ARC Reviews – Page 2 – A Court of Books and Brews

Much Ado About You | Arc Review

Well I might have overdone it with my Netgalley requesting. I seem to have lost all self control and received way too many books. However, I have somehow found a way to tackle my Netgalley shelf and get a lot of arcs read this month ahead of publication!

So without further ado ;), I bring you my review of Much Ado About You by Samantha Young.

Synopsis:

At thirty-three-years old Evangeline Starling’s life in Chicago is missing that special something. And when she’s passed over for promotion at work, Evie realizes she needs to make a change. Some time away to regain perspective might be just the thing. In a burst of impulsivity, she plans a holiday in a quaint English village. The holiday package comes with a temporary position at Much Ado About Books, the bookstore located beneath her rental apartment. There’s no better dream vacation for the bookish Evie, a life-long Shakespeare lover.

Not only is Evie swept up in running the delightful store as soon as she arrives, she’s drawn into the lives, loves and drama of the friendly villagers. Including Roane Robson, the charismatic and sexy farmer who tempts Evie every day with his friendly flirtations. Evie is determined to keep him at bay because a holiday romance can only end in heartbreak, right? But Evie can’t deny their connection and longs to trust in her handsome farmer that their whirlwind romance could turn in to the forever kind of love.

First and foremost I would like to thank Netgalley and Berkley Publishing for providing me with an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

As ya’ll can probably tell from what I have read so far this month, I have been on a rom com kick. I tend to find rom coms the easiest to read on my kindle, so that is generally what I request the most of from Netgalley.

So, when I saw this book show up I knew I had to request it. And I am so glad that I did! This was such a fun read that I finished in just two sittings.

As you know, both Thi and I are always looking for a book that provides more than just a romance, and this book was no exception. I thought it brought up important issues of addiction and what it can do to family relationships.

Now on to the romance. I absolutely adored Evie and Roane, and their relationship was a pleasure to watch unfold over time. I really enjoy books that don’t have insta love and found this one to feel very realistic. It felt genuine and easy to root for.

Lastly, the setting of this book on the English countryside was something I never knew I needed. This story makes me want to pack up and move to a small English town and run a bookstore. Maybe in another life 😉

All in all this was a fun, quick, and enjoyable read. So be sure to check it out and head to your local bookstore on February 2nd to pick up your copy, you won’t regret it!

Book Details:
Title: Much Ado About You
Author: Samantha Young
Publication Date: February 2, 2021
Genre: Romance, Contemporary, Women’s Fiction

What are you currently reading? Does this sound like a book you would want to read? Let’s have a chat down below!

As always, thank you so much for stopping by our blog! We appreciate all of your support!

Shipped | Arc Review

Welcome back! Christie and I are on a mission to keep up with our arcs and so far, so good! We are always thrilled when we get approved for the same arcs, because it gives us a chance to buddy read and to discuss the book with each other and then provide a joint review instead of individual ones (perks of having a co-blogger)!

Today, we are excited to share our review of Shipped by Angie Hockman with you all!

SYNOPSIS

Between taking night classes for her MBA and her demanding day job at a cruise line, marketing manager Henley Evans barely has time for herself, let alone family, friends, or dating. But when she’s shortlisted for the promotion of her dreams, all her sacrifices finally seem worth it.

The only problem? Graeme Crawford-Collins, the remote social media manager and the bane of her existence, is also up for the position. Although they’ve never met in person, their epic email battles are the stuff of office legend.

Their boss tasks each of them with drafting a proposal on how to boost bookings in the Galápagos—best proposal wins the promotion. There’s just one catch: they have to go on a company cruise to the Galápagos Islands…together. But when the two meet on the ship, Henley is shocked to discover that the real Graeme is nothing like she imagined. As they explore the Islands together, she soon finds the line between loathing and liking thinner than a postcard.

With her career dreams in her sights and a growing attraction to the competition, Henley begins questioning her life choices. Because what’s the point of working all the time if you never actually live?

This book was so fun! We loved the cruise setting and learning about the Galapagos Islands. One of the things that stood out in this book is Angie’s advocacy for our ecosystem. It is very apparent that she cares about creating a more sustainable environment.

We are both fans of a good enemies-to-lovers troupe, and felt this one was done well. Henley and Graham’s relationship is genuine. Graham is kind, thoughtful, and isn’t afraid to speak up when something is not fair. Henley is confident, caring, and driven. Together, they are wonderful!

We are suckers for lovable side characters, so this book was like a dream come true in that department. We always want to see more of them, and with the small and random encounters we had, we are happy people. Although, it wouldn’t hurt if we saw them in future books either. 😜

One thing that we really look for in a rom com is something that is more than just a romance story. This book provided just what we were looking for, between character growth, both main and supporting characters, and shedding light on domestic abuse and gender inequality in the work force. These issues are always important and when done appropriately can really add so much more to a story.

Overall, we definitely highly recommend Shipped. You get to watch the romance unfold, partake in lip syncing battles, go on hikes and see wildlife, learn about the Galapagos Islands, and meet a wonderful supporting cast. That being said, if you are looking for a witty, fun, feel-good rom com, definitely be on the lookout for Shipped when it hits the shelves on January 19th, 2021.

Book Details:
Title: Shipped
Author: Angie Hockman
Publication Date: January 19, 2021
Genre: Romance, Contemporary, Women’s Fiction

What are some romance books that you are looking forward to reading this year? Let’s have a chat down below!

As always, thank you so much for stopping by our blog! We appreciate all of your support!

You Have A Match | Arc Review

Happy 2021! How are we all doing? Any grand goals or plans this year? I personally am cautiously optimistic about reading books I currently own and getting my arc reviews out before the due date!

That being said, I am excited to announce that I finished my first arc of the year, so yay for that! With further ado, I present to you my review for You Have A Match by Emma Lord.

SYNOPSIS

From the beloved author of Tweet Cute comes Emma Lord’s You Have a Match, a YA novel of family, friendship, romance and sisterhood…

When Abby signs up for a DNA service, it’s mainly to give her friend and secret love interest, Leo, a nudge. After all, she knows who she is already: Avid photographer. Injury-prone tree climber. Best friend to Leo and Connie…although ever since the B.E.I. (Big Embarrassing Incident) with Leo, things have been awkward on that front.

But she didn’t know she’s a younger sister.

When the DNA service reveals Abby has a secret sister, shimmery-haired Instagram star Savannah Tully, it’s hard to believe they’re from the same planet, never mind the same parents—especially considering Savannah, queen of green smoothies, is only a year and a half older than Abby herself.

The logical course of action? Meet up at summer camp (obviously) and figure out why Abby’s parents gave Savvy up for adoption. But there are complications: Savvy is a rigid rule-follower and total narc. Leo is the camp’s co-chef, putting Abby’s growing feelings for him on blast. And her parents have a secret that threatens to unravel everything.

But part of life is showing up, leaning in, and learning to fit all your awkward pieces together. Because sometimes, the hardest things can also be the best ones.

Book Details:

Title: You Have a Match
Author: Emma Lord
Release Date: January 12, 2021
Genre: Young Adult, Contemporary, Romance

What book are you guys starting this year off with? Leave a comment and chat with us! As always, we appreciate you guys for following and supporting our blog. We can’t wait to see what 2021 will bring!

Thank You, Next | ARC review

You guys, how are we one month away from the end of 2020?! I cannot believe we are crossing into December tomorrow. It feels like November flew by with the blink of an eye. Did you guys do any Black Friday shopping or will you be doing Cyber Monday shopping? Please support small and local businesses where you can! They need it this year more than ever!

I’m excited to be back with another arc review. I’m still slowly treading through my Netgalley reads, but I think I have a system worked out, so we will see how that works out, lol. So, without further ado, below is my Thank You, Next review!

Synopsis

“Seriously, why do guys on dating apps think I want a picture of what’s in their pants? I could open an art gallery with the collection I’ve got.”

Zoe really doesn’t want to die alone and surrounded by cats. But it’s not looking good: she’s had sex precisely twice in the last year, and her feline friend isn’t the kind of male company she wants in bed…

Her top dating disasters include:

1) The guy who kissed her hand, took out a violin and serenaded her in public.
2) The guy who force-fed her oysters (she can confirm that they’re not an aphrodisiac).
3) The guy who was so hungover he turned up with his t-shirt on inside out, sweating sambuca.
4) The guy who brought his actual kid on a dinner date.

And don’t even get her started on the dick pics, or how on earth you’re supposed to know whether a total stranger is an axe murderer or not.

Zoe’s ready to give up on the search for love, until her friend has an idea. Robbie lives by his horoscope, and he’s sure she’s got this dating stuff all wrong. He dares her to work her way through the zodiac until she finds The One.

Usually Zoe would laugh at such a suggestion, but desperate times call for desperate measures. Could love be written in the stars? Or is she destined to end up alone, eating take-out in bed and watching endless re-runs of Friends?

Firstly, I’d like to thank Netgalley and Bookouture for providing me with an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

The first thing that caught my attention was the book cover. I would be lying if I said I have never made up a lame excuse to not go on a date, but I think we have all been there, right? So, when I saw that phrase on the book cover, I was like “I HAVE TO READ THAT BOOK!.”

This is my second book by Ms. Sophie Ranald and it did not disappoint. Overall, I found this book to be very relatable and funny. Watching Zoe go through a series of dating mishaps was as awkward and disastrous as it was hilarious. You can’t help but get invested in her love life.

When Zoe initially settled for a boyfriend, I was a little frustrated, because I couldn’t understand why she felt like she had to have someone in her life for it to be completed. In the end, said boyfriend was ultimately part of a journey Zoe needed to take to grow as a character. While I like Zoe and her eventual main squeeze, it felt like something was missing. I think I simply would have just liked to have seen more of them, since he didn’t come into the picture until much later in the book. So at the end of the day, the romance plot fell a tad bit flat for me.

The narrative of this book is also worth mentioning, because you can actually visualize scenes and through some of the dialogue- it felt as if you and your best friend were just having a chat over a cup of coffee. While Zoe is the main character in the book, we also got to catch glimpse of multiple side characters and I for one am a huge fun of that, because more often than not- one of the side characters becomes my favorite person in the book!

Overall, while I was not as emotionally invested, Thank You, Next would be a wonderful book to pick up if you are looking for a light, fun, and enjoyable quick rom com read and it is out today!

Book Details:

Title: Thank You, Next
Author: Sophie Ranald
Publication Date: November 30, 3030
Genre: Contemporary Romance, Rom Com, Adult

Question of the Day: Because I can never have enough books/books rec, what are some 2021 books you guys are looking forward to getting your hands on?

As always, thank you so much for your continuous support as Christie and I make our way through all our reviews!

How to Fail at Flirting | Arc Review

If you haven’t noticed by how many arc review posts I have done in the past couple of months, I have clearly been requesting too many books on Netgalley 😛

Today’s review is for How to Fail at Flirting by Denise Williams!

Synopsis:

One daring to-do list and a crash course in flirtation turn a Type A overachiever’s world upside down.

When her flailing department lands on the university’s chopping block, Professor Naya Turner’s friends convince her to shed her frumpy cardigan for an evening on the town. For one night her focus will stray from her demanding job and she’ll tackle a new kind of to-do list. When she meets a charming stranger in town on business, he presents the perfect opportunity to check off the items on her list. Let the guy buy her a drink. Check. Try something new. Check. A no-strings-attached hookup. Check…almost.

Jake makes her laugh and challenges Naya to rebuild her confidence, which was left toppled by her abusive ex-boyfriend. Soon she’s flirting with the chance at a more serious romantic relationship—except nothing can be that easy. The complicated strings around her dating Jake might destroy her career.

Naya has two options. She can protect her professional reputation and return to her old life or she can flirt with the unknown and stay with the person who makes her feel like she’s finally living again.

I would like to thank Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

If I am being honest with ya’ll, I finished this book a few days ago and I am still not sure I will be able to write down in words my love for this book.

I have always been a sucker for a cute rom com, so when I read the blurb and saw the amazing cover, I thought to myself this looks like it could be exactly what I am looking for. It turned out to be so much more than just a quick and fun love story. It was a story that made me laugh, scream, cry and a myriad of other emotions.

Naya is a strong female lead that I fell in love with instantly. She has been through a lot and you can feel all her doubt and emotions through the pages as she rebuilds her life and career after an abusive relationship. She was a remarkably relatable character and someone I can’t wait to revisit during a re-read of this beautiful book.

While I enjoy a cute Hallmark movie-esque read, that is not generally how real life works. So I commend any author that can write a romance novel and dares to tackle important issues. This book addresses issues such as race, gender equality, and abusive relationships. It reminds us that these things are in the forefront of our society and should not be shield away from.

I cannot recommend this book enough for anyone looking for a cute, quick romance, with a touch of real life added in.

This book is on sale Tuesday, December 1st. You will not want to miss it!

Book Details:

Title: How to Fail at Flirting
Author: Denise Williams
Publication Date: December 1, 2020
Genre: Romance, Contemporary, Adult

As always, thank you so much for stopping by our blog! We appreciate all of your support!

The Peculiar Fate of Holly Banks | Arc Review

Thi and I are so excited to bring you a joint arc review! We read book one of this series, Holly Banks Full of Angst, and we absolutely adored it. So when we got the opportunity to get our hands on an arc of The Peculiar Fate of Holly Banks, you know we jumped on it!

Synopsis:

A wife, mother, and aspiring filmmaker clings to the pursuit of perfection only to have fate play with every plan she’s made in this quirky, contemplative, and empowering novel.

Holly Banks is on a desperate mission to have it all, but nothing in life goes according to plan. She’s quickly learning that keeping up with the Joneses is a full-time job, especially when the women of Primm, her new neighborhood, seem to have it together all the time.

With her husband’s job in flux, her daughter’s difficulty with learning to read, and her mother’s new zest for dating, Holly’s life is already anything but picture perfect. Then her dog digs up an old artifact in the village center, and the mishap draws the attention of local media. Because of course it would.

Holly finds herself at the center of a mystery between two rival towns that, if solved, could change the Village of Primm forever. Attention is the last thing she needs as she’s launching a new business, the village-wide “Parade of Homes” is approaching—though she’s hardly unpacked—and she needs to submit her entry for an upcoming film festival. Can Holly still create her perfect (looking) life? Or is fate about to go off script and give her a story she never could have imagined?

This is the second installment of the Village of Primm series and we pick up right where we left off with book one- Holly Banks Full of Angst, which is about a month after the Banks family moved to Primm.

Though the books may be standalones, we feel you would get more from the stories if you read it from the beginning. This will give you a better understanding of the characters and the dynamic of the new town and its residents.

Holly Banks is still trying to adjust to the Primm lifestyle when her dog, Struggle manages to dig up a mystery artifact adding to her continuing list of mayhems and misadventures.

While we enjoyed revisiting the Villiage of Primm, this book was missing some of the laugh out loud moments that we fell in love with in the first book. Please give us more Mary Margaret vs Holly Banks witty banter!

This book definitely had a more serious tone as it showed Holly navigating through various life challenges. So, while we did miss some of the laugh-out-loud moments, one of the things this book is not lacking, is a true glimpse into the life of an adult.

One of the reasons we both love Holly Banks so much is because she is relatable. She is flawed and sarcastic, but full of heart and means well. So, seeing her character navigate through some personal and life issues- you can’t help but root for her. Between battling with house repairs and caring for aging parents, this shows that it is okay to not have your whole life in order.

All in all, this is a quick and fun read and a series that we would recommend! We can’t wait to see what is in store for Holly and the Village of Primm. Hip hip!

Book Details:

Title: The Peculiar Fate of Holly Banks
Author: Julie Valerie
Publication Date: November 24, 2020
Genre: Contemporary, Women’s Fiction

Have you read Holly Banks Full of Angst? If so, what did you think and will you read the follow up?

As always, thank you so much for stopping by our blog! We appreciate all of your support!

The Camelot Betrayal | Arc Review

Welcome back for another arc review! This time around, I have finished The Camelot Betrayal by Kiersten White. This is the sequel to The Guinevere Deception, so be sure to check that one out first!

Synopsis:

The second book in a new fantasy trilogy from New York Times bestselling author Kiersten White, exploring the nature of self, the inevitable cost of progress, and, of course, magic and romance and betrayal so epic Queen Guinevere remains the most famous queen who never lived.

EVERYTHING IS AS IT SHOULD BE IN CAMELOT: King Arthur is expanding his kingdom’s influence with Queen Guinevere at his side. Yet every night, dreams of darkness and unknowable power plague her.

Guinevere might have accepted her role, but she still cannot find a place for herself in all of it. The closer she gets to Brangien, pining for her lost love Isolde, Lancelot, fighting to prove her worth as Queen’s knight, and Arthur, everything to everyone and thus never quite enough for Guinevere–the more she realizes how empty she is. She has no sense of who she truly was before she was Guinevere. The more she tries to claim herself as queen, the more she wonders if Mordred was right: she doesn’t belong. She never will.

When a rescue goes awry and results in the death of something precious, a devastated Guinevere returns to Camelot to find the greatest threat yet has arrived. Not in the form of the Dark Queen or an invading army, but in the form of the real Guinevere’s younger sister. Is her deception at an end? And who is she really deceiving–Camelot, or herself?

Thank you so much to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with an e-ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review!

This book is everything I wanted out of the sequel to The Guinevere Deception. I love a good Arthurian retelling and this series is definitely not disappointing.

We picked up right where the first book left off, with action after action. This book reads so fast, because there is just always something going on.

As this series continues, it has been a real pleasure to get to learn more about Guinevere and Arthur. Never mind all the outstanding supporting cast. I think I may actually love Lancelot and Brangien more than the main characters.

The writing style is also something that makes this book a pleasure to read. I had a hard time putting this book down once I really got into it.

If you have not read The Guinevere Deception, start NOW! If you have read it, what are you waiting for? Go ahead and pick up The Camelot Betrayal and immerse yourself into the world of Camelot, you will not regret it!

Now when does the third book come out? Asking for a friend 😛

Book Details:

Title: The Camelot Betrayal
Author: Kiersten White
Publication Date: November 10, 2020
Genre: Fantasy, Retelling, Young Adult

Have you read The Guinevere Deception? Do you like retellings? If so, which one has been your favorite?

As always, thank you so much for stopping by our blog! We appreciate all of your support!

White Ivy | Arc Review

I am still steadily making my way through my Netgalley arcs and I am only a day behind on this review of White Ivy! If you haven’t heard of this one, I definitely recommend that you check it out!

Synopsis:

A dazzling debut novel about a young woman’s dark obsession with her privileged classmate and the lengths she’ll go to win his love

Ivy Lin is a thief and a liar—but you’d never know it by looking at her. Raised outside of Boston, she is taught how to pilfer items from yard sales and second-hand shops by her immigrant grandmother. Thieving allows Ivy to accumulate the trappings of a suburban teen—and, most importantly, to attract the attention of Gideon Speyer, the golden boy of a wealthy political family. But when Ivy’s mother discovers her trespasses, punishment is swift and Ivy is sent to China, where her dream instantly evaporates.

Years later, Ivy has grown into a poised yet restless young woman, haunted by her conflicting feelings about her upbringing and her family. Back in Boston, when she bumps into Sylvia Speyer, Gideon’s sister, a reconnection with Gideon seems not only inevitable—it feels like fate.

Slowly, Ivy sinks her claws into Gideon and the entire Speyer clan by attending fancy dinners and weekend getaways to the Cape. But just as Ivy is about to have everything she’s ever wanted, a ghost from her past resurfaces, threatening the nearly perfect life she’s worked so hard to build.

Filled with surprising twists and offering sharp insights into the immigrant experience, White Ivy is both a love triangle and a coming-of-age story, as well as a glimpse into the dark side of a woman who yearns for success at any cost.

Thank you so much to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with an e-ARC in exchange for my honest review!

I would like to start by saying I went into this book thinking it was a mystery/thriller. I had gotten this in mind because Goodreads had listed mystery and thriller in the genre classifications. That mixed with the way the synopsis read, I really thought that was what I was getting myself in to. However, I would really list this book as a contemporary fiction. While it does have some dark themes to it, it is not something that has the draw of a standard mystery or thriller.

Now that I have gotten that out of the way, I cannot get over how fast this story grasped my attention. With that being said, this is a book I would consider a slow burn and is not something I would recommend for someone looking for a quick read. This story has many facets to it and draw you into Ivy’s life from being a child in China to an adult living outside Boston, MA.

This book follows the family dynamics of an immigrant, as well as, Ivy’s aspirations of moving up the social ladder and obtaining a life of wealth and privilege.

Ivy, herself, is a very complicated and complex character that at many times throughout this book is hard to root for. That in itself can be difficult since the story is really told through her thoughts and motivations. I found myself wanting to be sympathetic towards her, for overcoming obstacles, but then she would do things that made me feel the complete opposite. In the end, Ivy was a well-crafted character that brought this story to life!

This was a very strong debut novel that I enjoyed from start to finish, in all of its slow burn glory. I think it was well-written and executed. I would recommend it!

Book Details:

Title: White Ivy
Author: Susie Yang
Publication Date: November 3, 2020
Genre: Contemporary Ficton, Adult Fiction

As always, thank you so much for stopping by our blog! We appreciate all of your support!

Love Your Life | Arc Reveiw

I might be more shocked than anybody that I actually completed all of my Netgalleys for October! So without further ado, HAPPY PUB DAY to Love Your Life by Sophie Kinsella.

Synopsis:

From the #1 New York Times bestselling author of I Owe You One, an utterly delightful novel about a woman who ditches her dating app for a writer’s retreat in Italy–only to find that real love comes with its own filters

“As close to perfect as romantic comedies get.”–Jenny Colgan, New York Times bestselling author of The Bookshop on the Corner

Call Ava romantic, but she thinks love should be found in the real world, not on apps that filter men by height, job, or astrological sign. She believes in feelings, not algorithms. So after a recent breakup and dating app debacle, she decides to put love on hold and escapes to a remote writers’ retreat in coastal Italy. She’s determined to finish writing the novel she’s been fantasizing about, even though it means leaving her close-knit group of friends and her precious dog, Harold, behind.

At the retreat, she’s not allowed to use her real name or reveal any personal information. When the neighboring martial arts retreat is canceled and a few of its attendees join their small writing community, Ava, now going by “Aria,” meets “Dutch,” a man who seems too good to be true. The two embark on a baggage-free, whirlwind love affair, cliff-jumping into gem-colored Mediterranean waters and exploring the splendor of the Italian coast. Things seem to be perfect for Aria and Dutch.

But then their real identities–Ava and Matt–must return to London. As their fantasy starts to fade, they discover just how different their personal worlds are. From food choices to annoying habits to sauna etiquette . . . are they compatible in anything? And then there’s the prickly situation with Matt’s ex-girlfriend, who isn’t too eager to let him go. As one mishap follows another, it seems while they love each other, they just can’t love each other’s lives. Can they reconcile their differences to find one life together?

First and foremost, thank you so much to Netgalley and the publisher for giving me the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

I have read a lot of Sophie Kinsella books and I have tended to really enjoy her stand alone novels. While I enjoyed this book as well, it was not one of my favorites by her.

Love Your Life is filled with Kinsella’s signature laugh out loud antics of the female lead, from start to finish. I found myself cringing and giggling at the same time, wondering what other crazy shenanigans Ava would find herself in.

While there were many funny moments in this book, I would be remiss to say that one of my least favorite troupes in a book is insta-love. I can sometimes get past insta-love over a couple of weeks, but this love story started after only one week. I could not believe that two people could be head over heels in love in such a short time.

However, the hopeless romantic in me continued on and I am so glad that I did. While the beginnings of their relationship was rushed and unbelievable at times, the way they grew together through the rest of the novel did have me invested. By the end of the book, I was rooting for Ava and was fully on board with the romance.

The one thing that really pulled this entire book together, for me, was the supporting characters. All of them blended well into the story with their colorful personalities and their quirky antics.

I would recommend this to anyone who has enjoyed any of Sophie Kinsella’s other standalone novels, or anyone looking for a cute, quick and laugh out loud rom com.

Book Details:

Title: Love Your Life
Author: Sophie Kinsella
Publication Date: Today!! October 27, 2020
Genre: Romance, Adult, Contemporary

As always, thank you so much for stopping by our blog! We appreciate all of your support!

Kingdom of the Wicked | Arc Review

Happy Saturday book friends! I am back at it with ANOTHER arc review! I am slowly making my way through them all and yet find myself requesting more everyday 😛 When will I learn?

This time around I am bringing you my thoughts on Kingdom of the Wicked by Kerri Maniscalco!

Synopsis:

Two sisters.One brutal murder. A quest for vengeance that will unleash Hell itself… And an intoxicating romance. Emilia and her twin sister Vittoria are streghe – witches who live secretly among humans, avoiding notice and persecution. One night, Vittoria misses dinner service at the family’s renowned Sicilian restaurant. Emilia soon finds the body of her beloved twin…desecrated beyond belief. Devastated, Emilia sets out to find her sister’s killer and to seek vengeance at any cost-even if it means using dark magic that’s been long forbidden.

Then Emilia meets Wrath, one of the Wicked-princes of Hell she has been warned against in tales since she was a child. Wrath claims to be on Emilia’s side, tasked by his master with solving the series of women’s murders on the island. But when it comes to the Wicked, nothing is at is seems…

I would like to start by saying a HUGE thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review!

If you have not read Kerri Maniscalco’s Stalking Jack the Ripper series, you definitely need to get on that! I absolutely loved that entire series and am completely engrossed with her writing. When I saw that she was coming out with another series, this one with witches, I knew I needed to read it!

Just like her other series, Maniscalco has put together another engaging and intriguing murder mystery. I can not get enough of her writing and will pretty much read anything she publishes at this point.

The female lead, Emilia, goes through a true character transformation from start to finish and it was a pleasure to go on the journey with her. She is determined to find out who killed her twin sister and why it happened in the first place. Through the writing I could feel Emilia’s emotions while she sought her vengeance.

Another part of this story that I found really fascinating is Maniscalco’s take on the seven deadly sins in demon form. The Seven Princes of Hell which are classified as the Wicked in this story are the manifestations of those sins. They bring about their powers by inflicting their particular “sin” on whoever is around. They may be family, but they all hold their own secrets and lies.

Tie all the characters together and throw them into a dark historical style setting and you have all the ingredients for the perfect murder mystery; add in all the betrayals, witches and demons and you have yourself one HELL of a series!

Watch out for the cliffhanger at the end though, it has me a little upset that I have to wait for the next book to release. You better believe I will be requesting it on Netgalley as well!

Book Details:

Title: Kingdom of the Wicked
Author: Kerri Maniscalco
Publication Date: October 27, 2020
Genre: Fantasy, Young Adult, Historical Fiction, Mystery

As always, thank you so much for stopping by our blog! We appreciate all of your support!