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Kingdom of the Wicked (Kingdom of the Wicked, #1)

Kerri Maniscalco

Start date: March 10, 2023

Finish date: April 10, 2023

Discussion: Buddy Reads 2023

Why we're reading this: March BR
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Buddy Reads 2023

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What Members Thought

Oct 23, 2020 Lauren Stoolfire rated it really liked it

Shelves: fantasy, young-adult, historical-fiction

I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Kingdom of the Wicked (Kingdom of the Wicked #1) by Kerri Maniscalco was one of my most highly anticipated releases of this month. I absolutely adored her Stalking Jack the Ripper series, so my expectations were pretty sky high for her newest series opener. Luckily for me, it mostly pulled it off. The atmosphere of this book is off the charts and I also particularly enjoyed the world-building of the story's 19th century Italy and ...more

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Nov 06, 2021 Ashley W rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: 0part-of-a-series, 301-400-pages, genre-fantasy

"I hoped the kingdom of the wicked was ready for a vengeful queen."
Each time I read this book, I enjoy a different part of it. For me, this time, it was noticing all the little signs that Wrath liked Emilia. Getting her the dresses in his colors. Her bath - he got the flowers for her hair! When he felt betrayed because she trusted Envy so easily after all he'd done. I wonder how things would have progressed between them if the marriage and his plan hadn't been outed. How he said my Emilia to Ant "I hoped the kingdom of the wicked was ready for a vengeful queen."
Each time I read this book, I enjoy a different part of it. For me, this time, it was noticing all the little signs that Wrath liked Emilia. Getting her the dresses in his colors. Her bath - he got the flowers for her hair! When he felt betrayed because she trusted Envy so easily after all he'd done. I wonder how things would have progressed between them if the marriage and his plan hadn't been outed. How he said my Emilia to Antonio. I just loved them so much more this time.
I also sympathized a little more with Vittoria this time. I sort of glossed over how she may have really been trying to stop all this chaos in favor of just thinking she was selfish and impulsive.

Favorite Quotes

There are worse fates than fire and ash.

Fear made monsters of men.

Where was Emilia's family?? I mean, I know where they were, but one of their daughters was just murdered. I would be keeping the other under lock and key. I get that they are busy and mourning, but priorities! Also, Nonna really should have told both twins about the prophecy sooner. Like before they are either dead or making deals with demons. Why would she keep that to herself????

Pretty much everything else. First I really liked the relationship between Wrath and Emilia and how they grew closer, but that ending? What will happen to them now? Will Pride care if she goes off with Wrath? Are she and Pride actually married now? I can't imagine he cares too much about what she does, but then he is Pride. The twist at the end with Brother Antonio was pretty unexpected, but not really if that makes sense. Obviously, he's going to be anti-witch, so it makes sense. But then, I didn't think he would be the one actually killing them. More like killer adjacent. Really liked the world building and how Italian everything really was. Like, OMG the food. I was so hungry the whole time I was reading. And how the magic stayed with the one theme of the Italian witches and wasn't just a mash up of different traditions, even if it was made up. There was a lot of suspense and the reader never knew what kind of demon would pop out next or who was sending it. Very eager to see what Emilia does to hell in the next book. ...more

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Dec 13, 2020 Lizz (Beer, Books and Boos) rated it liked it · review of another edition

I enjoyed this book and it was something I could escape into but I did feel like it was rushed. I loved the setting, I was really immersed in that and I wish I had more. I wasn’t feeling the relationship between Emilia and Warth, again it feel a little rushed and force. Though with all the being said, I did enjoy the book and it was a good book to read on a rainy day. I liked the writing and pacing of the book, I will probably try to pick this book again. I will get a physical copy of the book a ...more

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Aug 29, 2024 Wealie rated it it was ok · review of another edition

Shelves: 0-purchased, 0-audible, 1st-of-series, 0-series-read, listened, challenge-read, mng-read, read-in-2024

2.5 stars - Not badly written, but I just couldn't connect with the protagonist Emilia and her flip flopping attitude towards her potential love interest / enemy - Wrath. Not to mention how quickly she flips all her own beliefs and practices back and forth and then it ends on a cliff hanger. Can't say I care enough about the characters to read the rest of the trilogy. ...more

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Oct 25, 2022 Stacey rated it liked it

Shelves: own, booksta-tok

Interesting world, likeable MC, suitably grumpy and mysterious love interest and no end of bad guys. I got a little bogged down occasionally by the world building, but I feel like I'm going to love the next book in the series. ...more

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