Kingdom of the Wicked (Kingdom of the Wicked, #1)

by Kerri Maniscalco

[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