This was such a great read. Its obvious to me that its written by the same author as Stalking Jack The Ripper, the writing style is very similar. I enjoyed the plot itself and the way the characters developed.

I definitely recommend this one.

I'm so in love with this story! This is the second book I've read by Kerri Maniscalco and I can say she has become one of my favorite authors. I love the world she has created in this series, the Italian inspiration behind it as well as the witchy/dark magic aspects were incredible. And kept me reading. Not only the background story was amazing, the characters were great. I inmediatly fell in love with Wrath and the twin girls, their relation to magic and their Nonna were some of my favorite characters. I'll defenitely read the next book in the series.

Just like kisses from the prince's of hell this book was addictive! From the moment it began I simply could not put it down. There was not a single moment of filler, every word and page was beautifully constructed to paint a rich and intoxicating world. I fell in love with the characters and cannot believe I have to wait to read the next installment!
What will happen to Emilia? Can she trust Wrath? What will Pride be like? I simply have to know and will be counting the days until book 2 is available. I thoroughly recommend this novel, especially to fans of dark fantasy. It is one of the best I have read in some time.

+Interesting premise
+Witchcraft
-Frustrating POV character
-Shallow side characters
-Messy plot

I had high hopes for this book going in, both due to my friends enjoying this and my experiences with Maniscalco's other series. While the Stalking Jack the Ripper series overall went downhill over time for me, I genuinely enjoyed the first two books a lot, and knew Maniscalco could at least start a series well, if not necessarily finish it well. Unfortunately, some things in this book started bugging me quickly overall, and led to my enjoyment of this book decreasing with each page.

My biggest issue with this book is Emilia. I feel like as a main character, Emilia had very little drive to push the story forward herself, and often relied on other characters to push her to action. While this isn't necessarily an issue, as it can lead to growth in later books, Emilia herself seemed to think she was in charge of everything? She constantly was fighting with everyone and pushing her assumptions on to everything, even though she overall had very little knowledge of what was going on. She was just entirely ignorant yet had the attitude of someone who knew what was going on, and it was so extremely frustrating to read. On top of that, the way she ignores or processes information at times was nonsensical. She straight up does not follow up on suspicious leads during interrogations (and there's no explanation for this either, she just ignores it), and it feels like this is only so a later plot twist doesn't get spoiled too early. She also has some extremely odd rationalizations for some of her decisions, to the point it felt like she was trying to twist the words of other characters just so that it would actually be supporting whatever ridiculous decision she was about to make. Overall, it just frustrated me so much, and I found myself constantly pausing to text the friends I was reading with to see what they thought of this particular scene or decision. And unfortunately, we spend most of this book in Emilia's head, as she's rather isolated overall, so you never really get a break from all of this. It honestly would have really helped to have some solid, consistent supporting characters that would have forced Emilia to discuss and think about her decisions and assumptions.

I didn't find the rest of the characters all that special either. Wrath felt like a cookie-cutter edgy love interest, and I feel like we didn't actually spend enough time with him for me to think him and Emilia should be endgame. This was such a disappointment for me, because I loved the dynamic in Maniscalco's other series, and I know she can write a good couple/love interest. I just don't know what happened here. On top of that, the other side characters also felt not fully fleshed out, or were underused (as of the first book at least). The villain felt super obvious from the beginning, the family was inconsistent in terms of involvement in Emilia's life (they kinda let her do whatever? even though their other daughter was just murdered?? but then sometimes they all of a sudden became super strict and suspicious of what Emilia was doing), and Emilia's only friend, if you can even call them friends, was such a small part of the story that I can't even remember her name.

Honestly, the plot was where I was most drawn in, but it too faltered more and more the closer the book got to the end. My biggest annoyance here is how Maniscalco kept inserting random, new characters/lore/backstory that seemed to come out of nowhere as explanations to some parts of the mystery. We only ever got the pieces to the puzzle right as the book was about to solve it for us. This meant that we never actually got to think about the bigger picture, and theorize, as we either had none of the info, or all of it. I also really disliked that Emilia had this sort of 'intuition' that would magically lead her to where the plot needed her to go. It felt like Emilia didn't actually have to put any work towards solving what was going on, as she was just led from place to place by either feeling or other characters.

This book just really did not work for me at all, and I'm not sure if I'll read the sequel. I'm just too frustrated with Emilia as a character, and the inconsistencies that haunt this story. The premise seemed fantastic, but it was a poor execution in my opinion.

The kind of book you need to text someone about while you read it, it's just so good. This book is wonderfully spooky and bewitching, sucks you in from the first page, and beyond all is incredibly original which feels like a rarity in YA.

I finished “Kingdom of the Wicked” in pretty much one sitting because once I had started immersing myself in Kerri Maniscalco’s world of hidden witches, handsome devils and an ancient family curse in need of breaking, I could not put it down.

After the death of her twin sister Vittoria, dark magic and even more hellish forces enter Emilia’s life. When she sets out to find her sister’s murderer, Emilia’s life is bound to none other than that of a Prince of Hell – Wrath – and the awakening witch finds Vittoria’s life prior to her brutal murder steeped in secrets and demons.

One of the strongest elements of the book for me was Emilia’s determination to avenge her sister and her grappling with but not abandoning her goal with every new revelation that shone light on Vittoria’s witchcraft. I thought Maniscalco did a fantastic job at showcasing the realities of losing someone close and dear to you and the positive and negative thought processes that go into that loss and grief.

Even though Wrath was very much a stereotypical demon love interest, I did find myself swooning at his imposed cooperation with Emilia and the fact she was in charge for most of the narrative. The climactic ending was quite predictable; however I didn’t mind this too much because it still connected well with Emilia’s emotional character arc in connection to her grief.

The only real criticism I have is that Maniscalco’s world-building was less than stellar in this one. I would’ve wished she had spent more time describing the context and logistics of the setting and time period and had set up more detailed surroundings of scenes. Overall, the mood of the writing did not reflect the tone of the story.

All in all, I am definitely going to pick up the second installment of this series because I got invested in Emilia and Vittoria’s story and 100% hooked on the reluctant enemies-to-lovers romance that was hinted at, especially in connection to the ending.

I was sold when I heard witches and princes of hell.... Kingdom of the Wicked is an exquisitely magical and witchy read perfect for those reeling after finishing shows like The Chilling Adventures of Sabrina, or even Buffy the Vampire Slayer if you're going retro. Witch books often disappoint, but Kerri Maniscalco did not. Hearty recommendation from this witch fan.

Kingdom of the wicked.... it started well, but I struggled to follow along the story as it felt incredibly dragged out. I had no emotional connection with the main character despite the author really trying to make me feel sorry for her...
I didn't particularly think there was much to the plot, the writing was trying to be interesting and failed. Not to mention the lackluster world building - i have skipped many a times over the food descriptions (pointless) before i decided i would be better off DNF-ing it as it was clearly not for me. I know a lot of people who loved this book, but I clearly wasn't one of those...

I was already a fan of the Stalking Jack The Ripper series, so I had to read this one as well. Kingdom of the wicked it’s a new gorgeous book, Kerri Maniscalco did it again and I’m painfully waiting for the sequel to come out.

This book was incredible. I couldn't wait to read it and this book did not disappoint. The descriptions of the world and the food and the landscape were true to life! I loved reading about them. I loved the idea of devils living below ground and ruling an underworld type place. There were many twists and turns and I did not expect some of the plot twists. The twin bonds in this book made me cry! If you loved Sicily and Italy and demons then this book is for you!

I adored this book. The twists and turns were fun, and I loved the characters and their arcs. The plot was well paced, and it drew me in and kept me entertained.

This was such a wonderful book! I was completely gripped by the plot and the characters! Kerri Maniscalco does a wonderful job at stealing your attention and keeping it forever.

Kingdom of the wicked - Kerri Maniscalco -
(Spoilers free)

Straight away I knew I was going to enjoy the characters, Emilia being the narrator we follow started as a good girl, one who always followed the rules. Then you got her sister Victoria who thought rules were meant to be bent and tested. When Victoria is killed it changes Emilia making her determined to avenge her sisters death. This spur her too summon a demon, Wrath. One of the wicked princes. Together they have to team up and their two personalities clash making them fun characters too follow.
Definitely atmosphere there! We have witches dying, Demon princes walking on earth, tension between the two main leads. The writing is great building the world and the setting making you fully immersed in the story.
Great, great plot this is my kind of read and was exactly what I was looking for. Paranormal, Fantasy romance, bringing interesting characters, a world you want to know more about, mystery intrigue and romance.
The reveal and ending left me hungry for more...
I really enjoyed this book, it exactly what I was hoping for going in and I wasn’t let down will definitely be picking up the sequel.

I was super excited to read this, but then it ended up disappointing me somehow. I have previously read Stalking Jack the Ripper by Kerri Maniscalco and loved it. But all the while I was reading Kingdom of the Wicked, I felt like something was missing. I wasn't connecting with the characters the way i usually do, and the world felt messy. In the first 50 % of the book, I kept feeling the need to put the book down and not pick it back up again. It wasn't until much later that I started liking it.

However, after having finished the book, I'm now intrigued to keep reading. I'm most like going to be reading the sequel once it comes out.

I had to put this down as a dnf for now. I will pick it back up again at a later date and give it a proper read and review. Being a mood reader sucks. But I will get to this because it does sound so incredibly good.

At first I didn't think I would like this book as much as I did, but it is an entertaining read. I would prefer a little more background about the historical setting, it was a little hard to imagine, and also there were some minor plot holes.
But overall, if you like books about witches, this one is for you. It is a very quick read as you just want to know what will happen next. Some things are clear from the beginning and won't surprise you but the ending.. that will leave you wanting more! And to me, that's the best sign of a good book - you want to continue reading.
Also if you like food, this book could almost serve as a cook book. Or you could take it as an inspiration for your cooking,because many italian recipes were mentioned and sounded very delicious.
Can't wait for Kingdom of the Cursed!

After reading Kerri Maniscalco’s previous books, Stalking Jack the Ripper, and loving them, I knew that this book was one that I wanted to read. Luckily for me, I saw this on Netgalley and knew that I wanted to request this book and so I did never thinking that I would actually get the chance to review it. And thanks to the publishers and netgalley, I’m now just writing my review so let’s dig in shall we?

In Kingdom of the Wicked, we meet our main character Emilia. Emilia is a young witch who lives with her family in Scily. These witches are Steghe, witches that live among humans secretly to avoid notice and persecution. Emilia has a twin sister named Vittoria which will play into our story later. When witches start turning up dead people don’t know who to blame. The situation becomes even worse for Emilia’s family when her sister, Vittoria ends up being one of the victims. Emilia is the one that finds her sister and is absolutely distraught at the sight of her sister desecrated beyond belief. Now, Emilia grieving with so much pain decides to channel it elsewhere by finding her sisters killer even if it means it is at a cost.

When Emilia meets Wrath, one of the wicked princes of hell who tells her that he is on her side, she doesn’t quite believe him. But when he reveals that he was tasked by his master to find who is killing these young girls, she starts to warm up to him even though she knows that she cannot trust a prince of hell as they are the ones that scheme and lie there way through anything. But Emilia is determined nonetheless with or without Wrath’s help, she will find her sisters killer.

As with Stalking Jack the Ripper, Maniscalco seems to write the perfect eerie setting and one that definitely fits around Halloween when this book was released. The action within the book definitely propels the plot forward whilst managing to also make the moments within the book make it seem like time is standing still so that we can enjoy the moments between the characters. She really does transport you to a beautifully wicked world where you don’t want to leave.

3 out of 5 stars.

Wow, what a book! I love Kerri Maniscalco's Stalking Jack the Ripper series so I was ecstatic to review an EArc of this.

Kingdom of the Wicked is a very atmospheric story, it's being released towards the end of October which make it the perfect time of year to read! I loved Maniscalco's writing throughout this book, it is beautifully written. Thankfully there are no huge infodumps, I found that any information was revealed at appropriate times so nothing was overwhelming. A little PSA... do not read this book if you're hungry haha. The way Maniscalco describes food is incredible, I got very hungry reading this book.

I loved the characters Maniscalco created, Emilia is strong, determined, she loves her family fiercely, and isn't afraid to follow her heart, I loved her and can't wait to see how her character develops in the next instalment. Wrath... what can I say, mysterious hot guy who happens to be a wicked prince of Hell? Sign me up! I hope we get to find out more about Emilia's nonna because it sounds like she has an incredible backstory. Kinda spoilery but the ending killed me, such a cliff hanger but the kinda cliff hanger that leaves you desperate for the next book!

On a more serious note, I thought that Maniscalco dealt with the topic of death and grief really well, as someone who recently lost a loved one, there was a small comfort in reading and identifying with a character who was also going through the same, I felt that the topic of grief was handled well and sensitively.

If you like murder mysteries with a side of demons, witches, delicious Italian food, prophecies, witchcraft and an enemies to lovers trope, then this is the book for you!

Emilia's heard tales of the Wicked all her life, never really believing her nonna's stories. But when she finds her twin sister's lifeless body, she has no choice but to start believing. Followed by demons and more than one Prince of Hell, can she find out who killed her sister? Or is it all much, much bigger than that?

I'm going to really have to try not to ramble with this one because I loved it so much! I was drawn in right from the start - the characters are likeable and believable, the sisters have a fun relationship and we get some delicious hints at the darkness that awaits us. We get to see the warmth of the family's restaurant contrasted with the coldness of the monastery and the descriptions and writing style had me right there with Emilia. There's a bit of everything in this book, from seductive Princes to demon snakes, a suspicious brotherhood of monks and some real dark magic, for me, this is fantasy at its best.

The plot moves at a good pace, with new and interesting details being revealed at the right times to keep Emilia's mission on track. We're introduced to new key characters every few chapters to keep our brains ticking and their introduced in the most fantastic of ways. I felt this in particular with the Princes of Hell - whether it's in a summoning circle of bones and blood, in a smoky gambling den guarded by demons or in a shadowy back alley where no one can hear you scream, the settings and descriptions were distinctive enough to not get them confused. This can be easily done but I really appreciated the attentiveness the author paid to this aspect. Speaking of characters, we don't see much of Emilia's parents but I feel like I could pick her nonna out of a line up! She's so well described right down to the smallest details and that's something I really love about Maniscalco's writing style - she's obviously spent a lot of time with these characters and knows them inside out.

As for what I disliked, there's really not much to note. My only gripe was part of the ending. Without giving too much away, Emilia makes a deal at the end of the book which confused me a little as it all happened very suddenly. It's also a scene where we meet a character for the first time and it left me wanting something a bit more from it. However, this does work pretty well to set us up for a sequel (which I have everything crossed for) so maybe there's more to it than I managed to figure out.

Overall, I can't recommend this book enough to anyone who's into dark fantasy stories with everything from mysterious Princes of Hell to a healthy dose of blood and gore all wrapped up with a fearless heroine and a few bloodthirsty demons for good measure!

This book was so incredible to read! Set in Sicily, it follows witches and demons, spells and Rangers, family's secrets and stories made true. The writing is compelling. The tension between Emilia and Wrath intense and full of funny and sexy moments. The mystery is great and I can't wait to read more!