Member Reviews

I'm a huge fan of world building and back stories. When a book dives deep into those, I'm consumed. Kerri Maniscalco did just that. While the book felt like it lacked in other places, I am so sure the amount of world building put into this book means the series is going to be one we talk about for ages. Questions are left unanswered(I love that!) and makes me want to keep going until I've got all the answers! I will definitely be picking up the rest of the series as it comes out.

Was this review helpful?

THIS BOOK!! It was amazing! I could not stop reading, and how am I supposed to wait a year for the sequel?

I loved Kerri Maniscalco’s previous series, so I knew I had to read this. You should have seen me when I saw I was accepted to read an e-ARC!

I was sucked into this story from the start. We follow Emilia, who very soon in the story finds the dead body of her twin sister, Vittoria. She then swears the figure out what happened and seek vengeance! To be able to do this she needs to use dark magic, deal with demons and princes of Hell, especially Wrath. And it was amazing!

I loved Emilia! She was such an interesting character, and I loved her banter with Wrath. Wrath being her investigation partner. Emilia did make some little bit too quick decisions at times, but I loved the book too much to be bothered haha! Something Maniscalco proved with writing Stalking Jack the Ripper, is that she can write romance! And she did it again! This book contains a great enemies-to-lovers story!

The setting of this book is amazing. It takes place in the 19th century in Sicily. And now I want to go there! The whole book is so dark and mysterious.

I read this book in like three sittings, and it probably would have been one sitting if I would have been able to. I was just so invested in the plot and it was so intriguing, that I just needed to continue! And the fact that this book has really short chapters, makes it very easy to read one more chapter haha!

And the ending..!!! I need to know how this book is going to continue. At some point while reading the book, I kinda predicted this ending. Then forgot about it, and then it did happen. But I didn’t mind too much, because the way that we got there, I could mot have predicted and it all happened way differently then I could have come up with myself!

I know this review is just saying that it is great and amazing, but that is because it is. And I just do not know how to formulate it well haha!

Was this review helpful?

I was very tempted to give this two stars because I could not stand the main character. There was no growth! She was impulsive and reckless the entire book. Just when I thought she'd make an informed decision, she was running off doing something absurd again. I've read other books by Kerri Maniscalco, which is why I read this, but the writing itself left a lot to be desired. Sometimes, the writing seemed geared for a younger audience and other times it was more mature. It was not consistent. And the story itself has a lot of holes! I understand there will be at least another book based on the ending, but there were many subplots that were not clearly explained, like the curse. I trudged through this book so I could make an informed review, but it was a difficult read.

Was this review helpful?

Do you ever just finish a book and ask yourself was it me, or you? Because I did that on no less than five occasions with this one, and I don't know how to feel about that.

Let's get this out of the way first: why did I struggle with getting into this? KotW is my first introduction to Kerri Maniscalco, and I'd heard great things about her previous series. So imagine how confused I was when I found this book rather difficult to follow. I don't know if it's because I read an uncorrected ARC or I'm just distracted, but this wasn't an easy story to sink into. I found myself zoning out several times, only to have to go back a page or two and reread it. There were also several scenes where I felt like something was missing. Like a character accepted a revelation too easily, we moved on from something way too fast, or we weren't introduced to people right. Too many scenes came across as rushed or without the full details, and that kind of bummed me out because there is so much to love in this story.

I think where the real problem came in is the world-building. I could not get grounded in the story because I couldn't figure out the world. There are witches and demons, sure, got that no problem. Loved it. An Italian setting in Palermo, Sicily. Easy, I've even been there before myself. But what I couldn't figure out was when. There was very little indication to tell me if this was an Italy with electricity, cars, etc. There were references to an icebox and romance novels, but it wasn't until near the end when the Kingdom of Italy was referenced that my guess of 1920 slash 1930 was confirmed. It may not be a dig deal for other readers, but it's something I need to be able to imagine the story in my head and let it play out like a little movie.

As I said, there is still a lot to love about this. I wasn't expecting there to be such a dark tone to this story, but when Maniscalco's scenes shine, it tends to be in those moments of the more macabre nature. Of course, there's a lot of murder tied up in the mystery of this book. If you read the summary you'll know that Emilia finds her twin sister murdered, her heart ripped clean out. Nor is she the only witch this happens to, thus the need to team up with a demon to find the person desecrating these women. The witches and demons that the author leans into here are great. I wasn't expecting Princes of Hell and the seven sins, but it worked well and gave some scenes fabulous imagery and danger.

What really sold me on this book was the dynamic between Emilia and Wrath. I may have struggled to drown in this book, but their scenes together perked. me. the fk. up. Also, their scenes tended to be--for lack of a better word--HOT. Like damn, the chemistry between these mortal enemies was beautiful. The banter and the soft moments ... such fun! Am I happy with how it ended? No, but I'm hopeful the second book will set a few things straight.

Yes, I fully intend on looking for the second book. I genuinely don't understand how I had such a hard time with this, so I do plan on a re-read in future.

Was this review helpful?

2.5 stars

"Kingdom of the Wicked" has an interesting premise and is overall an easy read.

I had high hopes for this novel and I liked how it started, but, unfortunately, it went all downhill from there.

The plot becomes somewhat non-sensical and repetitive after the introduction of the male main character (whose great look we get told about again and again and again) and the main character just becomes progressively more idiotic yet self-congratulatory about how smart she is as the story goes on.

I definitely won't read the next part in the series.

Was this review helpful?

Actual rating: 3.5 stars

Y’all, let me be honest for a second. I was very excited about this book. Maniscalco’s Stalking Jack the Ripper series was a rollercoaster for me (and by that I mean, I like the series as a whole but not all the books were absolute gems for me). But I love historical fiction, and the fact that Maniscalco is releasing a historical fantasy excited me!

Alas.

Content warning: grief, murder, gore, violence

Oh, I wanted to like this book so much. I’m saying I didn’t, but I wanted to give it 4 stars but found some glaring details that simply didn’t work for me. My two major complaints are 1) world-building and 2) the romance. Let’s start with the world-building.

Yes, sign me up for another historical fantasy because I’m all about it. But did we have a clue exactly what time period this book place in? Nope. There aren’t enough context clues to garner this information. Italy is still referred to as a kingdom, but there’s at least 80 years of history before Italy was no longer a kingdom (in the 1940s). I wanted more of the actual world-building in terms of the actual, real world. Maniscalco has the folklore down precisely. A lot of the information Emilia spits out is information handed down to her from her grandmother (and, quite frankly, we see Wrath really take this info and break it down in a way that makes Emilia question things). I did want more of how our main character, Emilia, interacts outside of it and outside of her family’s restaurant. Now I do love how the whole restaurant atmosphere and how much it means to Emilia and her family; I loved being in the restaurant with them and the way Maniscalco described the food! Gosh, talk about making me hungry! We do see Emilia interacting with other vendors in the market but it wasn’t enough for me to feel fully immersed.

Emilia also seemed to make some illogical choices regarding the safety of her family. I understand that due to the circumstances of the murder but at the same time… When certain decisions were made, certain other minor characters seemed complicit. (This is hard to talk about without spoiling anything!) I like to think it’s because they believe Emilia fully capable of taking care of herself, but at the same time, if this book is supposed to take place in 19th century Italy, I feel like some stereotypes still fit in this white Western world in regard to how women are viewed. I think therein lies my struggle to like Emilia. I’m not saying she wasn’t likeable, it’s just… I almost feel like I don’t know her enough, if that at all makes sense. I won’t pretend to understand what it’s like to grieve the way she does, because I simply don’t. Emilia really pushes aside all of that in order to get all the facts. I mean, let’s talk about summoning a demon, let alone someone like Wrath!

I also have some qualms about the “intoxicating romance” though.

The two practically hate each other and any romance between them felt forced. There’s a lot of lying by omission from Wrath’s part and… Well, I don’t know. I’m supposed to feel something between these two and I’m just…not. Totally lackluster right there. Sure, there were a few make-out scenes but due to the fact they would rather gouge each other’s eyeballs out, I found it unbelievable. I’d like to think this could turn into an enemies-to-lovers story but… By the end of the book, I’m still confused.

Now the ending. That’s something I can get behind. I hope all the frustration I felt regarding Emilia and Wrath disappear in the second book (okay, maybe not disappear completely but…) It almost reminded me of the Hades/Persephone myth.

Was this review helpful?

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.

Was this review helpful?

This is my first book that I've read by Kerri Maniscalco, and won't be my last!

I, just finished and already want book 2! This book had all that I enjoy in a paranormal read, witches living in secret among humans, shifters, and demons.

The story opens with Nonna, the grandmother, watching over the twin girls, Vittoria and Emilia, as they chanted a protection spell that she had taught them. The twins begged their grandmother to tell them about the legends. One twin, more interested than the other with the stories of the Malvagi.

The twins wore amulets around their neck, and they were to never take them off. One night, they got brave, and Vittoria handed hers to her sister. The result scared them enough not to tell anyone.

Nonna grows more worried that the Malvagi have returned, after hearing about two girls being murdered. The girls, were witches.

When Emilia goes to retrieve her basket from the monastery, she follows a source of magic into a room, where at first glance she believes it's a noble man, until she notices his fingers are coated in blood. Emilia was confronting a Malvagi with a kitchen knife. He fled, leaving his weapon behind, and when Emilia finds the body of Vittoria, she vows to seek revenge for her sister.

Emilia will need to retrace her sister's path to try to learn what her sister knew, and Emilia was going to do something, that her Nonna would forbid--call on dark magic to bring forth a demon.

And, she brings forth Wrath, one of the four demon princes that she was told to fear!

I loved the relationship between Emilia and Wrath, they both were filled with mistrust of one another, but needed each other in their quests. The banter between the two of them was great! I laughed out loud after she summoned him, when Emilia started throwing punches and kicks and Wrath seemed bored. The spell she used, did a little more than expected, which made Wrath realize that he was summed by an amateur witch. Emilia knows she shouldn't trust Wrath, but he rescues her. Little by little, they go from enemies to friends. The ending, had me wishing for a different outcome that Emilia and Wrath wouldn't end on that note, but leaving me wanting to find out what happens next! If you enjoy the paranormal genre, you will love this book!

I received an ARC from NetGalley via Jimmy Patterson and I have voluntarily reviewed this book.

Was this review helpful?

What first drew me into this book is the cover! Then, when I saw the synopsis I knew I had to read it. This book is witchy, magical, a murder mystery, and a romance all tied up. I loved the Sicilian cultural ties, how strong Emilia was as a heroine, and I am really looking forward to sequels. Thank you Netgalley for the arc in exchange for an honest review!

Was this review helpful?

Firstly, I’d like to thank Netgalley and the publishers of Kingdom of The Wicked for giving me an ARC in exchange for an honest review. I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

A book full of black magic, murder mystery and the battle of the fittest between the princes of hell, makes Kingdom of The Wicked the perfect book for the Halloween season!

Overall rating of: 3.5 ⭐️
Plot: 4.5⭐️
When I began the book I was quite skeptical about where the story would go. It felt like the writer was trying too hard to make sure the reader knows that the events are taking place in Italy. However, things did fall in place as the story went on. I loved the idea of the Kingdom of the Wicked, the princes of hell and how Emellia tried to solve her sisters murder and work on saving the human lives along the way.

Pacing: 3.5⭐️
I had some mixed feelings about the pacing of the book. While some parts of the story were going too fast, some parts were unnecessarily long and at times it felt that the writer was jumping from one scene to another.

Character Development: 4⭐️
In terms of the characters, I am a firm believer that in book series you won’t see much character development in the first book as it is a build up for the rest of the books in the series. However, it felt like Emilia did grow to think more critically and less emotionally towards the end of the book. As the story went on, you could tell that she is growing to become stronger and wiser which is always a nice development to see in the main character.


Writing Style: 3.5⭐️
While the writing style seemed good and it was an easy book to read, I felt like it could have used more editing. It felt like the writer was trying too hard to convince the reader that the events are taking place in Italy. The conversations between Wrath and Emilia at the beginning seemed a little bit shallow as well.

Would you recommend it?
I recommend this book to whoever that likes romance, mystery, witches and other paranormal creators.

Was this review helpful?

Thank you to Netgally and the publishers for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I am a huge fan of Kerri Maniscalco so as soon as i heard about Kingdom of the Wicked i was full of excitement. My feelings after reading this were very mixed. There was some incredible world building and the story line was unique and full of mystery, but i found myself hating the MC more often than not which tainted my enjoyment of the story. I would still recomend this to fans of witchy reads and YA fantasy.

Was this review helpful?

Kingdom of the Wicked was one of the best books I read this year. It's beautifully written, the story is creative, exciting, and fast-paced. However, what I loved the most were the lush atmosphere and the characters especially Emilia who was an unshakable and powerful female lead. A stunning story about witches, Demons, and a serial killer with captivating world-building. I loved exploring these unique worlds its magical system and meeting the princes. I can't wait to read the next book.

* I received this book as an ARC in exchange for my honest opinion. Thank you!

Was this review helpful?

Kingdom of the Wicked is one of my most anticipated fall 2020 books, so I was thrilled to read the ARC! This atmospheric and compelling tale is the story of twins Vittoria and Emilia, both streghe. Streghe are witches who secretly live among humans, keeping their magic secret. When Vittoria goes missing, Emilia is horrified to discover her murdered body. In pursuit of her sister’s killer, Emilia meets Wrath, one of the Wicked and a Prince of Hell. As she retraces Vittoria’s last steps, Emilia must decide how to use her magic and whether to trust what she’s always been told is evil.

Kingdom of the Wicked is a story about the intense love of sisterhood, family, and magical tradition. There is a masterful attention to detail regarding the colors, scents, and tastes of this world and it creates a truly immersive experience. The carefully crafted descriptions of food are mouth-watering!! I felt utterly swept away to a dark and stormy world where magic stalks the steps of the ordinary. Emilia is a very determined and relatable character. I really enjoyed seeing her grow in confidence and power throughout the book. I can already feel that Wrath is going to be a fan favorite and he certainly was one of mine! I'm looking forward to seeing more of him in the next book!

This book is magical, fun, and clearly only the start of what will be a fantastic series. I can’t wait to learn more about the complex magic system and see Emilia grow even more in her magical power. The ending will leave you absolutely craving the next book! Kingdom of the Wicked releases on October 27, 2020. Thank you to Kerri Maniscalco, JIMMY Patterson Books, and Netgalley for a free ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Was this review helpful?

This is the first book I've read by Kerri Maniscalco. (I am also reading Stalking Jack the Ripper with my book club.) I have found another auto-buy author. This book is amazing!

Emilia and her twin sister, Vittoria, are witches; Italian streghe. Emilia seems to be the one contented to follow the rules and listen to their Nonna. Vittoria, however, wants to make her own way and seek out adventures. When she doesn't show up for dinner one evening, Emilia fears something terrible has happened. Her fears come to fruition when she finds Vittoria's body brutally murdered. Emilia vows vengeance and begins her quest to find her sister's murderer.

What Emilia didn't count on was meeting a Prince of Hell. They had been warned about these princes--the Wicked--all their lives. What surprises her even more is that Wrath claims to want to help her. I like how this part of the story is a war within Emilia, and maybe even Wrath. She is conflicted by all that she's been told all of her life and what she seems to be learning about Wrath.

Kerri writes a great story. It is spooky, creepy, and hair-raising at times. I enjoy the twists and turns throughout. My one hunch turned out to be right but it was in no way predictable. The ending blew me away! I was not expecting that at all. I can't wait for the next book!

I gave this 5 stars and highly recommend it to any fan of YA fantasy and paranormal fiction.

Thank you NetGalley and Jimmy Patterson Books for the opportunity to read this amazing book!

Was this review helpful?

A great slow build but still a page turner, a bit of a horror. Lots of great characters to love or hate.

Was this review helpful?

I think I'm gonna be in the minority on this one, but that's okay. It held my attention for the most part and there were some creative things in here, but I just didn't like it. Each time I put it down, I thought, "finally, I think I'm into it now." And then when I went to pick it back up, I'd forget everything I had just read. It just wasn't a book that sucked me in enough to feel invested, the murder "mystery" was easily solvable, and the main protagonist (Emilia) was kind of bland. Honestly, I was kind of bummed by the time we got to the big reveal because it was just clearly that person throughout the entire book (at least to me).

I read Maniscalco's Stalking Jack the Ripper and kind of felt the same. This may be a case of an author's writing not being for me.... which is such a bummer, because I think her ideas are so appealing! Historical fiction where they track and catch famous icons/killers? Fabulous. Depicting the seven deadly sins as beings and having them rule over a kingdom of evil? Fantastic. Ugh. I just don't why it's not clicking with me.

I also thought the book had some weak world-building. I understood that there were witches, the Wicked, vampires, werewolves, and humans... and yet- what? How did we get here? Does everyone know these things exist? It seemed to be so but then there would be these mentions of secrecy and I was just so confused. I couldn't wrap my head around the world itself and what Emilia's place was.

Disappointing, folks. I wanted all the October spooky vibes and for this one to suck me in, but it just didn't deliver.

Was this review helpful?

Kingdom of the Wicked is, in one word, delicious. I mean, who doesn’t love a book about a witch who doesn’t yet know her own strength and power who mistakenly summons a tall, dark, handsome, devilish price of Hell? Emilia Di Carlo is from a very old family of witches in Palermo and she also happens to have a twin sister. The girls help out at their family restaurant and Emilia is perfectly happy thinking up new recipes and cooking while Vittoria is more adventurous and has secrets of her own. When Emilia follows a mysterious pull to an old chamber in the local monastery she cooks for on occasion she finds man standing over a body and her entire life is suddenly upside down.

Emilia knows nothing now but the feel of her own vengeance and uses that to summon a demon to get answers to her questions. Somehow the summoning goes completely wrong ... or right? .... and she ends up summoning one of the seven princes of Hell. Wrath is tall, dark, extremely handsome, and hates witches just as much a Emilia hates demons. They come to a mutual agreement that will help get each of them to their perspective goals but did they get more than they bargained for by becoming unlikely partners?

Kingdom of The Wiked was fun and sassy and had lots and lots of food. This book definitely made me hungry and not just for a certain Prince of Hell named Wrath. Kerri Maniscalco loaded us on on so many food descriptions than I immediately placed an order with my local Italian restaurant bc I needed some pasta and seafood in my life stat... don’t worry, I already had the wine covered.

Obviously, I love me a good enemies to lovers thing but what I love even more is when a main character realizes that they are stronger than they believed and decide to take on the entire underworld ....exceedingly handsome and wicked princes of Hell included. Emilia is definitely a strong female lead who finds her strength even when she didn’t think she had any left. I’m really looking forward to the next book in the Kingdom of the Wicked series.... as long as I’m stocked up on wine and pasta.

Was this review helpful?

A young witch makes a deal with a devil to avenge her twin’s death: this is the premise which had me hooked. From the minute I heard the synopsis of this book I knew I had to read it, so I preordered it right away. I was then super lucky to be granted a copy via Netgalley to read in advance!

I loved the themes of sisterhood and family that ran through this book; the bonds were so strong and I enjoyed seeing this when in so many fantasy books family seems almost non existent.

Kerri showcased a fantastic talent for world building. From describing the streets of Sicily to the family’s cooking, it all felt almost tangible. And made me super hungry! This descriptive way of writing also provided the perfect atmosphere for the story, which I found more and more immersive and chilling.

Our main characters felt fleshed out and in true Amy fashion, I fell for the devil right away. Tall, dark haired and super grumpy??? Sign me up! I enjoyed Emilia and Wrath’s relationship, and how they had to come together to try and defeat the evil.

Full of witchy magic vibes and mystery, the fast paced plot kept me hooked and I already can’t wait for book two! AND THAT CLIFFHANGER!

Full review to come on my blog and to be added here too!

Was this review helpful?

This is my first book by this author and it was a doozy!
Lots of action, mystery, and a handsome demon.
I guess when I started reading this book, I knew it just had to be the start of a new series.
I’ll be looking forward to the next one in the series
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the early copy

Was this review helpful?

BEST BOOK OF 2020 SO FAR

I have died while reading this book so now this review will be posted and updated by my ghost. By the way, my ghost is very thankful to Net Galley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for an honest review. Jimmy Patterson Books and Brown Books for Young Readers, if you want my soul, we can definitely make a bargain.
(I’m talking very seriously).

Kingdom of the wicked, by Kerri Maniscalco, is everything we have been asking for. And if you haven’t asked for a book with a vengeful witch, a demon-charming-prince, a spooky murder and incredible-shocking plots, you should be. That’s the kind of book you have been looking for and haven’t realized it yet. You are very welcome for this piece of advice.

Kingdom of the wicked follows Emilia Di Carlo, a witch who wants revenge for the death of a loved one, and will do anything to pursue it, including a deal with a demon. Emilia has been warned all her life to be careful with the seven demon princes of hell, especially with four of them, which she should fear: Wrath, Greed, Envy and Pride. Therefore, when a series of murders takes place in her city and Emilia’s grief gets unbearable, will she be brave enough to work together with the Prince of Wrath himself?

"One will crave your blood. One will capture your heart. One will steal your soul. And one will take your life."

Emilia and Wrath’s relationship made me feel very cautious at first because he is the personification of her Grandmother’s fears, a great evil that could take Emilia’s life and much, much more. However, he was, also, everything Emilia needed and he would do anything for her, at least at that moment. I was completely in love with him in less than 20% of the book. I spend all my free time thinking about them and how complex their relationship is. I assure you that I cannot survive a year without them in my life, since the next book of the series will come out probably just in 2021. I’m totally obsessed with them and their strong feelings for each other. My chemistry classes haven’t THAT MUCH CHEMISTRY and I mean it. Intoxicating romance is, indeed, the best words to describe it.

You, dear reader, will fall in love with Wrath and, as Emilia, you will discover what costs come with a prince of hell by your side.

I can’t stop thinking (and talking, as you can notice) about Emilia and Wrath and that’s not even the best part of the book. Maniscalco created a whole creative and fantastic world with so many mysteries that even Emilian doesn’t know how to start with. Seven princes of hell, ruled by seven sins and bounded by a curse that weakens the Gates of Hell, will get into Emilia’s life and change it for good.

The Hell has a king, the devil Prince of Pride, but what if it has a queen?

You must wait for the worst, dear reader, because that book will only get better. Gore scenes, spooky murders and terrifying scenes crown Kerri Maniscalco’s Kingdom of the wicked as the best book of the Halloween season. Witches, demons and murders are just the beginning for a book series that promise to give us all we deeply want. Emilia will experience wrath, envy, greed, lust and pride and so many feelings as the readers. I didn’t dare to breathe while reading it, because the emotional scenes are strongly described and made me feel a sympathetic identification to Emilia’s situation.

I didn’t like the way Kerri resolved the conflicts at the end of the book but I’m certain that she will give us a wonderful and even better book two. I didn’t like the setting as well, since I couldn’t see many elements of the place (Italy) and time (19th century) in the narrative and, because of that, I would give Kingdom of the wicked four stars. However, I will follow my heart and I will give five stars for now.

Everyone should read this masterpiece. I was sure that nothing could replace Stalking Jack the ripper in my heart, and none can, but Kingdom of the wicked certainly gets close. I highly recommend as it is, for sure, the best book I’ve read in 2020 so far. You should finished this review and read it immediately.

You won’t regret it at all.

Now that I say so my ghost can finally rest in peace and show up later to talk about Kerri Maniscalco’s next books.

Was this review helpful?