Kingdom of the Wicked
Kerri Maniscalco
Kingdom of the Wicked
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
by Kerri Maniscalco
The text is written at a 7th grade reading level, the subject matter is intended for teens (ages 13+), and the content is intense and may include graphic or distressing scenes.
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About This Book
What if your twin sister vanished without a trace, and the only clue was a terrible crime that no one else believes happened? Imagine discovering secrets about your own powers that could change everything you thought you knew. Now, what if using those powers meant risking everything you hold dear?
Quick Assessment
This young adult fantasy follows Emilia, a witch in secret, as she seeks justice for her twin sister’s mysterious and tragic death. The story contains themes of dark magic, revenge, and identity, suitable for mature teens comfortable with supernatural and intense emotional content. Parents should note the exploration of dark fantasy elements and potentially disturbing scenes related to violence.
Why we rated Kingdom of the Wicked 12IE
Kingdom of the Wicked is written at a Level 7 reading level across 372 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 8.0 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, Kingdom of the Wicked works for readers up to grade 9.0.
We rate Kingdom of the Wicked as 12IE ("Intense — Emotional") because the content sits in the "Intense" range — intense conflict including peril, frightening scenes, or emotionally heavy themes. The strongest signals come from emotional weight, physical peril, thematic difficulty — these are the dimensions parents should evaluate against their reader's tolerance.
No specific content flags were raised by community reviewers, which is consistent with the intense intensity score.
Thematically, Kingdom of the Wicked explores young adult fiction, fantasy, dark fantasy, wizards & witches, and mystery — these threads give the book room to mean different things to different readers.
Good fit for
- ✓ Children in the Ages 13+ range — the maturity and attention span match the story's pacing.
- ✓ Patient readers who enjoy slower, character-driven stories.
- ✓ Kids drawn to stories about young adult fiction, fantasy, dark fantasy.
Maybe not for
- ! Sensitive readers who get overwhelmed by intense conflict or scary scenes.
- ! Children younger than 13+ — the content intensity is above what most younger kids can process comfortably.
- ! Reluctant readers who need a fast hook — the pacing here rewards patience.
For Parents
Content Intensity
12IE — Intense — EmotionalHeavy themes explored in depth. War, death, abuse addressed directly.
Was our "Intense" content intensity rating accurate for this book?
Reading Insights
Hook Factor
2/10A steady, thoughtful read that rewards patient readers.
Discussion Potential
2/10A lighter read — great for independent enjoyment.
Book DNA
Multi-dimensional content fingerprint
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Details
Book Length
- ISBN
- 9780759556874
- Pages
- 372
- Publisher
- Little Brown & Company
- Published
- 2020
- Type
- Fiction