I've never read anything by Kerri Maniscalco but had a lot of hope for this book with the hype from her other series.

Two witches grew up with a family that taught them how to use their powers for good until a death leads down a path of demons, dark magic, and violence.

I wish we had seen more of Nonna and what she should do and teach and am hoping to see more ofnher background in the next book because she is a mighty force.

Overall, I would read the next one because I am curious where the book will take the story.

This is the perfect witchy black magic book for spooky season! Maniscalco had me hooked from the beginning then left a bomb shell at the end.

Emilia is an Italian witch. Her family runs a restaurant (the food sounds amazing) where she and her twin, Vittoria work. They are 18 and very close to each other and their family.

Vittoria is murdered and Emilia vows to find the killer. Her once happy, peaceful life is now littered with black magic, demons and princes from Hell. One prince, Wrath, claims to be on her side. He’s broody, kind, surprising, and hostile but it’s hard to tell what is sincere and what is an act. He was definitely my favorite character!

The ending was amazing, she left it at a cliffhanger that I feel has many layers to it. I cannot wait to peel those layers and delve into this story again!


Thank you to Jimmy Patterson and NetGalley for the gifted copy in exchange for an honest review. This book publishes October 27, 2020.

A wonderfully wicked book, with the most amazing food descriptions! I loved reading it and the writing was really, really good.

This book was delightfully sinful and wicked. I overall really loved this book including the worldbuilding, characters, and story development! I am already counting the days until we get details on book two because I have a lot of questions that I need to be answered!

This was my first Kerri Maniscalco book, and she’s truly a great writer. The writing style is not overly wordy, it is easy to understand, and engaging. I loved her inclusion of all the Italian food, it made it seem very real in an endearing read as well as unique. I don’t believe I’ve read any other fantasy novel with quite the same focus on food.

I’ve never been particularly drawn to the murder-mystery trope, as I usually find it pretty clear from the beginning where it is heading, but this book did a good job embracing the ‘who done it’. While it is the overarching theme of the book, there were scenes separate from that narrative that made it not so stifling.

I loved both Emilia and Wrath and the forbidden romance that sparks between them; however, I’d like some more kissing. Both are very headstrong characters and I liked their power dynamic and how it shifted based on the situation. They stood strongly on their own but were better together. I would have LOVED some teaser chapters from Wrath’s point of view to see what was going on in his head throughout the book as he was not a character whose intentions were easy to read.

Beyond Emilia and Wrath’s relationship, I enjoyed how connected Emilia was to her family, especially Nonna. It really helped to further the Italian influence throughout the book. I wish we had gotten a little more insight into Emilia and Vittoria’s relationship, but maybe we will get some flashbacks in book two.

Without getting into spoilers (this is spoiler-free I promise), the ending left me a little bit confused. I had a good grasp on the players and the events but I feel like it slipped a little bit in the ending. I’m not sure exactly what caused my confusion without getting too spoiler-y but some of the actions seemed out of character, and I was even lost on which characters were actually interacting with each other. I do hope this is all straightened out in the next book as I’ve seen similar feelings from other reviewers (which made me feel a bit better).

Really I’m just looking forward to continuing this series and seeing Emilia’s continued growth and hopefully more kissing scenes with our main man, Wrath.

Huge thanks to Jimmy Patterson Books for sending me an ARC in exchange for an honest review!

This book gets a big 5 stars from me! Before discovering Kerri Maniscalco, I was not a fan of historical fiction at all. Now SJTR is one of my absolute favorite series, and she delivered exactly what I was hoping for and more with this release! This book has the perfect blend of mystery dashed with some romance. 😘
Kingdom of the Wicked is a story about twin witches, murder, and revenge sprinkled with some Wrath. 😍

Our MC is Emilia, who early on found her twin sister Vittoria’s brutally murdered body!! 😱 She makes it her mission to find the person that killed her and plans to get revenge. During her sleuthing she discovers that she might not have known Vittoria as well as she thought she did, especially when she realizes Vittoria might have been dabbling in the forbidden dark magic!

In an effort to find out more about what happened, Emilia becomes desperate and uses Dark Magic to summon a demon from Hell! This is where we meet Wrath, one of the seven princes of Hell. Cue the swooning. 😍

From here our girl Emilia teams up with Wrath in an effort to stop the murderer from killing more witches. Not all is at it seems, and I felt this duo was always just a little bit off in their investigating. And that ending!! I shouldn’t have been surprised by the the cliff hanger, but of course I did NOT see that coming!

It’s safe to say I am desperate for book two and am obsessively checking back for possible updates or teasers!

Here are some trigger warnings: murder, death of a loved one, loss, mutilation, gore and violence

I ended up being quite surprised by this read! In the first 10% of the book or so, I found myself really annoyed with our PoV and couldn't relate with her very much, but as the story progressed and became more of a mystery and a journey of mourning, I became so attached to her and what she was going through. I whizzed through this, always getting to the end of a chapter and deciding to start the next, even if it was past my bedtime (I never do this!), just to see what happens next to these characters.

The setting was so lovely - I haven't read many books that take place in Italy, and the way the author described it was just so vivid and lovely. Also, the food imagery! My goodness! I didn't find this annoying at all - I really enjoy food imagery. The author's descriptions always left me feeling hungry.

This book is rather quick in pace - I found myself drawn in quite early on, but not to the point that I felt overwhelmed. It did a great job of keeping me interested, with the characters solving parts of the mystery that left me wondering what was going to happen next. If you're looking for something to get pulled into, maybe try this one out!

I do think that the blurb for this book is misleading - I didn't find the romance to be 'intoxicating'. In my opinion, there wasn't much of a romance at all. I don't mind that there wasn't much a romance, but I do think it's misleading to describe it 'intoxicating'. I'm assuming the romance is expanded upon in the sequel. Further, I was expecting a lot more from the Wicked, the princes of Hell who represent the seven deadly sins. I was expecting them to put our PoV in more of a high stakes situation, since they are 'the most powerful beings in hell'. I did really enjoy Lust, however. I think the author executed his introduction perfectly!

All in all, I thought this was a fun read and I'm interested in seeing where the story and the characters go from here in the future.

Kerri Maniscalco is back, and this time with a brand new series for us to dive into. Kingdom of the Wicked is the first novel in a series of the same name, and I have to say it, I'm hooked.

Emilia and her twin, Vittoria are special. They're streghe, witches, and handed a task that they never knew the whole story of. These two women have incredible power, but unfortunately, power cannot always protect the ones we love.

It can, however, work to avenge it. That is the path that Emilia is on now, going after the Wicked princes of Hell with a fierce determination. She doesn't know which one was the cause for the loss of her sister, but she intends to find out.

“It was the first of many secrets the twins would keep from each other. And would prove deadly for one.”

Having not read Kerri Maniscalco's previous series (Stalking Jack the Ripper), I honestly wasn't sure what to expect from Kingdom of the Wicked. All I knew was that it came with a gorgeous cover, and an inciting description.

I am so glad that I decided to take a risk and dive on in. Kingdom of the Wicked was a thrilling read, one that was emotional, evocative, and intriguing all at the same time. It portrays a world where magic and demons exist, and yet there is something very human about it all.

Perhaps that is thanks to Emilia, the lead character. Her loss, her anger, and her determination was a solid foundation for which the rest of the series can grow off of. It was powerful to see. Honestly, even knowing what was going to happen to Vittoria (the description made it obvious), it was still impossible to look away from Emilia's reaction.

“In the end, the monster we feared didn't come from Hell. He came from privilege.”

Everything about Kingdom of the Wicked appealed to me. The tone of voice, the setting, the atmosphere, it's all so brilliantly done (and leaves me wanting to check out Maniscalco's other series). It's actually a perfect read for this time of year – though I can see many a fantasy lover enjoying this read at any time of year.

There were tons of twists and complications in Emilia's journey for vengeance. Some were predictable, while others were less so. It made for an ideal blend, leaving trails of false hope and comfort in the familiar, while also having room for some surprises.

I honestly cannot wait for the next novel in this series to be announced, because of that ending! It is going to make the wait a painful one, I can tell you that much! Not that I'm discouraging anyone from giving it a try right now – the opposite, in fact.

I loved the setting. I've never read a book that was set in Sicily (or Italy, for that matter), and I loved reading about warmth while I was shivering away in my room. Plus, the food descriptions made me insanely hungry every time. Italian food is probably my favorite, because I can't think of any Italian dish that I don't like.

Anyway, enough about food. I enjoyed the pacing of this book, I would describe it as medium to fast-paced, so if you're looking for a book that will immediately pull you in, this is likely it. I read this book quite quickly, and if it wasn't for university work I had to do, I likely would've read it in one sitting. I loved that the main character's family was intact for once. Murder aside, obviously. But it's refreshing that a character has parents and that they are normal and loving.

Speaking of characters, I really enjoyed all of them. Emilia's character arc is subtle, but it's definitely there. It's one of those arcs where you don't realize they've changed until you've finished the book and you compare them to the beginning of the story. Emilia is sensible, but fierce. I'm glad that this wasn't one of those stories where the main character immediately dives into a string of bad decisions. Emilia at least has braincells.

Then there are the demon princes. Wrath is the prince that is most important to the story, and I really liked his character. In the sense that I thought he was well written. You never quite know what his motivations are, and he never reveals his intentions, either. I wouldn't exactly describe him as likable, though. The other princes we encounter are just creepy.

This is definitely the type of story that keeps you on your toes. You're sent down different paths each time you think you're close to solving the murder. And the princes make you just a little paranoid that you can't trust anyone.

There is only one thing I liked less about this book. I kind of missed the romance part. In the blurb it's described as intoxicating, but honestly it didn't feel that way for me. I didn't feel like there was much romance at all. I can see that there is definitely room for it in the sequel, but in this book it didn't feel like any of the parties had any real feelings for each other. I'll have to see where it goes in the next book.

Emilia and her twin sister Vittoria are streghe - witches who live secretly among humans, avoiding notice and persecution. One night, Vittoria misses dinner service at the family's renowned Sicilian restaurant. Emilia soon finds the body of her beloved twin...desecrated beyond belief. Devastated, Emilia sets out to find her sister's killer and to seek vengeance at any cost-even if it means using dark magic that's been long forbidden.⁣
⁣
Then Emilia meets Wrath, one of the Wicked-princes of Hell she has been warned against in tales since she was a child. Wrath claims to be on Emilia's side, tasked by his master with solving the series of women's murders on the island. But when it comes to the Wicked, nothing is as it seems...⁣
⁣
KINGDOM OF THE WICKED is the first book written bu Kerri Maniscalco that I read and I let myself be bewitched by the adventures of Emilia di Carlo.⁣⁣
The author stages some quite interesting female characters, forced to hide their power in a society that fears what cannot be explained.⁣⁣
She draws from her origins to portray these witches of Palermo who, contrary to what people think, do not represent any danger to the human world.⁣⁣
But the tragedy will push Emilia to her entrenchment and she will have to draw on the dark arts to achieve her ends.⁣⁣
The male characters have the wrong role here but who would not succumb to the charms of the Princes of Hell (because I certainly would ...)⁣⁣
I had a lot of fun reading this first volume and I'm really looking forward to what the future holds for our goddess blessed strega.⁣⁣
⁣⁣
KINGDOM OF THE WICKED will be released on October 27th⁣
⁣
Thank you @netgalley and @jimmypattersonbooks for sending me this arc book

I received this as an ARC to read for free in exchange for my honest review.

Boa premissa. A escrita também ajudou muito durante o ritmo de leitura. Os personagens foram bem construídos, principalmente a caracterização dos Pecados.

Gostei muito de Emilia que, apesar de meio impulsiva, sabia a hora de parar e raciocinar as suas próximas ações. O bate-e-volta entre ela e Wraith é cheio de farpas. Inclusive não sei se serão possivelmente um casal, mas gostei de ter ficado essa dúvida no ar pois gostei muito da parceria dos dois.

Sobre as questões das bruxas, de início, fiquei um tanto estressada já que Nonna só falava do perigo mas não avisava e nem explicava que perigo é esse. Kerri vai soltando informações sobre bruxas, profecias, relação com o Devil ao longo do livro. Apesar de já saber qual seria a última escolha de Emilia, me surpreendi com o verdadeiro assassino.

Um ótimo gancho para o próximo livro e estou bem ansiosa.

--------------------------------------------

Good premise. The writing style also helped a lot during the reading pace. The characters were well constructed, especially the characterization of Sins.

I really liked Emilia, who, despite being a little impulsive, knew when to stop and think about her next actions. The banter between her and Wraith was really fun. I don't even know if they are possibly going to be a couple, but I liked having this doubt because I really enjoyed their partnership.

About the witches, at first, I was a little stressed since Nonna only talked about the danger but did not warn or explain what the danger is. Kerri is releasing information about witches, prophecies, relationship with the Devil throughout the book. Although I already knew what Emilia's last choice would be, I was surprised by the real killer.

A great cliffhanger for the next book and I'm really looking forward to it.

I received this as an eARC to read for free in exchange for my honest review. Thank you to NetGalley and JIMMY Patterson for giving me access.

It's not very often that I binge read a 448 paged book in one day, let alone one sitting. This one though? I was sucked in, I couldn't put it down.

Kerri does an amazing job at story telling and once again has created a world that I love.

The way she brings the 7 Deadly sins to life is breathtaking...especially for some...*hint* But the banter between Wrath and Emilia is the greatest. There are definitely some Thomas and Audrey Rose vibes.

I cannot wait for the next book because I am not ok. Not ok from that ending. Not ok because its over. I am just not ok. Is it next year yet?

Kerri Maniscalco never fails to deliver and Kingdom of the Wicked is no different. When Emilia's twin sister is murdered, she is thrust out of her comfort zone into a world of danger. Although she is raised as a white witch, she must be willing to do anything to solve her sister's murder, even if that means consorting demons, vampires, and the like. Kingdom of the Wicked is chock filled with suspense, romance, and danger. I highly recommend this book to fans of Stalking Jack the Ripper series and authors like Holly Black.

Hello and welcome to another review, bookworms! I am so excited to talk to you guys about Kingdom of the Wicked! But first I would like to thank Jimmy Paterson Books for giving me an ARC copy in exchange for an honest review. Kingdom of the Wicked comes out this October 27th!

Set in Sicily, Italy, Kingdom of the Wicked follows Emilia, a witch who lives in secret with her twin and family who run a renowned restaurant. All is well, until she finds her sister murdered and torn apart. Filled with grief and anger, Emilia will stop at nothing to find the killer, even if it means using dark magic, or teaming up with Wrath, one of the seven demon princes of hell to solve the mystery. Danger and darkness lurk at every corner, but who can Emilia trust?

As many of you know, Kerri Maniscalco wrote one of my all time favourite series, Stalking Jack the Ripper. So when I found out that she was writing another series, I was so excited and eager to get my hands on it. Being part Sicilian myself, the setting of the book really intrigued me! When books are set in Italy they are usually centred in Rome so seeing a small Italian island was a fun change! The writing is definitely atmospheric. Kerri paints a tale of darkness and shadow that keeps you interested throughout. At some points I felt that the gravity/danger of the situations that Emilia was in weren't completely shown. I knew that she could get seriously hurt but I found that I didn't feel a sense of urgency or alarm. The bits of Italian and latin words throughout the book were something I had a lot of fun with! It immerses you in the culture, and since I had a bit of background I already knew about certain things like arancini (rice balls). The element of the family restaurant was also super entertaining! I would have loved to see more of the restaurant and maybe more scenes with Emilia cooking. When food was described, my mouth was definitely watering! All of the dishes sounded amazing.

Emilia was an intriguing character to read about, unlike other protagonists I've read from, she didn't shy away from her anger and sorrow, but embraced them, which was a refreshing aspect of her character. I found that in the case of Vittoria, Emilia's sister, I didn't have a chance to really grow to love her before she was found dead. In terms of her death, I felt more empathy toward's Emilia than I felt upset about the actual death itself. On the other hand, Wrath was a really interesting character. The concept of having seven demon princes of Hell was very unique and unlike anything I've read before. I hope in future books that we will continue to learn more about the inner workings of Hell and the magic system. Speaking of the magic system, I found that it was well developed and I understood it very well. One comment I would have about Wrath is that I wish we got to see more of him! One aspect that I loved from Stalking Jack the Ripper was the amazing romance! And while we did get romance in this book, I think that seeing more of Wrath would have definitely let that blossom into something like the SJTR series.

The end reveal of the killer was a little bit of a let down for me, I wasn't hugely surprised with who it was and I wish I had a little bit more background. The final chapter leaves us on a big cliffhanger which opens up so many possibilities for what the sequel may hold.

I look forward to seeing more of these characters and the adventures to come for them! I will definitely be continuing with the series (as I mentioned, cliffhanger!). For everyone looking for a spooky demon and witch story this Halloween, I recommend Kingdom of the Wicked! I gave this book 4/5 Stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.

This book had me hooked from the first couple pages. It gets right into the action and never lets up.

The main character, Emilia, finds her twin sister dead and the book is about trying to get her revenge for the murder. Witches, curses, a sketchy brotherhood, and Princes of Hell — what more could you want in a book?!

This was an exciting read and I didn’t want to put it down. The only thing I disliked was feeling like it was an abridged version. There were many scenes that needed to be fleshed out more.

The ending set up for book two perfectly and I can’t wait to read it!

Thank you to James Patterson Books and NetGalley for providing me with an eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I have been long waiting for this book because I am a big fan of CressWorth and I couldn't get enough of Kerri Maniscalco's books, so I waited for this one and it was addicting, and I loved it! I heard that there will be a book two coming out soon and I can't wait for it! This book is a must read, thoroughly enjoyed the SJTR series more but loved this one nonetheless for I am a big fan of the mystery, crime genre. Looking forward for more books from this author!!!

***Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. The expected release date is October 27, 2020.***

🎃🎃🎃🎃
3.5 - 4 stars

I LOVED the "Stalking Jack the Ripper" series by Kerri Maniscalco, so I was VERY excited to find out a new series was to be released. Imagine my surprise (after a particularly crappy day at work) to receive an ARC ❤️.

For me, just about everything in the story was perfect for this time of year...creepy settings, witches, princes of Hell, you name it.

In a strange twist of irony, I believe that I enjoyed reading about the various princes that were introduced in the story more than the main female lead. Obviously looking forward to the next book to see where the story leads.

Kingdom of the Wicked is set in Sicily in late 19th century. We meet Emilia and her twin sister Vittoria, who are witches following a long tradition in their family. From birth on they have been inducted to protect themselves by charms and wards to avoid falling into the hands of the wicked princes of hell. Something they’ve heeded nearly always. Nearly always. When her twin is killed Emilia feels responsible. She raises a demon to help her find the killer and take her revenge on him, but she is in for a surprise.

Her ally soon turns out to be one of the seven princes of hell himself. Do I need to spell it out for you how close the two of them might become? Or will she keep holding up her torch for her childhood friend turned monk?

You might think it is a bit predictable. It is, but it has a very inventive magic system and the world building is executed quite well. If you like Kerri Maniscalco’s writing, you’ll certainly enjoy this first in a new series.

Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC of KINGDOM OF THE WICKED in exchange for my honest review.

I've read works by Kerri Maniscalco before so I went into Kingdom of the Wicked with high hopes and I am glad to say that I was not disappointed! The story of the witch twins who happen to be part of a long-time-coming prophecy immediately caught my attention...witches, sexy wicked men, talk of light and dark, demons, angels, and more...HELLO, how could I possibly say no?!?!

I dove in headfirst into this novel and didn't come up for air the entire time. I read it in a single day, no regrets, and immediately put it on my highly recommended list. Kerri always has a way of creating characters you can instantly fall in love with and even those you wish you could be. I saw that in Emilia and I wanted nothing more than to be sucked into this world of magic with her. I really loved the concept of The Wicked and the story behind the Gates of Hell and Horns of Hades, I was fascinated and am eager to learn more about how this will play out moving into book two!

Let's talk about the ending for a second...because, like, what the heck Kerri!!! Watching that percentage on my kindle go from 97, 98, 99, and hitting 100 so quickly when I knew there just had to be more killed me!! It ended...boom,...done...left me hanging by a single branch off the cliff and I have so many mixed emotions going on I may need therapy until book two is released. Kerri tugs at those heart stings then tears them out with her final chapter...and now I am left utterly hungover and needing more.

I cannot express how eager I am for book two and I know this will be an instant buy for me when they are released because this was THAT good!!!

Rating rounded to 4.5 stars.

I’ve never read a book by Kerri Maniscalco before, and I was really excited to finally try one. I was certainly not disappointed. The writing was comfortable and natural, and I found it easy to get lost in the story.

The story is set in Sicily, at some unspecified point in the past. Emilia and Vittoria are twins, and hide among the humans, avoiding threats like witch hunters and the Wicked, who are princes of Hell to be avoided at all costs. So when her twin sister doesn’t show up for her shift at the family restaurant, their overprotective and superstitious Nonna goes a little overboard with her suspicions, especially since other witches have recently been killed in the area. Emilia isn’t *too* concerned, since Vittoria is the wild child of the family. But when she finds her sister’s mutilated body, she is consumed by an overwhelming desire for vengeance that leads her down a dark and dangerous path. As she became wrapped up in her quest, she stopped doing all the things she used to do, and stopped working, stopped spending time with her family and friends, and even seemed to cut ties to her family in order to hunt down whoever was responsible for her sister’s death.

Emilia quickly becomes involved in dark magic, and crosses paths with Wrath, one of the Wicked. There’s an unexpectedly hot sexual tension that builds between the two enemies as they’re forced to work together. I was also pleasantly surprised by how funny the book was. There were plenty of spooky elements involved in the story as well — witches, demons, princes of Hell, magic, murder, and mystery, making it a perfect read for the month of October, without being too scary. Additionally, since the family owns a famed restaurant, the descriptions of food were descriptive and sounded so delicious that it made me crave Italian food to the point where I couldn’t keep reading without ordering some! So be prepared to get hungry when you start reading this.

I cannot wait to read more of this series, and I’m hooked on Kerri Maniscalco’s writing. It had an authentic Italian flavor, not just the food, but the family environment, the language, and the customs. This book hasn’t even come out and I’m already so ready for book 2!

This book just did not do it for me. It definitely wasn’t horrible, and there were some aspects that I thoroughly enjoyed, but overall it was not the reading experience I was hoping for.

First of all, the romance. I was very much hoping for another swoon-worthy romance like Audrey Rose and Thomas Cresswell, but I was just not into this at all. I’m not even sure if we’re supposed to ship these two characters, because…I felt nothing. I think a huge reason why the romance wasn’t convincing was because honestly, the characters just weren’t that interesting.

I really didn’t love any of the characters. The MC, Emilia, made quite a few foolish decisions. The love interest, Wrath, was such a basic ‘cold, closed-off, and broody’ YA boy that it almost made me roll my eyes.

The magic in the book is very unoriginal. There is nothing new or unique brought to the table, and the concept of magic and witchcraft is not expanded at all. I was hoping for something more interesting, but I didn’t really enjoy the role that it had in the story. The book suffers a lot from telling rather than showing. For example, we kept being told how ruthless and dangerous and deadly Wrath was, but he didn’t really do anything particularly bad. He wasn’t even really mean to Emilia. If anything, she was more mean to him.

There were a lot of inconsistencies in the plot. I thought the overall idea of the story sounded very promising. A young woman being driven by the need to avenge her sister: I was so excited to read about that. Unfortunately, it fell flat for me. However, I did really like the writing style. The descriptions were extremely vivid (the food!) and the story was very atmospheric. I think this is a good October/fall read, and if someone really enjoys witches I think they could potentially really enjoy this story. I enjoyed the beginning, and was extremely interested as the story was just starting out. However, I started losing interest towards the middle and then never really got it back.