Kingdom of the Wicked: The addictive and intoxicating romantasy set in world of dark demon princes and spellbinding romance (Kingdom of the Wicked, #1)

by Kerri Maniscalco

Marisa Calin (Narrator)

Two sisters. One brutal murder. A quest for vengeance that will unleash Hell itself . . .

A new series from the #1 New York Times bestselling author of Stalking Jack the Ripper.

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 . . .

• ISBN10: 1529350476
• ISBN13: 9781529350470
• Publish Date: 27 October 2020
• Publish Status: Active
• Publish Country: GB
• Publisher: Hodder & Stoughton
• Imprint: Hodder & Stoughton Ltd
• Edition: Unabridged edition
• Format: Audiobook (MP3)
• Duration: 12 hours and 5 minutes
• Language: English

Reviews

[RoXXie]

Kingdom of the Wicked ♦ Kerri Maniscalco | Review

I can definitely say, that I loved this book and I could hardly put it down. The idea to use the seven deadly sins as characters just caught me right from the start.

Kingdom of the Wicked ♦ Kerri Manscalco

Opinion

Witches and demons, pretty much the devil himself as well. Enemies to lovers, and betrayals at every corner. That would pretty much sum it up, if I were to end my review right here. This dark urban fantasy book could really cast a spell on me.

Because of her dramatic writing style and attention to detail, Kerri Maniscalco has produced a chilling and intriguing feast. Her attention to Sicilian cuisine and culture is captivating! It left me craving for some good Italian food way too often.

I find it fascinating how Emilia’s relationship with her family was mostly shaped by food and the family business. That and, of course, witchcraft. But also interesting is the fact, that Maniscalco used her real family’s restaurant as a model for this fictional one.

Maniscalco spins a really captivating tale about evil curses and the Wicked, also known as the Princes of Hell. The underground royalties are hunting for Emilia, as well as other things to gain their freedom from a curse. I adored the Princes‘ mystique. I enjoyed reading about the connection between Emilia and Wrath and how it already developed during this first volume of the series.

Emilia comes around as a strong female, and I especially enjoyed her development in general. She faced the consequences of her decisions head on and whoever dared to stand in her way to seek partly brutal retributions for her sister’s murder. Wrath turned out to be as devilish as he can be as a Prince of Hell. But he also surprised me with a lot of his actions. I really don’t want to spoil anyone reading this, but telling more about the plot.

Conclusion

★★★★★

The quarrels between Emilia and Wrath kept me on edge. I squirmed at the end’s cliffhanger because I am really eager to find out what happens next. I’m dying to devour the next book, which I will pick up very soon. The Kingdom of the Wicked is such a fantastic beginning to the series!

 

This review was first published at The Art of Reading.

[Ele.ments]

3,75 ⭐️

[thepunktheory]

Full review on my blog coming soon!

When I reached the last page of this I had two problems: It's over. It's not over. You see, when I opened this book, I didn't realize it's the first in a series. I kept expecting more information and just more resolution but then the novel ended and it was a cliffhanger!

[Coral Chanel Reading Starlight]

I love Kerri Maniscalco’s Stalking Jack the Ripper series so I was very, very excited to read a fantasy novel by her and see how the story telling adapts.

 

I loved everything about this, from the folklore, magic, and religion to the relationships (good and bad) between the characters.

 

I’m very excited to read book two in this series.

[annieb123]

Originally published on my blog: Nonstop Reader.

Kingdom of the Wicked is the first book in a new series by Kerri Maniscalco. Released 27th Oct by Hatchette, it's 448 pages (print version) and available in hardcover, audio, and ebook formats. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links and references throughout. I've really become enamored of ebooks with interactive formats lately.

This is a beautifully written brooding NA fantasy novel set in 19th century Sicily. The plot elements may be standard tropes (young witches living hidden among humans, handsome and misunderstood bad boy (ok, demon) romantic interest) but the writing lifts the whole above the average. The author has a gift with descriptive prose and the narrative is compelling and richly rendered. The world building is very skillfully interwoven with real life historical details which add a layer of realism to the fantasy. There are some inconsistencies but they don't overwhelm the storytelling.

There is a significant amount of romantic tension and "bodice ripper" level descriptions (nothing too explicit, but definitely racy). The denouement was as expected and sets up the (nearly certain) second book in the series.

I would recommend this one unhesitatingly to fans of NA paranormal romance. Atmospheric and brooding with handsome demon lad. Three and a half stars rounded up for the quality of the writing.

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.

[alindstadtcorbeax]

Star Rating: —> 4.5 Stars

BUDDY READ WITH MY OTP BUDDY READ BBY, DARCE! Woo!

I'm not sure what it is about this book... BUT IT WAS IRRESISTIBLE TO ME! All tropes I love! There was a minor cliffhanger but it's just... waiting for the next installment. I don't know, but I didn't think it was bad at all!

Ugh the MAGIC! The SEXY demon prince! The sassy, badass witch! Secrets, betrayal, the supernatural... this one's got it all

[Quirky Cat]

I received a copy of Kingdom of the Wicked in exchange for a fair and honest review.

Kerri Maniscalco is back, and this time with a brand new series for us to dive into. Kingdom of the Wicked is the first novel in a series of the same name, and I have to say it, I'm hooked.

Emilia and her twin, Vittoria are special. They're streghe, witches, and handed a task that they never knew the whole story of. These two women have incredible power, but unfortunately, power cannot always protect the ones we love.

It can, however, work to avenge it. That is the path that Emilia is on now, going after the Wicked princes of Hell with a fierce determination. She doesn't know which one was the cause for the loss of her sister, but she intends to find out.

“It was the first of many secrets the twins would keep from each other. And would prove deadly for one.”

Having not read Kerri Maniscalco's previous series (Stalking Jack the Ripper), I honestly wasn't sure what to expect from Kingdom of the Wicked. All I knew was that it came with a gorgeous cover, and an inciting description.

I am so glad that I decided to take a risk and dive on in. Kingdom of the Wicked was a thrilling read, one that was emotional, evocative, and intriguing all at the same time. It portrays a world where magic and demons exist, and yet there is something very human about it all.

Perhaps that is thanks to Emilia, the lead character. Her loss, her anger, and her determination was a solid foundation for which the rest of the series can grow off of. It was powerful to see. Honestly, even knowing what was going to happen to Vittoria (the description made it obvious), it was still impossible to look away from Emilia's reaction.

“In the end, the monster we feared didn't come from Hell. He came from privilege.”

Everything about Kingdom of the Wicked appealed to me. The tone of voice, the setting, the atmosphere, it's all so brilliantly done (and leaves me wanting to check out Maniscalco's other series). It's actually a perfect read for this time of year – though I can see many a fantasy lover enjoying this read at any time of year.

There were tons of twists and complications in Emilia's journey for vengeance. Some were predictable, while others were less so. It made for an ideal blend, leaving trails of false hope and comfort in the familiar, while also having room for some surprises.

I honestly cannot wait for the next novel in this series to be announced, because of that ending! It is going to make the wait a painful one, I can tell you that much! Not that I'm discouraging anyone from giving it a try right now – the opposite, in fact.

Check out more of my reviews over at Quirky Cat's Fat Stacks

[alisoninbookland]

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I received a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

Review to come.