A novel that blends ancient Egyptian mythology, historical fiction and romance, This book was a page-turner, one I couldn't put down. Highly recommended.

Inez is devastated to learn her archeologist parents have died in Egypt. Determined to find out what happens to them, she leaves Argentina for Egypt, joining up with her uncle and his crew who are trying to locate Cleopatra’s tomb.

Overall, I liked this one! It is the first in a new series, so if you are impatient with cliffhangers, wait to read this one until the second one is out. I liked the magic here, but I wish there was more! It was such a small part of this overall, with a bit more toward the end. I also think there could have been less angst in Inez’s chapters when it came to Whit. Despite that though, I thought the plot and pacing were good. Ibañez does a good job getting you attached to characters quickly so betrayal hurts. Can’t wait for the next one!

I received my copy from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

I had a hard time getting into this. If I didn’t obtain a copy through NetGalley, I probably would not have finished it.
I had a hard time connecting with the setting. I did, however, become interested at different points. The way the book ended on a cliffhanger will definitely draw many readers back into the series for part two.
I honestly disliked more parts than I liked. But I will be tempted to know how the story progresses in the next addition.
Obviously a conflicted review. 😬
But honest.

Thank you to NetGalley and publisher for the chance to preview this book.

Oh my gosh. This book hit me in the heart and then in the gut. I cannot recommend it enough.

To be fair, this is the first YA fantasy I have read. But it feels even more special because of it!

Inez is such a firecracker of a character. Embarking from Argentina to Egypt to find out the truth about her parents "double life", she finds more than what she planned for. She is greeted by a guardian sent by her uncle, who also happens to be handsome and mysterious. From there, the story takes so many twists and turns, there's never a dull moment!

I've always been a little nervous to jump into the world of fantasy so if you are anything like me, this is a great entry book. There are some magical elements but it reads so seamlessly.

If I could rate this book higher than five stars, I would! Even though I got an advanced copy, the good news is that it is already out!!

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

I loved this so much! I loved the setting, the era, and the sassiness that was Inez! I enjoyed the historical history that was woven into the 19th century, and with a hint of magic. I loved that the romance wasn't the center point and felt the mystery was the perfect added touch.

Also, that ending! Was a shocker! I can't wait for book two and will be recommending this one to anyone looking for a perfectly paced historical romance mystery!

What The River Knows came into the world this week and it’s a must read if you love fantasy with a rich historical setting, romance & mystery!

The characters (everyone is so well written) and the setting were pure magic (19th century Egypt - I didn’t know I needed a book written here)! I loved the strength that Inez exhibits through out even when circumstances throw her!

This book was a joy to read, from the first chapter I was completely drawn into this gloriously beautiful story… right up until the end! Wow, that ending … just wow! Let me just say you are gonna love it!

I cannot wait for book two!

The premise of this book is so cool but the execution fell a little flat for me. It may be bc it's a YA book, but I found the story predictable and the characters pretty standard fare. I did like the book overall, with the imagery of both Egypt and the historial finds there, threaded through with a bit of magic and intrigue. The romance subplot was nicely done, with both MCs fighting to keep their distance while in close quarters and dangerous situations. Tbh I wasn't particularly planning to read the second until a good twist at the end changed my mind.

What the River Knows by Isabel Ibañez
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Inez is a young lady who has everything she wants, except her parents. They spend most of their time in Egypt searching for artifacts. When she hears they are dead, she travels to Egypt to find answers.
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This book is being marketed as The Mummy meets Death on the Nile, and I LOVED The Mummy so I had to read it.

And I struggled to get through this book. I think it was a case of I should have waited to read it at a different time and I was not in the mood for it.
From the moment Inez arrived in Egypt I was STRESSED. She kept making bad choices and her uncle and his employee kept treating her so disdainfully. It was pretty infuriating.
So every time I put this book down I did not want to pick it back up because everytime I did I would just get upset.
I kept on, reading it in very bite size morsels. And I couldn’t put it down for the last 30% of the book, it got really good.

Then I got to the last chapter.

What the heck was that ending??!!??!??!!???!!
It was just rude. 😒😒😒😒😒

Now I am on the hook to read the second book.
4⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

When I read the synopsis of this book, I knew I had to read this book. Since childhood, I have always enjoyed adventure stories set in historical times. I highly recommend this those looking for a cozy adventure story with some surprising twists, cute romance and a touch of magic.

Inez Olivera, is a young woman, who receives news about the tragic death of her parents in Egypt. She decides to go to Egypt to find some answers about her parents. The author provides the reader with an adventure in 1880’s Egypt during a time when people were competing with eachother to find the lost treasures of Ancient Egypt. The author places some real life historical figures of the time into the narrative to provide readers with a basic understanding of the social issues of the times. Though the book did not go into a detailed description of the historical events of Ancient Egypt, the book does provide readers with an introductory level understanding of Ancient Egypt. If you do not know a lot about Ancient Egypt, this is a great book to start reading.

Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with an arc of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I totally forgot I have to leave a review for this because I just thought I was reading a book I owned for fun haha.

I have many many thoughts on this book. I do feel like the plot was a little disjointed at times and very much took too long occasionally to get to the point

BUT I liked the vibe, giving mummy/jungle cruise vibes. The betrayals around every corner really had me screaming ESPECIALLY that epilogue. How could you put me through this Isabel Ibanez!! I am in PAIN!!


The romance felt a little weird and now I completely understand why after finishing. Ugh. This was a really fun and well done story. I can’t wait for the next one.

I have to be honest here, I wanted to love this book; I really did. I was excited for the Mummy feels that I got at the beginning. Olivia seemed like an interesting character. The exposition with her aunt and cousins sets us up well. Then she goes to Egypt and things start out okay with Whit and her sparring. It felt very much like the two main characters in The Mummy movie, at first. However, at the 30% point I was over it. Olivia is not my idea of an empowered female. Her refusing, petulantly, I might add, to do what’s asked of her repeatedly doesn’t make her empowered. Then we find out Whit is engaged and she continues to harbor feelings for him and gets annoyed at him for not returning those feelings. And she’s known him for all of a week and is in love with him? Talk about insta-love. In addition, her immediate need to inwardly think about how attractive he is all the time is just annoying to listen to after awhile. She just started to feel really pathetic to me, chasing after a guy she hardly knows and who often treats her with disinterest or even disdain, he occasionally sides with her with the uncle but really, come on. Plus the magic system was confusing and also seemed unnecessary. It seemed like we could have gotten to the same conclusion with or without it. I just wish this book didn’t feel like one tired trope after another, but it did. It seemed like the author got sort of tired of writing it, because the writing felt like it went downhill as the book progressed. I’m sad, because I was really looking forward to it and it started out promising but became a chore. If you’re going to do things that have been done, they need to be done well and have something all their own. This did not for me. It has a beautiful cover and was a great premise; it just fell very short of what it could have been. Even so, there are those who may really love this, so that’s great. I’ve just read A LOT of fantasy and romantasy, and for me this one is much like many others I’ve read and a bit mediocre. I’ll give Ibanez another try, because I think she has good ideas. I just hope her next is executed better.

"Imagine everything she's seen through the centuries." The Nile knew everything, had seen the best and worst of Egypt.”

History, adventure, mystery, murder. What The River Knows follows a young woman named Inez, as she seeks answers, by breaking away from her sheltered rich life, boards a ship and travels to Egypt.

This book is filled with so much history. I found myself stopping to look things up as I read because I had to know more. There are some magical elements that pop up here and there, a tiny bit of romance, and plot twists.

Altogether I enjoyed this, but I had the feel that there was so much that could of been added, closer towards the last half the story seems to finally kick into gear, and just when it’s flowing you find out that it’s pretty much a cliffhanger and I’m not sure if the epilogue makes enough since to really pull me in like it’s supposed to. I just get confused and then had to look back in the book to understand.

Thank you Net Galley and for the chance to review.

"What the River Knows by Isabel Ibañez is a mesmerizing blend of magical realism and heartfelt storytelling. Ibañez crafts a world where the river holds secrets and characters grapple with both the supernatural and the deeply human. The prose is beautifully lyrical, immersing readers in a river's embrace of mystery and emotion. The characters are well-drawn, their journeys intertwined with the river's own enigmatic path. While the narrative is enchanting, there are moments where the pacing could be more dynamic, preventing a full five-star rating. Nonetheless, Ibañez's skillful fusion of magic and reality makes What the River Knows a captivating read, deserving of a solid four stars."

I absolutely loved this book! Thank you to @wednesdaybooks for my gifted eARC! I also needed a hard copy and got that from BOTM!

Adventurous + suspenseful + magical realism + historical + rivals to more+ cliffhanger ending= what more could you ask for??

🐊Inez’s parents have presumably died in Egypt where they spend half of the year studying and pursuing artifacts. She escapes from her aunt’s watch in Argentina and goes to Egypt to find them and joins her mysterious uncle Ricardo who is now her guardian. Brimming with gumption, Inez repeatedly outsmarts Ricardo’s right hand man, Whit, and sneaks onto their boat headed to a secretive dig site. Inez soon learns there is more to her parents’ disappearance and is not sure who to trust.

I’ve seen this described as The Mummy meets Death on the Nile and I like that description!

I cannot believe this is the first time I’m hearing if Isabel Ibañez. This book was quite simply incredible. I loved it from start to finish, and didn’t want it to end

I really enjoyed this book. This is my second novel from this author, and I would say that I enjoyed this book as much as her other book. I know that some people were worried about it being too YA, but I didn't feel like that was a problem. Yes the main character is young, but the book involves a lot of adult themes and issues so it felt like a good balance.

This is my first novel I have read that takes place in Egypt. It is very exciting to me because my own personal knowledge of Egypt is very limited. I also like the small magical elements that are tied into this book. This book ended on such a cliff hanger that I am anxiously awaiting the second!

Wow. This was a WILD RIDE. I gasped, swooned, screamed, and cried multiple times throughout. When I tell you this story took me to so many places, I am not exaggerating. I absolutely ate this up.

Romance, betrayal, adventure, TREASURE!!!! This was a recipe for success. Let me tell you, the ROMANCE!!! I gasped so violently that I frightened my husband

If you enjoy adventurous stories that are fast-paced, then this one is for you!

The ending has left me DAMAGED.

In nineteenth-century Buenos Aires, Bolivian-Argentinian Inez Olivera is part of the upper class but yearns to be with her globetrotting parents. When she hears about their deaths, Inez inherits their fortune and a guardian, an archeologist in partnership with his Egyptian brother-in-law. Inez sails to Cairo, and discovers there’s more to her parent’s disappearance than what her guardian led her to believe. Inez is stymied at every turn as she searches for the truth and must rely on ancient magic or become part of a larger game that will kill her.

What the River Knows is the first book in the Secrets of the Nile duology. Reading this was really fun, because Inez is determined to figure out the truth, and she's a joy to get to know. Everything around her is new, and she delights in it. Her uncle and Whit keep too many secrets, and there is so much corruption in the archaeological world that she can't really trust either of them. That leads her to keep secrets of her own from them, including initially the sense of magic. I love how that's described, and how it's an additional feature to everyday items in the world, not a talent that people readily have. The secrets kept from Inez makes the men look guilty, so she (and we) assume the worst.

Inez has an attraction to Whit, which he returns. Neither wants to act on it, especially when looking for artifacts, but the pull is there. I think the back and forth of their actions is believable, adding a bit of romance to the tension in the book. The finale to the book is highly emotional and tragic, with a bit of a cliffhanger for the reader to demand the second half of the duology right away.

the mummy meets death on the nile?? SIGN ME UP.
i was so excited for this one and it did not disappoint! this was actually my first by this author, but it won't be my last. it was so well written, captivating, the perfect blend of mystery, magic, world building/info, romance - i couldn't put it down. loved it!

This book was so frustrating in parts and good in others. The adventures in the book were excellent, and I loved all things Egyptian, but the magic was odd and almost an afterthought. I wish it had been explored more. The main character was immature, and it felt like the book wasn't sure whether or not it was YA.That ending, though, was the most frustrating part of all.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are my own.