Name: Ale ♡'s review of Kingdom of the Wicked by Kerri Maniscalco
Item: Kingdom of the Wicked
Rating: 4
Author: Ale ♡

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.”

Ale ♡

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.

4 stars.


  
    “Love is the most powerful magic. Above all else, remember that. It will always guide you where you need to go.”
  


Welcome once again to "Books I saw a lot of hype" with Ale. Today, the review will be about Kingdom of the Wicked by Kerri Maniscalco. As I said, this is a book I've seen a lot of hype in and since I'm a person who doesn't follow the order of her own monthly reading list, I decided to read this one.

I should warn you that I am a walking bundle of emotions, tears and snot. Sadness. Confusion. Anxiety. Anger. Joy?

Kingdom of the Wicked focuses on Emilia, who is a white witch and has a twin sister who is murdered. Emilia is furious, so she decides to look for Vittoria's killer and get her own justice, even if that means dabbling in the dark magic that her grandmother was determined to warn them about.

Emilia summons a demon and, surprise, it is our beloved prince of Hell: Wrath. Bonus: he's shirtless and has a body that was probably forged in Hell by the demons themselves. Prince Wrath is also looking for the murderer of Vittoria, and several other witches whose hearts have been torn out.


Thoughts before reading.
Let's skip the hype a third time, because I already said it. I saw very good reviews of this book and people who told me it was good, but I also saw reviews from people who didn't like it, and who were unhappy with it. So I said, "Why not give it a try?"

Thoughts during the reading.
I really like the storytelling. The prologue is very beautiful, detailed and has something magical that left me enchanted. Without knowing it, I've always been a fan of twins trope (even I write about that, lol), and it left me with a bitter taste that Vittoria died very quickly and I didn't even have time to empathize with her in the proper and usual way that I would have liked. Although, I have to admit it: some of her iconic phrases, like her marriage to the devil, look like something I would say just to annoy my family and make my brother laugh.

Thoughts at the end of the reading.
I got to chapter 47 and there I was 

Things were not only bad, they were getting worse and my anxiety was almost killing me. I predicted some things and got them right, so I wasn't surprised when I got to them.

In general.
I did not sympathize with Vittoria and her death did not evoke in me that feeling of empathy to say "Yes, Emilia, go and set the world on fire for your sister, go!" Vittoria's death did not bother me, although I did understand Emilia's feelings when she discovered her sister's body and wanted revenge.
Emilia's invocation to bring a demon resulted in something strange. In the beginning, I had a hard time assimilating what the hell was happening, and I blame Wrath shirtless for that. Although I was surprised that Emilia didn't accept the deal with him.


Kerri's writing style caught me from start to finish. Dear Kerri Maniscalco: You left me hungry every time you described the meals. There's something magical about it, as I said in the prologue, and I don't know, it kept me going at all times.
I predicted that the bastard killer would be Antonio, although I also thought that Domenico might be the killer.


And I also predicted, more for myself, that Wrath would be the one to catch Emilia's heart, although, I KNOW THAT BOTH ARE IN LOVE, DON'T WANT TO LIE TO ME, DAMNITS. The end was bitter. Damn it was something bitter and I didn't expect it, but at the same time I did. I know that, deep down, Wrath fell in love... Or that at least he feels something for Emilia, and that those flowers were not by choice. He didn't just want her soul to get his freedom, but at some point, he went off the rails.

Honestly, I felt that the beginning was slow and the end very fast, that after chapter 40 I felt that everything went down... Or maybe since Wrath didn't tell Emilia that his invocation spell also had a marriage bond that united them.


I wanted to hit them all and also tell them to react. Emilia made very light decisions, and they were bad ones at that. Again, typical of a character YA.


In any case, I'm repeating the same thing and deviating. That ending left me a little empty and I felt that something was missing, although I still don't know what. I am waiting for what Emilia is going to do in Hell to get revenge, and see if Wrath simply faked it or what.

I'm waiting for the second book SO bad.

Spanish review.

4 estrellas.

Bienvenidos una vez más a “Libros en los que vi mucho hype” con Ale. El día de hoy, la reseña será sobre (inserte el libro y autor). Como dije, este es un libro al que le he visto mucho hype y como soy una persona que no sigue el orden de su propia lista de lectura mensual, decidí leer este.

Debo advertirles que soy un manojo de emociones, lágrimas y mocos andante. Tristeza. Confusión. Ansiedad. Enojo. ¿Alegría?

Kingdom of the Wicked de Kerri Maniscalco se centra en Emilia, quien es una bruja blanca y tiene una hermana gemela a la que asesinan. Emilia está furiosa, por lo que decide buscar al asesino de Vittoria y cobrar su propia justicia, incluso si eso significa incursionarse en la magia oscura, que su abuela se empeñó en advertirles.

Emilia invoca a un demonio y, sorpresa, es nuestro querido príncipe del Infierno: Ira. Bonus: no trae camisa y tiene un cuerpazo que probablemente los mismísimos demonios forjaron en el Infierno. El Príncipe Ira también está buscando al asesino de Vittoria, y de varias brujas más a quienes su corazón ha sido arrancado.


Pensamientos antes de la lectura.
Saltémonos una tercera vez lo del hype, porque ya lo dije. Vi muy buenas reseñas de este libro y gente que me dijo que era bueno, pero también vi reseñas de personas a las que no les pareció, y que quedaron inconformes. Entonces dije: “¿por qué no darle una oportunidad?”

Pensamientos durante la lectura.
Me gusta muchísimo la narración. El prólogo está muy bonito, detallado y tiene algo mágico que me dejó encantada. Sin saberlo, siempre he sido fan de las tropes que tengan gemelos (incluso yo escribo de eso, lol), y me dejó un sabor amargo que Vittoria se nos murió muy rápido y ni siquiera tuve tiempo para empatizar con ella de la forma apropiada y usual en la que me hubiese gustado. Aunque, he de admitirlo: algunas de sus frases icónicas, como la de su boda con el diablo, se parecen a algo que yo diría sólo para fastidiar a mi familia y hacer reír a mi hermano.

Pensamientos al final de la lectura.
Llegué al capítulo 47 y estaba:


Las cosas no sólo estaban mal, sino que iban de mal en peor y mi ansiedad casi me mataba. Predije algunas cosas y acerté en ellas, por lo que no me sorprendió cuando llegué a ellas.

En general.
No simpaticé con Vittoria y su muerte no evocó en mí ese sentimiento de empatía como para decir “Sí, Emilia, ve e incendia el mundo por tu hermana, ¡ve!” La muerte de Vittoria me dio igual, aunque sí comprendí los sentimientos de Emilia al descubrir el cuerpo de su hermana y querer venganza.
La invocación de Emilia para traer a un demonio resultó en algo extraño. Al comienzo, me costó asimilar qué demonios estaba sucediendo, y culpo a Ira sin camisa por ello. Aunque sí me sorprendió que Emilia no aceptara el trato con él.


El estilo de escritura de Kerri me atrapó desde el principio hasta el final. (Citar a la autora): me dejaste con hambre cada vez que describías las comidas. Tiene algo mágico, como dije del prólogo, y no sé, me mantuvo pegada en todo momento.
Predije que el asesino bastardo sería Antonio, aunque también creí que Domenico podría serlo.


Y también predije, más para mí misma, que Ira sería quien atraparía el corazón de Emilia, aunque, YO SÉ QUE AMBOS ESTÁN ENAMORADOS, NO QUIERAN MENTIRME, MALDITOS.


El final fue amargo. Maldita sea que fue algo amargo y que no me esperaba, pero a la vez sí. Sé que, muy en el fondo, Ira se enamoró… O que al menos siente algo por Emilia, y que esas flores no fueron de por gusto. Él no quería simplemente su alma para conseguir su libertad, sino que en algún momento, se desvió del camino.

Honestamente, sentí que el comienzo fue lento y el final muy rápido, que después del capítulo 40 sentí que todo se fue en picado… O tal vez desde que Ira no le dijo a Emilia que su hechizo de invocación tenía también un lazo matrimonial que los unía.


Quise golpearlos a todos y también decirles que reaccionaran. Emilia tomaba decisiones muy a la ligera, y de paso eran malas. De nuevo, típico de un personaje YA.


En todo caso, estoy repitiendo lo mismo y desviándome. Ese final me dejó un poco vacía y sentí que le faltó algo, aunque aún no sé decir el qué. Sí estoy esperando lo que Emilia vaya a hacer en el Infierno para vengarse, y ver si Ira simplemente fingió o qué.

Estoy esperando con ansias el segundo libro.

Ale ♡ &
Kingdom of the Wicked by Kerri Maniscalco

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Kingdom of the Wicked by Kerri Maniscalco