Don’t you love reading a story that immediately immerses you in its world? You feel sucked in and can’t stop until you discover what happens next. Well, that’s exactly what this did to me. When I tell you this story had me on edge the whole time, I’m not lying. This story is mystery-filled action-packed, with a bit of romance to boot. The characters are so well delivered, and you begin to love one and then start to distrust another, or the one you doubt starts to be someone you love. It’s all so well written and flows so nicely. Your emotions will be toyed with, and you will finish this story with a big question mark because of all the possibilities that could be at play in the next installment. It does have a slow-burn romance but don’t go in thinking this story is focusing solely on it. The story is so much more than the romance. It’s just one piece of a giant puzzle. What The River Knows is one of my favorite reads of the year, if not my favorite. If you love Indiana Jones, The Mummy, or National Treasure adventure movies or TV shows, this story is perfect for you. If you’re looking for a heavy romance, you’re not going to get that here, which isn’t a bad thing because, as I said before, it’s only a little piece to a giant puzzle that’s still not done; I highly recommend going out and getting this book when it comes out. It’s that good.

This book has beautiful, visual Egyptian history, along with mystery that has you guessing on every single page. The experience reading this book was very immersive, as I felt like I was truly in Inez’s place. The romance and familial relationships were well done. This book is probably one of the most unique fantasy novels I have read this year.

Thank you so much Netgalley and St. martin’s Press for the Arc!


I found a book in July of 2022 that opened up a void inside of me that had me looking for an Egyptian-style fantasy book similar in feeling to The Mummy. I spent so long looking and I really thought I’d never satisfy that craving. Well, this book was what I needed, it has filled that void and my heart is so full!

This is such a dreamy, clever and heartbreaking book. I felt so many different emotions right from the first chapter. The pacing of this book was fantastic, I was constantly on edge waiting for the next detail to unfurl. The mystery of Inez’s parents' death is woven so perfectly around the greater mystery of ancient Egypt. Isabel took so much care in sprinkling in real historical figures and events, this really adds so much depth and historical accuracy to this book that I was not expecting from something in the fantasy genre.

This story has so many wonderful characters; from Inez’ prickly uncle, to kindhearted Kareem. There's no shortage of characters to love or hate. Inez herself is such a fantastic character. She’s so stubborn, hilarious and so full of hope. Her slow build friendship and more with Whit is so wild and dreamy. I loved Whit immediately, the banter between them is to die for.

And this book's ending left me with so many questions and emotions, I cannot wait to continue this story! Inez is in my heart and I need her to find happiness!

GAH WHAT A CLIFFHANGER!!! The budding romance and multiple twists made this one exciting. I Loved Inez's ingenuity about sneaking around and escaping different situations in which she found herself.

ARC by NetGalley and the publisher.
While everyone on social media is talking about the Roman Empire I’m a firm believer that my version of this is ancient Egypt. this book very much embodies that fascination that started at a young age much like our main character Inez.
Inez has dreamed of following alongside her parents grand adventures to Egypt her whole life. Her requests are constantly thwarted and she is made to stay behind with her Aunt and cousins in Argentina. Inez spends her days drawing and fantasizing of the day her invitation to join them will come, it never does. Word of her parents deaths sparks Inez to finally journey to the intriguing country she has always dreamed of. Who can Inez trust in her quest and what secrets does the mysterious golden ring her father sent have to do with their disappearances.
Ibañez truly transports the reader to Egypt, I enjoyed the enchanting descriptions she painted for the reader and found myself turning pages quickly. Inez was a strong main character, her ingenuity and pluckiness was very refreshing. Whit was charming and the banter between the two main characters brought a smile to my face. While I loved the setting and plot I did find that inconsistent pacing towards the last half of the book to be a bit jarring. Upon completion it is apparent that Ibañez will be making this into a series and I look forward to learning more about the magic we were given a small taste of.
This YA novel is as a fun blend of historical fiction, mystery, a pinch of magic, and a dash of romance. I have no doubt that the targeted audience will absolutely swoon over this book and discover a great love for Egypt.

What the River Knows comes out October 31, 2023.

Thank you again NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

An incredibly fresh and fun take on historical fantasy! This book is for anyone who grew up feeling different and also obsessed with Egypt. What the River Knows strikes an amazing balance between the history between Egypt and England, exploring historical artifacts/archeology in a sociological and anthropological context and actual magic. The characters are full of life and the mystery will bring you on an intense and wild ride!

I... don't know what I thought about this book!

It definitely gave off the vibes it promised, being The Mummy and Death on the Nile, but in a surface level way. I saw one review mention that a confusion about it being YA versus adult with the characters in their early 20s/late teens, and while it definitely felt YA, something did feel a bit weird that the 19/20 year old characters were acting like such children at times (Or I should say, younger teens perhaps).

The twist was telegraphed so loudly that I thought that I was missing something or that the main character was just very dense (though, who ended up betraying her did make sense why she would ignore those signs). The other shocking thing at the end also felt strange because while it was sad that a certain character died, it almost felt like they got reintroduced to off them.

I don't know. I read this because I thought it would be a fun little adventure, but it did what books always seem to do - be a surprise series, and that was another disappointment.

I'm really talking myself down on this - I think a 3 star is a good place for this, though I know a lot of people enjoyed it.

Thank you to Wednesday Books and NetGalley for a chance to read and review.

Amazing story, amazing character development, and amazing narrative arc. The plot flowed smoothly, everything made sense, and I loved every minute of reading this. It kept me on the edge of my seat and I never knew who I could and couldn't trust, which worked perfectly for the purpose Ibanez set out to accomplish. Already CANNOT wait for the sequel

I really enjoyed this story - quick style summary: Runaway South American Socialite travels alone to Egypt to find out what happened to her parents. The plot has twists and turns and a bit of Indiana Jones style action. This is a fun romp including a mystery, forbidden romance, and a little magic.

4 stars. I received this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. This novel was a fascinating blend of history, magic, and intrigue. There were times when I questioned some of the character development, especially Inez, as she was a little unbearable at times. Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed this story and cannot wait for the next book.

If you’re looking for a book with a slow born romance, complicated relationships, a little murder mystery, magic, loads of plot twists, and a strong female character who a little naive to go along with your ancient Egypt addiction, then this book was written in the stars for you! Would like to clarify that this is a duology and not a standalone, which I wasn’t aware of when I started it. I cannot wait to get my hand on the next book. The ending had me gasping and punching air. Couldn’t recommend enough!

Thank you NetGalley, St. Martins Press, Wednesday Books, and Isabel Ibañez for this captivating Arc in exchange for my honest review! You all are the best!

If you liked the Mummy and a fun adventure, pick this book up. I was hoping for more magic and mysticism, but I enjoyed the chemistry between Inez and Whit. Looking forward to the next book!

I received an ARC from Netgalley and St. Martin’s Press.

What the what?! The way this book ended has me like 🤯🫣 Whyyyy?!!

This book was so good. I’m not very good with historical type of books but this one was amazing. Epic! The blurb begins with ‘The Mummy meets..’ I mean, say less!
There’s a LOT going on in this book. You have a girl from Argentina, Inez. She always dreams of going off with her parents who frequently go to Egypt excavating and doing adventure-y things there. They never allow her join so she lives with her aunt and cousins. Then she receives word that her parents have died so she decides to go to Egypt and figure out what exactly happened to them. In Egypt, she encounters her uncle and a Mr. Whitford Hayes. They want to send her back home and she doesn’t want to go until she gets some answers.
The magic in this book is found in old artifacts. A seemingly ordinary scarf can shrink things or pour hot water. This book takes place in Egypt so there’s lots of fun stuff with that. They’re searching for lost tombs and such.
This book is so adventurous. There’s never a dull moment. It’s first person POV so you’re along for the ride. You learn everything as Inez does. I loved Inez and her stubbornness. I loved Whit and his guarded but sweet self! I loved all of it. So much!
There is a bit of romance. It’s fun too because this is the late 1800s so a man even looking at you too long is scandalous! So when their hands touch or something so innocent happens it’s fully swoon worthy in this book! I loved it. You do get a few little POV parts from Whit too and it’s veryyy interesting!
If you want an adventurous historical fantasy that has lots of twists and turns, this is for you! I highly recommend. It was so so good. It ends on a cliffhanger that had my heart racing 😫
Thank you NetGalley, Isabel Ibañez, and St Martins Press for the eARC! It was an honor to get to read this book:)

Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for providing this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

"What the River Knows" is a historical mystery infused with magical realism. Inez learns of her parents' demise in Egypt, prompting her to leave her aunt in Argentina and surprise her uncle while seeking the truth behind her parents' death.

The book reminded me somewhat of an Agatha Christie novel, albeit without a traditional detective. The author excels in character development and keeping readers guessing at every twist and turn. Although the pacing occasionally felt slow, I enjoyed the author's vivid descriptions of the Egyptian scenery.

At times, I found the main character's naivety more akin to that of a young teenager rather than a 19-year-old, creating a sense of a significant age gap between her and her love interest. However, considering the time period and societal norms, you often see young women as inexperienced and sheltered. Eventually, I accepted this and appreciated their banter and friendship. It would have been helpful to know that this is not a standalone book; the surprising cliffhanger caught me off guard.

I thoroughly enjoyed the book, appreciating the historical context and vivid scenery the author provided. The unexpected twists in the story kept me engaged, and despite the occasional slower pace, I couldn't put it down, finishing the book quickly. I will definitely read the next book and recommend it to others.

3.5/5 ⭐️
This book is great for anyone who enjoyed Silver in the Bone or Stalking Jack the Ripper. It is hitting very similar vibes and plot ideas as those two, but set in late 1800s Egypt.
This book started off good, but I don’t know if I just ignored the problems before, or if it went off the deep end part way through cause I was eager to just be done with this book. My main issue was with the the main character. She was on the cusp of me liking her. But unfortunately, she was sort of dense. Like if she just asked one more question or pushed a little harder, like she saw it but would turn away like a heroine in a scary movie, causing me to groan in annoyance. Like I hate when authors make their characters dense to move the plot forward, because you can do what it’s intending to do but by having them making wrong assumptions that make sense with their false beliefs and upbringings. In addition to that, a lot of the characters felt like Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde with their actions and what they said. Also, we really didn’t need Whit’s POV. It didn’t add anything to plot. And my final complaint is that the last like half (?) of the book felt like it was throwing everything at us. And I mean everything.
Despite all that, I will say it is readable and can be enjoyable. I liked a lot of smaller moments and scenes. Unfortunately, on the overall, this needed to be workshopped a little more in my opinion. Maybe take some stuff off the board. But, I would still probably recommend this to people.
Thank you to NetGalley and Wednesday Publishing for providing an advance reader copy of this book for my honest review.

This one was probably just a bit too YA for me, but it was pleasant enough. The book begins in Buenos Aires, which was part of the attraction for me, but really the book takes place in Egypt. Our plucky heroine Inez travels there on her own to search for her parents, who have been lost in the desert while exploring ancient ruins. This book takes place in the Victorian era and I think the author was probably channeling The Mummy when she wrote it. We have a smart somewhat sheltered heroine, an anti-hero who's given up on himself and there is (unfortunately for me) a romance. I didn't really like that part of the book. I'd have preferred for Inez to not be distracted as she tries to piece together how her parents disappeared and who she can trust.

When Inez presents herself to her uncle, the person who wrote to her about her parents' disappearance, he promptly tries to pack her off to home in South America again. But Inez isn't deterred. She makes allies, disguises herself and uses her knowledge of Egyptian archaeology to make her way to the desert.

A theme in this book is the ethics of recovering artifacts. Inez is aware that many of these artifacts are being plundered from their country of origin. There's a black market in artifacts, made more dangerous because magic exists in this world and some artifacts are magical. I was never sure how much this magic angle actually belonged in this book- it sometimes felt tacked-on- but it enhanced the value of these pieces even more.

So I liked Inez but didn't really like her love interest and that took up enough of the story that I ended up skimming. The author is good at her job but I'm not often taken by YA books.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC!

Pretty solid read! Really thorough research and detail on the history here, which was fascinating.
However the plot built very slowly which made it hard to stay engaged.

From a historical fiction point of view, this book had immense impact. The research into Egyptian artifacts was superb. I also appreciated the focus upon the depth of which the British empire stole artifacts and history from the Egyptian people for their personal gain. In fact, many British museums still harbor stolen artifacts that should be returned to their countries of origin. The mystery, thrill, romance aspects of this novel are very slow in evolving. The pacing is the biggest issue I had with this novel; it is extremely slow to build excitement.

Inez Olivera is on a mission to find out what happened to her parents who are missing and presumed dead. She journeys alone from Buenos Aires to Cairo to meet with her new guardian, her elusive uncle. Upon arrival she quickly realizes that she is not welcome and takes great pains to escape plots to send her back home. Elements of magical realism become part of her journey, creating some excitement in the early monotony.

Despite the slow pacing, I enjoyed this novel. The cliffhanger is set in such a way that is frustrating and yet guarantees a second installment.

"Egypt is the gift of the Nile." (Herodotus)

And Isabel Ibanez gifts us with one incredible read that will stay with you long after the last page. If you're in the mood for high adventure, then this one will be calling your name.......loudly.

Inez Olivera is a nineteen year old young woman who has been raised for most of her life by her father's sister, Tia Lorena. It's 1884 in Buenos Aires, Argentina and romance lines the streets with the smells of delicious foods and the staccato of lively music. But Inez longs to be with her parents, Lourdes and Cayo, who have spent the last seventeen years living in Cairo with only occasional trips home to Buenos Aires. They've been on archaeological digs with Lourdes' brother, Tio Ricardo.

But word has reached Buenos Aires that both Lourdes and Cayo are missing in the desert. And here's where we officially meet Inez in all her adventurous splendor. She's inherited her parents' courageous nature and fearlessness. Inez sneaks out in the middle of the night. She travels by train and ship to reach Cairo. Even after her perilous travels, Tio Ricardo immediately books a return passage for her. Inez is determined to board her uncle's boat heading for Philae even if he is not aware of her plans. And that is just the beginning of a non-stop intensely written storyline.

Isabel Ibanez has done remarkable research in What the River Knows. We'll come to find the upheaval of the Egyptian people after the British invaded in 1882. It was a time of robbers and thieves breaking into tombs and the underhanded actions of those misrepresenting the Antiquities Service for personal gain. And at the same time, Ibanez threads through an element of Old World magic and fantasy to round things out with magically tainted artifacts. What the River Knows is a voyage down the Nile you simply can't miss.

I received a copy of this book through NetGalley for an honest review. My thanks to Isabel Ibanez and to Wednesday Books for the opportunity.

Ok let’s get this out of the way first. Is this book the second coming of the cinematic masterpiece know as 1999’s The Mummy? No it’s not. Does it take recognizable inspiration from The Mummy, The Mummy Returns, and The English Patient? Yes it does. So, now you know.
What this is is an enjoyable, entertaining, and ultimately high stakes historical fantasy with a slow burn romance, light magic, and a ton of suspicious characters. Inez is honestly the only one you can trust, and she really shouldn’t be trusting anyone in turn. It’s actually kind of frustrating then that she is so easily trusting.
The last 20% of the book gets super high stakes and tense. I was shocked at how dark the story turned. There’s a ton to unpack and the end and tons of loose ends leading us to the next book. I’ll definitely keep reading!

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing a requested copy to review. All opinions are my own.