Dickens & Rumi
Cover of KINGDOM OF THE WICKED

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KINGDOM OF THE WICKED

Age rating, content warnings & parent guide

Kerri Maniscalco

Is KINGDOM OF THE WICKED appropriate for your child? See the reviewed age guidance, content cautions, positive themes, and supporting evidence below.

Emilia's quest to seek out her sister's killer and exact vengeance. (Ages 16 and up)

Ages 16+Book 1 · Kingdom of the WickedSource checked

Why this age? Dark supernatural violence, murder, grief, threatening demons, intense peril, and sensual romantic material suit mature teens. Sexual content is suggestive rather than explicit. This is guidance, not a safety guarantee; reading level and family context may differ.

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10-second decision

Is this likely to fit your family?

Age guidanceAges 16+
Strongest cautionsDeath of a character 4/5 · Frightening scenes 4/5 · Romance 4/5
Strongest positivesCourage & resilience 4/5 · Creativity & curiosity 4/5
Series positionBook 1 · Kingdom of the Wicked
Recommendation3.5/5

Courage & resilience; strongest caution: death of a character.

This is the quick scan. Open the evidence and methodology below for the basis behind each rating.

Quick context

What parents should know

Dark supernatural violence, murder, grief, threatening demons, intense peril, and sensual romantic material suit mature teens. Sexual content is suggestive rather than explicit. This is guidance, not a safety guarantee; reading level and family context may differ. Courage & resilience; strongest caution: death of a character.

Readiness snapshotAge guidance: 16+Main watch-out: Death of a character 4/5
Recommendation 3.5/5

Editorial rating

How this review was built

Dickens & Rumi editorial
Source checkedPublication method
17Scored categories
17Evidence notes
0Explicit 0/5 checks
Nov 3, 2026Last updated

Dickens & Rumi describes what is present; families decide what matters to them. Community reactions are kept separate from official content ratings.

How ratings workReport a rating or series issue
Review depth17 scored categories17 evidence notes
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At a glance

Recommended age16+

Strongest cautions

  • Death of a character4/5
  • Frightening scenes4/5
  • Romance4/5

Strongest positives

  • Courage & resilience4/5
  • Creativity & curiosity4/5
  • Good role models3/5

Reading order

Series progression

All known volumes are shown. Reviewed books include age guidance and cautions; books still being reviewed are clearly marked.

Next volumeBook 2 · KINGDOM OF THE CURSEDStrongest cautions: Romance 4/5 · Frightening scenes 4/5Open next review →
  1. Book 1 · KINGDOM OF THE WICKEDAges 16+
    Death of a character4/5Frightening scenes4/5Romance4/5Violence4/5Graphic injury3/5Religious themes3/5Sexual content & nudity2/5Strong language2/5Alcohol or drugs1/5LGBTQIA characters1/5
    Starting point
  2. Book 2 · KINGDOM OF THE CURSEDAges 16+
    Frightening scenes4/5Romance4/5Death of a character3/5Sexual content & nudity3/5Violence3/5Alcohol or drugs2/5Graphic injury2/5Religious themes2/5Strong language2/5LGBTQIA characters1/5
    Gets gentler

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What should you do next?

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Lower cautionsTry something gentlerLIGHTLARK SAGAOpen review →Similar fitCompare another titleEONACompare →Keep browsingSearch for another bookUse age, interests, vibe, or content preferences.Search →

Similar, with lighter cautions

Want something gentler?

These reviewed titles have overlapping age guidance and a lower total caution score than KINGDOM OF THE WICKED. Open each review for the details.

LIGHTLARK SAGAAlex AsterAges 14+10 points lighter on published cautionsBOOKThe SingingAlison Croggon · 2008Ages 13+9 points lighter on published cautionsHADESAlexandra AdornettoAges 14+8 points lighter on published cautionsHALOAlexandra AdornettoAges 13+8 points lighter on published cautions

What’s in it?

Death of a character4/5
Why this rating?

A sister’s murder drives the story; other deaths and grief are important to the mystery and character motivations.

Graphic injury3/5
Why this rating?

The murder of the twin is described with some disturbing, graphic detail.

Strong language2/5
Why this rating?

Includes some moderate language and harsh insults consistent with the setting.

LGBTQIA characters1/5
Why this rating?

Not a primary focus of this narrative.

Religious themes3/5
Why this rating?

The story incorporates heavy themes of witchcraft, Catholicism, and demonic mythology.

Romance4/5
Why this rating?

A central enemies-to-allies romance develops through attraction, tension, flirtation, and emotional vulnerability.

Frightening scenes4/5
Why this rating?

Demons, Hell-related imagery, sinister crimes, threatening encounters, and sustained danger create a dark, suspenseful atmosphere.

Sexual content & nudity2/5
Why this rating?

Some mild sexual tension and suggestive situations, but no explicit sexual activity.

Alcohol or drugs1/5
Why this rating?

Occasional references to wine or potions, handled in a fantasy context.

Violence4/5
Why this rating?

Murder investigations, attacks, magical combat, threats, and violence involving demons and witches are recurring and sometimes intense.

What’s good in it?

Courage & resilience4/5
Why this rating?

The protagonist confronts murder, supernatural threats, grief, and powerful enemies with persistence and personal bravery.

Creativity & curiosity4/5
Why this rating?

The novel uses imaginative witchcraft, demon princes, magical courts, curses, and inventive supernatural world-building.

Diverse representation1/5
Why this rating?

Set in Italy with a specific cultural focus, though limited diversity beyond the primary setting.

Educational value1/5
Why this rating?

It may encourage curiosity about folklore and mythology, but education is incidental rather than the book’s purpose.

Kindness & empathy2/5
Why this rating?

Loyalty, care for family, and compassion appear, but the plot emphasizes suspicion, vengeance, and dangerous alliances.

Positive messages3/5
Why this rating?

Themes include loyalty, grief, justice, trust, revenge, sacrifice, and resisting assumptions about good and evil.

Good role models3/5
Why this rating?

Characters show determination, loyalty, and resourcefulness, but they also pursue revenge and make morally risky choices.

Family discussion

Talk about it

Conversation starters based on this title’s published content notes.

  1. What did courage look like in this story? Was being brave always the same as being fearless?
  2. How did the story approach death or loss? What helped the characters cope?
  3. Which choice in KINGDOM OF THE WICKED would you have made differently, and why?
  4. Who changed the most in KINGDOM OF THE WICKED, and what caused that change?
Discuss this title with other parents

Community perspective — separate from editorial ratings

What families noticed

Community signal

Community ratings and written reactions are a separate layer. They do not automatically change Dickens & Rumi’s official age guidance or content scores.

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These content notes are a starting point, not a guarantee. Review the evidence and use your own judgment before choosing a title.

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