Title: Kingdom of the Wicked

Author: Kerri Mansicalco

Pub. Date: October 27, 2020

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5

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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… 

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This will be a spoiler free review. Thank you to JIMMY Paterson and Book Terminal Tours for the chance to read this early and help promote it! Make sure you check out the other tour stops for Kingdom of the Wicked! If you’re excited for this book, make sure you go pre-order, request at your library and add it on Goodreads!

Where do I begin?

Once again Kerri has me falling in love with the male love interest. I mean, how can you not love Wrath? I think it’s impossible.

With the way this book ends, I can’t even fathom what’s to come next, other than Emilia is going to be raising some hell…

I’m getting ahead of myself. I’ve only just finished the book and I’m still very much caught up in it.

I’ll be perfectly honest – I was a smidge wary going into this book. I’m a huge SJTR fan and that series is one of my all-time favorites. So, my expectations for Kingdom of the Wicked were high and my excitement was through the roof. When I found out that I was going to get a chance to read this early – I freaked out. Like, threw my phone with excitement and just about started. Vibrating with anticipation, anxiousness and excitement.

Kerri really doesn’t disappoint with this book. It’s engaging, keeps you turning the page – I read it in roughly one sitting – so it’s a quick read. Emilia isn’t who I thought she was going to be upon meeting her, and I thoroughly enjoyed her arc in this book. I’m really curious to see what kind of havoc she’s going to reign in book 2.

I really loved the world. I must’ve missed the part in the synopsis that set this book in Italy/Sicily – I’m not complaining, I loved it – but I was a little surprised when I started reading. It was so vibrant and easy to imagine. Though, to be fair, I’ve been to Italy, so I kind of already understood the vibe. I loved the restaurant and the moments of Emilia thinking of recipes. I loved how she viewed the world and how she navigated it – how she was quite to her sister’s louder personality. I also really loved how progressive they are – though that doesn’t feel like the right word…

I wasn’t expecting Vittoria to be so forward, or for Emilia to be. Don’t get me wrong – I didn’t have a problem with it. I’m all for Upper YA books. Give me more.

And then there’s Wrath.

Give me a dark prince who is misunderstood by humans and I will instantly fall in love. Hands down.

Hook, line and sunk.

I knew I was going to be done in by Wrath before I even started the book.

I love when dangerous characters – take a Prince of Hell, for example – are very dangerous, but they’re written in such a way that lulls you into a sense of security. Until BAM you’re reminded that oh, they aren’t good…they might appear to be cinnamon rolls, but they really aren’t. They get bonus points for when they’re inexplicably bound to a human and/or develop feelings for said human.

I’m so easily pleased. If an attractive, moody and broody Prince of Hell showed up at my door, I’d be done for. Gone. You’d have to come visit me on my throne in Hell. It would take a shockingly small amount of convincing.

As for the ending – which I enjoyed – I didn’t really expect the big reveal. I thought the book was going to go a different route, so when that character showed their true opinions, I was pretty surprised. And I’ve already said it, but I’m really curious to see what’s going to happen with book 2. I can already tell that Kerri is going to take us on a wild ride, and that we probably shouldn’t discount the length’s Emilia is willing to go to, to avenge her sister.

I definitely recommend picking this up when it comes out – I really don’t think you’re going to want to miss it. It makes you crave Italian food like there’s no tomorrow, but otherwise it’s so good, enjoyable and you get to meet Emilia and Wrath – he alone should be enough to make you pick up this book. Kingdom of the Wicked comes out October 27, 2020 so you still have time to get your pre-orders in!

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Which leads me to this little bit of fun news – there’s a pre-order incentive for those of you who have/will pre-order this book!

JIMMY Patterson books is running a pre-order incentive campaign. All who pre-order a hardcover, ebook, or audiobook edition of Kingdom of the Wicked before 11:59pm ET on October 26, 2020 will receive an enamel pin, signed bookplate, and pair of oracle cards. This offer is only available in the US and pre-orders from subscription boxes are not eligible. Upload your receipt, and see the Terms & Conditions and details here: https://kids.jamespatterson.com/titles/kerri-maniscalco/kingdom-of-the-wicked/9780316428460/bookterminalsocialkingdom-of-the-wicked&utm_content=preorder

I’m already planning on pre-ordering my copies from Barnes and Nobles – how about you? I know I definitely don’t want to miss out on these goodies, I mean, look at those oracle cards! I need them so I can frame them.

I hope you all check out Kingdom of the Wicked when it comes out later this month, but until then, make sure you check out Book Terminal Tours’ line up of amazing content for their Blog Tour of this book.