Kerri Maniscalco

Two sisters.

One brutal murder.

 A quest for vengeance that will unleash Hell itself...

 And an intoxicating romance.

Emilia and her twin sister Vittoria are streghe -- witches who live secretly among humans, avoiding notice and persecution. One night, Vittoria misses dinner service at the family's renowned Sicilian restaurant. Emilia soon finds the body of her beloved twin...desecrated beyond belief. Devastated, Emilia sets out to find her sister's killer and to seek vengeance at any cost-even if it means using dark magic that's been long forbidden.

Then Emilia meets Wrath, one of the Wicked-princes of Hell she has been warned against in tales since she was a child. Wrath claims to be on Emilia's side, tasked by his master with solving the series of women's murders on the island. But when it comes to the Wicked, nothing is as it seems...

Kingdom of the Wicked

From the #1 New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of the Stalking Jack the Ripper series comes a new blockbuster series...

Two sisters.
One brutal murder.
A quest for vengeance that will unleash Hell itself...
And an intoxicating romance.

Emilia and her twin sister Vittoria are streghe - witches who live secretly among humans, avoiding notice and persecution. One night, Vittoria misses dinner service at the family's renowned Sicilian restaurant. Emilia soon finds the body of her beloved twin...desecrated beyond belief. Devastated, Emilia sets out to find her sister's killer and to seek vengeance at any cost--even if it means using dark magic that's been long forbidden.

Then Emilia meets Wrath, one of the Wicked--princes of Hell she has been warned against in tales since she was a child. Wrath claims to be on Emilia's side, tasked by his master with solving the series of women's murders on the island. But when it comes to the Wicked, nothing is as it seems...

Henrietta Duffey 

 I sucked in a sharp breath as I finally met his gaze. Dark gold irises with flecks of black stared back at me. Beautiful. Rare. And lethal… I knew in the very marrow of my bones what he was. 

Aimee :)

I hoped the kingdom of the wicked was ready for a vengeful queen.

Salomé Gleusteen 

"There are seven demon princes, but only four di Carlos should fear: Wrath, Greed, Envy, and Pride. One will crave your blood. One will capture your heart. One will steal your soul. And one will take your life."

Even if it boiled down to living out of spite, I vowed to survive no matter who, or what, came for my heart.

I silently vowed to my sister I wouldn’t rest until 

 those responsible for her death met their end.

 I wanted him to see my sister’s face, too.

Now I knew I could and would do anything for the people I loved.

A prince of Hell’s greatest pleasure is causing discord.

“And yet, you keep saying ‘they’ and don’t include me in your assessment of my brothers.”

They weren’t meant for the ritual. They were for me.

No one else I loved would be taken from me.

I’d use the darkest of magic to be certain of it.

He was wrathful justice: pure, swift, and completely unforgiving.

 that gets in the way of achieving my ends. Even you.

 You’re no one’s but your own, girl. Don’t ever forget it.

So, oh, mighty Prince Wrath, if you don’t want to die tonight, tell me why Pride really sent you here.

I drew in a deep breath and prayed to the goddess of strength and reasoning to keep me from butchering him right here and now.

“Just to be clear; I permitted you to leave the containment circle tonight for my benefit alone. It doesn’t mean I like you.”

“And here I thought binding me for all eternity meant we were good friends.”

But, if someone was a foolish witch with a death wish, then that witch might try casting a sleeping spell.

Solace was the furthest thing from vengeance and I wanted nothing to do with it.

“No, Prince Wrath. I do not accept your blood trade.”

this may be the book that has gotten me out of my (almost) two year reading slump, I absolutely loved the slow burning and the tension through the whole book. 

It felt like you literally never knew what was coming next but the plot itself was so good as well and it’s elevated compared to some fantasy’s imo. 

I can’t wait to find out what happens next and continue Emilia’s journey- annoying that it’s a cliff hanger but only because I want to find out the rest of the story!

this may be the book that has gotten me out of my (almost) two year reading slump, I absolutely loved the slow burning and the tension through the whole book. 

It felt like you literally never knew what was coming next but the plot itself was so good as well and it’s elevated compared to some fantasy’s imo. 

I can’t wait to find out what happens next and continue Emilia’s journey- annoying that it’s a cliff hanger but only because I want to find out the rest of the story!

It took me a minute to get into it, but I ended up loving this book. I immediately had to read the second! Sexy, tension filled romance between a witch and a demon. 

Amanda 

It had the chance to be a 5 star, but something was lacking. I found parts of it to be very confusing, especially the end. And i didn’t like how for example something she saw not that long ago would be forgotten when the reader remembers perfectly fine- since it was literally 2 pages ago. I found the relationships to be a bit rushed. Not to mention, the plot twist at the end, about who killed her sister was obvious since the very beginning. However, i couldn’t stop thinking about the book, and i love the world and the magic system. The main character shows growth which has made her more likeable.

Linara K.S

I NEED THE NEXT BOOK. ASAP.
possibly a new favourite trilogy...? what???
in a few words:

  Italian witch meets demon of hell and tries to solve her twin sister's murder.

arwen

kerri is so smart everyone should be scared of her mind (rr)

Emily Wisnesky

** spoiler alert **
           I was a bit disappointed, I did expect more especially since I did like the sjtr series… it was good up to halfway in the book then it just got quite annoying, I didn’t really like emilia and i hated how she just kept jumping to conclusions with no evidence at all, like up til the very end she still didn’t figure out it was antonio until she saw him in the chamber under the monastery, AND EVEN THEN she didn’t notice it immediately. I expected there to be more of wrath he was just kinda there and was not as wrathful as I thought he would, envy seemed more wrathful than him.

Hanna Rybchynska

Wow, I can't believe how much I loved 'Kingdom of the Wicked'! It was my first time reading a fantasy romance where the main character falls for the bad guy, and let me tell you, it was super fun and exciting!

Right from the start, this book had me hooked with its cool plot twists and awesome characters. I couldn't stop reading! And just when I thought I knew what was going on, bam! Another surprise came out of nowhere, keeping me on the edge of my seat.

But wait, there's more! The scary and suspenseful parts? They were so cool! They added this extra level of excitement that had me reading like crazy. Who doesn't love a good scare, right?

Overall, 'Kingdom of the Wicked' was an awesome adventure! If you want a fantasy story with a twist, this is the one for you!

Hannah Bauer

Took me a little to get into but I loved the setting and the characters! I’m a little confused on the character’s motivations but I loved the vibes and that ending! Ah!! What’s going on!? So excited to read the next book.

Sarah

You know the best thing about this book, witch ?
When it's finished, démon

aleksandra

1/5 

The only thing I remember from it is that the main character's whole personality was baking/cooking, that's all.

This one is complicated. I won’t lie there was too much going on and I was bored in sections of it. It’s a lot but not at the same time. It throws so much at you but felt like nothing really happened either. The audio was good, it was like a production with the composition during some sections of the book. I do plan to continue because I feel unsettled if I were to quit now. I may be a little apprehensive but will try to be as open as I can. 

Priscilla Stanfield

Sidney Schaffner

** spoiler alert **
           Uhhh it was alright. Had to force myself to read it. Interesting enough of a concept for me to get through it and to try the sequel. Still pull in’ for my boy, Wrath. I bet he’s the ✨devil✨

akynn 

I liked this a lot more than I thought I would, maybe it's because I REALLY like women when they're vengeful.

mirin

it was a page turner from the start. I’m so exited for Emilias growth. 

If you like fantasy books THIS is the book to read 

rudolf

LOVED IT 

it was a page turner from the start. I’m so exited for Emilias growth. 

If you like fantasy books THIS is the book to read 

chloe rae

The writing? Not so great. The vibes? A total blast. 

This book made me want to spend my summer in Italy drinking wine and bickering with a hot demon. Starting the second book immediately, hope the writing gets a little better. I’ve heard these books just get better and better as you go!

Marcy Pursell 

** spoiler alert **
           Slow burn mystery cliffhanger

mahek

predicted the ending tho kinda proud of myself for that 👩🏽‍💻🤓🤝

I went into this really not expecting much and I was blown away! A really well developed plot and world. A little predictable and at times there were a few cringe lines but overall a really solid book - excited for the next!

Soph

Loved the vibes this book had. Witchy and supernatural. I love Emilia and I can’t wait to see what the next books bring. 

sophie

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐

"Kingdom of the Wicked" held a promise of an intriguing mystery that drew me in from the start. The premise was captivating, and the potential for a thrilling tale was evident. However, the execution left much to be desired.

One of the major stumbling blocks for me was the abundance of characters and the multitude of elements thrown into the mix. While keeping track of everyone wasn't challenging, the sheer volume of people and things meant that nothing was explored in depth. Instead, everything felt left shallow, leaving behind a sense of unfulfilled potential.

The YA aspect of the novel, while not inherently problematic, felt overly didactic. The constant reminders and explanations seemed to assume the reader needed hand-holding, which was a bit off-putting. It detracted from the immersive experience I anticipated, as I found myself taken out of the story by these unnecessary repetitions. As a reader, I appreciate a bit more credit for my ability to grasp the unfolding mystery without constant reassurances.

Despite these drawbacks, the novel showcased ambition and potential. The world-building and the underlying mystery held moments of brilliance that hinted at what could have been a more engaging experience. With a bit more focus on streamlining the narrative and trusting the reader's intelligence, "Kingdom of the Wicked" could have truly shone.

In summary, three stars for an ambitious tale that struggled with execution. There's potential here, but the cluttered narrative and excessive hand-holding detracted from the overall reading experience.

Kingdom of the Wicked

Reviews

Highlights