Sarah Penner's writing never fails to fully immerse you into whatever world she is writing. The Amalfi curse is a perfect summer time read. Full of mystery, a dash of romance & the perfect vibes for a summer read.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Sarah has done it again! Her way of splitting timelines in order to build our way through both sides of a historical event, the then and the now! She is so fluidly able to really take us through both timelines and show us how the past shook out and how the present discovered their adventure.
Mari's story and her strength was just beautiful and I loved every second she is gracing us with her chapter. Then add in modern timeline of Haven following along trying to piece together what she has found! Ugh, thank you so much for giving us this! Also, THAT COVER?! Stunning!!!
I will absolutely be recommending it to anyone who loves Sarah and her fabulous stories!!

If you read this and HAVEN'T read The Lost Apothecary by her, 100% recommend you go now!!

Perfect for those who enjoy;
🌊 Fantasy/Magical Realism
🌊 Historical Fiction
🌊 Witches
🌊 Split Timelines

This was an incredibly intriguing book! Amalfi? Sold. I loved the dual timelines, both in POV and actual era. I feel like this is a staple of Sarah Penner's books at this point. I didn't really know how it was going to go and just enjoyed the story as we went. I didn't connect with it as much as Lost Apothecary but still had a good time on my reading journey.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the book!

“The sea will always prevail.”

Sarah Penner strikes again. I think this may be my favorite of hers. But it’s hard to choose, because I am a sucker for women connected to the earth. It’s beautiful, powerful and inspiring. And this is clearly a theme in her books. Witchy women besting men. I love it.

The Amalfi Curse gave me the same vibes as Diavola and The House of Last Resort - definitely less horror, but the rich history and heritage of Italy brought both to mind. It makes me crave a place I’ve never been. I absolutely loved every second I spent with this book - and I’m not ashamed to say I finished it in a day. 👀

I loved The Lost Apothecary, and I picked up that book because of its beautiful cover. I feel the same way about this one, although it wasn’t quite as good for me. Still a great read though!

We have a split timeline, half of the story is told in the 1800’s by Mari and Holmes, and half of the story in current day by Haven. I really love Mari and Holmes’ story, it made me cry and it was such a perfect story. Haven had a good story too, but it didn’t hit me quite the same. I didn’t feel as connected to Haven as much as I wanted to be. I was invested in the past stories, and the parts of Haven’s adventure that led to these stories. The author does a wonderful job by of layering these tidbits in between both timelines.

I enjoyed reading about the area; this isn’t the first book I’ve read about the Amalfi coast, and each time I read a new one, I want to go more. The story is descriptive and beautiful and enjoyable. The writing is very easy to read and follow as long as you can get behind a split timeline AND a multi POV. That’s my bread and butter though! 3.75⭐️

(4.5 stars rounded up where needed) THE AMALFI CURSE by Sarah Penner is an excellent example of women’s historical fiction/fantasy. This book combines historical fiction with magical realism effortlessly. This dual time line story follows the story of Haven Ambrose, a nautical archeologist, who had travelled to Positano, Italy to investigate shipwrecks along the Amalfi Coast. She planned to keep her deathbed promise to her father to search for gems he had located in his final dive before his death. As Haven searched for this treasure, she began to unravel a centuries old tale of witchcraft and one woman’s quest to save her lover and her village. This was a riveting, fascinating tale with one timeline following Haven’s quest and a second timeline telling the tale of a young stregheria, or sea witch, her lover, and the village that she loved. This is my first read by this author and I was impressed with her skill in weaving a compelling, well paced story which captured my interest within the first few chapters. I would definitely recommend this novel for readers who enjoy women’s historical fiction/fantasy with high intrigue and adventure. I will definitely be seeking out more books by this author in the future!

I received a free ARC of this novel via Netgalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing. I am voluntarily writing this honest review.

What a wild adventure!! I'm normally not one to like dual timelines, but Sarah writes them in a way that I truly enjoy them. The mystery being investigated present day, while to the dramatic events occurred in the past creates a captivating story. I have the sudden urge to try scuba diving and shipwreck hunting, neither of which have I done in the past or thought to do so. For me that speaks to have phenomenally Sarah has written this story!!

This was an amazing read! The story captures you from the beginning. I enjoyed it so much that I purchased my own copy! You cheer for the main character, and of course, the description of Positano makes you feel like you are there. Will definitely be recommending this title!

I loved the setting, and witchy element of this book. But for some reason I felt like I struggled to connect with the characters. Both romances in each timeline felt underdeveloped and the pacing of the story felt slow.

Thank you to the author, publisher, and Net Galley for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
I enjoyed this dual timeline story set on the beautiful Amalfi Coast. The story was interesting and lush. It is a great summer read. I do think the ending could have been a little more developed and satisfying. But, don't let that keep you from reading the story I enjoyed it!

3.75

This had such strong streghetta vibes—mystical, moody, and a little bit haunted in the best way. I don’t usually enjoy books with shifting timelines, but this one handled the structure really well and was super readable.

That said, I can’t quite put my finger on why it didn’t hit that 5-star mark for me. By the time I reached around 80%, I found myself just ready for it to be over. Still, I really liked the atmosphere and the storytelling—it was a solid read.

The synopsis of THE AMALFI CURSE sounded wonderful and just the kind of fantasy, dual timeline and historical fiction I normally love. For some reason, though, this book misses with me. I have started and restarted reading this book 5 times, and each time my mind wanders, yet again, during the opening scene. This book is widely loved and I’m just not the right reader for it. I received my copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

3.5⭐️
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Interesting premise with witches, mystery, and the alluring setting of Positano. Unfortunately, the execution fell flat for me and overall it was a little uninspiring. The romance aspect felt rushed and the characters were just alright. I did like the back and forth between the present and past and appreciated the multiple POVs as the mystery revealed itself throughout the story.

This is my first book by the author and I've definitely been missing out. I loved this magical adventure. Sarah Penner is a creative author with an awesome imagination. I will definitely read her backlist and anything she writes in the future.

I am always game for a book with some wonderfully written magical realism. Unfortunately, this book wasn’t for me. I thought the writing was beautiful. If I wasn’t sold before on going to the Amalfi coast, I am now. Book my ticket. But outside of that, everything was too predictable and too convenient. If you plan a trip to this area, I say go for it. If not, I’d pass on this book.

Quick recap without spoilers:
Haven Ambrose is a current-day archaeologist continuing her deceased father’s passion for archiving and researching shipwrecks. Her job lands her along the Amalfi coast investigating old artifacts, and she quickly learns of the sinister events in those waters. Haven’s story is about a few hundred years ago, a group of powerful women and how their powers work with the water. These two stories merge to solve the modern-day mystery of these dangerous waters.

Thank you to NetGalley and Harlequin Trade for the advance copy!

I really enjoyed this one! The Amalfi Curse is a beautifully written mix of history, fantasy, and adventure, set on the stunning Amalfi Coast. The story follows Haven, a modern-day archaeologist on a mission to uncover a sunken treasure her father once found, and Mari, a sea witch from the 1800s fighting to protect her coven.

The dual timelines work so well together, and the mix of magic, mystery, and romance kept me hooked. The setting is so vivid, it made me want to book a trip to Italy. If you're into strong female leads, hidden legacies, and a bit of sea-soaked magic, definitely add this to your reading list.

Magical and mysterious, Sarah Penner takes you on a journey along the high seas you won't soon forget!

I first read Sarah Penner's The Last Apothecary and knew I would want to read more from her. When I read the premise for The Almalfi Curse, I was drawn in. Then the cover release really drew me in. I only gave 4 stars because there were a few chapters where it seemed like nothing was really moving the plot along. Also, I struggled with the instant relationship between Haven and Enzo. Otherwise, I really enjoyed The story.

Synopsis: Present day: treasure hunt hidden behind the guise of a science expedition. Past: a witch trying to keep her coven & family safe from pirates who want to kill (or kidnap) them all.

Review: The ending had a nice surprise and I love how the two stories eventually intertwined. I really enjoy stories about diving, and even though it was not detailed the setting and scenery were so lovely in my mind.

The side romance and characters added more depth to the story. I really enjoyed how seamlessly we switched between the past and the present.

I enjoy the way that Penner writes. It is descriptive, but not too descriptive. I feel like it is just enough to get an idea for what is going on around our characters, while not getting bogged down with the details. It helps keep the book shorter while not taking away from the story.

Read this one if you enjoy:
🫑 Mild romance (all closed door and not vulgar)
🇮🇹 Positano
🌊 Ocean
🛥️ Sea excursions
🧙 Sea witches
🔀 Dual timelines with 3 POVs

Audiobook length: 10 hours
Narrators: Saskia Maarleveld, Carlotta Brentan, Chris Andrew Ciulla, and Eric Yang

Thank you so much to NetGalley & Park Row for my free ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Thank you to HTP books for my copy of THE AMALFI CURSE.

I love Sarah Penner and she's making her way to my auto buy list forever. This book was amazing and is really stacked with everything you need for an escape from real life. Great characters, stunning settings, mystery and romance! I couldn't have asked for anything more. I highly recommend this one.