*<i>I received a free e-copy of the book through NetGalley. All opinions expressed below are my own.</i>

I have read two of the four books in Kerri's <i>Stalking Jack the Ripper</i> series and didn't particularly like them. But with everyone so excited about her new book coming out, I decided to give the author another chance.

The premise of <i>Kingdom of the Wicked</i> is pretty fascinating. You've got Sicily, you've got witches, you've got murder and mystery, you've got princes of Hell and a potential enemies to lovers trope - what's not to like?

Well, firstly, I was a bit confused by a few things. When picking up the book, I didn't realize it wasn't set in modern times and it took me a couple of chapters of wondering why nobody was mentioning modern technology and then seeing someone's Instagram story saying that the novel is set in the 18th or 19th to get the time period right.

Another confusing point was the princes of hell. They are supposed to represent the seven deadly sins. One of the key plot points is that the witches are worried about the devil breaking free of his hellish prison. It took me literally half the book to put two and two together and understand that the Prince of House Pride is actually the devil.

Emilia, the main character, is investigating her twin's demise but I wasn't invested enough to care who the murderer is. When the culprit was revealed at the end, I wasn't even surprised as I had guessed their identity.

The enemies to lovers trope also didn't play out the way I'd expected. I didn't see any depth and enough development in their relationship and didn't ship them in the least.

Overall, if you liked the <i>Stalking Jack the Ripper</i> series, you will probably enjoy Kerri's new novel quite a lot. Otherwise pick it up cautiously.

So grateful for a copt of this one. Maniscalco is such a talented writer, and I will read absolutely everything she writes.
This was such a fun and interesting premise. We have Emilia, who wants to solve the murder of her beloved sister. We have wrath, a literal prince from hell (and we get to meet her brothers). I am absolute trash for enemies to lovers, and Maniscalco does it so deliciously well. This world is so much fun to be in, and it's so atmospheric and dark, Emilia is a really strong heroine, and I think you can see how much Maniscalco has improved with characterization since the very first time we saw Audrey Rose. I loved Emilia just as I grew to love Audrey Rose, but where Audrey Rose took a few books to truly make me love her, I loved Emilia pretty much immediately.
And when I say this romance is just so good, I mean it. Such good chemistry and tension. Ugh. I also enjoyed the mystery, although I do think it was a little predictable. Honestly didn't care though, cause I was too invested in the relationship.

I received an eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review

My Rating: 4 Stars

I swear, I am destined to have a very love/hate relationship with Kerri Maniscalco’s protagonists. Audrey Rose and I still have beef – she knows what she did in Escaping From Houdini, and I will never forgive her. That being said, Maniscalco manages to consistently write books that I just can’t put down. I read this book cover to cover, putting aside any adult responsibilities for the day because I just couldn’t help myself.

The atmosphere in Kingdom of the Wicked is *chefs kiss* perfection. Actual perfection. It made my inner bad bitch so incredibly happy. The setting of the book was moody, dark, and just eerie enough to keep me reading with my lights on. Learning more about the kingdom of the wicked with Emilia, and meeting each of the princes of hell was quite possibly the highlight of the entire book. Well, maybe one of the highlights. Let’s be real, Wrath is the real shining star here.

I also absolutely thought that the portrayal of grief was incredibly well done in this book. Emilia ran through the gamut of emotions and the way those scenes were written had me feeling her pain as well. Though we had very little time to get to know Vittoria, I definitely found myself grieving with Emilia.

While I have yet to really love one of Kerri Maniscalco’s protagonists, I somehow ALWAYS love her romantic interests. Thomas Cresswell will forever be in my harem of book boyfriends. We can definitely go ahead and add Wrath now as well. I have so many questions about him, but somehow absolutely adore him.

I absolutely love that Maniscalco writes strong female characters. Her protagonists are independent and a million times more brave than I could ever be. That being said, I personally find them hard to connect with. Some of Emilia’s decisions made very little sense to me and I felt that she was mad when she shouldn’t be and calm when she should’ve been more freaked out. I also had a hard time understanding how her extremely over protective (rightfully so) family suddenly became less and less concerned about her whereabouts as she continued to sink further and further into dangerous situations. It felt like they were worried for her when they didn’t need to be, and then very suddenly not worried when they should’ve been.

All of this being said, I will absolutely be continuing the series and actually have two more editions of Kingdom of the Wicked on the way. Something about Maniscalco’s storytelling hooks me every time and I can always count on her for a binge-worthy read, and a swoon-worthy romance.

This was SO GOOD. Character development was incredible, the plot was thrilling, the writing was lush, and the story completely swept me off my feet. Can't wait for book 2!

My Review:⭐️⭐⭐️⭐️.5/ 5 stars

I have not read a book lately that has made me so hungry… this fantasy novel is based in Italy and the main character Emilia, a witch, works at a family owned restaurant making the most delectable, delicious, mouth watering foods. Just her describing butter and garlic on the pan made me imagine it too. I ate a bowl of pasta while reading through a few chapters, I could not help myself. Culinary desires aside, I absolutely loved this book! This story follows Emilia, a streghe (witch who secretly lives amongst humans), who tries to investigate and avenge her twin sister Vittoria’s horrific death/murder. Other Streghes in the area are also being murdered in the same gruesome way. When summoning a demon via dark magic, she meets Wrath, an actual Prince of Hell who claims to be on her side to find the killer (for his own mysterious reasons)... Upon meeting Wrath for the first time, I knew he was going to be a wondrous book bf… all the chemistry is there. Also loved meeting his other brothers, the other Princes of Hell - Envy, Lust, etc. This series is perfect for those that loved the #acotar and Serpent & Dove… I do wish there was a bit more on the romance front, but I sure hope the wait is worth it in the next one. The world that Kerri Maniscalco created is so intriguing and instantly addicting… I am already waiting impatiently for the next installment.

Thank you to @James Patterson and netgalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review! This book came out Oct 27!

I don't even know where to start. This book was phenomenal! 7 deadly princes of hell modeled after the 7 deadlt sins. Give me all the stories like this! We're immediately thrown into the story and it never slows down. Emilia's journey to finding out who was behind her twins brutal murder is full of twists and turns. I cannot wait for book 2!!!!

Kerri Maniscalco’s Kingdom of the Wicked was one of my most anticipated Fall 2020 releases, and it did not disappoint. At its core, the story is a tale about love and vengeance. Maniscalco asks, “How far would you go to avenge a loved one’s death?” For Emilia, discovering her twin sister’s dead body is a life-changing moment. Consumed with grief, Emilia vows to avenge her sister’s death by any means necessary - even if that means consorting with the forbidden Princes of Hell.

Although the bulk of the novel focuses on the murder mystery, Maniscalco slowly eases her readers into the story. The world-building is not overwhelming; readers learn major reveals alongside Emilia. It is clear that Maniscalco wrote Kingdom of the Wicked with the intention of setting up for an explosive sequel. Readers do learn the identity of Vittoria’s killer (easily predictable), but there is definitely more to that story. Many questions are still left unanswered and the cliffhanger alone will have readers begging to learn what happens next with Emilia and Wrath. 2021 cannot come soon enough!

Many thanks to Jimmy Patterson Books and NetGalley for the e-ARC! All opinions are my own.

Emilia is a young Sicilian witch who has been living in hiding with her family her whole life. She and her twin sister Vittoria wear matching horn shaped amulets infused with magic by her grandmother to protect and shield them. They were told never to allow the two necklaces to physically touch, but in their childhood they foolishly broke that rule and they set a chain reaction into motion that would have catastrophic consequences. Not only would their family eventually be ravaged when Vittoria is inexplicably murdered, the underworld will soon be escaping the bonds that keep the human world safe.

In The Kingdom of the Wicked, Kerri Maniscalco carefully crafts a sophisticated, ominious world full of witches, demons, and other supernatural beings. However, the two main groups are the witches who descend from La Prima Strega, the original witch, and the seven demon princes of the underworld. The princes all represent one of the deadly sins-Wrath is one of the main protagonists opposite Emilia. I had some reservations about reading a story about a demon-not knowing how he would be represented. If he was too good, he wouldn't be a realistic character which would make him unbelievable as a demon from hell. If he was too evil, I wouldn't be able to overcome detachment from him. There's something to be said for redeemable anti-heroes, but there is a fine line for me as a reader. Thankfully, I think the author did a great job balancing his fierce and brutal characteristics with clear hints of a conscience and ability to think outside of his own selfish desires. That really set him apart from his vicious brothers.

Emilia and Vittoria had a very close sibling relationship as many twins do. In the beginning of the novel, Emilia starts to see her sister acting strangely, but dismisses her odd disappearances and anxious behavior. Based on the synopsis, I knew what was coming, but her death still hit hard. It was not only gruesome, but traumatic when Emilia discovers her lifeless body. She quickly transitions from grief to anger, to vengeance. Her innocence is forever lost as she ventures down a dark path of danger.

Her sister is only one in a string of connected witch murders that are unsolved. Someone is targeting young witches and she isn't sure if it's the demons her grandmother warned her about, witch hunters, or some other unknown entity. Her first clue is a savage man standing over the body of her lifeless sister. He escapes, but leaves behind a mysterious snake adorned dagger. She uses his dagger to hunt him down and demand answers. Emilia jumps into the investigation with no hesitation right from the start. She isn't afraid to put her own life on the line and make difficult choices that could have irrevocable consequences. That includes the choices she makes when it comes to a very hardened, furious demon who has been (literally) spellbound and captive to her mercy. He's not the type to be forgiving and doesn't care at all for her rash actions in tying them together in a way that will be almost impossible to break. Eventually they become a reluctant team and frenemies who don't trust each other even for a hot second.

This book was seriously action packed. It's highly plot driven, and that's what I really needed in order to get immersed in a longer length fantasy right now. I needed something with the ability to capture my attention and solidly hold it there, and Kerri Maniscalco achieved that with flying colors. I enjoyed the sarcastic dialogue between Emilia and Wrath, the subtle character development, and the beauty in her writing. This is my first book by the author and I can say without a doubt I will be continuing the series as well as venturing into her other work in the future. The ending was pretty brutal-not just because of the big cliffhanger (come on guys, it's a series so it's to be expected) but the actual events that take place in the climax are heartrending.

Emilia makes a decision to descend into darkness but I hold onto hope that whatever her plan is, she will come out the other side into the light. I feel like this is possibly a five star read, but something was holding me back so I shaved off a mere half star. I can't quite put my finger on it, but the five star "wow factor excitement" wasn't quite there for me so I went with my gut in my rating. However, this book is unlike so many I've read before it, and I recommend it to anyone looking for a dark (and occasionally humorous) story to set the Halloween mood.

4,5 stars

Kingdom of the Wicked is a dark YA fantasy filled with witches, demons, magic with all kinds of spells, forbidden romance, mystery, and deception. The plot was so addicting and the writing style so inviting I devoured the whole book in two days.

The story follows Emilia, an eighteen-year-old witch, while she tries to find and exact revenge on the murderer of her twin sister, Vittoria. Their grandmother’s been warning both girls since childhood that they’re in danger and evil creatures are lurking in the shadows ready to harm them. Emilia, as an adult, doesn’t seem to believe her grandmother’s superstitions until she discovers her sister’s dead body, and her world turns upside down.

The first things I truly loved were the ominous ambiance and witchy vibe this book had to offer. The historical Italian setting, the vintage witch skillset, and the mythology surrounding The Malvagi, delivered by a cozy and warm writing style, made me adore this book from page one.

Emilia’s interactions with Wrath, the dark and witty second in command Prince of Hell, were what I was most excited about while reading the story. Their bickering, forced synergy and lack of trust were a delight to read. Don’t get me wrong, Wrath is a very dangerous and selfish creature and I was equally afraid and fascinated by him for the majority of the book. Their relationship wasn’t all sunshine and rainbows and the “will they/won’t they” trope seemed to work excellently in their case. Trust me, there’s some serious chemistry between these two that won’t disappoint you.

The pacing was fast and the plot was engaging and unpredictable. The mystery and secrets unfolded slowly and managed to keep you at the edge of your seat.

My only issue with the book is that Emilia refused to believe what was in front of her for a good chunk of the story and, as a result, appeared to be infuriatingly naïve in my eyes. Still, I ended up liking her character and can’t wait for the next installment because the ending left me craving for more.

I received this e-arc from NetGalley for review purposes. All opinions are my own.

This book was so good I inhaled it in one sitting. It was beautiful, heartbreaking, and exhilarating.

Kingdom of the Wicked by Kerri Maniscalco is a dark story featuring witches who have the power to keep demons embodying the seven deadly sins in hell, but also possesses the power to bring them to the surface for good. Kingdom of the Wicked is the goriest and darkest story from Maniscalco and that is saying something since her last series was Stalking Jack the Ripper. This novel has throats getting slit, hearts getting ripped out, and demons tasting blood. The story opens really strong, hooking the reader from the start, the middle has nice moments here and there while keeping the pace for a pretty shocking finale, I was pretty shocked having read everything Maniscalco has written I was not expecting it. The finale acts as a ending and cliffhanger that I was really satisfied with. For readers of Stalking Jack the Ripper series, there is still the blood and the romance, where the reader pretty much knew where the Audrey + Thomas romance was going this story ramps the blood and creates a dark romance that I don't know exactly where it is heading, which I really like. Kingdom of the Wicked is the first book in the Kingdom of the Wicked series. Thank you Netgalley and Jimmy Patterson Books for an Advanced Reader Copy for Kingdom of the Wicked which is published on October 27 2020.

The Plot: Two twin Sisters Vittoria and Emilia are witches born with powers, their grandmother supports and teaches them while warning them of demons from hell who are trying to break through. She gives the twins amulets that will protect them, and the work for many years. One fateful night Emilia finds Vittoria with her heart ripped out and a demon drinking her blood from a knife. Emilia uses her power to scare the demon away. She finds Vittoria's diary, but can not open it because it was sealed with black magic, that only a dark witch or a demon can open. She decides to call a demon, but before the does she places a spell that any harm he does to her will harm her or vice-versa. She calls the very demon who she saw drinking her sisters blood, the demon Wrath. She uses the demon to take down the rest of the Wicked who are demons that come from the 7 Deadly Sins. Can she ever trust the demon Wrath who is eternally linked to?

What I Liked: This story is dark, when Maniscalco sticks to the dark, it is very good. Vittoria is in the story only a short time, but I liked her and cared about her character. I was shocked by some of the events more than once. I liked the idea of the demons embodying the Seven Deadly Sins. Wrath is a great character, that you don't know if you truly trust even with his strong bond. The story has a lot of twist and turns that kept me interested. The mystery of the killer is not cut and dry which I really liked. The opening is beautiful and kept me very intrigued. The ending was really good I did not expect the story going there at all, before Manicalco has always had very safe endings, this was not the safe wrapped up in a nice bow ending that I expected, and I loved it so much. I liked the choices that were made to personify the demons with the seven deadly sins. I don't know how Kerri Maniscalco gets the best covers, but it is true with her new series as well.

What I Disliked: The rules kept evolving, you would get told one thing only for it to be overridden later, I would have liked more concrete rules. Liked when it stuck to the demons the witch hunters part was good but way less interesting than the demons.

Recommendations: Check out Kingdom of the Wicked it is a wicked good time with witches and demons. This is the start of a very promising series. This is my second favorite book of Maniscalco so far, my favorite is The Hunting Prince Dracula which is very similar in tone and very dark. I rated Kingdom of the Wicked by Kerri Maniscalco 4 out of 5 stars. I have read everything by Maniscalco and will continue.

Witches, werewolves, vampires and princes’ of hell oh my! This book just hooks you and and leaves you wanting more! I was a bit bummed with the ending but it’s a set up for the second book. The book had a nice pace to it although so pages I probably just skimmed over, no real missing scenes lost.

Beware the the seven princes of hell

Kingdom of the wicked is the first book in a new series by Kerri Maniscalco. Following a story about a witch, a prophecy and a chain of murders.

When the bodies of murdered witches begin turning up, 18 year old Emilia and her twin sister Vittoria are warned by their grandmother to be careful. Soon after though Emilia finds the body of the newest victim, Vittoria, with her heart missing. Stricken with grief she begins to dig into her twins life and learns she's been messing with the magic they have always been banned from. Following the path her sister took in order to track down the killer, Emilia soon finds herself face to face with the real live demons from the bedtime stories of her childhood and unable to turn back.


I loved this story. It's fast paced and pulls you in from the very first pages. I did not want to put it down. Perfect for paranormal lovers, teens and adults alike, who enjoy something a little darker in theme.
I think it sets up the series perfectly and has so much potential to become a fan favorite. I'm really excited to see how the direction the next story will go.



I received an advanced copy through netgalley in exchange for an honest and unbiased review

Absolutely loved this! The perfect spooky romance! And I got my physical copy in the mail today 💜
Seriously this story was so epic and obviously I highly recommend it!

This was a really good follow up from the Stalking Jack the Ripper series.
It was really fast paced, and plot driven, with fantastic world building.
My one complaint is that it felt like the princes weren’t given enough time or pages to be explained properly, if that makes sense. They felt a bit mysterious (which I guess was the point) but it would have been nice to see a bit more exploration of them.
I am really looking forward to the rest of the series though!

I absolutely adored everything about this book. From the characters to the storyline, I couldn’t get enough.

I loved the characters. I loved the enemies to lovers and their banter back and forth. I also loved the side characters as well and I wish we got to spend more time with them.

I was so engaged in the story, I found myself reading until 1 in the morning. I thought the world-building could have used a little more detail in terms of types of magic, but I was satisfied for now.

Lastly, I thought the writing was smooth and I could picture everything clearly.

I highly recommend this for fans of fantasy or enemies to lovers!

Thank you Kerri Maniscalco for ending the book right THERE *enter sarcasm* you know how to make us want lol I NEED book two like ASAP.

I’m so happy to say I received a arc for this because it was the PERFECT spooky/atmospheric read I was looking for during this spooky season. Luckily it comes out the last week of October so don’t walk, RUN and pick up your copy and start it immediately!

Kingdom of the Wicked truly had me hooked from the first page, not only did I love the idea of a murder mystery involving witches but the fact that it look place in Sicily really had me. My Nonno is from Sicily and I just found this book so intriguing because I could relate to little parts of it. My Nonna gave me a Cornicello years ago and I never took it off (until my fiancé needed a little note luck then me) but I still always wear one to this day! I also loved the food references throughout this book, I was constantly hungry lol

What I loved most though was... WRATH. Okay you guys know I have to talk about him!! He’s the newest hottie I’m adding to my long list, how can we not fall in love with a bad boy?! Lol Maniscalco knew what she was doing there!

Overall, I adored this story and I loved our main character as well. This obviously is the perfect kind of read for spooky season but I would definitely suggest it for any other time of the year. I truly loved the blend of murder mystery and fantasy!

Characters
Kingdom of the Wicked is written from Emilia di Carlo’s perspective. We see the world through her young, naive eyes. She is the responsible sister, the safe sister. I could really relate to her character because of some of her traits. Her twin, Vittoria is obviously her total opposite, reckless and adventurous. Emilia has to step into her sister’s role when she is found dead. She has to come out of her protected shell and face dangers of all kinds. I enjoyed seeing Emilia’s character develop throughout the book. At times I was a bit annoyed by her naivety but I’m hoping that Maniscalco takes this character a lot further in the next instalment.

Wrath is a very fun character to read about but I felt like he was introduced to the story a bit late and I wish I had seen more of him throughout the book. His character was never given the space to develop and I want more of his backstory. Hopefully we’ll get that in the next book.

8/10

Atmosphere
The atmosphere in the book was expertly crafted and I was intrigued by Emilia’s world. The descriptions of food were so detailed and I would definitely recommend not reading this book when you’re hungry. It makes you crave pasta. Mansicalco has this fantastic way of setting the tone for each scene and it works so well in this book.

8/10

Writing Style
I really struggled with the writing style in this book. Mansicalco is capable of period accurate writing but I felt like the language used in this book was very colloquial and modern. I got thrown off by words such as “pissed off” being used and I kept circling back to the fact that this book is set in the 19th century. Mansicalco can write atmospherically and she did such a great job describing all the restaurant dishes but she totally lost me with the setting at times. I wish there was more attention to detail with certain descriptions.

7/10

Plot
The plot took a while to get going and I was quite uncertain if I would enjoy this book at the start. But around the 30% mark the plot accelerates and just doesn’t slow down. I couldn’t put the book down. Maniscalco’s writing is so effortless at times and after reading a chunky sci-fi book, this was just the perfect read.

I do think, however, that there is quite a bit of repetition in this book. We see Emilia travel a lot between places in this book and it contained a lot of telling and not showing at times. This, I think, is due to the first person perspective used. I always say that I prefer fantasy books to be written in the third person because it creates space to explore things within the plot that are not directly linked to the thoughts of the main character. I feel like Emilia’s thoughts sometimes go in circles.

7/10

Intrigue
My biggest complaint with ‘Stalking Jack the Ripper last year was that I could see the plot twist coming. With this I was guessing until the end. I was thoroughly entertained and the suspense was expertly crafted. I need the next book AS SOON AS POSSIBLE because THAT ENDING! This was definitely an intoxicating read.

8/10

Logic
I think it was great that the book included a map of the Kingdom of the Wicked. It makes it easier to remember the different princes. I also loved the little grimoire snippets at the start of the chapters. I think it really adds depth to the world. The world building was fascinating and I loved reading about the magic system with the herbs and candles. I also loved the contrast created by the fact that the princes of hell are well mannered. It subverts the idea we have in our minds of devils and demons. I’m very excited to see where Maniscalco takes us next in this series.

9/10

Enjoyment
I loved the romance in this book. The romance was steamy and I couldn’t get enough. I definitely had a good time whilst reading and I cannot wait to see how this story develops in the next book. I think there is so much potential in this series!

If you’re looking for a spooky Halloween read, this book is it. It has just the right amounts of stabbing and magic and forbidden kisses in the dark. I would definitely recommend this book if you enjoy a good ol’ enemies to reluctant allies to lovers story with impeccably dressed demons and a witchy main character.

9/10

**4.5 Stars**

Kingdom of the Wicked was an atmospherically poignant read with an unexpectedly addictive quality that made it wholly devourable. With a story about family and the lengths one would go to for them, Maniscalco captured the inescapable nature between choices and their consequences with Emilia’s journey into avenging her sister. Add in the forbidden yet highly combustible connection she’s forced to share with the prince of Hell, and you’ve got a well-rounded story.

I went into this read fairly blind to its story and the author itself, and came out delighted in the story it told. Emilia was a highly relatable character with true motives and swinging emotions, and her journey was fascinating because of it. The different elements of Hell she encountered only deepened the story and the stakes of all those involved. The best element was the murder mystery and the constant twists and turns that unraveled as she descended into the one-track mind of grief and rage. Each paranormal element was simply fun and they felt unique, that they fit into this story perfectly. But I truly adored her antagonistic relationship with Wrath; how muddied they were in responsibility, emotion, politics, and their quite-but-not-quite affinity for each other.

Kingdom of the Wicked left off with so very much left to explore and explain, but gave just enough answers and direction to satisfy the reader...for now. And the cliffhanger was wickedly painful, but expected. Maniscalco created a new, fascinating world and I cannot wait to see more of it as the story unfolds.

This book gave me the spooky renaissance vibes I didn't know I wanted. It kept me enthralled, despite being maybe just a little predictable. The world building was fantastic and Maniscalco created an atmospheric, dark and yet romantic setting. The characters had great dialogue and the back story was well set up. I don't know if I love or hate it for how much it made me crave Italian food, but I'm willing to suffer to read the next book in the series ;).