BOOK REVIEW: Kingdom of the Wicked (Kingdom of the Wicked, #1), by Kerri Maniscalco ~ A Wicked Story Through and Through! *SPOILER FREE*

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

~ Kingdom of the Wicked (Kingdom of the Wicked, #1), by Kerri Maniscalco

When you have read a book and you’re this close to falling in a reading slump, and your life is a complete and utter mess, finding a book that’s quite addictive to read can truly cheer you up. Even if it is for just a few hours.

Hello awesome nerds and happy Saturday everyone.

First of all, let me apologise in advance if my future posts are going to be a bit more depressing than usual in the coming weeks. Being a Scorpio, such as myself, means that I live both the good and the bad phases to the fullest, being extra dramatic sometimes, until I’m ready to face life again.

That’s probably one of the reasons why I loved Kingdom of the Wicked, by Kerri Maniscalco, so much; because Emilia, the protagonist of the book lived every situation with just a little drop of extra drama. If you ask me, that’s what makes life beautiful, in a peculiar, bittersweet way.

But that’s a discussion for another day. Today’s post is about my thoughts and feelings regarding the new YA Fantasy series, written by this amazing, talented woman, Kerri Maniscalco, the author of the Stalking Jack the Ripper 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…”

Before delving into the actual review, let me remind you that this is going to be a SPOILER FREE review, so feel free to read it without warring about hectic spoilers or major revelations.

With that being said, let me start with the fact that, once again, the writing style was amazing and it hooked me straight from the beginning. The narration was fast-paced, the descriptions breathtaking and mouthwatering, all at the same time, the characters were so very relatable and at the same time intriguing, and the whole plot was something that truly excited me.

One of the things that make me fall in love with books, is its characters. Kingdom of the Wicked had characters to love and to hate, and that was what made me feel intrigued about the plot and want to know more. I admit, I would’ve loved it if Vittoria, Emilia’s twin, wasn’t murdered straight at the beginning, because it was a really nice change seeing my name being mentioned in a book. Plus, Vittoria had all that sass and energy I’d love to have right now, and she was such a fun character to know, that I honestly hope somehow Kerri Maniscalco brings her back (I swear, I don’t know anything).

But, I guess anything is possible when you have to do with Princes of Hell.

“A good book was its own brand of magic, one I could safely indulge in without fear of getting caught by those who hunted. I loved escaping from reality, especially during times of trouble. Stories made everything possible.”

~ Kingdom of the Wicked (Kingdom of the Wicked, #1), by Kerri Maniscalco

My only “problem” I suppose with this first instalment of the series was that I saw who the murderer was quite early. It didn’t really bother me though, mostly because the main interest of the book lied elsewhere.

It was nice seeing Emilia discover who she truly is. How much stronger and braver and smarter she really is, than she actually thinks she is. And it was nice seeing that not everyone is who we think they are, nor everything is what we think it is.

All in all, I ended up rating this first instalment of the Kingdom of the Wicked series with 4 out of 5 stars, and I do suggest you guys pick it up, if you haven’t done so already. I honestly can’t wait to read the sequel, Kingdom of the Cursed, which is going to be released on October 26th, 2021.

Have you guys read Kingdom of the Wicked? If so, and without spoiling anything, did you enjoy this book? How do you feel about Emilia’s and Wrath’s relationship throughout the book?

Let me know all your thoughts and feelings in the comment section down below.

Thank you all so very much for stopping by once again. It means the world to me and I want you to know that I most certainly don’t take your presence here for granted; I never will.

Have a wonderful weekend, beautiful people.

Till next time… Toodles!