Title: Kingdom of the Cursed
Author: Kerri Maniscalco
Type: Fiction
Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy, Horror, Paranormal
Publisher: Farrar, Straus and Giroux
Date published: February 2, 2021
A complimentary physical copy of this book was kindly provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
After selling her soul to become Queen of the Wicked, Emilia travels to the Seven Circles with the enigmatic Prince of Wrath, where she’s introduced to a seductive world of vice.
She vows to do whatever it takes to avenge her beloved sister, Vittoria… even if that means accepting the hand of the Prince of Pride, the king of demons.
The first rule in the court of the Wicked? Trust no one. With back-stabbing princes, luxurious palaces, mysterious party invitations, and conflicting clues about who really killed her twin, Emilia finds herself more alone than ever before. Can she even trust Wrath, her one-time ally in the mortal world… or is he keeping dangerous secrets about his true nature?
Emilia will be tested in every way as she seeks a series of magical objects that will unlock the clues of her past and the answers she craves…
⤖ My Review ⬻
Those of you who read my review for the first book in this series, Kingdom of the Wicked, will know that I had fun reading that book and should therefore not be surprised that I jumped at the opportunity to read and review Kingdom of the Cursed! I had read Maniscalco’s Stalking Jack the Ripper series prior to Kingdom of the Wicked, which I also enjoyed…so I think it’s fair to say Maniscalco’s books are must-reads for me?
If you haven’t yet read either of the books in the Kingdom of the Wicked series, I advise you not to read on because you might come across certain opinions that might lead to spoilers. You’ve been warned! Okay, so the first book took place in 1800 Siciliy, which I enjoyed quite a bit. I was excited to explore a new setting in Kingdom of the Cursed, but also missed Sicility at the same time. Woe is me.
I will say that the new setting didn’t disappoint though! It was definitely fun to explore alongside Emilia and I didn’t mind spending more time with the princes of Hell either if I’m being completely honest. I was happy to learn more about them and the realm they rule together. Relationships also evolved and developed in Kingdom of the Cursed, which was entertaining to read for sure!
The mystery aspect of both Kingdom of the Wicked and Kingdom of the Cursed is definitely very fun to follow along with, and I have fun guessing what might happen or who might be behind what (even if on the occasion I was a tiny step ahead of Emilia). I was also happy to find that Kingdom of the Cursed was also a little more spicy. I will never say no to more spice if it’s done well, which it definitely was in this book. I recommend this series as a whole if you’re into paranormal plots and settings, romance, and mystery!
⤖ About the Author ⬻
Kerri Maniscalco grew up in a semi-haunted house outside NYC where her fascination with gothic settings began. In her spare time she reads everything she can get her hands on, cooks all kinds of food with her family and friends, and drinks entirely too much tea while discussing life’s finer points with her cats. She is the #1 NYT and USA Today bestselling author of the Stalking Jack the Ripper series and the forthcoming Kingdom of the Wicked.
⤖ Places to Purchase the Book ⬻
⤖ Let's Chat ⬻
Thank you for reading my review! Have you read this book? What did you think? And if you haven’t read it yet, do you plan to? Let me know in the comments!
