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kmkasiner's review against another edition
3.0
This was a middle of the road read for me. I haven't read Maniscalco's other series (I started with the first few pages of Stalking Jack the Ripper and got grossed out by the body horror elements), so I don't know how the writing compares with that. The beginning of the story is promising. I loved the setting in historical Sicily, the legends Nonna tells, and of course the food descriptions were delicious! The mystery soon ramps up with the main character Emilia's twin being murdered. This book is half fantasy, half mystery. Although I enjoyed the magic and the idea of the Malvagi, the mystery part was really predictable to me. The characters also fell flat. Emilia's motivation for revenge makes sense, but her actions are all over the place. Prince Wrath, the malvagi demon she summons, was appealing but also not fleshed out enough. There were hints of romance but I wanted more. We barely get a sense of the other brothers, Envy, Lust, and Greed. Still a fun and fast-paced read though. My reading buddies had a theory about the sequel that makes me intrigued enough to read the second.
wellreadandcaffinated's review against another edition
4.0
Great first book. Definitely ready to continue on with the series.
Felt like things between her and Wrath were too simple. Can’t wait to explore the kingdom of the wicked in the 2nd book.
Felt like things between her and Wrath were too simple. Can’t wait to explore the kingdom of the wicked in the 2nd book.
annagrace_malone's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
manglitter's review against another edition
3.0
It started very well, some interesting witchy things and the recipes made me hungry but after reading some chapters, it got really predictable, the MC was jut turning around the truth and the true criminal. From all the movies, books, mangas and everything made by men it was mostly always witches against the church.
The end was so obvious, it wasn't really something new that we haven't seen before and that's what made me not enjoy the second half of this book as much a I did the first part.
The MC was such a drama queen and what annoyed me more was their grandma's incessant warnings and them not listening to her, then by the end, the old hag remembered that there was a prophecy that is about her twin granddaughters! So why not start your warning with this lady! We always start by telling the prophecy that could be changed or not but we never hide it which what the author did here or might have just decided to add it by the end. Let's not talk about Emillia and Wrath's relationship because it gave me a big headache.
All in all, it was entertaining and I made the mistake of thinking that it was a duology but it's okey, I got the second book and I'm gonna read it because the third book might be here this year.
fafpaf0405's review against another edition
3.0
Interesting idea, lots of potential, but just felt frustrated with the main character and the fact that despite being a 'powerful witch' she can't do anything but cook. I really felt like she spent the entire book just running from one side of the city to the other. I might still read the second book just to see if it gets any better.
mons278's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
3.75
fueledbyjannie's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
4.0