About the Book
Kingdom of the Cursed is the second book in Kerri Maniscalco's Kingdom of the Wicked series, a dark young adult fantasy set against a backdrop of Sicilian mythology and demonic royalty. The story follows Emilia, who, having made a soul-binding bargain at the end of the first book, descends into Hell's Seven Circles alongside the Prince of Wrath. Her goal remains unchanged: find out who murdered her twin sister Vittoria and make them pay.
The novel spends most of its time in the demon court, where Emilia navigates palace intrigue, conflicting loyalties, and an increasingly complicated dynamic with the various demon princes. The tone leans heavily into gothic romance, with a slow-burn tension between Emilia and Wrath running alongside the central mystery. Political scheming, deception, and elaborate settings make up the bulk of the narrative.
This is a direct sequel and does not work as a standalone. Listeners who haven't finished Kingdom of the Wicked will be lost from the first chapter. The series sits somewhere between YA fantasy and gothic romance, readers who came for the mystery elements of the first book will find those take a back seat here to the romance and world-building.
Narration & Audio Performance
Marisa Calin returns as the narrator for this series, bringing a measured and slightly atmospheric tone that fits the gothic register of the material. Her pacing is generally steady and she handles the more dramatic passages without over-performing them, which suits listeners who prefer a restrained delivery over theatrical flourishes.
Character voice differentiation is functional, she distinguishes the demon princes well enough that dialogue scenes are easy to follow, but some listeners may find her interpretations of certain characters a little flat, particularly in the more intense confrontation scenes where a more dynamic range might serve the material better. Her Sicilian-influenced pronunciation and cadence during the setting-heavy passages work reasonably well without veering into caricature.
Overall, Calin is a consistent and reliable narrator for this series. She won't be the reason you love or dislike the audiobook, but she keeps things moving. If you're unsure whether her style suits you, the Audible sample is worth a quick listen before committing.
The Audible Verdict
Kingdom of the Cursed is a solid audio experience for fans already invested in the series. The narration is competent and consistent, and the linear structure translates cleanly to audio. That said, the book skews heavily toward atmosphere and romance over plot momentum, which means longer stretches where not much happens, something more noticeable in audio than in print. A free trial credit is a reasonable choice here; it's not a standout audio production, but it does the job well enough.
Listen on AudibleIs This Book a Good Fit for Audio?
Kingdom of the Cursed has a linear, chapter-by-chapter structure that suits audio without any formatting complications. There are no charts, diagrams, or dense footnotes, just prose, dialogue, and scene-setting. That makes it a natural fit for the format.
The gothic atmosphere and slow-burn romance actually benefit from being heard rather than read, particularly in the more descriptive passages about the demon court's architecture and dress. A narrator who can hold a consistent mood across long stretches helps maintain the tone Maniscalco builds throughout the book.
The one caveat is pacing. This is a mid-series installment with a lot of setup and atmosphere. Listeners who need consistent forward momentum may find the middle sections drag in audio, there's no easy way to skim ahead the way you might in print. If you already enjoy lingering in a moody, detail-rich fantasy world, that's less of an issue.
Popular Listener Questions
Do I need to read Kingdom of the Wicked first?
Yes. Kingdom of the Cursed picks up directly where the first book ends. The major plot points, character relationships, and central mystery all assume familiarity with the first installment. Starting here will spoil key events from book one.
Is this more fantasy or romance?
In this second installment, the balance shifts noticeably toward romance and gothic atmosphere. The murder mystery is still present but takes a back seat to Emilia's relationships with the demon princes and her navigation of the demon court.
Is the same narrator used across the series?
Yes, Marisa Calin narrates both Kingdom of the Wicked and Kingdom of the Cursed, so the listening experience is consistent across the series.
Is this appropriate for younger YA readers?
The series trends toward the older end of YA, the romance elements are more mature in tone and the themes involve death, demonic bargains, and moral ambiguity. It's generally marketed to readers 16 and up.
Similar Audiobooks
The direct predecessor, listening to it first is necessary to follow Kingdom of the Cursed, and Marisa Calin narrates both.
Sarah J. Maas's series shares the gothic romance-fantasy blend, the slow-burn tension with morally grey love interests, and the older-YA-to-adult crossover audience.
Stalking Jack the Ripper
Maniscalco's earlier YA series established her gothic thriller style, readers who want to explore more of her work will find similar atmosphere and pacing.
Sabaa Tahir's series features a protagonist navigating a dangerous political court with morally complex figures, similar to Emilia's situation in the demon courts.
Wicked Fox
Kat Cho's YA fantasy blends mythology, romance, and supernatural intrigue in a way that appeals to readers drawn to Kingdom of the Cursed's atmosphere.
Audiobook Details
| Title | Kingdom of the Cursed |
|---|---|
| Author | Kerri Maniscalco |
| Narrator | Marisa Calin |
| Genre | Young Adult Dark Fantasy Romance |
| Year | 2021 |
| Publisher | Jimmy Patterson |
| Abridged | Unabridged |
| Cast | Single narrator |
| Author-narrated | No |
Ready to listen?
Kingdom of the Cursed is available on Audible and is a reasonable use of a free trial credit if you're already following the series.
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