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billykmaguiree's review against another edition
dark
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
The third book in Kerri Maniscalco's Kingdom of the Wicked follows Emilia's quest for truth as she falls in love with one of the seven princes of Hell. Kingdom of the Feared is no exception to the spiciness of the new adult genre.
All I can say is I was disappointed with this final instalment in a series I'd devoured. Gone were the time I'd flip page after page desperate to find out what was going on. Instead <i>Kingdom of the Feared</i> was bland with sex scenes overtaking the central plot, to the point that I was skipping them. I can imagine that Kerri wanted to write smut with this series (considering, she didn't in Stalking Jack the Ripper) but when it takes away from the plot, I'm not a fan.
Whilst this tied up lots of loose ends, I can see that with the expansion of the other princes of Hell's stories, there will be a spin-off, which I won't be picking up. The character development was confusing with Emilia giving whiplash surrounding Vittoria's betrayal, and I'm just honestly confused.
With all of that being said, I'm giving this book 3 stars. It didn't captivate me in the way that previous installments did but was still fast-paced enough that I could find myself enjoying it, despite the flaws.
[ Read between January 1 2023 and January 2 2023 ]
All I can say is I was disappointed with this final instalment in a series I'd devoured. Gone were the time I'd flip page after page desperate to find out what was going on. Instead <i>Kingdom of the Feared</i> was bland with sex scenes overtaking the central plot, to the point that I was skipping them. I can imagine that Kerri wanted to write smut with this series (considering, she didn't in Stalking Jack the Ripper) but when it takes away from the plot, I'm not a fan.
Whilst this tied up lots of loose ends, I can see that with the expansion of the other princes of Hell's stories, there will be a spin-off, which I won't be picking up. The character development was confusing with Emilia giving whiplash surrounding Vittoria's betrayal, and I'm just honestly confused.
With all of that being said, I'm giving this book 3 stars. It didn't captivate me in the way that previous installments did but was still fast-paced enough that I could find myself enjoying it, despite the flaws.
[ Read between January 1 2023 and January 2 2023 ]
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cursing, Sexual content, and Gore
Moderate: Death
oruairc's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
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? No
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief, Sexual content, Stalking, Blood, Gore, Violence, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Death, Murder, Confinement, and Fire/Fire injury
Minor: Alcohol
This series is typically classified as young adult (YA) and while I think the first book of the series is, I would not say that this book is YA anymore. I would classify it as New Adult due to its detailed sexual content. It does not have the most graphic depictions I have ever read, but it is vastly different from where the series started.admunro20's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Violence, Torture, Death, Sexual content, and Gore
Moderate: Blood and Cursing
shelbibroeking's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death and Blood
anastashamarie's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
hopeful
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
🪷 3.5/5 for quality, 4/5 for enjoyment, 4.5/5 for how wonderful these audiobooks continue to be.
💀 I think that the "memory loss" trope is a hard one to get right because, by nature, there has to be a lot of telling rather than showing for the MC and the reader to get caught up in the story. Especially in a mystery, which is what this book is at its core, I hate when the reader is just told the answers. That's my biggest gripe with this book without getting spoilery.
👑 That said, I thoroughly enjoyed the ride that this series has been. I liked seeing how all the pieces laid out in Book 1 fit in by the end of this book. I liked the relationship between Emilia and her love interest. I liked the interplay between the Princes of Hell, which we got to see more of in this book. I didn't always love the pacing or the storytelling style, but I did enjoy the writing style (I hope that differentiation makes sense?).
🖤 Overall this was a super fun series that I would have binged in a few days if I didn't have to wait for my Libby holds to come in. Cute banter. Steamy tension. Enough mystery and side plots left that there is room for the series to continue even though I feel like this wrapped up Emilia's arc pretty well.
💀 I think that the "memory loss" trope is a hard one to get right because, by nature, there has to be a lot of telling rather than showing for the MC and the reader to get caught up in the story. Especially in a mystery, which is what this book is at its core, I hate when the reader is just told the answers. That's my biggest gripe with this book without getting spoilery.
👑 That said, I thoroughly enjoyed the ride that this series has been. I liked seeing how all the pieces laid out in Book 1 fit in by the end of this book. I liked the relationship between Emilia and her love interest. I liked the interplay between the Princes of Hell, which we got to see more of in this book. I didn't always love the pacing or the storytelling style, but I did enjoy the writing style (I hope that differentiation makes sense?).
🖤 Overall this was a super fun series that I would have binged in a few days if I didn't have to wait for my Libby holds to come in. Cute banter. Steamy tension. Enough mystery and side plots left that there is room for the series to continue even though I feel like this wrapped up Emilia's arc pretty well.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Violence, Cursing, Blood, Murder, Alcohol, Fire/Fire injury, and Death
Moderate: Grief and Kidnapping
narayan's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
I'm so invested in these series, gonna miss the characters and the atmosphere so much! The mystery, the intrigue, Wrath, the princes, the debauchery (my new fav word), the love, the spice, Wrath 🤤, the coziness, the overall world... And of course - Wrath. 🤤
I stayed to read till 4 am, which is my indicator that I love it. Giving it 5 stars, although I am aware it's not a perfect book. I don't care. 💘
I stayed to read till 4 am, which is my indicator that I love it. Giving it 5 stars, although I am aware it's not a perfect book. I don't care. 💘
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content and Death
em_davies7019's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Fire/Fire injury, Sexual content, Murder, Violence, Blood, and Death
Moderate: Kidnapping, Grief, and Gore
Minor: Alcohol, Confinement, Sexual harassment, War, and Addiction
eclectic_hellscape's review against another edition
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Violence and Sexual content
Minor: Death
peeshy's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
hopeful
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Cursing, Death, Gore, and Sexual content
betweentheshelves's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
I know a lot of people really love this series, but I don't think it was really my cup of tea. It definitely gives me ACOTAR vibes, though, so I can see why it is so popular on social media. I just wasn't necessarily ready for the spice level, and it wasn't really what I was looking for. But I still had to know how the entire series was going to end.
I will say, Maniscalco took this in some directions I wasn't necessarily expecting, which is refreshing! There's a little bit of mythology thrown into this fantasy world, and I enjoyed those aspects of the story. The world building was very well done, even if I found the characters annoying sometimes.
All in all, I'm glad I read it so I know what I'm recommending when at work, but probably not one that I would visit it again.
I will say, Maniscalco took this in some directions I wasn't necessarily expecting, which is refreshing! There's a little bit of mythology thrown into this fantasy world, and I enjoyed those aspects of the story. The world building was very well done, even if I found the characters annoying sometimes.
All in all, I'm glad I read it so I know what I'm recommending when at work, but probably not one that I would visit it again.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Violence, and Death
Moderate: Gore