Kingdom of the Wicked

Thank you to Netgalley, Hodder & Stoughton, and Kerri Maniscalco for my arc of Kingdom of the Wicked in exchange for an honest review.

Synopsis: Set against a 19th century italian backdrop, witches live secretly among humans. Vitoria and Emilia are twin sisters, from a long line of witches, their family run a beautiful italian restaurant in Sicily hiding who they are from the humans around them. All their lives the twins have been warned against the risks of the Wicked, Prince's of Hell with kisses which can leave you bewitched and eyes that draw you in to steal your very soul, but they've never truly believed their Nonna's warnings. But when Emilia finds her twin's desiccated body and ends up summoning a prince of hell she has no choice but to believe that all the stories are real.

5 super bewitching stars to this! I was highly anticipating it anyway on account of my love for Kerri's Stalking Jack the Ripper series, but Kingdom of the Wicked just blew me away. I don't really like witch stories usually but Kerri brought something brand new and enticing to the story, I loved the Hades & Persephone vibes, I loved the Strega, I loved the different princes of hell and I adored the descriptions of Italian food which took me right back to fond memories of holidays in beautiful Italy. Emilia was a great character and I loved the tension and flirting between her and Wrath, dark romance is my thing and this was just perfect. All I can really say is READ THIS BOOK you won't regret it!!

I met Kerri Maniscalco's pen thanks to Stalking Jack the Ripper. A magnetic writing, which immediately fascinated me.
When I saw the Kingdom of the Wicked review request available, I knew it had to be mine!
Surplus that convinced me to read it? It is set in Italy, specifically in 19th century Sicily.

Everything revolves around a family of witches who live secretly among humans. The family is made up of two twin sisters: the first, Vittoria, is the loudest and most reckless, while the second, Emilia, is the calm one, who thinks before acting. She likes to stay at home reading and certainly not out solving witch murder cases.
But when one of the victims is her sister Vittoria, Emilia demands revenge.
She begins the investigation to find the culprit, dabbling in the dark arts and alliances with demonic princes.

One of these principles is Wrath (there are seven demonic princes and each of them has the name of one of the seven deadly sins). He is the classic arrogant and powerful protagonist who will make you fall in love and end up in a jujube soup (I have a soft spot for her male protagonists, as it happened with Thomas Creswell).

Emilia and Wrath can't stand each other, but in my opinion this is what makes the story more interesting!

The books are really super intriguing! Murder and magic give that extra pinch to the story.
As for the magic, the theme is not very deep, but I didn't think much of it.
Another fact that I loved? The escalations in Italian. When I found "vaffanculo a chi t'è morto", there I decreed the Maniscalco one of my favorite authors!
I am Italian and sincerely finding a part of Italy in one of the books of a super established author, makes me a little bit proud.

The Kingdom of the Wicked is a must to read. If you loved the Stalking Jack The Ripper series, you will undoubtedly love this one too.

Arc privided by Netgalley in exchange of an honest review.

Thank you to NetGalley, Hodder and Stoughton and Kerri Maniscalco for my arc of Kingdom of the Wicked in exchange for an honest review. I adored Kerri Maniscalco’s previous series, Stalking Jack the Ripper, and so I was beyond ecstatic to have the opportunity to read this novel before its release.

Kingdom of the Wicked is based around witches in Sicily, Italy. Emilia and Vittoria di Carlo are strega; powerful witches with a love of the mystical and dangerous. Vittoria is fascinated by the forbidden and attracts danger; Emilia is reserved and respects tradition, choosing to believe that the tales her beloved Nonna has told them since youth are nothing but folklore.

When Vittoria is discovered dead in the local monastery, her body brutally torn apart and her heart stolen, Emilia swears to find the murderer responsible and unleash Hell on them. She soon discovers that her sister’s murder is more complicated than she realised and is connected to the Wicked – the seven Princes of Hell, four of whom have unresolved history with the di Carlo family. When Emilia meets Prince Wrath, she is bewildered and confused. Claiming his innocence and stating he is determined to help Emilia with her cause, she doesn’t know whether she can trust him. It doesn’t help that he is incredible charming and handsome, a key piece of lore than Emilia overlooked; the Princes of Hell love to seal deals with intoxicating kisses and steal the souls – and hearts – of anyone they encounter. But with no other options and a desperate need to avenge her sister rising from within, Emilia may have to forsake all she knows in order to get what she wants – even if it means making a deal with a demon.

This was yet another five-star novel from Kerri Maniscalco! Kingdom of the Wicked is next in line to be a bestseller with this utterly bewitching tale. As someone who adores fantasy and witch stories, it is often hard to surprise and grip me. However, Kingdom of the Wicked was exceptional and completely blew me away. The characters were engaging and interesting, the plot fascinating from the first page and I am already obsessed with the book. Kerri was able to describe everything in such beautifully vivid detail that I felt as though I were in Sicily with Emilia, accompanying her on all her adventures.

I cannot possibly express how deeply I loved this novel. Kerri Maniscalco is an extremely talented author, and this is easily my favourite book of 2020, and I imagine it will remain there. I cannot wait to see what the next installment holds for Emilia, Wrath and all the other incredible characters.

Oh my goodness I loved this book so much! The main character Emilia was sweet, brave, witty and loveable. I love how her character developed through the book. And how she never romanticised her relationship with Wrath and thought that he was something he was never going to be! I cannot wait for the next book I need it now!! !

Kerri Maniscalco’s ‘Kingdom of the Wicked’ has been such a rollercoaster of emotions. I haven’t read anything by the author previously, but I have heard great things about ‘Stalking Jack the Ripper’ series, and I certainly will be reading it after that.

‘Kingdom of the Wicked’ follows Emilia as she tries to find a person (or supernatural being) responsible for her twin sister’s death. Emilia and Vittoria have been raised on their grandmother’s stories that were meant to make them more careful. That were meant to keep them safe, even if their grandmother has known what’s coming. I really loved the setting of ‘Kingdom of the Wicked’. Witches in the 19th century Italy, with all the delicious food around, created such a lovely atmosphere in the book and added charm to both characters and the story itself.

Emilia is an interesting character. Quieter and calmer than her sister, she would rather help out in the family restaurant or get lost in the book than wander around in the search of the adventure. But filled with anger and desire for vengeance in the aftermath of Vitorria’s death, she definitely changes. While understandably revenge, anger and grief are what fuels her the most, it is also great to see that she becomes more confident in her abilities as the story unfolds.

The dynamic between Emilia and Wrath, one of the Princes of Hell has been ever changing and kept the reader on his toes. Similarly, I found Emilia’s interactions with other Princes of Hell interesting and full of action and drama. Although there have been moments when the characters felt a bit unbelievable or acting out of the character, at most parts, it has been explained or uncovered by the end of the book. I have enjoyed the ending, even if the cliff-hanger makes me slightly regret reading the book now… I think you know you have enjoyed the story when you turn the last page on your Kindle, and you just want more immediately.

I really enjoyed ‘Kingdom of the Wicked’, with its fast-paced story and interesting characters, and I would definitely recommend it to YA fantasy lovers.

If I had to summarise this book in two words, I would say: SINFULLY GOOD.

I am so thankful to Hodder and Stoughton for giving me the opportunity to read Kingdom of the Wicked before its release on October 27th (mark your calendars if you haven't already)

Dark and mysterious from the prologue until the very end, this thrilling murder mystery quest will send chills down your spine and keep you on the edge of your seat. The characters and the setting are so very well written, I felt like I was right there beside Emilia, exploring the streets of Palermo, seeking vengeance.

Also prepare yourselves to add another name to your list of swoon-worthy book boyfriends because Prince Wrath does not disappoint. I adored the constant rivalry and bickering between him and Emilia. It comes so naturally for them and puts a smile on your face when they get sarcastic with each other.

Another VERY important thing about this book is that it will make you HUNGRY. And no, I don't mean hungry for more action (though I must admit I need the sequel as soon as possible), but Kerri really doesn't hold back on the food descriptions and will have your mouth watering and stomach rumbling so make sure you have snacks.

Easily one of my favourite books this year and a 5/5 ⭐

Book of the Year?
Well, whilst a lot about 2020 might suck, something that hasn’t is the books I’ve read. As I was rating this 5 stars on goodreads (that’ll give you a hint of the review to come!) I took a look at my other books read in 2020. Only one book DNF’d, one rated 3 stars and the rest 4 and above. And then to get granted this earc at 12pm on the 7th September and have it finished by 3pm the same day? Yeah, this book was good. This book was amazing. This book is in contention for my book of the year and honestly, it’s got stiff competition so I’m not sure how I’m going to decide or what else may join it in the next 3 (that’s alarming) months.

From the very first page (yep, I’m talking the title page), I had a feeling I’d love this book. Turn the page (or tap the screen, as the case may be) and I was then greeted by a map. I’m used to ARCs having blank pages where the map should be along with something like ‘map to come’. Not this time, and this map in particular was gorgeous. Definitely the best I’d seen in a book this year (and I’m a sucker for books with maps, just look at the background for all my IG posts.)

The First Book to Make Me Hungry
My first suggestion to you, if you’re yet to read this book, is don’t start it when you’re hungry. I started it at 12 and hadn’t had lunch. This was a mistake as I read about the glorious Italian food and wished desperately to be sharing in the food they were making as they casually discussed devils. Well, mostly casually. Also, the pre-order incentive involving pasta makes a whole lot of sense. Oh, and I’ve never tried cannoli and now I seriously need to. Sorry, I’m writing this review 4 hours after starting it and I still haven’t eaten. My hunger is spilling out.

Brilliant Descriptions of the Everyday
Anyway, the food discussion was supposed to be a segue into discussing the writing and the way Kerri Maniscalco describes things is such a delight to read. Some descriptions are almost lyrical and the first paragraph of the prologue gave this away immediately and it continued, where relevant, throughout. A few chapters later, one very simple description stuck out to me, simply because I loved the way it was worded:

“In moments, condensation bloomed like morning dew across the glass.”

Kerri is describing a drink being poured into a glass, not exactly exciting, right? And yet such short descriptions of normal, everyday things is what drew me into this book, the world she’s created and I loved every moment of it. Each time a small description like that happened, I marvelled in the enjoyment of something so simple and yet brilliant.

Characters to Love
But of course, beyond the description is the characters in this world. The three characters that stuck out most were our main point of view character, Emilia; a prince of hell, Wrath and then, perhaps unexpectedly, Emilia’s grandmother, referred to as Nonna, as this story is inherently Italian.

From Good to...
“I could either be a victim or a victor.”

Emilia experiences a character arc that was glorious to read. She’s a twin with her sister Vittoria and there was the classic archetype of one twin being good and the other being, I won’t say evil, but rebellious. Emilia was the more well-behaved of the two, as we’re introduced to Vittoria not being home in time and other things like that as the story begins. However, without saying too much, Emilia doesn’t stay the pure and good one for very long and reading her path from being so good and innocent to where she ended up was one of the many highlights of this book.

A Wicked-Prince of Hell
Wrath is a Demon Prince of Hell, as his name may suggest, the princes are centred around the seven deadly sins, and we meet most of the others during the story as well, although Wrath features more centrally. I’ll admit, I’m a sucker for a bad-boy with some hidden depth in fantasy books. I love the complexity, and Wrath is no exception to this.

There’s definitely more to him than we truly get to meet in this book. He’s clearly powerful, which I don’t think we get to experience enough of, and there’s something else about him that, well, I don’t want to say too much, but I’m intrigued to read more of him and I’m slightly frustrated we’ve got to wait a while before book 2! It’s the eternal problem with ARCs, the pleasure of reading early, but then the painfully long wait for the next book!

A Grandmother with Secrets
Emilia and Vittoria’s grandmother is referred to as Nonna throughout. I don’t recall if she was ever named beyond that, but she was a fantastic character. I enjoyed each scene with her in it. She is a fierce matriarch for the family and is hiding much throughout. Some secrets are ultimately spilled, but I don’t think everything is out. She’s a character with more to come and I’m looking forward to what other surprises her character will bring.

Read This Book
The summary of my review is pretty simple: Read the book! I thoroughly enjoyed every page. From the fascinating characters, to the magical story and the gorgeous writing. I don’t see a reason to not read the book. Witches, Witch Hunters, Magic, Demons, Italian cooking. What more could you possibly want?

It's not secret that I'm absolutely head over heels in love with Kerri's other series, Stalking Jack the Ripper, so I was so excited to get my hands on this book, especially considering its focused on witchcraft and the gothic and quite literally everything I love. The snippets of witchcraft history made me genuinely squeal with excitement.

Kingdom of the Wicked centres around a young witch, Emilia, after her sister was found brutally murdered. She is tasked with solving Vittoria's murder, and the equally horrifying deaths of other young witches in the city, where she meets Wrath, Prince of Hell and one of the Seven Wicked.

I adored the gorgeously gothic atmosphere of Kingdom - I loved the little throwbacks to 18th century gothic fiction like A Sicilian Romance, or The Monk. Emilia was clever, witty, emotional, and at times, wildly hilarious. I would read a 500-page book full of her interactions with Wrath alone.

I was also enthralled by Wrath and the other Wicked; I thought it was such an interesting spin of the seven sins. I'm so excited to see where the next book takes Wrath and Emilia (Princewitch??? I'm sticking with it)

Admittedly, I thought the dialogue was occasionally clunky, but I've had this issue with her other series before, so it may just be me. This didn't detract from my overall enjoyment of the book however, so it's still a five star read from me.

Another thing I absolutely adored was the humour - I was constantly laughing or chuckling at the banter between Wrath and Emilia. Maniscalco has always had a way of writing back-and-forths, but this book was banter Gold.

I cannot wait for this book to come out, so I can scream about it to and with anyone. Thank you so much to Netgalley, Jimmy Patterson, Hodderscape, and of course, Kerri Maniscalco herself for this gothic dream. I would (and certainly will) recommend this to anyone.

"A woman with a little power was terrifying to some."

Thank you to NetGalley and Hodder & Stoughton for an ARC in exchange for an honest and unbiased review.

This was the first book I have read by this author and I wasn't disappointed. Her other series has definitely moved up my TBR. Having read a lot of witch-themed YA this year, I can safely say 'Kingdom of the Wicked' has been my favourite.

The book follows a young witch called Emilia di Carlos, who lives with her family in the city of Palermo. Her Nonna raised her and her twin sister, Vittoria, on tales of the Wicked - the seven demon princes of Hell. When Vittoria is murdered, Emilia's only hope for answers is to summon Wrath. She last saw him standing over her sister's mutilated body, but he claims not to be the one that killed her. If not him, then who?

I loved Emilia's development. She was the quieter twin who often spent her time reading, or helping out in the family restaurant. Then her sister was brutally murdered and Emilia changed. She became hell-bent on revenge and I loved the fierceness she showed and her protectiveness when it came to her family. I enjoyed the back-and-forth bickering between the two and it was refreshing that she didn't fall head-over-heels in love with him. The romance is definitely a slow burn and Wrath is my newest obsession.

The world-building was also phenomenal. The city came to life with Maniscalco's writing and the food sounded amazing. The murder-mystery element built suspense and I was never bored with the plot. While I did guess the murderer, I feel there is more to the story and the sequel cannot come soon enough!!

I haven’t read any of Kerri Maniscalco‘s work before reading Kingdom of the Wicked but after reading this gem of a book, I’m going to have to quickly change that!
Set in 19th century Italy, this book follows Emilia di Carlos, part of a family of witches living secretly and owning and working in their Sicily restaurant, Sea and Vine. Emilia and her twin Vittoria are taught from a young age to fear the Wicked, Princes of Hell under the sins of Wrath, Greed, Envy etc, their superstitious grandmother Even giving them a cornicello, a protective horn necklace to *never* take off. When witches start ending up dead in the area, their hearts missing, and Emilia finds the dead body of her twin sister, she summons a Prince of Hell, Wrath and vows to not searching for truth and vengeance until she finds her sister’s killer, even if she has to go through hell to do it (literally).

There’s a lot I loved about this book, I found it incredibly easy and enjoyable to read when, to be honest, it can be a little hard to focus and read during a pandemic.
The world building Is fantastic, Maniscalo uses food a lot in her description of Italy and with it, you feel a sense of being there, tapped into that sense of taste/smell. She also has amazing skill in creating atmosphere, I have read horror books recently that didn’t nearly create the same menace, from the sound of frantic dragging the floor, to shadows, to footsteps, it’s just delicious how menacing certain scenes are, with demons and threats appearing.
Then onto the characters, Emilia looks dangerous in the face throughout this book, and yet you get to see her soft side too, she acts with pain for her sister cutting into her, with fear for what’s out there, and you get to experience her doubts and wavers and see her resilience in pushing through, which is my favourite kind of protagonist, scared but doing it anyway. That said, there are a few times when her bravado feels incredibly stupidIt’s, for example if she is told to stay inside for safety, she’ll go outside in the dark, usually without a weapon, because she won’t be told what to do. Similarly, yes Wrath is a Prince of Hell, but her attitude towards him feels unnecessarily confrontational at times and she is actually crueler to him than vice versa, just give the guy a break!
Talking of Wrath, he’s typical YA fantasy eye candy, mysterious and menacing, broody and sculpted to perfection , and usually I roll my eyes at this but I loved him because he felt more. The sexual tension between him and Emilia is just delicious, unbearably delicious at times, intimate and sexy and not gratuitous at all (although God, I wanted it to be lol), and I quickly added them to my top ships even though, well, read the book.
Pacing wise, it starts off strong, the prologue is great, I would say perhaps it drags a little at one point where it feels quite a few chapters go on only to loop back to where it started, and maybe the killer wasn’t quite the reveal but even then it’s enjoyable and I didn’t mind staying in the world longer. I desperately now need the 2nd book!!

Looking for a book to fill your Blood & Honey hangover with a side of ACOTAR? Then this is your book!
Thanks to hodder books and netgalley for an ARC of this excellent witchy book.
Perfect for fall and Halloween, there was a particular chapter near the start that I read in the pitch black whilst my other half was sleeping and it seriously gave me the creeps! I thought I heard a noise in my hall and nearly scared myself half to death!
But I really enjoyed this. I know the author is already well established with her stalking Jack the Ripper series, but I haven't read them so I hadn't any expectations going into this so I really was pleasantly surprised. There's a very well written steamy slow burn enemies to lovers romance weaved through a story of magic, loss and sorrow. Plus the Italian setting and all the descriptions of the main characters restaurant food had me drooling from page to page.
The mystery element to this book meant the pace was so fast for the whole book, you are constantly solving more of the mystery with Emilia. This is a book I didn't know I needed in my life, I certainly can't wait for the sequel!
Bravo, le sue cinque stelle da me!

Do you like?
•Historical fantasy.
•badass witches.
•demons.
•evil princes from hell that are secret softies.
•Revenge stories.
•murder.
•slow burn, enemies to lovers romance,
Then you should read Kingdom of the wicked because it has all of that and more!
Personally I adored this book! The characters, the setting, the romantic tention and banter between Emilia and Wrath and the unexpected twists and turns were all 10/10! It’s going straight on my favorite books list and it’s a must read for all witch lovers and just anyone who likes fantasy!

Kerri Maniscalco fast rose to one of my favourite authors throughout 2019, as I made my way through the phenomenal Stalking Jack the Ripper series. I was desperately hoping that her first book away from Audrey and Thomas would hold the same addictive charm as her previous works, whilst introducing us to a new setting, and man, I was not disappointed. This is going to be a pretty short review, because I barely have anything to say other than I loved every minute!

This was set in a witchy, historic 19th century Sicilian setting, with lush descriptions of food and gothic catholic architecture. The atmosphere of the story was so successful, with the smells and tastes and surroundings. I felt totally transported to this setting, without much world building at all - it was very steeped in Italian food and language and history, but the extent of the fantasy element wasn’t too clear and wasn’t at all necessary to the story - we were caught up on this is little island with a pocket of witches isolated there and the rest of the politics of the world didn’t matter to me at all, which is quite unusual for me as I’m a real world building sort of gal, but I just didn’t need it here - the feeling of isolation from the human world was very effective in making this demonic, witchy setting feel real.

I really liked the romance in this book. I say romance, but it was not a central part of the plot at all. There’s more of a sexual and romantic tension between the two characters that I can’t wait to see developed in book 2. It’s enemies-to-reluctant-allies-to-sexual-tension. There is so much angst in this relationship, we never quite know where Emilia stands and how their relationship is perceived by her love interest, which is a really interesting dynamic, and again makes me so excited to read more.

I adored the grey morality and addictiveness of the demonic characters scattered through this story - and there are still more the seven princes of hell that we have left to meet! The human nature of these squabbling, jealous brothers combined with immense evil, demonic power was so angsty and delicious to read. The magic and witchcraft was so interesting, with rituals and rules well thought out - this was something I was interested to see how Kerri carried off, as her other series does not contain magic, and I think that she did a wonderful job.

I’m left after this book with SO MANY QUESTIONS! There is a lot that didn’t feel totally clear at the end of the book, which I’m sure is intentional as it’s going to lead perfectly into the sequel - but there’s not so much left unanswered that the book didn’t make sense. There is just the right balance of intrigue and mystery that is going to keep me on edge until I can get my hands on book 2!

Thank you to @Netgalley for the eARC of this truly incredible book.

I'm still recovering a day later from this truly phenomenal dark fantasy. A perfect read I'm going to say to read with the nights drawing in.

I am new to Kerri Maniscalco's work but Kingdom of the Wicked has made me a firm fan and I will be playing catch up on all the no doubt incredible tales I have missed out on so far. (There goes my tbr pile to 450!) I feel that I have been missing out on some truly phenomenal tales if this story of witches, demons and other monsters who live in the shadows is anything to go by.

If as we are told in Kingdom of Wicked; there are seven Princes of Hell, then Maniscalco must be indeed the Queen.

This dark tale will have you on the edge of your seat and uundoubtedly like myself, reading 'just one more chapter' when you should have been asleep hours before! Maniscalco has created characters that are so well written that you cannot help but become immersed in their world.I love the attention to detail whether it be Emilia's wonderfully written Nonna telling her beloved granddaughters about why there is the need for the two of them to keep their heritage secret or the daily preparation for the entire family at their Sicilian restaurant. So well is it done that I found myself at times convinced I could smell the delicious sounding food prepared by our heroine.

The Princes are seductive as only the seven rulers of Hell can be, they're charming and they can entrance even the strongest witch even if they're natural enemies. The witches of Sicily are fierce and yet painfully fragile despite their heritage and strong belief that all will be well and their faith that the Gates are secure doesn't waver.

This book has everything you want, and no doubt moments you wish you didn't. Emilia's tale is one of fire and of folly and I can promise you that when you come to the last page? You will be left craving more be that magic or a moment in Hell.

This was such an amazing book, I read it so quickly and just couldn't put it down!

Full of twists, who-dun-its, fantasy, and a satisfying amount of romance. I would recommend this book wholeheartedly! Can't wait for what comes next!

I'm a huge fan of Stalking Jack The Ripper series and I love this book by Kerri Maniscalco so much as well. Well… can I just summon one of the princes of Hell and make him my husband right this minute? I am very well aware that they are vile and wicked creatures but the way they talk and such... I just can't help myself, I have been intrigued from the start.

The interactions of Emilia and Wrath were pure gold ❤. I loved the way she made fun of him and he did not call her any other way than "witch". Their bickering was amazing! I adore Wrath.

I literally devoured this book. I could not get enough. When I checked the percentage of pages read I was utterly shocked that I´ve read so much already. I immediately thought that this book is way too short 😄. I love murder mystery plots and this one made me read and read and read to get my answers.

Overall, prepare yourself for witches, curses, summoning circles, 7 princes from 7 kingdoms of Hell who are named according to 7 deadly sins, a devil who is looking for a bride, murder investigation, and a lot of food. I highly recommend to google a number of an Italian restaurant near you that has long opening hours and delivers food to homes before you start reading. This book made me hungry. I loved the atmosphere which made me want to go to Italy.

I can´t wait for my pre-order physical copy to arrive and of course and most importantly for the second book. The ending of this one left me kind of broken. It´s going to be a really long wait.

Thank you Netgalley for allowing me to read an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review!

*E-Arc received from the publisher, via net gallery, in exchange for a honest review *

Kingdom of wicked is one of my favourite reads this year. It's a perfect moody, witchy read for this time of year. I love the concept that the seven deadly sins have in this book, each of them being a Prince of hell. I'm a massive fan of the murder mystery and fantasy genres so throw them together and I go this perfect mix. The tension between the 2 main characters was perfect and with a bit of betrayel, I cant wait to see where their relationship goes in the next book.

And that cliffhanger of an ending too.. I cant wait for book 2. One of the easiest 5 stars I've given.

Wow what an incredible book! Kingdom of the Wicked follows Emilia, a witch or a ‘streghe’, as she sails on a path of vengeance to find her sister’s killer and put a stop to them. We follow the main character as she teams up with one of the princes of Hell, Wrath, as she faces opposing forces consisting of demons and witch hunters.

This book was utter perfection. It was everything that I hoped it’d be and more. As a fan of Kerri Maniscalco’s first series, Stalking Jack the Ripper, I was thoroughly excited for her new series especially as this is set in 19th century Italy - one of my favourite places to read about. It was extremely well written, full of suspense, and it was highly atmospheric. This is perfect for the fall/Halloween season as it gives off spooky and dark vibes. The imagery and descriptions are so beautiful in this book and help bring the story to life so effortlessly. Also all of the food descriptions made me super hungry throughout the course of the book and now all I want is Italian food!

Overall this was an amazing book and I’m so grateful to Hodder & Stoughton and Netgalley for a change to read this earlier. I cannot wait for the sequel!

This was a book that was difficult to put down! The characters were superb and story just kept you guessing right up until the last page. 10/10 would recommend.

Thank you so much Hodder & Stoughton and NetGalley for an e-arc of this book.

I wasn’t ready for this, and I wasn’t ready for that ending. I had to re-read the last chapter to make sure I didn’t miss anything and if I got it right. I think I was in shock for a couple of hours.

Anyway, it’s official, Kerri Maniscalco took my soul away with this book.

I read only the first two books of the Stalking Jack the Ripper series, and I was already impressed with the outstanding details of Maniscalco’s descriptions and research of real facts and locations. With Kingdom of the Wicked, I was more impressed with the detailed representation and references to southern Italian culture and traditions. I am not sure why a few readers complained about cultural appropriation, but as an Italian, Emilia felt authentic and her grandma persona reminded me so much of my nonna. Also, I absolutely loved the fact that many scenes in this story take place in The Capuchin Monastery and how she was able to bring on the paper its spooky atmosphere. I visited that place when I was 13, and I still remember how eerie and creepy it was (also I will never forget those mummified bodies!). This book refreshed my memories. Moreover, the descriptions of the food will make you so damn hungry!

On top of food descriptions, the world created by the writer is so fascinating. In this 19th century Sicily, you have witch families who need to keep their powers secret. Another subterranean world is filled with wicked devils and their houses. And to make the plot even more intriguing, you have a series of murders to investigate, a killer to find and demons, doomed prophecies and spells. Every devil we have the chance to encounter in the first book was terrifying, with his own traits and characteristics, and I can’t wait to meet the rest of them in book two.

Definitely, this world has so much potential and there is so much to disclose and explore. The plot is so fast-paced and action packed, I seriously devoured it. The banter between the main character Emilia and Wrath cracked me up. Their relationship is the perfect representation of enemies to lovers trope. It’s brilliantly written, and it’s one of those books that I can’t actually wait to re-read.

It will make you hungry, and it will also make you angry with that last chapter, but if you enjoy mystery murders, witches and devil stories, romance, well… this book offers it all. It’s also worth reading it just to follow the main character, Emilia, she is strong, relatable and it’s an intriguing journey of self-discovery and revenge. This is my new book obsession.

✨Kingdom of the Wicked✨

Firstly, thank you to Netgalley, Kerri Maniscalco and Hodder & Stoughton for providing me with an e-arc of this book.
✨
Description:
Kingdom of the Wicked is the enthralling new fantasy novel from Kerri Maniscalco. This book follows Emilia, a witch who secretly lives among humans with her family and twin sister Vittoria. Emilia has dreams of creating. New recipes and one day taking over their family restaurant when one night she finds her twins body. Emilia vows to do everything in her power to find the killer, including working with her sworn enemy. Emilia soon finds that many secrets have been kept from her and they are starting to unravel and nothing is as it seems.
✨
Ratings (out of 5)
Overall: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Fantasy: 🧙🏻‍♀️🧙🏻‍♀️🧙🏻‍♀️🧙🏻‍♀️🧙🏻‍♀️
Romance:❤️❤️❤️❤️

Review:
I was so excited going into this book after seeing it dominating my instagram feed and when I was approved for it I was ecstatic. I haven’t read the authors other work yet but something about the cover drew me to it and when I read the description I was sold. Having no expectations other than knowing it is a highly anticipated release, I found myself utterly bewitched.

The Emilia we meet in the beginning reminded me a lot of myself (apart from having witchy powers, which I’m totally jealous of) she was easily relatable. The character progression throughout the novel was outstanding and accurately depicts how grief can change a person and lead you down a path you once thought you would never tread.

There wasn’t much romance in this book but what there was, was well written. it feels like it’s building up to a great love story. Whilst there is attraction and some instances of romance, it isn’t at the forefront of the story and didn’t overshadow the plot which I LOVED. That being said, it didn’t stop me falling in love with a handsome Demon Prince called Wrath and adding yet another to my book boyfriend list.

I loved that this story incorporated multiple fantasy/mythical creatures and wasn’t limited. This is a book that will keep you guessing. You’ll be addicted. The need to keep reading will gnaw away at you, that’s if you even manage to put the book down. The storyline despite having a few dark points was exciting and utterly enthralling. The plot twists leave you guessing and questioning everything.

Overall this is a book I’d highly recommend to my fellow fantasy lovers and now I am preparing to (im)patiently wait for book two! I can’t wait to see what happens next with Emilia and Wrath, and I hope we get to see Nonna again too! This book is the perfect spooky read for this time of year!

Thank you Net Gallery for giving me the arc copy for this book!
It was everything I was looking for and even more!
Emilia and Wrath are going to be my favourite characters of all time. For sure my hate to love favourite evolution 😍
I love the fact that is set in Sicily and This book is really addicted.
I mean murders, witches, princes of hell.. what more do you need ?
I need the second book now !!!! And that final I was screaming

Kingdom of the Wicked by Kerri Maniscalco

The storyline follows the protagonist Emilia, who loves her family and taking care of the family-owned Sicilian restaurant alongside her twin sister Vittoria. Their grandmother is superstitious, or so they thought. Warning them of the dangers of the Princes of Hell and keeping their secret of being witches from any unsuspecting humans. When Vittoria doesn’t show for dinner service one evening, Emilia becomes worried and searches for her in the nearby monastery, where she had seen her the previous night. Finding her murdered in a long-forgotten catacomb, with her heart missing, Vittoria isn’t the first witch to die in recent weeks and she won’t be the last.

Emilia sets out on a quest for vengeance, where only the death of her sisters’ murderer will satisfy her desire for revenge. The search is not an easy one and forces Emilia into the company of the dreaded Princes of Hell, but she is desperate enough to ask for their help, even though her grandmother warned of dire consequences.

In comes the gorgeous Wrath, one of the seven Princes, offering to help Emilia as he has been tasked with finding out who has been murdering the witches. But all is not what it seems…

This was a hugely anticipated read for me. The synopsis completely and utterly wowed me, I knew I had to read it, and I was not disappointed. Kerri is a well known and loved author, her previous series has a lot of love, I truly think that Kingdom of the Wicked will receive just as much love and more.

Kingdom is written in such a way that it grabs you from the very get-go and doesn’t release you until the end, an addictive easy read that anyone who loves fantasy will surely love. Be prepared you will get hungry whilst reading this, my advice is to stock up on Italian ingredients because you’ll want to eat all of the food described.

would like to thank netgalley and the publisher for letting me read this gripping novel

vittoria and emilia are twins they are also witches...

but one night vittoria is found..dead...murdered and emilias life is never the same again

hunting for her killer emilia brings forth a demon ...wrath one of the brother demons that she and vittoria have been warned about all her life...

and through her spell emialia has plunged her world and her life into peril

will she survive and find out who killed her sister

my first book by this author and it wont be my last...kept me on the edge of my seat and i lost sleep reading late into the night

I have literally just finished this incredible book, and I absolutley need the next one as soon as possible. I had so much fun with this deliciously dark story of devils, demons and witches.
I have had a deep love for all things magical and this book will stay with me for such a long time.

Twin witches, sacrifices, murder, curses, intrigue and smoking hot princes of hell. I mean, seriosukey. What is there not to love?

The way this book was written kept me reading, and I was super reluctant to even put it down. What a fantastic book.

Read this as soon as you can. You will not regret it.

𝗕𝗼𝗼𝗸 𝗥𝗲𝘃𝗶𝗲𝘄: 𝗞𝗶𝗻𝗴𝗱𝗼𝗺 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗪𝗶𝗰𝗸𝗲𝗱🍂

💀𝗞𝗶𝗻𝗴𝗱𝗼𝗺 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗪𝗶𝗰𝗸𝗲𝗱 𝗯𝘆 @ 𝗶𝘀 𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝗼𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝟮𝟳𝘁𝗵 𝗢𝗰𝘁𝗼𝗯𝗲𝗿 💀 Looking for a spooky fall read with dark magic, a murder mystery, a Italy setting with a italian food, an enemies to lovers romance, and a hot prince of hell 😚 look no further!

“One day you might beg me to kiss you. You might hate it. Or you might love it. But the temptation will surge through those magical veins of yours, obliterating all common sense. You’ll want me to save you from the endless torment by giving you everything you love to loathe. And when I do, you’ll thirst for more”

This novel brought me back to live like a breathe of fresh air! Honestly, I can say that ,even with tropy scenes, this story was so delicious to read 🎃 This was my first read from this author but I am devoted to her writing style, not too fancy but elegant.
Characters are indeed my jam, and like most of the books that I love, these characters where incredibly well written, super deep and entertaining. Our MC, Emilia, was such a badass without having to constantly rely on her powers and that is my favourite kind of strong 💪🏻 being confidence of your powers contrary to be powerfull was a big driving factor of the story. And 𝗜 𝘄𝗮𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗶𝘁!
There was not a single moment where I felt disappointed or where I wanted to put the book down. The 𝗿𝗵𝘆𝘁𝗵𝗺 of this book was 100% perfect! The ending ate me away and I cannot sleep without reading the next novel 🤐🤐
Now the best part? Character dialogue and relationship. The sisterly bond was truly too amazing to describe. The family scenes made my heart melt, even if few. And then....the spin put on “evil” not being just evil and being given a personality by the way of a hot prince of hell 😈 My my. It was more than good. It was so much fun. The romance, the sexual tension but then the pure friendship that enemies formed, just read this please!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
Thank you Netgalley and the author for my e-ARC 😍

“I believe I am powerful, therefore I am.”

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Kingdom of the Wicked follows the story of Emilia and her twin Vittoria, witches hiding in plain sight amongst humans. From a young age, the girls have been taught by their Nonna that dark magic is bad, that they should never interact with evil, with the Devil. However, when Vittoria is brutally murdered, Emilia finds herself turning to the darkness to find her answers. She suddenly finds herself with Wrath, one of the Princes of Hell, by her side. Wrath claims to be on her side, wanting to assist Emilia. However, when it comes to the Wicked who she has been warned against her entire life, nothing is as it seems. Can Emilia find her sister’s killer without releasing the Devil himself into her world?

Emilia is just *chef’s kiss* She’s real, her emotions spiralling all over the place in her grief. I love that she’s true to her ideals and virtues, that she focuses on her lessons and is independent enough to follow her heart - even if it lands her in trouble. Being split from someone she was so close to - her twin!! - must be incredibly difficult and I loved the way her character tackled in. The way Emilia is written is brilliant and engaging because she experiences a whole plethora of emotions that any normal person would feel. Some fantasy books have the heroine forget her pain and focus on being angry and vengeful. Here, we get to see Emilia’s low moments alongside her anger and her happiness which I personally really loved.

Wrath... oh, dear Wrath. You’ve had me feeling rather conflicted. I mean, he’s a demon - a Prince of Hell - and yet I almost want to grab him and squash his cheeks! He’s mysterious and clever and bloody stubborn, but I really enjoy that about him. I never felt bored reading scenes with him because he forever surprised me. That’s a sign of a good character...

I’m a big fan on Maniscalco’s Stalking Jack the Ripper series. So, from the moment I saw this book I was excited. I leapt at the chance to request it on NetGalley and I am forever grateful I was blessed with this e-ARC because I am once again BLOWN AWAY by her writing. I love that elements of real life and lore are brought into her writing because it gives a sense of grounding to the story. There are points where we can recognise something real and further enjoy the fantasy and adventure we’re being fed.

Overall, Kingdom of the Wicked is a culmination of magic, sin, mystery and determination. I am so excited to see what happens next - Emilia is going to send shockwaves across the worlds and I am LIVING FOR IT.

Thank you again to NetGalley and the publisher for a copy of this book.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5

Emilia and Vittoria are witches and twin sisters who have been raised on their Nonna’s stories of demons and the ways they must always protect themselves from them. Emilia is too busy working in the family restaurant, pouring her heart and soul into cooking to really put much stick into her Nonna’s old stories. But when Vittoria doesn’t come home one night, Emilia discovers her body, with a mysterious stranger standing over her. Determined to avenge her sisters death, she goes looking for answers and finds more than she bargained for. Going against everything her Nonna has ever earned her about, she summons one of the Princes of Hell in an attempt to discover the truth about who is responsible for her sisters death.

This book was everything I wanted from a book about witches. It was eerily atmospheric and Kerri’s words flowed like water. I swear magic was swirling off these pages. Prince of Hell, Wrath was just…well, look, we’re all going to want our own Prince of Hell now, ok? Is he morally grey? Or is he just grey? We’re not sure. Emilie was just the right mix of strong and smart, if a little naive at first. I loved the way she took time to mourn her sister then became a vengeful force to be reckoned with.

This was the type of book I didn’t want to rush through, but couldn’t stop reading. I felt like it was whispering to me in the dark everytime I put it down. I am quite happy to hand over my soul for book two immediately.

-4.5 rounded to 5-

I've been struggling with YA fantasy lately and wasn't really expecting much from this book. I was wrong. I was hooked from page one and fell in love with the setting, the descriptions of food, the characters and Maniscalco's seamless writing. Not to mention, who doesn't love to read about dark, brooding Princes of Hell?

I didn't want this to end and if the second instalment is as addictive as the first, then I can see this series being a new favourite of mine.

My only gripe is the ending seemed a little rushed and I wished it was drawn out a bit more. But, other than that this was a thoroughly enjoyable read and I'm excited to see where the series will go.

Firstly I want to say thank you so much to Hodderscape for sending me an early review copy of Kingdom of the Wicked. I really appreciate the opportunity you have given me.

WHERE DO I START WITH THIS BOOK. You know that I love a book when I start my review in capital letters. I literally do not know what I want to write because I feel like I am so overwhelmed with my thoughts and feelings. I did start this book a week ago whilst on holiday but I got a couple of chapters in and realised that this book needed my full attention. So I decided to put it down and pick it up when I was home. As soon as I got home I picked it up and ended up more or less reading Kingdom of the Wicked in one sitting. I say more or less because I actually had to put the book down with 30 pages to go because I could not cope with the tension, the anticipation. I did not want the book to end, I did not want to know how the book was going to end.

The plot and the idea behind the book really intrigued me and it definitely lived up to my expectations. I love the idea of a serial killer targeting witches. For me, this is a unique idea that I haven't come across before. I loved the setting of a historic 19th Century Sicily with witchy vibes. What more can you want from a book? Yes there is a romance element in this book. Do I normally like romance in books? No. Did I like this one? Absolutely. Why? It was subtle, I could ignore it if I wanted to (I didn't). Whilst it was part of the book, it wasn't the main part of the book which I really enjoyed.

I absolutely love Kerri's writing style. From the very beginning she adopted a really descriptive and eerie writing style which made me literally imagine everything that was happened, I felt like I was part of the story, one of the characters which in parts this was not a good thing. Kingdom of the Wicked made me SO HUNGRY. Omg all the in depth descriptions of pasta dishes just made me want to eat all of the pasta. I love pasta. Can you tell? I could not put this book down, the writing style just made me want to read more and more and never stop. At certain points of the book I had to make myself slow down my reading. The action increased my heart rate it made me want to read as much as I could as quick as I could. I found that I just wanted to devour it.

The characters were perfect. I love the bond between Emilia and Vittoria, the raw emotion that is portrayed in relation too many aspects of the book especially with this relationship felt beautiful. As a reader I could really feel it. I adored how fiercely Emilia protects the people that she loves. The way she fights for what she believes in. She is such a wonderful female protagonist. Is it bad that I love Wrath? I think I fancy him a little bit. He is a brilliant character, so many times I changed my mind on whether I could trust him or not. I still don't actually know if I can!

THE ENDING. WHY?! KERRI WHY HAVE YOU DONE THIS TO ME. Kingdom of the Wicked has the most frustrating ending that I have ever read. How am I even meant to wait for the next book? I don't even know what to say. I read the last few chapters a couple of times because I thought I had missed something. I have so so many unanswered questions. I don't know how I am going to be able to wait for the next book. I really did love this book and I just need the next one immediately. I love how it has been set up for a sequel and I am so intrigued by what is going to happen next.

I have so much more to say but I am going to leave it there. To sum up: I love this book so much. You should all preorder it and read it. It will be 100% worth it.

I was so lucky to snag myself an eARC of Kingdom of the Wicked, thanks to the publisher. I had been super excited about reading this novel from the moment Kerri Maniscalco posted the announcement on Instagram.

Set in 19th Century Palermo, the story follows the di Carlo twins, Emilia and Vittoria. They're just your average teenage girls; except for the fact that they're witches. All their lives, they've been warned against The Wicked - Demon princes of hell by their Nonna. The twins work at their family restaurant, Sea & Vine. One night, Vittoria misses dinner service, and Emilia, on her quest to locate her sister, finds her body. It's been desecrated - her heart is missing.

Emilia vows vengance on the person responsible for her sister's death. Enter Wrath, one of the demon princes Emilia has been warned about her whole life. Claiming to be on Emilia's side, Wrath has been tasked by the Devil himself to hunt down the killer responsible for the deaths of three women on the island of Sicily, of which Vittoria was the most recent. But when it comes to the Wicked, nothing is as it seems.

I absolutely loved this book. It felt very cozy for me. It might have to do with the fact that it's set in Italy, and the mention of the food, the smells, just feel instantly like home for me. It might also be the fact that I live for books about witches and demons and intrigue. It might even be the fact that I've loved everything that Kerri Maniscalco has written so far, and her writing style is a comfortable place for me.

I loved the characters. They're all well rounded, but I'll admit that Wrath is probably my favourite. He's your typical bad guy, arrogant and sexy, but he's also a demon prince of Hell so you expect nothing less. The way that he and Emilia interact is great and I really enjoyed their banter.

It's clear that Kerri did her research about the place she was writing about and was really able to bring to life the city to life. It was wonderful to read about places that you can still visit today, such as Castello della Zisa, and I loved the fact that she took the time to discuss the food, too.

Although demons and witches are not a new concept, the way that Kerri worked their narrative together felt different from your average story. Each twist and turn that the narrative took made me question what I already knew from other worlds and their lore.

The only drawback of reading this book as an eARC is that I now have to wait for the next book, and I really can't wait. 5/5 from me, and I cannot wait to get my physical copy when this book goes on sale!

A fast paced book full of great writing, mysterious characters, magic and a murder mystery. What's not to love?

I really enjoyed Kingdom of the Wicked and am looking forward to the next instalment already. I feel like the wait is going to be a slow torture.

Kingdom of the Wicked follows Emilia who ends up on a path of vengeance following her sisters untimely and unexpected death. Emilia will end up going to great lengths to find out who killed her sister, along with the other girls that came before her. With the help of Wrath, who is a mysterious character with his own agenda, they team up to find the elusive killer and to find out why they're murdering these girls.

I loved the dynamic between Emilia and Wrath, clearly enemies but something starts to grow between them. It's fun to watch whilst witnessing the banter between the pair. The Italian setting was wonderful and had me reminiscing on my time there, whilst I also wished I could be back eating some lovely cheesy pasta. I think the contrast of darkness passing over sunny Italy signals what is to come in the future of Emilia's life and how she will change.

I really enjoyed everything about this book. Whilst I first felt that the pacing was slow, this soon picked up and the book completely carried me away. I'd absolutely recommend this if you're looking for a murder mystery mixed with magic, darkness and mysterious characters then you've come to the right place.

I loved this! I was completely hooked on this book. It's got a great main character who fiercely loves her sister and her family. It's got witchcraft and prophesies and long kept secrets. It's got a dark (very dark!) handsome love interest with unknown motivations. And it's got FOOD. The food descriptions are amazing - it made me so hungry!

This title is perfect for Sarah J Maas fans and anyone who loves a dark romantic fantasy. It's slightly gory, but with minimal bad language or sexual content, it's perfect for older teens and above.

**PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT**

Do not read this book whilst you are hungry!! All the food references (except sardines!) made my mouth water and I dreamt about Italian food!

Oh this was superb! And what a perfect story to read close to Halloween!

Murder
Witches
Princes from Hell
Demons
Dastardly goings on......

I was so invested in this story. It was so good! I did want to shake Emilia in some parts due to her questionable decisions and blindness to some situations!

But let's talk about Wrath. Delish with a capital D. Yes. I had a serious crush on him!!

And that bloomin ending! Please. Please. Please. I need the next book now!

And finally I just want to give thanks to the beautiful cover. It made my black heart very happy!!!

Thank you to NetGalley and JIMMY Patterson for approving an ARC.

In kingdom of the wicked we follow Emilia as she attempts to uncover the truth of her twin sisters murder and get revenge. Set in our own world but full of witches, demons and magic. Maniscalco’s writing was so addictive and the atmosphere was so on point. It felt so dark and spooky. This was perfect for the month of October and how I want to read all of her other books.

I really enjoyed reading from the perspective of our main character Emilia. In the beginning of the book she was the more reserved twin, whereas her sister Vitoria was the one who was bold and would rush into a situation. Emilia tried to be more like Vitoria throughout the book but she still remains a girl who had very limited power and no fighting skills which I found quite refreshing for a ya fantasy.

I also appreciated that this didn’t take the routes which I expected it to. The end goal was what I thought it would be but the reveal at the end and the way the relationships went were not what I thought and that was actually a good thing.

I would definitely recommend this to anyone looking for those spooky vibes but still has fantasy elements and addictive writing.

tw: loss, grief, death of a sibling, magic used to manipulate thoughts and actions, mutilation, violence, gore

I wasn't expecting to love this book as fiercely as I did. It's been a couple of weeks since I read it and I'm still thinking about this one. Kingdom of the Wicked hit me in a lot of weak spots I didn't know I had. It's no big secret that I love stories about witches, especially living secretly amongst non-magical people, and Kingdom of the Wicked delivered on realistic feeling magic. I liked the way that casting spells and charms was handled, and I think the realistic aspects were tied with the fantasy aspects really well. Once I'd gotten into Kingdom of the Wicked I honestly couldn't put it down. It's in the summary that Vittoria, our protagonist Emilia's twin sister, is murdered, but still I felt an absolute gut punch when it happened early on. Kerri Maniscalco's writing is really vivid and beautiful and I loved it, even when it wounded me. The way that Emilia's grief is written felt raw and real and it made me feel as urgent and desperate for a conclusion as Emilia did.

The princes of Hell, Wrath in particular, was predictably loveable. One day I'll stop being obsessed with monstrous men but it's not this day. The princes were all pretty interesting actually, I liked the way that their powers were manifested to match their deadly sins and considering I *knew* Wrath was going to be the typical hot-demon type, I was still totally bowled over by him. The relationship between Emilia and Wrath made me laugh out loud at multiple points, and I can't wait for the next book in the series so I can see more from these characters I've grown to adore. I didn't realise that this wasn't a standalone until most of the way through the book, and I can't wait to reread it when I get a hardback. And then probably reread it a couple more times before I get ahold of the next one.

Received an Advanced Reader’s Copy from the publisher, Hodder & Stoughton, via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you!

The story starts off with a feeling of mystery and intrigue and I felt like I was sitting in a dark room while it thundered outside, listening to old myths and legends. The first twenty percent–I won’t lie–was a little slow, but I swear as soon as we hit the twenty percent mark the book kicks off and I was suddenly at seventy percent.

I buddy read this book with Dany @AmbivertWords and our frequent catching up with one another and squealing/gasping over the book. Michelle @LoveStarsandBooks is a proper reader and was done with the book so fast that I hadn’t even started. But bless her she’s ever patient with me and guided me through the whole book and remained excited with me while I randomly texted her with details of happenings in the book.

I will say one thing about the book, I certainly didn’t expect quite a bit of what happened in it. I’m saying this because even after reading the synopsis, I was so caught up in the writing that when something that we already know is going to occur happens, I was so shocked. The writing is certainly a big benefit for this book because that is exactly what holds the whole book together beautifully aside from the thick of the plot that unfolds much much later and a little slower. But you never feel the time because of how well it’s all designed.

The heroine, Emilia is on a desperate search for truth and will do anything to avenge her sister’s death. There’s not much that she’ll shy away from at the same time she’s a much much smarter heroine than most and you don’t see her falling for all the typical ploys that is characteristic of most other protagonists. I admire that she follows her intuition, stays strong at the face of fear and unhappiness and remains loyal to her family. There was a very very subtle but interesting style with which the author introduced mental health into the story. You can’t miss it but at the same time you may not recognize it immediately. The emotions displayed in this book and some of the sequences were so well done that I was genuinely shaken at one particular scene.

Wrath too brings some very very interesting elements to the story and most of that adds to the intrigue and magic of it. I thinks it’s best to experience the unfolding of his personality and character with ones own reading experience so I shall very maturely refrain from mentioning further about him.

My only pea sized issue was with the world building. I wouldn’t say it had gaps, just that I felt there were many things I couldn’t immediately grasp, especially about the magical tradition and practices that made me feel that I was always missing a little something. There are some doubts and questions I left the book with, but I kept in mind that I had the advanced copy and all those little seemingly confusing aspects could be smoothed out in the final version.

But, that ending though. Four and a half stars! Happy reading and stay safe book lover!

Thank you to Netgalley, Hodder and Stoughton, and Kerri Maniscalco for providing me with the e-arc of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Kerri Maniscalco has been one of my favourite authors ever since I read the Stalking Jack the Ripper series so I was ecstatic when I found out I would be able to read Kingdom of the Wicked before its release.

One of the things I loved about Kerri Maniscalco’s previous books were the characters and Kingdom of the Wicked was no different. When we are introduced to Emilia and Vittoria you could immediately see the close relationship they had, a relationship which meant they would do anything to protect each other. They were polar opposites, with Emilia preferring to stay in and read a book and Vittoria wanting to be in the middle of the adventure. I love the different personalities Kerri is immediately able to display from the beginning of the story. Characters are the key to this story and the character development of Emilia was so fun to read about. She went from a quiet and rule-abiding daughter to someone who would do anything to get her revenge. We are later introduced to Wrath, a demon prince with a devil’s tongue. Their banter from their first introduction really carried the story and made you want to keep turning the page.

The setting of the story in 19th century Italy was also so intriguing and the descriptions of food will constantly have your mouth watering. I love the fact that the story was interwoven with tales of witches and demons which had been passed down through the generations. This added an element of mystery while you were trying to figure out which tales were true, and which tales would play a role in figuring out the murder that happened at the start of the book. The introduction of seven deadly demon princes based around the seven deadly sins was everything I hoped it would be. They were gorgeous, witty and equally as wicked (that won’t stop you falling for them though).

Overall, this book was so fun, and you won’t want to put it down. With the ending I am so excited to see where the story will go in the next book (I really don’t know how I am going to wait a whole year!!). This was definitely a five-star read and you should pick this up as soon as you can.

✨“I am focused, you steaming sack of horse manure.”✨
— Kerri Maniscalco, Kingdom of the Wicked.

🌸 Mentally fanning myself while I sit and dream about Kingdom of the Wicked.

Let me just give you guys a quote from the book:

✨“This was not the kind of prince written about in fairy tales. There was no golden crown sitting atop his dark head, or promises of safety waiting in his sculpted, tattooed arms. He was death and rage and fire and anyone stupid enough to forget that would be consumed by his inferno.”✨

Has this novel just secured a spot on your TBR?

Dark Princes, Badass female WITCHS, Seven Deadly Sins, a thirst for vengeance and SO MUCH BANTER THAT YOU’LL JUST SPLIT YOUR FACE FROM SMIRKING SO MUCH!

I need Wrath in my life. I just do. He is such an amazing, dark yet dreamy character. Honestly I don’t think I’ve fallen this hard for a male character since Will Herondale!

Do yourself a favour and read this book.

🌷So, Kingdom of the Wicked features Emilia and her twin sister Vittoria who are WITCHES (streghe). But when Vittoria doesn’t come home one night, Emilia goes out searching. Only to find a grim and unexpected scene: her twin is dead, her still corpse lies there with her heart cut out. And over Vittoria’s body awaits a demon, licking her blood.

Emilia must uncover her twins secrets and seek out the princes of hell to piece together the connection between Vittoria’s death and the other female bodies popping up. To find the killer, Emilia must face hell.

Thank you so much netgalley, Hodder & Stoughton, and Kerri Maniscalco for this early readers copy! I have honestly no idea what I was doing before Wrath came into my life!

And my goodness, this plot was just excellent. There truly was never a dull moment, and in response, my heart was just hammering all the way through! I didn’t leave my bed until I finished this book! Kerri Maniscalco truly is a master, and I now feel very much obliged to read her other series, Stalking Jack the Ripper!

Read. Be happy. Stay safe.

📖Book Review: Kingdom of the Wicked By Kerri Maniscalco
Rating : ⭐⭐⭐⭐💫4.8
Genre: YA Fantasy, Romance, Supernatural

Sultry darkness and deadly secrets...A thrilling quest for vengeance, filled with devilry, trickery and an earth shattering romance. Kingdom of the wicked will leave you ravenous for more, beware it will intoxicate the mind and senses!

Emilia and Vittoria are twin witches living in 19th century Sicily, brought up on tales of the Wicked- 'demon prince's - midnight creatures born of darkness and moonlight that only seek to destroy'.

They spend their days working on enchantments, hiding in plain sight and helping at their family's sicilian restraunt 'Sea and Vine'. Until Emilia finds Vittoria's body desecrated by the most violent of acts. Emilia sets out to seek Vittorias killer and exact her revenge, but temptation and recklessness leads to a deeper descent into evil, dark arts and forbidden magic. The dark arts always come with a price, is Emilia willing to pay it?

Wow, where to start? Kingdom of the wicked is an epic new fantasy series from the best selling author Kerri Maniscalco! Kingdom of the wicked has all the plot twists, darkly gothic lyrical prose and forbidden magic that you want in a YA Fantasy! I have no doubt this book will fly off the shelves with its seductive prince's of hell, feisty young witches and solicitous grandmother. It reminded me of Holly Black's :The Folk of the Air Series' and Roshani Chokshi 'The Gilded Wolves'.
A luscious world of evocative and witty characters and a magical, diverse plot. I highly recommend snatching a copy.

Thank you to @netgalley , @hodderbooks @jimmypattersonbooks and of course @kerrimaniscalco for such a magical read! 😊❤️

Kingdom of the wicked by @kerrimaniscalco is coming out later this month, and I was lucky enough to get a review copy from the publisher @hodderbooks through @netgalley, for which I’m very thankful.

I don't read many YA fantasy novels but I’ll constantly try one now and then, especially if I see them suggested by some of my favourite readers around Bookstagram, hence this review and my love for the author’s words because let me tell you something, I’m in love and never seen it coming! 

Rome, one of the most fascinating places in the world even from thousands of years ago , with its hidden passages and mysterious habitants, it’s one of my to-visit places yet to tick off from my list, even more now after reading this charmingly written story. 

I admired how our heroine is illustrated as a strong inexperienced girl, assertive and loving of her family, how underneath her warrior shield, she is compassionate and her love doesn’t have limits for her sister. Thus, her heart is driven by a revenge mission where twists and turns that kept me on the edge throughout the story won’t stop her from finding the truth. She is willing to make a deal with the devil, and something wicked comes out of it.

If you love enemies to lovers, suspenseful and mystical world build, you need to read this book.

OMG I need book two now!! I knew this was going to be a cracker because duh Stalking Jack the Ripper, but it completely smashed my already high expectations.

Emilia's family, the magic, the setting, hot brooding princes from hell, the food, revenge and a murder mystery... did I mention the hot brooding princes from hell??...there was just so much to love and honestly I can't think of a single negative thing (other than having to wait for book two!) Hands down one of my favourite books for the year.

Thank you Netgalley and Hodder & Stoughton for providing me with a free digital copy in exchange for an honest review.

Okay so this first book is very much so a set-up book for following books in the series. I know that isn't to everyone's taste but it's still definitely an entertaining read from start to finish. 

The book is from the point of view of Emilia, one of the twin sisters who are linked to a devastating prophecy. Very early on her twin sister, Vittoria/Victoria, is murdered and Emilia's finds her body in a heartbreaking scene. This leads to the basis of the whole book - she's hellbent on finding the murderer and getting revenge but she doesn't know who the murderer is. 

Emilia's grandmother plays an important role throughout, as she essentially has the most knowledge that can help. She's determined for the family not to use dark magic though as she doesn't want to raise attention to demons about the twins. But, when Emilia uncovers that her twin had been using dark magic before her death, she can't help but get involved in it with the hope of getting closer to an answer. 

This leads her to summon a demon, and, as luck would have it, it ends up being one of the princes, the Prince of Wrath. There are seven demon princes, corresponding to the seven deadly sins, and as Emilia finds out they're real she starts to suspect each one she meets - including Wrath. There's a strange dynamic to their relationship though as, since she summoned him, he can't lie to her. Even though she knew as a result of that that he didn't kill Vittoria she's wary of him throughout. They grow close though and he ends up being sweeter and sweeter to her, which I couldn't help but find endearing. At one point, I'd say I actually preferred his character quite a lot and really I'm excited to read on in the series to see what happens with Wrath. 

Emilia herself is headstrong and smart. She has her own great qualities but at times, understandably, does some pretty rash things which I think is a great way of showing that she's still dealing with intense grief from the loss of her sister. There were times when she'd go off by herself and I'd just be waiting for something bad to happen (which almost always happened). 

One thing I have to say is that the Princes are by no means the worst characters in this book. A couple of them do horrid things but on the whole they're quite, human? In a sense that there's good and bad in them. I really feel like this gave them more depth though and I enjoyed this element, even if the MC couldn't see it for herself. But this again goes back the grief she's feeling and also shows just how much her Nonna's stories of demons have influenced her. On the other hand, we hear about bad things witches have done in the past and present too which shows off the light and dark theme again. 

In essence, it was an exciting read from start to finish and I'm really excited for the next installment. I think sometime soon I'll have to pick up more of Kerri's books too! If you're in the mood for a deliciously dark read for Halloween, pick this up.

I was so so so excited to receive an ARC of Kingdom of the Wicked, I love Kerri Maniscalco so much, this book blew me away and was everything I dreamed it would be and more. It had a hint of Hades and Persephone which made me love it even more, it’s witches and magic, so of course I would love it. The characters are fantastic, well written and developed, I loved Emilia and Wrath so much, so many others too, but they were just brilliant and the relationship and humour , it was just everything I love it when characters can’t stand each other, it’s so much more fun ! I absolutely loved every second of this and can’t wait for my physical copy now from FairyLoot to arrive. One of my favourite reads of the year. Fantastic and I cannot wait for the next.

Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for a free copy for an honest opinion

5 stars!

WOW THIS BOOK! IT IS EVERYTHING!

I read the entirety of this book in one day because I simply could not put it down. It is the perfect read for this time of year.

Kingdom of the Wicked follows Emilia di Carlo, a streghe witch who lives among the humans in secret with the rest of her witch family. One dreadful night Emilia finds her twin sister Vittoria has been killed. This triggers the grieving Emilia to set out to find out who killed her twin sister and avenge her death. Emilia will stop at nothing to find out what happened to her sister, including dealing with magic she shouldn't be dealing with and calling on a prince of Hell. Prince Wrath and Emilia's fates get tied together and an enormous adventure begins.

I have to say I absolutely loved this, it is genius. Kerri Maniscalco's writing is impeccable and the pacing is incredible. It is just so easy to get sucked into this story from page one and to not want it to end. I found myself never wanting to put this down because I just NEEDED to know what was going to happen next.

Emilia and Wrath are amazingly well crafted characters and I loved every bit of interaction that we got to be apart of between them. The mystery surrounding Wrath's intentions and Emilia's past make for a great connection and chemistry between them.

The magic world is intricate and intriguing and it is very interesting to continuously find out more about the past of witches and the demons and the princes of Hell.

This book really has it all: it has magic, it has witches, it has drama, it has romance, it has magical creatures, it has demons, it has murder mystery, it has twists and turns and just everything else that you want.

For anyone looking for a perfect spooky read for this Halloween season, this is definitely the right book to choose. You will not be disappointed. I can't wait for the next one to come out!

Thank you to NetGalley and the Publisher for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I immediately knew I would love this book from the cover and the synopsis and I wasn’t wrong. It’s a such a delight to read, I was transfixed from the onset and I couldn’t put it down. A dark and twisty fantasy, with mystery and romance, which I devoured over a period of a few days. The story is well paced, there is always something happening and the writing flows well and is easy to follow.

The world and setting is sublime, the author obviously has an affinity for Italian culture and this comes across in the writing. Set in 19th Century Italy the author creates an authentic and atmospheric tale. The scenery is beautifully described, as is the heart-warming family relationships in the hub of the Sicilian tattoria and the mouth-watering Italian cuisine. I immediately wanted to make all the food described and I am now completely hooked on a ‘caprese-bruschetta’.

The characters are all rich and described in wonderful detail and I felt so connected to them. I particularly adored the dark and brooding Wrath, oh my goodness I loved his character so much and he completely stole my heart. He is gorgeous, mysterious and secretive, we shouldn’t really trust him but we just can’t help it. Emilia’s character is also well portrayed and she is a likeable and feisty female lead. I loved the dynamics and interactions between Wrath and Emilia, the attraction is quite obviously there but they try to pretend it’s not. The chemistry and banter between them positively sizzled and I enjoyed the enemies to ‘joining forces’ trope, which is a slight twist on the usual enemies to lovers. The demon princes are all intriguing as is the concept of the seven deadly sins, namely the seven princes of hell and their respective houses in the underworld - the houses of Wrath, Lust, Gluttony, Sloth, Pride, Envy and Greed.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book and I’m definitely going to try to re-read it before book two is published. Action packed from the start it grabs the reader’s attention and pulls you into a compelling fantasy story with a murder mystery plot. A mesmerising tale with a unique magic system, witches and demon princes, which makes excellent reading for this time of year, who could ask for more? It ended on a perfect cliffhanger and I immediately want to reach for the next book.

Thank you so much to publisher via Netgalley for my advanced eARC of this book, I also received a proof from the publisher which is amazing!

Thank you to NetGalley and Hodder & Staughton for allowing me access to an E-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Combining witchcraft, the devil, romance and food, Kingdom of the Wicked is the perfect read to get you in the mood for Spooky Season this year.

The story follows Emilia Di Carlo, a young witch who looks to exact revenge following the death of her twin sister. The only problem is that she doesn’t quite know who she’s looking to exact revenge upon.

While Emilia, fickle and confused Emilia, can be aggravating at times and her lack of real grit can make her worthy of more than a few eye-rolls, she is more than made up for with the character of Wrath, one of the Princes of Hell who, unfortunately for Emilia, has some knowledge regarding her sister’s murder.

Maniscalco’s writing is perfect for this genre, creating an atmospheric tale which would work wonderfully for the camera and her use of Sicilian family life leaves the reader with a familiarity towards the di Carlo family, regardless of their heritage. Steeped in mythology which is slowly unravelled throughout the tale, the novel progresses at a steady pace, with twists and turns at every corner.

The romance aspect can seem juvenile at times with the banter – or ‘snark’ as authors regularly label it – seeming forced, however the more it progresses, the better it gets and Maniscalco will have you rooting for the bad guys at times. Occasionally, she does fall into some over-used tropes but it can only be said that these tropes are popular for a reason and Maniscalco pulls each of them out the bag with unique takes on them.

The novel is wonderfully written, with just the right amount of supernatural and a heavy focus on the food. One word of warning for reading it would definitely be to have snacks at the ready because this will leave your mouth watering. One character goes as far as to say they would murder someone for the food mentioned and, after reading the descriptions, I’m not saying I’d disagree.

This was the perfect release for late October and if this is anything to go by, the sequel will be one of the most anticipated novels of 2021.

Emilia and Vittoria are not only twin sisters, they are both streghe - witches that live among humans but keep their true nature hidden to avoid persecution. Having grown up listening to tales of the Wicked, and how they should avoid dark magic at all costs but never seeing anything to support these stories, it’s understandable that Emilia doesn’t really put much stock into her Nonna’s warnings of evil. Being the quiet, sensible twin, she is much more concerned with helping out in the family restaurant and trying out new recipes. Her sister Vittoria, on the other hand, is more outgoing and reckless. So when she doesn’t turn up one night for service at the restaurant, Emilia isn’t overly worried. What she doesn’t expect is to find her sisters body. Devastated, Emilia vows to discover who is behind the brutal killing and extract vengeance for her sister. Throw in Princes of Hell, demons and age old curses, and you have a mystery, full of violence, betrayal and magic - excited yet?

This was a darkly, delicious tale featuring so many tropes I love: enemies to lovers, good versus evil, curses to break, to name a few. The addition of the seven deadly sins in the form of the Princes of Hell was genius! Kerri has created a world that had me entranced from the first page! Although the initial build up was a little slower than I normally like, this did not affect my enjoyment of the story. Emilia’s character is a good mix of strong and passionate, naive and vulnerable, and her relationship with her family and friends was endearing. But the relationship I loved the most was between her and Wrath.

Wrath is a Prince of Hell, so I’m pleased that he wasn’t made to be a mis-understood, long suffering good guy who finds himself bad through circumstances. He was unapologetically grey. Selfish, violent and manipulative, he has his own agenda and is quite clear about that with Emilia. He loves power and control. Having said that he is charming and brooding, everything you could ask for in a male lead. I can’t wait to see more of these two in the next book.

I had really high expectations for Kingdom of the Wicked, and I can happily report that it did not disappoint! Kerri has weaved her magic over me and I’m now impatiently waiting for book two!

Thanks to Hodder & Stoughton and NetGalley for the Advance Review Copy in exchange for an honest review.

I will admit my expectations for this book were pretty low. Not for any particular reason other than almost all of the YA Fantasy I've read recently have all been rather meh and I thought this would be much and such the same. In this instance however, I was very happy to be proven very wrong.

The book is set in an alternate universe version of Sicily (cool setting, tick!) in a world where witches must remain hidden to avoid persecution. Witch twins Emilia and Vittoria have been raised to protect themselves against the Wicked, demon princes from hell (swoooooon, who doesn't love a demon prince from hell?) but when Vittoria is brutally murdered, Emilia must summon one of the Wicked to help uncover the truth.

So we've basically got a magical murder mystery revenge tale with some morally ambiguous demon princes thrown in? What a treat indeed!

Honestly this book kinda reminded me of Sarah J Maas when she is at her best. I know not everyone will consider that as a positive but I'm talking A Court of Mist and Fury rather than....Crescent City.

I also appreciated that the writing and characterisation felt quite mature. Emilia didn't have to be some insanely beautiful, badass warrior queen. She managed to be an interesting woman, thrust into events not of her making whose main driver is the love she has for her murdered sister and her desire for vengeance.

The romance is slow burn and falls firmly into the enemies to lovers trope (I unashamedly love this trope, fight me) and is seriously sexy, if a little predictable, but that's nothing new for the genre.

The pacing was effective too, I didn't realise the book was a series until close to the end and I liked how it wasn't one of those books with glacial pacing just to justify a duology or trilogy *coughBloodandHoneycough*. The downside of course is that I have to wait now for a sequel.

I'm from an Italian background myself and a few of the names seemed a bit silly. Growing up my mum used to tell me I was betrothed to the son of a family friend in Italy called Tony Tortellini (my sister was betrothed to Freddy Fettucini....) and some of the names of the side characters made me think "my mum missed a trick not thinking of that name for our mythical fiancees" but the author gets a pass because her name suggests she's of the same ancestry and the book is just that dang good.

Suffice to say I loved it and can't wait for the sequel.

Holy freaking hell. I picked this up because I woke up early and couldn’t go back to sleep and gulped it down in one sitting. There have only been about 3 books this year that I have been this I think this super excited about.

Emilia and her twin sister Vittoria are witches living secretly amongst humans in Sicily. All their lives, they’ve been protected and hidden away from devils that are searching for them. One fateful night, Vittoria is brutally murdered leaving Emilia devastated and setting her on a path of dark magic in her search to unlock her sister’s secrets and vengeance for her death. This brings Emilia into collision with Wrath - one of the famed Wicked Princes of Hell, that she’s been warned never to trust, but had to work with to get the answers she seeks.

I finished this book and just kept muttering to myself - I don’t understand because I DONT UNDERSTAND!!! I need the next book NOW to answer all my questions and satisfy this ITCH of wanting/needing to know what happens next. I am super shooketh lol - I’ve never used that word before but find it is super apt for how I feel. I tried to think about what I didn’t like about this book. It is maybe a bit too descriptive about food? But that just made me think I want to try making some of the things described so doesn’t count. To say I loved this book is an understatement - it was so engrossing! This is the first book of Kerri Maniscolo that I’m reading but I’m already a big fan.

I loved the characters. Emilia is sweet and strong and fierce even though I still don’t understand her actions at the end (I DONT UNDERSTAND!!!! Lol). I really like Wrath - even though his motivations aren’t super clear. Their chemistry is fire which also adds to the ... I DONT UNDERSTAND!! I like Nonny even though I suspect there’s a lot more to her than we’ve been told so far. The princes of hell that we are introduced to are ... brutal. Can’t wait to meet the rest. Sheesh - this isn’t out and I have to wait for the next book? The story is gripping from the start and doesn’t let go. Giving this 5.2 stars - extra marks because I have a physical itch in anticipation of the next book.

I debated a little while on the rating of this book, but if I'm honest with myself, I REALLY need to know what happens next! So, Kingdom of the Wicked is a delightful read, that is drenched in Italian influences. A murder mystery that kept me on the edge of my seat, and brooding Princes of Hell. This book was so good!

Kingdom of the Wicked is the first instalment in a duology of the same name and is a rich and danger-ridden young adult historical fantasy, set in 19th century Italy, where witches and demons roam, but it is really a murder mystery at heart. This is the perfect read for curling up with under a blanket this Hallowe'en. It follows a witch seeking answers in the murder of her beloved sister, and the demon prince who is tasked with finding a bride for his master. Eighteen-year-old Sicilian-born twins Emilia and Vittoria di Carlo are witches descended from goddesses, or streghe, who have been trained to use magic from a young age, and live with their large family helping to run the family restaurant. The two girls are close despite there being marked differences between them in terms of their personalities; Emilia is quiet, reserved and thoughtful while Vittoria is much more outgoing, impulsive and extroverted. However, this does not affect the unbreakable bond between them. So when Vittoria is strangely absent from a dinner service at their Nonna's restaurant, Emilia decides to go looking for her and discovers her brutally murdered with her heart torn from her chest.

Emilia then sets out to identify and wreak vengeance on the killer, even if it means using dark, forbidden magic, the kind her Nonna had warned her about all her life. Known as the Malvagi, the seven princes of Hell, one for each of deadly sins, they have been elusive for many years but Emilia inadvertently summons the Prince of Wrath. Together, the mortal enemies work to solve the murders of several streghe killed on the island of Sicily and this soon blossoms into an attraction too strong to ignore. This is a captivating and exciting fantasy-paranormal-murder mystery which is written in lyrical prose and truly cast a spell over me as a reader. The world is richly-imagined, intricate and immerses you from the very beginning in the lush scenery of Palermo, not to mention the sumptuous descriptions of Italian foods that I guarantee will have your mouthwatering. The story is dark and intoxicating featuring some of my favourite things as a reader; enemies to lovers, antiheroes, mystery, dark magic, murder, and characters that are so beautifully developed you begin to care about them and their future. Many thanks to the publisher for an ARC.

After her twin sister Vittoria’s murder, Streghe Emilia summons who she believes is her sisters murderer. Instead she summons one of the Wicked, Prince of Hell, Wrath. They join forces to investigate the murder of witches across the city and discover Vittoria’s killer.

Loved this. I couldn’t put it down. Loved the characters, the writing and the plot. Black magic, brooding prince of hell and a murder mystery, what’s not to love. I will definitely be reading more of Kerri Maniscalco while waiting for book 2 in the series.

Thank you to Hodder and Stoughton for this advance copy.

I think this is the first book in a little while that I absolutely devoured.

Twins Emilia and Vittoria are part of a family of Witches living in secrecy in Palermo. Their Nonna always warned them about the Malvagi or the Wicked and to avoid any encounters with them at all costs. These Princes of Hell are not to be trifled with.

Both twins have a cornicello amulet for protection and were warned to never touch them or all hell will break loose, literally. Since the day this nearly happened, the twins have been keeping secrets.

Vittoria starts behaving strangely and doesn’t turn up for dinner service at their families restaurant. Thinking she’s sneaked off with her secret lover, Emilia thinks nothing of it until she heads to the Monestary to pick up her basket and finds her twins desecrated body. Vittoria is dead with her heart torn out of her chest and a mysterious figure looming over her.

Emilia’a life is forever changed from this moment. The more serious of the twins, she now finds herself knee deep in secrets and at her wits end. She summons a demon to help find her twins murderer.

Emilia is charming and completely relatable, I love her determination to find Vittoria’s murderer, whatever the cost. She summons a literal Prince of Hell, Wrath. While Wrath tries to live up to his name, I get major Warden vibes from him and there’s definitely more to him than meets the eye here. I’m completely invested in him. His other brothers are a treat but I’ll leave that for you to find out.

Maniscalco has crafted a deliciously dark story which begs you to give in to your desires, exact vengeance and take a walk on the dark side.

The ending though, oh my. That promises some amazing things to come for book 2.

Also - Aside from this book being amazing, it made me so hungry with the descriptions of the food being cooked in the families restaurant! I need some cannolis or arancini stat!

Massive thank you to Hodder & Stoughton for the advanced copy! I loved it!

Is it weird to say that I'm in love with Wrath? Because I am. The writing was just as magical and beautiful as other Kerri books but this one was just completely captivating in every sense. I loved the slight romance, and the take of the seven deadly sins and prince's of Hell. This was such a great read and I'm already desperate for book two!

‘Kingdom of the Wicked’ follows Emilia and her twin sister Vittoria, witches who live secretly among humans in order to avoid 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, then sets off to seek vengeance at any cost – even if it means using dark magic that’s been long forbidden.

This book has been my most anticipated read of the year, being a huge fan of Kerri Maniscalco’s works and admiring her skills as a writer. So, there was no doubt in my mind that I was going to love this book, I just didn’t expect to love it quite this much.

Emilia made for an absolutely brilliant protagonist. She’s brave, self-assured and slightly stubborn at times. She’s someone who takes no nonsense, not even from demons from Hell, and is desperate to avenge her twin sister, no matter what that would cost her. She’s an incredibly admirable protagonist, and it was a joy to read her journey from start to finish.
Wrath was another character who was deeply enjoyable to read about, exploring his relationship with Emilia with the use of luscious description and bouncing dialogue. They interacted beautifully together, spitting bile at one another until their relationship softened more and I loved every moment I read about them.
Although, Vittoria wasn’t mentioned much within the novel, her character meeting an unfortunate end quite early on, there was still a lot of character modelling involved in Maniscalco’s writing. This was a brilliant technique, making you feel for the characters after her death and caring about them; I was truly devastated, Emilia and Vittoria’s relationship being wonderful to witness up until that point.

The writing itself is wonderfully written, with lengthy descriptions and entertaining dialogue. The setting was explored beautifully through interactions between the characters, with explanations dotted around for those experiencing language barriers. That’s not to say that this book holds your hand however, being subtly done to not draw you away from the story itself.

Overall, I adored this book. Maniscalco truly has a talent for writing and that shines through in this novel. It was an absolute joy to read and I will be returning to it again and again.

A dark, intoxicating tale of a beautiful young witch, a troubled demon, and their epic romance, set against a lush 19th-century Italian backdrop.

Hook this book into my veins because it gave me life.

You’ve got witches. You’ve got magic coming out of every orifice. You’ve got murder. You’ve got Princes from motherfucking hell. And you’ve most definitely got a good ol’ plot twist.

Descendants from a very, very long line of witches, our pal Emilia and her twin sister, Vittoria, live quite happily nestled in Sicily, Italy going about their daily lives.

And I’m quite sure things were super dandy until a murder threw Emilia on a mental path of soul searching and character development. You watch her go from a meek soul to a bad-ass woman hell-bent on revenge and only just discovering just how far rage can push someone. Except this someone has magic.

Whilst on her vengeance quest, she casually befriends Wrath (a demon prince from hell, naturally) and you quickly find yourself watching their love/hate relationship bounce off the walls in a chaotic fashion. I am here for that vibe, to be honest.

Yes, Kingdom of the Wicked is the first of a duo HOWEVER it doesn’t feel like it is. My pet peeve when it comes to a first in a series is rammed so full of plot/environment building vomit that it’s hard to know what’s going on and I’m real happy that the sick bucket didn’t need to be pulled out for this one.
And yes, there is AN INSANE cliffhanger at the end but it closes the book out perfectly.

This little nugget of a book has everything I could have wanted and more. I want to fill this with spoilers but I’m just going to tell you to go read it instead.

I already need book two.

Emilia is about to discover that all her Nonna's warnings about demon princes are very true, and very dangerous.

I received a free copy from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Emilia and her twin sister Vittoria are Italian witches, descended from a long line of Streghe.
Emilia is the quiet one, who is happiest in her family's restaurant, experimenting with flavours. She is always very careful to hide her magic from people around her, and she thinks her Nonna's stories about demons are just that - stories. She is content with her little life.
Her sister Vittoria is the adventurous one, the one who pushes boundaries and embraces all sides of her magic. Vittoria is the one who you could imagine as the leading character in this book...
But Vittoria is murdered, and it is up to Emilia to step outside her comfort-zone and work out who killed her sister.

I thoroughly enjoyed this, as Emilia bumbles along, in her attempts to understand demons and dark magic.
She has the inborn power and ability, but thanks to her strict Nonna, she lacks all knowledge of the dark side.
She accidentally summons a Prince of Hell, Wrath; and has to act carefully around him, knowing that any promises or deals will usually be in Wrath's favour.

I liked everything about the setting, and Emilia's love of food in Sicily. It just felt so real, and I thought the author did a great job of blending a real historical vibe with the paranormal elements creeping in.

The demon princes always keep you guessing throughout the book, but they have had an eternity to perfect being devious and dangerous.
I also liked the non-demon elements that are thrown into the mix.
With rumours of Benandanti shape-shifters and the very real threat of witch-hunters, it all felt very relevant for its time.

Overall, I really enjoyed this book, and I look forward to the rest of the series.

This was amazing. Having already been of fan of Kerri Maniscalco’s books my expectations were high for this. She definitely did not disappoint. I adored the main characters Emilia Wrath and their interactions were everything. Also the witch aspect is something I really enjoyed. The setting was dark and gothic. Story was exciting and full of twists and turns. One of the most cruel endings knowing the sequel is so far away. So yeah overall this was one of my favourite books of the year.

This book was something I wasn't sure about and so didn't know what I was about to read. My God's it was good though, the characters are deep and you find a connection with them like no other.

The story is complex but easy to fall deeply in to and how it's written draws you in and ever let's your escape

*throws arms in the air and squeals*

AHHHH SO GOOD SO GOOD! This did not disappoint. Great pacing, great romance, great introductory world building and so on, it was just perfection!

Kingdom of the Wicked is a good introductory-first-in-series novel that lets you get to know the characters concerned, establishes the world building and magic system, the backstories and legends, all alongside the initial plot that drops the breadcrumbs for the next instalment.

I thoroughly loved what Maniscalco has done with the seven deadly sins. They’ve had life and character breathed into them in an entertaining way that is so readable and left me with a deep urge to talk about the book with everyone and anyone. It’s so full of potential. And Emilia, the story’s protagonist, is likeable and easy to empathise with as she deals with the grief of her sister’s death and the plot developments.

I found the momentum of the story really good. My attention never wavered from all the excitement, and most chapters finished off with baiting sentences that made it extremely difficult to put the book down. Similarly, the ending of the book left me with a dreadful yearning for the sequel that won’t be appeased until I have it!

Ooooooh the romance. It’s in its early stages but my sinners it was sizzlingly good. Maniscalco has wrote a dynamic between Emilia and Wrath that’s great chemistry and irresistible to root for. Their relationship is full of potential promise and excitement that I’m 1-trillion-percent already invested in heart and soul.

My only quibble with the entire book is I thought the mystery element was very obvious. For me, Maniscalco has the challenge of making the outcome of her mysteries not predictable, as I had this experience with Stalking Jack the Ripper series as well. But quite frankly, it didn’t really detract from the enjoyment story other than I wasn’t surprised by the end.

I’m excited yet equally terrified about where this story may go. Some would say that’s a good sign of a good book. I’m already planning on rereading this gem because it was so enjoyable. Definitely recommend it!

Thank you kindly to the publishers and Netgalley for providing me with an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Man oh man, I just loved this.

This was everything I personally wish for in a spooky YA fantasy! A broody prince of Hell called Wrath (along with others may I add, ahem, LUST, not forgetting that SCENE), strong female heroine, witches, spells, murder mystery, gore, fast paced plot, Italian setting. Yes I know - amazing right, and it's done so well.

I found the sense of place and setting on point - descriptions were great and the idea of combining food into this as well was really interesting.

The chemistry between Emelia and Wrath was just *chefs kiss*, I just need MORE OF THIS in the next book, pretty please. I assume there's a next book because erm cliffhanger and a half. I can't wait to see where Emelia's adventures take her next.

Thanks so much for the ARC!

Kingdom of the Wicked by Kerri Maniscalco is by far one of the best reads that I have been privy to in a very long time. I truly enjoyed Stalking Jack the Ripper so when this book came up I really wanted to have the chance to read and review it. In the beginning of the story we meet twin sisters Emilia and Vittoria di Carlos who as witches have lived and worked with their family of witches in their Sicilian restaurant. Their grandmother has warned them from an early age about the wicked. Just like humans are taught about the seven deadly sins, the family know not to summon the Princes of Hell such as Envy, Wrath, and Gluttony. It all falls apart when Vittoria does not return for dinner so Emilia sets out on a quest to find her. There is anger and heartbreak in store for Emilia as she finds her sisters lifeless body but she is not the only one to die. It is now that Emilia must do something to stop the murders. She summons the one who she was warned about. The one who is more dangerous and powerful than any other. All I can honestly say is that I was hooked. From page one and once introduced to the characters I was enamored with them. Prince Wrath will defy all of your beliefs and the stories told will keep you thrilled and wanting more. The author has a special way of taking horror, romance and food and adding them together creating the perfect concoction. I could not get enough and although this would probably have never been in my to read section, I am ecstatic that I found it and my family and friends will all be getting a copy of this book for Christmas.

Thank you to netgalley as well as the author/publisher for allowing me to read this book in exchange for my honest review.

Twins Emilia and Vittoria are both witches, but that's where their similarities end. Vittoria is bold and daring, Emilia cautious and reserved. Emilia is more interested in cooking in her family restaurant than inviting danger into her life, but when Vittoria is brutally murdered, Emilia will go to any lengths for revenge - even if it means making a deal with a prince of Hell.

I was completely swept up in the magic and romance of this novel and could not put it down (or stop thinking about it once I got to the end).

The world building was a real highlight for me - and not just the magical elements, but the Sicilian setting too. Emilia's passion for food left me wishing I board the next plane to Sicily (or at the very least visit an Italian restaurant!)

The love-hate relationship between Emilia and Wrath was really well done, with some twists at the end which have left me desperate for book two.

Tensions run high throughout this story, and there are a lot of darker moments. It is a story which often deals with grief, loss and depression, as well as exploring aspects of the seven deadly sins. There are lots of mystery elements to the plot too, with twist that will keep you guessing until the very end.

A perfect read for this time of year. This book is filled with dark magic, witches, demons and all things bad.

This is my first book by Kerri Maniscalco and I must say, her writing is beautiful and really drew me into the story.

I absolutely loved this dark world that is built around Sicily, Italy. I also loved how Kerri drew in the love of food and what was being cooked. It definitely had my mouth watering. This also made the whole story seem real and relatable.

I throughly enjoyed the plot and the whole murder mystery aspect. It’s not something I would have gone for. The characters were memorable and I loved how Emilia grew and changed throughout the book.

As always I don’t want to say too much, in fear I will spoil it.

Perfect for a last minute Halloween read and I would definitely recommend.

𝐑𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠: ⭐️⭐️⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️