan Aelfricson. One generation has passed, and all its history is unwritten.”
Robdan wished he had wise words to put to rest that sense of a past being lost. Even for him, Stauberg’s past dissolved into inconsequence, doomed by the finite limits of human memory. For Khelds the Malyrdeons had left behind only ancient, hallowed halls that, empty now, spoke in echoes of antiquity.
“Do you know,” Dorilian asked in a voice filled with pain, “I still hear his footsteps?”

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L.L. Stephens @triempery.bsky.social · 7h

#OctoberWorldbuilders 8: Does my MC play a sport?

Pelekys. This game played on horseback is loosely based on a combo of polo and buzkashi, with an ax instead of a goat.

A full game of pelekys is described in SORDANEON. Dorilian gets to play and tactics are on display. It's brutal. #epicfantasy

Yellow highlighted text on a background of brown and autumn trees; text offers a list of daily worldbuilding prompts for writers of fantasy fiction.

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L.L. Stephens @triempery.bsky.social · 7h

#FantasyIndiesSpooktober 8: Spooky month book recs

As a book vibe, "spooky" does nothing for me, so I read little in that vein. Here are two books that have stuck with me:

Odd Thomas, by Dean Koontz
Pet Seminary, by Stephen King

White text on a spooky background bordered by ghosts, blood and ghouls; text offers a list of daily writing prompts for authors of fantasy fiction.

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Reposted by L.L. Stephens

Rob J. Hayes - author of The God Eater Saga @robjhayes.bsky.social · 1d

As always seems happen, I published my list and immediately get an influx of books being published. :D

I've just updated the October list with 4 more new releases. Check it out.

robjhayes.co.uk/self-publish...

Self Published Fantasy Releases – October 2025

Visit the post for more.

robjhayes.co.uk

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Reposted by L.L. Stephens

Lucienne Diver @luciennediver.bsky.social · 1d

OMG, there is not enough caffeine in the world today.
Also, Read Banned Books!
pen.org/banned-books...

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L.L. Stephens @triempery.bsky.social · 1d

I think that's a good thing? I mean, it's the final book of the series so the stakes are pretty high! 😊

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L.L. Stephens @triempery.bsky.social · 1d

#WIPSnips The word for October 7 is SAFE

The opposite of "safe" is "danger" and in THE RILL LORD nearly every use of safe spoiled an imminent or in-progress danger. But I did find this bit where Hans tells Aubrey why Dorilian gave him a sword... and more.
#WritingCommunity #WriteSky #epicfantasy

Screenshot of text excerpt from THE RILL LORD, sixth and final book (April 2026) of the Triempery Revelations series by L.L. Stephens. This snip is part of a scene where Hans recovers after a battle... and comes to full grips with his heritage.

“Yes,” Aubrey said. Her skirt swept around the chair as she came to stand at his side. “A great many secrets are coming home to roost this day.” Looking pensive, she touched the curved hilt of the Gweroyen Sword Hans had leaned against the arm of his chair.
“He gave it to me.” Hans understood why she touched it. The chicken he was eating suddenly tasted like sawdust and he set it back on the plate. Wherever Dorilian was right now, he wasn’t eating a chicken dinner. He sought the right words. “Marenthro told me it belonged to Amynas Malyrdys a long time ago, before the Return. I don’t think Dorilian knew that; I think he believed it was Derlon’s sword, but he showed me how to use it. He said he wanted me to be safe.”
Aubrey gave him a tremulous smile. “Levyathan told me he was generous. I—I never thought of him that way.”
“He gave me this damn Kingdom, think of that.”

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L.L. Stephens @triempery.bsky.social · 1d

#OctoberWorldbuilders 7: Clothes/dance/music from desert society

The Triempery books don't focus on the desert lands but in a few books readers get a sense of Lahgael culture: flowing garments, white robes embellished with bright color, snips of poetry, hints of defiant music. #epicfantasy

Yellow highlighted text on background of dark and autumnal trees; text offers a list of daily worldbuilding prompts for writers of fantasy fiction.

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L.L. Stephens @triempery.bsky.social · 1d

#FantasyIndiesSpooktober 7: Villain's goals

Nammuor's goals evolve as the series progresses. Kill the rulers and take over is just a starting point. The god infesting the Undying Crown wants to destroy much more.

Chyralane, of the Seven Houses, wants control of the Rill... at any cost.

White text on a dark and spooky background with ghosts, blood, and ghouls; text offers daily writing prompts for authors of fantasy fiction.

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Reposted by L.L. Stephens

C M Debell @cmdebell.bsky.social · 2d

#WIPSnips 6 October 'miss'

When your characters have enough problems without a crown prince who should know better popping in for a visit.

#writingcommunity #writesky #booksky #writingfantasy

Quote from Northern Steel for the prompt 'miss'

Very deliberately, she set the bottle on her desk. With some force.
Krado blinked at her in surprise, oblivious to the tension. “Really, Cat. I don’t see what the fuss is about. No one knows I’m here—”
“That’s the bloody problem! What do you think your guards will do once they realise you’re missing? Gods, they’ll tear this city apart.” And anyone who got in their way.
“But they don’t know,” he said patiently. “They think I’m in seclusion, contemplating the state of my soul or something. They won’t find out for, oh, hours.” An airy wave of his hand served to underline the vagueness of this estimate.
“They won’t find out at all,” she snapped, “because you’re going back. Osk—”
“No.” Krado leant back in the chair and crossed his legs at the ankles with a casual smile that nevertheless conveyed the immovable force of the imperial will. “Not until you tell me what’s going on.”

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Reposted by L.L. Stephens

Kira of the Wind (Erika McCorkle) @kiraofthewind.com · 2d

#OctoberWorldbuilders
Day 6: How do people survive in your world's desert?

The Morenzi civilization is located on their planet's north pole, which isn't AS brutal as the desert. They get a fair amount of rainfall there. They also have underground reservoirs bringing water from the other planes.

Kira of the Wind (Erika McCorkle) @kiraofthewind.com · 7d

#OctoberWorldbuilders
Week 1: Deserts
Day 1: Tell me the name of a desert in your world that you'll be talking about this week!

I have been debating which one I want to yap about! I think I'll talk about the Morenzal desert this time. It's on the Quarantined Plane, which I rarely get to talk about

October Worldbuilders prompt list

WEEK 1: DESERTS
1: Name of a desert in your world
2: What’s your desert society like?
3: Desert town architecture
4: Desert animals/plants
5: Myth/legend/religion about
desert
6: How do they survive?
7: Clothes/dance/music from
desert society

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L.L. Stephens @triempery.bsky.social · 2d

#WIPSnips The word for October 6 is MISS

Dorilian misses a lot of things as his life changes... and changes again. In this snip from THE RILL LORD he meets up with the Khelds again after a long absence and realizes another change about to happen. #WritingCommunity #WriteSky

Screenshot of a text excerpt from THE RILL LORD, sixth and final (April 2026) book of the Triempery Revelations series by L.L. Stephens. Snip is a portion of a scene in which Dorilian rejoins Hans and the Khelds. Here he accepts a breakfast while they still don't know who he is.

Nalf guffawed. “Sit down, damn you.” He kicked out the next bench. As he did so, he eyed Dorilian up and down. “You’re dressed like a gods-bedecked Staubaun this time out. Almost manage to look like one too with that big ring and so much gold on your buttons. Gerd! How can two civilized men expect to talk over empty plates? Get the man a porridge or something.”
Dorilian took the offered seat, knowing he might never again get to savor such Kheldish bluntness with impunity. He only now realized he had missed it, this earthy honesty of feeling. He would miss it even more when they learned to know him on sight. Gerd set a bowl of porridge in front of the Thegnard, then moved around the table to take a seat himself.

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L.L. Stephens @triempery.bsky.social · 2d

#OctoberWorldbuilders 7: How do the desert people/life survive?

People live near water/food sources. Lahgael's desert borders a great river and the ocean. There are also oases and springs. As seasons change the water supplies, some nomadic people travel to the larger towns.

Yellow highlighted text on a background of dark brown and autumn trees; text offers a list of daily worldbuilding prompts for authors of fantasy fiction.

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L.L. Stephens @triempery.bsky.social · 2d

#FantasyIndiesSpooktober 6: Monsters in WIP

Human monsters abound, though they're a matter of definition. Many believe Dorilian to be one.

Nammuor creates monsters and uses them in battle. Dorilian fights a monster hand (okay, sword) to claw in THE WALLED CITY, which is fun.

White text on a dark gray background bordered by ghosts, blood, and ghouls; text presents a list of daily writing prompts for authors of fantasy fiction.

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Reposted by L.L. Stephens

Surprised Eel Historian, PhD @greenleejw.bsky.social · 3d

Do you like supporting your local eel historian? Well! Have I got some opportunities for you!

1. Over at my ETSY store, I'm selling subway-style maps of The Hobbit, The Lord of the Rings, and Narnia. You can get them as prints or as digital versions!
#LOTR #maps

www.etsy.com/shop/Surpris...

Art. Subway-style map of the itinerary in The Hobbit. The main journey is show in three different lines: red (Hobbiton to Goblin Town); green (Goblin Town to the Elvenking's Halls); and blue (Elvenking's Halls to Erebor). There are multiple stops on these lines. There is a yellow line going back from Erebor to Hobbiton, making stops at Beorn's Hall, Rivendell, and the Troll's Lair. There is an orange line directly from the Iron Hills on the map's right side to Erebor, and a purple line from Gundabad directly to Erebor.

The map's title reads: "Hobbit Transit Map" and there are directions for both There and Back Again listing the lines and transfer points. Between them, in the middle of the page, is a dragon drawn to resemble the dragon on Thror's Map from The Hobbit.

A key shows the names of each colored line:
Red: Western Lands Line
Green: Mountains and Forests Line
Blue: Barrel Line
Yellow: Gandalf Express
Orange: Iron Hills Business Line
Purple: Orc and Goblin Reserve Line

Text at the bottom right reads Surprised Eel Maps, 2025

Art. Subway style map to go with The Lord of the Rings, showing the different pathways of various parties throughout the book. The title reads: "Lord of the Rings Transit Map: One Does Not Simply Walk Ino Mordor When One Can Ride." The map takes up the middle part of the page, and there are two keys. The one on the left is titles "Standard Service Lines, and has color keys matched to the subway lines on the map. Lines are named:
"Shire-Bree Commuter Line
Old Forrest Crescent
Wildland Scenic Line
Fellowship Line
Gollum / Sméagol Line
Uruk Hai Express
Three Hunters Line
Fangorn Slow Service
Rohan to Gondor Business Line
Black Ships Ferry Service
Oliphant Direct Line
Army of the West Line
Gandalf Express

A smaller key on the right side of the map is labeled: "Limited Service Lines" and has color keys matched to the following names lines:
"Eagle Express
Paths of the Dead Line
Nazgûl Search & Resuce
Valinor Ltd."

A note at the bottom reads:
"* Mount Doom station only accepts Rings of Power in payment. Plan accordingly."

Art. A subway style map on a parchment background. The map's title reads: "Narnia Transit Map: Talking Beasts Ride Free." The map has seven keys, one for each of the seven books in C.S. Lewis's Narinia series. The main movements of characters and action in each book are traced by colored lines, like a subway map. Locations in each book are marked out as stops in the lines. There is a drawing of a lion above the title of the map, and in the lower right corner there is a compass rose.

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