This book was the perfect blend between intrigue, romance, summer and well, EGYPT. I have always been interested in the Pharaohs of Egypt. Specifically Cleopatra, just because she is such an icon, she was a female ruler in a time when most of the world was dominated by men. Also, I loved her tragic love story; I kind of think it is parallel to our main character's love, it is tragic and bound to end badly; but it can't be helped, it is just love. I was a particular fan of the way some parts of the book, like the number of chapters are written in Spanish, to highlight Inéz's heritage and that Spanish is her first language. As a Latina myself, I loved how I could see myself in her. The way she spoke and how I could understand both the English and Spanish words that sometimes popped up in the book. To those who do not speak Spanish, do not worry, only little details are written like that.

Another thing that made this book even better for me was the little facts about Egypt, its culture and people and how it demonstrated a genuine love for its heritage. The way the British act in the book is a perfect portrayal of what was happening at that time. How they literally stole ancient and priceless artifacts and diminished the rights of the Egyptians themselves, while still claiming to be superior. The research was well done and adapted to the context.

The love interest was spectacular, I could not love him more even if I tried. Their chemistry was undeniable and the way that he was so charming and witty made him the perfect partner for this adventure. His characters were also filled with mystery and intrigue that I will not talk about much in an effort to not spoil this book. But their interactions always left me feeling eager for the next step in their adventure.

I would 100% recommend his book to anyone who was the time to read it. I LOVED IT

I would like to thank Netgalley and the publishers for letting me have access to this copy of the book

4.5/5 stars

I loved this book! This book got me out of my reading slump. I feel that this book gives off some vibes from The Mummy. The protagonist, Inez, is desperate to find answers about her parents’ deaths and so she heads off to Egypt. When she arrives, she is met with more secrets and suspicions. It’s hard to trust anyone when everyone is keeping their own secrets, herself included. The romance is rivals-to-lovers with a dash of forbidden romance. I loved the tension and slow burn of the romance between the two main characters. The ending to this book is killing me and I need the second book to come out! Overall, this was a fun, exciting, and entertaining read. Thank you NetGalley for the eARC of this book.

This book was wonderful. I was completely invested in Inez's story. It was adventurous and exciting, I was hooked from the beginning! The setting was so vividly illustrated in my mind. I absolutely cannot believe that ending and can't wait for the sequel! This was my first book that I've read by Isabel Ibanez and I definitely want to read more.

This is officially up there as one of my favorite 2023 YA books. I've been struggling to even talk about this book because I'm just at a loss for words and want to scream "JUST READ IT!" This book hit that perfect balance where a YA audience will adore it. However, a millennial adult (which, admittedly, we are all still obsessed with The Mummy) will also be captivated. If you enjoyed Divine Rivals earlier this year, I fully believe this needs to be at the top of your TBR.

I really appreciated the slower beginning to give us time to get to know Inez Olivera. She is a stubborn, resourceful young woman who is still very sheltered and naive, leading to missteps. It's incredibly frustrating to read but it felt genuine to the setting. Whit is such a fascinating character; my favorite aspect is just how constantly frustrated he is with Inez for not falling into the box she's expected to be in. The book is mainly from Inez's perspective but I appreciated the sparse use of Whit's POV to give the reader additional insight into his character and/or the larger plot that Inez is unaware of (and trying to figure out).

The setting and story are captivating getting this ex-pat in Egypt lense and looking critically at colonization and exploitation of Egypt and its culture. This is an underlining thread throughout the adventure story of looking for Cleopatra's Tomb that I thought was very well executed. Then you get The Mummy vibes of BEING AT A EXCAVATION SITE looking for lost treasure and it just filled my little adventure soul.

The fantasy aspect was very light and an interesting execution. Magic was once prominent in the world but has since fallen away. However, items hold "memories" of magic that slowly begin to fade with use. So there are little things (a handkerchief that you can get hot water out of) that are useful and some items that move the plot forward in crucial ways but blink and you won't even realize this is categorized as "fantasy."

What I really want to talk about is the second half of the book because it had me in a vice grip of action and adventure and suspense and romantic tension that I, quite literally, could not put the book down. I needed to know what happened next at the end of each chapter. I was screaming at the book by the end and will be counting down the days until the second book in this duology comes out.

4-⭐⭐⭐⭐

"How much trouble are you going to cause me?"
"I really can't say...it might be a great deal."

What the River Knows is the first novel in a YA Historical Fantasy Romance series follow Inez, a young woman desperate to unravel the secrets behind her parent's disappearance in Egypt.

Inez has spent her life watching her parents leave her, waiting for their letters and visits. Their love of Egypt keeping them there six months out of the year. When she received word they are dead and no explanation of what transpired she decided to travel to Egypt and seek answers for herself, despite her uncle's protests. I admire her tenacity and determination. She is confronted with barrier after barrier from sneaking out of her aunt's home to travel to Egypt to giving her uncle's assistant the slip but she pushes through, desperate to understand her parent's love of Egypt and what caused their demise. I consistently cheered her on but did find, on occasion, she was a bit naive

Whitford Hayes is our delightful male main character and, boy, does he leave an impression upon arrival. He's intelligent, devilish, and a little gruff at times but I loved seeing him melt for Inez as she challenged him at every turn. He has many secrets and slowly peeling them back endeared him more to me each time.

This novel is YA and while there is a romance component, has no spice. There is kissing but this is a SLOW burn romance. I felt the tension between the two main character was perfection with banter that had me smiling constantly. The challenge each other in all the best ways but when one is in danger they will do whatever it takes to save them. I will say their romance is still ongoing by the end of the book and has me so curious to see how it grows. I think I would have like a bit more romance but the overarching mystery does grab you.

"Have I told you how much I live in terror of your ideas?"
"That's rude."

The world building in this book is phenomenal. I loved the blend of fantasy and history that we see in this book, down to the lore of magic imbued in objects. I felt pulled into this world and did not want to leave. The book itself is marketed as The Mummy meets Death on the Nile and I would agree with this sentiment.

The story itself is a mystery that draws you in. The twists and turns in the adventure keep up the pace and I don't want to spoil much but you are in for a ride with hidden secrets, betrayal, adventure, puzzling solving, history, and more. The ending will make your head spin with the epilogue and leave you demanding justice for book two...I still haven't forgiven the author.

If you love a fantasy adventure with archeology, ancient history, and secrets to expose alongside a slow burn romance that is teasing you this will be right up your alley!

Thank you Wednesday Books for the e-ARC>

Like what the heck?!?! I’m still trying to pick my jaw up off the ground! The way Isabel dropped this bomb and just thought “ok that’s a good place to stop”. What am I supposed to do now? How will I survive? What am I to deduce from that ending? How could you do this to me? Just when I thought all my dreams were coming true? How dare you 😆😭

I loved the setting, the mystery, the magic, the surprises and twists. I loved grumpy, smirking Whit, and the unflappable, resourceful Inez. I could have done without the language, I don’t think it was necessary. And I’ll just tell you the ending alone deserved 100 stars.

Thank you NetGalley for my advanced copy, all opinions are my own.

I really wanted to love this book and thought it would be right up my alley, but I couldn’t stand any of the characters and struggled to get through the story. The dialog felt immature and the FMC’s flip flopping between love and hate of the MMC drove me bonkers. I think this may have been more of a me issue though and I bet I’ll be in the minority with my thoughts though.

4.5⭐️/1🔥

“And so I learned to behave, but once they left for Egypt, my rebellious tendencies flared. I thanked God for it.”

What to expect:
🤎 Egypt meets magic
🤎 rivals to lovers
🤎 magical artifacts
🤎 headstrong fmc
🤎 morally grey mmc

My Thoughts:
After spending her whole life only seeing her parents during their brief visits to Buenos Aires, Inez is looking forward to spending some time with them. But tragedy strikes and Inez becomes and orphan overnight. Determined to find the reason behind her parents death, she travels alone to Egypt in search of her new guardian, a Tio (unlce) she’s only met once before, and answers to her parent’s death. What Inez finds, and unwilling becomes attached to, is more than she imagined.

Magic meets ancient Egypt in this book and I loved every second of it. Inez is headstrong and fearless in her search for answers and won’t let her secretive To Ricardo and his right hand man, handsome Whitford Hayes, stop her. She’s mesmerized by the country her parents spent most her life living in and by the magic slipping through the sand.

I loved this book. I was blown away by the seamless intertwining of Ancient Egypt and magic. It wasn’t cheesy or forced – it made sense. The thrill of finding artifacts and sacred tombs was so much fun to read. Inez and Whit are rival forced to become allies, while also fighting the growing attraction between them. The wonder of adventure jumped off the page and made me feel like I was right there in Egypt deciphering hieroglyphics. There were so many twists, mixed in with heartbreaks, that it never felt flat or repetitive.

AND THAT ENDING! That ending threw me for a loop and I cannot tell you how excited I am for the next book. Thank goodness it’s a series because I just know that is one story I’ll never get tired of reading about. I will deff be purchasing the beautiful B&N purple edition once it releases. This is one book you won’t want to skip!


Favorite Quotes:

“For fuck’s sake, Inez,” Whit hissed in my ear.

“Bloody hell.” – Whit

“Have you seen the way he looks at you? So…possessive.”

“Why are we always finding ourselves in dark, enclosed places, Olivera?”

Thank you to Isabel Ibañez, Netgalley, and Wednesday Books for providing an eARC for an honest review!

i’ve literally been left speechless. genuinely so good. the mystery, the twists, the tension. the last 20% genuinely had me gasping every few pages.

i’ve always been fascinated by old egypt, but the way miss ibañez described cairo and philae felt so familiar, like i could really step through and be in 1880s egypt. rich in culture and lore, the little middle school egyptologist on me was jumping for joy. if you’ve ever had an obsession with ancient egypt, this is the book for you.

the relationship between the heroine, inez, and her uncle was really interesting and i spent the whole book hoping they would work it out. the connection and tension between inez and whit? had me by the throat. the END!? i need the next book now. i need to know what happens.

i will be seated for book 2.

I was so excited to read What the River Knows after reading and loving Together We Burn by the author last year. Ibañez is such a fantastic storyteller, and this mix of romance, adventure, and intrigue captivated me from the very first page.

The story follows Inez, a young woman from Argentina, who has recently learned that her parents died while in Egypt. Traveling to Egypt to meet her uncle, Inez is determined to discover what happened to her mother and father. I love Inez. She’s so determined and stubborn, and her love for her parents is as big as her personality. She is a force to be reckoned with, and though she isn’t as savvy as she thinks she is, she more than makes up for it in gumption, bravery, and devotion.

The story delves into interesting Egyptian history, especially in relation to Ancient Egypt, Cleopatra, and her tomb. It was so fascinating, as was the world-building in general. Ibañez transports the reader to 19th-century Egypt, from the bustling city of Cairo to a long journey on the Nile to an expansive archeological dig in a remote region of the country. It’s all vividly presented and rich in detail.

As the story deals with Egyptologists and others who have invested interests in unearthing rare artifacts, themes about the effects of colonialism and the theft of culturally important artifacts are strong and become major points of contention for a variety of characters. These themes, as well as themes of identity, truth, and honor, are subtly woven throughout the story as Inez becomes more and more immersed in the dangerous mystery of her parents’ deaths.

In Egypt, Inez is often accompanied by Whit, a young British man who works for her uncle. I adored Whit! Like Inez, he is a layered and complex character, and there’s an air of mystery about him that makes him all the more appealing. And the romance!! It is a slow-burning, forbidden romance with humor, tons of sexual tension, and some super swoon-worthy scenes! The banter between the pair is perfection, though their relationship is riddled with obstacles. I loved them together, and though their romance wasn’t the main focus of the story, it was a definite highlight for me.

I thought this was a fantastic read. It’s exciting and suspenseful, and the magical elements are as intriguing as the mystery. With richly developed world-building and characterization and brilliant storytelling, it is gripping and thought-provoking and thoroughly enjoyable. And that ending? I have no words because I AM STILL SPEECHLESS! I need the next book ASAP!

Special thanks to Wednesday Books and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of the book. All thoughts are my own.

I received this book from the publisher and NetGalley in exchange for a review.

This book pulled me in on the premise, a mystery in Egypt with a sheltered woman searching for answers and an honorable rogue, and the Mummy vibes. For the most part it delivered. Inez is an excellent lead, naive and brave and angry, making huge mistakes but throwing herself into situations for those she loves. The rest of the characters aren't as fleshed out as I'd have liked, unfortunately. And that's the issue I had with the book. The pacing felt off and so some character decisions made little sense. The slight romance was obvious but also felt like something was missing.

This is clearly being set up as a series, because the ending rushed and then ended HORRIBLY. It's not enough to make me drop my rating, but im annoyed.

Overall, I enjoyed it, except the last 15%. But I'd have liked to see more development in plot, pacing, and characterization. It would have made the ending less jarring.

3.5 stars.

I picked up What The River Knows because I saw it compared to The Mummy and Death on the Nile, and I think it does give those vibes. It’s a fun YA historical fiction/romance novel with some fantasy elements, set in Egypt in the late 1800s.

Inez Olivera has grown up in Argentina, but her parents spend half the year in Egypt without her, involved in archaeological expeditions with her uncle. When she receives a letter notifying her that her parents are presumed dead, she travels to Egypt to find out what happened to them. When she arrives, her uncle and his infuriatingly handsome hired man, Whit, attempt to send her straight back to Argentina—but Inez is determined to stay and take part in their search for Cleopatra’s tomb.

This book was really fun. I found Inez to be a likable protagonist, and I also found the slow-burn romance in this book to be compulsively readable. And a good thing, too, because the romance felt like the main focus of the plot.

Unfortunately, other elements of the plot—the search for Cleopatra’s tomb, the tension between archaeologists and those intent on profiting off the sale of Egyptian artifacts, and the mystery of Inez’s parents—felt unfocused and not fully fleshed out. I would have liked to see the author lean more into the fantasy element of the story too, really showing the impact that the presence of ancient magic has on the world at large.

I also wish I’d known going in that this is not a standalone novel. It wasn’t until over 90% of the way through the book that it dawned on me that there were a lot of loose ends that were not going to be tied up. I think the story could have been a little stronger if just a few elements of the story had come to some sort of conclusion.

Overall I felt this book could use some edits but was still a very fun, enjoyable read.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the advanced reader copy!

Content notes: some strong language; innuendo, but no sex; some gun violence.

This was a beautiful, mysterious, magical, intriguing story!

•I loved the setting! -Egypt and the tombs!
•I enjoyed the historical element - the history of Cleopatra and the current social issues of 1884 Egypt
•The magic element was fun, made sense, and was easy to understand
•Inez, the FMC, is strong, smart, stubborn, curious and creative
•Whit is mysterious, morally gray, and a bit broken. He's also a charming flirt. AND he's so secretive and I just NEED ANSWERS.
- all of the characters in this book were fantastic!
•this story definitely gives The Mummy vibes and a bit of Death on the Nile
•There's mystery and murder and betrayals and "who can she really trust?!"
•THERES ALSO A CLIFFHANGER ENDING

Absolutely enjoyed this story and can't wait for the sequel!!
Content is pretty consistent with the YA label - there's murder but its not overly gruesome, there is mild language through-out, mostly said by our MMC, including F words scattered here and there. I wish there weren't in F words in YA, but that's my personal opinion.
Romance is closed-door, it includes 1 passionate make-out, perfect! I HOPE THE ROMANCE REMAINS CLOSED DOOR!

2.5 stars.

There was a lot of potential with this book, but I don't think it managed to make everything as fleshed out as it could have. Inez was a difficult character for me to like. I felt like she was too rash with her decisions and at the same time, not emotional enough. There were many events that should have, and could have, been surprising but Inez's reaction to it was basically shrugging it off and going with the flow, regardless of the shock factor. This made the story quite flat. I would have enjoyed the book more if there was more mystery to it, but I also couldn't tell if it felt like there was a lack of mystery because of the content/events that happen or because Inez just doesn't have any reaction to anything. It was just a lot of "here's what's happening and here's what you need to do" instead of Inez figuring things out herself.

I did like where the story took place and it could have made for a much more exciting story if the characters discovered things themselves instead of being handed the discoveries/scenarios. I also wasn't convinced of the budding relationship between Whit and Inez. I don't even know when they started to "flirt" with each other and their conversations were quite bland. Overall, there were good ideas in this story but they need to be built upon more.

In the beginning I was a little bored, because of all Inez’s attempts to stay in Egypt. After she got on the ship, it picked up so much.

It had fantasy elements to it, such as the magical items, but it was mainly a historical fiction, mystery novel. Overall, I really enjoyed it! I will definitely be reading the sequel.

When Inez Olivera's parents disappear and are presumed dead while excavating in Egypt, Inez is determined to find out what happened to them, even if it means traveling solo from Argentina to Egypt and becoming embroiled in a world she doesn't know much about. All she knows is that prior to his disappearance, her father sent her a golden ring imbued with magic that seems to be connected to Cleopatra and may hold answers to her parents disappearance.

While I did end up really enjoying this book and eagerly anticipating book 2, it does start out incredibly slowly - the first 30% or so is quite a bit of set up and a lot of time is spent on Inez's travel to Egypt as well as character introductions. I'm ultimately glad that I stuck with it but it took me much longer to read than usual due to the pacing.

Once it got going and we were in Egypt and in the area they were excavating, the plot definitely picks up and is a little bit of a whirlwind until the end! And of course the cliffhanger that this ends on has me already ready for the next book.

I think what this book does really well is explore relationships - especially difficult relationships. The relationships between Inez and multiple family members are not easy or straightforward - for either Inez or the readers. And the relationship between Whit and Inez is complicated to say the least!

Thank you to St. Martin's Press/Wednesday Books and Netgalley for the eARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Inez learns of her parents deaths and decides to travel alone to Egypt to meet with her uncle and determine what really happened. She finds a friend and ally in her uncle’s employee Whit, though can’t fully give him her trust either. She is impulsive and it often gets her into problems she can’t get herself out of. Lies and betrayal plague her journey, and she still has much to learn.

Nothing really happens for the first 25% except character intros. The middle 50% was interesting learning how the magic worked and exploring down the Nile, as well as exposing colonialism. I did really enjoy the story development, though I began to anticipate what was coming, and didn’t think Whit’s POV was necessary. The last 25% was one twist after another and began to feel contrived, especially with <spoiler>Elvira thrown in and promptly discarded<\spoiler>.

The climax was rushed and not resolved at all, leading to a huge cliffhanger. I don’t want to remove stars just because it has a cliffhanger, but this did not feel like an ending, every plot point was left wide open as though the author ran out of time and just slapped an epilogue on. Of course I want to read the second to see what happens next, but am mad about it.

I was going to give it 4 stars, though the writing was subpar and leaned heavy on dialogue, and made me wonder if the final copy will be better edited. I settled on 3.5 stars, but may round it higher or lower in a few days depending on how strongly I still feel about the ending.

Thank you to Wednesday Books and NetGalley for providing this eARC for my honest opinion.

This was a little slow going for me in the beginning, but once The Elephantine entered the picture I was hooked. Every time it felt like it was slowing down again, boom, twist.

I typically don’t like historical fiction but I adored the setting, and definitely got The Mummy vibes from it.

I’m going to be really upset if Whit makes me hate him in the sequel, Inez is a badass even if she is a little impulsive, and Isadora kind of terrifies me.

Cannot wait to read the sequel!

Looking for your next YA fantasy fix? What the River Knows is the book for you!

I always loved Ancient Egypt growing up, and this book created such a lush and immersive Egyptian experience. I really loved the magic system, and I would have loved to seen it explored more.

There were a lot of familial, friendly, and romantic relationships explored in this book, and they all felt very real.

Whit is my newest book boyfriend! He had me swooning the whole time.

My biggest complaint about this book is our main character, Inez. Everyone around her (and herself included) talked about how smart and clever she was, but she was lowkey dumb when trying to understand all the secrets her family had in Egypt and the mysteries she encountered. For her to be 19 and considered so smart by herself and peers, I felt like she was too juvenile and and headstrong to pick up on the actual clues around her.

Otherwise, I loved this book and can’t wait for the sequel. Thank you for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review!

Rating: 4.5 stars rounded down

What the River Knows by Isabel Ibanez takes us into the world of 1884, where two unlikely souls find one another.

Will Inez find what she's looking for?

Inez Olivera
Inez Olivera is coming to Egypt to fully understand what happened to her parents as she doesn't believe what she has been told. This young woman is bright and has her whole life in front of her. Yet she has followed in her parents' footsteps to Egypt, despite the fact that she probably shouldn't. I liked Inez from the moment I read the first chapter, and I was rooting for her throughout the entire thing. Inez is stubborn and doesn't want to conform to what society thinks a young woman should do. She is a welcome sight from the normal historical viewpoint of what a lady must do. I hope that she knows what she is doing from here on out.

Whit Hayes
Whit Hayes is an associate of Inez's uncle, and he has been told to stay away from Inez. However, his big problem is Inez turns up everywhere he looks, and then the uncle tells him to keep an eye on her. I love seeing from Whit's viewpoint and how he has to deal with some of the things that he's been hired to do. The big thing for me is that I feel bad for him as he doesn't seem like he wants to lie to the people whom he views as his friends, but it seems like that is what he has to do. I'm just worried about how big of a role he actually does play in all of this and if Inez can see it coming before it does.

The Story
Inez Olivera decides to go to Egypt on a whim to be face-to-face with her uncle and demand answers. Easier said than done from what Inez has found out. I love her determination to find out what has really been going on for the past few years since her parents came to Egypt without her. Throughout, I was seething mad for Inez and was rooting for her and crying with her. Basically, I felt so many emotions while reading this story. Another thing I felt was how cool the magic system that Ms. Ibanez created for this story was. I loved everything about it.

Five Stars
My rating for What the River Knows by Isabel Ibanez is five stars, and I'm recommending it to anyone who loves to read historical fantasy. Another big reason why I'm recommending it is because I do get big The Mummy vibes from this amazing book. Of course, the movie I'm referring to is the 1999 film. Plus, the magic system is great, and the subtle romance kicked in there was fantastic. Ms. Ibanez, I loved everything about this book, and please continue writing as I love your work.

I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

Thank you for dropping by! I hope you enjoyed this review of What the River Knows by Isabel Ibanez.

Until the next time,
Karen the Baroness

If you would like to see other reviews like this one, check out Baroness Book Trove.