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The Triempery Revelations #4
The God Spear
It will take a god to awaken a god.The Heir to Essera’s throne, Handurin Stauberg-Randolph, has escaped from Sordan and sought out the Kheld people of Amallar. He hopes to gain them as allies, particularly against the murderous sorceror Nammuor.
Dorilian Sordaneon has also left the safety of Sordan—and stopped the Rill god-machine. Handurin doesn’t know it yet, but Dorilian is hot on his heels. Which means Dorilian is in Amallar too, living in secret among Khelds who believe he killed, well, just about everyone.
But Amallar isn’t as welcoming as Hans thinks, or as backward as Dorilian believes.
Dorilian Sordaneon has also left the safety of Sordan—and stopped the Rill god-machine. Handurin doesn’t know it yet, but Dorilian is hot on his heels. Which means Dorilian is in Amallar too, living in secret among Khelds who believe he killed, well, just about everyone.
But Amallar isn’t as welcoming as Hans thinks, or as backward as Dorilian believes.
- GenresFantasyEpic Fantasy
529 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 16, 2024
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September 18, 2025The God Spear resumes the story of the Triempery, throwing two main characters and a handful of side players square into the stew of political intrigue and deadly machinations against contending powers, all bent on seizing their own ends and triumphs.
Here, Dorilian's youthful, impetuous mistakes will catch up with his mature aspirations. He is faced with the ruin of a grand plan left to an inept son by his brilliant, statesman grandfather, and deep seated hatreds inflicted by the Kheld King when the younger brother falls out of his orbit and returns to the land and the people his dead brother tried to elevate to equal status in a divided society
Hans, brought up outside of the world's woes, and able enough to think critically, must stand in the shadow of his sibling's mistakes, where the people he must rule are convinced that the ally he needs to win over is their inveterate enemy. The going belief that the dead king was their hero, stands hard set against the question Hans must answer himself: is Dorilian friend, or enemy, and could be become the trustworthy ally needed to bring about a return of the hope of a unified society. And will the ingrained impression of hatred held by the people he must lead throw its long shadow into the future. Can he make his young voice heard in time to make a difference, before disaster overtakes aspiration?
Told with heart and passion in a world setting that is both original and strange, with godlike magic and deadly intrigues played from behind the scenes by a notable and terrifying enemy, the mix of human characters and lofty aristocrats and the god like Highborn - this story continues to develop all of what came before, in ways that both thrilled and satisfied.
Too few fantasy series explore characters who have the ability and the scope to grow and change from the impacts of their deeds, nor do most tales carry the vision to depict prejudice and opinions that are not easily uprooted. I found the human complexity of the characters captivating and the story exceptionally well executed. Recommended.
Here, Dorilian's youthful, impetuous mistakes will catch up with his mature aspirations. He is faced with the ruin of a grand plan left to an inept son by his brilliant, statesman grandfather, and deep seated hatreds inflicted by the Kheld King when the younger brother falls out of his orbit and returns to the land and the people his dead brother tried to elevate to equal status in a divided society
Hans, brought up outside of the world's woes, and able enough to think critically, must stand in the shadow of his sibling's mistakes, where the people he must rule are convinced that the ally he needs to win over is their inveterate enemy. The going belief that the dead king was their hero, stands hard set against the question Hans must answer himself: is Dorilian friend, or enemy, and could be become the trustworthy ally needed to bring about a return of the hope of a unified society. And will the ingrained impression of hatred held by the people he must lead throw its long shadow into the future. Can he make his young voice heard in time to make a difference, before disaster overtakes aspiration?
Told with heart and passion in a world setting that is both original and strange, with godlike magic and deadly intrigues played from behind the scenes by a notable and terrifying enemy, the mix of human characters and lofty aristocrats and the god like Highborn - this story continues to develop all of what came before, in ways that both thrilled and satisfied.
Too few fantasy series explore characters who have the ability and the scope to grow and change from the impacts of their deeds, nor do most tales carry the vision to depict prejudice and opinions that are not easily uprooted. I found the human complexity of the characters captivating and the story exceptionally well executed. Recommended.
May 18, 2025
Wow this is the best one since Sordaneon which is still for me the best book in the series so far, tho they all are very good. This one felt like the second half of what the the second stone was the first half to, and as such has a much bigger pathos. A 4.5 ⭐ for me overall.
September 23, 2025
I inhaled this book it was so good.
May 25, 2026
yipiiieeee a female character who is actually a character only took us 4 books but here we are!! i hope we see more of her! also stoked we got to see sm into the kheld culture in this book — it’s so different to the others and yes i’m very bias but i love that it’s a female first culture very much foiling the male dominated highborn thing … lots to think about
dorilian under cover was sooooo fun to read like yh i heart him very very much and once again i love reading about him through other people’s eyes lol PLEAAASE tell me again how tall and well muscled he is!! gen don’t care if he’s randomly good at everything, normally i hate that trait but given the nature of well — his nature i’m giving this a pass xx
honestly having a blast with this series even tho dorilian can be a hard pill to swallow he’s MY hard pill and i’m swallowing <3
dorilian under cover was sooooo fun to read like yh i heart him very very much and once again i love reading about him through other people’s eyes lol PLEAAASE tell me again how tall and well muscled he is!! gen don’t care if he’s randomly good at everything, normally i hate that trait but given the nature of well — his nature i’m giving this a pass xx
honestly having a blast with this series even tho dorilian can be a hard pill to swallow he’s MY hard pill and i’m swallowing <3
July 25, 2025
A better installment to The Second Stone. Dorilian secretly follows Hans and arrives at Amallar with a hidden identity — a move no one in the Triempery could have predicted.
I love how this book delves into the culture of the Khelds and the nuances of perspectives it brings considering the highly patriarchal state of the Staubaun society. Here amongst the Kheld, women possess a lot of agency, not just individually but systematically. And this is something rarely pulled off in most stories I've read
It also introduces a new character that has become one of my favorites in the series in the person of Aubrey Amundda.
This entry is pretty much a Hans book, and it focuses on the weight of responsibility he bears in trying to simultaneously appease Stefan's horde loyalists with his own vision for the Kheld people
It's such a beautiful book especially the ending sequence. Such a scene would be an all timer if it's captured on television
I love how this book delves into the culture of the Khelds and the nuances of perspectives it brings considering the highly patriarchal state of the Staubaun society. Here amongst the Kheld, women possess a lot of agency, not just individually but systematically. And this is something rarely pulled off in most stories I've read
It also introduces a new character that has become one of my favorites in the series in the person of Aubrey Amundda.
This entry is pretty much a Hans book, and it focuses on the weight of responsibility he bears in trying to simultaneously appease Stefan's horde loyalists with his own vision for the Kheld people
It's such a beautiful book especially the ending sequence. Such a scene would be an all timer if it's captured on television
June 25, 2026
Well that was FUCKING BONKERS . . . L.L. Stephens, your mind 🤯🤯🤯
1. HANDURIN my sweet boy grew up so much, I love him so
2. His and Dor’s relationship is building so beautifully. I want them to be true loving friends and equals so badly
3. Dorilian destroying the Wall will come true in the next book??? With Hans at his side perhaps????
4. Dor’s character through other people’s POV was so hilarious lol. Yes he’s a political genius and naturally brilliant and powerful and striking and speaks a bajillion languages and good with kids and funny when he tries but did you know he’s also super sexy, has a nice manly voice, naturally smells good, and is good in bed???? LMAOO and it’s actually believable, even if it was through Aubrey's in-heat POV— if you know the unstoppable force that is THE Dorilian Sordaneon. Genuinely one of the best depictions of the OP trope I’ve ever seen in a book ever.
5. I like Aubrey well enough but don’t have positive feelings about her and Dor’s relationship, especially since they slept together when she was ignorant of who he was, the whole situation was icky and kind of OOC on Dor’s part, and HE DIDN’T PULL OUT. God I wanted to conk Dor in the head so bad because of his recklessness oml. If Aubrey is pregnant/involved in taking Lev from Sordan IMMA LOSE IT . . . !!!!! 👊💥👊💥👊💥👊💥👊
1. HANDURIN my sweet boy grew up so much, I love him so
2. His and Dor’s relationship is building so beautifully. I want them to be true loving friends and equals so badly
3. Dorilian destroying the Wall will come true in the next book??? With Hans at his side perhaps????
4. Dor’s character through other people’s POV was so hilarious lol. Yes he’s a political genius and naturally brilliant and powerful and striking and speaks a bajillion languages and good with kids and funny when he tries but did you know he’s also super sexy, has a nice manly voice, naturally smells good, and is good in bed???? LMAOO and it’s actually believable, even if it was through Aubrey's in-heat POV— if you know the unstoppable force that is THE Dorilian Sordaneon. Genuinely one of the best depictions of the OP trope I’ve ever seen in a book ever.
5. I like Aubrey well enough but don’t have positive feelings about her and Dor’s relationship, especially since they slept together when she was ignorant of who he was, the whole situation was icky and kind of OOC on Dor’s part, and HE DIDN’T PULL OUT. God I wanted to conk Dor in the head so bad because of his recklessness oml. If Aubrey is pregnant/involved in taking Lev from Sordan IMMA LOSE IT . . . !!!!! 👊💥👊💥👊💥👊💥👊
March 1, 2026
Book four of Triempery is another 5 star entry for the series.
Within this book the pay-off from books 1-3 really starts to come to the fore, alongside the trust that LL Stephens places on the reader begins to realise.
The characterisation of the two main characters (Dorillian & Handurin) is excellent in this book and I really enjoyed the exploration of their relationship. Seeing how Dorillians worldview and interactions has been shaped by his male role models and the huge impact that a good man (Marc F) has on his perspective in a relatively short period.
Seeing Hans have his childhood trauma removed and have the space to grow from a more neutral position further highlights the rabbit holes that Stefans insecurity sent him down.
Within this book the pay-off from books 1-3 really starts to come to the fore, alongside the trust that LL Stephens places on the reader begins to realise.
The characterisation of the two main characters (Dorillian & Handurin) is excellent in this book and I really enjoyed the exploration of their relationship. Seeing how Dorillians worldview and interactions has been shaped by his male role models and the huge impact that a good man (Marc F) has on his perspective in a relatively short period.
Seeing Hans have his childhood trauma removed and have the space to grow from a more neutral position further highlights the rabbit holes that Stefans insecurity sent him down.
March 27, 2026
[There are no explicit plot spoilers in this review.]
The God Spear is Book IV in the Triempery Revelations series by L.L. Stephens. It's easily the most satisfying book since the first, tying together multi-book threads into a conclusion full of long-promised change.
Handurin "Hans" Stauberg-Randolph has arrived in the land of his people, the Khelds, and must navigate the politics of needing their backing while constantly being typecast into the mold of his brother's actions and mistakes. Meanwhile, Dorilian Sordaneon has pursued Hans in disguise away from safe haven in Sordan, hoping to resurrect his plots within plots while avoiding recognition by the Khelds who unanimously want to kill him.
This book has a narrow focus on a small time window and a limited set of characters, but brings back the best of the political intrigue from previous books. While we don't get to see much of what's going on in the rest of the world, reading about Hans's attempt to win over the Khelds is captivating. The author does a fine job of capturing the tension between Hans as one who truly wants to lead for the betterment of his people, and the existing factions that desire a compliant figurehead for their own machinations.
A common refrain from Hans is, "I'm not Stefan." Stefan's character in Book II was a weak spot for me, but his extreme unworthiness is finally vindicated here -- the interplay between Hans and the Khelds would not have been nearly as interesting if Stefan had redeeming qualities.
The God Spear pushes the characters towards a tipping point where they might possibly break out of old patterns and enact plot-shifting change. Both Hans and Dorilian experience real growth, and Nammour's shadowy evil is finally unmasked as an unequivocal threat to the populace. With just two books to go (the next one being The Walled City), it's clear that the author has a well-planned, convergent endpoint in mind and the skill to pull it off.
The God Spear is Book IV in the Triempery Revelations series by L.L. Stephens. It's easily the most satisfying book since the first, tying together multi-book threads into a conclusion full of long-promised change.
Handurin "Hans" Stauberg-Randolph has arrived in the land of his people, the Khelds, and must navigate the politics of needing their backing while constantly being typecast into the mold of his brother's actions and mistakes. Meanwhile, Dorilian Sordaneon has pursued Hans in disguise away from safe haven in Sordan, hoping to resurrect his plots within plots while avoiding recognition by the Khelds who unanimously want to kill him.
This book has a narrow focus on a small time window and a limited set of characters, but brings back the best of the political intrigue from previous books. While we don't get to see much of what's going on in the rest of the world, reading about Hans's attempt to win over the Khelds is captivating. The author does a fine job of capturing the tension between Hans as one who truly wants to lead for the betterment of his people, and the existing factions that desire a compliant figurehead for their own machinations.
A common refrain from Hans is, "I'm not Stefan." Stefan's character in Book II was a weak spot for me, but his extreme unworthiness is finally vindicated here -- the interplay between Hans and the Khelds would not have been nearly as interesting if Stefan had redeeming qualities.
The God Spear pushes the characters towards a tipping point where they might possibly break out of old patterns and enact plot-shifting change. Both Hans and Dorilian experience real growth, and Nammour's shadowy evil is finally unmasked as an unequivocal threat to the populace. With just two books to go (the next one being The Walled City), it's clear that the author has a well-planned, convergent endpoint in mind and the skill to pull it off.
July 28, 2026
Another exceptional entry in this phenomenal series. Perfect for Robin Hobb fans, this book is another example of stellar character work and political intrigue. My favorite chapters in the series continue to be simply conversations between characters. Stephens has such a mastery of dialogue and character introspection, that I am frequently glued to the page reading about a character’s thoughts and conversations. When I say this is ideal for Hobb fans, it’s because of the character work, the pacing, the world-building, and the overall quality. Everything a reader enjoys about Hobb’s work can be found here.
While the first three books are filled with multiple fantastically written characters, it has definitely been a male-dominant story. The God Spear introduces its most prominent female character to date and she was a great addition to the series. Dorilian continues to be utterly compelling to read about on every page, and this book was another great step forward for Handurin as well. The God Spear’s setting & plotting led to some of the best character interactions of the series.
I can never say enough good things about these books and I will never stop recommending them. I think I’ve said this after every book but it’s a roaring shame that it doesn’t have more readers yet. I’m so sad to only have two books left because this is shaping up to be one of the best fantasy series I’ve ever read. Stephens is one of those writers who have me rereading paragraphs constantly in the good way, the way in which I want to soak in the beauty of the writing. You need to put this series on your TBR immediately.
Sordaneon - 5 Stars
The Kheld King - 4.75 Stars
The Second Stone - 4.25 Stars
The God Spear - 4.75 Stars
While the first three books are filled with multiple fantastically written characters, it has definitely been a male-dominant story. The God Spear introduces its most prominent female character to date and she was a great addition to the series. Dorilian continues to be utterly compelling to read about on every page, and this book was another great step forward for Handurin as well. The God Spear’s setting & plotting led to some of the best character interactions of the series.
I can never say enough good things about these books and I will never stop recommending them. I think I’ve said this after every book but it’s a roaring shame that it doesn’t have more readers yet. I’m so sad to only have two books left because this is shaping up to be one of the best fantasy series I’ve ever read. Stephens is one of those writers who have me rereading paragraphs constantly in the good way, the way in which I want to soak in the beauty of the writing. You need to put this series on your TBR immediately.
Sordaneon - 5 Stars
The Kheld King - 4.75 Stars
The Second Stone - 4.25 Stars
The God Spear - 4.75 Stars
April 8, 2024
I pre-ordered with Forest Paths Books and received a copy a bit earlier.
The story continues exactly where the events in the Second Stone left us. In this book, the readers follow the path of Dorilian in Amallar and Hans path to leadership with the Kheld people. Dorilian experiences the Kheld culture firsthand and becomes more familiar with the Kheld people's traditions. We even see an intimate relationship taking form. In terms of politics, the book is very rich, mostly within the Amallar thread. The antagonists are scheming behind the backs of our main characters but are not necessarily brought to the fore in this book. We see some developments in terms of Dorilian's powers and some additional plots are beginning to take shape. The hints about Hans' background are becoming more pronounced and I think I like where this might be going forward.
Anyway, this is a nice sequel to the Triempery Revelations series that begun with the stunning Sordaneon. I am already looking forward to the Walled City where I am sure more action is expected.
The story continues exactly where the events in the Second Stone left us. In this book, the readers follow the path of Dorilian in Amallar and Hans path to leadership with the Kheld people. Dorilian experiences the Kheld culture firsthand and becomes more familiar with the Kheld people's traditions. We even see an intimate relationship taking form. In terms of politics, the book is very rich, mostly within the Amallar thread. The antagonists are scheming behind the backs of our main characters but are not necessarily brought to the fore in this book. We see some developments in terms of Dorilian's powers and some additional plots are beginning to take shape. The hints about Hans' background are becoming more pronounced and I think I like where this might be going forward.
Anyway, this is a nice sequel to the Triempery Revelations series that begun with the stunning Sordaneon. I am already looking forward to the Walled City where I am sure more action is expected.
August 10, 2025
Writing this review after having read the first 5, I think this book challenges for the best one yet. I've thought hard about why that is, and I think it's because of what the author does best - the relationship between characters. While the third book deals with Dorillan in his native Sordan, this one has him undercover with the Khelds who (most) would like nothing else but to see him dead. The way he deals with this proves him to be a competent protagonist even when out of his element. The friendship that grows between him and Hans - and others - drives everything forward and it's all these elements together that create another page-turner that I just couldn't put down.
July 15, 2026
This book is perfection. This is as good as Sordaneon. What I loved most about it is that we got to experience a completely different culture from the one we saw before. I find the difference between a Kheld- and Staunaun society fascinating. In this book, we are also introduced to a strong female character, which this series really needed. To see Dorilien in an environment so completely different from what he is used to was really amusing. I loved his character development in this book.
January 15, 2026
Like teaching rocks that the wind blows
A constant struggle to teach the Khelds that they are being led astray to them finally believing and listening in their future king for the good of them all. I enjoyed this one a lot, I really hope to see Dorillian and Aubrey together
A constant struggle to teach the Khelds that they are being led astray to them finally believing and listening in their future king for the good of them all. I enjoyed this one a lot, I really hope to see Dorillian and Aubrey together
May 31, 2026
Fantastic! Back on track as one of the best fantasy series!
August 6, 2025
One of the best series I've ever read, it's crazy how few have read it.
June 3, 2026
Just an excellent continuation of an excellent story. It is hard to describe to prospective readers, but to try - take everything you love about a classic fantasy series and nostalgic characters, and put it in a fantasy world setting that is unique and mysterious and rich and layered. Cannot wait to pick up the next novel in this series - a series that has my undivided attention.
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