This book was wickedly delightful read filled with magic, murder and mystery!

Emilia and her twin sister have been hearing warnings from their Grandmother their entire lives to beware the Princes of Hell. As witches they have ensured that they take every precaution from monthly rituals to staying indoors on certain nights. Emilia doesn’t quite believe all the stories her Grandmother tells them until the night her sister is murdered. As she attempts to find the culprit she instead finds herself working with Wrath - one of the Princes of Hell.

Emilia is a fantastic heroine. She’s intelligent, determined, and loyal. I LOVED the interactions between Emilia and Wrath. Being forced to work together makes their relationship start with a lot of tension and it just builds from there. They seem to drive each other crazy and its so entertaining. For some reason these two reminded me a lot of one of my favorite book couples - Tella and Dante from the Caraval series. I cannot wait for the sequel and more of this story!

I simply could Not put this book down. Kerri Maniscalco has a gift with bringing words to life. Making it feel as though you're there.

And always giving us tall handsome men 🥴

I totally guessed who the bad guy was which was surprising because in her SJTR series I could not.

I am also intrigued to see where she goes after that ending because I'm shook.

This has been a highly anticipated novel for me this year. I absolutely LOVE Kerri Maniscalco’s Stalking Jack the Ripper series, so when I heard about a new book of hers I was pretty pumped. I had totally forgot I requested this on NetGalley, as it took the publisher a while to get back to me. I received the approval email the day after my birthday, and it was such a great surprise! I ended up starting the book on my lunch break that same day!

Emilia is a witch, along with her twin Vittoria. Vittoria is the more bold, courageous of the two, while Emilia is more reserved. When Vittoria is found murdered, Emilia must find the courage within herself to track down her twin’s killer. This puts her on the radar of the leaders of Hell, and sends her down a path of discovery about the heritage of her family and of all witches on her island.

I liked Emilia, she was so sassy. She at one point says that, unlike her sister, she would rather curl up with a blanket at home reading a novel instead of going out and partying. Why is this me??? She’s obviously pushed out of her comfort zone while trying to track down a sadistic killer, but she definitely makes the most of it. She is strong, resilient, and determined, and as she proves time and again, it takes a lot to keep her down when she is passionate about something.

I was very intrigued about Emilia’s relationship with Wrath. They are very clearly enemies being thrown together to find the serial killer, and you know I love the enemies to lovers trope. Demons and witches have been on opposite sides for generations, so neither is very happy with their forced arrangement. Wrath is a bit of a conundrum for me. We get to see a bit of a character arc for him, but he is still very much shrouded in mystery. I’m hoping we’ll get to learn a lot more about him in the second book.

The underlying plot of the story was a murder mystery, so as you read and learn more facts, you can start to assemble the bits and pieces together. I don’t want to say I completely guessed who the killer ended up being, but I did start to have my suspicions towards the end. It definitely didn’t end up being black and white, however, and there is undoubtedly more to the story.

Overall, I really enjoyed Kingdom of the Wicked and rate it 4.5/5 stars! I could see this series being a new favorite, and now I just have to wait longer for the next installment! I definitely recommend you pick this up when it’s released on October 27th!

“Maniscalco’s Kingdom of the Wicked is brilliant. Delicious as it is magical Maniscalco will have you ensnared from the beginning to end.” Cecelia Beckman, Sheaf & Ink

This book was so good!

I couldn’t put it down. From the prologue to the opening chapters I was instantly drawn in. The lore Maniscalco creates is fascinating. A combination of the old ways, Pagan beliefs of witchcraft verses Christianity and the fall of Lucifer, Maniscalco uses these threads to weave together a tapestry that is uniquely her own. While also including a murder mystery, a driving force of the story.

She builds and scaffolds a vividly rich world filled with magic inherently elemental. Our senses besieged by the delicious foods Emilia and her family prepares for their family owned restaurant Sea & Vine. This marrying of food and earth magic is intoxicating. Creating a hunger, a need, of wanting more.

Using the seven deadly sins as actual Fae Demonic Princes, who hold court in Hell, is utterly captivating. We meet a select few of said Princes, who find their way into the human world. Wreaking havoc in their wake, like a hurricane destroying anything in its path, while using their talents to ensnare Emilia and gain what they most desire: power.

But, Emilia is a force of her own. She leads with a strong voice having no scruples in staying alive and keeping her family safe. Determined, clever, and filled with a rage that is equal to that of her Demon Princeling, Wrath. Emilia will be placed as a favorite badass female character among the YA pantheon.

Maniscalco has sharpened her craft of storytelling. A true master of mystery and thrillers, in Kingdom of the Wicked she blends the two with dark fantasy, making for a satisfying read.

Wielding her pen, Maniscalco creates a harrowing tale that is splattered in blood, darkness and shadows creeping in like spilt ink, and a romance that you cannot get enough of. Gorgeously crafted, with a breathtaking attention to detail, this is a story you won’t want to miss.

Readers will devour Kingdom of the Wicked in a handful of days, if not hours. Packed with razor sharp teeth, devastating betrayal, and an ending that will tear your emotions into ribbons! Make sure to pick up this book and be prepared to experience every emotion.

Happy Reading ̴ Cece

*I received an ARC from Jimmy Patterson Books for an honest review.*

I loved this book! This has been one of my most anticipated reads this year, and it did not disappoint. Kerri Maniscalco has another hit on her hands.

Kingdom of the wicked follows Emilia di Carlo, a streghe or witch, and her mission to find her twin sister’s murderer. To do so, she tries to summon a demon. Emilia accidentally summons Wrath, one of the seven Princes of Hell.

Emilia reluctantly accepts Wrath’s help and together they try to solve the murder. Along the way, Emilia meets some of Wrath’s brothers. Each meeting leaves her more worried about the shaky alliance she’s formed. The more she learns about the Wicked, the more Emilia doubts what she knows to be true.

Death and destruction seems to follow Emilia like a shadow. She has to decide if she can actually trust Wrath or if she’ll have to finish her task alone.

This is such a wonderful atmospheric book. I loved the setting and the character building. This book definitely left me wanting more and I cannot wait for the next installment.

The last book that I read by Kerri Maniscalco left me with a sour taste in my mouth. So, as much as I was intrigued by the synopsis in this novel, I was also incredibly wary. .

As a reader, I love it when a writer manages to create a world in which it is easy for me to become immersed. And if there's one thing that this story excels at, it's that. The setting comes alive from the very beginning, and I became deeply entrenched in this magical world that Emilia, our lead, and her family has. From their history, to the powers that are part of their familial bond—which, in and of itself, is a lovely thing to see depicted in any tale to such depth—to the the way that they worship, and the enchantments that they create, to the food that they eat... The Kingdom of the Wicked is a thing full of life waiting to be unleashed.

Which brings me to our male lead, Prince of Hell, Wrath.

I was not a fan of the initial encounter between Emilia and Wrath. It was a bad first impression. I found her behavior to be rightfully irrational, considering that her sister had just been murdered and she, of course, has Wrath in her sights as a culprit. But she goes from acting justifiably irrational, to summoning him, to forgetting the fact that this is a Prince of Hell and some sort of fear would be instilled in anyone knowingly coming face to face with him, to attempting to pummel him with her tiny fists in puerile rage, to folding her arms and sniffly taunting him. Because as likable as Emilia can be, she sometimes shows hints of being the kind of person who is a little delusional about her abilities. I can easily picture her facing a horde of demons, most likely about to be ripped apart—I mean, given what he Umbra were able to do to Wrath, how in the world would she survive that—and still be completely confident that she can defeat them all. It comes off as ridiculous posturing, and instantly put me on edge to think that this would be another vapid disappointment.

Thank my lucky stars that things evolved and Emilia got her head on straight.

Wrath is, in one word, delectable. Given his role, this is a male who is supposed to his show his force wherever he goes and not easily bend his will. What I liked most about him is that while it is obvious that he feels some sort of softness toward Emilia—whatever his reasons may be, I myself am still guessing them even after some truths were exchanged—he does not change his personality and stop being the ruthless being that he has been for so long. You clearly still see the edge to him, he still has a bite to him, and I like that whatever personal thoughts he has towards this witch who's now in his life, they do not shift his purpose.

The story itself is entertaining, interesting, and has enough mystery to keep you hooked. I do feel that certain scenes were slightly rushed and sometimes even skewed (such as the ending of the second to last chapter and the beginning of the last, one segued into the other a bit abruptly), but the book is overall great, and I do not want to miss what's to come.

This story just keeps spinning in my head. What kind of sorcery is this?. I wanted to read as quickly as possible but I couldn't miss the detailed descriptions, full of flavors and aromas, each paragraph was part of an illustrated puzzle that left me wanting more.
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This book has everything that a good magic story should have, each plot and objects have their foundation giving a lot of sense and logic to each step of Emilia. Finally as this character changes and grows it makes it feel very difficult to leave the book behind. Literally, I think I'm going to do a new rereading.
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I hope the second part arrives very soon, I can't wait to see what happens and feel that mixture of flavors and aromas illustrating each page so deep in italian roots that makes me feel the taste of the Nonna dishes.
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As an avid reader of historys of witches and sorcery I could not be more satisfied. I am very grateful to #NetGalley, Jim Patterson and Kerri Maniscalco for letting me read #KingdomoftheWicked before it goes on sale this October 27, I really don't think there is a book that deserves to be read more this month, October is the perfect timing for.

Thank you NetGalley for a free eArc in exchange for a honest review!

First off, I’m obsessed with Kerri’s writing! She’s very dark and mysterious which is perfect for this October release! The characters were intriguing and make you fall in love with the story. Wrath was my favorite by far.

I did find this book very predictable and a little rushed around with the plot. I wish she dived into the storyline a little because at times it was too convenient and iffy. I still loved the story and can’t wait to see where the second one leads us!

I wanted to love it, I really did. But in the end I was just confused. The first 2/3 of the book were intriguing and suspenseful but the last third was a combination of predictability and confusion. Overall, I still enjoyed it and it was a great October read. I am also craving Italian food after all this delicious descriptions of the food Emilia and her family serves in their restaurant.

I had to take a few days before I could review as this book literally stole my soul. Kerri is a master with thrilling plots and characters that take my breath away.
Vittoria and Emilia are set up so perfectly that you can easily see their similarities and their differences to understand their actions as the book progresses.
The Princess of Hell.... well I will just say that I will sign any of contracts for the ones that we meet in an instant. Even the more evil of the brothers. They were each written beautifully that you understood who E was dealing with in an instant and just made all my love for bad boys bubble up to the surface.
Plot wise, it was twists and turns and me grasping my boyfriend’s arm in fear for the characters all over the place. I fell in love with everyone instantly and their trials tugged at heart strings.
I’m off to go put this book in everyone’s preorder carts so that I can find myself a Prince of Hell. Thank you for the advance copy, I can’t wait for my two preorders of hardcovers to arrive so I can display and reread along with Kerri’s Jack the Ripper series.

This was a the perfect read to kick off October! We get witches, demon princes, curses and curiosities, all under a rich Sicilian backdrop. Bellissima oscurità!

This was a deliciously wicked fun read. It enchanted from the very first page and wouldn't let go until the very end. And what an ending that was! It will be torture to wait for the sequel.

I think an astute reader will see some of the twists coming but have no fear there's still enough excitement to keep you on your toes and everything else is charming enough that you won't mind having guessed a bit of it earlier on.

It took me a little bit to really warm up to Emilia fully but I quite enjoyed watching her become a force to be reckoned with. Wrath was interesting but I feel like we didn't get a good look at his motivations or feelings, he wore it all close to the vest. I'm hoping to see Emilia continue to grow and become fearsome in her own right and get a chance to form a deeper appreciation for Wrath.

This was a great setup to what I hope will be a grand series with much more to discover. While I wait I think it's time I start the Stalking Jack the Ripper series. I need more by this author right away!

This book comes out on October 27th, and I am buying it for everyone.
WHAT. A. RIDE.

This story is set in 19th century Italy and follows a Streghe witch coming into her own power. Emilia finds the body of her twin sister, Vittoria, one night and all hell breaks loose (kinda!). Emilia is on a quest to find out WHO killed her sister and what is happening in her city. To do this, Emilia turns to something forbidden - dark magic. She summons a demon, who just *happens* to be one of the seven Princes of Hell. The demon she summons is Wrath, which like, hello - fitting because she is mad as all hell about her sister getting killed! Wrath had been given the responsibility to find out who is murdering women on the island. Do they work together?! What other demons does Emilia encounter?! You need to read to find out!

This was HANDS DOWN my favorite ARC of the year, and definitely in my overall top 10!!
Thank you to Netgalley for the ARC ebook!

Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for the gifted copy, all thoughts are my own

I was really looking forward to reading this book. It sounded perfect for an October read. First the cover is gorgeous!!!

When it came to the content of this book I was for lack of a better term, underwhelmed. It seemed like we were promised hot romance and really there isn't much. The food seemed more developed than the characters and it felt like all the character development some characters had made disappeared at the end.

While I still await the next book, I was left wanting more from the characters.

"I loved escaping from reality, especially during times of trouble. Stories made everything possible."

Thank you to Netgalley and JIMMY Patterson for an ARC in exchange for an honest and unbiased review.

Emilia and her twin Vittoria are witches and have been warned about the seven demon princes their whole lives. When Emilia discovers Wrath standing over her sister's mutilated body, she seeks answers and summons him. But he is not the only Wicked on Earth - Envy, Greed and Lust are also here and soon Emilia and Wrath are working together to find the true murderer.

I loved this book so much. It was gripping, fast-paced and well-written. Emilia's development was really enjoyable to read, as she progressed from the quieter and more obedient sister, to a fierce witch in her own right. Wrath was dark and seductive and I loved the banter between him and Emilia. I can't wait to find out what happens in the sequel and would highly recommend this book!!

I received an eARC through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

A slow burning fire that erupts into a scorching flame!

This was a solid 4 star for me for the first half of this story, but the latter half really picked the pace up and raised the stakes.

A murder mystery wrapped in magic and tied with a demonic bow, I couldn't put this book down. Delicious and deadly, Kingdom of the Wicked will slowly draw you in, step by step until you're running wild and your heart is broken.

Fans of hate to love tropes, murder mysteries and witchy secrets will adore this story.

"A twig was a just a bit of broken wood until it had been sharpened into a spear.Grief carved me in half.And fury honed the pieces into a weapon"

5 FREAKING FAT STARS

First off kerri- how could you stop there?? that should be the eighth sin lol

Aside from having a stunning cover, my first thought after starting the book is that it has a great many blends of my favorite genres and traits to quench my fantasy loving soul's thirst- Historical fiction, set in Italy, murder mystery, broody hero with MANNERS(yes I put that in all caps because the seems to be a rarity these days in books ;) ), forbidden romance, atmospheric ambiance with all the fantastical elements to captivate you with the perfect amount of spook but not outright scare you and last but not least a reserved MC lead that learns to kick ass as she goes

"Emilia Maria di Carlo didn't do danger.My sister was the adventurous one- I was satisfied with safe,clean and fun.Give me a steamy romance novel with forbidden love and impossible odds"

I loved Emilia ever since I read these lines, she is definitely my kind of girl, she is level headed, smart and extremely sassy and gives two squats if she had to fight the devil or the God for justice. When her beloved twin is brutally murdered, she ventures into an unexpected path with dangerous secrets and 6 foot 2 inch calamities, she keeps surprising herself at her own strength that she could draw when she believes someone she loves is in danger. I am not usually a huge fan of single POV's or internal dialogues but I loved Emilia's witty brains and its sassy comeback's, I have so many favorite lines from her.

I wished we had more of Wrath but I have a feeling we will see a heck lot of him in the upcoming books, he is broody with a hard shell exterior but you couldn't help but notice his good internal aspect peeking through often. I was sold when I read that there is a romance angle between a demon and a witch but what I didn't expect is a romance that is a chef's kiss- don't get me wrong because this doesn't mean there is a lot of steam but there is lot of rationale which I always prefer over meaningless steam.

Now that we talked about characters lets talk about the plot- Man Oh Man! did Kerri knock it out of the park with the masterful intrigue she weaved into the this fantastical mystery? I would say a 100% yes- she is exceptionally good at deflecting the reader from seeing what is right before their eyes, that being said I did see bits of it coming but the bread crumbs that she left leading to unravel the mystery is excellently executed, however I have 1 million questions and I wanted to be like Emilia and write all of them down, the gothic element of the book adds perfect balance to its demure historic fiction premise

Its a perfect book for the spooky season to pick up but I can't make any promises that by the end of it that you won't be willing to sell your soul to the devil or make deals with demons (pun intended) for the next book or for the answers you might need ;)

I'm a great fan of Kerri Maniscalco, I loved her other series Stalking Jack the Ripper meaning I had very high expectations for his book and I wasn't disappointed with the results, we got was a history that kept me reading till the end I loved the characters especially Wrath, they were very interesting and complex and the plot was very rich and exciting, I can't. wait for the next book, I would recommend this to my family and friends.

A prince of hell, a witch trying to solve her sister’s murder, and demons on the loose. Throw in some enemies to lovers, evil brothers, witches having their hearts taken out of their chest... and what we have is Kingdom of the Wicked, the first book in the trilogy. OH MY SWEET CANNOLI was this one heck of a ride. The story centers around twin witches Vittoria and Emilia who unleash hell, and Emilia finding herself stuck with one of the Princes of Hell, Wrath. I’m not gonna lie, I fell for both Wrath and Emilia, like sign me up. I love their dynamic and the delicious game of trust they seem to be playing at. The dangers are constantly lurking and Emilia is facing all kinds of hells. The murder mystery was such a fun touch to this story and I can’t get over the hate/love going on between Emilia and Wrath.They both constantly want to throttle and maim each other but when it counts it almost feels like they care, because as the saying goes, love and hate are a very thin line and the line tends to blur sometimes. I did really enjoy all the food touches that Kerri added to the store, it just made me crave going out and buying some (especially the desserts). THAT ENDING. THAT CURSED CLIFFHANGER. I am already craving for more, almost as much as someone would crave the kiss from a Wicked (wink wink). Anyways, yes please go read this freaking amazing book because its FREAKING AMAZING. (I’m just gonna go lurk in the shadows now and wait until the next book comes....)

*Thank you Netgalley and JIMMY Patterson for sending me an arc in exchange for an honest review*

Damn! This must have been one of my most anticipated books this year! It's no secret that I adore Audrey Rose and Thomas and even though we can all agree that technically Maniscalco's books aren't perfect, they touched me in a way that only few other books can do. I was therefore very curious if her new characters would manage to capture my heart in the same way. And I was probably even more curious to discover what Maniscalco would do with a fantasy setting! You can imagine how happy I was when I got an ARC from Netgalley.

Let me start with saying that the setting of this book is downright amazing! There are so many witchy details, so many nice touches and the feeling of being haunted and constantly on your guard is so incredibly strong. At times it's a lot of information to handle and remember, but even though I surely didn't memorize everything, I could still very much enjoy the story and I liked how a lot of things came together in the end quite nicely.

That doesn't mean I had to wait for the end of the story for the book to get exciting! The prologue is already quite intriguing and quite soon things are already happening. The action packed scenes, where danger is actively threatening our heroes, are mixed with calmer scenes, where the characters get to talk and contemplate what's going on. Therefore we especially get to know our main character Emilia quite well.

What I like about Emilia is that she's clearly growing and changing throughout the story. She starts being a certain someone, but circumstances force her to grow slowly into someone else. That growth and change goes very naturally and slowly and therefore the ending, that would have been out of character for her at the beginning, feels very fitting in the end. And then there is our prince of hell. I'm still kinda making up my mind what to think of him, but I like that. It feels like there's still a lot to figure out

And I guess that's the main feeling I have after this rollercoaster of awesomeness. There's so much still to learn and discover and figure out. So many questions are still unanswered and that ending! I really can't wait for the next book!

(ps. Do prepare to have snacks ready while reading this book. This book makes you hungry...)

Are you ready for a spooky October reads?

Our beloved gothic author Kerri Maniscalco is back with a brand new book (first in a trilogy), KINGDOM OF THE WICKED.

It is Ms. Maniscalco's first YA historical fantasy book that involves black magic, witches, werewolves or shape-shifters, other mystical creatures, and PRINCES OF HELL. Did that get your attention now?

KINGDOM OF THE WICKED sets back in around the 17th or 18th century in a small village in Sicily, Italy. Twins Vittoria and Emilia are from the long line of witches and are trained by their grandmother in witchcraft. They live happily and comfortably until one night, Vittoria was found dead, murder to be exact. The whole family is devastated, especially twin sister Emilia. She wants to find who killed her sister and why. She wants to avenge her death. She ignored her grandmother's plea and thus scummed into the dark magic.

I love the uniqueness, creativity, and the imagination of Ms. Maniscalco. She knows how to entice her readers like me. I have been looking for a story about supernaturals like the seven princes of hell (based on the seven deadly sins from the bible).

Rating: 4.7 out of 5 stars
My only issue is that the lead character is so annoying, and I was seriously about to put the book down if it were not from the mysterious Wrath, one of the princes of hell. Oh, did I mention that I HATE CLIFFHANGERS???

So, if you are like me who is dying to read about a book full of dark magic, witches, demons, and other unearthly creatures plus a super dose of murder mystery, then I highly suggest you include this in our October reads. You do not want to miss out on this one!

**Thank you very much to JIMMY Patterson and NetGalley for approving my request to read and review this masterpiece.