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.

Thank you to The Hive and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this early advance copy of The Amalfi Curse by Sarah Penner.

Our first pov is Mari, a young woman from 1821 who is from a small village where they practice magic known as stregheria, a magical ability to harness the power of the ocean. Think adjacent to a siren, not the same, but similar. I really enjoyed this aspect of the story and the incantations throughout. Mari was planning to run away with her lover who is a sailor aboard a ship, but the Mazza brothers who are dangerous ship merchants find out about the women of Potisanto and plan to kidnap some of Mari's friends. Mari is faced with an impossible choice: choose between saving her fellow witches and villagers or the man she loves.

We have a present-day pov of Haven, a woman in Positano who is an archeologist following in her father's footsteps. She is secretly looking for gems that her father believed he encountered on his last dive. When Haven arrives mishap after mishap occurs. Is nature the cause or is there magic to blame?


In typical Sarah Penner fashion, we start the novel with dual pov's from two entirely different timelines that cross at the end of the story. I have come to love this style of storytelling from Penner. She does a fantastic job telling the story of adventure, forbidden love and magic through the eyes of Mari and Haven. The sea is a third character in this story, it is both magical and beautiful with the ability to give life. Lest we forget how the sea can be dangerous and deadly at the drop of a hat. Haven's father met an untimely death at the hands of the water and yet this does not deter her from trying to finish what he started. I found that to be so beautiful and and daunting, such as the sea.

Penner has a way of writing that truly is so magical, I find myself being completely wrapped up in the story and devour the story. The Amalfi Curse is no different, The Lost Apothecary is the book that reignited my love for reading and The Amalfi Curse should be my 100th finished book of 2024. I am very excited for you all to fall in love with this story once is releases in April 2025.

What a sweet, fun, genre-bending novel! I loved the switch between the past and present, plus the added POV from the past character’s lover, too. There was just enough thrill to keep me hooked throughout, both in the past and present timelines. The dual timelines also provided us with dual love stories, as well! A little bit of the forbidden love trope sneaks its way in there, and who doesn’t love that?

My favorite part of this book was how it revolved around the sea, the Amalfi Coast, and stregheria. The setting of the Amalfi Coast already sounds magical, but add in a small, secret group of women who have the power to protect their small village by controlling the ocean? You’ve got a truly bewitching book on your hands!

What an adventure! This is a truly mesmerizing and immersive tale! This story has everything - mystery, magical realism, historical fiction, and romance. I felt transported to the picturesque setting of Positano. I absolutely loved the story of Mari and the powerful women with their mystical abilities that protect their village.
The present day story of Haven and her drive to follow her late father’s clues was just as riveting and I loved how the two storylines connected. I definitely recommend reading this captivating adventure - you won’t be disappointed!

The Amalfi Curse by Sarah Penner is a captivating novel rich with mystery, unexpected twists, and heartfelt themes of love, sacrifice, and community. I found myself equally invested in both Mari and Haven's stories—each drawn to the sea for different reasons, yet bound by the desire to protect their loved ones.

The picturesque setting of Positano and the Amalfi Coast adds a vivid, atmospheric backdrop to the story, enhancing its beauty and depth. Penner skillfully brings to life the hidden shipwrecks beneath the sea, creating a sense of wonder and intrigue. As the parallel narratives unfold, the way they ultimately converge is both satisfying and powerful, even though I had an inkling of where it was heading.

I thoroughly enjoyed every moment of this novel, and it left me reflecting on the treasures and mysteries that lie beneath the surface, both in the sea and in life.

Thank you to Harlequin Trade Publishing, Park Row, The Hive, and NetGalley for providing this book.

First off I will say I LOVE Sarah Penner’s books! So when the opportunity came up to read her book super early, I was beyond excited! Five stars!!!

I love the premise of this book and for setting on the islands in Italy. Her beautiful descriptive writing took me there instantly. Sarah has a masterful way of writing dual timelines, delving into the historical aspects and relating to the current day struggles as well.

This book was a perfect combination of magical realism and historical fiction for me! I can’t wait till more people read it. I will be talking about it often on my booktok.

Thank you so much for the advance arc copy of The Amalfi Curse.

Sarah Penner has become a go-to magical realism author for me, and this is my favorite novel of hers yet! She is able to blend historical fiction and present day in such a compelling way, weaving together dual timelines to seamlessly tell a captivating tale. I was immediately drawn into the mystical beauty of the Amalfi Coast as the setting. In the present day, we follow Haven, an underwater archaeologist and diver searching for shipwrecks and buried treasure. In the past timeline, Mari must use her ancient magic to save her village. This tale of two fiercely strong women is sure to pull your heartstrings and make you believe in the power of love and a little *magic.* Spanning multiple genres, this book will appeal to fans of historical fiction, adventure, magical realism, and romance.

This book starts out with a BANG! So atmospheric! I felt like I was at the sea’s edge!!!! Then, there’s a forbidden/unattainable love story! 💔 I was loving it! Then you’re back to the future with an exciting race against time, the formidable Mt. Vesuvius threatens to blow, and destroy all the secrets and treasure underwater at Li Galli! The backdrop for this story could not be any more magical! I am not a huge Historical Fiction reader, I usually grow bored. I have seriously loved each of Penner’s stories though there’s just something so captivating about them, I am always instantly drawn in! Her stories seem to be so transportive, I always feel like I’m in the story and seeing it play out! I absolutely live for reads like these, getting lost in a story is the best part of reading!!!! Another enthralling read by Penner that I’d recommend!!!!

A breathtaking narrative intertwining two tales centuries apart. Penner immerses you in an addictive and enthralling voyage along the Amalfi Coast. A story full of enchantment, betrayal, sacrifice, and finding the greatest treasure. A big thank you to HTP books for the early copy of this book.

This is now my third book of Penner’s and I fall more and more in love with her writing each time. The way she seamlessly blends historical fiction with ancient magical, romance, and mystery is just the perfect combination.

This book was so beautifully written. I have always been drawn to the sea while simultaneously being terrified of it and this book just spoke to me on so many levels. The characters were complex with their own fascinating motives and backstories, in which Penner masterfully layers them into this unforgettable storyline. If you love reading about a memorable, strong, female, she gives them to us both in past and present timelines. I mean, a red haired lineage of powerful sea witches connected to sirens? Say no more. I loved reading the 1800s timeline involving a coven of magical women who protect their village against pirates, by using the nature of the sea elements at their disposal. Mari was beautifully complex and I found myself wholeheartedly invested in the fates of each and every character. Present day Haven, being a nautical archeologist on a mission to fulfill her father’s dream, was the perfect parallel story to Mari’s. The way everything connected by the end will leave a lasting impression on the reader.

This book may have a treasure hunt element to it but this story is the true treasure. The power and beauty of the sea, the picturesque Italian setting along the Amalfi coast, and the sense of adventure already makes for a captivating read. But then Penner adds in a bewitching past and present timelines, the exploration of ancient, ancestral magic, truly unforgettable characters, a beautiful love story, and her immersive storytelling and you get a book that reads as a timeless classic.

•𝐘𝐨𝐮 𝐂𝐚𝐧 𝐄𝐱𝐩𝐞𝐜𝐭 •
+ stregheria (witchcraft) & streghe Del Mar (witches of the sea)
+ powerful women linked to ancient sirens
+ cimarutas, a powerful talisman
+ sea incantations
+ nautical archeologist
+ centuries old curse along the Amalfi coast
+ ancient magic and sea witchcraft
+ a 200 year old love story powerful enough to save a region
+ forbidden love
+ 1700s villa in Positano
+ transportive & immersive storytelling
+ treasure hunt among the Li Galli islets
+ 18th & 19th century shipwreck exploration
+ race against time suspense
+ powerful women across centuries

Thank you so much to NetGalley, HTP, and HTP Hive for this #gifted ARC!

Thank you HTP, Park Row, and The Hive for the gifted copy!

This is my third book by Sarah Penner and third times the charm. I enjoyed her others but I absolutely adored this book. Having been to (and loved!) the Amalfi Coast, I knew I needed this one the second I saw the title. And it did not disappoint. There is just something so magical about Italy and I gravitate towards books set there. Sarah Penner did an amazing job painting a picture of the landscape that transported me right back to Positano.

This novel is told from multiple perspectives over two different time periods. The way the author wove together the two timelines was absolutely flawless. There was the perfect amount of tension and intrigue that had me fully unable to stop reading because I had to know what was going to happen next.

I am a big fan of magical realism and I loved the incorporation of the stregheria here. There is something so powerful about reading stories that focus around strong women. The streghe had the odds stacked against them in every way and yet they never backed down. And in the more modern day timeline Haven is powerful in her own right.

But in the end what made this book so special were the love stories in all their forms. A daughters love for her father and her dedication to fulfilling his dream, a mothers love for her children and the sacrifice that sometimes requires, and of course the romantic loves in all their heartwarming and heartbreaking ways.

A mysteriously magical story about the power of love, told through writing that’s as enchanting as the Positano landscape in which it is set. This is Sarah Penner at her absolute best.

Before “diving” into all the adventures off the Amalfi coast in this book, I must say, I am quite impatiently waiting on the cover reveal! I’m picturing several shades of blue with gold accents for the color theme!

Brilliant coast of Amalfi carries a deadly curse. Events, two centuries apart, bring two women, one to protect it, another - to claim its treasures. Mari is a water which and Haven is a nautical archeologist who comes across an old diary revealing Mari's story.

This novel is completely mesmerizing! It took me right back to my early reading years pouring over The Treasure Island and Jules Verne's novels. The author weaves her story in such masterful way! The dual timeline takes you back and fourth between modern days and 1800s. I really enjoyed learning about the fascinating world of nautical archeology. The book is an amazing mix of contemporary adventure, romance and witchy magic. I could not put it down!

This novel has a little bit for every taste: jewels and shipwrecks, forbidden love and family legacy, page-turning suspense and historical fiction, travel and mysticism. No matter what genre pulls you in, I hope you enjoy this read as much as I did!

The mystery, loosely laced with magical realism, unfolds in both timelines as a curse is set in one and discovered in the other. The writing is incredible and keeps you riveted from one chapter to the next. The setting of Positano becomes another character in the novel as the author visually takes us on an epic journey in southern Italy.

This absolute page turner weaves intrigue, romance, magic and adventure in a story that will force you to keep reading to see where the twists will take you next!

Sarah Penner does it again with The Amalfi Curse, I have really enjoyed every single book that I have read by this author. The moment I opened this book, I was captivated—the mystery wrapped around me like a spell, and I couldn’t let go. With its blend of intrigue, romance, and supernatural twists, this novel transports you to the picturesque Italian coast, where every shadow hides a secret.

The characters are richly drawn, each with their own dark pasts and compelling motives, making every twist unpredictable. The story is full of unexpected turns that kept me guessing until the last page.

The Amalfi Curse is a page-turner that’s equal parts chilling and enchanting. If you're looking for a book that weaves mystery, romance, and a touch of magic, this is the one for you.

This is Sarah Penner's third novel and I have to say it's my favorite. There were things I liked in each of her previous books, but this one resonated with me so much more. I highly enjoyed the stories told through both timelines and POV's. I was so invested in learning about stregheria and of Mari's fate, and just as eager to follow Haven in her discovery of the Amalfi Curse and its origins.

Historical fiction is fast becoming one of my go to genres. It's authors like Sarah who are able to mix history, adventure and a sprinkle of love that make historical fiction and the stories come to life.

Sarah Penner uses love, sunken treasure, heartbreak, and magic to seamlessly weave together past and present in two compelling and emotional stories. I loved the dual timelines in this and was deeply invested in both. Readers will love the strength and resilience of Mari and Haven and get deeply connected to these characters. This was a beautiful story, and perfect for anyone who likes to read stories of powerful women.

Thank you to HTP Books and NetGalley for early access to a copy of this book :)

Sarah Penner has done it again.

This was such a fantastic blend of fun adventure and edge-of-your-seat tension. The Amalfi Curse presents an immersive dual-timeline journey along the Italian coast, weaving together a modern-day nautical archaeologist's quest with the secret workings of a band of streghe using their ancient magic to protect their home from the greedy Mazza brothers.

Mystery, history, and magic. Classically beautiful writing, devastatingly compelling characters, and seamlessly intertwined timelines. This book is a treasure!

Sunken treasure, witchcraft, and love? YES PLEASE!
The search for lost treasure by a nautical archeologist uncovers a centuries old curse. While trying to find the treasure, Haven is also trying to figure out the curse.
I was hooked from page one!

Thank you so much Netgalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for the e-arc of this amazing book!

This was such an incredibly immersive and enthralling story. The writing is so beautiful and I had a hard time putting it down. 100% this is my new favorite book of Sarah Penner. The POVs and different timelines tied together so wonderfully. The research and time put in to make this story what it is, is clearly seen throughout the pages. This has it all: witches of the sea, love stories, mystery, and treasure hunting. I love a book about strong women and this is exactly that. Whether you're a fan of mystery, romance, and historical fiction; I think this is a book that stretches across multiple genres and so many readers will fall in love with it.

Thank you to NetGalley, Harlequin Trade Publishing and Park Row for an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

This was a great atmospheric story. Both of the timelines were wonderful, and all the characters felt fully realized.