Kingdom of the Cursed

Written by Kerri Maniscalco

Narrated by Marisa Calin

From a #1 New York Times bestselling author comes a sizzling, sweepingly romantic story filled with dangerous secrets, evil twins, and powerful magic.

One sister.
Two sinful princes.
Infinite deception with a side of revenge . . . Welcome to Hell.

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 . . . 

• Language: English
• Publisher: Hachette Audio
• Release date: Oct 5, 2021
• ISBN: 9781549184079

Kerri Maniscalco

Kerri Maniscalco is the #1 New York Times and Sunday Times bestselling author of the Stalking Jack the Ripper series, the Kingdom of the Wicked series and her adult fantasy romance Prince of Sin series, including Throne of the Fallen, Throne of Secrets and Throne of Nightmares. Kerri grew up in a semi-haunted house outside New York City, where her fascination with dark, atmospheric settings began. To date, her books have been translated into more than twenty languages and have been viewed on TikTok a few hundred million times.

Reviews for Kingdom of the Cursed

[headinherbooks_27 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I love this series. It had a little bit of everything: romance, dark fantasy, demons, the devil, witches, werewolves, underworld setting, magic, supernatural abilities, curse, humor, secrets, and multilayered of mysteries. However, as the main character attempted to unravel the multilayered mysteries, I felt as if I was being led down a rabbit hole where concrete facts and fabricated conspiracies are indistinguishable. Overall, I give this book 5 stars for being thought-provoking and compelling. I am intrigued on how the author will execute the ending.

[belbo713 · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

Unfortunately, this just didn't hit the mark for me. Where the story began, rooted in Italian folk magic, family, community and the dynamic of a coven, feels as though it has all been thrown out the window. It feels like this has been done in service of the romantic subplot, which is now the most interesting thing about the story.

Hoping that the final book in the series will bring things together.

[kiaya40 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

This story was well, not what I expected and I don't know what I expected. The thing is when I saw this book and decided to get it to read it was because I liked her other books with Stalking Jack the Ripper and well, this book is not like those. Also, I didn't know that this was a second book so I was a little lost when I listened to this audiobook.
After I listened to this for a little while, I started to figure out a lot of the storyline or the idea anyway. Once I knew the basic story idea, I knew this wasn't my type of book. Also, this is more New Adult than Young Adult with the content that can get quite explicit with bedroom scenes and the romance. This story is interesting with Emilia and the Prince of Wrath in Hell. She is going to avenge her sister and while she's working to avenge her sister, she and Wrath continue to develop their relationship. This story is mostly about Emilia and Wrath and their relationship so this is mostly character-driven.
This audiobook was interesting and the narrator did a great job with the story and the book. The narrator did really well doing the voices and bringing this world and characters to life. Thanks to Hachette Audio for letting me listen and review this book.

[Angela Herondale · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Lately, I've been interested in books about witches, particularly in fantasy literature.

I couldn't ignore giving this writer another chance, especially since I loved "In the Hunt for Jack the Ripper."

This book is not bad; I thought it would only feature witches, but it turns out there are more creatures, and I hope they are well-developed because I'm interested.

What I do think is that a basic fantasy book doesn't have grand scenes, but it doesn't need them since it starts off as the synopsis suggests. It was obvious the path certain characters would take (for the most part), but I was surprised by just one. All the events happen super quickly, and well, the ending left me wanting more; I just don't know if Emilia will undergo another transformation, considering she had one in this book that I really liked. (Translated from Spanish)

[DaniParedes22 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I couldn't be more in love. While I didn't like the first book as much and even found it boring, the second and even the third were full of surprise after surprise, things I couldn't even imagine.
I don't know who I like more, Samael (wink) or Emilia.
5/5 and I feel I'm being modest. (Translated from Spanish)

[NaniBani · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This book has taken me back to those reading times of my 16-20 years when I devoured fantasy literature. Although the plot is not complex at all, it is an easy read that hooks you almost from the beginning.

The characters are not complicated, but they are surrounded by an aura of mystery that makes you want to know more. I believe that, being the first in the series, it sets the stage for what is to come. In other words, it introduces you to the world, the characters, and the conflict so that you can immerse yourself in the saga and want more and more.

I can't wait to get my hands on the second and the third parts. Furthermore, I’m not ruling out reading something else by the author.

This book has rekindled my desire to read fantasy again. It has everything: fantasy, love, magic, revenge, mystery…. I definitely recommend it to those who enjoy the genre. (Translated from Spanish)

[jvijavii · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

||Spoiler-free review||
At first, the book seemed a bit boring to me; if you're experiencing a reader's block, I definitely don't recommend it. On the other hand, as the book progresses, the plot becomes more interesting, and the interactions with Wrath are the best part. I felt there were many themes, not all of which were explained clearly, making it a bit difficult to get hooked on the story.
3.5⭐️ (Translated from Spanish)

[randymorgan-144387 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Emilia’s main priority is retribution for her sister’s death, and to discover who was killing witches in Sicily. This time she is looking for clues in the Seven Circles, where Emilia is surrounded with back- stabbing princes, luxurious palaces, and ravishing soirees. Emilia is hosted by Price Wrath, who is evasive as ever, but has a large library where Emilia seeks information about witches.

Kingdom of the Cursed is the sequel to Kingdom of the Wicked. Marisa Calin’s narration was airy and seductive which was spot on with Emilia’s personality. This book is plentiful in character development which keeps the reader engaged. Kerri Maniscalco made the leap from a slow burn romance to multiple sexually explicit scenes. Still, I have the next book on hold!

Content Warnings: blood, grief, gore, violence, mention of loss of a loved one, brief mention of the topic of rape, drugging, a lot of sexual themes and scenes, and a full warning that chapter 17 has very questionable physical consent involving mind control powers using magical compulsion.

[El Caldero Literario · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

I was encouraged to read this book because it is by an author I thought would be one of my favorites, as I really like her Jack the Ripper saga even though I haven't finished it because I've only read the first two. It’s definitely worth it, and that's why I decided to read this book; I proposed it in my book club, and it was accepted, but it wasn't what I expected, and I ended up abandoning it halfway through. However, I had the chance to read it again in a different book club dynamic, and although it took me a while, I discovered that it’s not as bad as it seems. I know I left it halfway again, but I think the fact that I was using it for two different things—Book Club and Amarie's Epic Magical Challenge—motivated me to finish it. This story is about twins named Emilia and Vitoria who live with their parents and grandmother. They are witches, but it's a secret that few know, and their grandmother teaches them everything they need to know in this art, but with the warning to be careful because there are creatures and dark magic they must avoid. However, one day Vitoria defies her grandmother's authority and opens one of the circles of hell, releasing demons from their depths, but one of them kills her (this isn’t a spoiler; I’m practically telling you the prologue). Emilia takes it upon herself to find out what happened and if she can help save her sister because she believes she is not dead and that one of these winter demons took her to the depths. I liked the premise of the story and how it begins to develop, set in the Victorian era in Italy, and talking about typical food since the twins' family owns a restaurant. I also enjoyed all the teachings their grandmother shares in the story and the spells and healing that take place; from that aspect, the story is very good. However, I must admit that the first time I was not very connected to the story, to the point that I missed a very important detail: the demons are seven and represent each of the seven deadly sins, and our first protagonist demons are Envy and Wrath, which are Envidia and Lujuria, respectively. However, now that I returned to the book, I realized this detail and others, like the other creatures present in this story. The contact between Emilia and Wrath and the journey they undertake to help each other is well done, but I was about to put it down again because from chapter 21 to 34, if I remember correctly, absolutely nothing happens in the story. I even thought it would be one of those trilogies where the author drags things out unnecessarily, and everything could have been explained in fewer pages and books. I felt like I wasn’t getting anywhere and that I wouldn’t be able to finish it for the second time. But I don’t remember if it was exactly chapter 34 where the plot has such a good twist that it reignited my desire to read the book, which I thought I had lost, and I even started to have faith in the main couple. It surprised me, and I didn’t expect what was discovered at the end of the story. So perhaps it was just a weak stretch of the book, but I finished it and I have no doubt that I will continue reading the other books in this trilogy. It might seem a bit boring and uninteresting, but if you look for it, you will find a good story. It feels like one of those books that can surprise you if you keep reading; don’t give up. Truly, Dreamers is a good story and has its original elements; I recommend it despite everything. (Translated from Spanish)

[RyofuAndrea18 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I loved it, I loved it. Wrath my man, nothing more to say. I took longer to finish the book because of the University and the endings. I loved the ending of this trilogy. 100% recommended. (Translated from Spanish)

[ktreads22 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I loved this book with all of my heart and it pains me that I don't know how long I have to wait for the next book. I didn't want it to end. This book will be on my bookshelf in my home for as long as I live.

[CasGarcia · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This book is good, things are happening all the time and that keeps you engaged, although it does slow down a bit in some parts, but it's super, I love it!! (Translated from Spanish)

[Stephanie.Books · Rating: 1 out of 5 stars]

Emilia and Vittoria are twins and witches who live hidden among humans. One night, Emilia finds her sister dead in a horrible way, and she will seek revenge. It is a story full of magic, witches, demonic princes, werewolves, vampires, and other creatures. I liked it quite a bit, but I found it too introductory; I was more than halfway through the book and felt like nothing was progressing, it only explained the magic system and the curses. Just before reaching the end was when things got good ? The second book promises more ? (Translated from Spanish)

[tamvalfer · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I haven't been able to stop reading since page one. The story has hooked me, although I've missed more descriptions and that everything didn't go by so quickly. I felt like I was skipping pages, but overall I loved it and I'm eager to get the second part ? (Translated from Spanish)

[Lourdes Varela · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

4.5/5

Well, the book is good, we must admit that.
Now, to get to this book we must go through the first and second books, which, if we summarize quickly, the facts are as follows:
1. In the first book, Emilia invokes a prince from hell, they look for clues about the witches' murder and the end of the first book (absolutely NOTHING interesting happens).
2. In the second book, Emilia and the prince from hell jump from court to court looking for clues, and that's the end. Practically NO questions from the first or second book are answered.
Until we reach this third book where many things happen and questions are slowly answered. And we discover that it's a giant tangle.
But, despite everything, it's very interesting to try to decipher what happened; some aspects of the solution I didn't like much.
In short, the ending was good, I liked it quite a bit.
Recommended! (Translated from Spanish)

[Leslyselene · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Wow, I loved this book. In my opinion, this trilogy only has the first book that is a bit weak, or I didn't like the first one. But I'm glad I didn't give up on the trilogy and decided to read the second and third.

Emilia and Wrath are simply precious together, and their interactions are pure fire. I love how they get along and how one awakens the other.

I would love to know what else happens between Vittoria and Pride. I hope to read something about these two that resolves their situation.

Overall, I am satisfied with how the trilogy ended, but I really hope something related to Vittoria and Pride comes out. (Translated from Spanish)

[entrelibrosyaperitivos · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

If you like a storyline of enemies to lovers, this is THE BOOK.

Emilia and Vittoria come from a family of witches. Both are destined to protect the world, but everything changes when Emilia stumbles upon the horrible scene of her sister's murder.
With her heart shattered and obsessed with revenge, Emilia embarks on her journey to solve the mystery of her sister Vittoria's death, doing whatever it takes to avenge her. Even dark magic, which leads her to one of the princes of hell, Wrath.

This book is interesting, and what I liked the most (besides the relationship between the protagonists) were the descriptions of the food.

I loved the setting, the writing, and I completely fell in love with the characters. In this book, there is a touch of romance, but it doesn't take over the entire plot.
It's the start of a series that keeps you completely hooked, with a storyline that will make you doubt everyone, as they all have too many secrets.

Emilia is a great heroine, brave, mature, funny, although she still acts according to her age, and Wrath is perfect… (for me ?).
The relationship between the two protagonists is filled with challenges, distrust, and many funny moments. Additionally, the enemies to lovers jokes were FABULOUS. Their interactions with each other were the best part of the book.

I enjoyed it, really a lot, from start to finish. The only reason I'm not giving it one more star is that the pacing felt a bit uneven and rushed.
I will continue with this series because I am very interested in this story and the characters, and I can't wait to see what happens next.

Do I confirm that I loved it? Well... yes!
That's why...
I HIGHLY RECOMMEND IT! (Translated from Spanish)

[CaoticaPaula · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

This is the second book I read by the author, and I hold the same opinion as the previous one: she is unclear about which genre to fit into, unclear about the audience or age range it is aimed at, has repetitive scenes and completely omissible fragments. I feel that, at the same time, the book is both overstuffed and lacking in content, as if it were an incomplete story that has been forced to continue, and to achieve that, she has introduced countless unnecessary scenes (a lot of filler).

It's a story about witches in which hardly any magic appears, characters whose personalities are the same as in other novels by the author (and other contemporary novels), a multitude of "recipes" and ingredient lists that add nothing, and an endless number of words highlighted in italics without rhyme or reason.

It is an entertaining book that you can enjoy if you keep your mind blank and don’t stop to think, but the moment you want to analyze the story even slightly, you will inevitably feel disappointed. I feel that "I am no longer of the age for this kind of stories" because it comes across as too juvenile (in a bad way).

The author demonstrates, on more than one occasion, a lack of imagination, as it seems to be a mix of various stories thrown together in a blender to see what comes out. Even the names of the demons (or, as they are called in this case, princes) show a clear lack of inventiveness.

For my part, I have lost the desire to continue reading by the author. In the case of the previous book I read by her (In the Hunt for Jack the Ripper), I forgave certain aspects because it was her first published work, but unfortunately, it's no longer worth it, as I consider this book to have inferior quality to the first one released under her name (when she should have evolved), since the other at least had good atmosphere and research, which I cannot say about this one. (Translated from Spanish)

[IviMino · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Good book, it reads quickly because a lot happens! In each chapter, something important for the plot occurs. The characters are very good! The idea is well presented. Witches and demons with names of the seven deadly sins and how they manipulate your emotions seems great to me! Ending with an immediate continuation!!! Waiting for the second one! (Translated from Spanish)

[mayitabooklover · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Did I like it? Yes, but sometimes I found it hard to get into, but in the end, it caught me. That ending, what?? I will continue it; I can't stop like this. On the other hand, I loved these characters; there's a lot of tension. I understand that the second book will be NA, so… here I go because that's what I'm here for, with how much I love the drama. (Translated from Spanish)

[sadhany · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

At first, I thought of giving it 3⭐ but I suffered a lot with how many things in this book are executed.

It's not a horrible book or one that I wouldn't read again. It's more of a Sunday book and somewhat forgettable.

That said, let's start with why it doesn't receive more than 2.5 stars:
•We don't know what time period we're in, the book is a bit confusing in that regard; I want to believe it's the late 1800s just because they mention dinosaurs.
•It tells me a lot but shows me little.
•It has about 10 plotlines and leaves all of them unfinished.
•"The villain" is a disaster; if you locked me in a room with him, I'd be super calm. I’d be calm even with the 4 princes of hell ??‍♀️
•Our protagonist says she wants to do this or that, but I only see her wandering around the city and we never really see her fend for herself or grow as a character zzZzz

However, I really liked Wrath and how they interacted.

I might read it again but I don't think it's a memorable book that will stay with me for years.

Apparently, the second part is much better, we'll find out!!! (Translated from Spanish)

[princepseternum · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I read this book recommended on BookTok and they lied to me, it doesn't end in just one. It's really good, enemies to lovers, witches, and medieval due to the mention of the Inquisition, very entertaining. (Translated from Spanish)

[lucianaher · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

It was quick and entertaining, but I felt the story was hollow; something was missing. It promised a lot and didn't deliver. I understand it's a trilogy, so I hope those promises are fulfilled in the second one. (Translated from Spanish)

[jmchshannon · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Kingdom of the Cursed, the second book in The Kingdom of the Wicked series by Kerri Maniscalco, is my first five-star read of the new year. I mean, I thoroughly enjoyed the first book in the series for a variety of reasons, so I had no doubts that I would also enjoy the sequel. Still, I was not expecting to love it as much as I did, and I am perfectly okay with that.

There is a lot to like about both books. For one thing, the mystery Emilia tries to solve is intriguing as we still do not know much about motive or perpetrator. Then, Emilia herself is so fierce. Not only is she more than capable of handling anything that comes her way, but she also does not swallow her feelings as so many heroines tend to do. Instead, she feels every emotion with every fiber of her being. This emotional intensity enhances your understanding of her character and drives much of the plot.

Lastly, there is Emilia and Wrath. Holy. Hell. Seriously, if there were a devil who looked and acted like Wrath, I would be the first to sign away my soul. Their interactions are so steamy and yet perfect; I couldn’t get enough. I especially love the fact that Ms. Maniscalco lets us see that there are so many layers to Wrath’s character, layers we have yet to peel away to allow us to understand his motivations. Every piece of information we learn about him does nothing but illustrate how little we know, and it is thrilling that we still have so much more to learn.

Between anticipating further Emilia and Wrath interactions, new information, and a mystery yet to solve, the final book in the series is now at the top of my list of anticipated books for 2022. It is fitting that Kingdom of the Cursed will probably be my favorite book for January. Also, it doesn’t hurt that Ms. Maniscalco makes sinning look so damn delicious and delightful.

[bethyacoub · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

On pause @ 42%

This rating is a tough one. On the one hand... the writing was solid, the background building was decent and the premise was interesting. YET... the pacing was erratic, the characters were trite and vapid and the tension well... the ping-ponging back and forth... is he interested? Is he not? Will they? Won't they? Should they? Should they steer way clear? ... it wasn't sensual as I imagine the author was aiming for... it was more of a headache inducing, sexually impotent annoyance. I remember finding Wrath and Emilia's sexual tension exciting in the last book but now it's just... a boring, travesty of tropey clichés. If I found myself inundated with an overabundance of spare time, I might finish this book solely on the merits of its writing but alas... my free time is finite (and miniscule to boot) so I will put this one on the back burner but if I'm being completely honest, I'll probably skip revisiting it in the future... what a shame, after book #1 I was REALLY looking forward to this read.

~ Sorry

[AlbaRL · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I loved this book, it's incredible. I liked it much more than the first one, as this one has more action. I hope my review helps you. (Translated from Spanish)

[Strawberryesp · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Second part of the trilogy "The Kingdom of the Cursed" by Kerri Maniscalco.
I give it one more star than the first one for that ending that leaves you speechless, waiting for the third part to devour it completely.

As for the plot, I still think more or less the same as I did about the first one, only this one felt a bit heavier when following Emilia's steps. She still seems very childish in certain situations, there are things that are predictable from miles away and she doesn't notice anything. There's also the fact that, even though Wrath has shown her time and again that she can trust him, she continually doubts him. By the end, you're left thinking: what else do you want, woman? I also get the feeling that throughout the book she is stumbling around not knowing exactly where she is going, which makes it a bit hard for the reader to follow the story.

On the other hand, the sexual tension between the protagonists and their chemistry is intense, which keeps you glued to the pages of the book until the end. And those dialogues? Simply sublime, as I also highlighted in the first part. Now we just have to wait until the end of January to see how this whole adventure ends. (Translated from Spanish)

[Naitora · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I want you to really know my point of view. I'm passionate about this series, but that doesn't mean I'm going to be blind and say that everything is perfect; in fact, I already mentioned that I forgive certain lack of pacing in exchange for being placed in a world where I assume the most important things are going to happen and where maps have continuously appeared in our books. Now, I do feel that this was a shortcoming, as we have our girl trying to discover things, confronting others without much concretization. It is true that on the other hand we see progress in the couple, which is to be appreciated in that sense, but... I felt something was missing. Perhaps being used to the first book, where I experienced more action, I missed it here (especially coming from the previous series which was non-stop). Is THE SEVEN CIRCLES OF HELL bad? Not at all, I believe the author has managed to give us things in small doses, but she extracted juice from making you live in hell and leaving us with our hearts racing with that ending you don't see coming. Kerri Maniscalco is a genius of evil and I adore her. She has me in the palm of her hand and despite those little buts, I need the third part already, or I'm not going to sleep well. Happy reading! (Translated from Spanish)

[PasandoPginaBlog · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Emilia and Vittoria are the Di Carlo twins, descendants of a lineage of witches who practice white magic but, of course, are bearers of an unusual talisman that makes them part of a prophecy. In my personal opinion, the huge spoiler that the synopsis reveals takes away a little from the moment of discovery of Vittoria's death, so there’s no point in hiding it from you in this review either. So, what is the reason for the brutal death of the twin? Well, that’s what Emilia tries to find out by invoking Wrath, the demon of Wrath, one of the seven feared in hell.

Do you think Wrath and Emilia fall in love? (Translated from Spanish)

[TamiiJazmin29 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

?Review?
"They look human, but their ebony eyes are tinged with red and their skin is hard as stone. Whatever you do, you must never speak to the Cursed. If you see them, hide. If you catch the attention of a demon prince, he will stop at nothing to claim you. They are creatures of midnight, born from darkness and the light of the moon. And they only seek to destroy. Protect your hearts, for if given the chance, they will rip them from your chest and drink your blood while it steams in the night."

Emilia and her twin sister Vittoria are streghe; witches who live secretly among humans to avoid persecution. Emilia’s life changes drastically when she discovers her sister’s murder and decides to embark on a path of revenge with the sole purpose of finding the killer. What she didn’t know is that this path would lead her to an unexpected ally, and this is when she realizes that the stories they were told as children were more real than she believed.

It’s a very interesting story; I love all this about the myth of the princes of hell and the realm of the cursed. I feel that the author knew very well how to create this fantasy world and engage with each chapter. I feel that the book left many unanswered questions, so I will definitely be getting the second book soon ?

Additionally, I confess that I loved the enemies to lovers dynamic between the protagonists; the tension felt in each scene is wonderful, and I need to know how this develops.

I have to say that I was very eager to read this book for a long time, and I must say it met my expectations.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 4/5

~Tamii? (Translated from Spanish)