Petrik Leo’s shout out about the Rill Lord, the finale of the Triempery series, at 7:50 below. If you are an epic fantasy fan and haven’t discovered this series, get started with Sordaneon. You will not be sorry.
#SFF #Fantasy #TriemperySeries
#RillLord #Sordaneon
www.youtube.com/watch?v=oKjy...
Left side is the book cover of SORDANEON, book 1 of the Triempery Revelations series by L.L. Stephens. Cover is golds and browns showing a young man facing a fantastic city with a glowing core of power at its center. Right side is a text excerpt from SORDANEON in which the main character Dorilian shares a first kiss with his wife of four years: It was his first kiss, and he should have felt something other than her coldness. No tenderness for him moved Daimonaeris, none at all. It was ever the Highborn curse to know where passion existed and where it did not, and the passion on her lips bespoke nothing of desire. It touched his lips as might a snake’s cold venom, imparting sight, allowing Dorilian to see her clearly by means he had not employed before then. Hers was a new attack upon him, no less deadly for being concealed.
#WritingInJanuary 25: First kiss or hug
Dorilian's first kiss occurs in SORDANEON. I put the snip below. He's twenty. She's his wife to whom he's been married for four years. And romance has nothing to do with it...
#WritingCommunity #WriteSky #Sordaneon
#WIPSnips The word for January 8 is CANVAS
There are no "canvas" uses in THE RILL LORD, so here is one from SORDANEON, Book 1. It's quietly momentous, actually: Dorilian first meets one of the series villains, Chyralane.
#WritingCommunity #WriteSky #Sordaneon
Left side of image is the book cover of SORDANEON, first book of the Triempery Revelations series by L.L. Stephens. The cover shows a fantastic city with something powerful glowing at its core, being looked on by a small human figure. Golden, rich colors. Right side is a text excerpt from the book showing a scene from a game played on horseback: Dorilian lurched back into the saddle, picked up the reins, and slid his left foot back into the stirrup. Shifting his body’s weight again, he signaled his horse to bear hard to the left. Aleistes bellowed as their two horses collided while the rider bearing the axe spurted past both into open field. Somewhere on the perimeter, human voices cheered. Dorilian ignored them. He jammed the toe of his boot against the other horse’s ribs and eased his tight grip on the reins, giving his mount its head. The mare recovered ground, then ran at the gray again. Aleistes, now furious, swung his whip and tried to break free of the harrying. The whip found Dorilian’s face, whistling and then stinging as it sliced across his cheek and jaw. The bastard! He shot Aleistes a glare as blood welled and dripped down his face. The big man laughed. “Wear that, pretty boy!”
Today is Book Quote Wednesday and the word is JAM.
Here's an action scene from SORDANEON, in which Dorilian rides in a pelekys match, a brutal game which is played on horseback. He makes his move but doesn't come out of it unscathed.
#WritingCommunity #WriteSky #bookqw #Sordaneon
In celebration of the fourth birthday of the first book in the Triempery Revelations series, I've put the first two chapters of SORDANEON on my website for readers to explore and, I hope, enjoy. Link to Chapter 2 in comment. ⬇️
#Triempery #Sordaneon
www.triempery.com/post/sordane...
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.”
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 the image is the book cover of SORDANEON, first book of the Triempery Revelations series by L.L. Stephens. Right side is a text excerpt from SORDANEON. Cullen is talking with Stefan about whether or not Stefan would ever order a man to death. “I know it is. The whole thing, I mean. You’d never order a man to death. Would you?” Stefan thought about it. “I don’t think so. I mean, I might want to. But if I were to order a death, the man would have to have done something awful, something to deserve it. Rape a person or kill one. Burn a village, at least. Something. Not just because he belongs to the wrong family. Not just because he can order the Rill about and make it do things.” He stared bleakly at the raindrops puddling on the crude wooden floor. The next funds he got, he would put a portion toward an actual door and better sleeping quarters, not just for himself but for the whole camp. “My grandfather told me, back a while, that anything to do with the Sordaneons all connected to the Rill. I’ll bet this does, too.” “Maybe someone wanted to make sure it didn’t go anywhere new.” “Maybe.” It made sense, in a Staubaun way. But not a Kheld way. Khelds didn’t care where the Rill went or did not go. Staubauns did this. They killed the Teremar Lord, and they set me up. Could he trust Dorilian to see through it? Nothing in their history gave him much hope of that. “Can they do that, the Sordaneons? I mean, they can blast aqueducts, right? We know that. But the Rill—” Since becoming Stefan’s companion, Cullen had seen more of the Rill than most Khelds. Stefan shook his head, plagued by those same images. The Rill... was just too huge, its impact too far-reaching. The idea that the Sordaneons could somehow make the thing change or move was ludicrous—except just enough people believed it for him to wonder.
It's Book Quote Wednesday and the word is IDEA
In this snip from SORDANEON Stefan talks about the idea of ordering a man to death, a decision that he will later stare in the eye, a test he will either pass or fail.
#bookqw #epicfantasy #Sordaneon
Left side of image is a meme of white text on a background of dark green with a border of pink berries and moon face in the center. Right side is a text excerpt from THE KHELD KING, Book 2 of the Triempery Revelations series by L.L. Stephens. It's a full on rant by Dorilian against Stefan, who made the mistake of trying to take Dorilian captive: “Even if I let you live—you are dead to me. Hear that, you putrid little worm?” Dorilian’s fury drove each word deep into the crowd’s ears and Stefan’s soul, freezing nerves so his legs gave way. Dorilian’s yank on his arm to keep him upright brought a scream to Stefan’s lips. Dorilian yelled over it. “Dead! I do not need to stain my hands or nation with your blood. Your enemies have my full blessing to kill you, or you can die old and sick and lying in your own filth. Your fate no longer concerns me. I will never see you again. I will never hear another word from your lying lips, because you have my promise, my most solemn vow, that I will never set foot in Essera so long as you live. I am rid of you, and you of me, just like you always wanted.”
#FantasyIndiesAugust 9: Saturday Snippet
This is a fun one (well, I had fun writing it)... the last words Dorilian Sordaneon ever said to Stefan Stauberg-Randolph--a full on rant. From THE KHELD KING, Book 2.
#epicfantasy #Sordaneon
Sometimes you can go home again. I posted an excerpt from Chapter 2 of THE RILL LORD, sixth and final book of the Triempery Revelations series. Hans returns to Gustan Manor, the house from which he left the World nearly ten years before. www.triempery.com/post/the-ril...
#epicfantasy #Sordaneon
I made a rare appearance on an interview last night, talking about my books, myself (seriously, nothing to see there... what you see is what you get), and diving into an impromptu DND adventure! If curious, here's the link. #epicfantasy #Sordaneon
www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Sq4...
A border of cheerful summer drawings around a text list of daily writing prompts for authors of fantasy fiction.
Six images representing scenes and overtones from THE RILL LORD, Book 6 of the Triempery Revelations series by L.L. Stephens. Images from Pixabay unless noted. Clockwise from top left: 1) Nammuor's Undying Crown. Red central stone surrounded by crimson spikes). Art by Margarita Bourkova. 2) A sword hilt - representing the Gweroyen Sword. Ornate fantasy details and sword edge. 3) Cortogh the Dog Man. Fierce bestial humanoid wielding a sword as he runs through a battlefield. Art by Jamie Noble. 4. Red hued image of the back of a shirtless dark-haired warrior facing away from viewer; he's holding a lowered axe. 5. Image of supernatural, perhaps alien, arches enclosing a lighted object. This represents the Rill, the god-machine Entity about which the books are centered. 6. A man standing with raised sword edged with blue light and with magic enveloping his left hand. This represents the main character Dorilian. Art by Jamie Noble.
#FantasyIndiesJune 9: WIP Aesthetic Board
Here's a board for THE RILL LORD, Book 6 (and final book) in the Triempery Revelations series. As you can see the images suggest violence--and there's plenty of that--but there's a whole lot not being shown! #epicfantasy #Sordaneon #Triempery
Left side of image is the book cover of SORDANEON, Book 1 of the Triempery Revelations series written by L.L. Stephens. Covers shows a young man facing an immense fantasy city that holds a golden core of power. Right side of the image offers a text excerpt from SORDANEON: Though Nammuor patted the ledge beside him, indicating he should sit, Dorilian declined the invitation. This man was not his equal, though he clearly wished to be. “It may be that we want the same things, Southerner.” The flock of birds, none bigger than one of his fingers, swirled in the sun. Colors danced—red, green, and blue—against the pale, smooth architecture enclosing the garden. Every day the birds rose from the well in musical swirls, and every evening they returned to the nests clinging to the deep tunnel’s dry, cool walls, where they had been given refuge by the Sordaneons for two thousand years. “We, too, want to see Essera diminished, its threat to Sordan removed, the looters driven from this land and further from your own. We want Sordan restored to its proper place. And we want the Rill returned to us.” “The Rill, yes.” The real reason for this alliance now clearly revealed itself in Nammuor’s heated gaze. It was always thus when the Rill entered conversation—an acquisitive glint, knowing the wealth and power generated by the god-thing. “They stole it from you, or at least the operation of it. They can’t truly steal the god, of course. It simply is. But the god’s work, its enterprise, the wealth it generates—that they have taken.” Just as Nammuor would do were he able.
It's Book Quote Wednesday and the word is DEEP
Nammuor becomes a villain but he starts out as a mere antagonist. Here in the scene where readers meet him in SORDANEON, Nammuor presents a non-villainous agenda Dorilia should find appealing.
#epicfantasy #bookqw #Sordaneon
Left side of image is the book cover for THE WALLED CITY, Book 5 of The Triempery Revelations series by L.L. Stephens. It shows a lone figure in a frozen landscape looking at a distant and fantastic city. The right side of the image is a text excerpt from that book: “I’ll tell you all you need to know about the Seven Houses,” Aubrey offered. She too had been talking with Sordani advisors. “They’re not your allies. Neither are they famed for fighting. They pay others to do it for them. Once Erenor’s men are defeated, they may not have sufficient soldiers of their own.” Hans grinned at her. “That’s what we’re going to find out.” Farrl exchanged a sharp look with Aubrey and frowned at Hans. “That’s what others will find out for you, Prince Handurin. You will stay here. This lady and her men will protect you. Until the city is taken, the danger to you would be too great.” “We don’t have so many troops that we can afford to hold any back,” Hans argued. Though he understood Farrl’s reasoning, he hoped to avoid any accusations that he had sent men to their deaths but hadn’t led the battle. “And we don’t have so many princes that we can afford to risk our only one in combat!” Aubrey snapped. The warning in her blue gaze was clear: the Khelds were not about to lose their Prince while she had anything to say about it.
It's Book Quote Wednesday and the word is NEED
There are many kinds of need. In THE WALLED CITY, Book 5 of the Triempery Revelations series, one of those needs is for Hans to realize that princes really shouldn't go dashing off into battle. #epicfantasy #Sordaneon #bookqw
Left side of image shows a meme with electric blue highlighted text on a dark brown background of library shelves and books; text on the right side offers an excerpt from SORDANEON, Book 1 of the Triempery Revelations series by L.L. Stephens: The designs Dorilian traced as if absently on the embroidered coverlet were saying more than Enreddon knew. I see where I am going, he told his grandfather. I am strong. The way within lies clear. He used the old Kituy symbol set—now extinct but for this singular application by the Sordaneons. His grandfather, of course, could not respond as openly. His captors had watched Labran’s habits for decades and might detect even subtle alterations in non-verbal patterns. His fingers formed only the occasional glyph in reply, well hidden within a gesture.
#MayWorldBuilders 12: SNIPPET: "Gesture"
In this early bit from SORDANEON, Dorilian communicates with his captive grandfather by way of a secret family language of gestures and symbols.
#epicfantasy #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.
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
Left side of image is the book cover of SORDANEON, Book 1 of the Triempery Revelations series by L.L. Stephens. Right side of image is a text excerpt from the book: “He wasn’t hurt that badly—” “You drew blood, didn’t you?” Jonthan met his nephew’s defiant gaze. “Did you stop to look at him? Did you ask if he was hurt?” “No, but—” Stefan couldn’t deal with this. This wasn’t what he’d been trying to do. “I don’t know myself how badly he’s hurt. From what I’ve heard, he’s going to live, which means he’s going to heal, which means you’ve made one hell of an enemy. And not just for yourself—for all of us.” “He was my enemy already. He was yours! He never spoke a word to me, but it was against our family. He called me a bastard—he called you one! He calls Grandfather a barbarian, a usurper—” “Stefan—” “—my mother a Kheld outlaw’s whore—” The water hit him full in the face. Stefan gaped at Jonthan, who stood over him holding an empty glass. “Words, Stefan,” his uncle said, every word measured. “Just words. And you’ve ensured that next time it will be more than that. I don’t care what Dorilian says about us. He’s never known us! You are the first of our family he has ever met, and all you did was harden whatever animosity he brought to Essera with him.” Jonthan set the glass down on a nearby table, the thunk loud enough to punctuate his continued desire for silence. “He might have called you a barbarian bastard, Stefan, but it was you who proved yourself to be one. And it was you who struck a blow against a person who has the King’s promise of protection.”
It's Book Quote Wednesday and the word is MADE
Dorilian's first encounter with Stefan is a violent one that plays throughout the series, starting with this bit where Stefan gets dressed down by his uncle.
#bookqw #Sordaneon #epicfantasy
Graphic showing the book covers of the five published books of the Triempery Revelations series by L.L. Stephens announcing a GIVEAWAY.
If you want to start or continue your reading of my Triempery Revelations series, consider entering my giveway! #epicfantasy #Sordaneon
1. Three winners will select the book of their choice
2. FOLLOW, LIKE, REPOST this post
3. Paperbacks U.S. only/ebooks internationally
4. Drawing on Friday, May 9
Left side of image is of a meme with a neutral colored border with ghosts, flowers, and spider webs around a text list of daily writing prompts for authors of fantasy fiction. The right side of the image is a text from THE RILL LORD, Book 6 of the Triempery Revelations series: Chyralane made only one attempt to move, but her leg would not obey her. She would not be able to get off the floor: she had also injured her hip. Soon pain would set in, and she knew she must get this Highborn nightmare to leave before it did. She was certain now Dorilian would not kill her.
#FantasyIndiesMaytober 4: Nightmare in WIP
A lot of people in the Triempery series consider Dorilian to be a nightmare... especially by the end of the series.
#epicfantasy #Sordaneon
Man holding aloft sword edged with blue fire in his right hand; his left hand is sheathed in blue magical flame. He stands in front of a great city and a wall he is clearly attacking. Art by Jamie Noble.
Detailed color map of the city of Dazunor-Rannuli, one of the locations in THE WALLED CITY. Map by Domino44.
In advance of publication of THE WALLED CITY on April 21, I've ordered postcards of the most recent Triempery artwork and maps. 😀 #epicfantasy #Sordaneon
I send art cards out with books and to fans of the series. Art by Jamie Noble. Map by Domino44.
THE WALLED CITY comes out this month. Launching a book awakens memories of how it began. Which leads me to think of how *I* began... as a writer, as a creator. #WritingCommunity #Sordaneon #epicfantasy
So here is how at least one book (and series) was born...
www.triempery.com/post/paper-t...
The penultimate book in the Triempery Revelations series is being released this month. For some reason that made me pensive... #epicfantasy #Triempery #Sordaneon
www.triempery.com/post/looking...
Border of Valentine hearts, ghosts and letters in pink, red, and white around a text list of daily seasonal writing prompts for authors of fantasy fiction.
Screenshot of passage from THE WALLED CITY (April): Tilting his head, Nammuor eyed him with barely concealed hatred. “Why are you doing it? Why have you left the safety of Sordan and the Rill behind to put yourself in my path? Are you really that arrogant?” “Not at all. Not about this.” “But why? For Essera? You hate this land and its people. You hate them rightly! When I say I want your blood, they offer to help! This degenerate populace sold itself long ago for far less than it will cost you to free them.” Nammuor snorted, puffs of air rising white from his nostrils. “And what is this Handurin to you? Marc Frederick’s grandson? A ghost, a shadow, maybe even a hope—but he is not Marc Frederick. Even Marenthro cannot remake that dead King.” Damn him. Nammuor aimed for the heart. Dorilian battled laden memories. Now was not the time to remember Marc. Nammuor did not miss the wince. “How pathetic you are. He used you the way they all want to use you, gifting you with robes of fantasies you yearn to believe. And now you have tied yourself to yet another of his grandsons who will only betray you in the end.” Now it was Nammuor’s turn to laugh. “Everyone sees it but you. Once Handurin has Essera and his Kingship is secure, he will heed what his Khelds say of you, that you killed his grandfather at Permephedon, his brother at Aral. That you conspire against him and will kill him next. Who around him will not speak against you? If I were to approach him, he might be tempted to take the price I offer and sell you to me.” It was a good thing Dorilian had mastered that fear. He had confronted it by turns in Sordan, at Rhondda, and finally in Amallar. He trusted damn few people with his life, but Handurin, he realized with fleeting surprise, was one of them.
#FantasyIndiesFebruary Snippet Saturday: Free
From THE WALLED CITY (April) comes this exchange between Dorilian and the series nemesis, Nammuor. A lot has changed since they last met. #epicfantasy #Sordaneon
Purple highlighted text on a background landscape of brown hills and silver pink sky; the text presents a list of daily worldbuilding prompts for writers of fantasy fiction.
Screen shot of excerpt from THE WALLED CITY showing a snippet of a scene where Robdan sees a beautiful and historic city. Robdan had taken great care to sketch the city of Bynum faithfully, though he soon recognized that his attempt would never capture its beauty. To make up for his lack of talent as an artist, he filled in the margins by jotting notes: the Little Sister, Lake Kalasdossa, so deep it was widely believed to be bottomless; righil, the white and sapphire-blue winter flowers that grew between stones; the Blythagoran Serat, pillared dwelling of the Malyrdeon Princes, of white marble and blue granite with ornaments of purest gold. Not least did he note the city itself, beautiful Bynum, its spires dwarfed by the jagged white peaks of the Ulnossi, from the crags of which it was said a Highborn Prince had once destroyed the city, many centuries ago, during the Fall of Aryati-ruled Gweroyen. The only remaining evidence of Bynum’s destruction was a blackened tower, long ago blasted and ruined, preserved within a park. Robdan had visited the glassy ruin, its twisted shape rising like smoke from the snow, and something about it had struck ice through his heart. It looked to him as though the tower had been riven top to bottom. Despite the terror it held for him, he had drawn the tower in his journal.
#JanuaryWorldbuilders 28: SNIPPET: Beautiful/Gorgeous
In THE WALLED CITY (coming April) Robdan, a Kheld who is traveling with Dorilian, gets to see the sights of once-powerful Essera, including the historic city in this snippet.
#epicfantasy #Sordaneon
Image showing four books of the Triempery Revelations series. SORDANEON cover (gold and brown) beneath text that says "Dorilian inherited a god...", THE KHELD KING cover (blue and gray) beneath text that says "Stefan a throne...", THE SECOND STONE cover (blue green with a boat sailing toward a mighty city) with text saying "Hans wanted to fix what they broke." And the fourth book cover, THE GOD SPEAR (golds and oranges showing a hill crowned by antlers) beneath text that says "Things might have just gotten worse..."
The Triempery Revelations series is nearing its completion. Book 5, THE WALLED CITY, is coming in April. Look for a cover reveal soon! #epicfantasy #Sordaneon
Blue text on dark background; list of worldbuilding prompts for writers of fantasy fiction.
Screenshot of text excerpt from THE GOD SPEAR which shows Aubrey and Dorilian in their first meeting.
#DecemberWorldbuilders 15: Snippet: "Work" or "chores"
From THE GOD SPEAR, wherein Dorilian and Aubrey "meet cute"and she tries to ascertain his line of work. (Technically, Dorilian doesn't work; he rules). #epicfantasy #Sordaneon
List of seasonal prompts for writers of fantasy fiction.
Screen shot of text from THE SECOND STONE starting out with "I don't meddle with magical things."
#FantasyIndiesDecember 7: Saturday Snippet: Magic
This scene from THE SECOND STONE lays out ways to define magic in this universe. After they've just witnessed a magical event, Endelarin declares to Hans and Arne that he doesn't meddle with the stuff. #epicfantasy #magicusers #Sordaneon
Book cover of THE GOD SPEAR showing a lone woman walking down a country road toward a tall and mysterious hill. The hill appears to be crowned by antlers. Sunset orange and golds and a frame of oak branches and leaves.
Screen shot of text excerpt from THE GOD SPEAR.
Today is Book Quote Wednesday and the word is ADMIT. #bookqw
In THE GOD SPEAR Hans and Arne find themselves put on the spot about Dorilian--who none of their questioners has ever met--and admitting that Sordan's Hierarch is, well... human. Probably. #epicfantasy #Sordaneon
List of monthly writing prompts for authors of fantasy fiction.
Screen shot of text excerpt from THE KHELD KING.
#FantasyIndiesNovember 27: Why do your characters need therapy?
Dorilian needs anger management. He's also just a tad paranoid (but it's not paranoia if people are really out to get him). Snippet below.
Hans has trust issues and should work on self-confidence.
#epicfantasy #Sordaneon
Quote from THE GOD SPEAR alongside a red text on black background list of world-building prompts for writers of fantasy fiction.
#NovemberWorldbuilders 26: Any lies/conspiracy theories about historical events?
That Dorilian killed the rulers of Essera and Sordan during the signing of a peace treaty in order to seize power himself is a persistent one. Dorilian suffers that lie for most of the series.
#epicfantasy #Sordaneon
List of writing prompts for authors of fantasy fiction.
#FantasyIndiesNovember 26: MC's bucket list
Dorilian: Kill Nammuor, destroy the Seven Houses, eat the perfect meat pie
Hans: see his mother again, return to Gustan Manor, have sex, ride the Rill, not get killed
Aubrey: get another shot at nailing that asshole Dorilian
#epicfantasy #Sordaneon
