When I first heard about The Amalfi Curse, I was really excited. It seemed like it would be a great read for me. I loved the idea of Stregheria and the hunt for a lost treasure. But, sadly, the story fell a little flat for me.

Normally, I love a dual timeline, but this one had almost too much going on between Mari, Holmes, and Haven's perspectives. Instead of looking forward to Haven's perspective, I ended up wanting to go back to Mari's and see what was happening to the other women.

I found the Stregheria itself very interesting. The women were able to control water, making their area of the coast safe and prosperous. I also found it interesting that the women with red hair were more powerful because they were direct descendants of the Sirens.

I also really enjoyed Mari and Holmes's love story. They were both willing to sacrifice themselves to save those they loved. Mari was willing to risk her true love to save her village. While Holmes was willing to sacrifice himself to save Mari. It was really touching.

While I really enjoyed Mari's timeline, Haven's felt a bit dull in comparison. Her relationship with Enzo didn't hold the same amount of passion that Mari and Holme's relationship did. It felt insta-lovey to me, which isn't something I enjoy.

While there were definitely great parts of the story as a whole, it sadly fell a bit flat for me.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for sharing this review copy in exchange for my honest thoughts.

I loved Sarah Penner’s previous books so I was very excited to receive this advance copy. The amazing Mediterranean setting was so well realized and vivid it drew me into the story from the first page.

A Fast, Fun Read with Dual Timelines That Actually Work

The Amalfi Curse is one of those books that pulls you in quickly and keeps you flipping pages. What really stood out to me was how both storylines were equally engaging, which something that’s pretty rare for me. Usually, I end up favoring one perspective over the other, but in this case, I was just as interested in Mari and Holmes as I was in Haven.

The Amalfi Coast setting is lush and moody, and Sarah Penner does a great job weaving in family secrets, a mysterious curse, and just the right amount of eerie folklore. The magic tied to the streghe (sea witches) was one of the most intriguing parts of the story. I only wish there had been a little more of that element since it felt like there was still more to explore there.

Overall, it’s a fast, entertaining read with a cool mix of history, mystery, and a dash of the supernatural. If you’re into layered stories with strong female leads, beautiful settings, and a hint of magic, this one’s definitely worth checking out.

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

The Amalfi Curse is a slow-burning, atmospheric mystery set against the lush and eerie backdrop of the Italian coast. From the very first chapter, I was drawn into the moody setting, tangled family secrets, and hints of something darker lurking beneath the surface. The writing is immersive, and the author does a great job of creating tension without needing constant twists and turns.

The pacing is more of a simmer than a sprint, which won’t be for everyone, but I personally enjoyed how it gave space for the characters (and their secrets) to unfold. There’s a touch of romance, some gothic undertones, and just enough suspense to keep the pages turning.

It wasn’t a perfect read—some moments felt predictable—but I still found myself eager to get back to the story each time I put it down. Fans of The Lost Apothecary will enjoy this one.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

The Amalfi Curse is a dual timeline story. In 1821, we meet Mari, a powerful sea witch, also called the Stregheria. Mari and other women from her village use the power of the sea to protect their village and help them be prosperous. She is in love with a sailor, and plans to sneak off and marry him. Her mother and sister were both taken from them by the sea, and she wants to move away from the water. The evil, powerful, corrupt Mazza Brothers (Fratelli Mazza) want to kidnap all the Strega to give them power over the sea so none of their ships will sink, an they will continue to smuggle and steal. Holmes is on one of their ships and he is in danger. Meanwhile, in the present, Haven Ambrose, a skilled nautical archaeologist, has been hired by a start up company to find treasures and relics on sunken ships. She has hired her own team of five women for Project Relic, an opportunity for them all. Haven has a hidden purpose, to find a cache of priceless gemstones, that her father found before he died. He was unable to retrieve them at the time, but left coordinates and underwater photos for Haven to help her find the treasures. When a storm brews and a yacht sinks, killing eight people, the project's chauvinist CEO assigns Conrad, an experienced archaeologist and rival of her father who once saved her life underwater, to lead a new team. Haven is angry, but remains in Positano to search for the treasure. She meets Enzo, the owner of a dive shop, who helps her. She becomes suspicious that Conrad is also searching for the treasure and when he blackmails her to stop diving, she stays to solve the mystery of the strege that she has discovered in journals.

I was initially interested in The Amalfi Curse as I will be in Positano in September. Also, having read previous books by Sarah Penner and enjoying them, I was looking forward to seeing where this book would take me. I enjoyed it, but it took me some time to get into it. I found the beginning slow, and it took me a bit to figure out where we were going with the story. Both of the storylines seem to be running parallel to one another and it is quite far into the book, before they begin to merge. Once the story picked up, I was totally invested in the adventure, the mystery, and intrigue. I really liked the two female main characters. They were both smart, strong, independent women, and didn't give in easily. The mystery of the Sea Witches, Mari and her love, as well as the treasure, all added to the story, and when they finally come together, it was with an aha, from me. There was some extraneous points that I thought we could do without, but overall, this was an interesting story with some mythology/paranormal activity that left me wondering if there are any Stregeheria out there. Maybe I will meet one when I am in Positano.

I must start by thanking both NetGalley as well as the publisher for my eARC in exchange for m honest review.
Sarah Penner has followed up her previous, The Lost Apothecary, wonderfully. The wonderful combination of mystical and historical, The past and present, make this a compelling read. I look forward to what comes next.

I was looking forward to reading this book but unfortunately I couldn't get into it. Not sure why because I liked her first book. I will recommend it to others who might like it and perhaps re-read it again later to see if I liked it better the second time.

⭐⭐⭐

The Amalfi Curse was one of my most anticipated reads of the year, especially after loving Sarah Penner’s The Lost Apothecary. But this one didn’t quite land for me. The setting? Gorgeous. The writing? Lyrical. The story? Well... here’s where things get murky.

I’ll admit, I should’ve paid closer attention to the synopsis. Witches and magical curses aren’t really my thing, and the sea-witch storyline just didn’t hold my interest. The dual timeline (1820s and present day) had promise, but the pacing lagged in spots, and I never fully connected with the characters—especially in the historical chapters.

I seem to be the odd one out here—early reviews are glowing, and fans of magical realism will probably love it. But for me, it just didn’t have the depth or emotional pull I was hoping for. I kept waiting for that spark I felt with The Lost Apothecary, but it never came.

Still, Penner’s lush descriptions of the Amalfi Coast were a highlight, and the ending wraps things up neatly. If mystical seaside covens are your jam, this might work better for you. As for me, I’ll chalk it up to a mismatch in taste. Three stars.

** Thanks to NetGalley and Park Row Publishing for a comp. The opinions are my own.

Another great read by Sarah Penner, will definitely recommend to historical fiction and magic realism fans.

I've enjoyed all of Sarah Penner's books and this one was no exception. The Amalfi Curse is a richly detailed story with interesting characters and beautiful places. My only wish was for a longer update at the end...the book ended a bit abruptly, in my opinion. But I enjoyed it and will share my copy with others!

Rating: 3 Stars

Look. I just finished a slew of five star reads, and I'm actually glad I was able to autopilot this novel. It was fine! It served it's purpose!

Will I remember it in a few months? Maybe. There were pirates and witches and it's set in Italy and that's all wonderful. It had a fun love story and a good mystery. But it was not something my brain really was captivated by, which, again, is FINE. Glad to have this check mark.

A fun summer read: Sunny, Italian, beachy, and witchy! Having just snorkeled in Key West, the beginning and middle of this was the perfect vibe!

...but the plot needed some tightening/cleaning up. Meandered and got a little lost and I felt like suspense that was built up was then left to fizzle. Unrelated, I also majorly kept mixing up the minor Italian characters in Mari's neck of the woods which was frustrating.

The three perspectives/timelines (Mari's, Holmes', and Haven's) were interesting, but the ending's jump in Haven's world confused me. Enzo was a fun addition, but I think he and Savina could have been WAY stronger and bigger characters.

My biggest thing: The ending was very anticlimactic. The whole treasure hunt was so built up, only to be left with a settling that felt unrealistic. And Conrad had SUCH villian potential, and I don't think it was reached. Also HOW were the streghe related?! Very frustrated we didn't get the answer.

This could've had a more mermaid angle which also would've been very cool, but I loved how real and practical the witchcraft was described. Overall enjoyable and the love story was certainly sweet, but was left wanting more!

this was my first time reading a novel by Sarah Penner and I did enjoy it! I jumped in mostly blind on this book and I didn't realize it was a historical fantasy, which. I did like. this book is definitely fast paced and will suck you in once you start reading. I loved the dual timelines, set in modern day Positano and the other in the 17th century in a village. these two timelines really wove together so well. I loved all of the magical elements and the emotional parts of the book that just gutted you. Sarah really knows how to write a book that sucks you in and makes you feel like you are in the book living out the dual timelines and don't get me started on the cover, that will suck you in enough! Thank you to the author and netgalley for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review!

Thank you to Netgalley, Park Row Books and Harlequin Audio for a copy provided for an honest review.

This story is told in dual timelines and follows Haven in the current timeline and Mari in the former. Haven is an archaeologist that was planning a dive off the Amalfi Coast to explore shipwrecks for a foundation that would enable her to further investigate the mysterious gemstones that her father supposedly spotted on his last dive. Unfortunately, a rival begins to make waves with her plans and mysterious happenings at the site lead to interesting discoveries. Mari lives in the village of Positano on the Amalfi Coast in 1821 and comes from a line of women with magical ties to the sea. Mari enjoys her life here with her family and her best friend, a fisherman. But powerful men with political and monetary ambitions invade her idyllic life leading to a culmination of powerful truths about her family’s past.

I loved the nautical themes in this story. I was fascinated with Haven and her shipwrecks. I’ve always loved anything ship-related. Mari’s plight kept me hanging on the edge of my seat throughout. Throw in a little romance and magic and I was hooked. Great characters and fabulous setting. I primarily listened to the audiobook narrated by the very talented group of Saskia Maarleveld, Carlotta Brentan, Chris Andrew Ciulla, and Eric Yang. If you’re an audiobook fan, it’s a great format for this book.

Recommended to readers looking for an adventure into sea magic and mysterious shipwrecks.

“Sometimes, the greatest treasure to be found is…love”

If you're looking for a historical fiction this summer, please pick up this book!

The Almalfi Curse is a beautiful historical fiction that has Sarah Penner's signature themes of strong female characters, a mystery treasure and beautiful imagery. I loved this entire book from start to finish, especially Mari's POV chapters. It was so interesting to learn more about sirens, "stregheria" and this culture in Positano, Italy. As an Italian myself, I felt like I was transported directly to Positano with Penner's imaginative scenery and the flawless execution of the additions of traditional Italian summer culture: vespas, limoncello, dining al fresco and shimmering blue waters. Following Haven's journey through Positano and her discovering the truth of Positano's history and the current issues happening kept me hooked and I was flying through the pages of this book. I also loved the different POVs and I adored Holmes so much. This book has left me wanting more and I am going to recommend this book to everyone I know. Thank you for the opportunity to read this book, it was perfection!

This witchy, seafaring, historical mystery was a lot of fun to read. I loved the back and forth between 1821 and present day, and how each chapter took the story down a different path. It had the otherworldly elements that distinguished this novel from other typical mysteries. Also, who doesn't love a book set in Italy for a summer read?

Another Sarah Penner brilliant book. Beautiful writing all the way through, as expected. Split chapters, good character development, whimsical and a little dark and the vivid location description of the Amalfi region is just perfection. I love this book and it was a fast read. Highly recommend.

I tried to read this twice, but I got too caught up in the language. I love Penner’s books, but this one isn’t for me. I may give it a go at a later time, but it just didn’t interest me at this time.

I was excited to read a book set in the Amalfi Coast and while I went in with no expectations, I was hoping to fall in love with the area.

I wasn't disappointed. To me, there could have been more of the setting and feel of the area, but I loved what was there. The storyline was well woven together, with the past and present entwining. I took my time reading this book, wanting to savor it, to remember the setting and locations, to let the characters snare a hook in my heart.
I learned about a history I hadn't been aware of, which was also cool.
Honestly, any book set in Amalfi is a must read for me!

The hype is real!!! This is the perfect summer binge, sock, towel, aperol spritz and this book for the win.