Thank you to #parkrowbooks and #netgalley for the #giftedebook that I paired with the audiobook. Saskia Maarleveld is one of my favorite narrators! This book was such an adventure! With sea witches, a love story, and sunken treasure, this book captivates from the beginning. Also, the setting was in Positano, Italy on the Amalfi Coast, where I will be heading next month! Eeek! This novel makes me want to schedule a wreck dive on my trip! There is something in this book for everyone!

DNF @ 13%

Concept was interesting but seemed predictable. Incredibly descriptive but not exciting/thrilling that would captivate my attention enough to keep going.

I was so excited to start this book and it did not disappoint. This author does multiple storylines and multiple POVs so well. I thought the past timeline was so intriguing with the magic and it was easy to understand. The current day timeline was also fun with the sprinklings of romance and mystery. I thought the way each storyline progressed individually was entertaining and well paced and then the connection was so, so good.

This book is EXACTLY what I've been searching for.

Sunken ships, treasure hunting, witchy magic, love stories old and new.

From the moment I started it, I knew I was going to love it, and it didn't let me down!

Wow! Sarah did it again. I really enjoyed this one. And who doesn’t love a good treasure hunt. Also, my dream job has always been wanting to be an Archeologist so of course this was right up my alley.

The Amalfi Curse was such a captivating mix of history, mystery, and a touch of the supernatural. Penner’s writing instantly pulled me into the setting—the atmosphere was vivid and haunting, and the Italian backdrop made it even more intriguing.

I loved how the story wove together past and present, slowly unraveling the curse and its secrets. The characters felt layered and complex, and I found myself invested in their fates. The tension built really well, and there were some eerie, chilling moments that gave the book extra depth.

This was a beautifully written, atmospheric read that I’d definitely recommend to fans of gothic mysteries with a historical twist.

Told in a dual timeline, the Amalfi Curse follows Mari, a strega (witch) in Positano in the later 1800s, and Haven, a modern marine archaeologist who has travelled to Positano to study shipwrecks. A fun blend of witchcraft, modern day research hijinks, and a gorgeous setting make for a fun beach read.

Witchcraft and the sea, that combination equals a powerful force, one that should not be messed with. The Amalfi curse is very popular, and will mess with you even if you are prepared. Keep an eye out.

Another fast paced and intriguing historical read from Sarah Penner!

Mari, Haven and snippets of Holmes kept this one interesting. Mari, who wanted to escape her coastal town and shirk her responsibility to her Strega roots, was the most compelling character. Haven was also in a frustrating bind with her aquatic archaeological dive put on permanent hiatus by outside forces. Each woman had experienced familial heartbreak and were trying their best to live their lives.

As with The Lost Apothecary there was a bit too much going on but at the same time not enough. Three perspectives, while I think were necessary to this particular story arc the author wanted to take, in such a relatively short historical novel was too busy. We simultaneously don’t get enough time with each character and too much time with them. It’s a conundrum I feel could be solved by fleshing the story out more, I’d have been happy to read 200+ more pages to really endear myself to this story and these characters.

And really what was an American doing aboard an Italian merchant vessel in the 1800s? Not a lot of context there. And what happened with Mari’s mother felt very anticlimactic and unnecessarily sad, it was also just practically thrown in there for convenience. A lot of this story felt convenient. The premise is more intriguing than the actual execution. As it is I relatively enjoyed myself while reading this and found the two love stories happening in dual time lines quite sweet.

Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher and author for this ARC.

3.5

I just don't know if Sarah Penner books are for me! I read her previous book and didn't love it but I picked this one up because of my upcoming trip to Italy.

★★★★★

Swept Away by Magic, Mystery, and the Mediterranean

Dual timelines.
Forbidden love.
Ancient sea magic.
And the Amalfi Coast so vividly written you can almost feel the salt spray on your skin.

I don’t even know where to start. The Amalfi Curse completely stole my heart. From the first chapter, Sarah Penner transported me straight to the sun-drenched cliffs and turquoise waters of the Amalfi Coast, and I could practically taste the salt in the air.

The story alternates between Mari, a fierce 19th-century strega protecting her village with sea magic, and Haven, a present-day nautical archaeologist chasing whispers of a sunken treasure. Normally I have a favorite POV in dual timelines, but here? Impossible. I was equally obsessed with both.

What I loved most was how Penner’s writing feels lush and cinematic without ever slowing the pace. The folklore and magic feel real, like they could still be hidden in the tides today, and the love stories yes, plural, are as swoony as they are bittersweet. By the last page, I was equal parts exhilarated, heartbroken, and ready to book a flight to Italy.

If you love your historical fiction with a dash of the mystical, a streak of danger, and settings so vivid you can smell the lemon groves, this is your next read. The Amalfi Curse isn’t just a book, it’s a spell you won’t want to break.

An interesting read, the time like jumping was something I don’t normally read. This causes me to struggle a little bit with the read.

A really solid 4 stars for me!

This one was really hard to put down - what a great problem to have. First of all, I love books that take place in other countries; it feel like a little vacation for me. A trip to the Amalfi Coast, anyone?? Yes please! Add in a little witchcraft, some very cool lore and history, a bit of a treasure hunt, and some romance on top of it all, and you've got yourself a summer HIT. This is a must read I think, because wow I really enjoyed it. I'm looking forward to reading more from Sarah Penner, as this was my first novel of hers,

Thank you NetGalley & Harlequin Trade Publishing for the ARC! Always so grateful!

I think I enjoyed this book more than The Lost Apothecary! I loved the different timelines and the mix of romance, suspense, and magic too!

I did not finish this book it wasn’t horrible I just was not able to get into it so I did not rate this book

A great read! I really enjoy this author. The locale of Positano and the legends surrounding it, including the witchcraft, makes it fascinating. Magical realism isn't usually my thing, but I do think Penner does it well. There's a dual timeline, which in my opinion can be overdone, but it really works here! I do think it is unique and remarkable read.

I really wanted to love the Amalfi Curse and I tried reading it a few times- both the eARC version and an audiobook version and I just kept getting stuck. It didn't draw me in as much as I was expecting it to or wanting it to, which is so unfortunate because the setting is so lush and the characters seemed really great, but I think my biggest hurdle (and this is 100% a personal issue) was the back and forth in the timeline. Going from the present to the past and having the story told in multiple timelines isn't something that always works for me, and in this instance, it ended up making the book both confusing and boring rather than adding to the intrigue. I know that this book will be amazing for so many people though, just not me.

Loved it! I would’ve taken another 50-75 pages of tie up at the end but I still really enjoyed it :)

This was just ok for me. Maybe I wasn't in the right place for this genre but I wasn't engrossed like I was with The Lost Apothecary. The characters are likable and interesting, the setting is gorgeous, but it fell a little flat for me for some reason. If you lie historical fiction with a bit of magic, it makes a breezy vacation read.

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.