🍁🧙🏼‍♀️REVIEW🧙🏼‍♀️🍁

Publication Date: 10/27/2020
🌟🌟🌟💫 3.5/5 stars

Thank you to Netgalley and JIMMY Patterson for the ARC.

After absolutely loving Keri Maniscalco’s Stalking Jack the Ripper series, I went into Kingdom of the Wicked with high expectations. While it didn’t quite meet those (unrealistic) expectations, it is a great book for Fall/Halloween season and has a great premise.

Kingdom of the Wicked tells the story of Emilia and her twin sister, Victoria, who are streghe (aka witches). One night, Emilia finds the body of her beloved twin and vows to get revenge on whoever killed her sister. After using dark magic, she meets Wrath, a demon prince of hell, and they are forced to work together to find the killer.

It did take me a bit to get into this story, so I recommend going in knowing that the beginning takes it’s time setting up the characters and explaining the world. Maniscalco creates a very intricate world that I know will get even better in future books.

Emilia is just as strong and funny of a main character as Audrey Rose and I can’t wait to see how she grows and changes in future installments. My only complaint is, sadly, the romance. Again, this may be because I went in with Audrey/Thomas expectations, but I didn’t get as invested in Emilia’s romance and ending up wanting more from it. I never fully bought the chemistry, but hopefully this changes in the second book (that. ending.).

Overall, Kingdom of the Wicked is a fun introduction to a new world that I cannot wait to read more about!

ARC was provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

“Love is the most powerful magic. Above all else, remember that. It will always guide you where you need to go”

A spooky read for a spooky month.

When Emilia’s twin sister Vittoria is viciously murdered, she is determined to discover what happened, who is killing all of the witches on the island and seek revenge at any cost. Including working with Wrath, a prince of hell she’s been taught her whole life she can’t trust, but for her sister, she is willing to do anything.

I love the atmosphere of this book. Kerri Maniscalco does that very well I felt this with her Stalking Jack the Ripper series as well, she crafts an eerie dark mood within the book through such vividly portrayed imagery.
The concept of this book I absolutely adore. A prince of hell and a witch?? That is incredible. The plot, in theory, is also incredible Emilia attempting to discover who murdered her sister and seek vengeance. I just felt that in execution the plot wasn’t as fleshed out as it could have been. I was still thoroughly engaged the whole time reading I just felt as though it could go deeper.

Character-wise I loved Emilia. Not to keep bringing up Maniscalco’s previous series but my biggest issue in that series was the protagonist and her “not like other girls” complex. So, Emilia was a refreshing change. She was determined and fiercely loyal. Also, seriously badass like prepared to do anything to avenge her sister. And then we have Wrath, a prince of hell just my type. I adored him but he was also quite mysterious that I feel there is still a lot to uncover when it comes to him and I am looking forward to seeing that.

“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.”

Like that’s kinda hot though right??

Obviously, this is just the first one, so the romance element wasn’t going to be too deeply defined just yet. But between the dynamic the two have I cannot wait to see how it develops further, can see a lot of angst in the future. And from what we have seen between the two… pretty hot.

Overall, I feel like I keep talking about things I’m looking forward to in the continuation of the series but it’s the first book and it’s a solid basis to be built upon further so there are just many elements I’m excited to see play out.

Nonna Maria has warned Emilia and Vittoria about the seven ruling princes of Hell and how they must stay away from the Malvagi's followers. Descended from a Goddess, through the di Carlos maternal line, Emilia and Vittoria are witches. They are known as the Daughters of the Moon. Their family is one out of 13 witch families in Palermo.

Although Emilia and Vittoria love listening to the stories of Nonna Maria, they don't take her seriously when she tells them not to go out or to be careful. The clashing of two cornicello necklaces long ago has been kept a secret between the twins for about ten years and Nonna tells the girls they must keep the amulets separate at all costs.

Most of the novel occurs when the twins are 18-years-old. The prologue occurs when they are eight. As the Gates of Hell weaken over time, a prince of Hell emerges when he is summoned through a spell. The seven sins become the seven princes of Hell, each able to travel through different realms. It happens that Wrath travels to Palermo and Emilia becomes bond to him via a crescent moon/snake tattoo. Readers also learn more of the other princes of Hell has Emilia encounters them.

The Kingdom of the Wicked is written in first person through Emilia's point-of-view. As Nonna tells Emilia to find forgiveness and acceptance into her her heart, Emilia wants to avenge what happened to her sister. Extroverted Vittoria has been hiding secrets from introverted Emilia and Emilia does whatever it takes to find out the truth.

Kerri Maniscalco transports readers to an enchanting world in Palermo, Italy where witches hide in secret and dangerous demons roam. Maniscalco's intriguing and atmospheric descriptions tantalizes all the senses. Not only is there mystery in the air but I enjoy reading about Emilia's love for food and the family's trattoria, Sea and Vine. If you love fantasy books with descriptions of food, this is the one to pick up. Not only is Kingdom of the Wicked full of magic, witches, demons and food, but a strong family bond is vital.

I find the notion of turning each of the seven sins into a prince of Hell fascinating and creative. The way Maniscalco describes each prince physical descriptions and their actions is perfect! She captured each sin within an entity. However, the dialogue between Wrath and Emilia seems forced at times and sometimes unrealistic.

Although Kingdom of the Wicked is a fantasy novel, Maniscalco infused her Italian heritage and a family restaurant into this novel. It's great to see how her family lives within the pages of the Kingdom of the Wicked and how her family is an inspiration for the creation of the book. I cannot wait to pick up the next book in the series. I highly suggest this novel to readers who enjoy the Caraval trilogy by Stephanie Garber and All that Glitters (Enchantée) by Gita Trelease.

3.5 stars

Twin sisters Emilia and Vittoria come from a long line of witches. They live among humans with their parents and grandmother, helping out in the family restaurant.
Vittoria has always been the bolder, more confident twin, but when Emilia finds her sister’s body, she vows that she will have vengeance and will do anything, even use dark magic, to get it.
Emilia’s grandmother has always warned her about the Princes of Hell, but when Emilia encounters one of them (Wrath), it seems as if he has a similar goal as Emilia – working out who is behind the murders of several young witches, including Vittoria.
Can Emilia and Wrath work together to stop the killer?
Can Emilia trust Wrath? Or is he keeping dark truths from her?

For some reason, I have never gotten around to reading any of the authors other books, but, knowing how popular they are and how interesting they sound, I jumped at the chance to read an early copy of their new book, and I’m glad I did.
Emilia was a likeable and relatable protagonist, especially as she was more inclined to stay in and read rather than go out to a party (which I found especially relatable). I felt sorry for her when she found Vittoria’s body and I totally understood her need for vengeance – if anything happened to my sister I would be the same. It was interesting to see how Emilia changed and interacted with people on her quest for vengeance.
Wrath was a very intriguing character who I wanted to trust but knew that I probably couldn’t. I especially enjoyed reading his interactions with Emilia and their verbal sparring.
I enjoyed the Sicilian setting and felt that the descriptions of the food definitely helped to create the atmosphere.
Finding out about the different Wicked Princes of Hell was interesting, and I thought that having the seven sins as demons was unique and intriguing. The different magic and witches were also interesting.
The plot was good overall, but I definitely preferred the second half, which was when Wrath came into the storyline more and there was more action. While I did guess some of the twists, there were a few that I didn’t see coming.
The writing style was easy to follow and I would like to read more books by the author.
After the way the book ended, I am very intrigued to see what happens in the sequel, which I am definitely planning to read.

Overall, this was an enjoyable read that I would recommend.

Kingdom of the Wicked is kind of like if Stalking Jack the Ripper had a baby with a Sarah J Maas book.

Here we have the Maniscalcoian elements of mystery, murder, and grittiness mixed with the Maasian recipe of ancient magic and broody hell princes that inexplicably fall immediately in love with the female protagonist. Oh, and there's matching tattoos. Nevertheless, if you're in the mood for this YA powerhouse mixup, then it's a fast read and pretty enjoyable.

If you're a fan of Kerri Maniscalco's previous books, but you wish that they had more magic, demons, and Italy then you will definitely be a fan of this one.

Kerri Maniscalco has done it yet again with another amazing novel. Kingdom of the Wicked is extremely different from her previous series but in some ways the same. The reader is following a Witch family with two sisters who are scared of the Wicked things that could come and attack them. Going from just learning about the family, their thoughts about the Wicked and how to stop girls from getting trapped by them, the girls grow older and think they know what is best for them. This amazing novel slowly turns into a mystery with yet another hot male character who needs all the praise!
Kerri has a great way of making you love characters and I applaud her yet again for these amazing ones along with another amazing story. I would suggest this to anyone that loves a good mystery and a good fantasy novel. The reader with fall for the two main characters and be concerned with every twist and turn this story takes. The reader will be thrown in quickly to this world but I was able to pick up what was happening quick. Though it is a a vastly different world than her previous which I wasn't expecting, I was still shocked how much I still loved this story as well. Witches have always been my favorite but I've struggled to find stories I like with them in it. This story shows why I love witches and their culture so much! Mostly people will find the main character a lot like her previous but in different ways. It seems that Kerri likes to make very strong independent female leads, even if they have a male following them around. They will always protect themselves if they can! They will always stand up for themselves and learn from their mistakes. I think this is an amazing way to show a younger generation of females how they should react to things and knowing you don't always need a man to take care of you!

First off: Thank you Netgally and James Patterson Presents for an E-book arc!

Warning: This book will have you craving authentic Italian cuisine a well as a burning desire to summon the Wicked (I'm looking at you Wrath *winks*)

Before I received this arc, I wasn't that excited about this book based on the synopsis alone. But from the time I read the first line to the 10% mark, I had pre-ordered two edition of the physical book. Kerri Maniscalco's Stalking Jack the Ripper series has been on my TBR for years, but after reading Kingdom of the Wicked, her previous works have moved up higher on the list.

The only thing I could say about this book that could ever be construed as negative is that I wish we had seen little more of Emilia's downward spiral into depression and her need for vengeance after she found her twin sister's body with her heart missing.
But for the sake of keeping the fast passing of the book, I totally understand why we didn't get those extra scenes/chapters.

Slight spoilers:
I absolutely loved learning new tidbits of Vittoria's secret life throughout this book. And I can't wait to learn more with Emilia as continues her journey!

What a phenomenal start to what promises to be a richly imaginative, darkly addictive series. 𝘒𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘥𝘰𝘮 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘞𝘪𝘤𝘬𝘦𝘥 launched into my top five reads of the year, and I’m highly anticipating the second installment.

I’m a sucker for murder mysteries, and I’m a complete goner when magic, witches, demons, strong familial bonds, and romance are woven in as well. Maniscalco flawlessly integrates all of these in her story, and it’s a combination that packs one hell of a punch. Her world-building in this book is amazing, and I felt as if I were there with the characters as they tried to solve the mystery of Vittoria's death.

In addition to the engrossing plot, the characters are complex and intriguing. I lived for the moments when Emilia and Wrath shared scenes because their chemistry is off-the-charts hot. There were some surprises along the way that had me smiling and yelling at my phone, and their banter was *chef's kiss* so good. One of the things I appreciate is that not only are they interesting as a duo, they stand strong on their own as well. I seriously could not get enough of them. I also enjoyed meeting and learning more about the other princes of Hell. I need more!

Word to the wise: don’t read this on an empty stomach. You’ll get your fill of fabulous words, but you’ll also crave delicious Italian food.

"Grief carved me in half. And fury honed the pieces into a weapon. Now it was time to unleash it."

This is my first book by Kerri and I really liked her writing, I couldn’t put the book down bonus point because it got me out of my slump. I loved the book’s atmosphere, the descriptions and all, it was a great read, the concept its a really good and I hope the author doesn't get lost in the next books. Wrath and Emilia bickering were fun to read, I love a slow burn romance and I can’t wait to see Emilia and Wrath development although we don’t know much about Wrath but for the little I’ve seen got me eager to see the development of his story throughout the series or trilogy idk. Overall, it was an interesting book and after that cliffhanger I’m more than excited to see what comes next.

*arc provided in exchange for an honest opinion

From Italy with magic!

Having a peaceful and magic driven life is what everyday looks like for twin sisters and strega Vittoria and Emilia. But in every good story, late takes its turns and this is no exception. Surrounded by death and magical demonic pacts, the only way to uncover the truth seems to be in the hands of the most treacherous enemy.

A great historical atmosphere that only Maniscalco can create in this first installment of her new series.

An eARC of this book was kindly provided by Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

TW/CW: gore, death of a sibling, self harm, blood, alcohol, non-consensual touching (under influence can’t consent), gambling

Kingdom of the Wicked is a darker book than Kerri Maniscalco’s Stalking Jack the Ripper series, which had some darker moments. The story follows Emilia, a witch who lives secretly among humans. After the gruesome murder of her twin, Emilia is plunged into a world of demons and their princes. Stories from her childhood are suddenly more real than she’d ever believed.

I enjoyed this book for the most part. Emilia was a bit frustrating as a character in the beginning (particularly in one scene bc she was asking questions that didn’t make any sense lol), but she grew on me as the story progressed. I really liked the characterization of each of the Malvagi. They seem to be modeled after the seven deadly sins. I think the plot and mystery were interesting enough to keep the story moving along.

One thing I will say is that I truly wish this book would have been New Adult. I think things that happen could have been pushed slightly harder. The story was already toeing the line and I think it just should have gone for it. The author could have done so much more if it wasn’t constrained to fit the parameters of YA.

Overall, I liked this book and I think it was a pretty solid start to a series.

Wow, just wow.
As I predicted, this book was freaking awesome. I loved the setting, the writing, the atmosphere, the magic system, the characters, and most of all MY BABY WRATH. Also, can I say my mouth was watering the entire time just from the description of the FOOD, now I want to go to Italy and eat everything.

Was this book a little predictable at times? Yes. But that did not stop me from absolutely consuming it and enjoying every moment of Kerri Manicalo's storytelling ability. I do wish that the book was longer and we got to see more of what happens after the book ends, I am SO not looking forward to waiting for the next book, but I will be first in line at the store to get it.

In conclusion, I know this review has been all over the place, but I truly adored this book and I predict this series is gonna be a really popular one. Kerri Maniscalco's writing just takes you away to another world of magic and darkness and I really needed that this week. Please do yourself a favor and pick up this book~

I loved the SJTR series, so I was excited to read her new series. I love that she always includes such witty, sarcastic, and fun characters. I also like how their is always great banter between the characters that elevates the book to the next level. I loved that this book was different than her last series, but that it still seemed to be set in the past.
The plot was entertaining and quick moving. The world building was sufficient enough that I could imagine it and the food described was an added bonus. I liked all the characters and what they added to the story. The princes of hell reminded me of sexier Crowley’s from Supernatural. I was captivated and enjoyed the entire book.

Thrills and chills abound in Kerri Maniscalco‘s new release Kingdom of the Wicked. I don’t know where to start! This story will leave you on the edge of your seat begging for more. Following Emilia as she seeks vengeance for her twin sister, Kingdom of the Wicked takes the reader on an adventure where up is down and down is up. Reader beware, this story isn’t for the faint of heart.

Emilia has cemented herself as one of my favorite female characters. She is strong and resilient. Fighting a force she doesn’t quite understand, Emilia wants one thing: revenge. She wants to find her sister’s murderer and do to them what they did to her. She wants them to suffer, and so begins Emilia’s path to the dark side of witchcraft. My heart broke for her over and over again as her world turned topsy-turvy. Everything she thought she knew, all the lessons her Nonna taught, turned out to be half-truths and lies. Emilia is left to her own devices, chasing shadows and cavorting with demon princes. All of this occurs while a murderer is on the loose targeting witches. When Emilia inadvertently binds herself to Wrath, one of the Princes of Hell, her world implodes.

Wrath is a bit of a mixed character. Having finished the book, I’m still not sure how to feel about him. I wanted to love him, but I struggled with his motives and if he could be trusted. Anger rules him which makes him the perfect partner for Emilia as she seeks her revenge. It’s clear he’s keeping secrets from Emilia, the question is what?

The plot follows Emilia and Wrath as they hunt for who is killing the witches. This takes Emilia on an adventure through the dark side of her city. She learns that demons are real, they are not contained to Hell, and her magic won’t keep her safe. The pacing here is not even. At times, when the author is building the mythology and introducing characters, it moves slowly. At others, when action is happening (which is quite often), I couldn’t read quickly enough. This was a bit distracting for me, and one of the reasons I rated it lower despite loving the story itself.

My other reason for rating it lower is the blurb promises “an intoxicating romance.” Where? It’s missing! Don’t get me wrong. There is a hint of romance, and you understand pretty quickly who the love interest is. However there is very little in the way of romance, especially when I’m promised one.

Despite the uneven pacing and lack of romance, I really enjoyed Kingdom of the Wicked. I’m hoping that since the characters are fully introduced now the pacing will flow with the next novels. I’m also hoping for more of that intoxicating romance. The thrill of mystery and the fantastic world-building will please any fantasy fan!

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.

A world building masterpiece wrapped around a young woman's quest to find her sister's killer! A uniquely told story of a hidden world of witches and demons that opens a magical door in your imagination so you join the quest. In KINGDOM OF THE WICKED, Kerri Maniscalco has delivered characters and their back stories that have to have been living in her head for awhile. Each individual is fully developed, the grieving witches who vow vengeance will send chills down your spine just as surely as the demons will make you sit a little straighter in your chair. The whole atmosphere is deliberately fantastical to allow your mind to see what the characters must travel through to solve and stop these crimes. The journey is really, really good. I read this one so fast, I'm going to have to reread to enjoy it again......happy reading

I don't know how I'm going to survive waiting for the next book. The story just grabbed a hold and completely immersed me in this world of witches, demons, and all sorts of supernatural creatures.

Emilia Di Carlos' family runs a small restaurant in Italy. They are witches living in secret, descendants of a goddess. When two witches are murdered, there are rumors of The Malvagi returning to earth. They are demon princes who stalk the night searching for something that was stolen from the devil. When her twin Vittoria ends up murdered, quiet, shy Emilia ends up on a mission to find her sister's killer. She ends up working with Wrath, one of the seven ruling princes of Hell to find the murderer.

At the heart it is a murder mystery. It is compelling watching Emilia try to navigate a dark realm and figure out who she can trust. Wrath is...Wrath. Getting to know more about him through his actions is pretty engrossing and I can’t wait to see more of him. Along the way Emilia learns more about the Wicked and about old legends and prophecies and even till the end you are worried about what is going to happen. The book did not end on a cliffhanger but it certainly ended in a way that you will be invested in the next book.

Kerri Maniscalco writes in such a way that every scene from cooking in a kitchen, to scary night walks through catacombs, and wandering through graveyards...everything is vividly and beautifully described. The book is atmospheric and It sucks you right in. The description of simple things such as lavender sprigs hung over a mantle to the smell of herbs bring you right into the story. Sometimes it feels like you can hear the paragraphs.

Overall this is the perfect book to read with Halloween coming up, and as a bonus Kerri Maniscalco has a playlist for this on her website and it’s cool to listen to. I received this as an e-ARC but after I finished I pre-ordered a physical copy. That’s how much I liked it.

Special thanks to NetGalley and JIMMY PATTERSON for sharing this ARC with me in exchange for my honest review.

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

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

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

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

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

Once again, Kerri managed to create a gripping story and amazing, unforgetable characters.⁣⁣
• Witches, demons and murder • magical, mysterious and dark •

This was the perfect spooky read for the Season!⁣

This is a 5 star Book
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

This is a non spoiler review, because you as reader need to read this book. Also, I feel sometimes I have in the past gave away to much of the plot line. This has diminished the pleasure for would be readers

This book was received from the Author, and Publisher, in exchange for an honest review. Opinions and thoughts expressed in this review are completely my own.

-All included quotes have been taken from an ARC and may not match the finished publication.-

Kerri Maniscalco's newest book is the perfect tale for October 2020!

This book... had me completely immersed...Magic, Demons, Wickedness

Man had a funny way of blaming the devil for things he didn’t like. It was strange that we were called evil when humans were the ones who enjoyed watching us burn.”

This book... had me completely immersed...Magic, Demons, Wickedness

This unsettling tale is set in Sicily, as we follow 8 year old twins Vittoria and Emilia Vittoria di Carlo.

Under the the care and watchful eye of their Nonna, raised practicing light magic their entire lives but have warned to stay away from the dark arts and the those of the Wicked. The girls possess very necklaces that come with a dire warnings.
When do children actually listen to those who know better. The sisters are 18 and one is head strong and careless. Vittoria doesn’t heed the warnings and dabbles with the dark arts. She ends up suffering the consequence of her arrogant ways.

Emilia is left devastated and grieving, she takes things into her own hand and summons her very own demon prince, Wrath. Bounded by a protection spell, Wrath is connected to Emilia who is set about solving her sisters gruesome murder.

Kerri Maniscalco writing is so good that you won’t be able to set this book aside. The perfect escapism that I literally needed.

Sweet baby Jesus, I need book 2. RIGHT NOW!

I'm a first time reader of this author but I'd heard so many good things about her Jack the Ripper series. When this KINGDOM OF THE WICKED popped up to request I knew I HAD TO HAVE IT. I mean, look at the cover. It tells a story by itself. Now read the blurb and tell me that you aren't intrigued. I won't believe you. Anyhoo! Onwaaard!

From the start you feel a foreboding that something horrific is going to happen. That little witches Emilia and Vittoria's secret will have consequences. It's a testament to this author's writing and storytelling skills that it snatches your attention from the get-go and doesn't let you go until you're done.

“Love is the most powerful magic. Above all else, remember that. It will always guide you where you need to go.”

When Vittoria is is murdered and Emilia sees the alleged perpetrator, a demon from Hell, flee the scene Emilia sets out to find the killer and get vengeance, and nothing else matters. With single-minded focus she begins to unravel all the secrets that her twin sister left her. But first she needs help, so why not summon a demon?

Emilia's hatred of the Prince of Hell, Wrath, is so palpable. You feel like it would be a miracle if these two ever got along but with every adventure they experience and survive together a bond is created and strengthened. There are tender moments that let you forget how strong the antagonism was on both sides.
For some reason I had the impression that Emilia is a sweet young woman when I started this book but that image I had was soon flipped upside down. This witch turned out to be a strong, self confident, a little edgy woman with a sharp mind and an even sharper tongue. And Wrath was her equal in every way. I really enjoyed their sly hate-banter and electric chemistry.

Lethal, beautiful. Wholly untouchable. I wanted to kick him for being so dangerously breathtaking.

This book is chock full with supernatural creatures. From demons to vampires to shapeshifters. And then there are the Princes of Hell, whose names are equivalent to the seven deadly sins.

Buckle up, people, this story is twisty and terribly fun, full of unexpected turns and "oh sh*t" moments. It ends on a cliffy that will have you wish that 2020 was over (if the pandemic hasn't done that yet). KINGDOM OF THE WICKED is urban fantasy/paranormal romance at its finest and the perfect Halloween read!

I realized I’d wanted to trust Wrath. More than I’d even admitted to myself. Even though I knew better, I wanted him to be the shining prince of this nightmare.