Author: Kerri Maniscalco
Publisher: Hachette Book Group
Source: Hachette Book Group Canada
Pages: 373
Buy: Amazon | Indigo Canada | Barnes & Noble | Book Depository
Rating: 4/5
"From the #1 New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of the Stalking Jack the Ripper series comes a new blockbuster series… 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 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…" -Goodreads
Thanks to Hachette Book Group Canada for providing me with a copy of Kingdom of the Wicked. Thank you for giving me the chance to read and review this book.
Maniscalco has once again created a series with loveable characters and an enticing plot. Kingdom of the Wicked got me hooked from page one. The author's writing style in this novel flows beautifully. The pace of this story is just right. There wasn't a moment while reading this book where I thought it was too slow. Kingdom of the Wicked is also a cover buy for its Instagram-worthy looks.
My favourite part of Kingdom of the Wicked was the characters. The novel is told from Emilia's point of view. I felt that her narration brought the world of Palermo alive. The constant banter between her and Wrath was also cute. I'm curious to see how their relationship will further develop in book two.
I felt a lot of the side characters were also well developed. There were a few side characters (Ex: Antonio, Carmine) that I would have liked to have seen get a bit more page time. I felt they weren't as fleshed out as the other characters.
I also really enjoyed meeting a few of Wrath's brothers. I think that was one of the highlights of this novel. The brothers were all so different, and I was always questioning their intentions.
Vittoria's death was a huge motivator for Emilia's actions throughout the story. Emilia is a very driven and determined character. She does not give up when things get hard. Instead, she becomes further motivated as a result. I could easily relate to this trait as I consider myself a very determined person. Once I have a motivator/goal stuck in mind, then nothing will stop me from accomplishing it.
The ending of book one will leave readers wanting more of Emilia's and Wrath's adventure. I have been left with a ton of questions. I'm curious and excited to see how this story will further unravel.
I felt the characters' motives, lies, and deceptions were what really kept me hooked on this story. I easily figured out who murdered Vittoria. However, it was the reason for "why" that kept me entranced throughout Kingdom of the Wicked.
Throughout this book, all I wanted to do was eat Italian food. Maniscalco does a great job of describing and introducing readers to Italian cuisine. It also helped to bring Emilia's world and her surroundings to life. I even went out and bought cannolis after reading a chapter.
The author also does a great job of creating a gothic, eery, atmosphere. I felt this was also true for her other series Stalking Jack The Ripper.
I would like to see more descriptions of the characters' surroundings. I think the author does a great job of bringing the world to life through the atmosphere. I was easily able to imagine my own version of Palermo. However, I desired a little bit more detail about the buildings and the Italian landscape.
Overall, Kingdom of the Wicked was a fun read. It was a great start to a series. The characters and the plot had me hooked from the start. The ending left me wanting more of this world. I'm looking forward to seeing what happens in book two.
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