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Lia Fail Chronicles #1.1

A Wish: A Lia Fail Short Story

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It’s been just over a year since the Gathering was last hosted at Lia Fail and peace has once again returned to the little village, but the scars of the past are affecting everyone in the Stark family.

It’s the Christmas-Yule season and Alia Stark is desperate to bring joy back into her house. So as she watches the stars flickering in the velvet night sky, she sees several shoot across the void and it’s then she makes A Wish.

This is the first in a series of short stories based on the Lia Fail Chronicles. This is NOT a stand-alone short story. It is a continuation of the novel The Gathering. It will eventually be compiled with several other stories to form a 1.5 volume of shorts that will fill the time between book one and book two in the Lia Fail Chronicles.

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First published January 8, 2014

20 people want to read

About the author

S.L. Dearing

26 books118 followers
Shannon L. Dearing was raised in Westlake Village, California and grew up in Phoenix, Arizona. She attended Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, then spent several years studying at Los Angeles City College’s renowned Television/ Film program. She has worked on several film projects in many capacities: directing, writing, First Asst. Director, Etc.. Shannon has been writing since grade school. Over the years she has written several screenplays, poems and short stories. She is wroking on the Lia Fail series as well as several Stand alone projects. Shannon currently lives in the San Fernando Valley of Los Angeles, CA

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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
Profile Image for Magen McMinimy.
Author 46 books189 followers
January 9, 2014
A Wish is a quick, sweet short story that follows Alia and her family through the Christmas holiday. I love these characters and I am very invested in them so getting a little more was the perfect gift for me. This story made me wish I could spend the holidays in Lia Fail. It sets up some new plot lines for any upcoming shorts and future novels. I personally can’t wait to get more Lia Fail, especially more Tanner and Chris as there seems to be so much more in the future for them.

Again Dearing pulls us in with more of her fantasy world and creatures. A definite read for all Lia Fail fans.
Profile Image for Brandy Rivers.
Author 59 books661 followers
January 9, 2014
This was a great story to bring us back to the Fail. If you loved the Gathering, this is the perfect little taste of Dearing's world.
We get to catch up with all our favorites and see what's happened in the time since the Gathering where everything happened.
I'm not going to get into too much detail, but I will say everyone gets what they needed most. It's a very satisfying story, and you should definitely read this if you love Dearing's other work.
Profile Image for Natalie.
134 reviews1 follower
January 14, 2014
~When You Wish Upon A Star~

~My Review~

A light and heart felt short story about my favorite family. S.L. Dearing lifts our spirits with just the right amount of love and some mending of broken hearts.

Back at Lia Fail Christmas has come. The castle is decorated with the mixture of Christmas and Yule. The beauty of it all is felt all around. I was left with a longing wish to teleport into this magical place.

With a year gone since Lia Fail hosted the gathering, there are many family members still devastated at the loss of loved ones.
Alia Stark wishes upon a falling star. She wishes for great comfort and happiness for her family that has suffered so much.
Alia hopes for their empty hearts to be filled with joy.... will they get the peace they need and deserve this holiday season?

I absolutely loved this short! It was full of MAGIC & SURPRISES!! It filled my own heart with so much happiness and I felt the love. S.L. Dearing brings the beauty of this story to life and gives us our fill of what we have missed so much.

I am thrilled beyond belief to have my fix of Lia Fail again. I am anticipating what will come next. After all, there is something so En-Dearing about each time we are graced with the presence of these characters and their continued story.

As the loyal book lover that I am, I shall await the next treasure that S.L. Dearing will dream up.
Profile Image for Brenda Perlin.
Author 14 books175 followers
January 9, 2014

If wishes could come true it would work out something like this. It feels as if the tides have shifted and the darkness has cleared. What a poetic way to add resolve to a story that was filled with hardship and loss.

The author has a way of bringing you right back into the story of Alia and does it ever so naturally in full panoramic surroundings. There is a comfort in returning to this story. It's almost like coming home. Back to Lia Fail! Everything, the scenery and the characters come to life in a vivid way. I love the ease of the writing and the escape that this adventure takes you on.

This imaginative story has real life emotions and yet this is true fiction with unicorns, spirits, and secret powers. This was a quick entertaining read. One I thoroughly  enjoyed.

"The shadows made Lisa remember that day, the chaos, the soldiers, and Alisha. All she wanted to do was warn her family. Warn them that something bad was going to happen, and all she had succeeded in doing was getting her sister killed. No matter what anyone said, she knew she was responsible. The tension in her throat pinched as she tried to keep her sorrow pushed down, but it raged against her will and her eyes closed, wet tears sliding down her face."
Profile Image for Penelope Bartotto.
Author 3 books109 followers
January 9, 2014
Returning to The Fail after what seems like forever, Dearing delivers a truly delightful tale of emotion and fantasy with A Wish. The Stark family has gathered together to celebrate the merged traditions of Yule and Christmas that Paul and Alia had determined years ago. Now Sean and Alia are proud new parents, with the brood of Stark children gathered and feeling a bit emotional. Dreaming of the traditions of yesteryear with her own parents and siblings, she notices not one, but two celestial streaks in the ether. As a child would, she closes her eyes and makes a wish.
One can easily get lost in the lives of the perfectly developed characters that Dearing has only managed to expand more in the short tale presented. The plot, quite simple, plays out with a level of emotional attachment that is oft lost in the rush to write a short story. The emotion is thick and meaningful within A Wish, and touches the heart and soul. From special connections, memories of people lost, dreams that come to fruition, and pure happiness discovered... A Wish is a delectable treat to read. Now, Dearing needs to deliver more of these presents to her readers, as Santa delivers gifts to the Stark family.
Profile Image for Michael Loring.
Author 16 books41 followers
January 9, 2014
A Wish is a short story set in the world of Author S.L. Dearing’s book The Gathering. It’s the first in a series of short stories about Alia Stark and her large family.

It’s been a year since the events of The Gathering, and not everyone is happy on Christmas Eve. Alia Stark knows members of her family aren’t smiling during the holidays, so she makes a wish on a shooting star that brings joy to everyone around her.

This is a short story, so I can’t go into too much detail about the story without giving away the whole thing. So I’m going to just say that this story is a very nice addition to the Lia Fail Chronicles. It’s very sweet and reminds everyone that even in our darkest times a light can shine right through to make everything better. I sincerely enjoyed this pleasant story starring the characters of S.L. Dearing’s fantasy book series, and am extremely excited to read the rest of the series as it comes out!
Profile Image for Nicole.
Author 53 books37 followers
January 13, 2014
S.L. Dearing is a great author. I loved reading The Gathering by her and now reading this has recaptured my heart for the Stark family.

Christmas time has fallen in Lia Fail and everyone is still feeling the effects of what happened not too long ago. Some people are excited for Christmas while others are just seeing it as another day to miss those that are no longer with them.

But, with a little Christmas magic, the three people in the house that need it the most are visited by those that they miss the most. Not only that, but they have their one wish granted to them.

When Christmas morning comes around, a great peace has fallen in the Stark household.

While this is a short book, it is one that will definitely grip your heart, specially if you're already in love with the Starks.
Profile Image for Sarah Cradit.
Author 99 books897 followers
January 22, 2014
I'd just finished The Gathering when I read this, so Dearing's rich cast was fresh on my brain. This was a fun, bonus short story that takes away all the danger of the full-length and gives us, simply, a nice Christmas story for our beloved characters. While not necessarily required reading for series progression, it is absolutely essential if you love the characters. Heart-warming bonus morsel. Highly recommended!
Profile Image for Pamela Stuard.
107 reviews
April 23, 2014
S.L. Dearing does it again... With a short story about a awesome family; Lia Stark.. in this short story, it is basically a Christmas story.. Does Lia's father come to see her? Does Paul come to visit Chris or Tanner? This short story is a awesome one and it had me in tears.. it may have you in tears also.. so grab this copy and a copy of A Touch.. asap!!
Profile Image for Tonya.
2,072 reviews10 followers
January 10, 2014
I loved this Lia Fail short. What a great Christmas the family had and with all the "Christmas Miracles". I can't wait to read more about all the characters in the book. I love each and everyone of them.
570 reviews1 follower
February 27, 2014
I loved this short story!! It made my cry and laugh, but mainly cry. This is a must read right after you read The Gathering!!!
Profile Image for Cami .
68 reviews
March 28, 2014
Really makes you believe in the magic of Christmas and family. I love the way you are pulled in. I believe this is one of my favorite short stories I have ever read.
Profile Image for Corinna Dürr.
23 reviews1 follower
April 22, 2014
What a sweet little Story after Book one of the Lia Fail Chronicles, can't wait to read more and more and more about the Stark Family and all their Friends :)
Profile Image for Crystal Marie.
1,483 reviews68 followers
July 5, 2015
Once again, I have to be honest and say that I was a bit worried when I started this book. Mainly because I knew it was set in the world that Dearing had already created, and there is already a full length novel by her out — which I haven’t read yet.

When I started reading this one, all I had expectations for was that it was going to be a Christmas story, but I was blown away by how great of a story it was. It wasn’t a single story, no this was stories from a group of people, and how they all celebrate Christmas, and Yule. And combining of the two holidays. As a Christmas story, this is one of my favorites that I have read.

And the fact that this takes place after The Gathering? Didn’t detract from the story for me at all. In all honesty it made me want to quickly go and purchase The Gathering because I just couldn’t get enough of this world.

Overall, I couldn’t recommend it enough! And I would say if you were on the fence about reading The Gathering, I would check this out first and see what you think!

Reviewed by Crystal Marie for Crystal’s Many Reviewers
*Copy provided for review*
Profile Image for Sheila Ryals.
2,634 reviews13 followers
January 21, 2015
A wish is a short continuation story. It is just a small update of Lia Fail during Christmas. You find out a little more that has been happining in the Fail. It is a heart warming tale of Yultide/Christmas wishes for the family of Alia. If you have read the first book then you most definetly want to read this cute heart warming tale.
Profile Image for Erth.
4,683 reviews
October 18, 2018
now i am hooked. This was such a great, easy and creative book. i was hooked after the first page.

The characters were easy to fall in love with and follow, along with the story. the author made the mental visions so easy and vivid of the surroundings and the characters actions felt so real.

i would highly recommend this author and this book.
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews

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