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 Kerri Maniscalco, JIMMY books and Net galley for providing me with a EARC of "Kingdom of the Wicked" in exchange for an honest review.* This was good book,although fair warning : with all the food descriptions, def definitely have a snack handy. My favorite character has to be Wrath( of course I like the Bad Boy/Demon.) I think fans of Kerri's Stalking Jack the Ripper series will be pleased with with Kingdom of the Wicked. I can also see this appealing to fans of Holly Black's Cruel Prince series.

<i>Thank you to Jimmy Patterson Books and also to Netgalley for my physical and my eARC of this book!</i>

So I absolutely loved this book and that probably doesn't come as a surprise since Kerri Maniscalco is one of my favorite authors. And with her writing not only murder mystery but also fantasy/paranormal murder mysteries... I am absolutely here for this.

So there are these twins. Something happened when they were younger and they have secrets from each other while also being as close as twins can be. Not only that, but they are apart of a witch family that runs a restaurant (I love this). They both have these necklaces that they sore to their crazy grandma they would never take off. LOL, jokes on them because grandma isn't crazy and they should have listened.

Fast forward and a twin is murdered (SOBS) and the other one is out for vengeance. Little did she know that her fate was going to be tied up with The Wicked (The Seven Dead Sins turned The Seven Princes of Hell). In order for her to find out what happened to her sister, she has to lean a hand to a Prince..

Okay so I have a high obsession with with seven deadly sins? I think it is due to that episode of America's Next Top Model where they dressed up as the seven deadly sins in coffins and my morbid heart thought that was so cool. So while I was reading this I was also looking up and watching that episode. The Seven Princes of Hell (The Wicked) are vastly different than seven models dressing up tho. They bring out their "deadly sin" in whoever is around, they have secrets and grudges held against each other and one in particular is a new book boyfriend (whoops).

I loved the characters in this. I related to Emilia (the, er, not murdered twin) so much, because I already know if anything happened to my sister I would raise hell. So her obsession with finding out what happened to her sister and willingness to do whatever it takes was relatable.

The setting was spectacular. Kerri plays to her strengths and still has the historical fiction setting. The whole witches are the enemies of The Wicked was such a twist for me because usually witches and demons go hand and hand.

Beware of a cliffhanger tho! Super hate that I have to wait on the next book, but it also just gets me more excited. Like I honestly didn't see that ending coming as it was happening? And some pages were on the verge of getting steamy (fans self).

And the necklace the twins have? Yeah I'll be ordering on of those.

I loved it. This is a 2020 fav!

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.

I finished this book so fast...I think I read it faster than ACOTAR. The unique magic system with all the witches and demons really ties the story together and is also one of the main reasons why I love fantasy because you get to see a different take on how the authors choose to create their worlds. Emilia and Wrath are both so amazing and I love the sister dynamic between Emilia and Vittoria with the twin bone. The murder mystery plot is also kept me very engaged I hope there will be another book soon!

Thank you to NetGalley for approving my request to read Kingdom of the Wicked in exchange for an honest review.

Kingdom of the Wicked is the perfect read for all your witchy needs. There’s sisterly love, betrayal, hot princes of hell, and an overprotective grandma… I mean what more can you want? Kerri dazzles the audience with a self-reliant and strong main character that is willing to go to the ends of the earth to get what she wants. She might even sell her soul to a prince of hell for any kind of information…

The only critique I have is the fact that the whole story is in Emilia’s point of view and the thoughts that invade her mind are unrelenting and a little repetitive. Pages will go by and there’s no actual dialogue, just Emilia’s thoughts. I still enjoyed this book and gave it 5 stars for the beautiful banter, the strength of Emilia, and Prince Wrath… of course!

Don’t dive into this book if you want a story of romance. This is not it. It’s definitely building into a series where the romance is very slow burn… and honestly I don’t know if anything is “romantic” about the main relationship... maybe more of a straight up "sexual tension" situation, but there is definitely something there! As someone who thrives on fantasy romances, I still loved this book and everything about it so definitely give it a try when it comes out!!

I met Kerri Maniscalco's pen thanks to Stalking Jack the Ripper. A magnetic writing, which immediately fascinated me.
When I saw the Kingdom of the Wicked review request available, I knew it had to be mine!
Surplus that convinced me to read it? It is set in Italy, specifically in 19th century Sicily.

Everything revolves around a family of witches who live secretly among humans. The family is made up of two twin sisters: the first, Vittoria, is the loudest and most reckless, while the second, Emilia, is the calm one, who thinks before acting. She likes to stay at home reading and certainly not out solving witch murder cases.
But when one of the victims is her sister Vittoria, Emilia demands revenge.
She begins the investigation to find the culprit, dabbling in the dark arts and alliances with demonic princes.

One of these principles is Wrath (there are seven demonic princes and each of them has the name of one of the seven deadly sins). He is the classic arrogant and powerful protagonist who will make you fall in love and end up in a jujube soup (I have a soft spot for her male protagonists, as it happened with Thomas Creswell).

Emilia and Wrath can't stand each other, but in my opinion this is what makes the story more interesting!

The books are really super intriguing! Murder and magic give that extra pinch to the story.
As for the magic, the theme is not very deep, but I didn't think much of it.
Another fact that I loved? The escalations in Italian. When I found "vaffanculo a chi t'è morto", there I decreed the Maniscalco one of my favorite authors!
I am Italian and sincerely finding a part of Italy in one of the books of a super established author, makes me a little bit proud.

The Kingdom of the Wicked is a must to read. If you loved the Stalking Jack The Ripper series, you will undoubtedly love this one too.

Arc privided by Netgalley in exchange of an honest review.

Kerri Maniscalco does such a wonderful job of developing characters. While reading "Kingdom of the Wicked" I willingly followed these characters on their crazy journeys and also enjoyed every second. When witches are involved, I am always up for reading, but not every author has the ability to weave in the magical elements that truly make a great plot when it comes to the witches. Witch storylines are always full of culture, heritage, and rich family history. Connecting these aspects in such ways that the reader is able to still relate to the character is a true art.
I also enjoyed the art of movement throughout the story. From secret doorways, to creepy monasteries, to dark alleys on the way back to the normal homestead, Kerri Maniscalco described every detail so that you truly felt like you were there, on this journey with the characters.
The level of romantic intent was also delicately balanced. Personally, I could have had just a bit more attraction with the characters, but I understand that this is a YA story (*wink *wink). If I were to change anything about this story, it would probably be the ending. It felt a little unraveled for me, and I kind of lost the grasp on the story.

Spoiler alert coming >>>>>>. Don't read the next sentence if you haven't read the story. >>>>>>>>>> Seriously.>>>

Ok, so I don't understand how Wrath dies all of a sudden, and then he's back all of a sudden. I know there was a summoning spell, which didn't appear to work at first, but then somehow he ended up coming back. But then there was not more steamy, hot, or sexy Wrath. It was like he just kind of fell flat at the end. Not sure if it was just me, but that's the only thing I would change.

I will definitely recommend this one to others. I love Kerri Maniscalco's writing style and am so thankful for her ability to share her gift with the literary world.

After the Stalking Jack the Ripper series, I couldn’t wait to get my hands on anything else by Maniscalco. I was so excited when I saw this title. It looked just as dark and intriguing. I was not disappointed.

The characters throughout Kingdom of the Wicked are witty, relatable, and fun. I thoroughly enjoyed following Emilia’s adventures. She shows great emotions, some critical thinking, and great wit that, even when getting her into trouble, is so much fun to read. Wrath is an enticing leading man. He is dreamy and terrifying all in one and I just couldn’t get enough of him. The other princes were well portrayed and played well into the plot. Some minor characters fell flat, but they played their purpose and were soo forgotten.

The storyline of this novel was pretty clear cut. There has been a murder, now let’s get to the bottom of it. Of course it is not that easy. The twists and turns are well done and, even though I guessed it early on, the final reveal was well deserved. This at times played more into a love/hate romance, but it was a nice break and quickly refocused on the crime at hand.

One thing I was a little disappointed in was the world building. I loved the scenery of Palermo with the church in rule, ladies in finery, and Italian food everywhere. That I could picture. The magical realm needed a little more details for me though. Many “histories” were mentioned throughout the novel as Emilia recounts the stories that Nonna told her. Some are repeated many times over (La Prima’s Curse) but didn’t get any more detailed so did not further the story and become redundant at times. I would have liked to have known more about these stories and more about the magical lines that Emilia and her family are a part of.

As this was the first in a series, hopefully so much more will be revealed in the next installment(s). I looked forward to them so much. I cannot wait to see Emilia’s next steps and how Wrath and the others will react to them. Looking forward to recommending this heavily to my YA patrons!

Thank You NetGalley, Publisher and Author for this gifted copy.

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.

Such a Twisty, Tense, Witty book.
The characters I just fell in love with.
And that ending.
Witches usually are not my thing. But Kerri really hit it out if the ball lark with this one.
Amazing

LOVED this book. I know that Maniscalco wrote a very popular series before this book came out, but I've not read that one yet. Well, now I will. Kingdom of the Wicked is fantastic. There's murder, intrigue, and a lot of sassiness. It's bold, and fun, and even a little cute at times, but not in the OMG way. More like, Ok, I see what you're doing here.



It doesn't happen too often that I find a book I wanted to read in one sitting, but this one absolutely falls in that category. Our main character is a witch, dealing with a demon who was summoned here for unknown purposes. We learn about the layers of Hell. We learn about witches, and demons, and sorcery, and oh god, I can't even go on, but it is damn, damn good (no pun intended - okay, maybe a little).



You sort of want the main character to get in on with a demon, and that's where I'll leave you. Pick up this book as soon as it releases. I promise you'll thank me later!



Kingdom of the Wieked publishes 10.27.2020.



5/5 Stars

If you liked Maniscalco's Stalking Jack the Ripper series, you are very likely to like Kingdom of the Wicked as well. It has an interesting premise and the writing is once again very strong. Having the Seven Sins in this book was definitely a cool concept and the characters were interesting to read about.

In a world of witches and the wicked, nothing is as it seems...When Emilia's twin is brutally murdered, she vows to do whatever necessary in order to exact vengeance on the murderer and avenge her sister's death. Following the trail of clues unintentionally left by her twin, Emilia finds herself summoning the Prince of Wrath and employing his assistance in hunting down the killer. Yet as Emilia delves deeper and deeper into the dark arts, she has to decide: what price is she willing to pay? And just how far is she willing to go?

How prophetic that Kingdom is slated to be released so close to Halloween! Definitely a story for the spooky season, readers now have the choice to make it their Halloween 2020 read thanks to the release date. This story was full of thoughtful details that I supremely enjoyed; for instance, the Princes of hell (at least the ones we met) were written very creatively--it's as though she brought our ideas of each of the seven deadly sins to life. I also enjoyed the details of the restaurant that were provided at the beginning of the book, such as the recipes mentioned. Maniscalco combines her obvious love of family and dark, wicked things in this book and it is something that blends together very well in the way only Kerri seems able to accomplish.

The only minor issue I had with this book is I didn't feel the romance was up to snuff with what I was expecting after reading Stalking Jack the Ripper. At the end of the book I was super confused as to what was going on in regards to that, but nevertheless, I am very interested to see where we go with it all in book number two.

Good books always end too soon. Right from the getgo, I was drawn in. Witches. Italy, dark princes with manners (kind of). Very good storyline. I liked that it wasn't predictable, it had me guessing.

Going into this I only knew 19th century Italian backdrop with witches. So I was pleasantly surprised at the seven Princes of Hell, each representing a deadly sin. We don’t meet them all but I’m intrigued to if we meet the rest in book two.

Due to my reading mood this took a few chapters to get into. But once I sat down and properly read I found myself captivated by this world, characters and story. Not wanting to put it down.

Kerri Maniscalco writing creates an dark intense atmosphere I couldn’t get enough of.

When it comes to the characters created Wrath is a brooding Prince of Hell. Cocky, arrogant, powerful, morally gray flirt you can’t help but love. The instant chemistry with Emilia, the banter and bickering had me at one point blurting out JUST KISS ALREADY. Talk about a potential slow burn romance. At least I hope that’s where its heading. I just love them together.

The added mystery regarding the murders intrigued me. Although I didn’t find myself trying to figure it out. Instead just letting myself enjoy the book and see if anything stood out as a clue. I was surprised by the reveal.

The cliffhanger has left me wanting more ASAP. I need to know about basically everything. The curse, Wrath and Emilia relationship, Pride, the other Princes.

*3.5

I found the book very funny and intriguing but, unfortunately, it wasn't up to my expectations. 
The plot is very simple and a little plain, it reminded me a mix between Caraval and Stalking Jack the Ripper, but I always love witch stories so it felt like coming back home. It was also a very fast read, I'll give it that.

Two other things I liked were the setting and the romance. 
The setting it's a little bit stereotyped (you're talking to an italian here) but overall it was good and I enjoyed finding some words in my native language.
The romance is nothing I've never seen but I found it very entertaining and I always adore Hate to Love.

Let's get to the sore points! Unfortunately I found some elements in the story a a little bit annoying: first of all the characters. 
Emilia, the protagonist and her love interest seems the only ones with some characterization, even If Wrath was introduced as the terrible and evil demon and it's a lamb instead.
The secondary characters are relegated to the background, for example Emilia's family is presented to us and we don't even know her father's name just because it isn't important for the plot.
I know it can seem a small thing, but we get to know the neighbor's name and not the one of an important person in her life?
This thing makes all the story predictable, I immediately guessed the evil guy and the final plot twist because he was the only character that was introduced to us that wasn't APPARENTLY involved with all of this.
I think it's important to give all the characters a little bit more background and not only use them as puppets, don't you think?

In conclusion, it wasn't a bad book at all and I still believe a lot of people will appreciate it and even love it, but I wasn't entusiast about it.

Kerri Maniscalco has done it again. She has written a vivid world full of characters that draw you right into their stories.

Emilia's transformation throughout this story was a thing to behold. I loved her, and hated her, and cheered for her.

The Princes of Hell were beautifully terrifying. I love that Maniscalco didn't try to make them something they aren't.

This story was not sweet or soft, it is a fierce exploration of grief and vengeance and how far we are willing to go for justice. I cannot wait to see what happens in the next book!

Kingdom of the Wicked is a highly entertaining paranormal murder mystery set in Italy, complete with swoon-worthy demons, witchy vibes, and all the food descriptions you could ask for. While the historical elements aren't the most accurate - language, attitudes, and beliefs are largely modern - it has great Italian-inspired atmosphere that makes this a fast and immersive read. It doesn't do anything wildly inventive with the genre, but it's a lot of fun and has all the makings of a "ship" that readers can obsess over. A slightly rushed and confusing ending was a little jarring, but a cliffhanger will leave readers wanting more.

Recommended for fans of Jennifer L. Armentrout and paranormal romance.

This was good but somewhat repetitive. I found myself skimming some pages because I felt like I had already read some of the material. It was still enjoyable and had an excellent mystery component to it. I will still purchase for my library.

Witches, Demons, Curses, Religion, Dead Bodies and Mediterranean Food Delights. I don’t know which held my attention more the story or the glorious foods. Just wait, you’ll see.
This is my 4th book from this author. She loves strong women who don’t follow societies rules and limits well. This one stared a witch, one whose family owns a restaurant, a Mediterranean month watering one. The story follows Emilia, a young witch who finds her twin sister’s body deep in a church with a man dipping his fingers into her open chest and he’s tasting her blood. There are rumors, ancient stories and and lot of danger as to what is going on. Someone is killing witches, the why and who are a tricky thing. Emilia will do anything to find the killer, and does unleashing Wrath. Nothing comes easy, nothing comes without cost, nothing is as it seems.
Oh this was fun. I really loved the characters, they all fit so well into their parts. They were written well I felt I knew even the smallest one without a long backstory. Wrath, my favorite naughty character. I was left gasping, that ending ! I can’t get my hands on the next book fast enough, well right after I eat my cannoli. :P