4.5 stars!!!!

I absolutely LOVED The Amalfi Curse by Sarah Penner!!!! This book has it all: girlhood, romance, witches, buried treasure and mystery!!!

First, we’re introduced to Mari, a powerful streghe del mare, or sea witch, and her community. Mari has a complicated relationship with the sea and is planning to leave behind her life in Positano and as a streghe. But when one day something goes horribly on the coast of Positano, Mari and her community are put in grave danger. Mari must choose between her community’s safety and her secret desires.

Then, we meet Haven, a nautical archaeologist - basically she researches ship wrecks (and any buried treasures along with them). Haven is in Italy for a once in a lifetime opportunity - to dive Li Galli and discover the true mysteries behind la Maledizione Amalfitana, the Amalfi Curse. Haven at her core is a researcher, a scientist, based in facts - so she isn’t one to believe in wild theories, but when strange activity begins near Li Galli, Haven wonders if there’s some truth behind the legend of the Amalfi Curse.

The Amalfi Curse alternates POVs and timelines seamlessly that build to a satisfying ending. I was at the edge of my seat, desperate to uncover the mysteries of Li Gali and the Amalfi Coast!

While I adore Sarah Penner’s first two books, there is something even more magical about The Amalfi Curse. Sarah Penner captured the beauty and atmosphere of the Amalfi coast so well in this book. I was completely transported both to Italy and back in time while reading each POV.

If you’re looking for an atmospheric adventure with witches and romance, look no further than The Amalfi Curse!

Thank you, thank you, thank you Harlequin Trade Publishing and NetGalley for an early copy in exchange for my honest review! And thank you Sarah Penner for another wonderful book - your fantastical stories never disappoint!

Ok, ok. I finally “get” Sarah Penner and I’m mad it took me three tries to do so. I’d tried to read The Lost Apothecary and I couldn’t get past the first third. Same with The London Seance Society. Neither worked for me (at the time), but I was determined. All of her blurbs sound as though the book is tailor-made for me, I just kept running out of patience waiting for something to happen. With The Amalfi Curse, I powered through the admittedly slow start. Penner’s writing is good and I was enjoying each of the timelines, though to varying degrees.

But finally, about halfway through the book, the real mystery and tension started and then book “clicked” for me. Finally. And I finally “get” Sarah Penner, whole heartedly. She is the slowest of slow burn setups, so sink in and enjoy the setting and atmosphere for what it is. Get to know the characters at her pace, and watch her set up story threads. Because once she switches into the latter part of the plot, you’ll be swept along.

Thank you to Harlequin Trade Publishing | Park Row and to Netgalley for the ebook ARC. All opinions are mine alone.

4.5/5 stars

🌊 I absolutely adored this historical romantasy (yes, I’m claiming that term because it perfectly captures the vibe!). This book has so many things I love—past and present timelines, a breathtaking Amalfi Coast setting, sea witches with siren origins, magic, sunken treasure, romance, kidnapping, murder, and scuba diving (just to name a few!). And wow, did it deliver.

🌊 Sarah Penner’s prose is stunningly immersive, with such vivid descriptions that I felt transported straight to Italy’s coast. If you know my reading habits, you know I exclusively read romantasy and rarely pick up books set in our world. But I am so glad I made an exception for this one because… I. Am. Obsessed. And it was so worth it.

🌊 A dual timeline with a touch of historical fiction? Chef’s kiss. Multiple POVs? Flawless. A story woven around powerful women across both timelines? Absolute perfection. The plot twists had me gasping out loud, and the way the past and present intertwined was masterfully executed. I didn’t want it to end—I needed more!

🌊 As a diver, I was especially captivated by the scuba diving elements. The level of detail was immaculate, making me feel like I was right back in the water. Penner is an artist with words.

🌊 Huge thanks to Sarah Penner for this mesmerizing, magical read—I already know it’s going to stay with me for a long time. Thank you Harper Collins for the free copy of this book. This is my honest review.

This book is a dual timeline with Haven a model day marine archeologist and Mari a sea witch from the past. The story had so many different moving parts, but I really liked the magical realism aspects the best. The characters felt a little disjointed to me so I had trouble really connecting with any of them. In the end, both timelines come together in a way that left me satisfied with the ending.

After having enjoyed The Lost Apothecary, I was thrilled to receive this ARC from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review. The same elements were there (duel time line, personal problems in each time line, women battling dominant men, etc.) along with mysterious happenings in both time lines, but somehow this one didn’t work for me even though I have recently become quite interested in ancient shipwrecks and their salvage/plunder.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Park Row for this early readers copy.

A Million Stars! ⭐️

What a beautifully crafted story of love, intrigue and history! An excellent read with powerful insights and amazing characters.

This has to be made into a movie!

I can’t wait to order the fanciest version of the book and have Sarah Penner sign it in person! I also want to hear about the incredible research done for this book.

A must read!


Thanks to Netgalley and Park Row.

Since I loved The Lost Apothecary and The London Seance Society, I just had to read The Amalfi Curse. Once again, Sarah Penner delivered a magical, original, intriguing book. It started a little slow, but it didn't take long to start rolling and drawing me in. Told in alternating timelines, which is a frequently used tool by authors now, we have a story set in the 1820s about a group of Italian "Sea Witches" and a current-day American nautical archaeologist, Haven, who has come to Positano to research shipwrecks and do some treasure hunting. The weaving of the stories is appealing and arresting. 4-1/2 stars

I received an ARC for free and gave my honest opinion voluntarily.

What a lovely and enjoyable read. This was my first read of a book by author Sarah Penner and I will definitely be on the look out for more. I really enjoyed the character development in this book - strong women with strong moral compasses. The author successfully wove the 2 different timelines and storylines into a satisfying conclusion. I also appreciated the love story on the sideline. If you are looking for a tale that will captivate you and that you will be happy you read - this is it! Thanks to Sarah Penner, Harlequin Trade Fiction and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this ARC in exchange for a review.

FANTASTIC

Penner knocked it out of the park with this one. The Amalfi Curse has it all, murder, witches, kidnapping, magic, AND romance!

any book with and underlying theme of women holding power is already top tier in my eyes and then we are given a FMC who is an archeologist which was so good, it felt fresh and I just fell in love with her so quickly

This was absolutely a book that I did not want to put down. I fell in love with Sarah Penner's writing with The Lost Apothecary and The Amalfi Curse didn't disappoint in any way, shape or form. The dual timelines, with past and present was so immersive and captivating. It was amazing to see how the timelines wove together and related, in a way that I honestly didn't think could happen. We have magical realism with contemporary and underwater adventures. I liked how the element of witchcraft made it just out of touch with reality and brough in the aspect of fantasy, but more as a superstition or belief than something that was completely unrealistic.

In 1821, we follow along with Mari, a stregheria in Positano, who protects her land from intruders with the magical power of the sea. In current times, we have Haven, a nautical archeologist searching for clues to her father's last discovery. This was a perfect vacation read! The writing was done so well and the intricacy of the characters and story were beautiful.

Thank you to NetGalley, Harlequin Trade Publishing I Park Row and Sarah Penner for the eARC of The Amalfi Curse in exchange for an honest review. Publication date for The Amalfi Curse by Sarah Penner is set for 29 April 2025.

The Amalfi Curse is told through two women in two different time periods; Mari, a sea witch in the late 1800’s, and Haven, a maritime archaeologist on a project on, you guessed it, the Amalfi Coast. Part of it is also told in epistolary format through the letters of Mari’s lover. I really loved how Prenner weaved both timelines together so effortlessly; this is a story element I really enjoy and kept me from losing interest or getting bored. If you like magical realism and historical fiction you might enjoy this book.

From the moment I first laid eyes on the beautiful cover, I knew this book was going to be fantastic, and I wasn’t wrong. (What can I say? A book cover can make or break a story for me). Sarah Penner writes magical stories unlike anyone else, and I’ve been a fan since reading The Lost Apothecary. Her books are haunting, suspenseful, and full of mystery and intrigue. You never know what’s going to happen next, and I love that. I would highly recommend The Amalfi Curse to everyone.

I read and enjoyed Penney’s recent short story that hinted at some of the witch lore of this book — that made me eager to dive into this book. Penner has a signature writing style that is simultaneously beautiful and accessible, and that was on full display here. The past timeline was more grabbing for me; the two timelines/POVs reminded me of her debut. The author did a great job painting the atmosphere. This is a great read for spring/summer time.

I couldn't put this book down!! The dual timeline kept me completely immersed in the story and I literally stayed awake all night to finish reading it. As the different timelines slowly began interweaving with one another, the anticipation for the next revelation grew even more. I've loved each of Sarah Penner's novels so far and can hardly wait to see what she comes up with next!!

My first Penner book was 𝑻𝒉𝒆 𝑳𝒐𝒔𝒕 𝑨𝒑𝒐𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒄𝒂𝒓𝒚, and I loved it! When it comes to historical fiction, I'm very particular, and Penner's books have pretty much set the bar. I think of her as a master of dual timelines, capturing the essence of women's issues, and creating immersive plotlines that have a way of leaving my heart full.
The way she blends contemporary and historical timelines with the stunning backdrop of the Amalfi Coast here is magical! Ancient magic becomes magical realism, shipwrecks become sunken treasure, forbidden love becomes an epic love story, with resilient characters and relationships being a shared theme in both timelines.
The elements of witchcraft, forbidden love, deep sea exploration, AND an Italy setting all spoke to me and did not disappoint! Especially for those like me who struggle to connect with books of historical nature, I highly recommend Sarah Penner's books. They are a steppingstone between contemporary and historical for fiction lovers, with a great balance of technical, well-researched topics, and relatable characters that make for a quick, enjoyable read! 4.5 stars

I throughly enjoyed Sarah Penner’s previous books. I couldn’t wait to read this book set on the Amalfi Coast. This is a magical story that exceeded my expectations.
I loved reading books set in places that I have been. I could just imagine sitting at a restaurant looking out at the sea and drinking a lemoncello.
This story is told in dual timelines. 1821 Mari and current time Haven.
The Amalfi curse “ a nautical archaeologist searching for sunken treasure unearths a century old curse, powerful witchcraft and perilous love. “
Haven Ambrose a nautical archaeologist travels to Positano to pickup where her deceased father claims there are sunken gemstones. There is an accident where a yacht goes aground. What has happened?
1821 Mari protects Positano from intruders with her witchcraft, the legendary “stregheri”., a magical power of the sea.
The two timelines are woven together perfectly. I couldn’t put this book down.
It is perfect filled with magic, romance and even murder.
The book cover is so beautiful it just draws you in.
Take a trip to the Amalfi coast and meet Mari and Haven.
A perfect summer read.
Thank you to NetGalley and Park Row for this early readers copy.

4.5/5 Stars

First and foremost, thank you #NetGalley and #HarlequinTradePublishing for the ARC digital copy of #TheAmalfiCurse which will be released on April 29, 2025.

Sarah Penner’s The Amalfi Curse delivers a treasure-hunting adventure steeped in Italian history and wrapped in an exhilarating adventure. From the moment the story opens, I was transported to the Amalfi Coast, a setting that pulses with ancient legends of the Amalfi Curse and the strega, women that practice the ancient witchcraft of harnessing the power of the sea. Much like the TV show *Outer Banks,* where there is a race to uncover hidden riches, this novel revolves around a quest that fuses magic and historical intrigue with modern-day stakes, keeping the tension simmering throughout.

Haven, the protagonist, is a a diver and marine archaeologist hired to research and inventory the ship wrecks of the Amalfi Coast. She is pulled away from the project by her late father's frenemy, Conrad, who is out for treasure and fame. Little does Conrad know, as Haven's father always said, "sometimes the answers aren't in the water, but out of it". Haven follows her father's clues as well as her instinct, which leads her to the truth about of Positano's past, including the lives of the strega del mare (witches of the sea), Mari DeLuca, and her lover, Holmes Foster. The book follows dual timelines with multiple POVs (Haven, Mari, and Holmes).

The driving force behind The Amalfi Curse is not only the unearthing of lost artifacts, but also the complex relationships between Haven, and her late father as well as Mari and her lover, Holmes. The father-daughter relationship infuses the book with a raw emotional resonance, as Haven grapples with unspoken regrets and a shared thirst for discovering the truth behind her father's research. The relationship shared by Mari and Holmes only bolsters the story as it lends to the history of the strega and the magic imbued in the sea.

The Amalfi Curse stands out as a 4.5 star read, intertwining historical lore, heartfelt family ties, a dash of romance, and high-stakes adventure. It is an engrossing page-turner for anyone seeking an escape to the sun-soaked shores of Italy—with a hint of magic hidden in its darkest grottoes.

First off the cover to this book is beautiful. Second, I enjoyed this book so much, Sarah Penner is also the author of The Lost Apothecary. I actually read this arc and liked it so much, I ordered The Lost Apothecary to see how that one is. I've heard so many good things about that book.

I was so excited to get an eARC of this book, especially since I love this author’s other books! As soon as I saw the sneak peek, I knew I had to read it. And wow - it pulled me in right away! The story jumps between the past and present, with dual POVs from Holmes & Mari in the past and Haven in the present, which I loved.

This book has everything - sea witches, murder, revenge, treasure, and, at its core, the powerful theme of sacrificing everything for the ones you love. It had me feeling all the emotions: surprised, happy, mad, and even in tears. The love story between Holmes and Mari is just beautiful, and I completely fell for Haven and Enzo too!

Huge thanks to NetGalley for the chance to read this early. I can't wait to get my physical copy when this releases!

I loved The Lost Apothecary, so when I saw Penner’s next book was set on the Amalfi Coast with sunken treasure, witchcraft, and nautical archaeology, I knew I needed to get my hands on it! With its magical blend of historical fiction and fantasy, The Amalfi Curse enchants from its very first pages.

I loved literally everything about this story! The exploration of nautical archaeology as a field and how much onshore research goes into a single expedition. Haven’s, Mari’s, and Holmes’s unique perspectives, and the use of dual timeline as if this story was pulled from our own history pages. The setting on the Amalfi Coast with Mt. Vesuvius as a ticking time bomb. The combination of action, adventure, and romance, and the themes of love, sacrifice, and acceptance. I was fully immersed in the setting, in the characters, and the story. Easily my new favorite by Penner!

Thank you to Netgalley, Park Row Books, and Harlequin Trade Publishing for the e-arc in exchange for an honest review.