Book Review :: Kingdom of the Wicked by Kerri Maniscalco

Kingdom of the Wicked by Kerri Maniscalco
ISBN: 0316428469
Series: Kingdom of the Wicked #1
Published by Jimmy Patterson
on 2020-10-27
Genres: Magic, Paranormal, Supernatural, Young Adult
Pages: 372
Goodreads

Two sisters.

One brutal murder.

A quest for vengeance that will unleash Hell itself…

And an intoxicating romance.

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 that 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…

Last updated on 17 December 2024

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What is Kingdom of the Wicked by Kerri Maniscalco about?

Kingdom of the Wicked by Kerri Maniscalco is about Emila and her twin sister, Vittoria, who are streghe—secret witches hiding among humans in their vibrant Sicilian town. Life is simple for them. They help at the family’s restaurant, stay hidden, and avoid trouble. But when Vittoria doesn’t show up for dinner one night, Emilia finds her twin’s body, savagely destroyed. 😬

Heartbroken and furious, she vows to track down the killer, no matter the cost—even if it means tapping into forbidden dark magic.

Enter Wrath, a Wicked Prince of Hell and the stuff of childhood nightmares and probably warnings, too. Wrath insists he’s here to help Emilia, claiming he’s on a mission to solve the string of murders terrorizing the island. But with the Wicked, nothing is ever as it seems—and trusting him could be the most dangerous decision of all. Dun dun dun!

My thoughts on Kingdom of the Wicked

If you’re into witchy magic, other realms, Halloween-vibe stories, then Kingdom of the Wicked is for you! I thoroughly enjoyed this book, and can’t wait to read the second, Kingdom of the Cursed.

“Love is the most powerful magic. Above all else, remember that. It will always guide you where you need to go.”

I really enjoyed this book. Like, a lot. Despite its dark and twisted themes (it’s not too bad, don’t worry). The world that Maniscalco has created is terrifying but wonderful; the 7 deadly sins – Lust, Greed, Pride, Envy, Gluttony, Sloth and Wrath – are houses in Hell, and are led by the seven princes. While we don’t know their real names, the Princes who make an appearance in this book are exactly as you would expect them to be, and do exactly what you think they would, were these sins personified.

The characters were mostly enjoyable (always something I’m very wary of), and the plot moved along at a good pace, meaning I read this in just a few days. I think one of the great things about this book, is that it has a little of everything: family drama, romance, murder, friendship, magic, church, baddies, goodies, and delicious food (don’t read this book if you’re hungry).

I’m really looking forward to picking up the next book in the series, Kingdom of the Cursed, and seeing where the story goes.

So tell me! Have you read Kingdom of the Wicked?