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.

I loved this one!! It’s so good! I highly recommend. I loved the setting the most, it brought me back to my college days studying anthropology.

3.5

I really enjoyed this one. I was a little nervous to read this one because it seemed so out of my comfort zone. This book had major Indiana Jones vibes. This one kept me on the edge of my seat the whole time. I highly suggest this one.

Loved loved LOVED this book! Huge thank you to the publishers and to Netgalley for giving me the opportunity to read this e-arc! This is my first Isabel Ibañez book, and I’m so excited now to go and read all her other books as I wait for the sequel to What the River Knows. The Mummy is one of my favorite movies ever and Inez and Whit came loaded with Evelyn and Rick vibes from their very first scene together, so I was fully hooked early on, and I stayed hooked through the rolling, banter- and tension-filled adventures that followed.

If you are looking for a refreshing and Jules Verne type of experience. Then this book is up your ally from mystery to history this book has it all. It is easily in one of my top 10 of the year, a must-read for any adventure and history buff.

It's a joy to witness Inez's journey of discovery in Egypt as she seeks to learn more about her parents' lives. However, the second half of the book loses some of its momentum. While exploring temples and cities remains interesting, it did lose some of the suspense. I appreciate what the author was trying to do. And it was well written. I anticipated a page turner. But it was a little more complex than that. Fine by me. I will definitely recommend this title. It’s new and different and that’s really exciting! Thanks NetGalley.

I just reviewed What the River Knows by Isabel Ibañez. #WhattheRiverKnows #NetGalley

Wonderful blend of history, adventure and romance, with a splash of magic. The perfect start to a series, and one heck of a last page and epilogue. I was immediately entranced with the setting, the historical atmosphere was beautifully described and immersive. I would like to understand more about the "magic" in the world, a bit more background on why and how (hopefully more in the sequel), sometimes it seemed like more of a whimsical inclusion - but I loved how Inez could feel/experience Cleopatra's life, and the "flashbacks" were some of my favorite parts of the story. Inez and Whit had great banter/chemistry from the start. You never really know who to trust, and I felt Inez's frustration intensely, and also her grief. I loved this story. I will definitely be purchasing and recommending this title in my library.