Reviews with content warning for Death - Kingdom of the Wicked

Excellently written. Something unlike anything I have ever read. An amazing story full of love, deceit, bargains and betrayals. It has multiple well placed plot twists and great character development. Would recommend.

Content Warnings

purplehulk713's review against another edition

Go to review page

adventurous dark funny inspiring mysterious sad tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

Not that I didn’t enjoy Kingdom of the Wicked, but I had higher hopes for it from reading its preview. Maniscalco’s writing was sometimes confusing—too ambiguous to be understood upon a first or second reading of the section. It was frustrating. But the magic was bewitching, especially the culture of the streghe and their myths (some true, others false) about the Malvagi (the Wicked) and La Prima Strega (the First Witch). The romance was pretty good, I love a good enemies-to-lovers trope, but I hate how Emilia (like many other YA protagonists) judged Wrath so simply every time she saw a new side of him, and didn’t realize that just because he is one of the Wicked, that does not mean he is heartless or totally evil or whatever. Kerri Maniscalco did do a good job of leaving me wanting more, despite if it was for reasons of ambiguous writing on her part. I’m still confused about the details of the devil’s curse. Envy as a character also seemed rather predictable. Basically, as much as I enjoyed Kingdom of the Wicked, it didn’t wholly satisfy me as a reader.
Beware the Malvagi, fellow streghe…

Content Warnings

saoreads's review against another edition

Go to review page

adventurous challenging dark mysterious sad tense fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

It was adventurous for most and gave plenty of thrills, as each journey by Emilia seemed to call for danger. She was weakened and forced to a pivotal point of making decisions for herself and for her loved ones. Gone are the peaceful days and pleasant memories; vengeance was the theme, and her emitting wrath joined in on those who've harmed the human world (no pun intended). It was definitely all-consuming.

Content Warnings

chaptersonapage's review against another edition

Go to review page

adventurous dark emotional mysterious medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix

4.0

Content Warnings

emilylovesgoodbooks's review against another edition

Go to review page

adventurous dark mysterious medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

Content Warnings

amandalorianxo's review against another edition

Go to review page

mysterious slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.0

I'm probably too old for this novel and I recognize that (excuse my annoyance/nit picky woes.) This is my first novel by the author and I primarily did the audiobook take instead of the physical copy. Why the audio narrator was British is beyond me since this is supposed to be Italian based. Was it hard to find someone from Italy that is also an audiobook narrator to read this? Or did they just pick anyone available for the job? Eh, it's not a big deal but it bothered me when the narrator did a pitiful Italian accent. Anyways, there is no enemies-to-lovers trope to this. It's just mild annoyances between two seemingly painfully teenage acting characters who haven't had sex and really want to bone. Also, for someone named Wrath.... he didn't seem like an angry person. More broody and sarcastic. Emilia, I couldn't stand. This definitely reads like it's being set up as part of a series because the bulk of this novel is us learning about this supposed witch/demon world through q&a sessions. I always find that tedious to the audience because I would rather be shown the world compared to just learning about it via conversation. Also, I wish there was more magic. If Emilia's family was supposedly witches.... shouldn't they be doing magic, even in the privacy of their own home? There seems to be chosen one tropey vibes and bleh.

Content Warnings

taryn_g's review against another edition

Go to review page

adventurous dark mysterious tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

Content Warnings

More...