Heads up y’all: this story is addictive and ends in a cliffhanger, without its sequel yet published.

With her parents gone, our Argentinian main character Ines travels to Cairo, where they spent most of her life. In working alongside her uncle, trying to discover Cleopatra’s tomb, she discovers she knew very little about her parents. She flies by the seat of her pants and figures out how to make her way into an archeological dig in a foreign country, where she doesn’t speak the language and, where she’s been explicitly told she’s not welcome had me cheering for her intrepid spirit.

The book feels quick paced to start, lags a tad in the middle and then speeds to a break neck pace that will have you refusing to tear your eyes away from your reading. It’s full of adventure (escaping a crocodile! Explosives! Kidnap!) and so many richly described vibes that it felt like a completely immersive experience for me.

There is a PG love interest that takes until page 373 of 406 to come to fruition, so if slow burn and banter is your thing, run don’t walk. He’s completely smitten by her headstrong will and impropriety in service of her aim. But oh for the love of Isis, that CLIFFHANGER. I can’t wait for the next in the series!

I’d recommend this to someone who
- grew up watching the Mummy
- likes some class consciousness with their historical fiction
- loves a headstrong FMC and a roguish “take your hands off her” kind of MMC
- doesn’t need terribly strong scaffolding around the magic system

However please keep in mind that this author is willing to kill off her characters, so don’t get TOO comfortable (and check trigger warnings), as plot lines that begin rather lightly turn dark rapidly at the last 20% of the book.

What the River Knows is my first Isabel Ibañez read, but it will not be my last! Every word in this book felt magical. Inez is a fantastic main character and the chemistry between her and Whit was perfect! The air of mystery surrounding all of the characters really added to my intrigue and kept me invested in the book. I also really enjoyed the ancient Egyptian history that was woven throughout the story. The transitions between settings was very smooth and really exciting. I had so much fun reading this book, which is not always how I feel even when I enjoy a book. I enjoyed the sharp banter and the archaeological aspect that was prominent in What the River Knows. This book had a lot of twists and I truthfully did not see most of them coming. I am anxious for the next book to come out already because the last chapter left me sweating. I really enjoyed the unpredictability of this book and want to reiterate how much fun I had reading this!

Thank you so much to Netgalley and St. Martins Press for the e-ARC of What the River Knows! I have already preordered my copy because I will definitely be re-reading this!

This was a solid 3/3.5. I loved the premise but was disappointed with the pacing, character development, and magic. The book started strong but dragged in the middle, especially for a book that clearly has a sequel coming. The cliffhanger ending made up for some of it, but I wasn’t as invested in Inez by this point for it to fully do so. She became frustrating, especially with obviously missing what I felt was an obvious “twist” and even more so for the “will they, won’t they” with Whit. Many of their time interactions felt cringy and forced when the more interesting part of the story was the history:
/artifacts, parents mystery, and politics. While I loved the historical society information and accurate portrayal of Egypt at this time, the magic added felt random and underdeveloped. I was intrigued right away by the power passing through objects, but this soon became a side note, used only when needed for the plot. I’m hooked enough to want to know more in the sequel but felt there were many areas to tighten up for a more satisfying read.

If you're in the market for a slow burn, banter filled adventure, with a touch of magic look no further. Giving The Mummy, Indiana Jones, and Death on the Nile vibes. This novel is immersive, humorous, high stakes, and full of betrayal. Featuring a slow burn yearning fueled romance with well written banter. Whit is the perfect swoony, exasperated book boyfriend.

Forced Proximity, Slow Burn, Spunky FMC

What the River Knows is a solid YA historical mystery with an okay romance.

First, let's get this out of the way: yes, this is being compared to The Mummy. Yes, I can absolutely see why it is. No, it is not worthy of that comparison whatsoever. In fact, that comparison does this book an absolute disservice, because all the reader (me) will do is imprint the main characters with Evie and Rick, and these young adults do NOT live up to those lofty expectations.

Inez is a headstrong young woman who leaves home and races off to Egypt when she receives word that her parents have died. Egypt kept her parents for half the year, leaving Inez at home in Argentina and yearning to be with them and their adventurous lives. When she arrives in Egypt, she is met with her Uncle (now her guardian) and his right hand man, the brawny and dashing Whit. Inez stubbornly finds ways to stay in Egypt instead being sent back home, and is wrapped up in the mystery of her parents' deaths and the treasure they sought.

It's a good story with a decent mystery and a little bit of magic to give it some fun flavor. Ibanez did a lot of research for the time period and it shows in the text; Egypt is rendered in loving detail. There is also commentary on the various practices of colonizer countries coming in and taking her history away, on how Egyptians themselves were pushed out of studying their own history and archaeology. Those were great positives for this novel.

The mystery itself was serviceable; about 50% through I could see where the majority of it went. I DO have to give Ibanez credit for doing a few things in the climax that truly surprised me. I didn't see a few big moments coming, and I was struck with the shock and weight of them and the effects they had on the characters.

As for the characters...that was probably my least favorite part of this novel. Inez was headstrong and stubborn, but at times she crossed waaaay over the line into ignorant and stupid. Whit was annoying in how obviously the author tried to make him seem dashing and charming but also hiding inner turmoil. After the tenth time he was described as leaning/lounging against a wall/doorway with arms crossed over his chest/stomach and his ankles crossed, I wanted to throw my kindle across the room. It's so plainly obvious that he's supposed to be a Rick O'Connell type, but unfortunately he has NONE of the natural charm Brendan Fraser had in the role.

The budding romance between Inez and Whit was okay. It felt forced at times because the characters felt like they were being forced into playing roles already set for them by the author instead of seeing it happen organically. I didn't care whether they liked each other or not, but it didn't really ruin anything for me.

I would recommend this book for anyone that finds the plot/ideas intriguing AND likes a strong romance. Like I said, the story and mystery itself is decent, and the character issues are things I've had issues with in any novel.

Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press/Wednesday Books for the opportunity to read this! What the River Knows will be available on October 31st.

I'm going to go re-watch The Mummy for the 200th time now.

What the River Knows is an intriguing tale of magic, adventure and Egyptian mythology and romance. The tension (plot and romantic) was perfection. The characters are well written, both the good characters and the villains. I was surprised at the ending and can't wait for the next book.
Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's press for my review copy of this book.

Isabel Ibañez writes in such color. Everything is being and vivid and I always enjoy picking up one of her beautifully written stories. The same was the case for this one

Thank you to the publishers and NetGalley for the ARC of this book. This review may contain spoilers.

Let's start with what I didn't like: This was written in first person POV and the main character was SO, SO, immature and stupid. SO much angst, no character depth, repetitive internal monologue. I swear she was worried if she didn't think about her parents death once per page it was like she'd forget. I don't think there was any need to be italicizing words to get emphasis across in internal monologue, but it happened, quite often. The execution of the book was just tragic. I think it would have worked much better for me in third person, and if we had other perspectives. Maybe the mom and uncle? That could have made it really interesting. Some flashbacks to before her parents died? Besides her memories of her cousin. I mean useful memories. We got so much detail on the weirdest things and then not enough of the actual things that could move the plot along. Also the repetitive internal monologue. Annoying when things are repeated, isn't it? Her parents died.

It really grated on me that this 19 year old super wealthy girl from the pinnacle of Buenos Aires society in 1884 has very strong opinions about England ruling Egypt and paying laborers working wages... okay cool. that's... realistic.

Good: the plot was really creative (I do love Egyptian history) and I didn't predict most of the betrayal or twists and turns that occurred. I think there could have been more depth to her heritage and if she was going to get so up in arms about the English occupation she needed a backstory that made her worthy of that judgement. (More so than "my parent's believed....")

I loved the cliff hanger ending and how you couldn't trust anyone. The ending, which probably pissed everyone else off, bumped this book up a star for me, almost to the point I'd suffer through a second one just to see what happens next.

I received an ARC of this book by the publisher via Netgalley in an exchange for an honest review.

So the most important thing I think people should know is that this book is first book in a series. I had zero idea this was a series and thought this was going to be a standalone. The cliffhanger ending kind of dispelled that assumption. I checked on Goodreads and there's still no mention of this being a new series. I know that can be a dealbreaker for some readers so I wanted to make sure people are aware of that fact going into the book.

Alright onto the review. What the River Knows is a historical fantasy romance, which to be honest is light on the fantasy and heavy on the romance (and witty banter). Most of the time it felt more like speculative historical fiction set in Egypt in the 1880s. I've been to Egypt twice in the last three years and I resonated with how Ibañez described the settings. At certain moments it felt like I was back in Cairo or Philae. The descriptions were vivid and it's obvious Ibañez was writing from a place of love for Egypt.

My only major qualm with the book is that it felt like it was a bigger book that Ibañez was forced to cut in half. There weren't any plot arcs that were wrapped up in the first book and the ending felt jarring. But a hell of a cliffhanger.

I've seen What the River Knows categorized as young adult. But I don't really understand why it's being marketed as such. It felt more new adult rather than young adult. If you're predominantly an adult fiction reader who skips out on young adult fiction, you shouldn't automatically write this book off. Overall I'd rate What the River Knows 4 out of 5 stars. I really enjoyed reading it up until I realized there were only 30 pages left and there was no way any of the plot points would be wrapped up. I wish I'd been mentally prepared for a series going into it. However, I'll continue the series when the second book is released.

This is a very entertaining historical fantasy. Inez is an Argentinian young woman whose life has already been decided for her. Marry the Consul’s son and have children. When her parents go missing in Egypt, she escapes to find out what happened. There, she will meet a dreamy rogue, her shady uncle and a whole cast of new people. She will also find untold treasures and the trail of an Egyptian Queen. I loved how atmospheric it is, how everything is described in loving detail in a way that it makes Egypt in 1884 come to life. The historical context is also rich and helps set the action. The plot is suspenseful and addictive. I wasn’t a fan of the modern sensibilities imposed on a character from the XIX Century. Yes, she is modern for her time but the anti-colonial opinions that she voices all the time are more suited for people today than back in the day. The author says that was her intent, though, so a little suspension of disbelief is needed here. Inez also causes untold damage with her recklessness and her trusting the wrong people. That said, she’s young and has lived a sheltered life so it’s hard to fault her. I can’t say I liked her at all, but I was still rooting for her. This may be a spoiler but I hope there will be a sequel.
I chose to read this book and all opinions in this review are my own and completely unbiased. Thank you, #NetGalley/#St. Martin's Press, Wednesday Books!

I really enjoyed the setting for this book. The Egyptian landscape was beautiful and was a great setting we don't see used often enough.
However... the rest was pretty much standard fare for a YA novel. Which this was sadly what it was intended to be,
Inez felt very young, and her decisions followed that youthful naivete that YA protagonist usually has.
The magic system was pretty straightforward and a bit bland. Certain objects can cause different things to happen, but no one seems to know how to DO anything more with that magic because nothing was ever recorded (or that information was lost) so there's not a lot more about it. It's just a quaint quirk in the world.

It was fine overall, but nothing spectacular.

Wow! That ending has me hooked for the next book! It can’t come soon enough! I loved Inez and Whit and I absolutely adored the setting! Ibanez does an amazing job describing Egypt and the ruins in a way that I feel I am there.

I do wish there was a little more emphasis on the romance and a little less on the descriptions of food, but all in all, it was a fun and exciting read!

Thanks to St Martin’s Press and NetGalley for an eARC in exchange for my honest thoughts.

Was excited to get an ARC of What the River Knows from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

The book is set in the late 1800’s and is in the historical fantasy realm. It starts with the main protagonist, Inez, waiting for a letter from her parents to see if they grant her request to join them on their adventures in Egypt. They spend a majority of the year there and she has never been.

Instead of the letter from her parents, Inez gets other unexpected news, and decides to go on a solo quest to Egypt to find out what happened to them.

Inez is stubborn and somewhat naive as she travels alone to the foreign country and meets many untrustworthy characters along the way.

I enjoyed the Egypt backdrop, magical undertones and historical tidbits in this one and was invested at the beginning, but found my attention waning about a third of the way through.

I found the story to be pretty slow moving and while I admit I’ve been tired this week, this one took longer than most to finish because I kept dozing off! Lol.

I would have appreciated more action, more fantasy like elements and perhaps more steam in the romance department. Things pick up at the end and there were some twists and turns but feeling like there’s a lot left unexplained.

Overall feeling like not much happened in the book except for what seems like a long setup to a sequel, even though it doesn’t say now that this is part of a series. Not sure if I’ll continue if there is another.

After the unexpected deaths of her absentee archeologist parents, heiress Inez Olivera sneaks out of Argentina and sails for Egypt intent on finding the uncle who is now her guardian and learning more about the work. As one might expect from a naive girl out on her own for the first time, she immediately loses an important clue sent to her by her father then determinedly stumbles into one obstacle after another in her quest. Along the way she meets a variety of morally dubious (and well-built) characters, including her uncle and a swoon-worthy love interest, and begins to finally uncover some of her parents' secrets.

This is an action-packed and dramatic book, with great characters and world-building, but reader beware! It ends on a serious cliff-hanger and we'll have to wait for book two of the duology to know what happens next!

Not to be dramatic but I am the most impatient person in the world and the cliffhanger/plot twist absolutely killed me, realizing that this book isn't even our yet and now I have to wait even longer for the second one is just... painful.
This book had a great balance of historical fiction mixed with fantasy, adventure and romance; the atmosphere felt immersive and electric like I was really in nineteenth century Egypt for the first time. The mystery kept me on my toes while providing depth to the characters, some may appear as a friend or a foe or they may be both or the opposite (I was wary of a few and was proven right, that part I enjoyed too). Inez was multidimensional, as feisty and stubborn as she was she was also soft and scared, dealing with the grief of her parents yet courageously traveled to another country to find answers, it was easy to root for her as well as sympathize with her. One of my favorite parts was the will-they-won't-they romance of Inez and Whit, their banter was where they shined their snark, honesty, and the push and pull throughout the book continuously left me thinking that a I was going to get a "heroine doesn't get the guy in the end" storyline but Isabel Ibanez did not disappoint at all (that ending though was ROUGH I was reeling). Definitely one of my favorite reads this year, thank you St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for this ARC, all the stars to What the River Knows!
This review is also posted on my Goodreads:https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/5839790006

What the River Knows by Isabel Ibanez was a wonderful read. I was absolutely enchanted by the depictions of Egypt, and I loved the historical fantasy mystery aspects as well.

Inez was one outstanding character: independent, mischievous, brave, intelligent. Whit was very interesting also, and I really hope we get inside his head more in the next book.

While I thoroughly enjoyed this book, a couple things didn't completely work for me. The pacing itself felt inconsistent. Sometimes we'd be zipping along and then it felt like we came to a standstill. I really would have liked more of Whit's perspective, so again, I hope that'll be the case in the sequel.

Speaking of sequels, I thought this was a stand-alone, but I am pretty intrigued to see what is going to happen next. I need some revelations!

***I voluntarily read and reviewed an Advance Reader Copy generously provided by the publisher via NetGalley.***

I'm pretty sure it has been said but I'll say it again. If you are a fan of the movie The Mummy you'll absolutely love this book. There is all the action, adventure, and romantic tension similar to the movie. I loved how the a author included a few historical figures and events into the story. It helped in building the picture of what Egypt was facing at the time. This book is a fantasy but the magic is subtle. I think subtlety of the magic made the story connect with me quickly. The characters though are the main attraction for me. Absolutely love Tio Ricardo and Whit! They made the story for me. They are characters full of depth and Whit more so than Tio Ricardo I'd say is morally grey. This definitely was a fast read for me and just couldn't put it down. As the book ended in a cliffhanger I'll be desperately anticipating the next installment!!

This book was captivating right from the start! I loved the blend of historical fiction and Egyptian mythology throughout the story. The magic in this story was well done and I enjoyed the plot and mystery. My one knit pick was that at times the pacing felt slow, but overall a great book!

I was hooked from the first page. And the twist on the last page has me DESPERATE for another book to be announced.

The blend of mythology, magic, mystery, drama and romance throughout was done so well. The tension (plot and romantic) was perfection. I loved these characters, I loved the surprises that caught me off guard until the very last page, and I loved the setting throughout Egypt and through time.

This is one of those books that somehow comes to life, and I did not want to leave my immersion in the fictional world. Can’t wait to read more.

Thanks to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for the ARC.

I love Egyptian culture and have always been fascinated with it. This was a wonderful book of magic , adventure, and great characters.