I've been a fan of Sarah Penner since reading her first book The Lost Apothecary, where her talent for taking the reader back in forth in time, kept me intrigued with every turn of the page. I read that one in a week. With The Amalfi Curse, Penner's skills with time travel continues to engage and interest, but then it's like she spoke to me personally as she featured strong, smart, mysterious women with long red hair, then added scuba diving and research at an archive! As a red-haired librarian who loves to scuba dive, I read The Amalfi Curse in just two days and now it is my favorite Penner book. Her research and detail with the scuba diving scenes proves she did her research and/or is a scuba diver herself. I greatly appreciated the attention-to-detail on all the routines and safety checks divers do before and while they are in the water. Add in the mystery of mermaids, shipwrecks, and of treasure lost at sea, and anybody would be dropping everything to see what happens next. Her placing the story in Italy also made me want to jump on a plane to go experience this story in person, thankfully, Penner included some recipes so my stomach could be appeased until that trip happens. The twist at the end is always a Penner highlight, as she is truly masterful at not being obvious on the direction of her story. I am so thankful to have had the chance to read this early and I cannot wait to get a signed copy when it comes out in print! Thanks to Penner, I will also now refer to my hair as persimmon-colored. LOL.

All I have to say is wow.

I received this ARC through NetGalley and I am so incredibly thankful as this was one of my very highly anticipated releases for 2025.

I first picked up The Lost Apothecary in 2022 not knowing what to except and I was so pleasantly surprised. Since then I have loved Sarah Penner’s writing and she has become an auto-buy author for me.

The Amalfi Curse definitely did not disappoint. I think this is my favorite of Sarah Penner’s yet. I absolutely loved this story and I felt so immersed in this world.

The way she entwined the two separate timelines was so interesting and left me wanting more and more at the end of every chapter.

I cannot wait to get my hands on the physical copy of this book in April, the cover is absolutely STUNNING and I already want to read this story again.

Wow wow wow! No one can tell a story like Sarah Penner! I have loved her two previous books so much, but went into this one semi blind only knowing there was sirens and pirates. What a story! The research she had to do for this book, the intertwining story lines centers apart. I’m blown away! What a great read!

I loved this story! I loved the mystery of it, the love story elements, the modern day researcher, and the magic that wasn’t too over the top.

Oh my heart! What a wonderful storyteller Sarah Penner is. I inhaled this book in less than a day and the emotional journey it took me on will long stay with me!

Dual timelines. Multiple points of view. History. Beautiful backdrop. Mystery and adventure. And love. Reading about Haven’s modern day nautical (mis)adventures in Positano and Mari’s plight in the same place 2 centuries before left me with so many feelings and thoughts! The first was that the ending made every moment of rage I left worth it. The second was that so much of these stories encapsulates why so many women today would choose a bear!

I especially value stories that not only entertain me but that also teach me something and after finishing The Amalfi Curse I immediately fell down the rabbit hole of researching stregheria in Italy. The author brought to life Positano and The Amalfi Coast but also the legends of sea witching and science of nautical archeology. To this reader, a chef’s kiss.

Penner’s novels always take on a journey and this is a fun one. The Curse takes on forbidden love, sunken treasures and tales beyond your imagination.
Haven Ambrose is wanting to find precious gems that her late father discovered on his final dive. Old tales, the darkness of the ocean and magic along with something more unravel in the pages. Penner takes the reader on one magical adventure, and I am always up for her books.

This was THE PERFECT book to start 2025 with! Sarah Penner does no wrong! A dual-timeline story with sea witches, bad guys, a scuba diving archaeologist, and a hot Italian entrepreneur? What more could you ask for?!? I was hooked from the very beginning! Penner’s extensive research is evident throughout the entirety of the novel. From the ins and outs of scuba diving, 19th century ship wrecks, Italian crime families, and sea witchcraft lore, Penner knows her stuff! This story will lead you on a journey like none other, a treasure hunt, love story, and family journey all magically intertwined. I’ve loved Sarah Penner from the start and she only seems to be getting better as she goes! 5 magical stars for The Amalfi Curse!

Thank you to NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Fiction for the ARC!

Treasure hunting, pirates, natural phenomena, and sirens for the win. The connection between Mari’s story in the 1800’s and Haven’s modern day adventure was well done. I loved the elements of magic and romance.

I’m already recommending this book to friends and co-workers.

Book Review: The Amalfi Curse by Sarah Penner

If you’re looking for a book that grips you from the first page and refuses to let go, The Amalfi Curse is it. Sarah Penner masterfully weaves a tale of witches, privateers, and shipwrecks, blending history and magic into an irresistible story.

At first, I found myself more drawn to the chapters set in the present, but as the plot unraveled, the flashbacks became just as captivating—if not more so. The dual timelines dance together beautifully, revealing secrets and twists that kept me eagerly turning pages.

One of my favorite parts of the book is knowing, no matter the time period, a happily ever after awaited. There’s something so satisfying about seeing good triumph and evil meet its end, and Penner delivers on that promise flawlessly.

Whether you love historical intrigue, dark magic, or sweeping tales of love and redemption, The Amalfi Curse has something for everyone. It’s a spellbinding adventure that’ll leave you breathless and wishing for just one more chapter.

This was a different type of book for me and I really enjoyed it! The dual timeline kept it interesting, and the writing was descriptive and beautiful. Haven is a complex and wonderful FMC. The mixed genres of romance, suspense, and mystery will appeal to many readers. This will be a hit when it’s released!

Thanks for allowing me to read in advance!

interlocking and unique story thta's really well done and very interesting. 5 stars. tysm for the arc. would recommend.

I really liked the duel time lines. I have really enjoyed her work previously and felt like this was a good follow up. I liked the setting, Italy and the mystery. I would recommend.

This book was an Italian mystery and quite a page turner.
I loved the two different timelines that when they finally intersected had me gasping in shock!
This is the first book I’ve read from Sarah Penner and now I’ve added her other books to my tbr. Her writing is engaging and keeps you wanting more.

Thank you NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for this ARC, I couldn't put it down. I think this is my favorite Sarah Penner book so far. I have read them all and have so enjoyed the supernatural elements and intrigue. This mystery was even better, as it was set in the beautiful Positano and captures the beauty of the turquoise waters, enchanted islands, Italian foods and culture. Featuring dual timelines, multiple narrators, excerpts from a diary, and including multimedia texts and emails, I found it such a fast paced, engaging read.

Haven Ambrose has been deep sea diving ever since she was four years old with her father. She is following in his footsteps and is an archeological archeologist uncovering history. Right before his death, her father had been diving near Positano and found the shipwreck of his life, believing it full of gems and history. Haven is determined to finish what her father started along the Amalfi Coast and is in a race against other treasure hunters who do not care for the history, but only want the riches. During her adventures in Italy, she meets a beautiful Italian man, Enzo and they have instant chemistry. As the two complete dives, she not only uncovers her own values and dreams for the future, but also uncovers the romantic tale of Mari DeLuca who appears to have been a power sea witch combating brutal pirates.

Sarah Penner weaves Haven's story with Mari DeLuca's, taking us back to the 1820s where we learn first hand the power of the sea witches, their responsibilities, and the pressures that fell upon them. Mari DeLuca is a fiercely independent woman living with trauma and trying to follow her heart as her future slowly unravels. What will be her fate when pirates target their group of strega?

If you love traveling, adventure, treasure hunts, uncovering family secrets, powerful women, and new found love, this is the perfect read. Add it to your lists and look for it on April 29, 2025!

Consistent is a great word for Sarah Penner’s novels - I felt a strong 4 ranking back when I first read The Lost Apothecary, and I strongly feel it with the Amalfi Curse too.
This was a fun and joyful little adventure with the right dash of romance, magic and Italian flare.
I really enjoyed the plot and the weaving timelines - I do think some things were just a little too good to be true/realistic, but I’m willing to suspend my belief when I read.
I have never read a book about divers and I felt that Penner was able to explain well for someone who knows nothing about what it takes or what it’s like. As well? She did a great job at building the Amalfi background.

A strong, solid read for any who loved The Lost Apothecary.

I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book! There was just enough adventure and mystery to make it a compelling story! There were parts that moved slowly and some questions or plot lines that weren’t answered; but all in all such a satisfying read!

I've read and enjoyed other books by Sarah Penner, so I was excited to get the ARC from NetGalley! This is the tale of Haven, a sea archeologist and her first job without her father. Traveling to Italy, she seeks to find new discoveries using her father's cryptic notes. Then the story flips to Italy in the 1800s and the witches who live along the coast. Using their magic, they protect their sea-side town from pirates and looters. Penner does a fantastic job of weaving the two storylines together for a suspenseful, exciting read.

The Amalfi Curse
by Sarah Penner
Pub Date: Apr 29 2025
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
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.

Sarah Penney’s third book The Amalfi Curse is a blended mix of the past and present. She once again offers a unique storyline with the book centering around sunken treasures, sea witches, and forbidden love. Penner truly takes you out into the high seas with this nautical spellbinding story. Her best yet!

As someone who studied history- Sarah Penner masterfully weaves stories rife with lore and legends and history recorded wrong. So when I saw that she had a new novel coming out- I was absolutely feral to get my hands on it.
The Amalfi Curse was sensational.
The story follows Haven who is in Positano largely for a huge career changing dive expedition, but also she is somewhat there to find a lost treasure her father found before he passed suddenly. Our second narrative follows Mari, who is the 'matriarch'? of an ancient line of sea-witches.
Dual timelines can be difficult because more often then not- personally I find myself eager to read one person's story more than the other. But Sarah has such an amazing way of blending the two narratives, that at no point was I dreading one characters chapters over the others.
The setting was in a whole other ballpark. My mom is quite fond of the Amalfi Coast and talks about it often- I feel like I've been now. The backdrop was crafted so masterfully that throughout the entire book I had a clear image in my head of where we were and what I was reading. Which is amazing. To top it all off the plot was so engaging that I know I will likely read this book again. If you enjoy adventure and historical fiction books I would highly recommend this one.