A review by flora_arns
The Amalfi Curse by Sarah Penner

adventurous emotional fast-paced

• Loveable characters? Yes

3.75

Sarah Penner has a unique ability for juxtaposing historical stories with their contemporary counterparts, drawing links through hundreds of years of history, and tracing the legacies of female magic. The Amalfi Curse  intermixes the stories of Haven, a nautical archaeologist working to finish her father's research after his death, and Mari, a strega di mare in 19th-century Positano. Penner weaves their experiences together seamlessly, making the history of the region feel palpable to both Haven and the reader, exploring folk witchcraft, Italian history, and familial grief.
This was a fairly quick read for me, an engaging break from the high fantasy/scifi I usually tend to favor. Still, the story captivated me from the start with its focus on folk magic, history, and archaeology. As an archaeology student myself, I often cringe at the portrayal of archaeologists as "adventurers" or "treasure hunters," but I found Haven a compelling character as she attempts to balance the scientific approach of the field with that sort of adventure she had inherited from her father, and her dedication to ethical excavation practices (as opposed to her yacht-y, flippant colleague Conrad). Enzo was a fairly one-dimensional side character, but I honestly didn't mind that he was just there to look pretty, drive a boat, and introduce Haven to his mother - who really brought the two plots together.
The Amalfi Curse is great for anyone looking for some comparatively light adventure and a wonderful balance of historical and contemporary magic.