I adored The Amalfi Curse by Sarah Penner. This captivating tale masterfully blends magical realism with historical fiction, weaving a narrative that shifts between 1821 and the present day. The story unfolds through the eyes of Mari, Holmes, and Haven.

In the past, Mari is part of a group of women known as stregheria, who protect their village from pirates while ensuring prosperous fishing through their mystical connection to the water, enabling them to control the currents. Mari's story is compelling, as she grapples with the choice between safeguarding her village and pursuing her love. In the present, we follow Haven Ambrose, a nautical archaeologist tracing her late father's footsteps. She arrives in Positano to investigate a shipwreck off the Amalfi Coast, hoping to uncover the treasure her father believed he had found. As she delves deeper, she becomes entwined with the history of the stregheria.

The intertwining timelines are beautifully connected, creating a seamless and engaging narrative. Haven's journey to complete her father's mission and unravel the mystery of the island is engrossing. I particularly loved how Haven explored the past through the archives and her charming connection with Enzo. The Amalfi Curse is a mesmerizing read that combines rich historical elements with a touch of magic, set against the breathtaking backdrop of the Amalfi Coast.

Thank you NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for the advanced reader copy. This is my honest review.

The Amalfi Curse tells the tale of two women from two different time periods, Mari and Haven, and somehow Sarah Penner connects their worlds and stories in such an intricate and enthralling way that leaves you wanting more and more. I could not put this book down! I have to admit, I found myself wanting to read more of Mari's story and I looked forward to her chapters more, especially about her forbidden love story and the way the women of Positano connect with the sea and their island. I can already picture this book as a movie. This is my first book by Sarah Penner and I was pleasantly surprised and look forward to reading her other novels. Thank you to NetGalley and HTP Hive for the opportunity to review this book.

I was so excited to read this book, having loved Penner's first two, and it did NOT disappoint!

From that gorgeous, evocative, intriguing cover to the romantic, historical mystery explored by alternating between timelines, it was just fantastic. I read it in two days -- it wouldn't let me go.

I will recommend The Amalfi Curse widely, and I expect to see it on many bestseller and "Best of 2025" lists. Congratulations to Penner and the entire team behind her on knocking it out of the park yet again.

Thanks very much to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read a digital ARC in advance of publication.

Witches, magic, the sea, kidnapping, murder, and romance, what more could you ask for in a novel! I thoroughly enjoyed this dual timeline novel that takes place on the Amalfi Coast in the early 1800s and present day.

Mari is a streghe or sea witch in Positano. Mari and other women from her village use the power of the sea to protect their village and help them be prosperous. The only problem is Mari hates the sea and wants to leave her village. The sea took her mother and sister and she no longer wants any part of it. She has a plan to escape and find happiness when things go horribly wrong. In the present day, Haven is an underwater archaeologist. She has been exploring sunken ships since she was a little kid with her father. Before her father's death he thought he found a big find that might include treasure. Haven is determined to continue his legacy and find that treasure. What she does not expect is that bad weather will derail her plans and she will be thrown on course to solve a two hundred year old mystery.

First of all, the cover of this book is gorgeous and I felt like that tied in perfectly to the fantastic setting of this novel. I loved that the main character was an archaeologist and I really enjoyed reading about what she was doing. I also loved the underlying message in this book about women having power. I liked that Mari was part of a coven that had power and did what they could to help others. My favorite part of this book was how the author tied everything together weaving in mystery, action and romance. It was a fantastic book and I look forward to reading more by this author!

Thank you to Park Row/Harlequin Trade Publishing and NetGalley for this ARC.

Another outstanding book from Sarah Penner! Like with The Lost Apothecary, we are given two women, one from the past and one from the present, whose stories end up beautifully entwining to create a heartwarming tale! I couldn't put it down!

Sarah Penner is so good at what she does. A bit of history, a touch of magic, a dose of suspense, and a little romance to root for. ‘The Amalfi Curse’ has all of that with such a unique premise and nothing done halfway in its execution. Told in three different POVs across two timelines, this book took me on a treasure hunt that began as the search for one thing and turned into an entirely different kind of discovery.

In the past, there is Mari and the women of Positano who have a magical connection with the sea. There is also Mari’s secret love, Holmes, and his maritime journal accounts as their tale unfolds. There is corruption and kidnapping and sabotage, and it all leads to Mari’s need to choose between abandoning the gift she’s been given or use it to protect the people and the town she loves. Holmes faces his own choices onboard the ship headed her way, and both have to weigh the love they’ve found together and what they’re willing to sacrifice.

In the present, there is Haven come to the Amalfi Coast on a maritime archeological project at the site of the last dive her late father made. He discovered something he never had a chance to return to, and Haven is there to finish what he started while she also conducts her research. The way her present ultimately entwines with Holmes and Mari’s past is a journey of trusting instincts, following trails, and digging deep to uncover the whole fantastical story. If there’s also a handsome Italian man to help along the way, all the better.

It’s very clear Sarah Penner has done a ton of her own research to create as authentic of an experience and environment as possible even as she weaves her own magical elements into the story. Based on her previous work, I wouldn’t expect anything less.

Thank you to NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing/Park Row for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.

I absolutely love when a book transports you to a different place as you read. Sarah Penner’s newest release, The Amalfi Curse, does just that. Set in Positano on the Amalfi Coast, this book tells the story of hidden treasure, magic and witchcraft, friendship, family, and love.

When Haven travels to Positano to investigate shipwrecks as a nautical archaeologist, she uncovers a story far deeper than what she imagined. Known to be an area that causes unexplained storms and oceanic disturbances, the islets of Li Galli are treacherous for ships and thought to be cursed. Following her father’s footsteps, Haven begins to investigate the shipwrecks to find the treasure that her father never could locate. But in doing so, she learns of a long-lost love story, a history with magic embedded within, and a treasure she did not expect.

In the 1800s, a group of women share a powerful secret: their shared lineage connects them to the ocean. Known as streghe, or sea witches, their spells protect their village of Positano from harm, including the threat of pirates, merchant ships, and pillaging. Their young leader Mari resents her connection to the ocean, and hopes to leave the life she knows behind for love. But when dangerous enemies learn of their power, she must make a choice that will alter her life forever.

This book makes me want to go back to Italy. The descriptive nature of the writing was so well done. Although I haven’t been to the Amalfi Coast, I felt like I was there, standing on a terrace and feeling the ocean breeze. I was hooked from the beginning and loved the dual timelines. Mari and Haven’s stories blended well together, as they both sought to define their own lives and find their own paths outside of what had been expected of them. I enjoyed learning more about nautical archaeology and diving, and how researchers investigate shipwrecks in the present day. The inclusion of magical realism with the ocean and the Italian traditions of stregheria enhanced the overall mysterious element of the book, making the reader wonder if that area is in fact cursed. But ultimately, the themes of friendship, family, and love resonate the deepest throughout this novel, and help us to remember that the treasure we seek in life is often not hard to find at all.

Thank you to NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for this eARC, in exchange for my honest review.

4.5/5 stars

I loved this book even more than the last book I read of Penner’s, the Lost Apothecary. Historical fantasy, a dash of romance, and a mysterious disappearance all come together to make such a cozy read!

Thank SO much to Harlequin Trade Publishing | Park Row, Sarah Penner, and NetGalley for this ARC!

I haven't read any of Sarah's books until now. The Lost Apothecary has been on my TBR. So I was really excited to be approved for this ARC. The concept of this book wasn't something I normally read but I am so glad I did. It did not disappoint! I normally dislike stories told in multiple timelines but it was so well done in this book and felt like that format was necessary for the plot. This book bent and melded the elements of fantasy, mystery, historical fiction, and romance genres in the best way.

The immersive writing style with vivid descriptions of the setting, complex and compelling characters, and the painstaking research that went into the book made it one of the best reads for me. I cannot to wait re-read it again when it comes out! This is definitely a book I want on my bookshelf!

4.5 stars!

Oh what a fantastic story! A wonderful tale of witches, magic, treasure, and love set in the beautiful Amalfi coast. The setting was phenomenal-I loved the descriptions of Positano.

This story is told in 2 timelines: one set in 1821 with women with powers to control the sea, and the second in present day with a woman set on finding a treasure her father first discovered.

I loved reading both timelines and seeing how they would tie together in the end. The female characters in both were such strong women and I enjoyed their journeys.

Highly recommend this one, coming in April!

Get your bags (and scuba gear) packed for an adventurous trip to the Amalfi Coast!

What I loved:
🐚dual timelines
🐚sunken treasure
🐚ancient mystical magic (sea witches!)
🐚 strong female characters
🐚romance

Sarah Penner has such a talent for writing dual timelines and she continues to showcase this talent with #TheAlmafiCurse.
The past and present timelines intertwine perfectly AND both are equally compelling.

Thank you so much @htpbooks and @htphive for granting me early access through @netgalley. This beauty will be out in the world April 24, 2025. Have you seen the cover? Mesmerizing!

I squealed when I got an advanced copy of this book. I loved it even more than her first two. I am drawn to water and the ocean so I knew this was going to be right up my alley.

Sarah Penner delivered again with two strong female leads, amazing history back to the 1800s, rich scenes, and multiple points of view as we learned about the Almalfi coast, the sea witches that protected them and the shipwrecks left in their wake. The present day timeline involved an oceanic archeologist, Haven, who is carrying out her father's wish for her to dive and find the treasure that slipped away from him. Mari, the leader of the sea witches, teaches us about Positano, pirates, life and survival in that timeline as well as navigating life as a woman and what was expected from you. I enjoyed the dual touch on relationships with daughters and fathers.

Thank you so much for the copy of The Amalfi Curse. I thoroughly enjoyed it and can't wait to purchase it. The cover is beautiful! I am local to the author and am really looking forward to this book launch. I am also excited to find out what book #4 will be about.

#TheAmalfiCurse #NetGalley

You had me at Amalfi! Sarah Penner’s latest historical fiction/modern mystery The Amalfi Curse is a page-turner. With dual POVs, timelines spanning centuries and the backdrop of Positano and the Amalfi Coast, I was drawn in from the start. Penner seamlessly layers the stories from Haven Ambrose, a nautical archeologist in present day, and Mari, a streghe or sea witch from the 1800s.

One of my favorite things about Sarah Penner’s writing is how she can build two worlds in the same place but hundreds of years apart and then beautifully thread them together.

This book is beautiful inside and out. The cover art is gorgeous and so well encompasses the feeling of the Amalfi Coast. The story itself is spellbinding and keeps a nice pace throughout. Penner adds several twists and one made me gasp while reading.

100% recommend The Amalfi Curse to all who enjoy historical fiction, strong female characters, a little magical realism, multiple POV and split timelines. You won’t be disappointed.

Having spent my high school years in Naples, I was uniquely drawn to The Amalfi Curse, especially as a fan of Sarah Penner’s previous books. Her knack for blending history with magical realism made this one of my most anticipated reads, and it didn’t disappoint in delivering a vivid and immersive escape. Positano, with its sun-drenched cliffs and winding streets, comes alive on the page, making you want to book a flight immediately. Penner’s ability to weave real-life history with a supernatural twist remains one of her strongest strengths, and the premise of this book is both unique and intriguing.

If you enjoyed The London Séance Society or The Lost Apothecary, this one will feel like slipping into familiar and delightful territory. Penner’s signature style of combining rich historical detail with a touch of magic is fully on display here, offering a similarly captivating reading experience.

That said, the story does ask the reader to suspend disbelief more than a few times. Everything ties together a little too perfectly, which undercuts the stakes the characters are so focused on. It’s fun, but it doesn’t feel as high-pressure as it could have.

On the romance front, I found myself wanting more from Haven and Enzo. Their connection felt rushed, leaning heavily on the “instalove” trope. I wanted more time to see their bond develop rather than being told they had a deep connection. It also didn’t help that Savina—after just one date—started talking to Haven about marriage and grandchildren. It felt oddly out of place, and Haven not being weirded out by it was perhaps even stranger.

Another aspect I wished had been explored further was the connection between Savina, Enzo, and the streghe of the past. Penner sets up a fascinating link between the characters and the region’s history, but I would’ve loved more insight into how they were tied to the streghe and their legacy.

Overall, this is an entertaining and fast read that offers an enchanting escape. It may not be perfect, but its charm, unique concept, and lush setting make it an enjoyable journey. Fans of Penner’s previous work won’t want to miss it!

Thank you to NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for sharing an advanced reader’s copy of this gripping novel in exchange for an honest review.

Sarah's books are great fun. I enjoyed the Italian setting and the dual timeline. Such a great pick for any bookclub and so much to unpackaged and chew on.

I can't stress this enough, the cover of this book? This is what initially drew me to it... then reading the synopsis - witches, the Amalfi coast, mysterious shipwrecks, treasure hunting... need I say more?

This story is a dual-POV that intertwines Haven, who is currently searching for a boat in Postiano as her father did and a group of women in the 1800s that need to protect their village from pirates.

When Haven arrives to Postiano to find a boat that has been submerged for centuries, she is looking to do this not only for herself, but her late father as this was the last boat he ever dove on. Throughout her time, she learns the history of the part of the sea where this ship sank and becomes a local in Postiano.

In the other POV, we meet Mari. She is what feels like the
"leader" of this group of strong women who protect their village from treasure hunters in 1821. This group of women is not like rest, however. They practice a type of magic called stregheria making them witches of the sea. When the Mazza brothers enter the picture and stir up trouble for this village, Mari must make decisions to either keep herself safe and escape, or risk everything to save her village.

I will truly say that this is not my normal type of book. I am a fan of contemporary romance and plain mysteries, and usually I don't stray too far from that. Like I said above, the cover is what truly got me first. After I started reading, however, I couldn't stop. I devoured this book in less than 48 hours, hanging on every possible ending that could happen. I was not expecting a lot of what happened in this book and that made me enjoy it so much more.

My family is from around the Amalfi Coast, so seeing the nods to Pompeii, Mt. Vesuvius, Limoncello and more really made me so happy. The history lover in me also was so excited to see Haven utilizing archived records to do her research!

I have been the biggest Sarah Penner fan since The Lost Apothecary. My love for her writing continued when I read The London Seance Society, and now grows stronger after reading The Amalfi Curse! Fangirling so hard over the opportunity to read this as an ARC.

A hallmark of Penner's books is that the amount of research done is always evident. Her ability to create colorful and picturesque settings make this book impossible to put down. Having never been to Amalfi in real life, based on the descriptions and characters, I now feel like I have had a glimpse and have inadvertently added a stamp to my passport. We also got some fun, free, Duolingo-like Italian lessons sprinkled in.

Swooning at this Italian romance! What girl doesn't dream of going to Italy and meeting a dream boat (pun intended, as this love interest LITERALLY has the boat). Having this sweet love story dedicated to Penner's husband was special. The final sentence was absolutely perfect.

Sarah Penner’s *The Amalfi Curse* is a spellbinding tale of mystery, history, and intrigue that will captivate readers from start to finish. Known for her ability to weave compelling narratives, Penner once again delivers a story that is richly atmospheric and utterly unputdownable.

Set against the breathtaking backdrop of the Amalfi Coast, the novel follows a protagonist determined to uncover the truth behind a centuries-old curse. The vivid descriptions of sun-soaked villages, ancient ruins, and the glittering Mediterranean create a setting so immersive, it feels like stepping into a postcard—but one tinged with danger and secrets.

Penner’s characters are deeply layered, with personal stakes that make their journeys both relatable and riveting. The blend of historical intrigue and contemporary discovery is seamlessly executed, with twists and revelations that will leave readers gasping. Themes of resilience, love, and the search for truth resonate powerfully throughout the story.

*The Amalfi Curse* is a masterpiece of historical suspense, perfect for fans of Penner’s earlier work and anyone who loves a richly woven tale filled with mystery and heart. With its stunning prose and gripping plot, this book is destined to become a favorite. Highly recommended; absolutely a five star read!

This was such a great story that’s a bit different from Sarah Penner’s usual vibe. The story delivers us Mediterranean allure, sunken treasures, and a dash of witchcraft.

The narrative oscillates between two timelines: the 1820s, featuring Mari DeLuca, a sea witch grappling with her powers and forbidden love; and the present day, where Haven Ambrose, a nautical archaeologist, embarks on a treasure hunt in her father’s footstep along the Amalfi Coast.

I enjoy how Penner intertwines historical fiction with a more present day story and this one features two fiercely independent and strong women. I was more partial to the historical fiction parts with Mari and the forbidden love which is surprising to me because it was the treasure hunting adventure part that caught my eye with this one. While I did enjoy Haven’s story, I feel like her character wasn’t as appealing as Mari’s.

Penner’s prose delivers!! She really places is on the Italian coast and I think that and the treasure hunting adventure made this one feel so different than her others. When I read her short story, The Conjuror’s Wife, I was really curious to see if there would be any correlation with using Positano in both but sadly, I did not find any.

Nevertheless, this was another good Penner book that combines historical fiction with women’s fiction, a mystery adventure, magical realism, and romance.

This is Sarah's best work yet. I absolutely loved the story and fell in love with the characters. Such a great mix of timelines.