Kindle Edition Amazon S. L. Dearing, Author Books2Read.com Category:  Fantasy Publisher: CreateSpace.com ISBN-10:  1453731067 Type: Fiction Pages: 457 Copyright: May, 2009 ISBN-13: 9781453731062 Thirteen years after the last world war, the village of Lia Fail sits peacefully above the Hollywood Reservoir in the Santa Monica Mountains. The village is making ready for the fall Gathering, where the other colonies from various parts of what was once Southern California visit for ten days of fun. However, as the festivities begin, an evil descends upon them. Will they have the courage and the magic to defeat the Black Hoard?  The world as we know it is gone. There are no more countries, states, or cities.  No more traditional government... only survivors who have created a new world made up of small colonies. It has been thirteen years since the last World War and the village of Lia Fail sits peacefully above the Hollywood Reservoir in the Santa Monica Mountains.  The settlement is making ready to host the fall Gathering. A time to remember the past as well as discover new loves, old friends, family, and fun, but just as the festivities begin, the people in Lia Fail begin to experience strange goings on they can't explain. Unseen forces attack several guests and friends begin to distrust friends.  When they receive news of a horrific massacre, they realize they must face an impending dark evil that threatens to destroy the tranquil village.   Alia Stark, the queen of Lia Fail, must face this malevolent force alongside her oldest and dearest friends.  The fate of her people, the lives of her children and freedom itself rests in her hands.  Will she have the courage to do what must be done… and at what price?   This is the beginning of a journey that will change all of their lives forever. The Gathering: Book One of the Lia Fail Chronicles is the first in a new Paranormal, Fantasy, and Adventure Series. This book contains adult situations and is intended for a mature audience.       Excerpt He felt the evil growing. He knew the time had come so he ran and they followed him, running as fast as they could. The frigid night air cut into their throats like knives as their legs pushed them away from the battle, each muscle expanding and contracting in rhythm. He had to get to safety, but where? Then he remembered his vision. The caves, he had to get them to the caves. Fighting the urge to slow, he pushed forward, his lungs constricting with each deep, cold breath, ever mindful of the weak and struggling around him. Then he heard the sounds of horses, followed by soldiers yelling. He knew they mustn’t be seen. He ordered his clan forward as he stopped to assess their enemy's approach. He stared into the distance, but saw nothing save for the flickering of torches. He turned and watched his clan move through the wooded hills towards the caves in the mountain. His nostrils twitched as he turned his head back towards the dark night. He narrowed his field of vision and there he saw them. The flickering lights became an orange glow rising over the ridge; he drew a long sharp breath. He turned and yelled for them to hurry. He ran with what strength he had left, once again taking the lead. The torches moved rapidly over the ridge like a great serpent spreading quickly down the hill. His mouth was dry and his head was pounding, every muscle in his body ached. Then he saw the caves, just beyond the trees. He ordered his clan into the mountain. They drove through the black rock opening and plunged into darkness, each muscle burning and sore, pushed to its ultimate limit. The dimness of the cave made them slow slightly, but he kept them moving forward with as much speed as they could manage, encouraging them to follow. Despite the cold, the dampness of the stone was making the dryness in his chest ease and he was grateful. They ran for what seemed an eternity and then he saw it, a light. He ran to it and they followed, bursting out the side of the mountain like a flood. They ran along a road covered with a strange black rock that was unfamiliar to them, but he didn't let them stop. In the distance he saw a glow and he ordered his clan to move in that direction. It was warm and comforting, not the threatening serpent of fire they had just left on the other side of the mountain. After a short distance he led them off the strange road and into the trees. He stopped once again, turning to watch for their enemies, but there was nothing behind them, nothing but the darkness of the caves. He turned and ran again to the front of his people, who had stopped and were staring into the distance. He could now see the source of the warm light. It was a great village with a grand castle. His nostrils twitched again and he walked forward, smiling. This was the place. That was the castle, there was the flag and she was there, he could feel it. He urged his clan forward. They moved slowly towards the village, exhausted. The great walls were close now, rising high into the night sky. He told them to move into the woods and they turned one by one disappearing into the trees. When the last of his people had withdrawn, he walked towards the trees, but before he entered the forest he stopped and turned his head. He stared at a window in a turret, her window. He sighed heavily and smiled as he walked into the wood.

Great Start for a First Novel
Like an Arthurian legend with a decidedly feminine twist, The Gathering is the ideal antithesis to Medieval fantasy, placing the action in the future but borrowing heavily from the past. Alia Stark is a strong character that leads the way to a promising future after "the end of the world."

the novel reads swiftly without bogging down the reader with too much needless information or sidetracks that deter from the main story. Fantastic creatures, mystical powers, and a moral center grounds the themes of family, love, and rebirth.

As far as summer reads go, this one is definitely a must-read for this summer. The abundance of characters may seem daunting at first, but nothing an avid reader can't handle. In the end, they prove to be a necessary part of the story and we hope that they will appear in future installments, which I have no doubt they will.

Couldn't put it down
This is Shannon Dearing's first book and I am so looking forward to the next one! The characters are exciting and well developed. The plot is intriguing and captivating. The book moves at a great pace. It's suspenseful and romantic without being overly dramatic. This is a page-turner! Yes, there are a lot of characters, but you will need every one of them and you won't have trouble keeping them apart or remembering them. If you like this genre, read the book! Even if you don't like this genre, give it a try, you won't regret it. Then you can join us in demanding book 2!!