Kingdom of the Wicked

Kingdom of the Wicked by Kerri Maniscalco follows Emilia, a Sicilian witch seeking vengeance for her twin's murder, who summons demon prince Wrath. This adult romantasy trilogy blends Italian culture, demon courts, enemies-to-lovers passion, and dark mystery.

Kingdom of the Wicked is Kerri Maniscalco's adult romantasy trilogy that became a massive BookTok sensation through its intoxicating blend of 1800s Sicilian setting, demon princes with morally grey appeal, enemies-to-lovers tension that evolves into passionate romance, and world-building that celebrates Italian culture whilst creating fantastical demon realms. Following Emilia, a witch hiding amongst humans, and Wrath, the demon prince of war she summons for vengeance, the series delivers everything romantasy readers crave: forbidden romance, political intrigue across realms, steamy scenes, and mysteries that transform understanding of both Emilia's identity and the supernatural forces governing her world.

Books in the Kingdom of the Wicked series

Kingdom of the Wicked (2020) opens in 1800s Sicily where witches live secretly amongst humans, running restaurants and businesses whilst hiding their magic from a populace that would destroy them if discovered. Emilia and her twin sister Vittoria are witches running their family's restaurant, content in their quiet life - until Vittoria is brutally murdered, her heart carved from her chest in a ritualistic killing.

Desperate for vengeance, Emilia uses forbidden magic to summon a demon, hoping to gain power to find her sister's killer. She gets Wrath - a demon prince from the seven circles of Hell, representing the sin of wrath itself. He's dangerous, infuriatingly calm, and bound by rules Emilia doesn't understand. Their bargain is simple: Wrath will help find Vittoria's murderer if Emilia helps him solve a mystery in the demon realm.

The novel establishes Maniscalco's signature elements: the lush Sicilian setting with detailed food descriptions that make readers hungry, the enemies-to-lovers dynamic as Emilia and Wrath clash whilst investigating, and the slow revelation that Vittoria's murder connects to larger conspiracies involving both witch and demon worlds. The romance builds through charged moments, protective gestures Wrath denies mean anything, and Emilia's growing realization that the demon prince is far more complex than she assumed.

Kingdom of the Cursed (2021) shifts settings as Emilia enters the demon realm of the Wicked - seven demon princes ruling seven houses, each representing a deadly sin. Emilia has no memory of her previous life but feels drawn to Wrath in ways she can't explain. As she navigates demon court politics, discovers her own hidden heritage, and confronts the truth about her connection to the demon realm, the romance between Emilia and Wrath intensifies. Maniscalco delivers the passionate, steamy scenes adult readers expect whilst deepening the mystery about Emilia's true identity and the forces manipulating events across both realms.

The sequel expands world-building significantly - the demon houses with distinct personalities and powers, the politics governing the Wicked kingdom, and the rules binding demons create rich fantasy whilst the Italian influences continue through Emilia's perspective and memories.

Kingdom of the Feared (2022) concludes the trilogy with revelations about Emilia's identity, the conspiracy spanning books, and the ultimate resolution of her relationship with Wrath. The finale delivers epic confrontations, emotional payoffs for mysteries seeded across three books, and the satisfying romantic conclusion readers invested in the series to reach. Maniscalco balances action, political intrigue, and intimate character moments whilst providing closure.

The trilogy is characterized by 1800s Sicilian setting celebrating Italian culture, demon princes representing deadly sins, enemies-to-lovers evolving into passionate romance, witch heroine discovering hidden heritage, dual POV (primarily Emilia, some Wrath), steamy/explicit romance, murder mystery driving plot, food descriptions and Italian cuisine, and BookTok phenomenon status.

Common themes include vengeance versus justice, twin bonds and grief, forbidden romance across species, identity and hidden heritage, trust building through conflict, family loyalty, power and its costs, and Italian culture celebrated authentically.

Maniscalco's prose is lush and sensory, creating immersive experiences through detailed descriptions of Sicilian markets, Italian food, and demon realm opulence. The romantic tension builds through witty banter, charged silences, and moments where Wrath's control slips to reveal vulnerability beneath his dangerous exterior.

What distinguishes Kingdom of the Wicked is Maniscalco's fusion of Italian heritage with fantasy world-building. Rather than generic European medieval fantasy, she grounds the story in specific Sicilian culture - family dynamics, Catholic imagery reinterpreted, food as love language - creating fantasy that feels culturally rich and authentic.

The series' addictive quality stems from perfect pacing, mysteries that keep readers guessing, and chemistry between Emilia and Wrath that dominates fan discussions and BookTok content.