The Amalfi Curse by Sarah Penner

The Amalfi Curse by Sarah Penner (e-ARC)

I enjoyed The Almalfi Curse immensely! It's the perfect blend of witchy vibes and summer ambiance!

I often find in dual timelines that I care more about one set of characters or time period than the other but in The Amalfi Curse, both timelines have interesting characters, romance, and mysterious elements. As far as the romantic parts of each of the two stories, I was concerned going into this book (as I have not read anything else by Sarah Penner YET) that there might be a bit more spice than I typically like but that was pleasantly not the case.

In the early 1800s, the Streghe del Mare (witches of the sea) are protecting the village of Positano on the Amalfi Coast. Their leader, red-haired Mari DeLuca, makes an impulsive decision to protect the town and their secret which causes a chain reaction of painful, negative events as a result. She is then forced to weigh the value of family versus love, to determine her next steps. Mari DeLuca’s love interest Holmes is not fully fleshed out but it is through his journal that we learn about Mari’s life and decisions.

In the present timeline, diver and marine archaeologist, Haven, arrives in Positano as part of a sanctioned dive team meant to photograph sunken artifacts. Shortly after Haven's arrival, her grant is yanked away and given to her late father's (probably untrustworthy) acquaintance. Haven is despondent about this because she was also secretly in Positano to seek out a lost treasure for which her late father provided the general coordinates. As strange, deadly events occur off the coast, Haven discovers an old journal and realizes that there may be more going on than oddly coincidental disasters.

I give The Amalfi Curse 4.5 stars and am rounding up here. I am definitely planning to continue reading Sarah Penner's work. This comes out April 29, 2025.

Thank you to Sarah Penner, Harlequin Trade Publishing | Park Row, and NetGalley for the e-ARC.