Controlling quantum coherence in light-matter interactions is a key step for advanced ultra-fast and quantum information technology. An ever increasing effort has then been devoted over the years to the development of techniques for manipulating quantum coherence in advanced materials optical devices. We here focus on one of the most attractive recent techniques, electromagnetically induced transparency, which has spawned a flurry of interesting effects in ultra-cold atoms in typical three-level lambda or ladder configurations that are now being extended to solid materials. We review our recent results on electromagnetically induced transparency based on intrinsic free exciton and biexciton states in bulk semiconductors and microcavities. We specifically examine copper oxide crystals Cu₂O) where, akin to the atomic case, transparency may be induced through a lambda configuration obtained from the yellow series of exciton states, and copper chloride crystals (CuCl) where a tunable transparency effect may be induced through a ladder configuration of exciton-biexciton transitions via a wave-vector–selective polaritonic mechanism.