The Publishers Weekly Review
Author Sarah Penner weaves a rousing story of witches, deep sea diving, and family secrets on the Amalfi Coast.
In 1821 Positano, Mari DeLuca belongs to a coven who cast spells on the water to protect the town from pirates. Yearning for a new life, she makes plans to flee with a sailor from Boston. Before she can, though, a shipping magnate attempts to kidnap her, hoping to force Mari into using her powers to help his fleet, and she drowns him.
In a parallel narrative set two centuries later, nautical archaeologist Haven Ambrose studies shipwrecks on the Amalfi coast while secretly searching for a trove of precious gems her father found before dying of a stroke. When Conrad, another researcher, shows up to take her place, Haven suspects he knows about the treasure. She hires Enzo Rossi, a local dive shop owner, to take her out on the water, and the pair race against Conrad to find the gems.
A romantic subplot involving Enzo and Haven feels rushed, especially because it also serves a vehicle for Haven to learn about Mari’s fate and the village’s history of witches, but for the most part Penner keeps the pages turning with cliffhangers and complex characters.
The author’s fans will enjoy this adventure.
The Righter of Words Review: The Amalfi Curse
Reviewed by Jenny A
The Amalfi Curse follows two timelines: the present day and the 1820s. In the former, a nautical archaeologist Haven Ambrose comes to Positano to investigate shipwrecks—and possibly to find the treasure her late father claims to have seen on his last dive. Then, in the latter, the women of Positano practice stregheria, a magical power, in order to protect their town from pirates, storms, and other threats. But Mari, one of the most skilled practitioners, is planning to leave with her lover—until pirates do arrive and kidnap some of Mari’s friends. Now, she must choose between her great love and her town. Back in the present, Haven learns more and more about the strange region, uncovering a tale of tragic love and magic that seems impossible. And yet, the evidence is mounting that there’s more to this place than meets the eye, but with seismic data indicating that time is running out for the coast, she might not be able to unearth the truth before it’s too late.
I’ve read Penner’s other novels and enjoyed them well enough. I like dual-timeline narratives, and Penner is adept at balancing the two. By flipping back and forth between the times, the reader grows more and more knowledgeable about the overall picture, while each character only knows a fragment. I enjoy the dramatic irony this provides, and that things are revealed in a way that keeps the reader guessing about everyone’s ultimate fate.
I also liked the characters. Haven is a capable scientist, full of determination and academic acumen, so when the systemic sexism of her profession stands in her way, you feel sympathy and righteous anger for her. Additionally, I appreciated the journey she went on in dealing with her grief over the loss of her father and even wanted to see a bit more of that. There’s a lot going on, yes, but that was a touching subplot. However, her romance with Positano native, Enzo, was sweet. He’s a good love interest, full of charm and support for Haven throughout the story.
As for Mari and her story, this was compelling, too. The descriptions of the women’s magic were really cool, as were the chapters from Mari’s lover Holmes’ point of view. It’s a wilder setting, full of peril and tension. The stakes are much higher than in Haven’s time and provide a nice contrast to her story. It’s rewarding to see the story unfold, both through Haven’s research and through Mari’s and Holmes’ firsthand perspective.
As the book enters its final act, though, I struggled a little with the story. I didn’t quite understand the motives of Savina, Enzo’s mother whose significance becomes clear toward the end of the story. I think I might have benefited from a couple chapters from her point of view throughout the book, to make her more impactful and understandable. But still, things get resolved in a mostly satisfying way, if a little abruptly. And I liked the final scenes with Mari, too.
In the end, The Amalfi Curse is one of Penner’s best works yet. There’s a great balance of modern and historical detail, entertaining action scenes with pirates or underwater exploration, and moving emotional arcs. The themes of community, female empowerment, and care for the natural world shine through, and the characters are well written. I wasn’t entirely enamored with some of the last act but overall found this to be a good read. If you like historical fiction with a bit of magic blended in, check this out!
Friends and Fiction Chat
with Sarah Penner about The Amalfi Curse
Publishers Weekly describes The Amalfi Curse as “a rousing story of witches, deep sea diving, and family secrets on the Amalfi Coast.” Your publisher calls it “an enthralling story of secrets, shipwrecks, and sea-witches.” How would you describe this novel? And, a favorite question here at F&F—what would you say your novel is really about?
The Amalfi Curse tells the story of Haven Ambrose, a present-day nautical archaeologist investigating a cluster of mysterious shipwrecks off the coast of Positano. As her underwater exploration deepens, she begins to suspect the wrecks are related to a coven of witches who lived in the village two hundred years earlier. It’s a story about long-buried secrets, forbidden romance, sacrifice, and the meaning of treasure: what it is, what it isn’t.
Talk to us about the legendary art of stregheria, the Italian word for witchcraft and the magical ability to harness the power of the ocean. How did you learn of this and what inspired you to write about it? What draws you to the supernatural as a recurring theme in your novels?
I learned about stregheria while researching the rich lore and legends of Italy. Although witchcraft is a broad topic, I decided that the streghe in my story would have power over one thing: the sea. As a scuba diver and a resident of Florida, I’ve always wanted to write a story that takes place by the ocean. Given the murky history around stregheria, I had ample creative liberty regarding this worldbuilding aspect. The seven incantations are entirely my invention, as are the sea-spell tools, or attrezzo, used by the women—my playful attempt at imagining what the sea-witches of Positano might have found symbolic or useful in their witchcraft.
I like to describe my books as “historical fiction with elements of magic and mystery.” My books are cross-genre, and I love writing in this layered space. The ability to blend history with fantastical or speculative elements allows me quite a lot of creative freedom. I don’t have to adhere to facts as much — and I’m a bit of a natural born rule breaker!
Talk to us about your research. There is a lot of scuba diving detail and nautical archaeology in this book. Did you go diving to inform your writing process? Is this something you’d already done prior to writing this book or did you learn it for the novel? How did you ensure you got this deep-sea detail just right on the page?
My husband and I have been scuba diving for more than ten years. We’ve gone diving all over the world, including lots of wreck diving in the Florida Keys. One of my favorite parts of writing the book was immersing the reader in the sensory details of underwater exploration, based on my own experiences scuba diving. While researching this book, I also acquired two online certifications in maritime archaeology through the Nautical Archaeology Society (NAS.) And, lastly, I hired a nautical historian to read the book and highlight errors and anachronisms. Her feedback was invaluable!
Speaking of research, you really bring the gorgeous Italian setting of Naples, Positano, and the sea-swept cliffs of the Amalfi Coast to life so vividly on the page. Did you have to suffer for your art with a trip to this breathtaking locale? With your first two novels both set in London, was it a conscious choice to shift settings for your third?
With my first two books set in London, I wanted to “spread my wings,” so to speak, and I didn’t want to be known only for my stories set in the back alleyways of old London.
My husband and I visited the Amalfi Coast in 2022—this was my “inspiration trip”—and again in 2023—my “research trip.” Positano is feast for the senses: the cuisine, the views, the wine. I took notes on my phone during these trips, capturing every detail: the sparrows flitting in and out of roof soffits, stone walls dripping with hot-pink bougainvillea, the aroma of olive oil in the air. So many early readers have said this book transported them right into the heart of the Amalfi Coast.
In the book, your characters use a genealogical database to locate descendants of the streghe. Have you researched your own ancestry? Is this something you were particularly keen on prior to writing this novel?
As a child, I had some unusual interests—including genealogy. In middle school, when many of my classmates were talking about sleepovers and boys, I found myself obsessed with genealogy, census records, and building my family tree. This former interest didn’t make it into my first books, so it was fun to weave in a bit of genealogy here.
This novel is a real page-turner replete with cliff-hangers and loads of adventure. Was it as fun to write as it was to read?
Anyone who’s read my books knows I love writing a good twist! My goal is to deliver the reader a big surprise in the third act—and then flip that on its head and deliver yet another surprise, perhaps even bigger!
What can you tell us about your writing process in piecing this story together? Did you plot this out with a detailed outline, make it up as you went along, or somewhere in between? In other words: are you a plotter or a pantser?
I began with an outline, but as it often goes, I diverged plenty of times as I wrote the story. I distinctly remember calling my agent when I was drafting the story, trying to bail on the story premise altogether because it wasn’t coming together for me. She encouraged me to stick with it, and I’m so glad I did. I like to write my books in three acts: I outline, draft, and do a very broad-stroke revision on each act before moving forward.
In your books you tend to imagine what strong women in history, whose stories were often silenced, might have been up to. Why do you think it is so important to bring these strong female voices to the fore? Your books have been described as “feminist historical thrillers.” Do you consider yourself a feminist?
I definitely consider myself a feminist, and I’m so glad that much of what we see in the historical fiction space is women-centric. Women have always held key roles in communities and families, and they’ve always been faced with difficult choices laced with risk and consequence. I love writing books about women who are “best in class” or skilled in their area of expertise. In The Amalfi Cure, we meet both Mari—the leader of her coven of witches—and Haven, a trailblazing nautical archaeologist. Of course, both women find themselves in impossibly difficult predicaments, and they must draw on their strength and cunning to manage a way out.
What’s next from Sarah Penner?
Surprise: I’m currently drafting my fourth novel, which is both a prequel and sequel to The Lost Apothecary! It begins just moments after that book ends. I’ve had so much fun stepping back into this familiar world of potions and old London. More to come!
Sarah Penner is the New York Times and internationally bestselling author of The Lost Apothecary and The London Séance Society. Her books have been translated into more than forty languages and her debut, The Lost Apothecary, has sold over one million copies worldwide.
A graduate of the University of Kansas, Sarah spent thirteen years in corporate finance and now writes full-time. In her free time, Sarah enjoys hiking, yoga, and cooking. She also sits on the Board of Directors at her local animal shelter, Friends of Strays. Sarah lives in Florida.