First, this cover is amazing! The Amalfi Curse is an entertaining summer read with all the right ingredients: an ocean-side setting, a search for sunken treasure, and a dual timeline that weaves in sea witches and a historical love story. .While the story was enjoyable overall, the ending felt a bit abrupt, and the present-day storyline could have used a bit more action to match the energy of the past. Still, I’d recommend it for readers looking for a light adventure with mild suspense, rich atmosphere, and a touch of the supernatural. I look forward to the next book from Sarah Penner.

📚BOOK REVIEW📚

📱🎧 "The Amalfi Curse" by Sarah Penner

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published April 29, 2025

Starting off with an engaging and powerful story set in the 1800s about witches, spells and the rough currents around the Amalfi Coast. Jumping to present time, Haven Ambrose, is a daring nautical archaeologist and deep diver, coming to Positano to get a look at the many mysterious shipwrecks along the coast. Backed by a grant and with her team she prepares for the dives, while also secretly trying to locate the gemstones her late father saw on his final dive years ago. Upon Haven's arrival she learns of ancient sorcery and the lore of one woman's quest to save her lover and village by using "Stregheria" the magical ability to harness the ocean. A wonderfully narrated audiobook, that I was able to enjoy alongside this eARC (@netgalley). 


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I unfortunately wasn't able to read my ARC copy of this as the formatting was severely off from what it should've been, so I waited until it published and read a physical copy instead, and I'm so glad I did! Sarah Penner has a special way of transporting you to the location of her books, as well as doing an amazing job of weaving two timelines together in a way that works seamlessly. This book was a perfect summer read, I loved the location of the Amalfi Coast as well asl the sea magic, pirates, treasure hunting, it was all so much fun and I couldn't get enough of it! This motivated me to want to pick up her other book that I have on my shelf, I can't wait to dive into it as well!

Great beach read material. Atmospheric story set on the Amalfi coast with elements of romance, intrigue, and history. Nice book to pick up and enjoy in the sun.

Wonderful read. Loved the switch between characters and how they were interwoven. The setting was another hit by Penner who really knows how to bring settings to life for her readers. Thank you for the great read!

Sarah Penner made a come back. I loved the Lost Apothecary. Could never get into the London Seance Society - but this book brought me right back to her the lost apothecary. The characters were so well developed, the story line was amazing. I could visually put together every scene in my mind. Spent two nights reading throughout the night to finish this novel. So very proud of the come back and look forward for more.

This book was a really great idea, that failed a bit for me in execution. The magical aspects of this book were some of the stronger aspects, with the historical sea witches being some of the stronger characters, but I wanted a lot more from the contemporary story. The treasure hunting aspect really just turned into a romance. The main conflict with the rival diver was not well fleshed out and kind of just ended without much resolution. The motivation of the mother figure felt poorly developed and contradictory, and generally the pacing was a bit slow for me.
I know that some of my patrons have really enjoyed this book, and I definitely finished reading and wanted to know what happened, but I just did not feel like there was a satisfying pay off to the contemporary story. The historical mystery had a bit more interest as it went along, and had a more satisfying conclusion. Overall it was just fine for me.

Sarah Penner is one of my all-time favorite authors and I was so excited to read a summer book from her!

One of my favorite things about Sarah is her ability to write multiple perspectives well and be able able to keep you engaged in each one. She definitely achieved that in this story! I adored the lush atmosphere of the fantasy elements, while being equally engaged in the suspense of the sunken treasure storyline.

Overall, this was the perfect mix of genres to create the ultimate summer read for any reader!

“The Amalfi Curse” by Sarah Penner was my second book by this particular author. I went into it excited but it left me with mixed feelings. There is something about the author’s writing that doesn’t quite catch my interest but she does a great job weaving together genres to create a complex feeling/mood throughout the book. The background of the setting was amazing and I would highly recommend this book to anyone who read and enjoyed Penner’s previous work.

This novel immediately drew me in with its stunning Italian coastal setting. In both timelines, Penner brings the village of Positano to life, making The Amalfi Curse a perfect summer read for anyone craving a bit of escapism. I especially loved the romance in the historical timeline (and not just because I have a thing for pirates). While The Lost Apothecary remains my favorite of Penner’s works, this one comes in a very close second.

A stunning story. Loved both timelines, both female main characters, and the setting. Immediately recommended to my mom because I know she’ll love the lush storytelling here!

I really enjoy Sarah Penner's mastery of a dual-timeline and how her writing is historical fiction without being too boring. I cannot wait to bring this to book club!

I am a sucker for all things Italy related lmao and also have loved Sarah Penner's previous works. This was such an interesting historical fantasy! Involving witches and treasure hunting as well as the people of the now trying their best to decipher the story of the past that we are getting told at the same time. The mystery of it is always so fun and reading these kinds of stories almost ALWAYS puts me on an ancestry.com kick lol This one by Sarah did NOT disappoint!

Thank you to Netgalley, as well as the author and publisher for the early access to this book and I apologize for taking so long to get to it but for sure wish I hadn't :,)

5⭐️

Another INCREDIBLE novel by Sarah Penner! This is by far my favorite of hers so far. Summer vibes in Italy, witchcraft, sunken treasure, duel timeline/POV, this book had so much going for it! The storyline kept me so hooked I truly could not put this down and i loved the ending. No notes!

Sarah Penner writes magical realism beautifully, in a way that appeals to readers of all genres, including those who prefer the "realism" over the "magical", like myself. Penner never fails to captivate readers and transport them to faraway places and times.

Alternating between different points of views and timelines, The Amalfi Curse is set in dreamy Positano. The descriptions are so vivid that you will likely find yourself contemplating booking a one-way ticket there for your next vacation. This story combines all that we once loved in our childhood tales: witches (the nice kind!), pirates, treasure hunts, and forever love, but braided in a way that attracts readers of any age.

The Lost Apothecary likely remains my favourite Sarah Penner book, but The Amalfi Curse is a close second!

And can we also give a round of applause to what is most likely one of the most gorgeous book covers of 2025?!

Read if you like...
🫒 Italian settings
✨️ Magical realism
🏴‍☠️ Pirate and sailing stories
🧙 Witch stories
💎 Treasure hunts

🙏Thank you Harlequin Trade Publishing and NetGalley for a gifted advanced electronic copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

If you enjoyed Sarah Penner’s previous books, I’m sure you’ll love ‘The Amalfi Curse’ as well.
The dual-timeline story takes place in Positano, on the Amalfi Coast. She weaves the timelines together seamlessly, from 1821 Mari to Haven investigating shipwrecks in the present day.
This was a great summer read. Looking forward to her next book.
Thanks to NetGalley, Harlequin Trade Publishing, Park Row for a complementary ARC for my honest review.

Witchcraft and the sea? Yes please! I was drawn by the cover and stayed for the story. I love the history and the magical realism in this one. Told through 3 POVs, it slowly uncovers truths to an old curse, whispers of witchcraft, and finding sunken treasure. If you enjoyed Penner’s previous books, you’ll enjoy this one!

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Thanks to @harlequinbooks for this copy!

I really enjoyed this one. The story has two time lines, one in 1821 telling Mari’s story as she struggles to keep her loved ones safe from corrupt businessmen. In the current time line, Haven, an archeologist searches for the treasure her father found but couldn’t retrieve on his last dive.

I really liked the setting, the magical aspect and the characters. There were a few twists I didn’t see coming and the ending was very satisfying.

A classic Sarah Penner, multiple pov historical fiction novel that focused on sea witches in Italy! Includes a romance, a treasure, and sunken ships. The story details a modern day diver researcher who is struggling with grief, but her research leads to a 1820s love story on the Amalfi Coast. Penner brings the two stories together at the end for a sweet ending. A great summer beach reach!

Thank you to NetGalley for the ArC!

The Amalfi Curse by Sarah Penner is a beautifully atmospheric dual-timeline novel weaving nautical archaeology and Italian sea-witch folklore into a mesmerizing mystery. The sun-drenched Amalfi Coast setting shines vividly, while Penner’s detailed maritime history and magical realism keep both past and present storylines compelling . Though pacing in the modern timeline can slow and some side characters feel underdeveloped, the emotional resonance and lush prose make it an immersive read .4/5 stars! I always love Sarah’s books and this didn’t disappoint.