Why Sarah Penner’s latest novel gave me a serious book hangover…
I’m a definite Sarah Penner fan, so I was excited to finally get to her latest novel, The Amalfi Curse. I’m happy to report that I was not disappointed.
From the very beginning, this was one of those books that hooks you fast and refuses to let go. I found myself staying up far too late, dealing with the inevitable book hangover the next day because I simply could not put it down.
Like Penner’s previous novels, The Amalfi Curse alternates between a story set in the past — lightly sprinkled with magic — and a present-day storyline that slowly adds questions, depth, and nuance to what came before. This structure is one of the things I love most about her writing. She doesn’t just tell a story; she invites the reader in. She lets you guess. She encourages you to question. She keeps you curious.
Switching between past and present, between two storylines and two protagonists, doesn’t always work in fiction. Sometimes one timeline feels stronger than the other, or one story stalls while the other carries the weight. But Penner handles this beautifully. Both storylines have clear arcs. Both main characters grow and change. And each timeline gives the other meaning.
By the time the threads come together, the experience feels earned — emotionally satisfying and intellectually engaging in equal measure.
If you enjoy historical mysteries with a touch of magic, dual timelines, and stories that invite you to actively participate as a reader, The Amalfi Curse is well worth your time.
And now, like always, I can’t wait to see what Sarah Penner writes next.
