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ofpaperandplanes 's review for:
The Amalfi Curse
by Sarah Penner
“The sea has always been the domain of men, an instrument in their aims of domination. Once they realized who I was, I suspect they were scared. Isn’t that why men fear witches, anyway? A woman using her powers to destroy them?“
What a perfect summer read! I received this book in the June 2025 “Caffeine and Legends” book box and was immediately intrigued. Powerful sea witches, sunken treasure, cruel sailors, stunning Italian settings, and forbidden love…what more could a girl ask for? I’m so glad to say that this book was exactly what I hoped it would be, and more!
I’m not going to delve too deep into the plot because honestly, I loved going into it pretty much blind. However, this is a dual-timeline narrative that intertwines the stories of two amazing FMCs: Mari, a brilliant 17th-century sea witch who works to protect her Amalfi coast village from pirates and other ocean-related troubles along with the rest of her badass coven, and Haven, a modern-day nautical archaeologist studying Positano shipwrecks with her best friend and secretly searching for the sunken treasure her father failed to retrieve on his last dive.
This book shimmers with a unique and mysterious magic system, thrillingly high stakes, and compellingly flawed characters. The female friendships were realistic, multi-layered, supportive, and fun. The romance was passionately swoon-worthy. The modern-day setting offered everything you could ever want from a summer in Italy: sparkling sunshine on clear blue seas, wisteria and bougainvillea dripping from pastel villas, and antipasto and limoncello on rustic Italian patios. Meanwhile, the 17th-century setting offered a darker vibe: dramatic storms on the high seas, misty mornings by the shore, and secret romantic rendezvous in cliffside caves.
If I had to critique anything, I would say that some of Haven’s research at the beginning felt a little dry. However, as an academically-minded person, I loved it. I thought it gave the whole mystery complexity and credibility. And it quickly got to a point where I couldn’t decide which narrative was more exciting. I devoured this story and fell in love with the characters. I can absolutely see myself returning to this world for a reread in the future! If you love historical fantasy, definitely add “The Amalfi Curse” to your shelf!
What a perfect summer read! I received this book in the June 2025 “Caffeine and Legends” book box and was immediately intrigued. Powerful sea witches, sunken treasure, cruel sailors, stunning Italian settings, and forbidden love…what more could a girl ask for? I’m so glad to say that this book was exactly what I hoped it would be, and more!
I’m not going to delve too deep into the plot because honestly, I loved going into it pretty much blind. However, this is a dual-timeline narrative that intertwines the stories of two amazing FMCs: Mari, a brilliant 17th-century sea witch who works to protect her Amalfi coast village from pirates and other ocean-related troubles along with the rest of her badass coven, and Haven, a modern-day nautical archaeologist studying Positano shipwrecks with her best friend and secretly searching for the sunken treasure her father failed to retrieve on his last dive.
This book shimmers with a unique and mysterious magic system, thrillingly high stakes, and compellingly flawed characters. The female friendships were realistic, multi-layered, supportive, and fun. The romance was passionately swoon-worthy. The modern-day setting offered everything you could ever want from a summer in Italy: sparkling sunshine on clear blue seas, wisteria and bougainvillea dripping from pastel villas, and antipasto and limoncello on rustic Italian patios. Meanwhile, the 17th-century setting offered a darker vibe: dramatic storms on the high seas, misty mornings by the shore, and secret romantic rendezvous in cliffside caves.
If I had to critique anything, I would say that some of Haven’s research at the beginning felt a little dry. However, as an academically-minded person, I loved it. I thought it gave the whole mystery complexity and credibility. And it quickly got to a point where I couldn’t decide which narrative was more exciting. I devoured this story and fell in love with the characters. I can absolutely see myself returning to this world for a reread in the future! If you love historical fantasy, definitely add “The Amalfi Curse” to your shelf!