Kingdom of the Cursed (Kingdom of the Wicked, 2) Paperback – August 30, 2022

he sequel Kingdom of the Cursed picks up the dark, magical energy of the first book and takes it even deeper into mystery, danger, and romance. Emilia is still tangled in a deadly web of witches, demons, and secrets, and the stakes feel higher than ever.This installment dives further into Emilia’s complicated relationship with Wrath—the chemistry is still smoking hot, but now layered with even more tension and emotional complexity. The story moves fast with plenty of twists and reveals that keep you guessing right up until the end.Kerri Maniscalco’s world-building continues to shine, with atmospheric settings that feel haunting and immersive. The blend of dark fantasy, murder mystery, and forbidden romance is as addictive as ever. If you loved the first book, you’ll want to jump right into this one to see where Emilia’s dangerous journey takes her next.

This book was more an exploration of the Kingdom of the Wicked and Emilia’s truth. I’d say some parts are confusing. Who’s cursed? Who knows what? Who’s who? Who’s telling the truth? 🤣 It was intriguing as well as slightly frustrating. I turned the pages as fast as I could because I NEEDED to know what the heck was going on. Lol!And because of all that chaos, it was kind of hard to understand Emilia. Did she fall for Wrath? Or was that already part of who she was? Was she and/or her twin evil? Who really are they???And Wrath. Poor Wrath. Who was probably cursed to say a limited amount of the truth. I can’t wait for his HEA. He deserves so much more.4⭐️3🌶️

I just couldn't put this book down. I read the first part this year, so I didn't have to wait that long. Before reading it, I refreshed some of the scenes, because the devil is in the details, right?Briefly, my impression. I liked it. I actually very much liked it. I didn't wanted this book to end. And from me it's a very big compliment. Because usually after 70% of book I lost interest, but not in this case. This book had my attention till the acknowledgements.Second book is less like a cookbook and you can read it without a plate of sandwiches and snacks at hand, because the descriptions of the preparation of delicacies are far less and they are mainly in the second half of the book.First half of the book Wrath and Emilia are playing house. Or rather court. We have a lot of scenes with them both.W “What are you smirking at?”E “I’m fantasizing about painting the world with your blood.”W “Explains the overly indulgent look.”They have a lot cute, sweet, tender and— most importantly for me—smutty moments together. Their banter dialogues it's pure pleasure. I really love Wrath, he's the best arrogant bastard, with tender heart. I'm sure in the next book (yeah there next book for sure) we will find a reason why we and Emilia should hate him, but... In this book he is that kind of misterius, dark, sexy hero need to be. I enjoyed almost everything he did and said.E “Are you sensing the knife I’m now considering stabbing you with, your highness?”...W “I am even more interested in where this may lead, my lady. You forget what sin I rule over. I am rather fond of a bit of knife‑play.”On other hand Emilia was... Eh. Reckless. Absolutely all of her so-called schemes are absolutely stupid. She relies on gambling every time. I mean I liked her, but her boundless blind love for sister made her daft. In any situation, she relies on chance and luck. Maybe this is the idea of special charm of the character, but instead of sounding smart and cunning, her actions looks ridiculous. And if Wrath did not come to her aid absolutely every time, she would be in trouble. While she is shown to be a strong and self-sufficient character, she does not have (yet?) any special powers to bolster her confidence.But I am ready to write off such behavior on the fact that she was in despair and grieved. Okay.Sheesh. This book have so much hot, sexy, tension episodes. Even if intimacy described not crude still very appealing. Everyone in this book talking about sex or having some variation of sex. Be prepared for overuse of worlds "beding" and "bed".What I liked was Emilia's acceptance of her lust and desires. In most situations, it is she who wants to jump Wrath's bones. It was hilarious.The main riddle of the book (one of) is not a riddle at all, but is known even from the first book. At least for me.I'm wondering if this is so, but I have a suspicion that the author is deliberately throwing out hints that are not subtle at all. Just so that every time we want to get into the book and whisper to Emilia, "Girl, open your eyes. The truth is here." And at the end of the book, it becomes clear that this is probably so. This was the case with the first book, when it was immediately clear who the murderer was, and here it is clear the same who is who.The ending. I might say just this, "Seriously. This is how you gonna finish book?" It was absolutely evilish thing to do, but maybe I like pain and suffering because I waiting for the third book impatiently.

⭐️: 4.5 rounded UP🌶️: 3.5 maybe 4 (but the slow burn is 🔥)Kerri Manascalco… I LOVED this book. It was beyond immersive and so authentic. I truly felt like I was traveling through hell with how descriptive it was.Kingdom of the Cursed dives even deeper into the seductive and mysterious world introduced in Kingdom of the Wicked. Emilia’s journey continues into Hell’s realm with even higher stakes, richer world-building, and an intriguing blend of romance and danger.The pacing is brisk, and Emilia’s character development is strong—she’s more determined and willing to take risks, making her growth so satisfying to witness. The chemistry between Emilia and Wrath is electric and delightfully complex, with a slow-burn romance that keeps your toes curling with anticipation. Maniscalco does an impressive job at exploring themes of power, revenge, and temptation in ways that feel engaging and layered. I love how we get to meet additional characters within this book, all well developed and playing a central role to the plot, like Envy, Pride, Gluttony, Lust. The twists and turns, are beyond suspenseful which only makes the turn of events that much more mysterious. I’m anticipating an action packed 3rd book as Emilia’s desire, wrath, and heartbreak lets loose!!!However, there are moments where the world-building and plot twists can feel a bit over defined, and at times I felt like the story lingers too long on certain scenes. Despite this, the novel keeps you hooked, and the atmospheric writing draws you into every sinister, gorgeous detail of the world.Overall, Kingdom of the Cursed is a truly immersive read that will appeal to those who love dark fantasy and slow-burn romance. This is a completed series so there is no waiting to dive into the next installment and find out what happens next.