What do you think?
Rate this book
The Coming Dark
Liana Matthews’ mother was murdered when she was two, with her in the room. Raised by her grandmother, she has always been the school freak, but when she starts spewing Latin and exorcising demons she didn’t know existed, she has no choice but to change schools or be tossed in a mental hospital. Her guardians say she is being chased by a demon, and the safest place for her and her best friend, Abby, is in a boarding school for demon hunters in training, where she’ll have a bodyguard in the form of a brawny seventeen year old named Chase.
Yet training as an exorcist and living in constant fear of the demon Axel who attacked her the night she came to school, has Liana unsure who she should trust. With her grandmother in a nursing home and Abby locked away in another building, the one person Liana finds herself wanting to spend time with isn’t a person at all… but a demon. Darius is supposed to be her final exam, the demon she has to exorcise to graduate, yet there is something about him that intrigues her and she knows she can’t kill him. Especially since he says he has information about her father, who she’s never met.
With rumors about her mother’s murder still swirling, Axel trying to kill her, and her feelings torn between the guy who is sworn to protect her and the demon who may endanger her, Liana has to face THE COMING DARK…
Yet training as an exorcist and living in constant fear of the demon Axel who attacked her the night she came to school, has Liana unsure who she should trust. With her grandmother in a nursing home and Abby locked away in another building, the one person Liana finds herself wanting to spend time with isn’t a person at all… but a demon. Darius is supposed to be her final exam, the demon she has to exorcise to graduate, yet there is something about him that intrigues her and she knows she can’t kill him. Especially since he says he has information about her father, who she’s never met.
With rumors about her mother’s murder still swirling, Axel trying to kill her, and her feelings torn between the guy who is sworn to protect her and the demon who may endanger her, Liana has to face THE COMING DARK…
Unknown Binding
First published December 6, 2012
2 people are currently reading
144 people want to read
About the author
Erin McCarthy
216 books4,830 followersUSA Today and New York Times Bestselling author Erin McCarthy sold her first book in 2002 and has since written over a hundred novels and novellas in teen fiction, new adult, and adult romance. Erin has a special weakness for high-heeled boots, beaches and martinis. She lives in Ohio with her family, two grumpy cats and a socially awkward dog.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
August 16, 2013
Sixteen-year-old, Liana Matthews only wants to be normal. She does not want her grandmother in hospice because of her advanced Alzheimer's. She does not want to be living off the charity of her best friend Abby's parents because she has nowhere else to go. She does not want to be the sole witness to her mother's murder, which may or may not have been committed by her own father. And she certainly does not want to suffer from night terrors and visions of a murder, which occurred when she was just two-years-old. But unfortunately for Liana, fate never asked her what she wanted.
Although her grandmother moved them from Portland to Maine, to escape the notoriety surrounding the murder, an unfortunate incident at a sleepover has her labeled the freak du jour of Bay Point, Maine. So instead of the normalcy she desperately wants, Liana finds herself going through life trying to blend into the background, escaping everyone's notice; especially that of the blonde, bitchy, leader of the Bay High social pack, Mariah. But once again no one asked Liana what she wants, and one seemingly average afternoon, with half of Bay High in attendance, she finds herself exorcising a demon from Mariah's boyfriend, and her plans to go through life unnoticed go all to hell (pun intended).
This is how Liana finds herself at St. Michaels Boarding School, confused and all alone. Now all she has to do is figure out: Who she can trust? What the demon chasing her really wants? When she'll be allowed to see Abby again? Where her father fits into the mess her life has become? Why Darius, her crush from Bay High, is at St. Michaels, and in handcuffs? How she ever thought her life could be normal, when even in a school of freaks, she's still considered a freak?
Lucky for Liana, fate did send her some help — in the form of one sexy, indie-rocker-type, teenage demon, named Darius. (Who, in my opinion, totally stole the book.)
My attempts at writing a more in-depth review kept giving too much away, so instead I'll leave you with a few of my favourite Darius moments:
________________________________
"Hey! Give that back!" Panic started to set in. Ignoring the fact that I was only in my panties, I jumped up out of bed and grabbed at the sweatshirt, trying to pull it back to me. I couldn't lose it, I just couldn't.
But then his jaw dropped. "You're not wearing pants!" He slapped his hand over his eyes and let me pull the shirt out of his grip. "Damn it, put some clothes on."
That gave me pause, and might have made me laugh if I wasn't so freaked out. The demon from hell was unnerved by me being half-dressed?
________________________________
Darius stood up again and turned slightly. "Reach into my pocket. There's something I want you to see."
Was he serious? "I'd think a demon would have a better line than that. I am not sticking my hand in your pocket."
Darius looked shocked. "What? No! That's not what I meant. I have a picture for you but I can't pull it out with my hands in these cuffs. I mean, I could..." He gave me a smirk. "Because I'm a demon. But in your presence I'm trying to be as human as possible."
________________________________
"No. I'm trying to think like a human, trying to decide if it's selfish to kiss you. If it's not in your best interest. I don't always understand how to be thoughtful."
He really did look like he was having an internal struggle over right and wrong. I could practically see the wheels grinding in his skull. "Here's a clue," I told him. "If I ask you if you're going to kiss me, it means I want you to, which means it's not selfish of you."
He frowned. "Are you sure?"
A demon with a moral streak stronger than any guy I'd ever met. Who would have imagined that.
________________________________
"I'm trying to figure out how it's possible to feel this level of anxiety. I never have before. I heard humans talk about worrying and I didn't...get it. But when I didn't know where you were, I felt the most vulnerable I ever have. Weak, almost."
________________________________
"Angel?" he whispered in the dark.
"Yes?"
"What does it feel like to love someone?"
A lump caught in my throat and I lightly ran my fingers down his bare arm. "It feels like this."
"That's what I thought."
________________________________
"I'll kill you," Mr. Bradford told Darius. "Or better yet, send you straight back to hell."
"How are you going to do that?" Darius scoffed. "As far as I can tell there's only one exorcist in this hallway and she's with me."
________________________________
"Stop what? Caring about you?" He shook his head, hands buried in his pockets, eyes sad. "I can't. My understanding of these things is that once you start, it's very difficult to stop and I believe that to be true in my case."
________________________________
On a side note: It's been a while since I've read a new YA book (well, one that's not part of a series I've already been sucked into that is) I just didn't think I could do one more teenage-love-triangle without losing my mind. That being said, I'd like to point out, contrary to what the summary of this book leads you to believe, there is no love triangle to be found.
March 9, 2019
I liked the author's other books but this one is a complete dud to the point where I couldn't finish it.
August 13, 2013
Brief synapsis: Liana (heroine) is not only struggling with her kinda sorta orphan status and being an outcast is suddenly thrust into a new world filled with darkness & demons. Sent to a new school for protection, Liana must fight to survive an evil demon hell bent on hunting and coercing her into becoming his evil minion, scramble to learn more about her mysterious past, and come to terms with her attraction to Darius, the very demon she is suppose to exorcise with her new powers!
Favorite Quote: "Angel?" he whispered in the dark. "Yes?" "What does it feel like to love someone?" A lump caught in my throat and I lightly ran my fingers down his bare arm. "It feels like this." "That's what I thought."
Where to begin... First off I heart Erin McCarthy's writing, but I must admit I was initially unsure of how this particular book of hers would go for me. When I first started reading it, I wasn't 'hooked'. The first few chapters where a little choppy and super short it felt like I was missing something. Paired with the semi longer but still short and to the precise point of each additional chapters thru-out about the first 1/3 of the book I wasn't sure how I felt about the flow of what I was reading. I'm glad I stuck with it, because as I continued on I realized that they're written like that to convey all that needed information necessary for the world building and to allow the story and all of the happenings to be told in it's entirety within it's shorter overall page length. I usually personally prefer a longer lengthier novel that gives the plot points in bits & pieces as it goes along so maybe those first chapters just stood out more to me as I'm not used to it. In retrospect I give much respect & props to how McCarthy delivers all of what's needed in such a quick punch enabling her to dive right into the swing of things.
Which is what I ended up loving most about this book, once you are hooked, you are HOOKED! When the action sprung I just couldn't turn the pages fast enough! I had a hard time finding a spot to ever set the book down as it seemed Liana was always in the thick of one tumultuous thing after another! I instantly liked Liana's BFF Abby and her roommates Rain & Jess, growing quickly attached to them as well as her assigned mentor Dorset whose craggily personality can't help but be loved? Also an item to note for my friends who I know detest love triangles I will reluctantly say this does not contain one as reading the cover copy may lead you to believe. While it did have great potential for one it was not, much to my regret taken there (so I love the instant angst created with triangles, sue me! ;) Although I badly wished for more on the Chase/Liana front, I'll admit Darius does provide a strong showing for swoon worthy hero status HOWEVER he does pull a stunt toward the end that had me lamenting for Chase but alas it simply was not meant to be. Upon finishing The Coming Dark my thoughts kept circling around 2 things: 1) That's it? That's how it ends?!! (There is so much more to be addressed, so many open plot points that could be developed further, I need to know what happens next!) and 2) I want more, darn it! (please refer back to thought number 1!)
The Coming Dark is a quick enjoyable read for all fans of the paranormal YA genre. And for only .99 on both Kindle & Nook one can't go wrong!
Favorite Quote: "Angel?" he whispered in the dark. "Yes?" "What does it feel like to love someone?" A lump caught in my throat and I lightly ran my fingers down his bare arm. "It feels like this." "That's what I thought."
Where to begin... First off I heart Erin McCarthy's writing, but I must admit I was initially unsure of how this particular book of hers would go for me. When I first started reading it, I wasn't 'hooked'. The first few chapters where a little choppy and super short it felt like I was missing something. Paired with the semi longer but still short and to the precise point of each additional chapters thru-out about the first 1/3 of the book I wasn't sure how I felt about the flow of what I was reading. I'm glad I stuck with it, because as I continued on I realized that they're written like that to convey all that needed information necessary for the world building and to allow the story and all of the happenings to be told in it's entirety within it's shorter overall page length. I usually personally prefer a longer lengthier novel that gives the plot points in bits & pieces as it goes along so maybe those first chapters just stood out more to me as I'm not used to it. In retrospect I give much respect & props to how McCarthy delivers all of what's needed in such a quick punch enabling her to dive right into the swing of things.
Which is what I ended up loving most about this book, once you are hooked, you are HOOKED! When the action sprung I just couldn't turn the pages fast enough! I had a hard time finding a spot to ever set the book down as it seemed Liana was always in the thick of one tumultuous thing after another! I instantly liked Liana's BFF Abby and her roommates Rain & Jess, growing quickly attached to them as well as her assigned mentor Dorset whose craggily personality can't help but be loved? Also an item to note for my friends who I know detest love triangles I will reluctantly say this does not contain one as reading the cover copy may lead you to believe. While it did have great potential for one it was not, much to my regret taken there (so I love the instant angst created with triangles, sue me! ;) Although I badly wished for more on the Chase/Liana front, I'll admit Darius does provide a strong showing for swoon worthy hero status HOWEVER he does pull a stunt toward the end that had me lamenting for Chase but alas it simply was not meant to be. Upon finishing The Coming Dark my thoughts kept circling around 2 things: 1) That's it? That's how it ends?!! (There is so much more to be addressed, so many open plot points that could be developed further, I need to know what happens next!) and 2) I want more, darn it! (please refer back to thought number 1!)
The Coming Dark is a quick enjoyable read for all fans of the paranormal YA genre. And for only .99 on both Kindle & Nook one can't go wrong!
August 20, 2013
Talk about falling for the bad boy! Though, I must admit, author Erin McCarthy makes the bad boy so very attractive, it'd be nearly impossible not to fall for him.
"The Coming Dark" is the story of Liana, a sixteen-year-old girl whose mother was stabbed to death in front of her when she was only two-years-old. Ever since that day, rumors and speculation have followed Liana. She has always felt and been the odd girl out, labeled a freak by her peers, save her best friend Abby, that is. As Liana gets older, her dreams about the night of her mother's murder become more and more vivid. After startling awake in study hall one afternoon, Liana finds that she has entered a whole new realm of the odd. Before she knows it, her so-called normal life is behind her and Liana and Abby are both being spirited off to a boarding school. For safety. For protection. For Liana, an education in exorcism.
The pace of "The Coming Dark" is quick and Erin McCarthy's characters, as always, are three-dimensional, vivid and memorable. Her writing is captivating, filled with lines like:
"I was going to carry Chase's blood with me into the future."
and
"Do you know what her personal quote in our yearbook senior year was? Aut viam inveniam aut faciam. If you remember your Latin, you'll understand.
I'll either find a way or I'll make one."
From the back cover, I was expecting a love triangle, but I was surprised to find that one of the suitors was out of the picture really before the flash went off. I didn't mind, though. I find that a lot of young adult books are chock full of love triangles and they can be tiresome. I enjoyed the developing relationship between Liana and Darius and I particularly loved that, while Erin McCarthy plays the relationship card of We Can't Be Together Because I'm Not Good For You, she quickly trumped it with the all too often underused Don't Make My Decisions For Me card. (Well played!)
I did think that the ending seemed a bit rushed, though. I was left with some questions . In act, about three-quarters of the way through the book, I thought perhaps there would be a sequel. But then everything sped up and finished at a break-neck pace.
Very fun read, on the whole. This is only the second title by Erin McCarthy that I have read, but I'm looking forward to indulging in many more!
"The Coming Dark" is the story of Liana, a sixteen-year-old girl whose mother was stabbed to death in front of her when she was only two-years-old. Ever since that day, rumors and speculation have followed Liana. She has always felt and been the odd girl out, labeled a freak by her peers, save her best friend Abby, that is. As Liana gets older, her dreams about the night of her mother's murder become more and more vivid. After startling awake in study hall one afternoon, Liana finds that she has entered a whole new realm of the odd. Before she knows it, her so-called normal life is behind her and Liana and Abby are both being spirited off to a boarding school. For safety. For protection. For Liana, an education in exorcism.
The pace of "The Coming Dark" is quick and Erin McCarthy's characters, as always, are three-dimensional, vivid and memorable. Her writing is captivating, filled with lines like:
"I was going to carry Chase's blood with me into the future."
and
"Do you know what her personal quote in our yearbook senior year was? Aut viam inveniam aut faciam. If you remember your Latin, you'll understand.
I'll either find a way or I'll make one."
From the back cover, I was expecting a love triangle, but I was surprised to find that one of the suitors was out of the picture really before the flash went off. I didn't mind, though. I find that a lot of young adult books are chock full of love triangles and they can be tiresome. I enjoyed the developing relationship between Liana and Darius and I particularly loved that, while Erin McCarthy plays the relationship card of We Can't Be Together Because I'm Not Good For You, she quickly trumped it with the all too often underused Don't Make My Decisions For Me card. (Well played!)
I did think that the ending seemed a bit rushed, though. I was left with some questions . In act, about three-quarters of the way through the book, I thought perhaps there would be a sequel. But then everything sped up and finished at a break-neck pace.
Very fun read, on the whole. This is only the second title by Erin McCarthy that I have read, but I'm looking forward to indulging in many more!
August 18, 2013
I really enjoyed this book. It was something different for me to read of Erin McCarthy's. You have Liana who has losted her mother when she was two and she grows up with these nightmares all her life. Her grandmother tries to help her as much as she can, but wind up in a nursing home. Liana moves in with her BFF Abby and from there things start to take off. She is rushed in the middle of the night to a boarding school that Abby's father teaches at. It is a school that will help her with her gift of being able to exercise demons back to hell. There a few things that do happen to her that I do not want to give to much away. There is a demon named Axel that is after her. Darius, another demon that she falls for, that is trying to protect her. All this as she is trying to find herself. Go get the book people it was great read. My favorite line in the novel was by Axel when he looks at her and says,"I've been waiting for you to figure out who you are. Let's get this party started."
August 28, 2013
I enjoyed this book. It is a YA book, but it is a great read for any age. It was full of suspense throughout. Liana is the main character and she has had a very hard life from an early age. She witnessed her mother's murder as a young child and has nightmares ever since. Her life is a constant struggle. She realizes she is different from the other kids, but she doesn't fully comprehend how different until she speaks latin at school at a demon! From that moment on the story is full of twist and turns. Secrets are revealed that may effect her very life. This is a definite page turner. There is also a bit of a new love element to the story which itself is a challenge.
If you love Erin McCarthy you will love this story!
One of my favorite quotes to show you just how different Liana's world is "To everyone I met, demon hunting was normal. Training was no different than cramming for the SAT's."
If you love Erin McCarthy you will love this story!
One of my favorite quotes to show you just how different Liana's world is "To everyone I met, demon hunting was normal. Training was no different than cramming for the SAT's."
August 16, 2013
Liana witnessed her mom's murder at 2 and now her grandmother is in a home suffering from Alzheimers.
Abby is her best friend and her parents believe in demons and when Liana does something at school Abby's parents take her to a catholic school that Abby's father works in but its not your typical Catholic school. Nope this school is for demon hunters and the only place Liana is safe. (In a way it reminded me of buffy the vampire slayer vs Karen Marie Monings Iced)
I'm a huge fan of Erin McCarthy but I'm not a YA fan and I think considering the story I actually was pleasently surprised in this book. I hope that Erin makes this into a series. I would love to see Liana grow and become more of an adult.
Did I forget to mention Darius the demon man-candy? I would love to see if Darius and Liana get their Happily Ever After. The girl has gone through enough in her life and deserves it.
Abby is her best friend and her parents believe in demons and when Liana does something at school Abby's parents take her to a catholic school that Abby's father works in but its not your typical Catholic school. Nope this school is for demon hunters and the only place Liana is safe. (In a way it reminded me of buffy the vampire slayer vs Karen Marie Monings Iced)
I'm a huge fan of Erin McCarthy but I'm not a YA fan and I think considering the story I actually was pleasently surprised in this book. I hope that Erin makes this into a series. I would love to see Liana grow and become more of an adult.
Did I forget to mention Darius the demon man-candy? I would love to see if Darius and Liana get their Happily Ever After. The girl has gone through enough in her life and deserves it.
August 25, 2013
I'm used to reading romances from Ms. McCarthy and I have to say that I really enjoyed The Coming Dark which is a dark supernatural thriller. Liana lost her mother to an act of violence at an early age and has been haunted by nightmares of that night ever since. One day at school, she is involved in an incident where she is confronted by true demons from hell and she learns that she is from a long line of demon hunters. With enough on her plate, she learns that she is being hunted by a big time demon that may have been responsible for the death of her mother.
I was very impressed with The Coming Dark and I stayed up most of the night to finish Liana's story. It was action-packed and I loved learning about the demon hunters and what Liana had to learn to become one. I hope Erin McCarthy does more stories like this because I will buy each and every one of them.
Favorite Quote: "I was going to carry Chase's blood with me into the future."
I was very impressed with The Coming Dark and I stayed up most of the night to finish Liana's story. It was action-packed and I loved learning about the demon hunters and what Liana had to learn to become one. I hope Erin McCarthy does more stories like this because I will buy each and every one of them.
Favorite Quote: "I was going to carry Chase's blood with me into the future."
January 12, 2014
This is a very enjoyable read.
I will confess:
Put a boarding school in a book and you have my attention.
Sometimes this leads to me reading books that turn out to be a disappointment, but not this time. The Coming Dark is a very entertaining Paranormal YA. At first I was fearing the focus would be on yet another love triangle, but this wasn't the case. Instead this book is full of action, demons and suspense. There's a lot of angsting as well of course, but it's more focused on Liana's powers, the decisions she has to make, and her friendship with Abby.
At times the story leaned towards using too much religion, but that's probably to be expected in a book about exorcists. It never got to the point were it got in the way of the story or started sounding like propaganda though, so I didn't mind.
The ending set itself up for a sequel, lots of things are still unresolved. I will keep an eye out for that sequel, because I'm curious what's next for Liana.
I will confess:
Put a boarding school in a book and you have my attention.
Sometimes this leads to me reading books that turn out to be a disappointment, but not this time. The Coming Dark is a very entertaining Paranormal YA. At first I was fearing the focus would be on yet another love triangle, but this wasn't the case. Instead this book is full of action, demons and suspense. There's a lot of angsting as well of course, but it's more focused on Liana's powers, the decisions she has to make, and her friendship with Abby.
At times the story leaned towards using too much religion, but that's probably to be expected in a book about exorcists. It never got to the point were it got in the way of the story or started sounding like propaganda though, so I didn't mind.
The ending set itself up for a sequel, lots of things are still unresolved. I will keep an eye out for that sequel, because I'm curious what's next for Liana.
August 14, 2013
The memory of Liana Mathews' mother's murder have always come to her in her nightmares. Always the same except for the face of her mother's killer. What else would you expect, when Liana was only two and alone with her mother. But now she's a teenager and someone who doesn't fit in with the others in her school. Has never fit in with them. Things change fast when a demon starts to follow her..taunt her.He wants her dead. She finds herself taken to a school that could save her life. Will things be better for her in an environment meant to help her learn who or what she really is?
I really liked this YA book. It was full of suspense and I really felt for Liana. Even though I knew it was fiction, I felt the terror and sadness of it all. I wanted someone to really stand up for Liana and to actually be on her side! Will read this one again!
I really liked this YA book. It was full of suspense and I really felt for Liana. Even though I knew it was fiction, I felt the terror and sadness of it all. I wanted someone to really stand up for Liana and to actually be on her side! Will read this one again!
August 16, 2013
I loved it! Its so different from anything of Erin's that I have read before. Its a lot darker than most of her contemporary romance, but it still has an engaging story that pulls you in and makes you read until it done, and then you are cravin more. I really wish the book had been longer than what it was. I also wish that we could have learned more about Darius. I think the only thing I didnt like was that Chase dies. That made me cry. I liked him, though I didnt want to see him with Liana romantically, he would have made a good friend.
April 5, 2013
Liana Matthews
Darius
Not my favorite work by Ms McCarthy. I think mostly because it's not a subject matter I'm all that into, I didn't read the blurb at all before I started reading so that is my fault. Overall for me it was just okay.
Darius
Not my favorite work by Ms McCarthy. I think mostly because it's not a subject matter I'm all that into, I didn't read the blurb at all before I started reading so that is my fault. Overall for me it was just okay.
October 30, 2015
I liked it but it's like so many novels where the main character ends up in a special "school", like the Fallen or the Night School series.
From the start we know what will happen, nevertheless it was a good one and I wish there was a sequel or even a prequel.
From the start we know what will happen, nevertheless it was a good one and I wish there was a sequel or even a prequel.
March 3, 2013
This was a very good read!
April 9, 2014
Ehhhhh.
October 12, 2015
Is there a sequel? I felt like it ended with some questions. Oh well. It wasn't perfect but it was an enjoyable read.
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews