Having loved my time on the Amalfi Coast, this book called to me. I've enjoyed a few of the author's other novels, and this was no exception. Sea witches from centuries ago thrive well into modern times but it's unclear how everyone is connected. Murder and revenge, dramatic tension and rivalry. The story has tons of levels, tho I struggled a bit with connecting to the characters from time to time. It comes together with some magical qualities and leaves you wanting more. Lovely balance between drama and reality, mostly falling into the ethereal and fantastical category.

I absolutely loved The Lost Apothecary. This one was nothing short of the same brilliance that Penner’s debut brought.
•
Haven Ambrose, a nautical archaeologist travels to Positano in search of treasure her father told her about right before he passed away. But she must be aware of The Amalfi Curse. A curse that has plagued the coastal town of Positano for over a century. It’s a ship graveyard, but makes it a great place to hunt for treasure.
•
Haven encounters some problems while she’s on her mission to uncover her father’s greatest discovery, but she also meets Enzo. A local with a dive shop who she quickly starts a relationship with. Will Haven find what she’s looking for? Or will she get more than she bargained for?
•
This book has a little bit of everything. Mystery, adventure, romance, I loved it. Told through Multiple POVs and across two different timelines, Penner creates strong characters and stories you simply don’t want to put down. Thank you so much to Netgalley and Park Row for an early copy in exchange for an honest review.

I’ll be recommending this one to everyone. And can’t wait for my hardcover to come in a few months when the book is published.

Treasure hunting off the coast of present day Italy, 1800s-era witches, and multiple swoon-worthy romances. I loved. It. All. 💕

Best enjoyed with an Italian coastal ambience video and limoncello spritz… This book truly felt like a trip to Positano — sunny and delicious, but steeped in centuries of history (and mystery).

The two timelines alternated beautifully, weaving together to a satisfying conclusion. I immediately added Sarah Penner’s other books to my TBR, because I want more!

Thanks to NetGalley & Harlequin Trade Publishing | Park for access to the ARC!

#TheAmalfiCurse #NetGalley

Sarah Penner crafts a spellbinding tale of magic, mystery, and adventure in The Amalfi Curse. Set against the breathtaking backdrop of the Amalfi Coast, the novel follows nautical archaeologist Haven Ambrose as she dives into a world of shipwrecks, sorcery, and a long-lost treasure.

With its lush setting, rich historical intrigue, and a touch of forbidden romance, this book is a captivating blend of myth and mystery. Penner masterfully weaves together past and present, creating a story as enchanting as the Mediterranean itself. A perfect read for fans of magical history and atmospheric thrillers!

Sarah Penner’s The Amalfi Curse is a mesmerizing blend of history, mystery, and magic, set against the breathtaking backdrop of the Amalfi Coast. From the moment nautical archaeologist Haven Ambrose arrives in Positano, the novel sweeps readers into a world where the past collides with the present, and the sea holds secrets both alluring and dangerous.

Penner masterfully intertwines Haven’s personal quest for her father’s lost treasure with a deeper, more ominous mystery—the legend of an ancient sorceress who once wielded the power of the ocean. The novel’s dual timelines enrich the narrative, revealing how centuries-old magic may be tied to the strange disasters plaguing the town. As Haven navigates treacherous waters, both literal and metaphorical, the story builds a tantalizing sense of suspense.

The novel excels in atmosphere, immersing readers in the sun-drenched beauty of the Amalfi Coast while contrasting it with the eerie undercurrents of the curse. Penner’s prose is evocative, making the reader feel the salty breeze, taste the fresh citrus, and sense the ocean’s power lurking beneath the surface.

While the romance subplot adds a layer of warmth and tension, the true strength of The Amalfi Curse lies in its blend of archaeology, history, and supernatural elements. Fans of adventurous mysteries with a hint of the mystical—think The Lost Apothecary meets The Shadow of the Wind—will find themselves captivated.

A spellbinding tale of love, loss, and the enduring power of legend, The Amalfi Curse is a must-read for those who enjoy richly atmospheric storytelling with a touch of magic.

I would like to thank NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for allowing me to read an eARC of this book!

I have been a huge Sarah Penner fan ever since reading The Lost Apothecary. I recently read her novella "The Conjurer's Wife" which was in and of itself very good, but also held a few 'easter eggs' for this upcoming book, The Amalfi Curse. When I first heard she had a new book coming out, I couldn't wait to get my hands on a copy to read it.

The Amalfi Curse is a dual-timeline narrative, one following the story of a group of women "sea witches" in Positano, Italy in 1821, led by Mari. The second timeline is modern-day Positano, where a woman named Haven, an underwater archaeologist, is about to begin a project to map shipwrecks in the area with her team. But many challenges face both women. Mari faces pirates, and the infamous Fratelli Mazza who are hunting her people; Haven is facing deteriorating water conditions and a devious competitor. And both women are struggling with life choices and the people they love. and of course, The Amalfi Curse.

The two timelines, while centuries apart, seem to mirror each other, and slowly weave themselves together. The love stories between Mari and Holmes in the past, and Haven and Enzo in the present are so romantically and beautifully written. You can't help but become invested in their relationships, and root for their true love.

There were a couple of twists and turns along the way, but this story was mostly very straightforward. If you enjoyed The Lost Apothecary, you will love this one. It is a wildly magical read with a gorgeous Italian setting, and is full of mystery, romance and utterly bewitching characters. I highly recommend adding this one to your TBR!

3.5 star for me! I loved the idea of the book the cover is gorgeous and I was so intrigued. I enjoyed learning about the main characters past and carrying on her father’s work. It took me so long to get into it though I just really struggled with the constant time jumps and I would have to keep going back to the beginning of the chapter of figure out where I was in it. I have no doubt that will be so much clearer when published. Overall just a little slow for me but a fun concept and enjoyable location for the book!

This is by far the best book by Sarah Penner. I enjoyed her previous books but this one is the perfect example of what I want from a historical fantasy novel. I loved all of the characters and the book doesn't mention that is was based on any historical events but it felt real. I couldn't put it down. When you put together witches, Italy, shipwrecks, treasure hunting, and a love story what more you could possibly want out of book???

Haven is nautical archaeologist, and her next adventure is in Positano to investigate the shipwrecks along the Amalfi Coast. But she is also searching for treasure her father found before he passed away. Haven’s arrives and find that strange maelstroms and misfortunes start happening in town and starts to wonder if it natural or if something else is causing it. As she starts her search for the treasure she begins to unearth a different woman's adventure and the legendary art of stregheria, a magical ability to manipulate the ocean.

Easy and enjoyable historical fiction with some witchy business! I really enjoyed reading the multiple POVs. Penner weaves the two timelines of Mari and Haven’s stories together beautifully. Also, I love Penner’s description of Positano; I found myself down an Amalfi Coast rabbit hole.

As someone who loves to visit Italy, dreams of living on the Amalfi Coast, and studied archaeology in college, I was compelled to read this novel. However, I could not connect with the novel of the characters. The novel shifts between two distinct time periods, the Nineth-Century and the current day. The magical elements of the novel felt more like high fantasy than routed in traditional folk magic. Unfortunately, these periods do not feel distinctly different. If it were not for the chapter headings, the reader may confuse one era for the other. Sadly, I did not finish this novel.

Haven Ambrose, a nautical archaeologist has just landed the job of her dreams. She and her team of all women divers are going to the Amalfi Coast by the inlet touwn of Positano, Italy. Haven 's father who was also a nautical archaelolgist last dive was in Posotano. He emailed her pictures and cordinates to the exact spot where he discovered jewels in the debris of a ship wreak. Now Haven and her team are removed off of the project due to volcanic activity and she has more time to research one of the ships that she found. The more Haven digs the more information she finds about Mari Deluca, a sea witch and her lover Holmes Foster, a sailor. With the help of Enzo's ( Heaven's new lover) mother, a discendant of the sea witch to help stop the Amalfi Curse. This book had me by the first chapter and like with all of Sarah Penner's books mixes magic and lore with historical fiction. I would like thank both NetGalley and Park Row Publishing for letting me read an advanced copy of this book.

Sarah Penner has a unique skill for blending genres to create captivating novels that combine the best of historical fiction, fantasy, mystery and even romance to keep readers turning the pages. The Amalfi Curse is just her latest work, and it had me absolutely captivated! Set in the gorgeous Positano, Italy across two timelines, I loved everything about this book—the setting, the characters and the action-packed plot.

The past centers around Mari and a group of “witches on the water.” In the present day, Haven, a nautical archeologist, is about to explore the shipwrecks in the area, which could be a career-making moment for her. The story unfolds for both women as they navigate love, loss and obstacles.

I really enjoyed both timelines equally, just as one chapter would finish, I’d keep reading to see what happened next with the other. I found myself FLYING through this and as cliché as it sounds, just didn’t want to put this down. There were some unexpected moments, which would make this book a great book club read as there is so much to discuss.

Thank you to NetGalley, Harlequin Trade Publishing and Park Row for the opportunity to read a copy of this. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I’m a huge fan of this author so I was excited to know Sarah Penner had a new book, The Amalfi Curse, set to be released on April 29, 2025. This was a really enjoyable read! I was immediately engrossed in the story and liked the dual timelines and the individual stories as well. The Amalfi Coast scenery was brought to life in beautiful detail. The author does an incredible job of setting the scene for the reader making you feel like you’re actually there in the moment. There were so many magical moments and mysteries that kept me on the edge of my seat the entire time. This book really contained it all: magical realism, mystery, historical fiction and a bit of romance as well. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with this ARC in exchange for my honest review and feedback.

Fans of Penner’s THE LOST APOTHECARY will enjoy THE AMALFI CURSE as well, since the two novels share the common elements of a dual timeline and a bit of mystery and magic
In THE AMALFI CURSE, Haven is a present day nautical researcher with a particular interest in mapping shipwreck sites. When her work brings her to beautiful Positano, Italy, we learn that the reason so many ships have gone down in that area may in fact be due to the legend of the Stregheria, or “witches of the sea” who use their power over the ocean to protect Positano from pirates and other harmful elements.
In 1821, we meet Mari, herself a Strega with tremendous resentment of her powers. The sea has claimed both her mother and her sister, so Mari hates the water. However, she is sometimes forced to recite spells to protect her loved ones. Though engaged to someone else, Mari is in love with a sailor named Holmes, who chronicles their story in his journal.

Eventually, Mari and Haven’s stories come together in a way that is wholly satisfying, romantic, and at times, quite moving.

I loved Sarah Penner's first book and hated the second. I requested this one because I love the Amalfi coast and the cover of the book (lol) and I was not disappointed!

The setting is done SO well, and although some of the plot points were kind of dumb, the dual timelines worked out really well. I was equally invested in both mysteries, and the way everything linked together was wonderful.

Sarah Penner is an author whose books I inhale the minute they hit my reader. This new book is no different. Magical, Mysterious, Scary…it’s all there and you will need a tissue.

Told in Mari’s time in the late 1800’s, and in Haven’s time of the present.

A tale of women and their power. Sirens keeping the pirates and bad men and their ships safely away from Positano on the Amalfi Coast. The sailors call it the Amalfi Curse.

Mari wants a different life. Tired of the sea and all it has taken from her. When she meets the love of her life, she makes a plan.

Haven has come to examine and document the many shipwrecks around Positano, and maybe to look for the gems her father had found earlier. But soon she hears the story of the curse and she is hooked.

As she digs into the story of Mari and the women on the island, she realizes that some of these women are still here!

Oh, what a magical story this is. I absolutely adored it.


NetGalley/ Harlequin/Park Row April 29, 2025

Unfortunately this was a pretty big disappointment for me. The concept intrigued me since it got announced, but the pacing of the book and how it was written was almost unbearable for me- it took me almost all month to complete it.

The Amalfi Curse is a story that transcends time, intertwining the lives of women two centuries apart. In the 1820s, Mari DeLuca of Positano leads her fellow streghe to fight the men targeting their powers over the sea. In modern-day, the nautical archeologist Haven Ambrose arrives in Positano prepared to investigate the old shipwrecks along the Amalfi Coast - and hopefully find the treasure her late father found on his final dive. However, Haven’s mission is put on hold when inclement conditions and tragic events occur as soon as she arrives, and she realizes that the “Amalfi Curse” may be more than more than just an old wives’ tale.

I must admit - I was much more invested in Mari’s story than in Haven’s for the first part of this book. The connection between their stories wasn’t established until the 50%, and that’s when the story got REALLY exciting. We continue the story seeking the answer to these two questions: what happened to Mari and her generation of streghe, and what is causing the misfortunes now happening in the Amalfi coast?

There are elements to the reveal that were a bit underwhelming, especially for the latter question. While the events in Mari’s timeline brought the drama and tension, the events in Haven’s fell a bit flat. When the reason for the present-day calamities was revealed, my reaction was quite literally, “Oh okay.” Even Haven herself didn’t seem to care much about it for the most part, aside from the fact that it’s hindering her ability to go dive for treasure.

This discrepancy aside, The Amalfi Curse was a very enjoyable read. Due to the premise, it naturally has a great mix of historical fiction and contemporary mystery, and I’d gladly recommend it to anyone who enjoys these genres.

Thanks so much to NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for gifting me an ARC of this book!

This was a fun read. I was fully engrossed in both time and storylines, Mari and the "streghe," Haven and her project. Positano and the Amalfi Coast scenery was brought to life in beautiful detail, a perfect backdrop for the Li Galli legends. Much thanks to NetGalley and Harlequin Trade for the opportunity to read and review this eArc in exchange for my honest opinion.

I have mixed feelings on "The Amalfi Curse". It looks like I am in the minority so I definitely think this is one that you should check out for yourself.

I really liked the setting - the author does a fantastic job of describing the environment that I did not have any difficulty imaging what our characters were seeing. It truly felt like we were in the waters too.

I liked the two timeliness and their individual stories. The magic in the past and the diving in the present were done very well. The mysteries in both kept me on the edge of my seat. I didn't like how rushed it felt in bringing these two stories together though. The romance in the present timeline could have also been left out - it felt unnecessary.

Overall I will be recommending this book to others as I think the things I liked were done very well.

Rated 3.5 stars rounded up to 4 stars. Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for the ARC ebook.