You’ve seen the cover. Two snakes, a dagger, and a skull surrounded by citrus fruits. It’s everywhere. If you haven’t read the Kingdom of the Wicked book by Kerri Maniscalco yet, you’re basically the last person at the party. Honestly, when it dropped in 2020, people expected another Stalking Jack the Ripper clone, but what they got was a dark, pasta-filled, demonic fever dream set in 19th-century Sicily. It’s weird. It's moody. It works.
Emilia di Carlo isn’t your typical "chosen one" heroine. She’s a witch who just wants to cook at her family’s restaurant, Sea & Vine. Then her twin sister, Vittoria, turns up dead. Not just dead—brutally murdered in a ritualistic mess. That’s the spark. What follows is a messy, blood-soaked alliance with Wrath, one of the seven Princes of Hell.
Maniscalco knows her audience. She knows we want the tension. She knows we want the food descriptions to be so vivid we actually get hungry. But mostly, she knows how to write a "slow burn" that feels like it’s actually scorching your fingers.
What People Get Wrong About the Kingdom of the Wicked Book
A lot of readers go into this thinking it’s a high-fantasy epic with complex magic systems like Mistborn. It isn't. This is atmospheric gothic fantasy. The "magic" is more about charms, protection spells, and ancient superstitions than it is about mana points or hard rules. If you’re looking for a 50-page explanation of how the ley lines work, you’ll be disappointed.
The heart of the story is the "Enemies to Lovers" trope. Wrath and Emilia hate each other. Like, actually hate each other. He’s a literal Prince of Hell who may or may not have played a role in her sister’s death. She’s a grieving girl who would sell her soul to find the killer. The dynamic isn't just "spicy"—it's a power struggle.
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Some critics argue that the world-building is a bit thin in the first half. They're kinda right. Maniscalco focuses heavily on the vibes of Palermo—the scents of rosemary, the dampness of the catacombs, the weight of the gold coins. It’s a sensory experience first and a political thriller second. You have to buy into the atmosphere. If you don't care about the mood, the plot might feel like it's dragging its feet until the final third where the twists start hitting like a freight train.
The Seven Princes of Hell: Not Your Sunday School Version
The Wicked. The Malvagi. Whatever you call them, the brothers are the highlight. Kerri Maniscalco took the seven deadly sins and turned them into terrifyingly hot noblemen who live in a literal hellscape.
- Wrath: The primary love interest. Golden eyes, tattoos that move, and a serious temper.
- Pride: The king of the underworld, mostly mentioned in whispers during the first book.
- Envy, Greed, Lust, Gluttony, and Sloth: They all have their own agendas.
What’s clever is how they aren't just caricatures of their sins. Wrath isn't just screaming all the time. He's cold. Calculated. He represents the kind of anger that sits under the surface like a boiling pot. That nuance is why the Kingdom of the Wicked book took off on TikTok. It gave the "bookish" community a new set of villains to obsess over who felt like actual characters rather than just plot devices.
The Sicily Factor: Why the Setting Matters
Most YA fantasy is set in a vague, European-ish medieval land. This book stays grounded in a very specific version of Italy. Maniscalco, who has Italian heritage, pours that love into the pages. The di Carlo family isn't just a group of witches; they are a family of cooks.
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The way Emilia describes making cannoli or pasta is almost erotic. It grounds the supernatural elements. When a demon shows up in a kitchen where you can smell the garlic and lemon, it feels more jarring—and more effective—than if it happened in a generic stone castle. It’s that contrast between the warmth of the home and the coldness of the devil that makes the stakes feel real.
There’s also the historical context. The Malvagi are treated like folklore that the "streghe" (witches) have been hiding from for generations. It feels like an urban legend come to life. You’ve got the Inquisition looming in the background, adding a layer of "don't get caught" tension that persists throughout the series.
Is It Actually Young Adult?
This is a hot debate in the book community. The first book is firmly YA. It’s got the angst, the discovery, and the fade-to-black romance. However, as the series progresses into Kingdom of the Cursed and Kingdom of the Feared, the "spice" level ramps up significantly.
If you’re a parent buying this for a 12-year-old, maybe read the first one first. By book three, it’s basically New Adult. Maniscalco shifted her writing style as her audience aged up, which was a smart move for sales but a bit confusing for library categorization. Honestly, the transition feels natural. Emilia grows up fast when she's literally navigating the pits of Hell.
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Decoding the Ending (No Spoilers, But...)
The final chapters of the first book change everything. Everything you thought you knew about the murder mystery gets flipped. Maniscalco uses a classic "unreliable narrator" tactic without making Emilia seem stupid. Emilia is working with limited information, and when the veil is lifted, the setup for the sequel is undeniable.
The betrayal hurts because the author spends so much time building trust. You're right there with Emilia, feeling the salt air and the grief, so when the rug gets pulled, it’s personal. It’s one of those endings that makes you want to throw the book across the room and then immediately run to the bookstore to buy the next one.
Actionable Steps for New Readers
If you're ready to dive into the Kingdom of the Wicked book universe, don't just skim it. Here is how to actually enjoy the experience:
- Eat before you read. I’m serious. The food descriptions will ruin your diet if you aren't prepared. Have some pasta nearby.
- Pay attention to the Grandmother. Nonna Maria is the most important character you’ll likely overlook. Her warnings aren't just "old person rambling"—they are the roadmap for the entire trilogy.
- Check the "Wicked" order. While this is a trilogy, Maniscalco has a spin-off called Throne of the Fallen which focuses on Envy. Read the main trilogy first, then go there.
- Look for the hidden details. Kerri likes to hide clues in the chapter headers and the little snippets of grimoire entries.
The series is a masterclass in how to market a book through aesthetic and tropes, but it holds up because the writing is genuinely atmospheric. It’s a story about grief, sisterhood, and the terrifying realization that the monsters your grandmother warned you about might actually be the only ones telling you the truth.
Go get the hardcover. The deckled edges and the hidden art under the dust jacket are worth the extra five bucks. Once you finish the first book, you'll see why the fandom hasn't stopped talking about Wrath for four years straight. It's a ride. Stick with it through the slow parts, because the payoff in book two and three is where the real "wickedness" begins.