The Coming Dark

By: D.J. Molles

Narrated by: Scott Aiello

Trained from ten years old to deal violence to the violent, the Deathbringers take their oaths extremely seriously: Protect the weak, and foster the evolution of good.

All Liam Avione ever wanted was to be a Deathbringer. Almost twenty years old now, he’s approaching the last six months of the decade-long training program, hopeful for his future as a protector of the Universe.

One, slight problem: he’s got a genetic defect that he’s been keeping a secret. But as the training intensifies, so do his symptoms. Which are really hard to hide when they cause him to puke, pass out, and have a seizure in front of the training cadre.

Before he knows it, he is dismissed from the Deathbringers and sent back to live with the civilian “Lifebringers.” Struggling to fit in, or even find a job, Liam is relegated to working in a kitchen and repeatedly trying to convince himself, This is your life now. So when Liam gets a slim chance at redemption, he knows he has to take it, genetic defect be damned.

His second chance comes in the form of a Trial–an extremely rare occasion where Lifebringers are given an opportunity to test their mettle against Deathbringers in a seven-day contest. If Liam survives, he’ll get an opportunity to train as a Deathbringer again. The Trial is supposed to be non-lethal, but within hours of being dropped on an abandoned jungle planet, Liam and a handful of other volunteers start to find the terribly-mutilated bodies of their friends.

It becomes obvious that the Deathbringers aren’t the only things hunting them. An ancient evil is pushing its way through the fabric of space and time, intent on bringing death and destruction to the Universe. And the only thing standing in its way are some untrained Lifebringers, and a former almost-Deathbringer. And he’s feeling just a little bit pukey at the moment.

What could go wrong?

Everything. And it does.
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The Coming Dark is a fast-paced space marine sci-fi adventure of heroism, survival, and the fight to hold back a malevolent force invading reality.

©2025 D. J. Molles (P)2025 Audible, Inc.

Can't fight destiny!

Great space, military, post-apocalypse coming off age story. only life doesn't turn out the way Liam plans. He finds himself forced out of the fighting unit he always thought he was destined to be a part of, cast into a life of blissful ignorance and away from everything he's been training for. As a second chance comes around he finds he's part of a deeper destiny that no one ever realized.
The story line has the right amount of twists and tension to keep you invested throughout the book. Scott does a fantastic job narrating. I especially love how he keeps character for each and can transition between them so seamlessly.
The book ends leaving you wanting more and I must imagine DJ Molles has something brewing for our deathbringer friends!

Awesome Book

The Coming Dark is a thrilling journey through another post-apocalyptic world imagined and incredibly written by DJ Molles. With deep character arcs and relentless tension, it explores the fragility of humanity amidst chaos and despair.
From the age of 10 at the Choosing, our hero has trained to be a warrior for any peaceful race facing evil. The Deathbringers are the protectors of the helpless. Still no one understands the depth of Liam’s sense of duty until evil comes for humanity. He will turn what he considered a curse into creating battle strategies only he is capable of, he will use all his skill against the invading evil and he will give past his human endurance.
There just has to be a sequel to The Coming Dark! I am so ready for more!

Most enjoyable!

Your creativity on this one is outstanding! Enjoyable to listen to! Right away you draw us to our hero’s side in a world totally unreal for my mind. Yet it was great turning off that part of my mind and simply going with it.
Thank you for no bad language, I knew you had it in you!
This narrator was perfect for this listen!