“There are seven demon princes, but only four di Carlos should fear: Wrath, Greed, Envy, and Pride. One will crave your blood. One will capture your heart. One will steal your soul. And one will take your life.”

Kingdom of the Wicked follows Emilia and Vittoria, they are identical twins, best friends and also witches, living in secret among the humans. Throughout their childhoods, the twins have been told countless stories about the evils of the 7 princes of hell and given warnings about using dark magic by their Nonna. One night Vittoria fails to return home, when Emilia goes out in search of her twin she finds the unthinkable.. Vittoria has been murdered and a strange, well dressed man is with her body. The man quickly flees but not before she gets a good look at him. Emilia vows to get revenge and find this man who she thinks is responsible for the brutal murder. In order to get that vengeance, she turns to the dark side and decides to summon a demon.. only she’s not really sure what she’s doing and accidentally summons a prince of hell- Wrath. Not only does she summon him, she somehow manages to bind them.

This was my first time reading anything by this author, but it won’t be my last. I loved her writing style, the characters , the atmosphere and all the little details she included that made this such a great book. oh and of course I have to mention how stunning the cover is. I will be buying a copy for my bookshelves as soon as it is released!

My favourite character was Wrath (I think he seems to be everyone’s favourite!), I can’t wait to see more from him in book 2, as well as meet some of the princes we didn’t get to see.

The only reason I didn’t give this book 5 stars was because I guessed who the murderer was within the first couple of chapters of the book but so not let that put you off. I would highly recommend this book.


Thanks to NetGalley and Hodder & Stoughton for providing an arc in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you Netgalley for providing me with an eArc of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Emilia and Vittoria are twins and best friends. They are also Strega - witches. Forced into hiding due to the fear of persecution, the Strega operate under cover, hidden from the rest of the world. When one night Vittoria does not turn up for her shift in the family restaurant, fear for her safety starts to grow. Emilia soon discovers her sisters body, which has be horrifically brutalised. Emilia will make it her mission to discover who murdered her sister and why. Even if that means using dark magic to do it.

What I liked about this book

The concept of the demonic embodiments of the seven deadly sins running the underworld was intriguing. Only some of them are introduced in this book which hopefully means we will meet them in the next one.
The story is well paced. There isn't really a lull in the action as there is always something happening.
Kerry Maniscalco's writing flows well and is easy to follow.
Kingdom of the Wicked is set in Italy. There are Italian words and phrases sprinkled throughout the narrative, this adds a level of culture to the feel of the story.
What I didn't like

The culprit was pretty obvious from quite early on
I was a bit confused about the when the story was meant to be set.
I love the the idea of witches and any book which has been centered around them is always going to catch my eye. Plus I loved Kerri Maniscalco's other works. These two things combined drew me towards Kingdom of the Wicked and I was not disappointed. I can't wait till the release of book 2 to find out what turn this series will take.

4.2
✮✮✮✮✬

Emelia and Vittoria are the MCs and Vittoria is the one who's left to solve her sister's mysterious death and finds out there were more secrets Vittoria's been keeping.

Wrath , one of the demons in the world building , is summoned and bound to Emelia . Their interactions are downright hilarious.

“Maybe I can’t kill you, but I’ll find other ways to make you suffer.”

“Trust me, your very presence is accomplishing that.”

The setting of the book is in 19th century Italian island , so the local characters play a big part in the book. They're nosy , gossipy , everything you've seen neighbors do.

I've received this book from NetGalley and Hodders books in exchange of my honest review. This has not affected my opinions.

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

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

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

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

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

will she survive and find out who killed her sister

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

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

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

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

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

What a brilliant story by a brilliant author! I love the Jack the Ripper series and when I heard that Maniscalco will have her new work out soon I couldn't wait to get my hands on it.
The only thing I have a problem with is the cover. It is goegeous, but it freaks me out at the same time. I'm not a fan of snakes.
Kingdom of the Wicked is the perfect autumn read. You have witches, demons, and a spooky-ish vibe surrounding it.
Emilia is a well written complex character I was able to connect with quite easily. The only minus I could give the opot is the twist at the end regarding a soecific other which I sensed early in the story.
I recommend this beauty to you all! It will be worth your time.

𝗕𝗼𝗼𝗸 𝗥𝗲𝘃𝗶𝗲𝘄: 𝗞𝗶𝗻𝗴𝗱𝗼𝗺 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗪𝗶𝗰𝗸𝗲𝗱🍂

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5

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

The Kingdom of the Wicked started out quite strong. Emilia and Victoria are witches, brought up practicing simple protection charms and listening to stories of demons of hell. The premise and setting of this book are quite unique and stand out among the numerous witchy books coming out this season.

For starters, the story is set in Sicily, Italy (cue mouth watering food descriptions🤤) and NOT in US or UK, which in itself is a refreshing change. In spite of being witches, Emilia and Victoria are very normal 18-year olds who scoff at stories of demons and curses and love spending time at their family restaurant Sea and Vine. AND THE FOOODDD….if you are a foodie like me and especially if you love Italian food (I mean, who doesn’t?), DO NOT READ THIS BOOK EMPTY STOMACH. You will be drooling in no time!

The plot is a whodunnit combined with enemies to lovers romance. The whodunnit started out well…there were a good number of suspects and little to clues. However, as the story progressed, it got kinda haphazard. Things began happening for no reason AT ALL – monsters appearing for no apparent reason, attacks on loved ones accepted like an everyday occurrence, characters making an appearance and leaving without a second mention. A LOT was happening, but most of it did not end up contributing to the overall plot in a significant way. I know it might seem like I am blabbering and none of this might be making sense, because it is difficult to convey without giving away anything. Basically, there were a lot of plot elements which were interesting individually but did not come together effectively in the overall story.

The romance bit of it was interesting….but predictable. There is a lot of bickering between Wrath and Emilia which is fun to read and outright hilarious considering Wrath is supposed to be a literal demon from hell. I would have loved to see more depth to this relationship though, considering so much of it was about pretense and keeping your real motivations hidden. There was a lot of dialogue and very little emotional detailing which made it seem a bit shallow for me.

Emilia’s character was the driving force of the book. Her character transforms from a quiet and shy girl-next-door to a fiesty witch willing to go any length to avenge her twin. Sometimes naive and sometimes fiery, she is quite easy to like. I love reading about sibling relationships in books, and though we do not get to see a lot of it in this book, even the few chapters were delightful to read. Wrath remains an enigma for the most part, and I am STILL not sure whether or not to trust him. I definitely expected him to be a bit more…demonic…i guess? So that remains to be seen.

The book ends on a wicked cliffhanger. Although I was not a big fan of this first book of the trilogy, it does sound like the second book is going to be more interesting, so I will definitely want to read it.

✨Kingdom of the Wicked✨

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

I received a free ARC of the book in return for an honest review. Many thanks to NetGalley and to Hodder and Stoughton for the opportunity.

Having read and loved the Victorian mystery series, Stalking Jack the Ripper, I was excited to see what Kerri Maniscalco would come up with next. I wasn’t disappointed. This book is a murder mystery wrapped up in dark witchcraft, and devilry, with a pretty, bow ribbon of historic Sicilian culture on top.

First page, map showing the seven circles of Hell. Each circle is occupied by the house of a deadly sin. The whole is called the Kingdom of the Wicked. We’re going to Hell! 😮

Emilia and her twin Vittoria are witches. Their family owns a renowned restaurant in Palermo. All of their lives their Nonna has warned them about the danger from the evil Princes of Hell also know as the Wicked. Emilia never really believed her until Vittoria is murdered and her body mutilated. Driven by a vengeful rage Emilia embraces the dark arts to find her sister’s murderer. In the process she discovers that the Princes of Hell are not only real, but right there in Palermo and Hell is leaking demons.

Even without the dedication at the beginning, it is clear from the loving descriptions of Emilia’s family restaurant, and the food they serve, that this is something very close to Maniscalco’s own heart. The contrast between this loving family and the gentle creation of food that was almost an art form, with the horrors elsewhere in the town are stark. It highlights the changes in Emilia herself over the course of the book. Emilia changes from being a soft-hearted girl who cares deeply for everyone around her, to being a mistrustful and hard-nosed person, who will do anything she needs to. It is a change I found somewhat unpalatable, and I wasn’t sure I liked her by the end.

With Hallowe’en coming up, the Kingdom of the Wicked is the perfect creepy read to put you in the mood for thrills and chills, and possibly for a plate of gourmet Italian food. The garlic will keep the vampires away too, so - bonus!

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

SPOILER FREE REVIEW!
I got to read this book early many thanks to @Netgalley and @Hodderbooks
If you enjoyed Maniscalco’s Stalking Jack the Ripper series you will thoroughly enjoy this book too.
With Witch families, Princes of Hell and lots of demons it is a real battle between good and evil, but can you always tell which is which?
I think the thing I enjoyed most about this book is the setting. It’s based in Sicily in the past. The family restaurant serves up delights and the food and family relationships, the clothes... all the descriptions take you there. I wish I could eat at Sea and Vine!
I can’t really place why this wasn’t 5* for me. Maybe it’s because I’m nearly 40 but reading YA books. I’ll always pick YA but just a little something in the writing maybe made me feel I needed things explaining to me in very simple terms? I’m not saying the writing is simple, I honestly can’t explain it. I really did enjoy this book with just a little something holding back the last star.
Definitely pick up a copy when it releases on October 27th 2020 for a perfect creepy Halloween read!

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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