About the Book
This box set collects all three books in Kerri Maniscalco's Kingdom of the Wicked series: Kingdom of the Wicked, Kingdom of the Cursed, and Kingdom of the Feared. The story follows Emilia, a young Sicilian witch who discovers her twin sister Vittoria has been murdered, her body left in a state that suggests something far beyond human cruelty. Determined to find the killer, Emilia turns to forbidden dark magic and ends up entangled with Wrath, one of the seven demon princes of Hell.
The series blends historical Sicilian setting, dark fantasy, and romance. The first book establishes the murder mystery and the uneasy alliance between Emilia and Wrath. The subsequent two books follow Emilia deeper into the politics and dangers of the demon world as the investigation and the central relationship both escalate. The tone throughout is atmospheric and gothic, leaning heavily into the romance as the series progresses.
This is a complete trilogy package, meaning you get all three books in a single purchase. That's a significant listening commitment, three full novels back to back, but it also means no cliffhanger frustration waiting for credits to roll over. The arc is self-contained.
Narration & Audio Performance
Marisa Calin handles the narration across all three books, which gives the trilogy a consistency that matters when you're listening to roughly 40+ hours of interconnected story. Her tone is well-suited to the gothic, atmospheric quality of the material, she doesn't rush the descriptive passages and maintains a measured, slightly dramatic cadence that fits the Sicilian setting and supernatural subject matter.
Character differentiation is present but not always sharply distinct. Emilia comes through clearly as the central voice, and Wrath is rendered with enough tonal depth to feel like a separate presence. Secondary characters are serviceable but less defined. The romance-heavy sections benefit from Calin's control over pacing, she avoids the tendency some narrators have of speeding through emotional beats. If you're on the fence, the Audible sample should give you a reliable read on whether her style works for you across an extended listen.
The Audible Verdict
The narration is solid and the gothic tone translates reasonably well to audio, but this is primarily a romance-driven fantasy series where a lot of the appeal comes from atmosphere and prose style, elements that land differently depending on the listener. At three full novels, it's a substantial use of a single credit. A free trial credit is a reasonable way to test whether this format works for you before committing further.
Listen on AudibleIs This Book a Good Fit for Audio?
The Kingdom of the Wicked trilogy is a reasonable audio fit. The story is linear, character-driven, and built around dialogue and emotional tension, all of which work well in audio form. There are no charts, diagrams, or structural elements that depend on the page.
The main consideration is the series' heavy gothic atmosphere, which Maniscalco builds through detailed descriptive prose. Some readers find that kind of writing lands better on the page, where you can set your own pace through dense passages. In audio, you're dependent on the narrator's pacing choices. Calin handles this reasonably well, but if you're someone who rereads paragraphs or lingers on prose, audio may feel slightly less satisfying here.
For commutes, long drives, or background listening during low-focus tasks, this trilogy works. It's not the kind of story where missing a sentence derails your understanding of the plot.
Popular Listener Questions
Does this include all three books?
Yes. This audiobook edition collects Kingdom of the Wicked, Kingdom of the Cursed, and Kingdom of the Feared as a single purchase.
Is the story self-contained, or does it end on a cliffhanger?
The complete trilogy wraps up the full story arc across all three books. Individual books end with ongoing threads, but the set as a whole reaches a conclusion.
Is this appropriate for younger readers?
The series is marketed as young adult but skews toward older teens and adults. It contains dark themes, violence related to the murder investigation, and romance that becomes more explicit as the series progresses.
Do I need to know anything about Sicilian history or mythology going in?
No prior knowledge is required. The series incorporates Sicilian folklore and demonology but explains what it needs to within the story.
Is the same narrator used across all three books?
Yes. Marisa Calin narrates all three books in this complete trilogy edition.
Similar Audiobooks
Stalking Jack the Ripper
Also by Kerri Maniscalco, a historical dark fiction series with a gothic atmosphere and a strong female protagonist investigating brutal crimes.
Sarah J. Maas's series shares the YA-to-adult fantasy romance blend, fae-world politics replacing demon princes, and a similar escalation of romance across multiple books.
The Cruel Prince
Holly Black's Faerie series offers a comparable dynamic, a mortal woman entangled with a dangerous supernatural figure in a politically treacherous world.
Sabaa Tahir's series combines dark fantasy, romance, and a morally complex world with high personal stakes, a natural next listen for Kingdom of the Wicked readers.
House of Salt and Sorrows
Erin A. Craig's gothic fairy-tale retelling shares the dark European atmosphere and mysterious deaths at the center of the plot.
Audiobook Details
| Title | Kingdom of the Wicked Complete Trilogy |
|---|---|
| Author | Kerri Maniscalco |
| Narrator | Marisa Calin |
| Genre | Dark Fantasy Romance |
| Year | 2023 |
| Publisher | Hachette UK |
| Abridged | Unabridged |
| Cast | Single narrator |
| Author-narrated | No |
Ready to listen?
The complete trilogy is available on Audible and works well as a free trial credit, three books for one credit is a reasonable value if the genre suits you.
Open on Audible