This was a fun adventure from start to finish. If you were a fan of The Mummy movies, then definitely check this out. It has a little bit of everything and characters I fell in love with.

One of my favorite books of 2023! What the River Knows is the perfect book for fans of The Mummy. This book draws you in with the lush storytelling and characters but keeps you hooked with all the twists and turns.

I, unfortunately, ended up DNF-ing this book at 33%. I chose this book based on the assumption that this was a historical fantasy adventure novel. First, I found this story to be very light on magic. It reads much closer to magical realism than fantasy and, as far as I could tell, the magic didn't add much to the story. And second, I found the pace of the novel a bit plodding. Other than Inez getting into different scrapes to convince her uncle to allow her to stay in Egypt nothing else has happened in the 33% of the book that I read. It isn't poorly written, I simply found it lacking in something that would hook me and keep me engaged in the story. I would find myself putting this book down with no interest in picking it back up again.

WHAT THE RIVER KNOWS is the first book in a duology set in 19th century Egypt. Inez's parents long ago left her in the care of her aunt while they spend most of their time excavating in Egypt. Though she longs to travel with them, they always leave her behind, opting for their adventures instead. What Inez doesn't expect is word of her parents' untimely deaths. Shocked and seeking answers, Inez stubbornly sets sail alone to Cairo, where she receives a less than warm welcome from her uncle. Curious, determined, and with a taste for adventure, Inez refuses to be left behind and ends up on an adventure that yields more questions than answers.

Despite Inez's impatience, the pace of WHAT THE RIVER KNOWS is rather languid. Objectively, I think this benefits the plot, but subjectively I wanted the pace to move a little faster. However, I enjoyed all of the descriptions Ibañez included, particularly when Inez explores Cairo. I also liked that real life history is the backdrop with a fictional plot superimposed upon it. This means there is commentary on British colonialism in Egypt as well as how they stole many antiquities from Egypt. (The Author's Note also has a good overview regarding the British influence on Egypt.) Because of the period of time in which this story occurs, the dialogue style is more formal. It's not incredibly overt, but it does allow for Inez and Whitford, her uncle's assistant, (and the reader) an outlet to bicker over formalities.

Although categorized as fantasy, WHAT THE RIVER KNOWS falls within the subgenre of magical realism. This essentially means the world as the reader knows it seems pretty typical, but there is an undercurrent of magic or fantasy. The magic system revolves around physical items whereby someone in the past spelled them to do something or to impart memories to the user. Inez finds herself seeing and feeling the memories of Cleopatra thanks to a ring mailed to her by her father.

I really appreciated the lack of instalove. There is evident attraction between Inez and Whitford from the beginning. But Ibañez allows it to build through interactions, which are mostly arguments, and experiences. Furthermore, they can't act on it for a variety of reasons, which I think helps make their attraction more convincing (forbidden love, anyone?). Inez is quite headstrong, which greatly endeared her to me, though her adventure streak is more daring than mine. I also felt frustrated for her when her uncle, and ergo Whitford, wouldn't give her much information about anything. I wouldn't necessarily call it miscommunication, but rather a lack of sharing intel by her uncle. However, this really sets up the book for an unexpected ending, which made up for the ever so slightly slower pace of the book. I look forward to reading the finale!

WHAT THE RIVER KNOWS is perfect for all fantasy readers, especially those with a penchant for the inclusion of Egyptian history. The deceptively calm pace leaves room for spurts of action and surprise for a riveting finale.

*I received a free copy of this ebook from the publisher.*

I am simultaneously overjoyed about the sequel being released this year and outraged that I've got to wait for the conclusion of the story. Ten months. I can make it ten months, can't I? I guess we'll see.

This is my second Isabel Ibañez book, and she's pretty much secured me as an automatic reader of anything she writes. I love the richness she weaves into her settings and her characters, as well as the way she makes magic seem to be a completely natural part of our world rather than something that exists solely in fiction. Her characters are complex and interesting, as well as occasionally frustrating--like real people. Even prior to reading the Author's Note, it was obvious that she had done quite a bit of research into her subject in preparation for this book. Bravo.

Inez (19) is tenacious and feisty. I could also call her reckless and gullible, but I don't exactly blame her for the decisions she made. Despite being an heiress, she didn't allow herself to be simply a pretty girl awaiting whatever fate was assigned to her; she wasn't afraid to get her hands dirty. Whit (probably 20-25; why are we never told his age?!) was very complicated, and I developed a kind of love-hate attitude towards him. On the one hand, he's secretive and prickly with a lot of self-destructive tendencies. But then he's also protective and, in some ways, quite honorable. Just when I think I've figured him out, he does something else to flip my opinion on its head. (Did I mention ten months is a a long wait?) Their banter throughout the book was quite reminiscent of Mr. Darcy and Elizabeth's whole conversation during the first proposal scene from the 2005 version of Pride and Prejudice. I wish there were more sections from Whit's point of view, but I suppose the readers need to be kept in the dark, too.

Supporting characters were no less developed than Inez and Whit, and so many of them held their secrets close. I'm still wondering about some of them (hopefully there will be answers in the sequel).

In short, I loved this book. My biggest complaints are that I don't Whit's age, and he occasionally used some language that I abhor. Oh, and that cliffhanger—I’m dying. Would I buy it? That depends on the second book.

Note: Not a lot of language, but 5-6 uses of the f word. Some sensuality. CLIFFHANGER.

As part of the upper crust of Argentinian society in the 1809s, Inez was never able to join her parents on their archaeological adventures in Egypt. After her parents mysteriously disappear, she sets off to find them. She instead finds herself in the middle of an adventure trying to find Cleopatra’s tomb amongst other things.

This book starts off slow but definitely picks up. I loved Whit, the love interest and the high stakes of adventure and treasure hunting. The setting descriptions were lush and vibrant.

I didn’t realize this was the first part of a duology until the cliffhanger at the end. But I’m immersed enough that I definitely plan on reading the second when it comes out.

Read this if you love:
🌍 YA Fantasy
🌍 Treasure hunting
🌍 Egyptian mythology
🌍 Slow burn romance

Thanks to NetGalley, St. Martin’s Press and Wednesday books for this eARC. What the River Knows is out now.

Wow, I absolutely loved this book! Mystery, magic, adventure, a slow burn romance, Egyptian mythology, forced proximity, tension, so many twists and turns... Honestly, what's not to love? Plus, that ending was completely mind-blowing, and now I absolutely cannot wait for the next book! If you're a fan of anything that I listed above, you should definitely pick up WHAT THE RIVER KNOWS asap!

(Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review. Any quotes are taken from an advanced copy and may be subject to change upon final publication.)

"Hidden things always fascinated me. And you, Mr. Hayes, have a secret. It's long since been buried but I know it's there. And one day, I will uncover it. Mark my words."

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press/Wednesday Books for the advanced reader's copy of What the River Knows by Isabel Ibanez. All thoughts that follow are my own.

What the River Knows is about a young Argentinian girl named Inez who belongs to the upper crust society of Buenos Aires and longs to explore the larger world around her with her beloved parents. There's only one problem- she frequently gets left behind. After her parents disappear under mysterious circumstances, Inez, armed with her sketchpads and a gold ring that her father sent her for safekeeping, ventures to the beautiful and ancient city of Cairo, Egypt, a historic city steeped deep in old world magic. Once she arrives in Cairo, her golden ring pulls her down a path of discovery and hidden secrets she could never have imagined and if she isn't careful, everything coming to light about her family might just bring about her own death.

I really enjoyed this story from beginning to end. The author created such beautiful and descriptive scenes, really making me feel as though I was venturing down the streets of Cairo with Inez and Whit. There were also so many different plot twists that I didn't think could possibly come together by the end of this book but they did in a super interesting way. Inez is such a powerful and independent character (reminiscent of Evelyn from the Mummy franchise) nicely foiled by the charming and somewhat annoying companion she finds in Whitford Hayes. This book is steeped in ancient Egyptian history while still retaining a YA feeling/tone.

One thing that I wish was slightly more included in the book was the magic system that was implemented. The little bit that we get to see is interesting and seems vital to the overall story but also feels underutilized. I also wished that there was a bit more inclusion of Inez's passion for writing. I'm hoping we get to see this a little bit more in the next book.

Overall this was a really enjoyable read and I would recommend this book to anyone that likes the Mummy films and is interested in Ancient Egypt. 4/5 stars!

First off I'm going to say this book was not for me BUT that being said the story is great, its just a me thing and I won't let that take away from the book itself.

I found it slow to start, which always is a struggle for me to keep going. I felt there was a lot of unnecessary dialogue within the story, and it would have had a better flow if that had been edited a bit.

I wanted to love this book, but I couldn't get into it. I thought it was a slow start and I didn't like the main characters personality. I did love the plot could have been really good. very pretty writing

Thank you to the author Isabel Ibanez, publishers St. Martin'sPress and Wednesday, and TLC Book Tours, for an advance paperback copy of THE WITCH HITCH. Thank you also to NetGalley for an accomanying widget. All views are mine.

Opening quote: When I finally made it..., tears pricked the corners of my eyes. The objects and artifacts glinted gold from the light of the soft flame of my candle. I didn’t want to forget any of the details, but more important, I didn’t want to forget what it felt like to have found her. Loc. 4655

Three (or more) things I loved:

1. I loved the brief timeline of Egypt in the front of the book, it was enlightening and offered perspective.

2. Great history in this! Did not know that Cleopatra was Greek and not Egyptian!

3. In so many ways, this protagonist is fantastic and the protagonist I always wanted and needed. Quote loc. 1354.

4. Strong female characters, but still realistic for the time and setting. Like Isadora firing the gun, and the impact this image has on young Inez. Quote loc. 2376.

5. I love all the mentions of imperial violence against Egyptian culture, so important and adds such depth to the characters and story. Quote loc. 2783

6. What a great premise! A young woman of color in patriarchal times, on an adventure to find Cleopatra, an early feminist icon and also lost to history!

7. Holy cow the twists! There are so many, and they're so good!😍

8. I love-vuh that the love interest, Whitney, goes cold on Inez, such good mystery and tension!

9. That was a great ending. I mean, what???

Three (or less) things I didn't love:

This section isn't only for criticisms. It's merely for items that I felt something for other than "love" or some interpretation thereof.

1. Honestly, it's just a little too long, by about 15%. Ibanez could have wrapped it up much faster, since the primary conflict resolves at the 80% mark.

Rating: 🌍🌍🌍🌍🌍 journeys to Egypt
Recommend? Yes!
Finished: Sep 13 '23
Format: Digital arc, Kindle, NetGalley
Read this book if you like:
⏳️ historical fiction
🚢 adventures
👩🏽‍❤️‍💋‍👨🏾 young love
💇‍♀️ girl's coming of age

DNF at 26%

From the description, this book should 100% be my next favorite book and yet somehow I can’t even force myself to finish it. I have picked it up several times and only make it a few pages before switching to another book. The constant info dumping seemed never ending and Inez judging everyone/everything she comes in contact with was cringe worthy. She pompously tries to pretend she is a world traveler when the reader knows she has barely left her family’s estate in Buenos Aires. She has several arguments with British men about colonization while her family is from Spain living on a rich estate in Argentina.

Overall the flow of the story was attention grabbing or well written. The dialogue especially was not great and often times would include a summary in the middle instead of including the complete conversation.

This dislike could 100% be on me because I went in with high expectations or it could be a blah book. However, I do think its not a good sign if I am a quarter of the way into the book and I don’t care about the characters and I really don’t care about her parents who obviously couldn’t be bothered with her.

This book was a blast but the ending was so cruel! I feel like books that end in cliffhangers should come with a warning label (I'm kidding - mostly).

Anyway, The Mummy has been my favorite movie since it released and I was dying to get my hands on this book the second I read that it's comped to the movie, and the book didn't disappoint! It's fast-paced and action packed, with a slow-burn romance and really fascinating magic. The banter between Inez and Whit was so good, I was living for their interactions. And, of course, thanks to that ending, I'm dyyying to get my hands on the sequel.

Thank you to the publisher and to Netgalley for granting me an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Oh my goodness, that ending was completely evil. How do you leave it like that? I desperately need book two but I digress.

This book was so much fun. As a kid, I was OBSESSED with ancient Egypt. I did every project I could on the topic and even built an entire pop-up timeline with the history. I was totally that kid. And let's be honest, that adult. So when I saw Egypt and The Mummy referenced, I was sold. And What the River Knows did not disappoint. The writing brought the land, characters, adventure, and mystery right off the page. I loved that there was a touch of magic, which I always felt reading about Egypt as a kid. Inez and Whit were wonderful. I called one of the twists pretty early on but as you can tell... I have questions about that ending.

I can't wait to see what happens next and definitely recommend this one for all my fellow Ancient Egypt obsessed kids at heart or just lovers of YA mystery and adventure with some peril and romance for good measure.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an early copy! I also listened to the audio (which was fantastic).

This title has everything you could want in a historical fiction story. The main characters have a lot of heart and their connection is evident through out. The description of the Egyptian world is tangible and executed beautifully.

I’m happy to say that What the River Knows lived up beautifully to my expectations! It’s an intoxicating blend of historical fiction, Egyptian history and mythology, exciting action, slow burn romance, and subtle, ancient magic. Isabel Ibañez did us (read: every single person who had an ancient Egypt phase as a child) a solid!

Inez, a young woman living in Argentina in the late 1800’s, has spent her life feeling left behind by her parents, who frequently travel to Egypt for archaeological pursuits and the discovery of magical artifacts. When she receives word that they have disappeared, lost in the desert and presumed dead, Inez travels to Cairo to seek the truth of their deaths and unearth the mysteries of the country that always fascinated them. There she is received by her uncle Ricardo, who has secretive motivations of his own and wants nothing more than for Inez to return home, and Ricardo’s infuriating assistant, Whit Hayes. She becomes embroiled in a high-stakes hunt for Cleopatra’s tomb, which proves to be more than she bargained for.

Although the book got off to a slow and sometimes repetitive start, the story is always anchored by Inez and her unrelenting search for answers. She’s a determined, headstrong heroine and is a lot of fun to follow; I found I was still rooting for her even when she crossed the line into recklessness. The budding romance between her and Whit was also a highlight. Their dynamic, to me, is reminiscent of Audrey Rose and Thomas from Stalking Jack the Ripper in the best way! Inez and Whit’s relationship has an element of the forbidden and tons of sharp banter and tension. Their chemistry is laid down slowly but surely, in tantalizing little pieces, and their push and pull was so entertaining.

The portrayal of the setting is lush and well-realized, from the bustling city of Cairo to the archeological dig sites and ancient tombs we explore. A subtle undercurrent of ‘old world’ magic runs through the novel, which I would love to see more of in the future second installment to the series.

The promised elements of mystery and action were somewhat lacking for the first third of the book, but then things really started to pick up and got absolutely insane. Moving into the final third, the twists and turns kept coming until we reached a mind-shattering epilogue that had me feeling confused, a little betrayed, and left saying only: I BEG YOUR PARDON?? I’m totally desperate for book two now.

"What the River Knows" by Isabel Ibañez is a captivating journey through the enchanting realms of nineteenth-century Buenos Aires and Cairo, blending old-world magic with a gripping mystery that keeps readers on the edge of their seats.

The story follows Bolivian-Argentinian Inez Olivera, a young woman from the glittering upper echelons of Buenos Aires society. Inez's life takes an unexpected turn when she learns of the tragic demise of her globetrotting parents, leaving her with a massive fortune and a mysterious guardian—an archaeologist with ties to an intriguing Egyptian brother-in-law.

Ibañez weaves a tale of loss, discovery, and ancient magic as Inez embarks on a quest to unravel the mysteries surrounding her parents' untimely death. Armed with her sketch pads and an ancient golden ring her father entrusted to her, Inez sets sail to Cairo, only to find herself entangled in a world where old-world magic is very much alive.

The author skillfully crafts a narrative that keeps readers guessing at every turn. The plot takes unexpected twists and turns, with Inez discovering that her guardian's version of events might not be the whole truth. As she navigates the ancient magic tethered to the mysterious ring, Inez must confront challenges, including the infuriatingly handsome assistant who seems determined to thwart her at every step.

Ibañez's writing is both evocative and immersive, transporting readers to a bygone era where magic and mystery coexist. The characters are well-developed, with Inez's journey of self-discovery adding depth to the narrative. The author's vivid descriptions of Buenos Aires and Cairo enhance the atmospheric setting, creating a rich backdrop for the unfolding events.

In "What the River Knows," Isabel Ibañez delivers a spellbinding blend of historical fiction, mystery, and magic. The novel's intricate plot, well-drawn characters, and the allure of old-world magic make it a compelling read for those who enjoy tales of adventure and enchantment. Ibañez's storytelling prowess shines through, leaving readers eagerly anticipating her next literary creation.

I’m so sad because I had SUCH high hopes for this book. The vibes, the plot, the cover had me pumped but oh my goodness was this disappointing. I am left utterly confused and infuriated after finishing that epilogue…

The FMC was insufferable and reckless to a fault for no reason. The MMC had 0 charm and there was no chemistry. The magic seemed pointless. The dialogue felt robotic.

So many people loved this and I’m genuinely wondering if I read a different book? I’m so sad because I wanted to love this with all my heart

3.5

This was a really interesting genre blend. It’s a YA historical fantasy with a mystery element and a romantic subplot that tackles the 19th century Egyptomania in a really interesting way. I loved the conversations about colonialism through tourism and the looting of historic artifacts for private sale or to go into museums in colonizer countries. The magic elements were interesting and I think will get explored more in the duology’s finale and I liked how twisty the book was.

That being said, I didn’t love this as much as I wanted to and I’m not sure if it’s because the hype got to me or if it’s because I started the book on audio and it wasn’t a good way for me to consume the story. The narrator was fine, I just found that once I switched to the ebook version I got along with the story more.

There is a rather large cliffhanger at the end of this book and I’m intrigued enough by the plot threads left open to want to read the sequel when it’s released.

Inez Olivera is a young socialite in nineteenth century Buenos-Airies who seemingly has everything she wants...wealth, privilege, cousins who are like sisters and an Aunt, who while overbearing, protects and cares for her. What she really wants, though, is her parents who frequently leave her while they go on adventures around the world. When Inez is sent word that they have been killed on one of those adventures, she is drawn to go where they had gone, to explore what they had explored and to find out just what happened to them. Off to Egypt she goes, on her own, to find her Egyptian Uncle (and her parents' business partner) and the answers she seeks.

This has been described as the Mummy meets Death on the Nile and I can see why...as a sidenote, I'd also add Sahara and National Treasure into the mix because the treasure hunting piece was legit. The setting that Ibanez has created is so rich and vibrant that at times I could feel it all as if I was watching a move. The magical elements are subtle but definitely there; the whole system has been created with care. The sense of urgency and betrayal that seems to always accompany a treasure hunt of this magnitude was real. And through it all, Inez's grief, naivety and resiliency come through.

I'd be remiss if I didn't mention Mr, Hayes. He is pretty much the epitome of a scoundrel but is the perfect counterpart to Inez's innocence. I loved the banter between the two of them and the complete exasperation he exudes. I dare you to be able to decide if he is friend or foe!

The cliff hanger at the end came totally out of left field. I won't spoil it for you but as far as endings go, this one was a bang and, of course, now I need to read the next one. I won't be sad to go back into the Egyptian adventures of Inez and Witt!