'The Amalfi Curse' by Sarah Penner follows women in two timelines, one searching for shipwrecks along the Amalfi Coast in present day and a group of stregheria using their magical abilities to influence water to protect their village. Penner weaves the storylines together, guiding our current heroine through dives along the coast and into historical record to solve a modern mystery.

I'm a fan of Penner's other work, and enjoyed the stories in both timelines. the use of magic and the positioning of women in both timelines as the change-makers was great.

Thank you to Sarah Penner and Harlequin Trade Publishing for the ARC of 'The Amalfi Curse' in exchange for an honest review.

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC.
First off, the setting of this book was fantastic. Penner does a great job surrounding you with the sea and coast as you read the story.
I thought the multiple timelines were interesting, but I tended to flip-flop on whose story I was actually interested in. I think Mari’s story ends up being more engaging and she feels like a more developed character. Haven fell a little flat for me and her motivations at the end of the book seemed unrealistic.

Overall, it was a fun summer read that made me feel I was in Italy although it was slow in parts and somewhat disjointed. 3.5 stars

The Amalfi Curse is a beautifully written novel with an atmospheric setting that immediately transported me to the rugged coastline of Positano. I’ve never wanted a trip to Italy more. Sarah Penner’s lush descriptions and the interwoven dual timelines are set up to strengthen the story—there’s something immersive about shifting between the modern-day mysteries Haven uncovers and the historical intrigue of Mari’s 1820s storyline. Ultimately though I was more captivated by the historical thread involving sea witches and stregheria than I was by Haven’s present-day arc, which felt a little boring and hard to get into. Despite her fascinating background as a nautical archaeologist, her plotline didn’t fully deliver on the promise of high-stakes treasure hunting and magical realism. I also found the magical elements in the modern timeline a bit underdeveloped—there were hints of something deeper, but it never quite landed with impact.

The book is a slow burn but I found the pacing lagged in parts, and I put the book down several times and was very slow to pick it back up. Ultimately the conclusion felt ambiguous and a touch unsatisfying. That said, the dual POVs, rich setting, and underlying themes of love, loss, and legacy make this an enjoyable read, especially for those drawn to witchy tales with historical depth. A solid choice for a vacation or book club pick, even if it didn’t fully spellbind me.

Look for this on shelves now!

Thank you to Harlequin Trade Publishing and NetGalley for the complimentary eARC. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

The Amalfi Curse is a difficult book to review. I loved Mari and Holmes’ story but struggled with Haven’s storyline. It didn’t keep my attention the way that the story of the sea witches did. I did enjoy Penner’s writing style, though. Thank you NetGalley and Park Row for the eARC.

I had my doubts going into this one (I’m not usually a pirate/oceanic fantasy reader), but wanted to give it a try because of the author, and I was, of course, proven entirely, delightfully wrong! Sarah Penner’s writing is simply stunning—she manages to instantly adapt the reader into worlds (told through dual perspectives and timelines) that are completely unrelatable, yet feel so natural and effortless due to her unique style.

The Amalfi Curse follows Haven’s present-day adventure as a deep-sea-diving archeologist and Mari’s fantastical love story from the early 1800s. Both stories are delivered beautifully, with strong heroine leads, powerful imagery, and magic that feels believable. Bonus: the audiobook version is excellent!

Thank you to Sarah Penner, Harlequin Trade Publishing, & NetGalley for the ARC! All opinions are my own.

In this story, told in dual timelines, nautical archaeology meets witchcraft in Positano. The plot hooked me from the beginning and I was thoroughly entertained throughout; I also enjoyed the characters, pace, and ending. An excellent beach read, and the cover is beautiful!

Thank you NetGalley and Park Row for the advanced copy. All opinions are my own.

Haven Ambrose traveled to beautiful Positano with the goal of investigating the numerous mysterious shipwrecks along the Amalfi Coast. She’s a nautical archaeologist who grew up watching her dad do similar work, so in addition to her research goal she also secretly wants to find the priceless gemstones that her late father spotted on a dive but wasn’t able to retrieve. But weird things keep happening after she arrives in Positano, and she can’t figure out if it’s nature going awry or something darker altogether. As she searches for the treasure, Haven starts researching more of the Amalfi Coast’s history and unearths a story of ancient sorcery. A woman with a goal of saving her lover and the entire village but using the magic of stregheria to harness the ocean. Could this ancient magic be to blame for the recent disasters?

📝Sarah Penner expertly wove the duel timelines together within this story. I found myself really invested in Haven’s uncovering of the truth and it was really interesting how historical record mixed with present day finds to lead Haven to uncover more and potentially realize who might be behind the potential present day use of this ancient magic. The backdrop of the Amalfi Coast just made this book even more enjoyable, and this has definitely made me want to jump into more Sarah Penner novels.

Thanks to Netgalley and Park Row Books/Harper Collins for the eARC in exchange for an honest review!

Penner is an auto buy! I loved her first book and this was up there. I love any story that takes place in Italy and can we just talk about the gorgeous cover - yes, I bought the physical copy!

I loved being transported to the Amalfi Coast in this beautifully written book. The dual timeline created an intricately woven story with tons of layers. The sea witches were magical and fascinating, and I was absolutely captivated by their story. I also loved that there were multiple strong and resilient FMCs. I was so invested in both Haven’s commitment to finding the sunken treasure identified by her father and Mari’s romance.

I listened to the audio while reading along. The audio was incredible and helped immerse me in the settings and emotions of the story. Both narrators were absolutely wonderful!

Thank you to Harlequin Trade Publishing and NetGalley for the advance copy.

This is my second book by Sarah Penner. The first was The Lost Apothecary, which I absolutely loved. The Amalfi Curse is not quite as good as that one, but it is still a great read.

It is told with a dual timeline, located in Positano, Italy. In the 1800s, we learn of the stregheria, the magical sea witches who can control the waters in the ocean. In the current time, Haven is a nautical archaeologist (what a cool profession!) who searches the waters, looking at the shipwrecks from long ago. Can Haven find what she is looking for before the waters erupt in disaster?

I received a digital ARC of this book thanks to NetGalley and the publisher.

3.5 ✨

I first started this book but put it on pause. I wasn’t in the mood I guess. I’m glad I eventually picked it back up.

The atmosphere, magic, & ocean vibes were all intriguing to me. I liked how the story was dual timeline and dual POV.

I was interested in both storylines- the one of Mari in 1820 and Haven during present day. I will say there were a ton of characters to keep up with in the past timeline which was a bit confusing.

I wished there was more to Haven’s plot with scuba diving and finding treasure but the two stories did eventually connect in a nice way.

The witchcraft was unique but I didn’t really see a point to their abilities in the present day time.

I read the last 40% of this book in one sitting because I wanted to know how everything intertwined!

Read if you like—
-witchcraft
-dual timeline
-dual POV
- slow burn
- closed door
- mystery
- scuba diving
- letters
- Italy

Thank you netgalley for this ARC.

Has a great starting hook, really threw me into the story. I thought the ending was sort of anti climatic, and felt it started as a mystery but changed course half way to love story and really abandoned the mystery aspect. I’d rate it 3.75 stars

I 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. This is my third book by Penner, and I always get so excited when I see she has a new release. Thank you Netgalley for my ARC copy!

Thank you for allowing me to read this book as an ARC.
It took me a little bit to get into this book but then I ended up really liking it. The protagonist is ahead of her time and I liked that she took chances and would think outside the box and do things what felt right for her.
The story was interesting and different and I definitely fell in love with the setting. Great job by the author to put the story into an "exotic" environment instead of keeping it in England what so many do.
I liked the writing style and descriptions. It was easy to place myself into the story as an observer. 4 🌟

Well, now I have to go read The Lost Apothecary. Such a enthralling story and written so beautifully...plus it is one of the prettiest books I own! Would 100% read again. The love stories of Mari and Holmes, and Haven and Enzo are amazing even though I wished for more about Haven and Enzo.

This book captivated me from the start. I couldn’t wait to see how both story lines ended. This book has everything- adventure, romance, suspense. And I really wasn’t sure how it would end.

“‘Sometimes,’ she concluded, ‘the greatest treasure to be found is…love.’”

This was a beautiful book both inside and out! Italy is my favorite country and the Amalfi coast my favorite part of it. So to travel there via the words in this story was so enjoyable for me.

Now I did not love this one quite as much as The Lost Apothecary, which I gave 5 ⭐️, but still very much enjoyed it. If you liked Fable then I think you’ll love this one.

Thank you to Netgalley, Harlequin Trade Publishing, and the author for the complimentary ARC.

First and foremost, I was shocked at the chance of this e-ARC, so please accept my sincerest thanks to Sarah Penner, Harlequin Trading Publishing, and Netgalley for the opportunity.

Due to my never-ending TBR, I haven't had a chance to read Penner's "The Lost Apothecary", but have only raving reviews so I had huge expectations over this novel. And WOW, this did not disappoint. I love anything Italy, so the setting instantly drew me in on top the incredible storyline woven between the women.

While I received an e-ARC, this is easily a novel I plan on purchasing to have as a trophy on my shelf!!

My favorite book by Sarah Penner so far. I really enjoyed both stories in the dual intertwining timelines. This story follows witches of the sea who protect the Amalfi Coast.

The Amalfi Curse delivers a moody, romantic escape full of family secrets, coastal charm, and a touch of the supernatural. The vivid setting and emotional depth make it a compelling read. While some "twists" feel pretty predictable, the atmosphere and character development shine. A beautifully written, immersive story that’s perfect for fans of gothic romance. Solid 4/5. Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC.