For readers drawn to gothic atmosphere, supernatural mystery, and enemies-to-lovers dynamics, the Kingdom of the Wicked trilogy has earned serious critical and commercial endorsement — Kirkus Reviews called the first entry 'an intoxicating, tightly plotted feast for the senses,' while Booklist praised its 'richly drawn' characters and worldbuilding 'infused with magic.' The second volume, Kingdom of the Cursed, was a Barnes & Noble Best of 2022 selection, confirming the series' sustained quality across volumes. The boxed set format is particularly well-suited to new readers, since Kirkus flagged that the first book ends on a dramatic cliffhanger — having all three books in hand removes any waiting-period friction. Readers who prefer standalone stories may find the arc-dependent structure less satisfying.

Best for ages 14 and up, as recommended by the publisher for this YA dark fantasy trilogy. The series involves murder, demonic mythology, supernatural violence, and gothic horror elements — themes that suit teen readers at or above that floor. Parents of younger readers should be aware that the content is darker in tone than lighter YA fare, and the serialized cliffhanger structure means the complete story spans all three volumes.

BOOKS

Kerri Maniscalco

About This Author

Published

July 31, 2026

Read Time

8 min read

Reader rating

4.7

· 1,488 Amazon ratings

reader ratings, not a LuvemBooks score

$16.99 on Amazon

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Kingdom of the Wicked Paperback Boxed Set by Kerri Maniscalco Review: A Complete Dark Fantasy Trilogy Worth Owning

by Kerri Maniscalco

Kerri Maniscalco's #1 New York Times bestselling Kingdom of the Wicked trilogy — comprising Kingdom of the Wicked, Kingdom of the Cursed, and Kingdom of the Feared — arrives in a single paperback boxed set published by Little, Brown Books for Young Readers (May 2024), collecting the complete arc of Emilia's collision with demons, murder, and the supernatural underworld. This review is based on the series' published content and reception from named sources, not hands-on reading of the physical set.

LuvemBooks Verdict

Best for

Readers aged 14 and up — teens and adult YA fans — who want to dive into a complete, gothic dark-fantasy trilogy in one purchase, especially those drawn to enemies-to-lovers romance, Sicilian cultural atmosphere, and supernatural mystery.

Worth it if

You want a critically acclaimed, immersive YA dark fantasy with strong worldbuilding and serialized momentum, and you'd rather have all three books in hand before hitting the first cliffhanger.

Skip if

You prefer self-contained standalone stories or are primarily investing in the boxed set as a physical collector's object — production quality of the box, binding, and paper cannot be verified from published sources alone.

What readers & critics say

McNally Robinson's listing quotes critical coverage calling the series' "page-turning plot a force to be reckoned with" and praising its "richly drawn" characters and "smart" worldbuilding "based on historical events and infused with magic," while Kirkus Reviews (via kerrimaniscalco.com) describes the first book as "an intoxicating, tightly plotted feast for the senses with a dramatic cliffhanger." The series holds #1 New York Times bestselling status and a Barnes & Noble Best of 2022 selection for the second volume, as confirmed across multiple retailer and publisher pages.

“An intoxicating, tightly plotted feast for the senses with a dramatic cliffhanger.”

— Kirkus Reviews

Sources: McNally Robinson, Kirkus Reviews, kerrimaniscalco.com

4.7from 1,488 Amazon ratings— reader ratings, not a LuvemBooks score

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The Kingdom of the Wicked Paperback Boxed Set collects Kerri Maniscalco's complete #1 New York Times bestselling trilogy — following Emilia's demon-entangled quest for vengeance through a richly gothic, Sicilian-rooted supernatural world — in a single paperback purchase. Booklist praised its worldbuilding as "smart, based on historical events and infused with magic," and Kirkus Reviews called the first book "an intoxicating, tightly plotted feast for the senses," making this a critically validated dark fantasy series with serious mainstream credentials. The boxed format is especially practical given the trilogy's serialized momentum and the dramatic cliffhanger that closes the first volume; readers new to the series, teens 14 and up, and adult YA fans of gothic atmosphere and enemies-to-lovers dynamics are the natural fit.

Is it worth reading?: For readers drawn to gothic atmosphere, supernatural mystery, and enemies-to-lovers dynamics, the Kingdom of the Wicked trilogy has earned serious critical and commercial endorsement — Kirkus Reviews called the first entry 'an intoxicating, tightly plotted feast for the senses,' while Booklist praised its 'richly drawn' characters and worldbuilding 'infused with magic.' The second volume, Kingdom of the Cursed, was a Barnes & Noble Best of 2022 selection, confirming the series' sustained quality across volumes. The boxed set format is particularly well-suited to new readers, since Kirkus flagged that the first book ends on a dramatic cliffhanger — having all three books in hand removes any waiting-period friction. Readers who prefer standalone stories may find the arc-dependent structure less satisfying.
Similar books: Readers drawn to the gothic atmosphere, supernatural intrigue, and dark romanticism of the Kingdom of the Wicked trilogy will find strong company in several curated titles. Holly Black's The Cruel Prince shares the enemies-to-lovers dynamic and immersive dark fantasy world-building. Kiran Millwood Hargrave's The Deathless Girls offers similarly atmospheric, myth-rooted gothic horror for YA readers. Ransom Riggs' Hollow City provides another serialized YA supernatural adventure with a strong sense of place and escalating stakes. For readers who love plot-driven mystery woven into YA fiction, Jennifer Lynn Barnes' The Inheritance Games delivers the same propulsive momentum that critics praised in Maniscalco's work.
Who should read this?: The Kingdom of the Wicked boxed set is designed for readers aged 14 and up — including teens already in the YA dark fantasy demographic and adult readers who enjoy gothic atmosphere, enemies-to-lovers dynamics, and supernatural mystery. Readers who specifically appreciate cultural and historical grounding in their fantasy — here, Sicilian settings, food, and family woven structurally into the supernatural premise — will find this series particularly rewarding. It is especially practical for new readers coming to the series cold, since the dramatic cliffhanger at the end of book one makes owning all three volumes a distinct advantage. Readers who prefer self-contained standalone novels may find the trilogy's serialized arc-dependent structure less satisfying.
What age is it for?: Best for ages 14 and up, as recommended by the publisher for this YA dark fantasy trilogy. The series involves murder, demonic mythology, supernatural violence, and gothic horror elements — themes that suit teen readers at or above that floor. Parents of younger readers should be aware that the content is darker in tone than lighter YA fare, and the serialized cliffhanger structure means the complete story spans all three volumes.
About Kerri Maniscalco: Kerri Maniscalco is the #1 New York Times and international bestselling author born and raised in the Hudson Valley of New York, who grew up in a semi-haunted house outside NYC. She is known for the gothic thriller Stalking Jack the Ripper quartet, the Kingdom of the Wicked fantasy romance trilogy, and her adult fantasy romance Prince of Sin series. She was raised to love reading by her parents.
How does this compare to Kingdom of the Feared?: Kingdom of the Feared is the concluding volume of the trilogy and has been reviewed separately by LuvemBooks — the boxed set collects it alongside Kingdom of the Wicked and Kingdom of the Cursed as the complete arc. The boxed set format is specifically designed to deliver the full narrative in one purchase, making the trilogy's escalating momentum and payoff accessible without gaps between volumes. Readers who want to know how Emilia's story concludes before committing to all three books can consult LuvemBooks' standalone review of Kingdom of the Feared.

Summarize this book

Is it worth reading?

Who should read this?

What age is it for?

About Kerri Maniscalco

How does this compare to Kingdom of the Feared?

Summarize this book

The Kingdom of the Wicked trilogy follows Emilia, a young woman in a richly gothic, historically grounded Sicilian setting whose sister's brutal murder sets her on a quest for vengeance — one the publisher describes as unleashing Hell itself. She is drawn into an uneasy alliance with Wrath, a demon who claims to be on her side and is tasked with solving a series of murders on the island. Food, family, Sicilian cultural texture, and demonic mythology are threaded together across all three volumes — Kingdom of the Wicked, Kingdom of the Cursed, and Kingdom of the Feared — into a complete, self-contained narrative arc. The May 2024 boxed set from Little, Brown Books for Young Readers collects all three paperback volumes in one purchase.

Kingdom of the Feared (Kingdom of the Wicked) by Kerri Maniscalco

4.2

/ 5

Kingdom of the Feared closes out Kerri Maniscalco's Kingdom of the Wicked fantasy romance trilogy with a sin-fueled murder mystery, escalating supernatural warfare, and the culmination of Emilia and Wrath's enemies-to-lovers arc — delivering the shocking twists and dark romance the series built toward, even as its crowded plot tests readers' patience.

View on LuvemBooks →

Kingdom of the Wicked by Kerri Maniscalco

4.7

/ 5

View on LuvemBooks →

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Who is Wrath and what's his role?

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Age & Reading Level

Recommended age

Ages 12–18

Reading level

Young adult

Browse all 12–18 books

Content to know about

murder and vengeance as central plot drivers

demonic mythology and supernatural horror

gothic violence

Best for: Ages 14 and up — gothic horror atmosphere, murder-driven plot, and demonic mythology suit readers at or above this threshold; the publisher's own recommendation sets 14 as the minimum.

Skip if you prefer standalone novels or hopeful, light-toned fantasy without dark supernatural elements.

Our Review

The Kingdom of the Wicked Paperback Boxed Set is a satisfying, complete collection of a series that earned genuine, major-outlet recognition — critics called its plot "a force to be reckoned with," and the trilogy is a #1 New York Times bestselling series.

Kingdom of the Wicked Paperback Boxed Set by Kerri Maniscalco front cover

What the Trilogy Is and What It Follows

The Kingdom of the Wicked series centers on two sisters and one brutal murder — a killing that sets its protagonist, Emilia, on a quest for vengeance that, according to the publisher, will "unleash Hell itself." Set in a richly gothic atmosphere rooted in historical detail and infused with magic, the story draws Emilia into the company of Wrath, a demon who claims to be on her side and is supposedly tasked by his master with solving a series of murders on the island. The series weaves food, family, and Sicilian cultural texture into its supernatural premise, and it escalates across all three volumes — Kingdom of the Wicked, Kingdom of the Cursed, and Kingdom of the Feared — into a full, self-contained narrative arc. The boxed set published by Little, Brown Books for Young Readers in May 2024 collects all three paperback volumes, making the entire story available in one purchase at a reading age of 14 and up.

The Series' Standing and Recognition

The trilogy carries significant commercial and critical weight. It is a #1 New York Times bestselling series, and the second installment, Kingdom of the Cursed, was a Barnes & Noble Best of 2022 selection. This is not a niche cult favorite but a widely read, mainstream Young Adult dark fantasy that broke through at the highest levels of the market. Maniscalco is also the author of the #1 New York Times bestselling Stalking Jack the Ripper quartet, which means the Kingdom of the Wicked trilogy arrives with the momentum of an established, proven readership behind it. That pedigree matters for readers considering a boxed-set investment: the series has a demonstrated, broad audience.

Critical Praise and What the Sources Actually Say

Named critical outlets have been specific in their endorsements. Critics praised the series for characters that are "richly drawn," worldbuilding that is "smart, based on historical events and infused with magic," and described the overall experience as "a thrilling, wondrous, and atmospheric tale" in which "food, family, magic, and romance are threaded into this propulsive story." Critical coverage called the first entry "an intoxicating, tightly plotted feast for the senses with a dramatic cliffhanger." Both reviews point to the same core strengths: strong craft at the level of plot construction, immersive atmosphere, and a compelling integration of cultural and historical grounding into the fantasy world. The Kirkus note about a dramatic cliffhanger is, on its own, a signal to potential readers: this is a series built for momentum across volumes, and having all three books in hand at once removes any waiting-period friction.

Kerri Maniscalco's Authorial Background and Its Influence on the Work

Maniscalco grew up in what she has described as a semi-haunted house outside New York City, an upbringing that directly informed her fascination with gothic settings — the atmosphere that both Booklist and Kirkus independently single out as a defining strength of this work. Her personal connection to food, family, and storytelling is reflected in the way those elements are structurally embedded in the narrative rather than ornamental. The publisher's own framing of the trilogy emphasizes that these thematic threads make it something beyond a straightforward supernatural thriller: the domestic and the demonic are treated as inseparable. That sensibility distinguishes the series from more plot-only YA dark fantasy.

Who This Boxed Set Is For and Its Honest Limitations

This boxed set is designed for readers aged 14 and up — teens already in the series' demographic as well as adult readers of YA dark fantasy who enjoy gothic atmosphere, enemies-to-lovers dynamics, and supernatural mystery. Collecting all three volumes in paperback format makes it a practical choice for new readers coming to the series for the first time, as the Kirkus cliffhanger note confirms that beginning the series without the sequels in hand would be a frustrating experience. For series completionists, the set also represents a tidy shelf presentation. As a physical product — the feel of the paper, the quality of the box construction, the binding — this review cannot assess the object directly; readers who prioritize the tactile experience of a boxed set should consult retailer descriptions or buyer reviews for production-quality specifics. What the sources firmly establish is that the content within is a #1 New York Times bestselling, critically praised trilogy that delivers on the promises of its genre.

Sources & Further Reading

The key facts and claims in this review are grounded in the retrieved, verified sources listed below.

Cited in this review
1
Kingdom of the Wicked Paperback Boxed Set by Kerri Maniscalco | Hachette Book Group
hachettebookgroup.com
2
Kingdom of the Wicked by Kerri Maniscalco | James Patterson Kids
kids.jamespatterson.com
Further reading
3
Kingdom of the Wicked Paperback Boxed Set: Kerri Maniscalco: 9780316565479
booksamillion.com
4
REVIEW: Kingdom of the Wicked Series by Kerri Maniscalco | The Good, The Bad and The Unread
goodbadandunread.com
5
Kingdom of the Wicked Paperback Boxed Set | Prairie Lights Books
prairielights.com
6
Kingdom of the Wicked Paperback Boxed Set by Kerri Maniscalco - McNally Robinson Booksellers
mcnallyrobinson.com
7
Kingdom of the Wicked Paperback Boxed Set by Kerri Maniscalco, Paperback | Barnes & Noble®
barnesandnoble.com

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Why It’s Trending

Kingdom of the Wicked Is Having a Major BookTok Moment Right Now

Kerri Maniscalco's dark romantasy trilogy is blowing up on BookTok, with fans posting fan art of the seven demon princes and pulling in new readers fast. If you've been seeing Wrath all over your feed, that's why.

BookTok is doing what it does best — turning a beloved series into everyone's current obsession. Over the past week or so, TikTok has been flooded with fan art, reader reactions, and hype around Kingdom of the Wicked, with creators posting about the seven princes of Hell and tagging the trilogy under #kingdomofthewicked and #booktok. Videos are racking up attention fast, and the comments sections are full of people saying they're flying through the books or just picking up their copies. This kind of fan-driven momentum is exactly what keeps a series alive well after its original release. The complete trilogy boxed set — all three books in one paperback package — has been out since May 2024, which makes it an easy grab for anyone who wants to binge the whole story without hunting down individual volumes. That convenience factor matters a lot when a series is trending, because readers want in immediately. If you've been on the fence, now's a pretty good time to jump in. The community around this series is clearly active and enthusiastic, which means you'll have plenty of people to talk to once you've met Emilia, Wrath, and the rest of the cast. And with all three books in one set, there's no waiting to find out how it ends.

Source: TikTok