Let me just tell you about the biggest scream I let out when I realized that Sarah Penner was publishing a book set in one of my favorite destinations ever. Her books *always* do it for me & I was so excited to dive into this one! (pun fully intended)

The Amalfi Curse was wholly captivating. Both Mari and Haven are unapologetically themselves, no matter what others think. Nobody can write dual timeline quite like Sarah Penner. I was so invested in both storylines, especially when the parallels started showing up. I ate it up and didn't leave a single crumb. I loved the magical realism aspect of the past storyline with Mari and the streghe.

Parental loss is a pretty major theme in this book, which did make it a harder read for me than this author's other works. However, I think she did a beautiful job portraying these strong female leads finding themselves amid the pure chaos of life.

Thank you to Harlequin Trade Publishing for sending me an early copy!

The Amalfi Curse by Sarah Penner is a captivating dual timeline novel! I love the way Penner combines historical fiction with magical realism to create such an engaging fast-paced read. I was totally engaged from the beginning to the end and flew through the pages. The description of the Amalfi Coast makes me want to go there immediately. Totally magical!

Synopsis:
Haven Ambrose, a trailblazing nautical archaeologist, has come to the sun-soaked village of Positano to investigate the mysterious shipwrecks along the Amalfi Coast. But Haven is hoping to find more than old artifacts beneath the azure waters; she is secretly on a quest to locate a trove of priceless gemstones her late father spotted on his final dive. Upon Haven’s arrival, strange maelstroms and misfortunes start plaguing the town. Is it nature or something more sinister at work?

As Haven searches for her father’s sunken treasure, she begins to unearth a centuries-old tale of ancient sorcery and one woman’s quest to save her lover and her village by using the legendary art of stregheria, a magical ability to harness the ocean. Could this magic be behind Positano’s latest calamities? Haven must unravel the Amalfi Curse before the region is destroyed forever…

Against the dazzling backdrop of the Amalfi Coast, this bewitching novel shimmers with mystery, romance and the untamed magic of the sea.
 
Thanks to NetGalley and Park Rowan for the advanced digital copy of the book.

I, personally, think this is my favorite Sarah Penner novel thus far. I’ve read Lost Apothecary as well as London Seance Society, and both were good, but I feel the author has gotten stronger in her writing and we get a more cohesive story and historical mystery. I love the idea that such sea witches exist or existed and I’ve heard enough stories to know sunken treasure is real for those willing to search. In this book, we dive into parallel stories between Haven in the present and Mari in the past. Haven is an archeological diver who is determined to solve a mystery her father found before his death. Mari, is a sea witch and has the ability to harness the waters off Positano.

Haven reaches Positano a few days before her dive team is set to arrive and she is soaking up the ambiance of the village. Though a yacht suddenly sinks in the waters she is about to, she is not too concerned about the dangers which may be found in the water. However, soon the CEO and the one funding the excursion, pulls the plug on Haven being the lead and hires in a rival diver because he has “more experience”. Though Haven is devastated, she is more determined than ever to keep her father’s secret and to uncover the sunken treasure he supposedly found.

Mari, on the other hand, is the lead sea witch of her coven and is tasked with ensuring the safety of her village and its inhabitants. However, though their shores have been safe for so long, they are suddenly the target of opportunist merchants/ pirates who are stealing women and raiding the shorelines. The Amalfi Coast in this area has been thought to have a curse placed upon it. But is the curse really the meddling of witches seeking to protect what is theirs.

Such a great story and I had so much fun getting into this book. I am so glad I picked it up and can’t wait to see what else Sarah Penner writes in the future.

It took me ten days to read The Amalfi Curse by Sarah Penner. Normally, I can really a book in one to three days, so when it takes me over a week because I never want to pick it up, that says a lot.

Like with her first book, The Lost Apothecary, I found myself much more interested in the timeline set in the past. In The Amalfi Curse, that’s with Mari and Holmes in the 1800’s- a time filled with sea witches, curses, murder, and revenge. If the story had been completely set in this timeline, told through only Mari and Holmes’ perspectives, I think I would have enjoyed this story a lot more.

Haven’s storyline in the present-day moved much slower and I never really felt interested in it. I was initially excited to see what Haven would discover while searching for sunken shipwrecks along the Amalfi coast and how it connected to Mari’s story, but felt rather frustrated by the end.

And though I enjoyed finding out how Mari’s story ended, the rest of what Haven discovered was quite a let down. In fact, her entire story was a bit of a letdown. Oftentimes, it felt like she was just summarizing what I had already learned in Mari’s chapters. Other times, her story just felt like filler.

I had such high hopes for this story and so I’m really disappointed I didn’t love it. If Haven’s storyline had been omitted and Mari and Holmes’ storylines had been developed more, The Amalfi Curse could have been a much stronger story and much more enjoyable.

Thank you Harlequin Trade Publishing | Park Row for an early NetGalley copy of The Amalfi Curse. All thoughts expressed in this review are my own.

2 out of 5 ⭐️⭐️

We just booked our trip to Italy for a wedding and so of course I had to read an Italy story this weekend.

Set against the dazzling coastline of Positano, The Amalfi Cure follows Haven Ambrose, a daring nautical archaeologist searching for a hidden cache of gemstones her late father once glimpsed beneath the sea. As she explores the mysterious shipwrecks along the Amalfi Coast, strange storms and misfortunes begin to sweep through the village. Her search leads her to uncover a centuries-old tale of forbidden love, ancient sea magic, and a curse that could doom the region. With time running out, Haven must unravel the truth behind the legendary stregheria and the fates tied to the waves.

While I loved the idea of this story—witchcraft, sunken treasure, and forbidden love under the Mediterranean sun—I found the execution a bit lacking. Like with some of Penner’s previous works, the dual timelines felt disconnected for much of the book, and honestly, each could have been its own full story. It wasn’t until the very end that I understood how everything tied together, and by then, I’d lost track of several characters simply because there were so many but also still never felt fully connected with our leads – Mari, Holomes, or Haven. In addition of the two romance plotlines, I only felt invested in one of them, and would have liked to see it end with that one.

The concept of Italian stregheria and ocean magic was unique and enchanting, but overall, the story just missed the emotional or narrative depth I was hoping for. I would really love if Penner did a singular timeline for one of her books, just to see what the impact would be.


The Amalfi Curse is out now. Huge thank you to Harlequin Trade Publishing and Park Row for my advanced copy in exchange for my honest opinion. If you liked this review, please let me know either by commenting below or by visiting myInstagram @speakingof.books.
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This was so vibey and the perfect atmospheric mystery for the summer! It’s so summery and Italian and immersive! The story instantly swept me away and the dual timeline kept me engaged and intrigued the whole time.

This was my first Sarah Penner book and definitely won’t be my last!

Thank you, NetGalley and Park Row Books, for the opportunity to read this ARC! 3.5 “I really liked it” stars on StoryGraph.

If you’ve ever wondered what a female-led Indiana Jones movie, set in Italy, featuring nautical archaeology would be like…then look no further! The latest from Sarah Penner, author of The Lost Apothecary and The London Séance Society has plenty of treasure hunting, archive sleuthing, star-crossed romance…and even a little witchcraft.

I was immediately hooked by Haven’s search for her late father’s final discovery among the shipwrecks along the Amalfi Coast. The plot flips back and forth between her story and that of Mari DeLuca, a 19th-century strega, or sea-witch, who has power over the ocean and falls in love with an American sailor.

While I loved the historical aspect of both storylines and the dual POVs, I found my attention lagging around the midpoint. It takes a beat to figure out how the two timelines intertwine and I wish there’d been more hints along the way to keep me hooked. But once the stories meet up, the pacing gets quick, with everything coming together in a really satisfying way!

I also loved the coastal Italian setting and how the beauty of Positano and the surrounding cities amplified the brewing danger beneath the waves. It’s obvious that a lot of research went into this book and I definitely sensed that authenticity.

Historical romance and magical realism fans will love this one!

I read The Lost Apothecary back in 2022 and enjoyed it. So I was very excited when I got the chance to read this next book of hers. Let me tell you this book did not disappoint! Not only is the cover gorgeous, but the story is phenomenal! The history, the romance, the mystery! It all worked so well together. Definitely recommend reading this book when it releases April 29th, you won’t be disappointed!

I enjoyed The Lost Apothecary by Sarah Penner, and was excited to receive the ebook from Netgalley for this title. I honestly think I enjoyed this one even more than the other I read by the author, because I was never frustrated about switching between POVs.

The atmosphere of this book was stunning, and I enjoyed the story. It wrapped up nearly and was satisfying. It hits a lot of the same beats as The Lost Apothecary with the light magical elements and jumping back and forth in time, so if you're looking to jump back in with this author I definitely recommend it.

Sarah Penner is a queen when it comes to writing female driven novels. The descriptive language she uses to shape the Italian coast draws readers in with a bit of mystic power and suspense.

The Amalfi Curse is a dual timeline plot which follows present day, Haven, a nautical archeologist seeking to finish her late father's deep sea project on the Amalfi coast of Italy. As Haven is unraveling the mystery of the shipwreck below, the story of Mari, a sea witch or "strega del mar" plays out in the 1820s. Mari, along with a few other women in her village have the power to control the sea and use their witchcraft to protect the people from pirating thieves.

Overall I give a great deal of credit to Penner for creating such immersive and original novels, however I don't think The Amalfi Curse lives up to the expectations of Penner's previous bestsellers, The Lost Apothecary and The London Seance Society. If you are new to Penner's writing, I would suggest starting with one of her earlier works.

Thank you to NetGalley and Park Row Publishing for the opportunity to read this novel.

I will start by saying that Sarah Penner is a fantastic writes, her books are so beautiful to read and you can really picture what is going on. I am a fan of her past books, but this one just didn’t work for me. I didn’t really connect with the past timeline story and I couldn’t get invested in it.
I will continue to read her books in the future, this was simply a case of it’s not you, it’s me.

A different type of read for me and the cover is gorgeous!
This dual timeline novel set on the Amalfi Coast blends witches, magic, mystery, and romance across the early 1800s and present day. Mari, a sea witch who resents the ocean for taking her family, longs to escape her coastal village, but her plans take a tragic turn. In the present, Haven, an underwater archaeologist, follows her late father’s search for treasure, only to be swept into a centuries old mystery. An amazing described setting, strong female characters, and an intertwining plot full of action and heart, the book delivers a powerful, captivating story.

Thank you to the publisher, The Hive and Netgalley for this eARC!

This was absolutely fantastic. The way Sarah writes about strong, powerful women and weaving them in timelines in the most beautiful way is always divine. Her books are an auto buy for me and I can’t think of many readers who won’t enjoy this book. Thanks for the arc!

Woo what a read!

I struggled starting out. This was not my normal type of read, but bam as soon as the story lines started to come together I was hook a d did not want to stop reading

I really liked this book. I think it blended past and present beautifully. I enjoyed hearing Mari and Holmes’ love story and how it unfolded. I enjoyed Haven’s storyline as well to a point. I feel like the end of the story kind of was less exciting than I wanted it to be. Everything just kind of was tied up with a neat little bow, but I felt like there could possibly be a bit more for her. It was just way to clean and done probably way to quickly, especially with all the beautiful build up that we had throughout the entire story. Overall though this book is just a wonderful read and I know that readers are going to fall in love with it.
Thank you to Harlequin Trad Publishing and Netgalley for allowing me to read an advance copy of this title.

If you loved the Lost Apothecary, you’ll love this!!

Magical realism with some mystery. I loved it! Such a great read. I want to listen to the audiobook because I have heard it’s amazing!

The Amalfi Curse by Sarah Penner hits shelves today! If you're craving a gripping adventure with a strong undercurrent of romance that makes you feel like you are AT the shimmering Amalfi Coast… *add to cart*!

This dual-timeline tale blends witchcraft, shipwrecks, and long-lost treasure with just the right amount of historical romance and danger. Haven, a trailblazing nautical archaeologist, dives into a sunken mystery—literally—while a story set in the past unfurls through Mari, a young woman fighting to save her village who has magic descended from sirens.

I fell HOOK, LINE, and SINKER for...
🌊 Coastal Mediterranean Vibes
🍋 Lemoncello Shots and Cappuccinos
🥵 Flirty Italians with good banter
🏴‍☠️ Treasure, shipwrecks, and pirate themes!

This is my first time reading Sarah Penner, and I was impressed with her ability to tie together suspenseful twists across centuries. I legit couldn't set this book down the last 30%... had to know how it ended! And can we talk about that cover? 💎 STUNNING 💎

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 4 Stars!

Thank you to the Harlequin Trade Publishing | Park Row, NetGalley, and Sarah Penner for the advance reader copy in exchange for my honest review!

4.25 Stars
The Amalfi Curse is a beautifully written tale of forbidden love, sunken treasure and powerful witchcraft set against the gorgeous backdrop of the Italian coast.

Haven Ambrose, a nautical archaeologist, has come to Positano to investigate the mysterious shipwrecks along the Amalfi Coast and to locate a trove of priceless gemstones her late father spotted on his final dive.
In 1821, Mari DeLuca is one of a few streghe (sea witches) with the ability to harness the power of the ocean to protect Positano but Mari has secretly been plotting to run away with her lover, Holmes. When the dangerous Mazza brothers discover their secrets, she’s forced to choose between the safety of her people and the man she loves.

The dual timelines were woven together flawlessly and the transitions between Mari, Holmes and Haven’s POVs were absolutely seamless. I loved the way everything in the past just enhanced what Haven was experiencing or discovering in the present. I was completely invested in both timelines and couldn’t turn the pages fast enough!

I enjoyed following along as Haven explored the Li Galli shipwrecks and as Mari and her fellow streghe cast their spells in the sea.
As a bonus, there are two beautiful love stories and no shortage of mystery or adventure.

You should definitely pick this up if you like historical fiction, magical realism, powerful female characters, treasure hunts and pirates.

And the hardcover is stunning so I will be getting a copy for my shelves as soon as possible 😍

The Amalfi Curse by Sarah Penner is told in dual timelines; the 1800s and present day. The setting is Positano. This story is historical fiction woven with magical realism and I really enjoyed this read. Initially, I was much more interested in the present day timeline with Haven as our FMC. The stories are inextricably intertwined and that really enhanced the dual timeline for me. There is also a love story in each timeline and I was fully invested in both. If you like historical fiction, magical realism and a well told dual timeline story, you should read The Amalfi Curse.

I need to thank Net Galley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for my e-arc. This book is out today!

I really wanted to like this one—a great adventure, daughter following in her father’s footsteps to find hidden treasure? Sign me up. Unfortunately, The Amalfi Curse fell a little flat for me.

Don’t get me wrong, there were some things I really enjoyed—the back and forth between present day explorer and old times sea witch. I just had a hard time getting into the writing and the characters which just felt a little on the immature side. It just felt a little lacking for me.