Kingdom of the Wicked by Kerry Maniscalco, the first book in the Kingdom of the Wicked Series.

“It was the first of many secrets the twins would keep from each other. And would prove deadly for one.”

Emilia and Vittoria are young witches, warned of the evil wicked, demons since they were young girls. When Vittoria is murdered, Emilia vows that she will get revenge over the one who killed her. The prince of wrath a Demon she summons to try and get some answers, tags along but she ends up getting more than she bargained for.

“He looked ready to—sweet goddess of fury. His luccicare was black and gold. I’d only ever seen that once before. Recognition slammed into me, and I immediately dropped my cornicello and snatched my dagger from the floor. His dagger.

The hilt was as cool as the icy rage now rushing through my veins.

“I’m going to kill you,” I snarled, then lunged for him.”

The world described, is like old world Sicily, but there are subtle references to a modern-day era. It can be a bit confusing, but basically, I like it, the witches in the story are neither good nor evil whatever they practice, even the dark arts are not inherently good or evil, its what the arts are used for that makes the practitioner good or evil. I like the mystical elements, that along with a deep catholic faith, makes for an exciting universe the story are set in.

“It was mid-July in Palermo, which meant the air was stifling at night, even with our windows open, coaxing a breeze.”

Emilia is extremely sheltered, and even though her and her twin shared a room, she knew very little about her, and that impaired the investigation, and knowing where to start would have been easier if they had trusted each other. I think Emilia is well thought out and her character ark is very well planed an executed. I think all in all that Emilia is a brilliant character that grows on you, she might be a bit boring in the beginning bit when the book is over, I want to know what she’s going to do next.

“Bones scattered as I attacked. The blade arced down, slicing a long, thin line across his hard chest. It should have pierced his heart. And it would have, if he hadn’t maneuvered back so swiftly.”

The plot is well thought out and it does have surprises, at least for me, I was surprised at the end, and that surprised med more than I can say, I was lulled into a false sense of direction of the book, and I admit that I found it a bit dull in the beginning, I admit that I have to take it back, and that it deserves a reread.

“That night I found the first clue hidden beneath the floorboards in my room. As with most seemingly insignificant details, I’d overlooked the gambling chip when I’d first seen it. I’d been too preoccupied with the diary and strange grimoire sheets to pay much attention to another trinket my sister had collected. Especially something as small and unimportant as a gambling chip.”

The pace in the beginning was a bit slow, but overall, it had a good pacing and a nice mix of English and Italian, since the story is set in Italy.

I’m diffidently going to finish the series, now I need to know what happened, and I will recommend it, but it only get a 3 out of 5 star rating, it just felt to slow in the beginning and it took longer for me to get interested in the story. But when I did it was a good story.