Review: Kingdom of the Wicked (Kingdom of the Wicked #1) by Kerri Maniscalco

Kingdom of the Wicked

(Kingdom of the Wicked #1)

by Kerri Maniscalco

October 27, 2020
448 pages

Goodreads Summary:

Kerri Maniscalco introduces her next series, a dark tale of a beautiful young witch, a troubled demon, and their epic romance, set against a 19th century Italian backdrop.

Emilia and her twin sister Victoria are streghe - witches who live secretly among humans, avoiding notice and persecution. One night, Victoria 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 discover who did this, and to seek vengeance at any cost—even if it means using dark magic that’s been long forbidden.

Then Emilia meets Wrath, the outlier among the seven demon brethren, always choosing duty over pleasure. He’s been tasked by his master with investigating a series of women’s murders on the island. When Emilia and Wrath’s fates collide, it’s clear this disturbing mystery will take a bewitching turn...

Review

Kingdom of the Wicked with its enticing synopsis and inviting (into hell) cover is not a book to be missed. The story was atmospheric making it an engrossing read from start to finish.

If I had to pick one thing I loved the most about Kingdom of the Wicked it would be the mood and tone of the story. Kerri Maniscalco's writing pulls you in and drops you into the setting making you feel like you're inside the story living it right alongside the characters. "Choice is powerful." (p. 305). From describing yummy Italian delicacies to finding dead bodies to meeting the Princes of Hell, no details were spared.

Emilia was relentless in her quest to avenge her sister. Despite the descending darkness, nothing stopped her from her goal. From knowing very little to discovering the truths, Emilia bravely conquered her fears and faced dangers head on. Every realization was a lesson for her. "A twig was just a bit of broken wood until it had been sharpened into a spear." (p. 66). "People carved words into weapons often, but they only had power if I listened to them instead of trusting in myself." (p. 341).

Romance didn't play a huge part in Kingdom of the Wicked which I surprisingly liked. I'm still trying to figure Wrath out but I appreciated Emilia's honesty when it came to her feelings for him. They bickered a lot and things were fun while they lasted. What little love story there was satisfied me although I am hoping and am hopeful that the romance will have a bigger presence in the next book.

While Kingdom of Wicked didn't shine, as the first book in a series, it was the perfect setup for book number two. The cliffhanger ending wasn't so bad but I'd be lying if I said I wasn't dying for the next book. I am invested and need to know.

*I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own and not affected in any way. Any quotes included in my review were taken from the copy I received.