I loved Sarah Penner's first book and hated the second. I requested this one because I love the Amalfi coast and the cover of the book (lol) and I was not disappointed!

The setting is done SO well, and although some of the plot points were kind of dumb, the dual timelines worked out really well. I was equally invested in both mysteries, and the way everything linked together was wonderful.

Sarah Penner is an author whose books I inhale the minute they hit my reader. This new book is no different. Magical, Mysterious, Scary…it’s all there and you will need a tissue.

Told in Mari’s time in the late 1800’s, and in Haven’s time of the present.

A tale of women and their power. Sirens keeping the pirates and bad men and their ships safely away from Positano on the Amalfi Coast. The sailors call it the Amalfi Curse.

Mari wants a different life. Tired of the sea and all it has taken from her. When she meets the love of her life, she makes a plan.

Haven has come to examine and document the many shipwrecks around Positano, and maybe to look for the gems her father had found earlier. But soon she hears the story of the curse and she is hooked.

As she digs into the story of Mari and the women on the island, she realizes that some of these women are still here!

Oh, what a magical story this is. I absolutely adored it.


NetGalley/ Harlequin/Park Row April 29, 2025

Unfortunately this was a pretty big disappointment for me. The concept intrigued me since it got announced, but the pacing of the book and how it was written was almost unbearable for me- it took me almost all month to complete it.

The Amalfi Curse is a story that transcends time, intertwining the lives of women two centuries apart. In the 1820s, Mari DeLuca of Positano leads her fellow streghe to fight the men targeting their powers over the sea. In modern-day, the nautical archeologist Haven Ambrose arrives in Positano prepared to investigate the old shipwrecks along the Amalfi Coast - and hopefully find the treasure her late father found on his final dive. However, Haven’s mission is put on hold when inclement conditions and tragic events occur as soon as she arrives, and she realizes that the “Amalfi Curse” may be more than more than just an old wives’ tale.

I must admit - I was much more invested in Mari’s story than in Haven’s for the first part of this book. The connection between their stories wasn’t established until the 50%, and that’s when the story got REALLY exciting. We continue the story seeking the answer to these two questions: what happened to Mari and her generation of streghe, and what is causing the misfortunes now happening in the Amalfi coast?

There are elements to the reveal that were a bit underwhelming, especially for the latter question. While the events in Mari’s timeline brought the drama and tension, the events in Haven’s fell a bit flat. When the reason for the present-day calamities was revealed, my reaction was quite literally, “Oh okay.” Even Haven herself didn’t seem to care much about it for the most part, aside from the fact that it’s hindering her ability to go dive for treasure.

This discrepancy aside, The Amalfi Curse was a very enjoyable read. Due to the premise, it naturally has a great mix of historical fiction and contemporary mystery, and I’d gladly recommend it to anyone who enjoys these genres.

Thanks so much to NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for gifting me an ARC of this book!

This was a fun read. I was fully engrossed in both time and storylines, Mari and the "streghe," Haven and her project. Positano and the Amalfi Coast scenery was brought to life in beautiful detail, a perfect backdrop for the Li Galli legends. Much thanks to NetGalley and Harlequin Trade for the opportunity to read and review this eArc in exchange for my honest opinion.

I have mixed feelings on "The Amalfi Curse". It looks like I am in the minority so I definitely think this is one that you should check out for yourself.

I really liked the setting - the author does a fantastic job of describing the environment that I did not have any difficulty imaging what our characters were seeing. It truly felt like we were in the waters too.

I liked the two timeliness and their individual stories. The magic in the past and the diving in the present were done very well. The mysteries in both kept me on the edge of my seat. I didn't like how rushed it felt in bringing these two stories together though. The romance in the present timeline could have also been left out - it felt unnecessary.

Overall I will be recommending this book to others as I think the things I liked were done very well.

Rated 3.5 stars rounded up to 4 stars. Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for the ARC ebook.

Two timelines destined to cross paths, sunken treasure, witches of the sea, current scientific work, and tragedy upon tragedy intersecting...you can't help but race through the book, dying to know what happens. Who lives...who dies...who perseveres...who gets what's coming to them.

Sarah Penner crafts incredible stories and I just can't wait for more.

a nautical fantasy!! yes!! please! this was a little bit TOO good, i absolutely loved the historical and present day timelines as well as the cast of characters who stole my heart. this was my first book from penner but i clearly need to get into her backlist asap rocky 💫

Sarah Penner has done it again! The Amalfi Curse is a spellbinding blend of historical fiction, mystery, and magical realism that completely swept me away. Set against the breathtaking backdrop of the Amalfi Coast, this novel masterfully intertwines intrigue, history, and a touch of the supernatural, making it impossible to put down.

As someone who adores witch stories and female-centered narratives, this book was everything I wanted and more. Penner crafts powerful, complex women at the heart of her tale, weaving together rich folklore, long-buried secrets, and an undercurrent of magic that lingers on every page. The dual timelines are seamlessly executed, keeping the tension high while immersing readers in a world where history and the mystical collide.

Fans of The Lost Apothecary and The London Séance Society will absolutely devour this book. It’s atmospheric, gripping, and brimming with Penner’s signature blend of magic and mystery. Highly recommend for anyone who loves historical fantasy with a haunting, witchy twist!

Many thanks to NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for the digital review copy in exchange for my honest thoughts.

I enjoyed this book - it feels like it would be the perfect summer, beach read with just the right amount of mystery and suspense. That being said, it did feel rushed and choppy at times. The pacing felt slightly off and I did wish for a less rushed ending.
Overall the mystery is intriguing and I loved the premise. Getting to explore Positano in this book made me want to book a flight immediately.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Harlequin for the opportunity to read this book.

Book Review
The Amalfi Curse by Sarah Penner

Themes and Tropes
✅ Dual POV and timelines
✅ Sexism
✅ Forbidden love
✅ Weight of Family expectations vs those of your friends
✅ Strong female friendships
✅ Kidnapping, murder, revenge and mystery
✅ myth and legends of red headed Streghe ( sea witches)
✅ Piracy and smuggling

Characters
Haven- nautical archaeology , father was a treasure hunter
Mari- daughter and leader of streghe
Enzo- a bir 2 dimensional for me, while he had a backstory I didnt get attached to him, I was so focussed on Haven’s story I didnt become invested in his
Conrad- family friend and colleague of Haven’s deceased father

Thoughts
📕 I wanted to learn more about the sirens whose powers descended to the streghe - the little tidbits offered throughout the story just whetted my appetite for more
📕 I Loved the piracy and archeological storyline- who doesn’t dream of buried treasure lurking beneath the sea
📕 Very descriptive and atmospheric writing- makes me want to visit the island of Positano

Overall
An intriguing book full of mysteries and questions that will draw readers in to find out exactly what is hidden beneath the waves off the Amalfi coast that people are willing to die for.

Publishes April 29 2025
Thanks to the author and publisher ( Park Row/ Harlequin Trade Publishing) for my digital ARC in return for an honest review. Opinions expressed are my own

Book review 📖

📜The Amalfi Curse
✍️Sarah Penner
📠Harlequin Trade Publishing/Park Row
📚Historical Fiction
🗓️Pub date: April 29, 2025

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

✨Thank you @NetGalley and @parkrowbooks for providing me with an Advanced Reader Copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. Also, thank you to @sarah_penner_author for this remarkable read and bringing the Amalfi Coast to life!

✨ Sorting through mysterious shipwrecks off the Amalfi Coast and the azure seas of Positano, nautical archaeologist, Haven Ambrose, finds more than she anticipated.

✨Trying to finish what her late father hadn’t had the opportunity to find, Haven is determined to see what lies beneath the deep blue abyss of the Tyrrhenian Sea. Flurries of old myths circle the village, a myth that seems nearly impossible until witnessing it firsthand.

✨Jumping back in time, Mari and her sea-witch sisters place a curse on the sea, funneling it so as to prevent pirates from sieging their land, looting their goods, and taking their women. However, her curse is not foolproof and she soon realizes she’s figuratively drowning in her thwarted attempts.

✨ I absolutely love the vibrant scenery of The Amalfi Coast in this fabulous book. Having been there myself, it is on point and as stunning as I remember.
Penner has a knack for gorgeous and unmatched prose, and I couldn’t put this down. I loved the alternating narratives between Mari and Haven, learning about ship wreckages, pirates, treasure hunting, and the cursed Italian sea-side. This is one to pick up and devour—best served alongside a chilled glass of limoncello! Salute!🍸🍋

#netgalley #theamalficurse #sarahpenner #parkrowbooks #harlequintradepublishing #advancedreadercopy #arc #bookreview #bookstagrammer #springreleases #historicalfiction #magicalrealism

I absolutely squealed when I got this ARC (thank you NetGalley!)
The Lost Apothecary was my first 5 star read of 2025, and then I got approved for this one, too?! Loved it!
5 stars!

Penner writes wonderful historical fantasy, however juxtaposed against her sloppy contemporary storyline I was left bored and frustrated. The two storylines develop at different paces, creating a crisis of intensity—ending one storyline on a high to come crashing back down to mundane exposition. With too many sub plots in both timelines, the reader cannot dive deeply into any characters, further creating disinterest in the story. This book would have been marvelous if we had focused just on Mari’s timeline and were able to spend pages diving deeper into her and the witches as characters rather than the dual timeline that felt half as deep. The Italian was inconsistent with translations provided for single words already in the public English-speaking consciousness, only then to have entire phrases in Italian with no translation. It felt like the kid who just got back from studying abroad and wants everyone around them to know they were in Italy once.
I worry that with the success of The Lost Apothecary that Penner’s novels will continue to rely on this stunted formula, rather than trying something new and diving into one storyline in a world she can truly open up for her readers. My final thoughts on this dual timeline book: don’t half ass two things when you could whole-ass one.
I will not be posting a review on social media as my thoughts are fairly negative and I do not want to dissuade readers who might enjoy this book regardless of what I view as its flaws.

Sarah Penner is the best. This third book took a little bit to get into, but then I was completely engrossed. Haven is a nautical/underwater archaeologist who is about to make what she is hoping the find of a life. Her team of all women was going to do a study off the Amalfi coast, when her deceased father’s friend takes over the study and dive because of all the seismic activity. Haven thinks the real reason is he found out about the possible treasure and is noteworthy interested yhat than the actual archaeological record. In making her own way to the site to dive, Haven meets Enzo, a cute Italian who owns a dive and boat shop.

Meanwhile, back in 1821, a group of women, witches, protect Positano from pirates by harnessing the ocean. Mari, the leader of the witches, desperately wants away from the village to be with her beau who is a sailor. But there is more to worry about when people are kidnapped from the village after finding out the secret of the witches.

Both stories are intriguing and I loved the main point of the end of the story.

The Amalfi Curse by Sarah Penner is a unique, dual timeline novel that explores the Amalfi coast and a legend of a curse on the waters.

The way the story flowed from the past timeline to present flowed very well and each look at the past gave the reader a glimpse into why things were happening the way in the present. Haven is a strong, determined FMC who is trying to continue her father's work after his passing on a dive project in Italy. She encounters many barriers and roadblocks but does not get derailed. I really liked Enzo as a character and love interest, and hoped we would see more of him! The past timeline with Mari and Holmes was tragic but hopeful and it was very cool to see how that one played out.

The reveals in the latter half of the book were so well done and when you pick up where the timelines crossed it was amazing! Sarah Penner has obviously done a ton of research for this novel and it shows. It was historically rich and descriptive.

The Amalfi Curse is a very intriguing, interesting historical fantasy you should absolutely read.

Many thanks to Harlequin Trade Publishing and Netgalley for the advanced review copy.

Another powerful, gorgeously written book by Sarah Penner! Powerful women. Witchcraft. And a treasure hunt. That's all you need to know going in!

Since I have visited the beautiful Almalfi coast and the lovely city of Positano, this book was especially appealing to me, and introduced me to endeavors about which I had never thought. Haven Ambrose is a nautical archeologist who travels to Positano for a work excursion that also includes a more personal quest. Alternating with her story is a historical narrative of a young woman that lived in the area 200 years earlier. I've read two other books by Sarah Penner, and enjoy her mix of historical with modern fiction. This book is lightly supernatural. Although she includes a bit of romance, there is nothing graphic.

I loved this book. It was so well written and I loved the use of powerful female characters. I love Positano and this book captured it so beautifully. It’s not only a wonderfully beautiful place, but it’s filled with tales of tragedy, archaeology, and passionate stories passed down through generations. This book enchanted me and made one of my favorite vacation spots come to life!

Rating: 4.5 out of 5

There’s something about the ocean that feels both magical and dangerous, and The Amalfi Curse captures that feeling perfectly. Sarah Penner delivers a spellbinding mix of adventure, history, and witchcraft, all set against the stunning backdrop of the Amalfi Coast. From the moment I started reading, I felt completely transported—like I could hear the waves crashing and taste the salt in the air.

Haven Ambrose is an easy protagonist to root for. As a nautical archaeologist, she’s brilliant and determined, but her quest for her father’s lost treasure adds an emotional depth that made me even more invested. I loved how the story blended real-world archaeology with the legend of stregheria, an ancient form of sea magic. The supernatural elements never feel over-the-top—they’re woven in so naturally that they enhance the mystery rather than overshadow it.

The pacing is solid, keeping the tension high without dragging, and the romance is subtle but well done. The chemistry feels organic, adding warmth to an otherwise eerie and suspenseful story. My only minor critique is that a few of the twists were a little predictable, but honestly, the journey was so immersive that I didn’t mind.

This book is everything I love—history, mystery, magic, and the vast, untamed power of the ocean. The Amalfi Curse is an enchanting, atmospheric read that will stay with me for a long time. If you love books that make you feel like you’ve stepped into another world, this one is absolutely worth the dive.