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Kingdom of the Cursed

by Kerri Maniscalco · 2021

Kingdom of the Cursed is the second book in Kerri Maniscalco's young-adult fantasy trilogy Kingdom of the Wicked, picking up after Sicilian witch Emilia has made a bargain that binds her to Wrath, one of the demon Princes of… more

First published 2021 · 437 pages · Kingdom of the Wicked #2 · English

29 quotes ★ 4.08 (225,814) Fantasy

Quotes from the Book

Tell me,” he whispered, his voice sliding like silk over my flushed skin. “What?” My own voice came out breathless. “I am your favorite sin.
133
The stars incline us; they do not bind us. -Wrath
124
Love and hate are both rooted in passion.
105
Of course. There is nothing more dangerous than a woman who owns who she is and apologizes to no one.
98
Why is it whenever a man throws a tantrum a woman is blamed for his poor behavior?
91
Instead of being ruled by fear, I could become fearless.
73
Because…” I knew, oh goddess, I knew. Still, I needed him to say the words. “You are not his intended, Emilia.” The world beneath me tilted. Wrath’s gaze was steady enough to keep both my knees and the realm from quaking. “You are mine.
62
Assumptions are the death of truth.
61
I wanted to crack his soul open and read him like a book, discovering the deepest secrets and stories of how he came to be.
52
Astra inclinant, sed non obligant; The stars incline us, they do not bind us
50
A phoenix rises from the ashes for a reason. Your world must be destroyed for you to rise anew. And rise you shall. Just as they feared you would.
48
I wanted to kiss him. Possibly break a bottle and stab him first. But then definitely kiss him.
38
Your pride didn't appear in that bone circle the night you spilled blood and summoned me. It was your wrath. Your fury.
37
One thing I can promise,” his voice was deep and sensual in the dark, “is you won’t ever doubt it’s real when I touch you.” Frustrated, embarrassed, and furious to have submitted to desiring him for even one second, I plucked up his shirt and roughly tugged it back on before flopping onto my side. “Someone’s cocky.” “Says the person rubbing up against my c—
32
What if I'm the villain? One who's so vicious, so terrible, I was punished to forget?
32
I will not appear weak for you to maintain strength.
28
Bravery might be the absence of fear in most cases, but it also seemed a little like acting foolishly for a good cause.
28
He leaned in, bracing himself on either side of me, his expression smoldering enough to start a fire. “Liar.
26
Pretend there's no curse. No magical betrothal. Or romantic urges created by our bond. Would you choose me? To reign beside you. To be your queen. Your friend. Your confidant. Your lover... If I am still yours, I would tell you that you are mine. That I am choosing you as my husband. There is no one I'd rather confront my demons with, no soul I'd travel through Hell with. And no one else I want standing beside me.
25
Vengeance is a poison, a slow death of self. Seek justice. Seek truth. But if you choose revenge over all else, you will lose more than your soul.
24
Real life certainly wasn't anything close to a romance novel, but there was still a small part of the old me left that hoped for a happy ending
21
Every villain thinks themselves as the hero. And vice versa. In truth, there's a little villain and hero in each of us. Depending on the circumstances.
19
Names have power. Titles are a show of power.
18
Tell me you hate me, that I am your worst enemy. Better yet, tell me you don't want to kiss me.
17
A true leader delegates. Just as your're doing now. Never doubt your courage.
17
Fate may deal it's hand, try encouraging our path or intervene, but we are ultimately free to choose our own destiny. Never doubt that.
16
The First Witch was rumored to have cursed the devil because her daughter fell in love with him and they refused to give each other up.
15
I don’t know how you’ve fooled humanity for so long, but it’s as Envy said. You are the most skilled liar of all. Samael.
13
Cheers to a night of truth amongst enemies. May our hearts only bleed at the loss of our dignity and not because of a dagger in our backs.
13

Did you know?

  • It is the second book in Kerri Maniscalco's Kingdom of the Wicked trilogy.
  • The story is set largely in the Seven Circles, an underworld ruled by demon princes embodying the seven deadly sins.
  • Within five days of its October 5, 2021 release it reached number five on the New York Times bestseller list.
  • It was published under the JIMMY Patterson Books imprint of Little, Brown and Company.
  • The series follows Sicilian witch Emilia, whose twin sister Vittoria is murdered in the first book.

About Kerri Maniscalco

Kerri Maniscalco is the #1 New York Times and internationally bestselling American author known for the young-adult Stalking Jack the Ripper series and the Kingdom of the Wicked series, as well as adult fantasy romance with her Prince of Sin series.

More about the author →

About the book

Kingdom of the Cursed is the second book in Kerri Maniscalco's young-adult fantasy trilogy Kingdom of the Wicked, picking up after Sicilian witch Emilia has made a bargain that binds her to Wrath, one of the demon Princes of Hell. Determined to avenge the murder of her twin sister Vittoria, Emilia travels to the Seven Circles, a decadent underworld ruled by the seven demon princes, where she must navigate treacherous courts and conflicting clues about who is truly responsible for her sister's death.

Thematically the novel centers on vengeance, desire, and the slippery line between good and evil, using the conceit of the seven deadly sins to explore temptation and self-discovery. It leans heavily into slow-burn romance and political intrigue, with Emilia learning to wield power among beings who insist the first rule of the Wicked court is to trust no one.

The book was a commercial success, reaching number five on the New York Times bestseller list within days of its October 2021 release. As a follow-up to the popular Kingdom of the Wicked, it was widely read among young-adult fantasy and romantasy audiences, who noted its shift toward a steamier, more romance-forward tone than the first installment.

Key characters

  • EmiliaSicilian witch and protagonist seeking to avenge her twin sister
  • WrathThe Prince of Wrath, a demon bound to Emilia
  • VittoriaEmilia's murdered twin sister
  • PrideThe Prince of Pride and king of the demons
  • EnvyOne of the seven demon Princes of Hell
  • AnirWrath's loyal companion

Book details

First published
2021
Length
437 pages
Series
Kingdom of the Wicked #2
Reading time
9 hours
Genre
Fantasy
Goodreads rating
4.08 (226k ratings)

Critical reception

  • The novel debuted at number five on the New York Times bestseller list within days of release.
  • It was Maniscalco's first novel to reach the New York Times bestseller list.
  • Readers commonly noted the book leans more heavily into romance than its predecessor.

Series & reading order

  1. 1 Kingdom of the Wicked
  2. 2 Kingdom of the Cursed
  3. 3 Kingdom of the Feared

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