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!

Do you like?
•Historical fantasy.
•badass witches.
•demons.
•evil princes from hell that are secret softies.
•Revenge stories.
•murder.
•slow burn, enemies to lovers romance,
Then you should read Kingdom of the wicked because it has all of that and more!
Personally I adored this book! The characters, the setting, the romantic tention and banter between Emilia and Wrath and the unexpected twists and turns were all 10/10! It’s going straight on my favorite books list and it’s a must read for all witch lovers and just anyone who likes fantasy!

Kerri Maniscalco fast rose to one of my favourite authors throughout 2019, as I made my way through the phenomenal Stalking Jack the Ripper series. I was desperately hoping that her first book away from Audrey and Thomas would hold the same addictive charm as her previous works, whilst introducing us to a new setting, and man, I was not disappointed. This is going to be a pretty short review, because I barely have anything to say other than I loved every minute!

This was set in a witchy, historic 19th century Sicilian setting, with lush descriptions of food and gothic catholic architecture. The atmosphere of the story was so successful, with the smells and tastes and surroundings. I felt totally transported to this setting, without much world building at all - it was very steeped in Italian food and language and history, but the extent of the fantasy element wasn’t too clear and wasn’t at all necessary to the story - we were caught up on this is little island with a pocket of witches isolated there and the rest of the politics of the world didn’t matter to me at all, which is quite unusual for me as I’m a real world building sort of gal, but I just didn’t need it here - the feeling of isolation from the human world was very effective in making this demonic, witchy setting feel real.

I really liked the romance in this book. I say romance, but it was not a central part of the plot at all. There’s more of a sexual and romantic tension between the two characters that I can’t wait to see developed in book 2. It’s enemies-to-reluctant-allies-to-sexual-tension. There is so much angst in this relationship, we never quite know where Emilia stands and how their relationship is perceived by her love interest, which is a really interesting dynamic, and again makes me so excited to read more.

I adored the grey morality and addictiveness of the demonic characters scattered through this story - and there are still more the seven princes of hell that we have left to meet! The human nature of these squabbling, jealous brothers combined with immense evil, demonic power was so angsty and delicious to read. The magic and witchcraft was so interesting, with rituals and rules well thought out - this was something I was interested to see how Kerri carried off, as her other series does not contain magic, and I think that she did a wonderful job.

I’m left after this book with SO MANY QUESTIONS! There is a lot that didn’t feel totally clear at the end of the book, which I’m sure is intentional as it’s going to lead perfectly into the sequel - but there’s not so much left unanswered that the book didn’t make sense. There is just the right balance of intrigue and mystery that is going to keep me on edge until I can get my hands on book 2!

‘Kingdom of the Wicked’ treads well-trodden ground but puts a fresh enough spin on it to become an intriguing and enjoyable story. It definitely reads like part one of a series rather than fully standing up on its own, but as long as the sequels provide some much-needed answers this can stand up as a solid addition to the YA fantasy genre.

The novel follows Emilia, one of a family of streghe – witches – living secretly amongst humans. Their family is one of twelve streghe families in Sicily, but following a powerful spell cast generations ago the families are discouraged from mixing. Emilia pays more attention to her family renowned restaurant than to magic – until she discovers her beloved twin, Vittoria, murdered, her heart ripped out, and a mysterious figure drinking her blood. Her quest for vengeance pulls her into the world of the Wicked – the princes of Sin her Nonna has always warned her about.

Emilia is a likeable enough protagonist. Previously a carefree girl whose only worries were new dishes at the restaurant and her flirtation with a completely unavailable man, she becomes a creature driven only by vengeance. She rushes headlong into situations without thought of the consequences and frequently has to be rescued. It’s slightly annoying that she spends most of the novel being pulled out of dangerous places by a man (and once her grandma, which is far more badass), but the idea of a teenage girl in over her head is certainly more accurate than most YA fantasy. Her motivations and struggles are always relatable, and hopefully as she starts to understand more about her abilities and situation in book two, she’ll become less of the damsel in distress and more the damsel of distress.

The other major character is Wrath, one of the seven Princes of Sin. Wrath is the typical mysterious male figure in YA fantasy – powerful, with many secrets and unknown motives, and also exceptionally attractive. However, I appreciate that, unlike in most books, Wrath and Emilia don’t immediately fall into a romance. Emilia’s priority throughout remains her sister, and she won’t allow herself unnecessary distractions. She also innately distrusts a Prince of Sin, a very wise decision not shared by most other heroines in her genre.

Kerri Maniscalo is known for her ‘Stalking Jack the Ripper’ series, a collection of YA mysteries. I’ve never actually read any of them, but her talent for writing mystery is absolutely on show in ‘Kingdom of the Wicked’. The plot twists and turns, with the culprit for the murders never entirely evident. There are dead ends, red herrings, and far too many potential murderers to count. When the killer is finally revealed, they come from a very unexpected direction. I appreciate that Maniscalo managed to weave a difficult-to-predict mystery without making it seem outlandish or implausible.

The highlight of this novel is the interspersing of Sicilian culture. There’s a strong focus on the food – Emilia spends a lot of time at the family restaurant, and she enjoys subjecting a Prince of Sin to mortal cuisine. Sicily is a more unusual setting for a fantasy novel, and it helped differentiate this from its peers and add depth to the characters and story.

Overall, this is a solid start to a series, albeit one that – as it doesn’t entirely stand on its own – will be greatly influenced by the strength of its sequel. Recommended to fans of A Court of Mist and Fury, The Cruel Prince, and similar story dynamics.

After devouring the Stalking Jack the Ripper series, I was so excited about this book! Unfortunately, I found it to be a very slow build and it took a long time to get going.

The characters weren't particularly engaging and some of the relationships felt forced. However, the world building was good with an interesting magic system and a well constructed history.

The plot did really pick up at the end and I'll certainly be picking up the sequel, but it wasn't quite the book I had hoped for!

I received a copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

Kingdom of the Wicked was a lot of fun, and it definitely helped get into an autumnal mood!

This book is an imaginative story with witches, demons, and so many more supernatural creatures, which I really enjoyed. Having read only Stalking Jack the Ripper by this author, I think that Kingdom of the Wicked shows how much she grew as an author: it's more ambitions, with multiple storylines, it has a creative magic system, and it's so easy to read. I've been struggling to pick up books in September, but this book grabbed me from the beginning, without wanting to let me go! I could easily lost myself into the story, and that's what I wanted.

The plot was very engaging, and I liked that Kerri Maniscalco opened so many plotlines, as it sets things up quite nicely for the next book: I'm eager to see where the story will go next. That being said, I guessed who the murderer with a couple of chapters in, and the way the story ended didn't surprise me one bit. Still, this book was really entertaining, and kept me interested so I'll read the next one!

Emilia was an interesting character to read about: I liked that she was the type of characters who didn't have it easy, who failed several times, but always got back into her feet. She sometimes did think I hadn't seen coming, and I enjoyed that about her! I wasn't as convinced by Wrath though... for a prince of Hell, I would have expected him to be more ruthless. I get that the author was trying to put us in the direction of a romance for them (not sure how it'll go, though!), but I wasn't very convinced by Wrath. I'm also a bit sad to say that the side characters weren't fleshed out enough for me, to the point that I'm not even sure we know Emilia's father name. I felt that they were just there when the author needed them, then faded in the background, and didn't really have their own existence, which felt weird.

I also really enjoyed the world the author created: a story with witches and demons is up my alley, and this had it all! It had legends about witches and demons, book of spells, different type of witches that I hope we see more of in the sequel, as well as other supernatural creatures, making it a really good Halloween read! However, I was genuinely confused when it comes to the historical setting of this novel: I had read somewhere that it was set at the end of the 19th century, but other than mentions of the monastery, and the main character talking about corset, I barely saw any. When I read that Emilia often read steamy romances when the book was supposedly set in the 19th century, I was so puzzled: from what she was saying, it felt like anyone was reading them, and she could afford to buy books often? Literally how?? But honestly, it might just be me.

Overall, Kingdom of the Wicked was an enjoyable read! It is set in an interesting world, and I'm excited to see where the story goes in its sequel!

Solid 4.5/5

Oh my. This was a sumptuous treat. This story is atmospheric, dark and seductively wicked. If you want witchery, princes of Hell, eviscerations, Italian cuisine you can practically smell, and some whodunnit thrown in the mix, you've come to the right place. I enjoyed this a lot. This is definitely the first book of a series - that ending!! You do get a little bit of answer thrown your way for a bit of satisfaction at the end, but there is definitely a lot more to this story and I'll be hanging out for it!

I haven’t read any of Kerri Maniscalco‘s work before reading Kingdom of the Wicked but after reading this gem of a book, I’m going to have to quickly change that!
Set in 19th century Italy, this book follows Emilia di Carlos, part of a family of witches living secretly and owning and working in their Sicily restaurant, Sea and Vine. Emilia and her twin Vittoria are taught from a young age to fear the Wicked, Princes of Hell under the sins of Wrath, Greed, Envy etc, their superstitious grandmother Even giving them a cornicello, a protective horn necklace to *never* take off. When witches start ending up dead in the area, their hearts missing, and Emilia finds the dead body of her twin sister, she summons a Prince of Hell, Wrath and vows to not searching for truth and vengeance until she finds her sister’s killer, even if she has to go through hell to do it (literally).

There’s a lot I loved about this book, I found it incredibly easy and enjoyable to read when, to be honest, it can be a little hard to focus and read during a pandemic.
The world building Is fantastic, Maniscalo uses food a lot in her description of Italy and with it, you feel a sense of being there, tapped into that sense of taste/smell. She also has amazing skill in creating atmosphere, I have read horror books recently that didn’t nearly create the same menace, from the sound of frantic dragging the floor, to shadows, to footsteps, it’s just delicious how menacing certain scenes are, with demons and threats appearing.
Then onto the characters, Emilia looks dangerous in the face throughout this book, and yet you get to see her soft side too, she acts with pain for her sister cutting into her, with fear for what’s out there, and you get to experience her doubts and wavers and see her resilience in pushing through, which is my favourite kind of protagonist, scared but doing it anyway. That said, there are a few times when her bravado feels incredibly stupidIt’s, for example if she is told to stay inside for safety, she’ll go outside in the dark, usually without a weapon, because she won’t be told what to do. Similarly, yes Wrath is a Prince of Hell, but her attitude towards him feels unnecessarily confrontational at times and she is actually crueler to him than vice versa, just give the guy a break!
Talking of Wrath, he’s typical YA fantasy eye candy, mysterious and menacing, broody and sculpted to perfection , and usually I roll my eyes at this but I loved him because he felt more. The sexual tension between him and Emilia is just delicious, unbearably delicious at times, intimate and sexy and not gratuitous at all (although God, I wanted it to be lol), and I quickly added them to my top ships even though, well, read the book.
Pacing wise, it starts off strong, the prologue is great, I would say perhaps it drags a little at one point where it feels quite a few chapters go on only to loop back to where it started, and maybe the killer wasn’t quite the reveal but even then it’s enjoyable and I didn’t mind staying in the world longer. I desperately now need the 2nd book!!

Looking for a book to fill your Blood & Honey hangover with a side of ACOTAR? Then this is your book!
Thanks to hodder books and netgalley for an ARC of this excellent witchy book.
Perfect for fall and Halloween, there was a particular chapter near the start that I read in the pitch black whilst my other half was sleeping and it seriously gave me the creeps! I thought I heard a noise in my hall and nearly scared myself half to death!
But I really enjoyed this. I know the author is already well established with her stalking Jack the Ripper series, but I haven't read them so I hadn't any expectations going into this so I really was pleasantly surprised. There's a very well written steamy slow burn enemies to lovers romance weaved through a story of magic, loss and sorrow. Plus the Italian setting and all the descriptions of the main characters restaurant food had me drooling from page to page.
The mystery element to this book meant the pace was so fast for the whole book, you are constantly solving more of the mystery with Emilia. This is a book I didn't know I needed in my life, I certainly can't wait for the sequel!
Bravo, le sue cinque stelle da me!

Kerri Maniscalco is an author I kept my eyes on since her Stalking Jack The Ripper series (although I found Capturing the Devil a bit of a disappointment) and I was very excited when she announced Kingdom of the Wicked. The cover was enough for me to add it to my wish list, and the synopsis really intrigued me. Witches. Demons. Dark Magic. And an epic romance. I was ready.

Kingdom of the Wicked is set in the nineteenth century on the island of Sicily, Italy, and follows a family of witches who live secretly amongst humans and own a restaurant, Sea & Vine. It’s primarily about Emilia di Carlos, who, after discovering her twin sister, Vittoria’s desecrated body, vows to do anything to avenge her death – even dabbling in the darker side of magic that has been forbidden. She accidentally summons one of the Wicked, a prince of Hell: Wrath, and, while trying to overcome each other’s prejudices, team together to investigate not only Vittoria’s murder but several other related witch murders on the island.

I really loved how spooky the prologue was. It gripped me and I know that this will be a great read for October. I found the descriptions of the food and drinks really fascinating and it made me do some research into Italian dishes. I loved the concept of witches living in secret, and the idea that no matter how they try to integrate into human society, there would always be something holding them back.

I wanted to adore this book, but it, unfortunately, didn’t live up to the expectations I had for it. It wasn’t until around 30% that I started to struggle with this book, and I gradually lost a lot of interest in the plot. The pace is quite fast, and while I found myself turning the pages, I thought that the world itself was not developed enough for me to enjoy it. It moved fast until around the middle then became very slow, and I become extremely confused about what was happening or where it was leading. Even though I was reading from Emilia’s perspective I felt like her character was underdeveloped, and her narrative was very repetitive and sometimes unclear. From time to time, her narrative read like a stream of consciousness, but not in a decipherable way. The underdevelopment of character didn’t remain solely with Emilia but with Kingdom of the Wicked’s entire cast of characters, and their relationships to one another. It was really hard for me to connect or like these characters because even by the end, I hardly knew anything distinctive about them. And finally, this book is set in the 19th century, yet I had to remind myself a few times that it was because of how modern the writing style and tone was. Kerri Maniscalco’s Stalking Jack the Ripper series had the perfect historical fiction tone, and I thought that it would be replicated in Kingdom of the Wicked. Unfortunately, it wasn’t. There were often modern words were used, for example ‘boyfriend’, and the descriptions of clothes were strangely contemporary, especially when it came to Emilia’s dresses and her lack of corset. It was baffling me because Maniscalco can write epic historical fiction.

I want to thank NetGalley and Hodder & Stoughton for sending me an advanced copy of this book to read and review.

How long do I have to wait for book 2?! What an ending!

I thoroughly enjoyed reading about Emilia and Wrath’s journey whilst they try to uncover what and who killed Emilia’s twin. Wrath’s brothers are particular highlights, and I am hoping we will get meet more of them in book 2.

Emilia and Wrath’s relationship development was hot and spicy and I am curious to see how their relationship develops and changes in book 2.

I would have given this book 5 stars but the middle section didn’t hold my attention as much and I found myself drifting off. However the last 20% of the book really brought the book back and I think I flew through it. It was action packed and full of great reveals.

I haven’t read anything by Kerri Maniscalco before, but I have heard great things about her Jack the Ripper books so I think I’m going to have to give those a read whilst I wait for book 2. I hope I don’t have to wait to long! I need to know what happens next

It's not secret that I'm absolutely head over heels in love with Kerri's other series, Stalking Jack the Ripper, so I was so excited to get my hands on this book, especially considering its focused on witchcraft and the gothic and quite literally everything I love. The snippets of witchcraft history made me genuinely squeal with excitement.

Kingdom of the Wicked centres around a young witch, Emilia, after her sister was found brutally murdered. She is tasked with solving Vittoria's murder, and the equally horrifying deaths of other young witches in the city, where she meets Wrath, Prince of Hell and one of the Seven Wicked.

I adored the gorgeously gothic atmosphere of Kingdom - I loved the little throwbacks to 18th century gothic fiction like A Sicilian Romance, or The Monk. Emilia was clever, witty, emotional, and at times, wildly hilarious. I would read a 500-page book full of her interactions with Wrath alone.

I was also enthralled by Wrath and the other Wicked; I thought it was such an interesting spin of the seven sins. I'm so excited to see where the next book takes Wrath and Emilia (Princewitch??? I'm sticking with it)

Admittedly, I thought the dialogue was occasionally clunky, but I've had this issue with her other series before, so it may just be me. This didn't detract from my overall enjoyment of the book however, so it's still a five star read from me.

Another thing I absolutely adored was the humour - I was constantly laughing or chuckling at the banter between Wrath and Emilia. Maniscalco has always had a way of writing back-and-forths, but this book was banter Gold.

I cannot wait for this book to come out, so I can scream about it to and with anyone. Thank you so much to Netgalley, Jimmy Patterson, Hodderscape, and of course, Kerri Maniscalco herself for this gothic dream. I would (and certainly will) recommend this to anyone.

"A woman with a little power was terrifying to some."

Thank you to NetGalley and Hodder & Stoughton for an ARC in exchange for an honest and unbiased review.

This was the first book I have read by this author and I wasn't disappointed. Her other series has definitely moved up my TBR. Having read a lot of witch-themed YA this year, I can safely say 'Kingdom of the Wicked' has been my favourite.

The book follows a young witch called Emilia di Carlos, who lives with her family in the city of Palermo. Her Nonna raised her and her twin sister, Vittoria, on tales of the Wicked - the seven demon princes of Hell. When Vittoria is murdered, Emilia's only hope for answers is to summon Wrath. She last saw him standing over her sister's mutilated body, but he claims not to be the one that killed her. If not him, then who?

I loved Emilia's development. She was the quieter twin who often spent her time reading, or helping out in the family restaurant. Then her sister was brutally murdered and Emilia changed. She became hell-bent on revenge and I loved the fierceness she showed and her protectiveness when it came to her family. I enjoyed the back-and-forth bickering between the two and it was refreshing that she didn't fall head-over-heels in love with him. The romance is definitely a slow burn and Wrath is my newest obsession.

The world-building was also phenomenal. The city came to life with Maniscalco's writing and the food sounded amazing. The murder-mystery element built suspense and I was never bored with the plot. While I did guess the murderer, I feel there is more to the story and the sequel cannot come soon enough!!

If I had to summarise this book in two words, I would say: SINFULLY GOOD.

I am so thankful to Hodder and Stoughton for giving me the opportunity to read Kingdom of the Wicked before its release on October 27th (mark your calendars if you haven't already)

Dark and mysterious from the prologue until the very end, this thrilling murder mystery quest will send chills down your spine and keep you on the edge of your seat. The characters and the setting are so very well written, I felt like I was right there beside Emilia, exploring the streets of Palermo, seeking vengeance.

Also prepare yourselves to add another name to your list of swoon-worthy book boyfriends because Prince Wrath does not disappoint. I adored the constant rivalry and bickering between him and Emilia. It comes so naturally for them and puts a smile on your face when they get sarcastic with each other.

Another VERY important thing about this book is that it will make you HUNGRY. And no, I don't mean hungry for more action (though I must admit I need the sequel as soon as possible), but Kerri really doesn't hold back on the food descriptions and will have your mouth watering and stomach rumbling so make sure you have snacks.

Easily one of my favourite books this year and a 5/5 ⭐

3.5 Stars!

Kingdom of the Wicked is very reminiscent of The Darkfever series, which happens to be one of my favourite urban fantasy series, so, naturally, I very much enjoyed reading it.

The story revolves around twin sisters, Emilia and Vittoria, who are witches living in Sicily, hiding in plain sight among humans. That is until, Vittoria is found murdered, leaving Emilia and her family devastated. Emilia who is filled with grief vows to find her sister's killer, no matter what the cost. This results in an unlikely alliance between Emilia and one of the Princes of Hell, Wrath, who has his own reasons for assisting Emilia. What follows is a plot filled with mystery, betrayals and magic which was addictive, entertaining and exactly right up my alley.

I loved Emilia, she is sassy, fun, compassionate, basically everything I like in an MC. Same goes for
Wrath, there is so much unknown about him and his motives but every time he was on the page, it was just fun times. Emilia and Wrath has some top-notch banter throughout the book, which was in equal parts funny and heart-warming. I root for Emilia and Wrath wholeheartedly. In addition, this book focuses vastly on familial love, and I loved Emilia dynamic with her family, especially, with her grand-mother.

However, despite interesting characters and a fast moving plot, the writing felt a little choppy at times and was 'more tell than show'. Many mysteries were resolved way too easily for my liking and the story lacked good action sequences. There was definitely scope for some of that especially, towards the end. The world surely is filled with prophecies, other worldly creatures and interesting histories but because of the somewhat choppy writing, the delivery felt lacking. May be this will get resolved in the sequel, so we'll see.

All in all, it was a good and fun read for me and I am much intrigued to know how the story moves forward, especially after that heart-breaking ending.

I really enjoyed this book! I already thought I would enjoy it, having enjoyed the stalking jack the ripper series. I wish it hadn't finished on such a cliff hanger though, it's frustrating knowing I'll have to wait so long to know what happens next

Thank you to NetGalley, Hodder and Stoughton and Kerri Maniscalco for my arc of Kingdom of the Wicked in exchange for an honest review. I adored Kerri Maniscalco’s previous series, Stalking Jack the Ripper, and so I was beyond ecstatic to have the opportunity to read this novel before its release.

Kingdom of the Wicked is based around witches in Sicily, Italy. Emilia and Vittoria di Carlo are strega; powerful witches with a love of the mystical and dangerous. Vittoria is fascinated by the forbidden and attracts danger; Emilia is reserved and respects tradition, choosing to believe that the tales her beloved Nonna has told them since youth are nothing but folklore.

When Vittoria is discovered dead in the local monastery, her body brutally torn apart and her heart stolen, Emilia swears to find the murderer responsible and unleash Hell on them. She soon discovers that her sister’s murder is more complicated than she realised and is connected to the Wicked – the seven Princes of Hell, four of whom have unresolved history with the di Carlo family. When Emilia meets Prince Wrath, she is bewildered and confused. Claiming his innocence and stating he is determined to help Emilia with her cause, she doesn’t know whether she can trust him. It doesn’t help that he is incredible charming and handsome, a key piece of lore than Emilia overlooked; the Princes of Hell love to seal deals with intoxicating kisses and steal the souls – and hearts – of anyone they encounter. But with no other options and a desperate need to avenge her sister rising from within, Emilia may have to forsake all she knows in order to get what she wants – even if it means making a deal with a demon.

This was yet another five-star novel from Kerri Maniscalco! Kingdom of the Wicked is next in line to be a bestseller with this utterly bewitching tale. As someone who adores fantasy and witch stories, it is often hard to surprise and grip me. However, Kingdom of the Wicked was exceptional and completely blew me away. The characters were engaging and interesting, the plot fascinating from the first page and I am already obsessed with the book. Kerri was able to describe everything in such beautifully vivid detail that I felt as though I were in Sicily with Emilia, accompanying her on all her adventures.

I cannot possibly express how deeply I loved this novel. Kerri Maniscalco is an extremely talented author, and this is easily my favourite book of 2020, and I imagine it will remain there. I cannot wait to see what the next installment holds for Emilia, Wrath and all the other incredible characters.