Kingdom of the Wicked

Kingdom of the Wicked is Kerri Maniscalco's 2020 adult romantasy novel that launched her most successful series and became a BookTok phenomenon. Set in 1800s Sicily where witches hide amongst humans, the book follows Emilia as she seeks vengeance for her twin sister's brutal murder by summoning Wrath - a demon prince who's dangerous, infuriatingly cryptic, and bound by rules she doesn't understand. What begins as a vengeance quest evolves into something far more complicated as Emilia discovers her sister's death connects to conspiracies involving both witch and demon worlds, and her partnership with Wrath transforms from antagonistic to something she can't - or won't - name.

The novel opens with Emilia and her twin Vittoria living as witches in disguise, running their family's Sicilian restaurant whilst hiding their magic from humans who would destroy them if discovered. The sisters are close - twins who complete each other's sentences, share everything, and plan futures together. This intimacy makes Vittoria's murder devastating. She's found with her heart carved from her chest in a ritualistic killing that suggests supernatural involvement rather than human violence.

Grief-stricken and desperate, Emilia turns to forbidden magic she's been warned against: summoning a demon. She hopes to gain power to find and destroy whoever killed Vittoria. What she gets is Wrath, one of the seven demon princes ruling the Wicked kingdom's circles, embodying the sin of wrath itself. He's powerful, dangerous, speaks in riddles and half-truths, and offers a bargain: he'll help find Vittoria's murderer if Emilia helps him solve a mystery in the demon realm.

Maniscalco establishes the enemies-to-lovers dynamic immediately. Emilia doesn't trust Wrath - he's a demon, bound by different morality and rules she doesn't understand. Wrath is maddeningly calm, revealing information strategically whilst keeping secrets that infuriate Emilia. Their investigation forces proximity, creating charged moments where antagonism masks growing attraction neither will acknowledge.

The Sicilian setting is Maniscalco's love letter to Italian culture. She describes markets overflowing with fresh produce, family recipes passed through generations, the importance of food as love language, and Catholic imagery reinterpreted through witch and demon lenses. The cultural specificity grounds the fantasy, making the supernatural elements feel woven into authentic Italian traditions rather than generic European fantasy.

The murder mystery drives the plot as Emilia and Wrath investigate. Each clue reveals larger conspiracies - Vittoria wasn't the first witch killed this way, the murders connect to ancient conflicts between witches and demons, and forces are manipulating events for purposes Emilia can't yet comprehend. Maniscalco plants seeds that won't fully bloom until later books whilst delivering satisfying reveals throughout.

Supporting characters include Emilia's family who don't know she's summoned a demon, other witches hiding in Sicily, and hints of the demon court's complexity that will expand in sequels. These relationships ground Emilia's emotional journey whilst the central focus remains her partnership with Wrath.

The romance builds through classic beats: forced proximity during investigation, Wrath's protective gestures he claims are purely strategic, moments where his careful control slips revealing vulnerability, and Emilia's growing realization that the demon prince defies her expectations. Maniscalco keeps the tension high whilst maintaining slow burn appropriate for a trilogy's first instalment.

The novel's climax delivers both mystery revelations and romantic escalation, resolving the immediate investigation whilst establishing hooks for Kingdom of the Cursed. Maniscalco ends with questions about Emilia's own heritage, Wrath's true motives, and what forces are truly orchestrating events.

Themes of grief and vengeance, twin bonds, forbidden attraction, identity and heritage, trust building despite secrets, family loyalty, and Italian culture celebrated run throughout.

The book's success stems from its perfect blend of murder mystery momentum, romantic tension, and cultural richness creating something that feels both familiar and fresh.