Aria is a witch and a demon hunter. Her life was turned upside down after she watched a demon kill her mother. Then her father abandoned her and committed suicide. Alone and full of rage, she hunts demons and closes the doorways through which they come into our world.

Aria is a strong protagonist and conflicted by what's right and what she hopes for. When she finally feels like she had found people who can be family, she tries to keep her distance in order to do her job. But things work out a lot differently than she expected.

This was a good first installment for a urban paranormal series. I'd be more than happy to continue reading this series. Aria will climb into your heart with her sass and Maddie will be the younger sister you'd want to protect. Ben is an enigma, in more ways than one. We will be hoping for the best with him, and his future.

I would like to thank Netgalley and TrueType Press for this partnership.

We immediately learn that demons lie is rule number one what we already knew.

We find Aria, the orphan of an unspeakable evil, and the last of the powerful witch's lineage. It is there to prevent demons from attacking humanity. She wants to destroy all the doors through which demons pass and kill them all, including the one who murdered her mother.

A first book that I loved with an engaging, captivating story, full of suspense and twists and turns and the character of Aria so endearing.

I received a copy of this book for a fair and honest review. I got some classic feels from this like I was watching some of my favorite paranormal shows. Aria is a very cool chick and she is good at kicking butt. She has kind of gone off the rails and doing what she thinks is right and that is going what she calls her world tour. She is fighting demons and traveling around. Then she ends up in Texas and she has to fight the darkness. It is a very intense read and what she goes through. She has lived a very hard life. I like the writing so I will read more.

My Review: First off I would like to say that I am so happy that I got the chance to read this one. It is another book about witches that made my little witchy heart so happy. You could really tell how much work Ficklin did for this story. The only issue I really had with this one was that at times it was very dialogue heavy and well there were a few times that I was slightly confused on who said what and had to go back and reread small passages. But even with those two things this book hit it so far out of the park.

This one was very fast paced. The world is of course like out own but there are guardian witches that are alive to protect gateways to hell that demons and other things can come and go from. I really liked this idea of portals and their guardians. It gave a fresh new look at the world of the supernatural.

The snark that Aria had made this one a joy to read, it was so funny at times and I swear I spent more time taking photos of quotes than anything else. Aria stands out as a very strong female character. She's a great fighter and determined to find the demon that killed her mom, close all the gates, and then go on with her life. I think that this made her one of the best characters that I've read in a long while. Because, unlike most hunters which it is their life (such as Supernatural) Aria just wants to do what she set out to do then leave this world behind. The side characters in this one shine bright and the connections Aria has with them made this story even better. She's been cut off from letting anyone in and she's been alone and on her own for three years. This change made the story even better.

The few battles we get in this one were great. I would have loved to have seen a few more of them however, what we did see worked. I think this book really was more of a girl meets boy and opens herself to the possibility that she doesn't have to be alone. Versus a full on I am a demon hunter, bad a$$ chick, and I don't need anyone kind of story.

Going forward I hope we get even more battles and I hope that Ficklin jumps a few months or even a year ahead. It would get to see where these characters are after the events of this title and how far other characters have gotten in learning how to fight. I also think and this might just be me. That it would be REALLY interesting to have the POV change to Maddie in the next one.

If you are a fan of shows such as Supernatural and The Chilling Adventures of Sabrina then this book is right up your alley. I swear this is the second book this year that I have fallen in love with that deal with demons and hunters.

Overall this was one book that I am glad I picked up.

"Fans of Supernatural will love this new chilling tale by author Sherry Ficklin. Where Aria realizes she doesn't have to be alone to fight the the evil that killed her mother and set her on the course of destiny."~Crossroad Reviews

With romance, friendship and demons readers will be taken on an epic adventure of portals, magic, and the Hell that Dante forgot to write about High School!~ Crossroad Reviews

Go Into This One Knowing: Demons, Friendships, Romance, No Cliffhanger

You can find this review and all of my others over at www.readbookrepeat.wordpress.com

Actual rating of 3.75

Rule number 1: Demons Lie

"Maybe life makes monster of us all, in the end."

Aria is a witch, she is also a guardian, one of the chosen ones who are to guard the gates and stop the demons that find their way through. When she was 9, her mother was killed by a demon while she watched, now at 17 she wanders the United States hunting down gateways as well as the demon spawn that have walked through them. She's been on her own for a while now, it's lonely but it works. She finds herself in Red Prairie, a town in Texas where she is sure that the next gateway lies. After dispatching a demon she realises that there is more than one preying on this town and swears to put an end to the missing persons and the 'animal' attacks that pepper the towns history. In a bid to show normalcy, she enrols at the local high school, this will allow her to hopefully figure out exactly who the demon she's hunting really is, and hey, if she can graduate at the same time, it's a win win situation. What she doesn't count on is two people breaking through her walls and showing her just how lonely she really is. Maddie, a girl full of spark who is destined for Julliard, and Ben, her best friend, all round nice guy, and easy on the eyes. This hunt will be like no other she has faced thus far, and the power of friendship will bolster her need to survive and continue her quest to rid the Earth of demons forever.

In the first chapter, I had it in my head that Aria was older than she really was, it wasn't until she was enrolling into highschool that I had a "hang on a sec" moment, this is when I realised that this book was young adult urban fantasy, which is totally cool, it just threw me for a moment and I had to readjust my brain. Once that was done, I was thrown into a fast paced, well written urban fantasy story that was super enjoyable.

As the protagonist, Aria was a great character, she had just the right amount of sass and smart arsery that really gets me rooting for someone. Nothing felt forced and she didn't annoy me at all, which can happen a lot, especially in the YA genre. We're generally met with teenagers who feel that they know everything and that nothing can bring them down no matter what. Aria was definitely a breath of fresh air into the YA category as she does have the attitude of a winner, but she also knows that each fight could be her last, she trains hard and she doesn't bullshit, which I really liked. Maddie was a great secondary character and I really enjoyed learning about her and her history, I really hope that we get to really know the backstory of Maddie's ancestors. I honestly can't say a bad thing about her. Ben, what I would call the damsel in distress in this novel (though he's not overly in distress I just felt bad for the guy) he was a great love interest though I feel like we didn't really get to know him too well. I've already read the synopsis for book 2 so I'm excited to sink my teeth into it and see where our three musketeers go from here. The romance wasn't heavily laid on which was good, it's always annoying when the romance portion of the story line overtakes everything else.

The story itself was fantastic as a first book to a series, it really set the landscape and gave us all the necessary information about the world and how it works without info dumping. We learned bit by bit how things worked which is a brilliant way to set up a world in a new series.

I loved the inclusion of the whole church VS witches thing, it was great to see this included as well as a nod to the Salem witch trials. I love the way that Ficklin included these in the story.

While I did receive an ARC of this book and I understand that it is an uncorrected proof, I felt that another heavy round of editing definitely needs to be done. I think that it would've bumped my rating up a bit higher if I wasn't being jolted out of the story by misspelled words and jumbled sentences as much as I was.

I love the inclusion of the Key of Solomon and I also like how this seems like it's going to be an ongoing arc for the story itself. I'm super interested to see what our characters turn up and whether their thoughts about it are correct. There's a twist near the end, and I totally didn't see it coming at all which was just great!

In short, this was a great setup to a new urban fantasy series, and I cannot wait for book 2!

I could not finish this book. The plot and characters didn't click with me. I tried to pick it back up recently after attempting to read it when I first got the ARC but I still couldn't get through it.

Demons Lie was a well'written phenomenon that swept you in from the beginning. Sherry Ficklin wove a beautiful tapestry of complex characters, details of past and present, and shocking surprises. Just when you thought you had a handle on the story, another curve ball was thrown and you spun in an all new direction. There are a few plot points that I believe will be addressed in future novels. I can't get into them without giving spoilers away though. This is a book I highly recommend for fans of authors such as Cassandra Clare and Margaret Stohl.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Sherry D. Ficklin for allowing me the chance to explore this incredible world and share my honest thoughts and opinions with others.

This book was a fun blend of YA, paranormal, and action/adventure that I couldn't put down! As the start to a series it gives you just enough to have you hooked, without feeling cliffhanger-y.

Aria is a tough as nails teenage girl who spends her days searching for magical doorways to close and hunting demons who prey on the innocent. A small town is not her usual haunt, but it seems like this particular location is a hot spot for demon activity. As if fated, she ends up meeting another gifted person, just like her, who can aid in the fight against darkness (and high school finals). To make matters a bit tougher, though, Aria's #1 suspect for being a demon hiding in plain sight is a boy who also happens to make her get all nervous and fluttery.

Aria's world is and moral decision making is shaken when people who she may have previously deemed killable are suddenly... likable. These characters were so wonderfully young and lovable that I easily got sucked into every bit of YA drama they encountered. Sure, there's still big bads and tough choices, but the romance, action, and magic was perfectly blended together to make an irresistible story. I'm glad there are more of these coming!

This book is adorable, and I fell in love with the characters from the moment I met them especially Ben. The author is not allowed to hurt Ben at all or else I will be forced to put him in a box and put him high on a shelf. The author can have him back when she agrees not to hurt him ever again.

A definite read. 5/5 stars.

For the full review see my blog: https://bookgirlreviewsbooks.blogspot.com

Where to start?!?! I LOVED this book!! I loved every aspect of it - the plot, the characters, the tiny Texas town, the Ichor...you name it and I loved it!! This is a bit of a change from what readers expect from author Sherry Ficklin, but it is "hella" amazing! Readers both young and old will find subtle references throughout the story that remind them of their everyday lives.

This story introduces us to Aria, Maddie and Ben as well as a slew of demons, weres, good guys and bad guys and the scariest thing of all...parents! We get to know the three major characters and the reader can't help but want to be a part of their lives. The author transports us straight into the pages of the story and the reader never wants to leave!! The plot is fast moving, the characters are amazing and the ride is so twisty, turning,and looping that the reader can barely catch their breath!

Be prepared to do NOTHING at all once you start reading this one, because once you start you won't be able to stop! It is a 100% book hangover in the making and it's one of those books that you zoom through so quickly that you immediately want to start reading again when you have finished the first time! My fingers still have cramps from frantically turning the pages of this one!

I am already on the edge of my seat, badgering the author for book 2 - but don't hesitate to go to her blog for the prequel and just keep re-reading until she sees reason and gets in it our hot little hands!! My "palms are sweaty, knees weak, arms are heavy..." waiting for the next book!! An amazing read and one that I won't be able to forget or move past anytime soon!!

Go one-click this one today and be prepared to find your next favorite book!!

Rule #1: Demons lie. That's a good rule and one best not to forget. Aria has lost her mom, her dad and her Nana to the fight against demons. She's angry and deals with the loss the only way she can and knows. Traveling through the country, closing demon gates and killing all the demons she can. This is what she has in mind when she comes to Red Prairie, a small town in Texas. There she meets Maddie and Ben. Both become very important to her life and her fight. That is if she can train a witch, who didn't know she was one, and provide a demon from turning evil.
Fast paced and not a dull moment, kept me reading and reading the whole book in one sitting. Can't wait for the next book to come out.

This paranormal YA was amazing to read with great characters and plot that was not obvious for sure and had twist and turns.
Aria is a bada$$ that hunts demons on her own. If you expect her to be a damsel in distress and follow usual path be warned that's not here - and that made me SO HAPPY! As this story has a lot of entertaining things in itself.
I will grab book 2 for sure as this series caught my attention in the best way it could!

Demon's Lie is the installment in author Sherry D. Ficklin's A Girls Guide to Witchcraft and Demon Hunting series. The story is told in the first POV by 17-year old Ariadne "Aria" Dupree. Aria has arrived in the West Texas town of Red Prairie searching for demons. Aria is driven by revenge. For the past 3 years, Aria has focused on 3 main goals: killing every single demon that crosses her path, finding the one responsible for ripping her family apart, locate and destroy all gateways.

Aria is known as a Buidseach aka Witch aka Demon hunter. Buidseach's are supposed to guard & protect gateways that demons use to enter this world. Aria's mother was also a Buidseach as well as her grandmother. But, now, she is alone in the world and nothing will stop her from completing her mission. After killing one demon fairly easily, she realizes that she was too lax in her duty, and someone was killed in the process. Aria later enrolls in Red Prairie, High School where she is drawn to find a demon who is hiding out as a human.

Little does she know that the demon she thinks she is supposed to kill, Ben, is a charming, funny, nearly perfect high school boy who will tear at every single one of her emotions. Their relationship is sappy as hell, but fun to watch as Aria has to open her heart to someone who breaks all the rules. If that weren't enough, she meets Maddie Brown, who, not only will become her best friend, but also someone it seems that fate has chosen to help Aria. What shocks Aria the most is that Maddie has a dormant magical spark that seems to sense. Aria seems to have a forbidden physical attraction to Ben which makes this extremely complicated.

Aria, who is a pretty badass hunter with mad skills, soon realizes that it will take all her skills, all her snark, and all her arsenal to protect the people she has opened her heart to before the boy she loves is torn asunder, and she loses the only apprentice she has ever had. Can Aria walk the thin line between doing what is expected of her, while continuing to search for the demon who killed her mother? Read the book and find out! ::grin::: I loved that Aria has a group of rules that she tries to live by.

Such as Rule # 1 Demon's Lie. There are no absolute good v bad, or right v wrong when it eliminates the human element. I give props to the author for not going all in on the high school hi-jinks and angst. She stuck to her guns and didn't have any mean girls or any real nasty bullies to pushed Aria's buttons to the limit. While this book is about demons, it is the relationships that take over the main story-line for the entire book.

Determination: yes, I will be reading the sequel whenever it comes out. Aria's next stop should be loads of fun!

I’m not a huge fan of YA. Don’t get me wrong, I read it, but it’s not my favorite. I’m always a little hesitant to pick one up because of that. Sometimes the YA book I read is a little too…YA for me. However, once I started reading this one, I became hooked. I really liked Aria and the side characters, and for the most part, found them very believable. I did have a hard time suspending my belief that Aria could have money (don’t want to give away too many details) without some adult supervision. However, the plot was very interesting, and I really did enjoy this book from beginning to end. I’ve never read a book by this author, but after reading this one, I will be sure to read her again, including the next one in the series. I really do want to see what is going to happen next. 4 ½ stars and I highly recommend! I was provided the e-book which I voluntarily reviewed.

Love it! Really great characters, and the love story with Ben and Aria was woderful a great example of YA romance done right. I was able to get into arias character really fast, she was really kick ass and I really enjoy the scene where she got rid of the Demon at the beginning of the story. I can't wait to read more of Sherry D. ficklin.

Rating 4/5

Demons Lie starts off with a quick pace which is maintained throughout the entire novel with all of its intrigue, mystery, witty characters and sweet romance. This urban fantasy crafted a world I never would have imagined and so I appreciated it so much for developing into one I want to continue to stay in with the rest of the series. I loved the banter between the characters, especially Maddie's personality as it was completely different than what I expected her to be. Aria is this badass female whose strength attracts the attention of Ben - they were so perfect for each other that it makes me see why I believe in HEAs.

Although a teen, this witch is a lone hunter against dark forces, and when high school life hits, it adds an entirely new dimension to her adventure.

Orphaned and with no relatives left, Aria is a powerful witch on a mission to close all the gates to the demons' realm and revenge her mother's death. When she enters the small town, the next one on her list thanks to increased demon activity, she takes on the disguise as a high school student in hopes it will get her closer to the demon. And she finds what she's looking for. Maybe. A couple of her classmates are sending out surprising vibes, and they don't fit in with her usual experience of demon hunting. It's these students who are about to change her life.

The first chapter grabs right away, and the tension doesn't let up until the last page. Aria is a strong fighter with some experience. She is determined, centered and a no-nonsense kind of girl. She has to be. But she's still a teen, and this comes through when she enrolls into school. High school drama slides right in, making it a perfect YA read. At first, Aria is only concerned with her mission, but soon allows herself to be swept into the teenage life...to a certain degree. It's an interesting twist which lures in and makes this a bit more original than some YA reads.

There are demons and fight scenes as well. When these appear, they are dark, full of action and hold suspense. However, the demons don't always hold the center seat as Aria's relationships with her new friend, Maddie and Ben, are, in many ways, more important in the plot. Part of me would have loved to have seen more demon action and intrigue (they weren't always as present as I would have thought), but on the same hand, this book gave the development necessary to base the rest of the series. Maddie and Ben have stories and mysteries of their own, and this first book gets the trio set for the upcoming adventures.

Romance is also found in these pages, a sweet, high school one. Although sparks fly right away, they aren't necessarily the romantic kind immediately. The romance does hit with the usual teen quickness, but there is enough hesitation and other aspects woven in to keep it in line with the rest of the story. In other words, it works nicely.

This is a exciting read for demon fighting fans and a great first book for a series. It will be interesting to see what happens to the trio next, and whether or not this story stays YA since they have now graduated high school and are heading out into the world on their own to get those pesky demons.

would like to thank netgalley and the publisher for letting me read this amazing book

demons lie...what a book...full on demons,fight scenes and magic...just what the doctor ordered...

a fun read that kept me reading page after page wanting to find out who were demons and who werent...not disappointed at all...jim butcher you have competition

highly recommend this book if you love demons, magic and fighting...

another author to follow

So it took me,the first third of the book to really get into it.

Minor Spoilers

At first I was feeling a Twilight copy cat. You know, the angsty girl falls for the dangerous boy who could kill her at any second. But really he's sweet and overcomes his nature and baser instincts. And then they sparkle together.
And that kinda is,the story, but there was more too.

You can come back now!

So at first I didn't connect with Aria, she was too hard and singleminded in her focus. But the more I saw of her the more I liked her. Maddy was a great sidekick, and I liked Ben too.
The storyline and world were interesting, although I would have,liked some more info about the world, and it's creatures and the portals.
What bugged me were suspension of disbelief issues. Like that at 14 Aria took off on her own and had access to her parents estate but no one worried about where she was or who was taking care of her. Or convenient spells that help a plot point, although we are told all magic has balance and there is a price for it.
But overall a fun read, and it was definitely good enough to have me looking for the next in the series.

If Buffy and Supernatural ever merge, I think Demons Lie would be their rebellious teenage love child.

No one is more surprised than I am at how much I enjoyed this book. I was skeptical at the beginning because, let’s face it, Supernatural Young Adult books are a dime a dozen and making one stand out is a difficult task. I think Sherry D. Ficklin managed this by creating characters that are not only relatable but also incredibly likeable. With a quick witted and sarcastic demon hunter witch, a loyal-to-the-end best friend and a super adorable half demon how can you really go wrong?

I found that the book started out very rushed and was initially concerned that the whole thing would be riding this incredibly high speed wave but the more into the story we get, the more the pace eases up until we get this perfect flow for the remainder of the book.

Something that really stood out to me is that the author seemed to focus a lot more on character building and relationships than the actual killing of demons, which I think is pretty smart for the first in a series. I mean, there was still some action and a lot of witchy/demon things going on, but building the friendships of these main characters would be an integral part to the series and I feel like not enough authors put enough effort into building that up right off the hop so big round of applause for that!

I honestly absolutely loved this book. Witches, demons, revenge, high school….what more could you really ask for? Demons Lie was the perfect palette cleanser for me and I would highly recommend it to anyone looking for something that’s comfortably familiar but still incredibly different. It is such a quick read and I will be looking forward to the next installment in the series.

I was provided a copy of this book by NetGalley and the publisher to read and provide my honest opinion.