This type of love interest can be written 1000 times and I’ll always fall for them. I’d recommend What the River Knows for lovers of Divine Rivals and Stalking Jack the Ripper.

This book is first person dual pov and takes place mostly in Egypt with a bit in Argentina. I really loved Inez, I thought her character felt very realistic and relatable.

The ending is leaving me reeling and upset that I don’t already have the second book in my hands.

The only thing I didn’t really love was Whit’s pov, as it felt very unnecessary and didn’t really add anything until the very end.

Overall, I loved this and can’t wait to read the sequel! Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martian’s Press for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

“What the River Knows” is a historical fantasy novel by Isabel Ibañez. The book tells the story of Inez Olivera, a 19-year-old Argentine and Bolivian heiress who sets sail to investigate the mysterious deaths of her parents in Egypt

I am absolutely devastated to give this book a low rating. Probably somewhere between a 2 and 3. I had such high hopes and, truly, it has so much potential. I looked for ways to rate this higher because was it fun? Yes. But was it a worthwhile distraction? Eeek, no, I'm really not sure it was. And here's why.

My biggest issues with this book are that it was incredibly repetitive and the plot didn't necessarily flow logically or develop consistently. As to the latter, yes, this means we were told, not shown. More problematically (to me), we were told one thing when it worked with whatever the author was trying to do (build the mystery or throw us off the scent of the baddie, for example) and then another thing when the author's purpose shifted. It was never clearly explained why Inez could not accompany her parents to Egypt (which did not seem dangerous and one character even said "it's so safe here!"), or at least visit, or why her parents didn't want her there (except in relation to very recent events). Multiple characters commented in the beginning of the book on Inez's missing mother and how much of a beloved prankster she was at excavation sites and among the excavation crew over the course of 17 years, but then it was later revealed that she preferred to remain in Cairo after the first year. Inez's uncle was prone to unexplained fits of rage. Character associations and relationships (excepting the romance and especially leading to the big bad) were simply revealed without any explanation of how we got there and/or why these people were in cahoots. Even the most central plot point-- Inez's parents going missing/presumed dead-- worked only insofar as it got Inez to Egypt, but then was an absolutely illogical result in terms of the things that got them to that point. Also there were a number of superfluous characters that just existed and did not otherwise drive the plot.

Re the repetition, the book repeated words, phrases, thought processes ("I know I shouldn't I trust this person, but he did these XX things" came up at least 5 times), and even explanations of historical facts. The battle of Actium and it's historical significance as the day Cleopatra lost everything was explained multiple times. The fact that Augustus renamed himself and the strategic political reasons why he allowed Cleopatra to be buried with her children was discussed/explained amongst the same characters twice within 5 chapters. I loved that this was a love story to Egypt, but I wish that these facts were integrated more cohesively and without so much repetition.

Those issues aside, I also felt that the novel-- like it's rebellious 19 yo FMC-- hasn't quite figured out what it wants to be when it grows up. The maturity of the writing and dialogue skews on the younger side of YA, and doesn't quite mesh with the more mature subject matter and violence in the book. It's labeled as a fantasy, but basically it's just a book set in 1880s Egypt plus magic (sort of). I love historical fiction, but I also didn't really feel immersed into the location or the time-period. There was talk of what Society would allow, for example, but none of the characters followed Society's rules (nor suffered any repercussions for their modern attitudes/actions) or otherwise acted as you would expect for the time. Also, the magic (GROAN)!

The magic was almost an afterthought, though I suspect it may come more to the forefront with future books. Magic apparently used to exist openly in the world, but has since been forgotten and now only exists via magical artifacts or objects. Magical objects serve some sort of purpose, a scarf that makes hot water for tea, for example, and then there are artifacts that *have* magic, but do nothing. Magical artifacts may or may "latch" on to a person that touches the artifact, helping connect them to other similar magical artifacts and the person who imbued the artifact with magic. Anyway, the magic wasn't developed or explained at all: why can some objects do things, or why does magic latch to certain people and not others, and what does that mean-- idk. It was instead used solely as a convenient plot device in the novel and didn't seem very well thought out or purposeful.

Anyway. as it turns out I had THOUGHTS on this book. I normally wouldn't get as specific or detailed (super hard to do without spoilers, but I tried my best), but the bones of this book are just so so good and it just felt a little bit like a draft to me. All that being said, I edit (not books) as a profession and people who might not be looking so deep will definitely enjoy this, or at least not find it unenjoyable. Certainly I am out outlier as I've seen multiple 5 star reviews for this.

Wednesday books/St. Martin's press have published some of my favorite books. Thank you to them for doing that and for providing me with an advanced reader's copy of this one!

Next time I pick up a book because it’s compared to a favorite movie, someone stop me.

Inez has shared her parents with Egypt her whole life. Half of the year they are with her archeologist uncle, while she’s left behind in Argentina. When her parents unexpectedly pass while in Egypt, Inez sneaks away to visit her parent’s favorite place in hope of discovering what happened to them.

Oh boy. This is compared to The Mummy, but take that with a handful of salt. Outside of taking place in Egypt and magic artifacts, this book isn’t to the standards of The Mummy. The world building and plot were sacrificed for a very lackluster romance.

I didn’t mind Inez at first. She was curious and tenacious, which I liked. Her dumb decisions were the result of growing up sheltered. I slowly disliked her as she became obsessed with our love interest, Whit. She acted like she had a right to his personal life and information, constantly pushing his buttons to trick him into revealing more. Her lust (let’s call it what it was) for Whit overshadowed her desire to find what happened to her parents.

Whit was awful. His personality can be boiled down to drinking, lounging, and smirking. He flirted with Inez, but didn’t back off when he realized just how
impressionable she was. I love a good roguish scoundrel, but he had no essence or personality outside of that.

Whit was ENGAGED the whole time Inez knows him, which made his flirting worse. After going too far, he finally established the boundary of being betrothed. I’d say good for him, but neither of them respected the boundary. He continued to flirt, and Inez pursued. I was waiting for Inez to give him the cold shoulder for leading her on, but this was too much to hope for. The whole back and forth act took precedence over a substantial plot.

The “mystery” could have been solved if everyone communicated. Whit and Inez’s Tio were unwilling to tell her the truth about her parents, which would have cleared up the mess Inez gets herself into. I don’t understand why her Tio was so against her knowing anything; from the beginning Inez made it clear she wouldn’t leave until she found out what happened. This resulted in a lot of bad decisions and dangerous scenarios that never had to play out. Mysteries need to be built on something more solid that people’s inability to just talk.

The magic system was not fleshed out. It’s never explained why certain things have magical properties, or how they came to be magical. It’s initially hinted that enchantments are relegated to artifacts, yet there seemed to be newer items that also had magical properties. I thought more people would be in a frenzy to claim these enchanted items, but outside of archeologists, no one seemed to care.

My biggest gripe is this isn’t a standalone. Nothing is wrapped up, but I don’t care enough about the series to continue on. Maybe the second book will flesh out our characters and magic system more, but I don’t have the patience for that.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the advance copy in exchange for an honest review! All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.

Rounded up from 3.5 stars

What The River Knows will be published October 31. Special thanks to St. Martin’s Press, Wednesday Books, and NetGalley for this eARC in exchange for an honest review.

I was very excited to receive this eARC because of the comparisons to The Mummy and Death on the Nile, the rivals-to-lovers, and the focus on ancient Egypt. Overall, What the River Knows was a solid read, featuring a side of slow burn romance, banter, history, and action and adventure, but stars were deducted for pacing and development.

The novel takes place in 1884, in the same historical world we live in, but with magical realism features. Items are imbued with magic (we aren’t sure how or by whom), but the special artifacts or items impart remnants of that power onto the wielded until the magic fades away. Our main female character is Inez Olivera, whose parents have been away excavating in Egypt off and on for 16 years, as she lives with her Aunt and two cousins in Argentina. When Inez turns 18, she receives devastating news that her parents are gone. She decides to flee Argentina and make the journey to Egypt to meet with her Uncle and find out what happened to her mother and father.

Enter Whitford “Whit” Hayes, a handsome Englishman who works for Inez’s Uncle, doing some shady side jobs. Whit and the Uncle try to make Inez go back to Argentina, but she has her own plans. Without giving away the plot, chaos ensues, and we are thrust into a vivid depiction of Egypt and trying to find not only the lost tomb of Cleopatra, but also the truth of what happened to her family.

I appreciated the descriptions of Egypt and found myself transported back to the age of exploration, being carted down the Nile on the Elephantine. I felt like I was seeing Egypt and the tombs as if I saw them in Inez’s paintings. The book addresses the plundering of tombs and stealing of artifacts by the English, and it was evident that Ibañez did a lot of research.

I wish the magic system was more thoroughly explained. Yes, there are magicked artifacts that give their power to the person who possesses them until the power is gone, but how does that process work? Who can impart the magic? Why did it stop? I thought the concept was very interesting, but I had unanswered questions.

I also wanted to know more about Whit’s backstory with his family because it would have given the a more complete understanding of his mood changes and the familial obligations he was under.

I liked that Inez was an obstinate, headstrong girl, willing to put herself in harm’s way to find out the truth. She was too trusting of others and not of herself, though, but I can understand why.

Whit was brooding, moody, and clearly struggling with what he endured in his past. But, the banter and chemistry between him and Inez was good. I’d read the second book if there’s more of his POV in it.

The pacing suffered from inconsistency. The beginning of the book was interesting, and then it slowed down in the middle for a while. The pacing picked up a bit again when Inez stowed away on the Elephantine, and then I felt the last 20% of the book was rushed. There was one particular character whose inclusion was only to serve a specific plot point, and I did not care to see the reunion cut short so quickly and graphically. I thought the novel and plot could have been better served in a different way with the same effect.

The epilogue was abrupt, and the cliffhanger was confusing. I had to use the search feature on my Kindle to remember a character, mentioned only once before, during an important scene. So, I wish there had been more of an emphasis or foreshadowing here because the cliffhanger wouldn’t have felt so far afield and simply a vehicle to set up a sequel.

Overall, I would probably read the second book. I thought it was a standalone when I received it, but it clearly isn’t. While this wasn’t a five star book for me, others really love it. If you like Egyptian history, magical realism, and adventure, it might be for you!

TWs: misogyny, racism, murder, gore, imperialism, betrayal, infidelity, gun violence, substance abuse.

Thank you so much NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the e-ARC!
Expected publication: October 3, 2023

What I liked:
The setting is late 1800’s Egypt which I was really excited about! From the lovely descriptions of the markets in Cairo to the excavation site in Philae, I was consistently impressed by the immersive writing.

Inez is an incredibly stubborn and strong-willed fmc. I loved that she had agency and took charge of her own decisions and actions!

I liked how the relationship developed between Inez and Whit (mmc). It didn’t feel forced and I enjoyed their banter and will-they-won’t-they moments. There are a few snippets of Whit’s POV throughout the book but I wish there was more!

This reads as a historical fiction with a few elements of fantasy. The “magic” in this book is relatively simple and consists of items and trinkets with magical properties and Inez’s connection with Cleopatra.

What I didn’t like:
I had huge problems with the pacing. Inez’s indecisiveness about who to trust was reasonable up to a certain point, but I think it took up too much of the story and it became tiring to read. Barely anything happens until towards the end of the book. I still found the overall plot to be enjoyable though!

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Isabel did a fantastic job with the research. I never once doubted her knowledge of Egypt. I never felt pulled away from the story either. It was captivating. I felt like I was in 1880s Egypt while I read it. The characters and the settings were so vivid and described so well but not too much. I felt like I was in a tomb when the characters were. It really was incredible to read. It almost felt like I was reading history. I know she based some characters off of real people and some things off of reap events from the time period. The whole story was so well executed. The romance was icing on the cake.


Spoilers ahead





That ending!!!!! That was such a cruel cliffhanger and plot twist. I can't even. I need the next book!!!!!

This was such a fun book to read. I love the plot and the characters. The author did a great job. I love the banter, and the rivals to lovers trope.

Holy cow! This ending left me speechless! Just... I honestly don't know exactly what is happening, but I'm so excited to find out in the sequel. This was so good. So good. I love this book from beginning to middle to end. Absolutely great storytelling that kept my attention the whole time.

Plus, Egypt! Egypt going through major changes. The British are colonizing and taking over government jobs. Egyptians themselves now have very little power in their own country. It's become a popular tourist destination and for explorers ready to make big money on the priceless "treasures" to be found in hidden tombs.

All of this is being well described as the heroine takes a ship to Alexandria from Buenos Aires to find out the truh behind her parents' death. However, she finds out so much more than she expects but deals with everything with strength and endurance. I have to mention Whit, ruggedly handsome, British, sarcastic, and yet there's more to him than you may think!

Amazing read!

Out October 31, 2023!

Thank you, Netgalley and Publisher, for this Arc!

A lush magical fantasy that will fill you with wanderlust if only you could put down the book to do so.

Huge book hangover after this one. Mummy meets Tomb Raider meets Princess Bride. Lies, deceit, Egyptian artifacts, Cleopatra, magic, twu wuv, fights, death. It’s got it all.

Thank you to the author, publisher, and Net Galley for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I loved everything about this book except the ending--because it ended in such a cliff hanger and I had no idea that it wasn't a stand alone. I loved the adventure, the light fantasy, the historical aspect of Cleopatra, secrets, lies, mystery, the romantic tension and family drama. This book has everything that I look for. It was quick paced and exciting. Our protagonist is spunky, resourceful, and brave. I highly recommend this captivating novel. We will definitely be purchasing this for our library.

A story based in Egypt is hard to resist. This novel gives us a brave and young woman from Argentina who travels to Egypt to discover what happens to her parents. The setting gives us the privileged living in nice hotels with their sights on archeological finds. We get to experience both worlds in the late 1800s which adds to the interest in this story.

There is a mix of magic, mystery and secrets throughout the book. One is not sure whom to believe as all eyes are set on discovering Cleopatra's tomb. I can't wait to see what happens in the next book!

I would recommend this book for those that like adventure, a bit of magic and intrigue. Thank you Netgalley for the opportunity to read this entertaining novel.

What the River Knows is a beautifully written beginning to a series. The plot moves slowly at times but allows the readers to get to know each character and their layers. I'd definitely recommend this for a good autumn mystery but would be hard-pressed to describe it as similar to Death on the Nile the only similarity between the two seems to be Egypt.

Escapism at its finest.

I thought this book was a cute and exciting read. I loved the main characters Inez and Whit, one headstrong and stubborn, and well, the other just as much. All of the details and historical facts the author provided did a great job setting the tone for this book. I felt like I needed to wipe the dust, sand, and dry heat off me while I read. For a YA novel, this wasn’t as fast of a read as I anticipated, but I still really liked it nonetheless. I knew there was going to be a second book, but at the time couldn’t fathom how much more a second book could cover. But after reading the cliff-hanging ending, I knew I would have to pick up the second as soon as it becomes available!

A slow burn romance and an intriguing mystery, all set in 19th century Egypt- I couldn’t ask for more if I tried. The premise stated “The Mummy” meets “Death on the Nile”, and if that doesn’t get you hooked, I don’t know what will!

📖 Read if 📖 :
✔️ You like historical fiction mixed with mystery, thrill, and romance
✔️ Learning about ancient Egypt sounds delightfully interesting
✔️ You don’t mind books ending on a twisting cliff hanger!

Thanks NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review!

This book had me on the edge of my seat the entire time I was reading. The setting is immersive, the characters felt real, the twists are shocking-it's a truly magical story (literally and figuratively).

It's 1884 and when learning of her parents death, Inez travels alone to Egypt to meet up with her uncle and find out the truth behind her parents demise. The story is told through 2 points of view: Inez (about 90% of the story) and Whit (about 10%). Inez is such a fiery character. I love her fierceness, her determination, and her ability to face her fears and trauma head on. My heart broke for her at points and I cheered her on at others. Whit is such a complex character and you never really know what he's up to. The banter between the two is amazing and I can't wait to see where there story takes them. There were some truly shocking twists and I loved every second of it...until the end. Going in I had no idea this was the first in a series/duology. The cliffhanger is MASSIVE and I cannot wait to see where this story goes next!

While there are magical elements (which I love) , this story reads more like a historical fiction (which I also love) and the details are meticulous. Diving into ancient Egyptian culture isn't something I have done and it was such a great setting for this story. The details make you feel like you are navigating the Nile and exploring ancient tombs with the crew. This book is truly amazing and while I was expecting this to be a standalone, I am excited to dive into this story again when then next book is announced.

Thank you NetGalley and Wednesday books for the eARC.

First and foremost thank you to publishers, and of course to Netgalley for the review copy of this book. I am a sucker for anything Egypt related and this book did not disappoint at all. I enjoyed the lara croft type feel to this book as well. I think its going to be a sleeper hit! The romance was subtle and still really fun. I am hoping for more from this author. I loved all the fun touches of adventure. Solid 4 stars

YA Historical Fiction with a splash of romance, a splash of fantasy, and a hearty dose of adventure.

This is a great read for anyone who loves Egypt, mysteries, a heroic MMC, and a strong-headed FMC. Our heroine, Inez, travels to Egypt to solve the mystery of her missing (presumed dead) parents, and ends up wrapped up in an expedition to find Clepatra's tomb, with a hearty sprinkling of danger along the way. The pacing in this one felt a little funny - starting off quickly, moderate speed in the middle, and then a runaway train until the cliffhanger at the very end. If you liked the balance of history, magic, and romance in Divine Rivals, I think you're going to love this. (I could have used a dash more magic, but I'm happy with what I got!)

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced digital copy in exchange for an unbiased review.

When I read the pitch for this novel — 'The Mummy' meets 'Death on the Nile' in a historical fantasy set in Egypt and filled with adventure, an enemies-to-lovers romance, and a dangerous race — I was 100% in — and reading the book only firmed up that commitment. (You should also know that the book opens with a very sweet hand-drawn map of Egypt. BONUS.)

Our heroine Inez Olivera is a firecracker. Seventeen years old and living in 19th-century Buenos Aires, she's the only child of wealthy, adventurous parents who spend most of their time on expeditions on the other side of the world. When the story opens, she's hiding in an old potter's shed, waiting for a letter, and drawing in her sketch pad. Here's a bit of the prologue:

'I glanced at the sketch pad propped against my knees and made myself more comfortable in the ancient porcelain bathtub. The remnants of old magic shrouded my frame, but barely. The spell had been cast long ago, and too many hands had handled the tub for me to be completely hidden. That was the trouble with most magic-touched things. Any traces of the original spell cast were faint, fading slowly... but that didn't stop my father from collecting as many magically tainted objects as he could. The manor was filled with worn shoes that grew flowers from the soles, and mirrors that sang as you walked by them, and chests that spewed bubbles whenever opened.'

Sadly, when the letter arrives, she learns that her parents have died.

Inez inherits their fortune and then, convinced their death isn't the tragic accident it appears to be, she secretly sails to Cairo with her spunky attitude, her sketch pads, and a magical gold ring her father sent her for safekeeping. In Egypt, she checks into the iconic Shepheard's Hotel, beloved by British tourists of the time for its stained glass windows, Persian carpets, and lush gardens. In the book, it's where Inez's parents were last seen. With her home base at the hotel, she gets into mischief as only a precocious young lady can. There's old-world magic, unexpected romance, and the revelation of secrets.

Inez is the narrator, and she's an excellent companion for adventure.

I'll be featuring this book on the November 3 episode of my podcast The Library of Lost Time (https://strongsenseofplace.com/library).

Thank you Netgalley for providing me an electronic copy of this gem. This story starts in Argentina and moves to Egypt an the end of the 19th century. Someone mentioned that this book gave them The Mummy vibes and I would have to agree. Thombs explorers, secrets, lies and deceit, a little romance and a head strong female protagonist. What is not to love? Perhaps the huge cliffhanger at the end!? I need book #2 ASAP! 4.5 stars.