Wow! This book had everything- a great setting, lots of egyptian history, adventure, strong female characters, mystery and gorgeous writing. I was kept wondering until the very end. I especially loved the historical elements regarding the theft and smuggling of artifacts out of egypt in the 1800s. This was one of those books you just cant put down! Thank you netgalley for the digital copy.

What the River Knows by Isabel Ibanez is a historical fantasy novel that’s follows Inez, a young woman living in Buenos Aires in the late 1800s. After her adventuring parents die mysteriously, she is sent to live with her uncle half a world away in Egypt where he is on a mission. When Inez arrives, she learns that not everything is as it seems and not everyone can be trusted. She has to rely on her wit (if you know you know) to keep her one step ahead of anyone that is out to get her.

Is there anything better than going into a book completely blind and not being able to put it down and finishing it in one day? The answer is no. I had zero expectations going into this book and it completely blew me away. This book is a blend of The Mummy and Romancing the Stone in the best way. This book somehow manages to keep a fast pace throughout the story even in the slower parts. My intrigue was piqued throughout because there were constant reveals of things happening.

Inez was such a fun character to read from. She is determined and quick on her feet but that doesn’t mean she always makes the right decisions. Her banter with the love interest cracked me up. Speaking of the love interest, this book has one of the best slow burn romances I have read in awhile. Because of the time period, there are a lot of rules regarding how you have to behave with a member of the opposite sex and that just added to the tension.

This book is pitched as a fantasy and while it does have a little bit of magic, it’s not a main focus of the story. I do hope there is a bit more magic in the next book just because the tidbits we got were interesting. I loved all the Egyptian history in this book. The settings seemed well fleshed out and lush.

The last chapter and epilogue of this book had me in the floor (figuratively because if I get in the floor, it’s rough getting back up) and I need at least an announcement of the next book soon so I have something to look forward to. I will in fact be buying this book immediately when it releases because I need it in my life and I will be recommending this constantly to anyone who wants an action packed book with a swoony romance.

INFINITE STARS!
Isabel did an absolutely amazing job mixing history wit fantasy. The tension between Olivera & Whit 🫠 Did I mention Whit is a hot British guy? The ending probably was the biggest shocking cliff hanger off all the books I’ve read in 2023. I need the next one now 🫣 I want to visit Egypt and learn all about cleopatra after reading this book. Perfect about of romantic tension mixed with adventure. She kept me on my toes the whole boom and had me second guessing who was bad and who was good. So many twists I didn’t see coming. Will recommend to everyone. ❤️

Whoa!!!! I loved this book so much! I am realizing that “historical fantasy” is a favorite genre of mine - this book reminded me of Gods of Jade and Shadow, one of my favorite books that I read last year.

This book has so many things that I love in it - some actual history set in a really cool location, a headstrong female protagonist, complex familial relationships, twists - I did see one coming, but the last one completely shocked me, and best of all, a slow burn antagonistic/bantery romance. I canNOT wait for the sequel! The heat and the immense cliffhanger situation will have this one living rent free in my head for a while!!!

What the River Knows by Isabel Ibañez is a gorgeous historical fantasy set in 1880s Egypt.  

Our protagonist, Inez, is a Bolivian-Argentinian girl who has always wanted to visit Egypt — her parents are archeologists who live in Egypt half the year. When she receives word that her parents have been killed, Inez sneaks away from home and sails to Cairo.  

Inez is embroiled in magic and mystery as she tries to figure out what happened to her parents and the origin of a mysterious ring (maybe belonging to Cleopatra?) her father sent her.  

There’s a fun banter-y romance with Whit, her uncle’s assistant who has been charged with making sure Inez goes back to South America (the resourceful Inez, of course, disagrees with this plan). 

This one is quietly-paced in a way that lets you sink into the book and feel immersed in the setting and characters, before Ibañez hits you with a series of events and revelations that flip everything around.  

I also really appreciated the anti-colonialist look at Egypt, archeology, and the theft of artefacts.  When I was a kid/teen, I loved books about Egypt, but they were always written from the perspective of the British.

The only thing I felt was missing here was a wider sense of how magic works and is interacted with in Inez’s world.  Perhaps that will come in book 2.

Thank you to Netgalley and Wednesday Books for my review copy of this book.

This book surprised me with how much I enjoyed it!! I had never read anything like this and thought the concept was so unique!! The Egyptian setting/adventure mixed in with the mystery was so interesting to read!! I really enjoyed following Inez’s journey as she went to discover what happened to her parents and the many twists and turns that happened along the way. The mystery, secrets, lies, betrayals and magic were so good!! I absolutely loved the incorporation of magical elements into Egyptian archaeology. It truly added so much to the story and made it fascinating to read about!! The little subplot of romance was so cute and I need more!! Definitely a slow burn. The ending??? Jaw on the floor. I was so shocked and I literally cannot wait for the next book because I need to know what is happening!! Would definitely recommend this!!

Thank you NetGalley & St. Martin’s press for the arc in exchange for an honest review!!!

Inez Olivera travels in secret from Argentina to Egypt after getting word of her parents' death (mysterious circumstances obviously). Drawn by magic, Inez follows her uncle to his excavation site.

The novel was engaging and the story was fun. The pacing felt a little off - significant repetitive build-up in the first half turning to rapid-fire plot twists in the second - which made it feel very uneven. The same thing happened with many of the characters; Inez is almost unbelievably naive and her love interest, Whitford Hayes AKA Whit, changes his personality so rapidly it's hard to keep up.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.

What the River Knows is a fast-paced YA historical fantasy full of mystery and intrigue with a touch of magic. The strong female Bolivian-Argentinian lead character, Inez Olivera, never gives up as she searches for the answer to how her parents died while on an archeological dig in Egypt. Through heartache and road blocks, she perseveres.

This unique book is a master in story-telling and the beautiful settings come to life on the page. I couldn't put this one down and read it in one day. And with the mind-blowing cliffhanger and epilogue, I cannot wait for the sequel!

What an incredible journey! Thank you Netgalley for allowing me to read this!

Historical fantasy, slow burn, secrets, lies, adventure, magic and Egyptian mythology! I was completely hooked from the start! Inez is one of my favorite FMCs this year! She’s strong and determined and she never stops trying to find out what happened to her parents! The MMC is mysterious and smart and of course my favorite trait… morally grey!! The relationship between our two characters is so perfect!!

That end though…… cliff hangers get me every time!! I can’t wait to see what happens next!!

4.75 stars ⭐️

Thank you Netgalley and St. Martins Press for this free ARC, the opinions that follow are my own.

TLDR: If you liked the Mummy, go buy this book! Same vibe, different characters 🔥

I absolutely adored this book! From start to finish, I was deeply invested in Inez and her journey to find answers!
The book is full of so much love and lore from Egypt, it was a delight to learn more about their culture and history. The plot was sooo good — a mix of mystery and archeological adventure! I loved learning more about Cleopatra’s story. I also loved how much of Inez’s culture she brought with her. It made me love her even more!
The romance is true to the era and so delicious! I really enjoyed Whits character and their chemistry. There were so many moments between them that also left me breathlessly cackling.
Now, I must warn thee — it has a killer epilogue. So go in prepared to be thirsty for the sequel. I know I am! 🥵😳🫨

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for providing me with an eARC of this book in return for a fair and unbiased review.

I completely adored this book. The characters? Excellent. The vibes? Immaculate.

The prose really had me feeling like I was getting a glimpse into historical Egypt at a rather unfortunate period in the country's and its people's history (British colonialism). I was fuming along with Inez at the brazen theft and destruction left behind by the British.

Inez is a heroine you want to root for. Her clever wit and resilience is quite commendable.

Whit is unfailingly loyal, brash, and definitely dreamy haha.

The first third of the book is a little slow and could definitely be cut down in my opinion, but the rest of the book was worth it. Some of the twists and turns were obvious to me, but they were still clever.

But let me tell you, the ending had me SHOOK! Completely shook, I tell you. The first book isn't even out yet and I NEED the second one ASAP! Big kuddos to the author for making me feel this desperate for the next one.

This book was compared to The Mummy and I'm sorry to say that I was severely let down when the story wasn't at all like one of my favorite movies of all time. I had been hoping for more action, more adventure, swashbuckling fun, but that's not what this novel was. I thought the setting and characters were a breath of fresh air, but my expectations based on the marketing made me a little disappointed.

What the River Knows is a well researched historical fantasy by Isabel Ibañez. Set primarily in Egypt, she takes us on the defiant coming of age story of 19 yr old Inez as she traverses an unfamiliar land while trying to find answers to her parents untimely deaths.

I stepped out of my comfort zone to read What the River Knows— I'm not a huge fan of fantasy— but I'm so glad that I did. The descriptions had me longing to be standing along the Nile and taking part in the excavation of a temple. The use of magic wove beautifully into Egyptian history, and propelled the story forward.

The characters of Inez, Whit, and Ricardo were well written. Incorporating the use of Spanish and Egyptian into the text was a great enhancement. While the ending completely left my head spinning and second guessing everything that happened, I am anxiously awaiting the next chapter.

My only critique is that this book is a slow burn, and feel that it could have used a little more action in spots. Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press/Wednesday Books for an advance copy in exchange for an honest review. Publishing date is Oct. 31, 2023..

4 out 5 stars.

This is her best one yet!

Seriously.. reading this made me want to watch The Mummy.

This book has heart stopping adventures, beautiful imagery, slow burn romance, complicated family… it has it all!

I loved the main character, Inez! She was extremely determined to figure out what happened to her parents. She was at times a bit rash but understandably so. I loved her relationship with her cousin or should I say more like her sister? The other relationships she has in her family are super complicated and I felt Ms. Ibañez did such a good job exploring that and making it realistic.

Whit was a favorite of mine. Boy was he something. The tension and banter between him and Inez was golden. I chuckled so much throat reading. I can’t wait to see more of him.

Tío Ricardo was also an interesting guy.

I had my suspicions about who not to trust.. and I was so wrong lol. There’s a mystery going on here as well.

I was with Inez trying to figure out what was going on and who was involved.

There is a scene that I did not expect and my jaw just dropped! I was not prepared for that occurrences towards the end.. and no, I’m not talking about that jaw dropping cliff hanger!! I literally had to go back and reread the epilogue like..whaaat? Did I miss something?

I’m so excited to read book 2 because that ending… I NEED TO KNOW WHAT IT MEANSSSS

Overall, I loooved this book! I did not want to put it down. It has romance and adventure with wonderful descriptions of Egypt and artifacts, as well as the food and culture.

I highly recommend! I only read one of Ms. Ibañez’s book and it was not my favorite.. but this! THIS. So much better and more of my cup of tea! Definitely check this one out! If you weren’t a fan of her other writing, this is so different and much better.

Thank you to Netgalley and St.Martin’s Press & Wednesday Books for gifting me an advanced reader’s copy in exchange for an honest review.

This has been one of my top two fav reads this yr! I forced myself to read it slow the more it progresses because I didn’t want to leave the characters behind. The world building, the characters, the tension, the conflict, the twists and turns…. Ugh. Absolutely obsessed. Every time I picked up this book, it was such a treat. Like that little chocolate you find on your hotel room pillow at night! I loved the ending, I loved how the story ended. Like what?!? I was sad to leave this work temporarily but glad I’ll have the opportunity in the (hopefully soon) future to be with these characters again. I need to know what happens!!

Holy buckets! I was excited to read this book- who doesn’t love Egypt?- but I was blown out of the water by how much I loved it. The characters were incredible- I was immediately drawn to Inez, the main character, and her struggles. She was very relatable and I loved her background. The plot was fantastic, I loved the magic system as well. There were so many twists and turns- I did see some coming, but not all! I’m actually do mad that I have to wait for the sequel now. I 1000% recommend this for anyone who likes mysteries, magic, and Egypt.

4.5 stars rounded up.

Do you like your fantasy mixed with historical fiction (plus adventure, mystery, and a little romance)? Were you super into The Mummy and Indiana Jones? Then give this book a try!

Set in the 1880s, magic has mostly been lost, but some objects still hold on to it. The less they have been handled, the more magic they still contain, making ancient artifacts especially desirable. Inez is upper-class Argentinian-Bolivian and is used to her archeologist parents being gone on digs in Egypt most of the time. When she receives a letter that they've disappeared on a dig and are presumed dead, she sets off for Egypt herself.

Inez is a fantastic character - determined, clever, and full of heart. She's much more interested in finding out what happened to her parents at any cost than acting like a proper young lady. Whit is charming, but also brooding and clearly dealing with some past baggage. I loved that no matter how frustrated he got, he still looked after her safety.

I found the writing to be beautiful and the story captivating. The bits of ancient Egyptian history, the descriptions of everything from clothing to artifacts that painted such a clear picture, the Spanish and Arabic phrases... all came together to really immerse you in the adventure.

Y'all, I'm pretty sure I gasped two or three times in the last chapters of this book. I didn't realize this is the first of a duology, but I absolutely need to know what happens next!

4.5 STARS

Oh, let me tell you, I'm seriously blown away by this one.

It's not just the captivating Ancient Egyptian history, the lively archaeological backdrop, or the enigmatic characters with their shady motives – it's the clear evolution of storytelling that shines. It's crystal clear Isabel Ibañez truly found her voice with this tale, and that's what makes it such a satisfying read.

Speaking of satisfying, for a first book in a series, this ticks all the right boxes – an exciting setting, a gripping plot, characters you can't help but root for, and some top-notch writing. That cliffhanger of an ending? I NEED TO KNOW EVERYTHING. It definitely got me hooked and now has me impatiently waiting for the sequel! And this one isn't even out yet... What have I done to myself???

⚠️ TW: death, murder, violence, alcoholism, gun violence, kidnapping, sexism, blood, emotional abuse

I grew up loving Indiana Jones and later The Mummy. I was excited to read this historical fantasy with elements of mystery, adventure, and romance. This book delivered on the elements of this description, but I wanted to like it more than I did, Firstly, it ended in a way that begs for further explanation. One could argue that this is a good thing: I did end up wanting more or one could argue that it leaves one unsatisfied. One would have to read it to see which camp one would belong.
Further, I wonder what an audiobook would add to the story: sometimes I notice that an inspired performance breathes life in staid words.

All in all, I would rate this a 3.5 out of 5.

What the River Knows is a historical fantasy with mystery, magic, and maybe a bit of murder. Inez explores the country she always dreamed of seeing, faraway Egypt, which took her parents time, and hearts, from her. When they disappear, she seeks to find out what happened and learn more about an unknown uncle. It’s got a bit of romance, intrigue, and history.

I really wanted to like this book, but it fell short for me. The characters were clearly trudging along very clear plot lines, and because of that they felt one dimensional and their choices were inconsistent and unrealistic at times, which took me out of the story.

The ending felt less like a cliff hanger and more like a few chapters were ripped out of the end of the book. There’s a line between lining up the sequel and completely unresolved, and this book crossed it.

I did find the descriptions very beautiful; the world the author painted was lovely and invoked a magic of its own. Overall it missed the mark for me, but there are some good elements that some people will enjoy.