Twin witches Emilia and Vittoria grew up listening to their Nonna’s stories about the Wicked - the Princes who ruled hell and who had not been seen on earth in 100 years - and helping out in their family restaurant. But when brutal murders start to occur and Vittoria fails to turn up at the restaurant one night Emilia’s quest for vengeance has the power to both unleash the darkness of hell (along with a couple of those vice-filled Princes and their lesser demons) upon their island and trigger one of the most intoxicating romances I’ve read in a while...

This really is a wonderful book. Kingdom of the Wicked has everything Maniscalco’s previous books have, plus witches and magic, under a very traditional magic system set against the lush, richly depicted island of Sicily past (because we don’t really do witch hunting these days, and because gowns are so much more magical than mere dresses!)

I really, really loved it, so why just 4 stars? Well I thought it was brilliant, but not as brilliant as Stalking Jack The Ripper, and while I loved reading it, it did not have that addictive quality that had me trying to sneak off during the day to read. I don’t give out 5 stars lightly!

This book spoke to me on another level, too. As some of you may not know, in my day job I’m a professional recipe developer and cookbook author so this book was not just a brilliant fantasy YA from an author I already enjoy. Good food is such a reoccurring theme in this book - the descriptions are beautiful, and Maniscalco has really captured in Emilia what it is like for creating recipes to be your main creative outlet, and I’ve actually got a few recipe ideas scribbled down from reading!

While I don’t think I’m going to love this series as much as Stalking Jack The Ripper (and I still need to finish the last one!) I am already really looking forward to the next one!

Oh my god, I really enjoyed this! If it wasn’t for my impromptu trip away, I would have definitely finished this book in one sitting. I was addicted.

I went into this book loving the idea behind the premise and this delivered so well. I was sucked in and the cliffhanger left me gasping for more. I need the second book now!

What did I like?
- Great writing, consistent and detailed plotting and pacing and the world building worked.
- I loved the characters. Wrath was interesting and the dynamics between him and Emilia were funny and worked. Emilia was strong and level headed and her actions made sense with how she was feeling. I saw her develop a lot over the book.
- THE ENDING. Lord have mercy and grant me book two please & thank you.

Overall, a well written, fun, supernatural fantasy that will have you gripped!
I received this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to Netgalley, Hodder & Stoughton, and Kerri Maniscalco for my arc of Kingdom of the Wicked in exchange for an honest review.

Synopsis: Set against a 19th century italian backdrop, witches live secretly among humans. Vitoria and Emilia are twin sisters, from a long line of witches, their family run a beautiful italian restaurant in Sicily hiding who they are from the humans around them. All their lives the twins have been warned against the risks of the Wicked, Prince's of Hell with kisses which can leave you bewitched and eyes that draw you in to steal your very soul, but they've never truly believed their Nonna's warnings. But when Emilia finds her twin's desiccated body and ends up summoning a prince of hell she has no choice but to believe that all the stories are real.

5 super bewitching stars to this! I was highly anticipating it anyway on account of my love for Kerri's Stalking Jack the Ripper series, but Kingdom of the Wicked just blew me away. I don't really like witch stories usually but Kerri brought something brand new and enticing to the story, I loved the Hades & Persephone vibes, I loved the Strega, I loved the different princes of hell and I adored the descriptions of Italian food which took me right back to fond memories of holidays in beautiful Italy. Emilia was a great character and I loved the tension and flirting between her and Wrath, dark romance is my thing and this was just perfect. All I can really say is READ THIS BOOK you won't regret it!!