Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the eARC of What the River Knows.

In What the River Knows, we follow Inez Olivera on a quest to Cairo to solve the mystery of her parent’s death, where we go on a journey of history, magic, romance, and family turmoil!

Overall, I think this could be a really great book for young adults interested in history or archaeology (you know, the kids who like that giant Egyptology book every school library had?). It has some cool atmospheric descriptions and has that “dusty” feel you see in things like Indiana Jones and The Mummy. Ibañez also clearly appreciates the cultures she writes about.

Where this book falls short is in the romance and magic system.

First, the romance.

I think there should not be any romance. It felt shoehorned and forced, and I really would have just preferred to read a cool story about a young woman going on an adventure and unraveling a family mystery! I think Whit is a fine character, but he doesn’t really serve any kind of great purpose and doesn’t add much to the story. He probably could have been removed, and the story would have worked just as well.

Next, the magic system.

I would have loved to see more magic! You’re telling me Inez is in possession of a magical ring that she can see visions through, and there are magic towels that produce hot water for tea? Tell me more! How does it work? What else can they do? How do they develop these skills? Drop the romance and bring on the magic!

So anyway, this isn’t a bad book. I just think it focused a little too much on uninteresting aspects in favor of much more interesting ones. Overall though, it was a fun enough read that kept me mostly interested until the end.

Three stars.

✨ Review ✨ What the River Knows by Isabel Ibañez

Thanks to Wednesday Books and #netgalley for the gifted advanced copy/ies of this book!

Things I loved about this book:
1. Inez, the main character is Bolivian-Argentinian, and travels from Buenos Aires to Egypt by ship in the 19th century
2. She's full of cleverness - poising as a widow on the ship to avoid being judged for traveling alone, and scores of tricking her uncle and co. to stay in Egypt to solve a mystery around her parents' disappearance.
3. The book's set in a peak time of archaeological exploration in Egypt but the main character is constantly questioning the ethics of this exploration and removal of artifacts from Egypt through their purchase by elites. The book sets us in the ambience of this time but is still grounded in questions of ethics and colonial power.
4. Exploration and adventure galore
5. A budding romance between Inez and one of her uncle's employees is just what this needs to link the book together
6. There's a sort of fantasy / magical realism component to this that also brought some extra dynamism to the story.
7. In a final touch, Inez draws, and so the book contains occasional illustrations that you could imagine coming straight out of her sketchbook.

I'm only sorry that it took me so long to finally pick this one up!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Genre: YA historical fiction / f-m romance / adventure and mystery / magical realism
Setting: Egypt
Reminds me of: Agatha Christie meets contemporary YA adventure
Pub Date: 2023

It is a heartwarming teen story about a girl curious about her family and parents: as she explores her questions, she uncovers how adults sometimes twist the truth to keep them safe, while teens are eager to discover what’s real.

A globe-spanning yet deeply personal work of historical fiction for teens. Engaging leads, swoony romance, and lots of adventure.

Sadly I cannot stand to follow Inez longer than 19%

First I’ll start off with what I like, it’s obvious the author has knowledge about ancient Egypt. I can see that background building.

19% in and the only thing that’s happened is she went transatlantic without permission and men are being men of the 1800s

You’re telling me this audiobook is about 17 hours long and the first three hours is just Inez going back and forth on how much or how little Inez knows her parents and her uncle Ricardo?!


Also, major plot hole - HOW DID SHE EVEN GET ON THE SHIP IN THE FIRST PLACE??

I wanted to love this book so badly. As a child I was obsessed with the uncovering of Egyptian artifacts during this time period. I did enjoy the overall plot of the book, but something about the writing style of the author just felt clunky and awkward making this a really slow read. I will say I am committed e Ligh to the storyline to read the second book, but I probably wouldn’t read other books by the author.

Raised half the year by her strict aunt, Inez chafed at the expectations and restrictions imposed on her life. Bored with proper society functions in Buenos Aires she longed to join her parents on their expeditions to Egypt. Spurred by unanswered questions about their deaths, she runs off alone - traveling under the guise of a young widow - to find her uncle in Cairo.

She finds herself to be quite unwelcome in Egypt - a distraction to her uncle who pushes her off on his dark and dashing assistant, Whitford Hayes. Discovering more secrets and mysteries than answers, the determined Inez holds her ground and proves to be a strong opponent in her uncle’s battle of wills.

I love a YA adventure story! And I adored the spunky Inez as I followed her from Argentina to Egypt to learn the truth about her parents’ deaths. Filled with engaging banter, magical objects, and gasp-worthy moments, What the River Knows was a fun page-turner.

Read this book if you enjoy:

🐊Historical fiction with a touch of magic

🐊Smart and determined (yet sometimes foolish) young female characters

🐊Morally grey men as love interests

🐊High stakes adventure

🐊Anti-colonialism

Full review and links to social will be posted as soon as possible.

I'd like to thank the publisher and Netgalley for providing me with a copy in exchange for an honest review.

From everyone's reactions, I just knew that I was either going to love What the River Knows or going to hate What the River Knows. Good thing, I truly enjoyed reading it. And you are going to love it as well.
Why will you fall in love with What the River Knows? If you fell in love with watching The Mummy movies, then this book is the one for you. It literally has all of The Mummy vibes plus more.
What the River Knows brings Inez looking for answers after her parents tragic deaths. She knows that there is more to the story when things aren’t adding up to what they said in their letters to her. Thankfully, Inez has wits and determination in traveling all the way to Cairo in order to get answers.
I truly adored Inez's determination in finding answers regarding her parents tragic deaths. They mean the world to Inez. I understand why Inez will look for answers. Hopefully, Inez knows that answers may be devastating to hear. No child knows all the truths regarding their parents until it is said or discovered.

What the River Knows
By: Isabel Inañez

Initially I read this book to about 30% and for some reason put it down and never picked it back up. I was truly charmed by Inez at the time so I'm at a loss as to why I let this linger. I recently picked it back up, skimmed that 30% and then finished the book. Once again, completely charmed by Inez! I enjoyed the relationship between her and Whit.
This book gave me the same "feels" I had reading the Amelia Peabody series (a favorite!).
I will definitely continue the series, although I think I'll try audio- I think this series would be a fun listen.

4 Stars

I started this one a while ago, and it just couldn’t catch my attention. I may come back to it another time, but I have to put it on pause for now. If I ever pick it up again I will update my review!

My first impression of this book (and I plan on rereading) wasn't 5-star. I liked the magic system. It could've been improved a hit because it was a little confusing, but otherwise good. The ancient Egypt vibes were spot on, the research was clearly done extremely thoroughly. Inez sort of made it her whole personality, but it wasn't a deal breaker. I HATED whit though. Any page he was on pissed me off. We do not Stan emotional cheaters. And he was even a d*uchecanoe about that. I'm gonna try reading it again and I'll update my review after.

I enjoyed this one! It lived up to the hype that I was seeing!

I think the fantasy aspect could have used more work but overall a fun read.

What the River Knows was an enjoyable, if slightly predictable, read. I love the diversity of the characters and the scathing criticism of Great Britain. However, I found the magic system undeveloped and many (though not all) of the twists obvious.

It’s a solid YA that will be easy to hand sell, but not a must read. That said—the ending was surprising enough to convince me to read book two as soon as possible.

What a gorgeous book! I was so intrigued and loved reading this. Definitely recommend!

Thank you NetGalley and Isabel Ibañez!

Someday I will stop reading the parts of blurbs which compare books to other, more popular, things. On that day I will be a lot happier than I am today, because would I call this like "The Mummy?" No, but it was otherwise fun.

I liked the boldness of Inez a lot, even when I think she was being a little silly. I liked the little bit of magic, although I don't know what I like the contribution to the mysticism that often surrounds Egypt/fallen civilizations.

I did not like the pacing of the book - if 20% had been cut, the book would have flowed better, it is too slow now. I also wanted Inez to actually solve the mystery - instead it seems like the mystery solves itself while Inez is conveniently located nearby.

I love The Mummy so seeing this compared to that movie had me knowing I needed to read this book! I have an obsession with everything Anicent Egypt and this book hit the spot perfectly. I loved the Ancient Egyptian history and I love the magic system. It was entertaining and thrilling and I cannot wait for the second book!

I struggled with this book -- the magic system was confusing and not well-developed, the plot just didn't flow and each time it picked up it slowed down again, the female protagonist Inez' personality was a bit bland and I didn't like any of the characters. The romance also didn't work for me either. Whit just acted like an arrogant ***most of the time. I loved the Egyptian setting though and thought the author did a great job describing the environment, costumes etc. I do plan to pick up the sequel because of *that* ending.

What the River Knows by Isabel Ibañez is a mesmerizing historical fantasy that blends adventure, romance, and mystery set against the exotic backdrop of 19th-century Egypt. The story follows a young heroine, who, after her father’s mysterious death, embarks on a daring journey to uncover hidden secrets and ancient relics along the Nile. Ibañez’s lush writing and attention to historical detail make the setting come alive, transporting readers to the heat and wonder of Egypt’s landscapes, filled with both beauty and danger.
The pacing is brisk, with plenty of action-packed scenes, but Ibañez also takes time to explore themes of loss, legacy, and the bonds between family. The exploration of ancient myths and treasures gives the book a sense of adventure, while the protagonist’s personal journey keeps it grounded and emotionally engaging. For fans of historical fantasy, What the River Knows is a thrilling and beautifully written novel that offers a rich, immersive experience. It’s perfect for readers who love stories that combine historical intrigue with a dash of magic and heart.

I loved the magical/fantasy aspects of this book and how it felt like September (when I read it) -- a touch of fall spookiness, a transition into fall and spooky season. I loved the main character's strength and rebellion and her unstoppable desire for answers. I also loved the action at the end and am looking forward to the next book! With all of that said, I felt like there were some real pacing issues. The beginning was quite slow and then things would pick up, slow down, wrap up abruptly, move onto the next thing, circle back, speed up again, etc. I also felt there was some development lacking in the romance; it just didn't work for me. Perhaps it was because the characters were holding back but I didn't feel it. I'm hoping this element will pick up in the second book and the pacing will even out now that everything is set up.