Kingdom of the Wicked

“To prove her point, Emilia held up the vial of holy water they’d gotten from the monastery and tipped it over their amulets, allowing one drop to sizzle over each. Silver and gold. An offering of balance between light and dark. A gift for what had been stolen all those years ago. As above, so below.”

This quote from the Prologue uses third-person omniscient view to describe the events surrounding Emilia’s and Vittoria’s eighth birthday. The cornicello amulets introduce the symbolic opposition between Emilia and Vittoria. This also marks the first mention of the thematic phrase “as above, so below,” foreshadowing the prophecy.

“Cooking was magic and music combined. The crack of shells, the hiss of pancetta hitting a hot pan, the metallic clang of a whisk beating the side of a bowl, even the rhythmic thwack of a cleaver against a wooden cutting board. I adored each part of being in a kitchen with my family.”

Emilia’s view that “cooking [is] magic” introduces her love of food and cooking that links values associated with magic and humanity to Emilia’s character development. The mention of music and use of descriptive sounds creates a richer image of the actions described.

“Vittoria gathered blood oranges, limoncello, red wine, and a bottle of prosecco. I watched from the island as she methodically added everything to a pitcher. A cup of this, a splash of that, a few sugared peels–potions and perfumes were where her magic shined brightest, and it often translated to drinks. It was one of the few times she was entirely serious, and I loved watching her get lost in pure happiness.”

This quote describes two important traits about Vittoria and Emilia respectively: Vittoria is a skilled potions witch, and Emilia has a deep respect for her sister’s craft. Showing Vittoria’s potion skills through her cocktail preparations anchors witchcraft in the human realm, illustrating that magic is not just the supernatural abilities possessed by non-human. Showing Emilia’s reverence toward her sister creates an important emotional link in advance of Vittoria’s murder.