Kingdom of the Cursed Audiobook – Kingdom of the Wicked, Book 2

One rainy Saturday afternoon, curled up in my favorite chair with a mug of spiced chai, I let myself slip into the darkly decadent world of “Kingdom of the Cursed.” There’s something about stormy weather that pairs perfectly with Kerri Maniscalco’s blend of intrigue, passion, and danger—a sense that you’re peering out from your own shadowed palace as Emilia stalks through hers.

Having followed Emilia’s journey since “Kingdom of the Wicked,” I was immediately struck by how much she has changed. She is fierce and raw here—no longer just grieving her sister but forging herself anew in the Seven Circles’ court of deadly secrets and forbidden desires. As someone who has navigated big life changes (though thankfully not involving demon princes), I found myself resonating with her determination to find answers at any cost—even when trust seems impossible.

The setting shimmers: opulent palaces filled with backstabbing princes, magical artifacts, lavish parties tinged with threat. Maniscalco’s prose is lush without being overwrought—I could practically feel velvet under my fingertips or taste sugar-dusted sin at those endless banquets. What kept me hooked wasn’t just Emilia’s vengeful drive (though it pulses fiercely throughout) but her moments of vulnerability; her uncertainty echoed some of my own darker days grappling with betrayal and forgiveness.

Romance weaves through every chapter like a spell—tantalizing, sometimes infuriatingly slow-burn. The tension between Emilia and Wrath leaps from the speakers: are they allies? Enemies? Something more? Their connection simmers beneath each verbal sparring match or charged glance. It made me remember what it feels like to question another person’s motives while wanting so desperately to believe in them—a dance as old as time and never less intoxicating for its familiarity.

Marisa Calin narrates this world beautifully, capturing both sensuality and suspense in equal measure. Her voice for Emilia carries youthful resolve tempered by hard-won scars; Wrath sounds simultaneously magnetic and unknowable—the kind of character you can’t help but be drawn toward even when you know he might break your heart. Some listeners might wish for more variety among secondary characters’ voices (I occasionally struggled to distinguish certain princes during crowded scenes), but overall Calin embodies this story’s seductive rhythms.

If there’s one thing that left me longing for more, it was how quickly some mysteries seem to build only to remain tantalizingly unsolved—Maniscalco loves a cliffhanger! While that means plenty to look forward to in the next installment, impatient listeners beware: there are still threads dangling by book’s end.

Ultimately though, “Kingdom of the Cursed” is an immersive escape—dark magic laced with romance—and it swept me away just when I needed a little distance from everyday worries. If you crave stories where love comes edged with danger, trust must be earned (or betrayed), and nothing is quite what it seems… pour yourself something warm and press play on this audiobook.