Kingdom of the Wicked
A witch summons a demon to solve her sister's murder
Kingdom of the Wicked starts as a murder mystery and becomes a journey through the seven circles of hell with a demon prince who's all sarcasm and hidden vulnerability. Emilia is a witch whose twin sister is murdered, and she summons Prince Wrath to help find the killer. He's insufferable, she's determined, and the sexual tension is immediate.
Maniscalco blends Italian folklore, Catholic imagery, and demon mythology into a world that feels both familiar and fresh. The romance is slow-burn enemies-to-lovers, with Wrath slowly revealing himself to be far more than the arrogant demon he appears. The mystery drives the plot, but the relationship is what keeps you turning pages.
It's YA that pushes toward new adult in tone and heat level. The banter is sharp, the world-building is intricate, and the revelations about who Emilia actually is reframe everything. If you want fantasy romance with mystery elements and a demon love interest who's protective and infuriating in equal measure, this nails it.
A witch summons a demon to solve her sister's murder
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What draws readers to books like Kingdom of the Wicked
You want fantasy romance where the love interest isn't human and the power dynamic is constantly shifting. Demon princes, fae lords, vampire kings, immortal beings with their own agendas who fall for mortal women and have to reckon with what that means.
You're drawn to heroines who are investigating, uncovering secrets, actively driving the plot forward rather than being swept along by it. Emilia isn't waiting to be saved, she's solving her sister's murder and dragging Wrath along as a tool, not a savior.
What you're really craving is that specific flavor of enemies-to-lovers where the banter is constant, the attraction is denied for as long as possible, and the emotional walls come down slowly enough that every reveal feels significant. Where the mystery and the romance are intertwined, and solving one means confronting the other.
Book recommendations
A Court of Thorns and Roses
by Sarah J. Maas
A human woman taken to the fae lands falls for a High Lord while solving the curse that threatens his court. Beauty and the Beast meets political intrigue with steamy romance.
Cruel Prince
by Holly Black
A human girl in Faerie refuses to bow to the prince who torments her. Political scheming, morally gray characters, and enemies-to-lovers tension that spans the trilogy.
From Blood and Ash
by Jennifer L. Armentrout
A Maiden and her guard in a world of vampires and gods. Forbidden love, chosen one dynamics, and revelations that rewrite the entire premise. Steamy and plot-heavy.
House of Earth and Blood
by Sarah J. Maas
A half-fae woman investigates a murder with a Fallen angel in a city of magic and technology. Slow-burn, intricate world-building, and a romance that sneaks up on you.
Zodiac Academy
by Caroline Peckham
Twin heirs to a magical throne navigate deadly academy trials and forbidden attraction to their bullies. Slow-burn reverse harem with elaborate magical world-building.
Common questions
How steamy is Kingdom of the Wicked?
The first book is more tension than steam, lots of almost-kisses and charged moments. The heat level increases in the sequels, but it's never explicit. It's YA pushing into new adult territory.
Is the mystery or the romance more important?
Both are central. The murder investigation drives the plot, but the romance with Wrath is equally important. They're intertwined, solving the mystery means understanding who Wrath actually is and what his role in Emilia's life has always been.
Do I need to read the sequel immediately?
Kingdom of the Cursed continues the story directly, and Kingdom of the Feared completes the trilogy. The first book ends on a cliffhanger, so be prepared to continue or suffer the wait.
Related books like
A Court of Thorns and Roses
A Beauty and the Beast retelling with fae politics, curses, and slow-burn magic
From Blood and Ash
The Maiden chosen for the gods falls for her forbidden guard and discovers everything she knows is a lie
Zodiac Academy
Twin heirs to a magical throne navigate deadly trials and forbidden attraction
Related tropes
Common in these genres
Ready for your story? Imagine living it.
Want a romance where solving the mystery means falling for the demon helping you? Imagine a love interest who's immortal, insufferable, and slowly reveals he's been protecting you all along. Where every revelation about the magical world is also a revelation about your relationship, and where choosing him means accepting a destiny you never asked for.
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