The Amalfi Curse

Gather initial thoughts and broad opinions about the book.

1. The Amalfi Curse combines elements of magical realism, historical fiction, archaeological thrillers, and romance. Which of these aspects did you find most interesting and why?

2. Were you surprised by the plot twist that Imelda, not Mari, is the one who casts the vortice centuriaria? If not, what clues did you spot that helped you predict this revelation?

3. Are you familiar with any of Penner’s other novels, such as The Lost Apothecary (2021) or The London Séance Society (2023)? If so, what similarities did you see in her characters, themes, and utilization of source material across her body of work?

Encourage readers to connect the book’s themes and characters with their personal experiences.

1. The novel’s plot involves both literal and figurative treasure hunts as the characters pursue what they value most. What do you treasure most in your own life?

2. Each of the novel’s dual timelines involves a love story. What do you think makes for an engaging romance in fiction? How do these factors compare and contrast with the things that you think a healthy relationship requires in reality?

3. One of the novel’s major themes is The Intergenerational Struggle for Women’s Independence. When have you seen women fight for their freedom, especially when men’s greed exacerbates their struggle? Share an example from your own life or that of someone you know.

4. Penner portrays self-sacrificial love as the single strongest force in the novel. When have you experienced The Power of Love and Sacrifice? How did it impact your life?

Examine the book’s relevance to societal issues, historical events, or cultural themes.

1. Did the novel and its characters give you a new understanding of life in Italy during the early 1800s? How did Penner’s portrayal of the setting compare to contemporary depictions of the Amalfi Coast?

2. How might Penner’s treatment of women’s struggle for independence resonate with contemporary readers engaged in the ongoing fight for gender equality?

Dive into the book’s structure, characters, themes, and symbolism.

1. Compare and contrast how Mari and Haven reckon with history and heritage across the novel. How do their connections with the sea give insight into their relationships with their parents?

2. Penner uses treasure as a motif of the intergenerational struggle for women’s independence. How does the motif’s meaning evolve across the novel? What does the author’s treatment of treasure reveal about the protagonists, and how does it develop their conflicts with the story’s antagonists?

3. The cimaruta serves as a motif of the power of love and sacrifice. Trace the talismans’ appearances throughout the novel and discuss how Penner uses the motif to influence the story’s mood.

4. Analyze how authors of magical realism utilize the genre to examine real-world issues, such as how Penner uses the sea witches’ magic to explore the dangers of sexism and greed. Consider expanding your discussion by including other magical realism texts that use supernatural elements to address women’s struggles, such as Leigh Bardugo’s The Familiar (2024) and Isabel Allende’s The Stories of Eva Luna (1989).

Encourage imaginative and creative connections to the book.

1. Imagine that The Amalfi Curse is being adapted into a TV series. Who would you cast in the lead roles and why? How would you use music and other elements to bring the story’s two distinct eras to life?

2. Write a letter from Mari’s point of view to her female descendants. What lessons about life, their inherited powers, and her past do you think she would want to pass on?