Kingdom of the Wicked (2020)
Kingdom of the Cursed (2021)
Kingdom of the Feared (2022)
⚡ Pace: fast · 🎭 Emotions: dark, dramatic · 🚪 Entry threshold: low · ⭐ Why read: gothic vibe, enemies-to-lovers
The night hums with secrets. In the back alleys of old Palermo, where incense mixes with blood and moonlight, a girl kneels beside her sister’s body and makes a promise that should never be spoken aloud. Kingdom of the Wicked opens like a wound – sharp, scented with grief and fury. Emilia, born into a family that knows the old magic, reaches into a world she was warned to fear. What answers can love demand from the dark, and how far will vengeance let her fall?
The demons she summons aren’t just creatures of another realm – they are mirrors, each one reflecting a temptation, a whisper, a part of her own hunger. Wrath, the prince she cannot quite trust, walks the line between ally and danger. Together they move through a labyrinth of lies where desire burns like candle wax and faith turns brittle in the cold. Their world is stitched from sin and splendour, saints and serpents, each secret a thread that could unravel them both.
By the end, the kingdom feels alive – breathing, aching, waiting. The story leaves behind the taste of embers and salt, the quiet ache of a girl who learns that power never comes without a price. It is a tale of fury and fascination, of love blooming not in light, but in the shadow where choices cost everything.
📚 Did you know 📖
Maniscalco is known for her skill in weaving together dark fantasy atmosphere with romantic plotlines.
The book reached the New York Times Bestsellers list.
The author admitted she drew inspiration from Italian folklore and cuisine.
In 2023, a standalone story Throne of the Fallen was released, focusing on the brother of the Prince of Wrath.
Legend has it: many fans say the book makes them crave pasta – Maniscalco intentionally added culinary details to enhance the mood.