4/5 ⭐
0/5 🌶️

What The River Knows was beautifully written and unexpectedly jaw dropping. It started out a little slow as we're getting to know the characters and the world. There's a lot of setup for their adventure as well. But as we hit the 65% mark things started getting exciting and I devoured the second half of this story.

I didn't realize this wasn't a standalone and was expecting a wrap up, but things just kept getting more and more wild. So many surprises had my head spinning, but nothing more than that cliffhanger epilogue. What. The. Fudddggge was that?! I can't wait to see what Isabel has in store for us with book two. I'll definitely be grabbing it as soon as possible.

I seem to have rotten luck with the ARCs I've chosen lately. First with Scarlet Veil and now with What The River Knows. The blurb says The Mummy meets Death on the Nile but this book is NOT fun & charming like The Mummy. The first few chapters were interesting and then it went down the drain. The ceaseless and senseless arguing between the main characters got old real fast, the portrayal of the uncle, the overbearing machismo of the main love interest, a useless, senseless death to add some “grief and rage” (wtf) the supposed mystery — all of it overdone to death. The story just dragged on and on and on.

I rarely give bad reviews like this — I tend to always find some silver lining in a book that if I didn’t like, someone else might — but I hated this book and I hated the main characters and I hate that I read it just to get it done with and after I finished, I was seething with frustration that I wasted my time over it. It had so many plot holes and twists without any resolution.

This book was such a waste of time and energy. In hindsight, I should have stuck with my DNF policy and just dropped it. Oh, and let’s not forget how this looked like a standalone but had a cliffhanger that was completely out of context that supposedly hints at a second book. The worst part is that this story had potential but was very poorly crafted.

I've always been fascinated by Ancient Egypt, and this book only fed that fascination. I always love Ibanez's writing. She creates such vivid, descriptive scenes.

Inez was a great main character. I loved her confidence and her no nonsense, go getter attitude. What I really loved was how I was never quite sure who was the "bad guy." Even up until the very last line of the book I was second guessing certain characters and whether I had them pegged on the right side. And boy, was that last line a doozy. I'm going to be anxiously awaiting the next book for that one to be explained.

A genre bending historical fantasy with enemies to lovers romance. A clever concept and an easy read for its targeted audience. Pacing was off a bit but overall an interesting read

I'm completely sold on Inez and Whit! I loved this story. It's adventure and mystery with just enough romance and it all works together wonderfully. The only thing I'm not super happy with is the major cliffhanger this ends on! It goes out with a bang, for sure, but with no information on when the next book is coming, it's a rough ending. If the next book were out, I'd be starting it immediately.

Thanks Netgalley and the publisher for giving me a copy in exchange for an honest review!

Thank you so much to NetGalley, St. Martin’s Press, and Isabel Ibanez for allowing me to review this fun book. This is everything it is being advertised to be. It absolutely is a fun, adventurous, mysterious, romantic, historical fantasy. The main character, Inez, gets wrapped into a mysterious adventure to discover what really happened to her parents who have disappeared. A magic ring leads her on this adventure and I loved every minute of it! I can’t wait for the second book in this duology. Thank you again for allowing me to review this magical book.

Amazing!!!! Secrets, lies, mystery, romance and some magic!! This book is one of the best books of 2023 I have read. If you like Indian Jones this is perfect for you.

This is set in the 19th century. Inez Olivera is an Argentinian heiress. She has a good life although her parents are always in Egypt and refuse to bring her along. When she hears her parents have died, Inez inherits their massive fortune and her uncle is guardian over her, who she has only met once. Before her father disappeared he sent her a mysterious ring which she has no idea what it means.

She wants answers of what happened to her parents and decides to set sail to Cairo to meet her uncle. She realizes there is old world magic in the ring her that father sent her. She soon dicovers there's more to her parent's disappearance than what her uncle led her to believe.

From Argentina to Cairo to the Nile. This had me captivated the whole time. I am so looking forward to book 2! Thank you to NetGalley and Wednesday Books for the ARC for my honest review.

As a kid, I did go through a period of obsession with Ancient Egypt, and I also enjoy adventure stories set during the Egyptology craze in the late 1800s. What the River Knows appeals to both of those elements, with the blurb describing it as The Mummy meets Death on the Nile. I like The Mummy well enough, but I don't have the nostalgic connection that will motivate many readers to pick up this book. I'm not sure that the comparison is quite apt, as this book is rather sprawling, which makes the adventure/mystery disproportionately better than the love plot. Once I finished the book, I realized that this was the first half of a duology, which helped contextualize my concerns about the pacing.

This book's ambitious plot makes the book rather dense. We follow Inez, a young woman who steals away from Buenos Aires to Egypt to get answers about her parents' sudden, mysterious deaths on her uncle's archaeological dig. Along the way, she meets her uncle's roguish but irresistible assistant, who's been tasked to keep an eye on her. The closer she gets to answers, the thicker and more complicated the plot. There's rather long exposition (100 pages to get Inez to Egypt and arrive at the dig site), which can feel slightly tedious, but once the story finally gets moving, it's rather interesting. The search for Cleopatra's tomb, the conflict between different interests in the Egyptian artifacts market, and the mystery of Inez's parents' deaths are the strongest plotlines. I especially enjoyed the critique of British colonialism in the antiquities context. The archeological discovery and the constant suspicion of everyone at the dig site (including a very twisty plot about smugglers and black market dealings) were easily the best parts of the story.

This story also includes elements of magic, which I found largely superfluous. Its primary function is to help Inez find answers despite her uncle's intense secrecy. I was also concerned by the narration: it's mostly narrated by Inez, with brief interludes narrated by Whit, the love interest. We really only get his POV to fill gaps in the plot, not to flesh out his interiority. As such, I wasn't particularly invested in the love plot. I don't buy their chemistry; I just rolled with it as part of the larger adventure. I wavered back-and-forth about my overall impression of the novel, but the sudden cliffhanger ending is enough to have me waiting very impatiently for the next book.

I really enjoyed this book! It was so entertaining with lots of action and plot twists. I loved this lush descriptions of Egypt and the exploration of Egyptian history. The author did so much research and I was completely immersed in the setting and the plot. Inez was a strong main character who didn't fit the mold of the times in all the right ways. She was clever, snarky, and stubborn. Whit was a typical male character with a sarcastic and brooding exterior but a heart of gold. I did think both Inez and Whit could have shown more growth but I'm hoping that comes in the next book. I couldn't put this down because the plot moved so quickly. There were tons of plot twists, some of which I saw coming and others that shocked me. I can't wait to continue this series and see where it goes!

Thank you NetGalley and Wednesday Books for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

This book takes you on an incredible adventure from Argentina to Egypt, in exploration of lost tombs and family secrets. If you have an interest in archeology and Cleopatra, especially, you may find this a fun read.

1884 Argentina: Inez, receives a letter from Egypt that changes the course of her life. She travels to Egypt, the last known location of her presumed deceased parents, in search of answers from her archeologist uncle, Ricardo, who her parents worked closely with. She soon discovers her uncle is in search of the last Pharaoh of Egypt’s lost tomb, Cleopatra. The adventure brings her a love interest that will please fans of the enemies/rivals to lovers trope and puts her in some dicey situations.

I really did enjoy this book to a certain degree. The topic of Cleopatra’s lost tomb and ancient Egyptian artifacts interests me greatly, so I did find myself loving the unique fantastical elements Ibañez included in the book, classifying it as an YA Fantasy.

The pacing of the book is what set me back from being able to finish it. I usually only take a couple weeks max to finish a book of this length, but this one took me almost a month to get through. It’s a very slow burn to get to any action that sets the plot in motion. If you like a slow burn historical fiction, then the pacing may not bother you, but I thought it was difficult to keep interest when it takes too long for significant things to happen. However, I was hooked 60-70% into the story and looking forward to finding out how it continues on. The ending definitely indicates there will be a sequel and I will want to read on.

“This moment always enraptured me, the slow creation of something that hadn’t existed before. It was part of the reason why I felt such an affinity to the temple, to the art plastered on ancient walls. Art should outlive its creator. As I painted, I tried to imagine the artists who had labored in the heat, painstakingly painting every flower petal and face.” —Isabel Ibañez, What the River Knows

This book is so nostalgic and special to me because I was able to see myself reflected in its main character, Inez, as a latina who grew up with a special interest in egyptology and a passion for art and creating. I know my younger self would’ve loved to read a book with a main character who shared her cultural background and interests, and it makes me immensely happy to know that new generations have access to stories like these, with which they’re able to deeper connect.

What the River Knows is an immersive historical fantasy set in Egypt, pitched as The Mummy meets Death on the Nile, where we follow Inez Olivera as she embarks on a journey to search not only for Cleopatra’s lost tomb, but for the truth about her parents’ disappearance as well.

It is evident that a lot of care and research went into the crafting of this story and its setting, into grounding it with real world history, which serves to enhance the reading experience as Isabel Ibáñez successfully takes us on a trip to 1880s Egypt. I greatly appreciated the commentary on colonialism and the British occupation of Egypt, as it would’ve been a huge disservice to write a book of its nature, set in that specific place and time, without acknowledging the veiled protectorate and the repercussions it had on Egyptians, Egyptian culture and the preservation of Egyptian history and artifacts.

Furthermore, I found the story to be paced incredibly well. It really felt as though I was putting together a puzzle in real time, with Ibañez handing me the puzzle pieces one at a time, always a step ahead of me, keeping me on my toes.

From the historical setting, to the fantasy elements, the romance and the mystery, I think this book has a little something for everyone and I’m so happy and excited for it to be out in the world.

Okay I went into this after hearing hype from other ARC reviewers and on social media, unfortunately it didn’t quite reach 5 stars for me. That being said I definitely recommend this to see how you feel about it, also because everyone seems to love it.

Here’s the thing, I kind of missed the blurb specifically referencing the mummy and I think it does this a disservice as it’s its own story and also the YA-ness of it all doesn’t really fit that narrative of the movie to me.

What I liked: I actually loved the historical fiction aspect of this and the way it was written. I didn’t find the descriptions of Egypt boring at all, there were times I actually wanted more especially when Inez was in the excavation sites. I felt like boating on the Nile and the different accommodations where Inez stayed were described so vividly, I had a harder time picturing the ruins with how briefly they were described. I did enjoy the romance. Again, the blurb of this book is so confusing because I don’t think they were rivals at all. Whit had such an interesting dynamic of needing to follow his employers wishes but having a conflict because of that same sense of duty he started to feel for Inez. This is very YA in that a kiss is A Lot so it’s not steamy or very tension-y (and I know sometimes YA can have tension but not this one). But I did feel their connection and really liked them together.

What I disliked: apparently this was supposed to be fantasy but where?? The magic worldbuilding is non-existent. I was so hooked from the first 5 pages when Inez is using enchanted items but they are never developed further. It was actually weirdly unsettling that in this world everyone is aware of magical items but don’t really care and don’t care to look into how to optimize them. The driving force of a lot of the plot was finding artifacts (and the differing motivations for people once they found them) but no one seemed to care that they could have magic?? Another thing that bothered me about this book was my constant frustration. I am trying to spare spoilers so let me just say it was too much of the same, of Inez having to make the same actions over and over just to finally be allowed to move the plot a tiny bit forward. It low key kind of sucked having her POV with all the mystery going on and I’m not sure why Whit’s was even offered sometimes because he gave us nothing as well but was obviously hiding things from Inez. This is also a personal preference so I’m not trying to let it affect my rating too much but I didn’t like who turned out to be villains. I’m not sure the writing has the maturity to really explore what that means to Inez.

I greatly appreciate Wednesday books and st martins press for allowing me this ARC especially because it was so hyped and I was having major FOMO! Like I said this is not without flaws but I really think people should read it and come to their own conclusions. The setting and premise is awesome and maybe I’ll like the second more because the cliffhanger is wild.

I received an e-arc of this book through NetGalley and St. Martins/Wednesday Books. Thank you so much to them for the opportunity and know that all of my thoughts here are honest and my own.

Unfortunately, this was not the hit I thought this was going to be. I initially was quite interested in our main character, the settings, magic, and plot. But quickly the pacing started to slow down more than I cared for and I started to lose interest. On top of that our main characters did not inspire much care from me. Inez is meant to be well educated and too smart for her own good, this is made very clear to us in the beginning, but she proceeds to make careless and ignorant mistakes through out the entire novel. Her back and forth on who in the group to trust meant I never felt very close to any of them and never gave much thought to them. The plot twist was so well foreshadowed it was painfully obvious and I spent so long wondering when everyone else would finally figure it out. A specific character at the end felt added only to try and liven an already dead plot and it felt incredibly cheap. Not to mention I have no clue why this is a series. So little actually happened in this book that if you cut out the unnecessary back and forth and repeat moments you could have fit the whole story into one novel. Most of my complaints here could have been solved by stronger editing, in my opinion. The only thing I did like, that kept me reading to the end, and therefore earns the second star, was the banter in the romance. But the cliffhanger ending made me no longer care to follow that either and I will not be reading book 2. Clearly lots of people have enjoyed this book so if you are still interested in picking it up, go for it, but the execution of it left a lot to be desired for me.

The Mummy meets Indiana Jones in all the best ways. Inez is feisty and confident, but owns up to her mistakes. Whit... rubbed me the wrong way at first, but slowly I was coaxed into liking him, just like Inez.

What the River Knows is such an enchanting story, a historical fantasy with slow burn, yearning, magic, secrets, unexpected twists and turns, Egyptian mythology and much more, I couldn't put it down. The ending will be keeping me up at night, im shocked to my core, baffle, appalled and every word you can think of. Such an amazing read!!

Thank you netgalley and Wednesday books for this eArc, I loved it.

3 stars

I've read several of Ibanez's books, have loved some, and have liked others, and unfortunately, for me, this one is just okay.

What I enjoyed the most about this adventure is the betrayal motif. This is nicely executed, and I recommend that prospective readers stop with the reviews so that they don't get any spoilers on that. For me, it's the most memorable part of the read (on the positive side).
 
On the other hand, this book is too long. I listened to the audio version, and it's 17 hours. It...felt like 17 hours. Ibanez is always an extremely successful painter of the scene, but I wish there had been some editing in that realm. I don't need every swipe of the hair, every glance in a specific direction, and so on. Whereas this has made me really enjoy some of her other works (looking at you, _Woven in Moonlight_), I found it too distracting here. On a related note, I hope we get to have a heroine who kicks butt and does not have the distraction of some very predictable romantic interest one day. Ibanez is too strong of a writer to have to rely on this so frequently.

I had high hopes for this one, and the sense of place and betrayal elements do make this a worthwhile (if long) read. The audiobook narration is excellent, and I'm not sure I would have persisted if I had accessed this in the original format I received (ebook).

I'm still an Ibanez fan, but I am hoping for something different from the next effort.

Ibañez has masterfully created a wonderful historical fantasy novel in What the River Knows. The book has something for everyone: history, magic, romance, adventure, mystery, intrigue and more. I think that every reader will find something to enjoy and connect to over the course of the story.

The main character, Inez, is strong, intelligent and independent. She lives with her aunt and cousins in Argentina. After the unexplained death of her archeologist parents in Egypt. She travels alone to try to find answers. Upon arriving, she has to use her wits and skills to both avoid obstacles and to discover the truth of her parents’ death.

Overall, What the River Knows is a strong immersive and engaging read. The story has a wonderful balance of history, drama, romance, and adventure. At times, the history can bog down the pacing; however, it adds a lot of context and flavor to the story. I was not a big fan of the romance between and Whit. I felt it was a bit heavy handed and lacked a bit of the nuances of true chemistry. This did not really taint my overall impression or enjoyment of the book. I thing the magical elements fit well into the plot. There are also plenty of twists, turns and heart pulsing moments. It all concludes in a big cliff hanger and hoping for a book two.

Magic, ancient Egypt, romance, The Mummy meets...say less! This book has it all. I absolutely devoured it!

This novel is historical fiction, set largely in Egypt in the late 1800s. Fervor for Egyptology is high, and archeologists and grave robbers abound. Inez Olivera is the daughter of two archeologists; she lives with her aunt in Buenos Ares, while her parents are gone half the year, searching for treasures in Egypt, returning periodically to visit, and refusing any efforts on Inez's part to join them in Egypt. So Inez's life goes, until her 18th year, when her parents are reported to be missing and presumed dead, causing Inez to board a ship to Egypt to go looking for her Tio Roberto, now executor of her inheritance, and the last person she knows who saw her parents alive.

This novel is a mystery, with interwoven events told largely from Inez's point of view, and including occasional narrative from her uncle's assistant, Whitford Hayes. This is an adventure story, in the same mix of genres as the Indiana Jones tales, and similar in concept, dealing with archeology and grave robbers, and will appeal to anyone who enjoys fantastical adventures. Recommended for readers ages high school to adult.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

This book surprised me, it's the first time I've read the author, at first I wasn't very convinced but the more I read the more I was hooked, I really didn't want to stop reading haha, even though it was a little difficult for me to get into it. I really liked the story, it's historical fantasy set in Egypt, so I had my moments trying to remember the places they mentioned haha ​​but it was a lot of fun, I LOVED IT!!😍🤍

Everything about the discoveries they made, the adventures to reach Cleopatra's tomb, the betrayals, the secrets, the romance, perfect!!🤍

I really loved Inez, I liked her attitude and rebellious personality, it was very fun to read the crazy things she did, and Whit, omg, that man with his flirtatious and “indifferent” attitude but at the same time with his tender side, simply, in love.🥹🤍

The plot twists were very good, and the ending?!! haha ​​omg THAT ENDING?!!! I need the second one urgently!!!🛐