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

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 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.

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.

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.

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.