One of my top fantasy reads of the year. Easily. This book is so unique and fun. I love that despite it being a fantasy it also has such an interesting mystery plot as well. I have never read a book that takes place in Egypt and I found myself so intrigued by the world and story.

This is YA but I didn’t feel old reading it. The characters were fantastic and the writing 10/10. Highly recommend. Running to go get a physical copy asap.

This is a beautiful story of adventure, magic, and love. What the River Knows by Isabel Ibañez caught my eye because it had the tagline "The Mummy meets Death on the Nile". That is a lot to live up to, but I think Ibañez did wonderfully. Not only did the book have the feel of The Mummy with the mystery of Death on the Nile, but Ibañez infused it with the culture of Buenos Ares.

I cannot recommend this book enough! Go out and have fun in Egypt with Inez!

The Nile.
The lore of Cleopatra.
Magic
Secrets.
Lies.
Intrigue.

To its markets in Cairo, the desert and its ancient tombs, this is an adventurous read.

Olivera (Inez) comes to Egypt seeking answers about her absent parent’s death. She harbors old world magic which leads her to the answer she seeks but be careful danger lurks all around.

Whit, her uncles right-hand man, thwarts her every attempt to travel the paths of her parents throughout Egypt. He’s a mysterious man with deeply guarded secrets including hiding his feelings as romantic tension looms.

Inez is determined, strong-willed and drawn to the one man she can’t have. The large cast of characters add so much to the mystery, which leaves you guessing who’s an ally.

The atmosphere and time period were fantastic. Now I must wait after this jaw-dropping cliffhanger…Tell me when book #2 will be available!

Thank you Wednesday Books for the complimentary copy.

What the River Knows is an exciting, captivating book about Inez who travels from Argentina to Egypt to find her uncle and uncover the mysteries surrounding her parents’ deaths. The book takes place in the late 1800s, and it is full of the sparkling, upper class society during a time when world powers dominate the globe. 🌍

My favorite parts about this book are the archeological scenes where we are solving puzzles and exploring history. I also loved all the Egyptian stories and hieroglyphics that were scattered throughout the story. It was so fun to learn about these discoveries and how they mix with the history of grave robbing.

I loved the magic in the book! Having items that old spells latch onto was such an interesting way to depict magic, and I enjoyed learning about it! Also I loved the idea of magic and memories being connected through the years and being able to be seen/ heard/ smelled/ experienced😍

My main complaint about the book is just that Inez is often incompetent and clueless- but it’s obviously because she was sheltered and people keep lying to her 😅 So it was understandable, but pretty frustrating.

There were some amazing scenes between Inez and Whit- and that’s all I’ll say without getting into spoilers 😜. Let’s just say sober Whit all alone is my favorite…

Overall I had a good time with the book! I love Isabel Ibañez’s lyrical writing that is so easy to read. She set up a thrilling story with fun characters and gorgeous settings. I can’t wait to see where the book goes next now that we have laid the groundwork and gotten to know characters! That epilogue really left me dissatisfied and waiting for the sequel 😂

I’d recommend this book to fans of sassy and clever main characters, mysterious and protective love interests, and a whole lot of magic, deception, and discoveries ❤️

I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Together We Burn was one of my favorite YA releases of 2022, so I was literally waiting like a psycho to request What the River Knows the minute it appeared on NetGalley. Imagine my disappointment when this didn't work for me. The tone was all over the place, the fantasy elements felt more like plot devices than an integrated part of the world, and the ending felt unnecessarily shocking.

I had also thought this was a standalone but...uhh....nope. TBD if I pick up the second one.

In all fairness, Whit was swoony and the setting was vivid.

Prepare for a gripping journey through Egyptian history! Inez, a young girl grappling with the mystery of her parents' death, ends up on an unexpected search for Cleopatra's tomb. Her quest takes her to Egypt, the last place they were seen alive, where she encounters an untrusting uncle she barely knows and an enigmatic Englishman named Whit who challenges her at every turn yet sparks her curiosity.

This tale is a rollercoaster of deception, concealed truths, murder, love, and betrayal that keeps you eagerly flipping the pages. Talk about a cliffhanger!

A very exciting adventure with loveable (and hateable) characters. Vivid descriptions made it feel like I was walking down the street in Alexandria. Can't wait for the next instalment!

A riveting & exciting adventure that takes readers on a fantastical ride! I would highly recommend this book others!

Even though I DNF’d this about halfway through, I am still rating what I read. Unfortunately this one just didn’t grip me enough to continue. I think given the YA nature was part of the problem as I am finding YA titles are becoming harder to hold my interest any longer. There will be plenty of readers who will enjoy this, and the writing is good, it just ultimately wasn’t for me.

This book has all of the elements that feel so characteristic of Isabel Ibañez's work: a strong female protagonist, slow-burn romance, complex characters (particularly family), and a historical setting that feels so vivid it readily comes to life. I loved going to Egypt with Inez and reading about her journey (both physical and emotional). Inez never gives up, and wanting her to succeed and be happy is the easiest thing. All of the conflicts were interesting, both on the global scale with the issue of partage in Egypt and on the familial side, as Inez learns more about her parents and uncle. The pacing was done well and, although some twists were fairly obvious, I definitely was not expecting the ending. I do think that the magic system is intriguing and I wish it had been more present throughout the book. I am excited for the sequel (I need lots of answers and details) and eager to see what's next for Inez and Whit.

I would recommend this book to anyone interested in archaeology, exploration, 1880s Egypt, and anyone who enjoys an emotional rollercoaster.

Overall a 4.5 stars for me!

This is my first novel by Isabel Ibanez, and it did not disappoint at all!

The writing style pulled me in immediately and it was pleasant style to follow along with. I felt as though it wasn't so simple that it lacked in description and for me - the detailed quality of the description did not overshadow the action and dialogue of the novel. It was balanced for me, and not too flowery and not too lacking in detail and I felt myself immersed in the world and story while I was reading. The writing style also lended well to the atmosphere. I really enjoyed the Egyptian archeological dig insights and I certainly loved the "flashbacks" that Inez experience. I did get some The Mummy movie vibes from this and it made me love the story even more, and lended more to the atmosphere of the story. I also enjoyed some of the more sensory descriptions, such as smell, which I can't always relate to but I did relate to in this one - especially for the smell of roses that was mentioned a few times.

Obviously I have two characters that are favorites, which are our two mains: Whit and Inez. I really really enjoyed the character and relational development of both. Inez's development was a little more obvious and mentioned in plain terms in the narration of the text, her perspective was fun, passionate and interesting. Her growth through travels and experience was well done and fun to read on. My favorite character arc was definitely Whit's, I enjoyed learning about his past and his story developed slowly, which made it that much more enticing. I enjoyed reading about the relationship blossoming between these two and how their experiences changed them and the way they perceived the other.

The plot was very intriguing and fun to read. I did feel that the first 40-50% of the plot was fast paced and I couldn't stop reading! There was a bit of a lag where the plot becomes more political towards the middle of the novel but I still found that to be enjoyable. There are certain situations that occur in this that are absolutely surprising and unexpected - plot twists that I never saw coming! From the epilogue, it really seems that there will be more surprising twists in the second of this duology! It's one of those stories where you never really know anyones motives or if they are leading a double life vs. being true and honest.

Overall, I Ioved this novel, I would've preferred the pacing to be a bit better in the middle of the novel, and I would've loved it even more if it was adult - but that is a personal preference! I would highly recommend to anyone that loves a low fantasy novel with mystery and intrigue set in an older time with Egyptian Archeology and history!

This was fantastic! The setting was perfect, the integration of magic was clever, and the main character was bold and stubborn and challenged what her family and society expected of her. I couldn't get enough of the story and the ending about gave me gray hair!

Inez's upbringing was split between her aunt teaching her to be a lady in society and her parents teaching her to be smart and brave and question things. I liked how this all melded together and that she kept surprising everyone, especially the roguishly handsome Whit. The banter between these two was perfect and I'm rooting for them to get together.

The plot moves along fairly quickly and the magic was a cool addition to the archaeology and history. There were a few things that shocked me and I am now clamoring for a sequel!

I voluntarily read and reviewed this book. All opinions are my own. Thank you to Wednesday Books and NetGalley for the copy.

More on a 3.5 star side. I had no clue this was a series when I started it so I am so excited that there is going to be more. I really loved our main character and all the mystery that unraveled surrounding her family. Whit was pretty insufferable throughout the book, but that was probably the point - that he be a morally grey villain. I felt that the book had good pacing then the last 30 pages everything just BAM! so much happened and so much came together. The only thing wanted more of was the Indiana Jones type story that blurbs promised.

What the River Knows was a sweeping story about Inez on her journey to find the truth about her parents. Filled with twists and turns around every corner, it mimics the feel of some of my favorite adventure movies.

The setting and some of the characters were reminiscent of National Treasure (the show), and I was constantly impressed by Inez and her ability to wiggle her way out of trouble. From the start, her stubbornness gets her into all kinds of situations, but the same tenacity sees her through. Whit is a little more cookie cutter grumpy-bodyguard-with-a-dark-past kind of love interest, but I enjoyed their dynamic nonetheless.

On that note, the twists and turns might've been a bit too twisty for my tastes. Some of them were completely unprecedented and left me feeling confused by how they came to be, leaving a taste in my mouth that wasn't...what I was looking for in this book.

Wow, okay, so this book, for me and its relationship, was a slow burn. I started out thinking, this book is interesting, what a fun historical concept! Halfway through I was like oh, oooo super intriguing! And then the last 30 pages or so hit and my eyes bulged out of my head multiple times!

If you ever had a fixation on Cleopatra or any of Egypt's history, you enjoy a female main character who messes up and is trying *so hard* to be her own person and get over grief and loss and then a different grief, you like mystery, and/or you can vibe with a book that starts off slow and you can't really see where it's going, then try out this book!

Looking forward to seeing where this one goes!

Thanks to Netgalley and Wednesday Books for the e-ARC!

"The Nile knew everything, had seen the best and worst of Egypt."

What the River Knows is a book that took me by surprise. I have to admit, by the time I hit about halfway through, I was just about ready to DNF. I didn't feel super connected to the story, and I didn't know if I could finish the whole book. BUT I'M SO GLAD I DID.

There was a point at about fifty-five percent of the way through where everything turned on its head, and the story was gripping, exciting, and thoroughly engrossing. I was fascinated by the characters and the choices they were making. I wanted more of Inez and Whit and Tio Ricardo and the excitement that was unfolding.

And now, with the kind of ending that leaves its hooks in you and keeps you up at night, I find myself eagerly awaiting the next installment. I literally gasped and felt my mouth drop open in shock as the ending unraveled, and I cannot believe I have to wait an entire year to get any kind of resolution.

I will say, it takes a bit to get through this book. The beginning is quite slow, but, in my opinion, the fast pace of the ending made up for the slowness of the start. I've heard this book be compared to The Mummy, but I really didn't get any of those vibes, except both being set in Egypt. I actually enjoyed the book far more once I stopped comparing the two.

Reading this book was like going on a rollercoaster with a really big drop. You have to climb for a while before you reach the payoff, but once you do, you are in for the ride of a lifetime.

If you are a romance/adventure fan and want to explore the untamed beauty of Egypt through the eyes of a fiery Argentinian, then this book will be perfect for you.

My rating: 3.75 stars rounded up

Content: A couple of f-words (maybe 6?), a semi-inappropriate makeout scene (nothing really explicit), some semi-graphic violence. I would say this book should be read by 14+.

Thank you so much Wednesday books and NetGalley for this ARC!

This book is for everyone who was obsessed (or is still obsessed) with Egyptian mythology and archeology. This book really felt like it had everything, mysterious deaths, Egyptology, magical objects and a slow burn romance.

Inez lives in Argentina with her aunt and cousins while her parents live Egypt half the year. Then one day, she gets a letter that says her parents have gone missing in the desert and are presumed dead. She decides to run away to Egypt to discover the truth of her parents death, but finds herself in a world of magical objects, shady figures, and in a race to discover an ancient tomb.

What I loved:
- the 1880’s Victorian era
- the multi-cultural combination (English, Egyptian, Argentinian)
- the slow burn, rivals- to- lovers romance (no spice, this is YA)
- the tomb exploration and overall Egyptian vibes

Bonus: this is a BOTM option this month and I already chose it for my box!
I cannot wait to read book 2!!

Thank you Wednesday Books for the arc in exchange for an honest review.

That ending!!!

The writing was extremely immersive and atmospheric. The fantasy aspects of the book were well balanced with the historical aspects. It was also the perfect slow burn romance!!

Can’t wait for the sequel.

This was a fun adventure with a great romance and an interesting plot. It was a bit slow to get into, but got better farther into the book. I’m looking forward to the next book!

"The Mummy meets Death on the Nile in this lush, immersive historical fantasy set in Egypt filled with adventure, a rivals-to-lovers romance, and a dangerous race."

Ugh. Isabel, I desperately need book 2! I mean…

Isabel’s writing is vivid and immersive. Grab this book, and you’ll find yourself transported to Egypt. The slow-burning romance, intertwined with adventure and the irresistible tension of forced proximity (who doesn’t enjoy that), comes with a compelling shift from rivals to lovers. Plus, there’s a classic dose of “touch her and d1e.”


Thank you NetGalley and publisher for the ARC!