I didn't know what to expect plot-wise before going into this book, but knew a lot about the setting and feel of it due to everything that I had seen, and I was not disappointed by the content! I was frustrated by the amount of times Tio Ricardo tried to send Inez back to Argentina and how every time Inez would come close to actually following that order, but other than that I had a lot of fun reading about her (and Whit's) antics. The little snippets of Whit's perspective were really nice to have, and I loved the reveals even though I had figured out what the major reveal was, and the way the book ended was marvellous. Looking forward to the sequel!

Isabel Ibanez has become a must-read and an auto-buy author for me. I love the way that her books are filled with tension and a hint of romance while completely sweeping you away on an adventure. This story read almost like a murder mystery and had me regularly gasping for air and biting my nails with abandon. What the River Knows has so many magical qualities and while I expected a standalone, I’m so happy this story didn’t end with one book. I am simultaneously distraught over the ending and tickled that I get to step back into the world in the future. The imagery of the Egyptian waterfront was so vivid and felt as though I was transported to the Nile. The characters were very well thought out and their personalities created palpable tension with all that has yet to be revealed. The betrayals and deceptions kept me guessing and the conclusion left me absolutely breathless. I will be waiting with bated breath for the next.

I loved everything about this book. The time period of this book, late nineteenth-century exploration and archaeology is a longtime fascination of mine. I thought the author did an incredible job with the world-building. It was clearly very well-planned and mapped out while she was writing. The characters were so beautifully written as well. The complexity of the social norms of the time were highlighted, and were part of how the characters interacted with one another and why they were motivated to act a certain way. I could feel the hot Egyptian sun in my face and sand in my hair as I was exploring the Nile with Inez and Whit. I also realized while I was reading this that when I read books about this time period, it is almost always from the a white British perspective, and to have a BIPOC main character from Argentina was much-needed to better understand the oppression happening around the world at that time.

I loved the plot as well. I was constantly surprised, and had to keep reading. The twists and turns were so satsifying and more than once, I audibly gasped. It was fantastic. I can't wait for more!

First of all, don't hate me. I kind of having troubles when read the book and it took me weeks to finally dive into the real deal.

The idea was remarkable. As an Egyptian-stories lover, this book delivered Egypt right into my minds. The world building was vividly described. The foods, the people, the streets, everything was perfect to me. This book surely had the antique we need to make it Egypt.

Tomb-robber idea, with sparks of fantasy was fitted "The Mummy" like it marketed as. No doubt.

But, I hate the romance subplot. No single character had an actual realistic response-to-conflict. They'll were like fictional fictional. No dialogues or narration would made them feel alive to me. Let alone the banter between the mc and fmc. They keep arguing about unnecessary things and those shit were written all over the pages.

This would be great if the romance reduced. Not that I hate romantasy, but this just too much for 400+ long pages with not so complicated tasks to do.

THIS BOOK. THIS BOOK! I cannot get over this book. I literally cannot wait for the next one. This book is everything. I have been obsessed with Egypt and Egyptian gods and goddesses, and Cleopatra for ever. So this book is for me. I loved every moment of it and I just can’t wait to see what’s left in store for Whit and Oliveria!

Thank you netgalley for my copy of this book!

I have read and enjoyed past Isabel Ibanez books so I was so excited to read this one. I loved the environment and the premise of the story but I had a hard time connecting with the characters. Sometimes the story was a little slow, but that ending left me speechless. I didn’t realize this was book one in a series! I’ll definitely pick up the rest of the series when it releases though so overall I enjoyed this one.

Perfect for fans of "Death on the Nile". This book is filled with mystery, intruige, and a whole lot of wonderful plot twists! Add it to your TBR, do yourself the favor now.

I tried really hard to read and love this one, especially after all of the love it got but it just wasn't for me. At 20% in (felt like at least 75% in) I just did not care. Nothing happened for the first 20% and I was bored to tears. That being said, so many people loved it and I think it is absolutely a book for a lot of people, just not me.

Thank you to the author and netgalley for the eARC.

If you're looking for magic and adventure, this book is for you! From magical treasure in trunks to going around Egypt, this has everything. It's very 'indiana Jones meets harry potter' with a dose of historical fiction. Definitely liked it more than I thought!

Okay, yes. This was extremely enjoyable and the book itself is beautiful!
This was the first book I’ve ever read by Isabel Ibañez, and I ended the book feeling very positive about her and her writing style.
It wasn’t just the Ancient Egyptian history, archaeological atmosphere, and mysterious characters with questionable motives that drew me in. It was the engaging plot, great setting, extremely likable characters, and amazing writing. I’m hooked now and I can’t wait for the sequel!
Thank you SO MUCH for this ARC!

Wow! This was so much fun to read. What The River Knows had it all mystery, history, magic, betrayal, and romance. I truly thought I had this book figured out and multiple points but I was wrong every time. Inez as the FMC was amazing, she was strong and resourceful. Whit as the MMC was charming, flirty, and mysterious. The slow burn will they won’t they was so good. Their banter was so fun to read! WHAT WAS THAT EPILOGUE? I literally cannot wait for the next one. I will be reading more from Isabel Ibanez while I wait for book 2!

Inez has been jealous to not have joined her parents in their expeditions in Egypt. But when news arrives that they’ve died on one of their site excavations Inez is determined to find out what happened. She leaves her aunt and cousins and heads to Egypt to track down her uncle to get answers. Inez finds herself thrust into a world of political and social divisiveness between the Egyptians and British who have taken to claiming precious ancient artifacts and a black market of sold antiquities. Inez slowly learns her parents roles on their excavations. While on the hunt for Cleopatra’s tomb Inez realizes she has inserted herself in a perilous situation, one she might not be able to come back from.

With magical artifacts, a scorching romance and historical prevalence this story has a bit of everything!

This has to be one of the best stories I have read in a while. Unique and thrilling! I loved learning about Egypt and following Inez journey to uncover the truth of what happened to her parents. Inez was strong-minded and relentless in her pursuit of the truth. She overcame every barrier in her path. Whit a handsome wall trying to stop her every step of the way. Love the relationship developments and story progression. I thought I had it all figure out till that twist at the end blew my mind and broke my heart. I am dying to get into book to after that last line, the end of the year can't come fast enough!

WHAT AN ABSOLUTELY BREATHTAKING AND FANTASTICLY BEAUTIFUL BOOK! I LOVED EVERY MINUTE READING THIS. The mythology, the lush descriptions, the characters, the plotline....just beautiful!

A beautiful tale with a historical edge touched by magic. This was my first book by this author and I really loved the way she wove this tale and brought the characters to life.

4.25/5

Advertised as "The Mummy meets Death on the Nile" and I think it does a pretty good job living up to that standard. I really enjoyed the first half of this book, where we meet Inez and her personality really shines through. She is a feisty 17-year old with a heart of gold and a love for her family bigger than the Nile River, so it's no wonder that when she learns that her parents have gone missing and are presumed dead, she would cross oceans and continents to find out what happened to them.

Whit is also a great character, who reminded me a lot of Dmitri from Anastasia for some reason. Brave, handsome, and charming, he is everything one could want in a hot, young male main protagonist (except for the alcoholism, but that's explained).

Without giving too many spoilers, there were only a few things about this book that I didn't like, which lead to my overall rating.

1) The same argument happens over and over and over. Tio Ricardo and Inez argue time and time again, with him wanting to send her back to Argentina as soon as she gets to Cairo. Then he gets mad at her for doing things without his permission, even though he won't tell her basically anything about what's happened to her parents. And yet, any fallout from his decisions not to keep her informed? Inez's fault, duh. Ricardo was hard for me to like.
2) Some of the characters felt unnecessary to the plot and I think they were just there to prove that there was more to the cast than 4 people, so it felt a little clunky.
3) There were several instances where we're told AND shown the information that we need to know, which means that it is basically overkill. I don't need to hear that Inez saw a ring on someone's finger only for her to whisper to herself "that's the ring!" WE GET IT!
4) There were several plot twists that felt like they came out of left field and way too close to the end of the book to the point where I got confused about what was happening with the plot). It felt like Ibañez thought there needed to be more drama with only 50 pages remaining, so she added in 5 different things.

Overall, super enjoyable story! I'm excited for the sequel, and think most people who like YA adventures will like this book!

I feel like underwhelmed is the word that comes to mind. It was repetitive and didn’t have the shine I was hoping for. I’m also learning that books with a strong whodunnit feel aren’t my cup of tea- total personal preference.

I admit I went into this read having no idea where it was heading. Completely in the dark. However, it quickly grabbed my attention, and it never wavered. Once I started, I quickly finished, because I could hardly put it down!

Following Inez through the story, experiencing the news of the death of her parents when she wanted so greatly to join them in Egypt to immerse herself in their work with them, we watch as she quickly grows into a very strong and independent character. She takes those hard journeys alone, never wavering in her determination to find out what happened to her parents. Her journey made me fall in love with the stories of those ancient Egyptians and the ideas behind Cleopatra and Nefertiti and those alike. How thrilling it is to find that love again, thanks to this beautiful and brilliantly written piece of work!

I cannot share enough good things about this story. Isabel Ibanez has captured a truly magical story in her work, and I am beyond excited for the next installment to be available for us! She has made me want to travel, and I cannot wait to continue along the journey!

Thank you to NetGalley for granting access to this ARC in exchange for an honest review. Highly, highly recommend! Five stars and beyond.

What a beautiful, enchanting book this was. Straight away, from the first page, the reader is transported to a world that they will not want to leave. I will absolutely recommend it to any client looking for a good dose of magical writing.

A stunning first book in a duo-ology and I am IN LOVE! Trademark Isabel with fast-paced action, alluring romance, and a plot that will leave you turning the pages as fast as you can. Perfect for fans of the Mummy and Indiana Jones.