The author's description of this book on social media is spot on. I enjoyed this book so much and the plot twist! Is is too much to expect the sequel the same time as the first book release?

Hands down this book blew me away. The wit. The charm. The magic. The archaeology?! Inez's story of coming to Egypt to find her parents after they disappeared on a dig had me hooked. It was the perfect amount of mystery and the ending was a cliffhanger I never saw coming! What a twist!

Highly recommend adding October 31st to your calendar to purchase when it comes out!

The perfect fall read.

Thanks to #NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for an advanced copy. Also thanks to Isabel Ibanez who has been such a delight to follow on instagram.

Can't wait for book 2!

Ok so real talk... When I picked up this book I expected a one off historical fiction book, but I was not disappointed! In reality, this is the first in a series of historical fantasy books following a Latina protagonist as she goes to Egypt to learn more about the death of her parents. It wasn't until the last handful of chapters that I was going to be left on a cliffhanger, and not have a resolution.

The story definitely leans more heavily into the historical fiction side for this first installment, but I loved reading about the culture clash in Egypt as a result of colonialism and the complex feelings different characters had towards what was happening. Based on the foundations and hints left in this novel, I can already picture how the fantasy elements will become a bigger part of the story as it continues.

Overall a really fun and engaging read! Cannot wait for Book 2.

Book: What the River Knows
Author: Isabel Ibanez
Rating: 5 Out of 5 Stars

I want to thank the publisher, Wednesday Books, for sending me an ARC. I know as soon as I saw the premise of this one, it would going to be the perfect book for me.

In this one, we follow Inez, whose people love Egypt more than it seems her. They are gone all the time, leaving her to deal with Argentinian high society. Like her parents, she is very much interested in all things ancient Egypt. Then, she receives a letter telling her that her parents are dead. Inez breaks society’s rules and sets off for Egypt herself. She ends up finding more than she thought she would. She finds the influence of the British and their devastating impact on Egyptian culture, Egyptian artefacts being removed from the country, and magic. Just when Inez thinks she has everything under control, it gets worse. The Nile is calling to her and wants to reveal all of its secrets-including those of possible murder and treasure.

Ancient Egypt is my favourite ancient civilisation. The pyramids, the pharaohs, and the beauty of it pull me. One of the many reasons that I had such a good time with this was because the characters in this book are looking for Cleopatra’s tomb. I am probably not being original at all when I say that Cleopatra is my favourite pharaoh. The characters are drawn to them because of her education, her impact on the Egyptians, and the fact that she dared to stand up for Rome. Much of this book focuses on her last days as pharaoh and trying to figure out what went down there. There are also hints of magic woven into Cleopatra. Following the characters on their quest and getting to travel through Egypt was just amazing. Not only are they looking for Cleopatra, but there is also the fact that people are taking these objects out of Egypt and many of them are never brought back to the country. I am very much against this. These ancient artefacts are a part of Egyptian history and deserve to be kept there. This argument is woven into the book and questions about what is wrong and what is right are constantly being brought up.

The characters are so well done. I loved Inez. She comes across as your typical high-society young woman who wants to break free. Yes, this is true, but there is more to it than that. At the end of the day, she just wants to be with her parents. They have left her behind and given her their love of all things Ancient Egypt. Yet, they never take her with them and never share that part of their lives. She feels abandoned and unloved. Oh, yes, they do bring her back gifts and stories, but they always end up leaving her behind. When she finds out that they are dead, it crushes her and she has to know what happened to them. No one wants to give her any answers and no one will let her find out why they died. She has to take matters into her own hands. No, she didn’t think the whole thing through, but the drive to know what happened pushed her. This does get her into trouble, but her actions make sense. You will see what I am talking about when you pick up this book.

I also enjoyed Whit a lot too. He is on his second chance and we don’t know why. He has been given another chance at life by Inez’s uncle. He’s a drunk and has these walls up. Like with Inez, once you get to know him, these walls make sense. His past has greatly influenced his character and it shows. Trust me, whenever I say that it shows. He and Inez are the perfect balance for each other.

That final twenty-five percent, though, wow. Take about an amazing rush to the end. I am not saying that the ending is rushed by any means. The way Isabel brings it home will leave you walking away satisfied. It is heartbreaking and difficult and is the perfect set-up for the second book. It’s gripping and nonstop action. I’m not talking about it being over-the-top action either. The fact that when the characters are put in danger and the fact that Isabel has made you care so much for them will make it difficult to put this book down. I didn’t realize just how much I cared for the characters until I got to that final twenty-five percent.

Overall, I am very pleased that I read this one. If you are looking for a high-stakes book with strong characters and an Egyptian backdrop, I highly encourage you to give this a go.

This book comes out on October 31, 2023.

Youtube: https://youtu.be/4nx7MmPo87U

Like many other Millennials who grew up loving and watching THE MUMMY, I was super excited to review WHAT THE RIVER KNOWS by Isabel Ibañez! Thank you, NetGalley and Wednesday Books for the arc in exchange for my honest feedback.

WHAT THE RIVER KNOWS is a genre buster with a bit of historical fiction, a tad fantasy and romance, and a great deal of mystery and adventure rolled into one bundle of fun. The story follows spunky Argentinian Inez Oliviera as she journeys to Egypt in search of answers regarding the suspicious death of her parents. Set in the 1880s when Britain was trying to loot as many Egyptian artifacts as they could, Inez is not only traversing the Nile to find out what happened to her parents but also navigating the complicated politics involved in the family business of cataloging precious Egyptian artifacts. Inez, though a foreigner herself, dislikes what Britain is doing to Egypt and wants everything they discover to stay in Egypt out of principle.

I liked Inez as a character very much, especially because she isn't one of those heroines who is instantly good at everything. Her character has some modern sensibilities, but I really appreciate that she felt more like a young woman from the 1880s who is still mostly governed by social norms and desires, albeit with a lot of flair thrown in. These traits make her daring escapades all the more fun and admirable, especially when you imagine that she's wearing a corset while galavanting around Egypt!

I enjoyed lots of things about this book--the slow-burn romance between Whit and Inez (Did anyone else keep picturing Brendan Fraser as Whit in their head?), the descriptions of the food(!), the sweet relationship between Inez's cousin, Elvira, and herself--but the way Ibañez depicted Egypt in all of its gorgeous glory was what I loved most. You can tell that Ibañez genuinely loves and appreciates the country she set her novel, especially its people.

Thank you, Ms. Ibañez, for writing this beautiful book. It hit close to home for me because my father and I loved learning about Egypt together, and we were *this* close to adopting a camel to live in our front yard. Thank goodness we didn't, but my memories of our Egyptian dreams still hold fond memories for me. I think Inez enjoyed daydreaming about Egypt with her father too.

I thoroughly enjoyed this. I love historical fantasy, and I also, like many, had an Egyptian history phase as a child, so it was very appealing in that sense. I didn’t realize it wasn’t a stand alone, however, so that surprised me. But I’m definitely going to read the sequel, which should tell you enough about how engaged I was with it. There were some issues with pacing in the last quarter of it, but those may be addressed by the time of the final published version.
It’s like, the adventure and history of the Mummy along with all the sweet slow burn romance of a good YA duology. I thought Inez and Whit had good chemistry. I found both the ancient Egyptian history and the British/Argentinian/other countries controlling Egypt history also interesting.
All about Egyptian artifacts, how they were often smuggled into countries that didn’t deserve them, bought by the rich. How family and friends and maybe even lovers? might betray you for money.
And while I thought Inez was too hard on herself and put up with shit she shouldn’t have had to take from others, she was an admirable heroine and I liked her pluck.
All in all, a solid 4.25 stars.

Dive into the enchanting waters of What the River Knows by Isabel Ibañez, where magical realism meets historical fiction, casting a mesmerizing spell on an unexpected romance. This book is a hidden gem waiting to be discovered, sprinkled with peculiar characters and a trail of intrigue.

Ibañez's prose flows as smoothly as a river itself, blending the ordinary with the extraordinary in a way that leaves you spellbound. With quirky touches, the novel captures the essence of mysterious travel abroad during the height of Egyptian colonization and the low of tomb raiders. The story's charm lies not only in its magic but also in the connections it weaves between families it weaves. What the River Knows is an irresistible blend of reality and wonder, a tale that'll have you questioning what you know and believing in what you don't.

Thanks to St. Martin's Press, Wednesday Books for the advanced reader copy via NetGalley for a fair and honest review.

This book is practically perfect and everything my romantic, fantasy loving, archaeologist heart needed!

This book follows Inez Olivera, a young, Bolivian-Argentinian woman who is searching for answers about her parents’ deaths. They spent months away from Inez every year travelling Egypt - excavating ancient ruins and enjoying high society in Cairo. But after their mysterious disappearance, Inez is determined to find out the truth. But her arrival in Egypt is less than pleasant. Tío Ricardo, her mother’s brother and now her guardian, does not want Inez poking around. His assistant, the handsome and infuriating Whitford Hayes, is tasked with keeping an eye on her and keeping her out of trouble. However, Inez can sense magic bound to objects, and her uncle suspects she can be of use as they try to find the final resting place of one of the greatest Pharohs of ancient Egypt. But as Inez searches for answers, she uncovers secrets much more dangerous than ancient tombs and treasure.

This book is incredible! A gloriously written fantasy, with a plucky heroine, a roguish yet protective love interest, and a mystery that unfolds bit by bit, all set in 19th century Egypt. It is a fun read and an exciting adventure. There are thrilling twists and turns, and the slow burn romance between Whit and Inez is excellently done. The atmosphere is captivating and is the perfect setting for this historical fantasy.

The characters were also wonderfully written. Inez is a curious, headstrong young woman who is striving to find answers in a society that still treats women as delicate objects, best left at home. She is naïve and inexperienced, yet determined and intellectually bright, and willing to brave whatever it takes to get to the bottom of her parents’ disappearance. Whit is secretive, a bit of a rogue, and has his own demons. Not to mention he is working for her uncle, which makes trusting him difficult when we don’t fully know his motives. Like Inez, I want him to open up those walls he has built around himself and share some of his truth with her. The plotline with Cleopatra was great, and I think positioning the story around Inez, a young woman, and one of the greatest female leaders was a nice choice and showcased the strength of women across time.

One thing I also really appreciated is how Ibañez does not shy away from the inherent issues with colonialism and imperialism in archaeology, and how the destruction of archaeological sites and illegal trade of artifacts impact local cultural heritage. The impact of these issues are clearly shown in the book, and we know the historical fallout from the French and British occupation of Egypt. The destruction and misappropriation of cultural heritage is an issue that archaeologists are grappling with in different communities around the world today, and I appreciated how it was presented in this book. There is also a challenge in not overly romanticizing 19th century Egypt, but instead presenting it in a way that highlights the tension between the local communities and the tourists and Europeans/Americans. Again, Ibañez does this well and I think is careful in her portrayal of the different cultures and traditions of the region.

All in all, this was a fantastic book and I am so excited to read the sequel!

Thank you, thank you, thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press/Wednesday Books for this electronic Advanced Reader Copy in exchange for my honest feedback.

Isabel’s What the River Knows is an easy favorite for fans of the Mummy, Egyptology, and Historical fiction/romances!

A true adventure of a novel, taking place in 1800’s Egypt- and does not disappoint with an enemies to lovers twist.

We follow the story of Bolivian-Argentinian, Inez, a wonderfully strong and sometimes challenging female main character, as she struggles to determine the cause of her parents death.

Along the way we learn of her family’s ties to Ancient Egypt, magic relics, and how they help shape the journey Inez embarks upon.

Isabel has clearly done immense research with this novel and pays homage to not only her own Bolivian culture, but that of her characters as well. As a historical fantasy Isabel invested in really knowing who her characters are, the time period in which they live, their personal history, and language.

A book that is considered a YA novel, reads very mature in prose. The topics tackled such as trust, loss of parents, and betrayal are heavy, particularly for such an audience- and Isabel excellently immerses the readers fully in those emotional experiences.

What the River Knows is certainly setting up for a sequel novel (at least I HOPE!), leaving readers absolutely floored.

This book has everything you could ask for in a Historical Fantasy novel and will absolutely be a hit of the year!

This is a slow burn of a book - a leisurely cruise down the Nile, if you will. The end rapidly spirals into shocking twists and jarring acts of violence that will leave you cursing after the cliffhanger.

The standout of “What the Rivers Knows” is the rich description of 1880s Egypt. It’s so atmospheric, and the writing is detailed in its depiction of the beautiful country Inez is exploring.

There were a few discordant notes. Inez, while an adult and resourceful, comes across as your typical YA fantasy heroine, sheltered but feisty. The love interest, Whit, however, seems to be a grown man who has experienced life and is rough around the edges. There isn’t much of an age gap, but it feels like there’s a significant one. (He calls her “good girl,” FYI.)

I love a dual POV, and there are short snippets of Whit’s POV, but they’re sparse and don’t necessarily flow well with the story. They also don’t give you much insight. There is Spanish sprinkled throughout, but I don’t think non-Spanish speakers should have much trouble with it.

What The River Knows is a historical fantasy about A girl who will do whatever it takes to get answers. Inez defies her uncle time and again by showing up in Egypt to find out what really happened to her parents after their death. Along the way she becomes an invaluable asset to his hunt for Cleopatras final resting place. This story has epic adventures, harrowing rescues, pining romance and plenty of deceit. This is perfect for anyone who had an obsession with Egypt in middle school (so by that I mean everyone), or all of us obsessed with Indians Jones and the mummy. I especially loved the rapport between Inez and Whit throughout the book. The only thing I’ll say is that it’s a slow steady build to a quick climax. But! It sets us up perfectly for book two coming sometime in 2024 and I can not wait!
.

Firstly, huge thank you to Netgalley & Wednesday books for the early copy of What the River Knows!

I thoroughly enjoyed my first Isabel Ibañez novel & I know it definitely won't be my last. <I>What the River Knows</I> what such a fun ride. There was magic, twists, tension, and deception. Every chapter had me instantly wanting to start the next one (pacing is huge!)

I'll start with what I absolutely loved: which was this book's specific setting and time period. (Am I a historical fiction/fantasy girlie now??) Historical fantasy is such a tricky genre for me, especially when books take place in real locations (in this case Africa/Egypt, Buenos Aires, etc.) Because when you add a magical element to that, it absolutely makes no sense ... I get why readers are put off by this, but personally, when magic is introduced to the "real" world, I don't expect it to make any sense, period. 😂 I actually don't mind the lack of complex magic systems and lush world building. The world and history already exists and Ibañez thoughtfully did her research for this book (note: always read the author's notes!)

As far as YA historical fantasy expectations goes, this one hit right on the nail for me. Our MMC (Whitford Hayes) has the right amount of mystery and aloofness. We learn so much background but I still feel like I don't actually know anything about him (so I get Inez's frustration). 🤭 You can practically feel the his conflict and tension.

Anyways, that last line and the epilogue (??!!??) had me gasping!! I need book 2 like yesterday.

I really liked this!! A promising start to a new series. The setting and time period in Egypt are what drew me in initially. I cannot say no to a story centered around ancient Egypt! The characters are interesting and engaging and I’m eager to see where things go.

My issue with the book was pacing and length. This felt a bit long and repetitive. It seemed like the central issue on who to trust could have easily been solved if the characters had just talked to each other vs. keeping everything so secretive. It was frustrating to be kept at arms length in a first-person narrative.

This book wasn’t nearly as fun as the Mummy movies, but I think if we get more twists and understand the magic more in future books, it could get there!

The last 20% of the book took a serious turn. I felt like we were reading a YA novel up until then and all the sudden it got really interesting. If Whit turns out to be an asshole I will riot.

Thank you to Netgalley and Wednesday Books for the eARC. I was interested in the novel from its description of a girl yearning for answers after her parents die under mysterious circumstances. I was drawn to learning more about the old world magic mentioned in the description. There were some things I enjoyed and other things that I struggled with throughout the novel. The author provides vivid imagery of Cairo, Inez’s surroundings, and the old world magic mentioned. I found Inez to be overly immature and was frequently annoyed with her overly confident way in which she decides who is and is not to be trusted. The pacing get very slow for the first half of the book. I kept wanting to learn more about Whit but felt his character could have been developed more. His POV chapters in the book didn’t seem to add any additional insight into his character. Lastly, I selected to read this eARC based on the Goodreads description which fails to mention this is first in a duology. Overall,
I feel obligated to read the next book based on the ending of this book.

**4.5 STARS**

Content Warning: violence, alcohol use, kidnapping, profanity

This book has a little bit of everything and I read it in one sitting. It’s quite an adventure and takes the reader from Argentina to Egypt! Inez gets news that her parents are dead, thing is she barely saw her parents. They left her in Argentina and spent half of the year in Egypt without her – that already made me suspicious, because who could leave their child for that long is they didn’t have to? Inez wants the truth and she travels to Egypt to find it.


Inez is a stubborn character or as she puts it, “persistent”. She is also beautiful, resourceful, and very brave! When she gets to Egypt her guardian, her uncle, wants her back on a ship to Argentina but she does an amazing job evading his order. Whit, is her uncle’s right hand man, or that’s what it seems and he’s been entrusted to take care of Inez and get her on that ship but he realizes right away that Inez doesn’t follow orders. I love their banter, their antics and their growing romance. But we still don’t know everything about Whit – as evident with the cliffhanger ending!

The writing sucked me into this adventure. I was transported to late 1800’s Egypt when Britain occupied the country and basically loots Egypt. I loved the history and I also loved the magical realism. I could totally believe magic imprinted itself on ancient items and people that touch them can transfer the magic to them! But not only is there history, magic, archaeology, and romance in this story, there is also a mystery to solve – what happened to Inez’s parents? Who can Inez trust?

The only thing about the book that I had the tiniest issue with was the mystery (because mysteries feel so slow to me-it’s a personal thing!), I just wanted some parts to move faster but I know it was to build a situation full of intrigue and question the motives of some characters, which the book succeeded in doing. I would have liked more magic too!

This is an amazing story with some twists and a cliffhanger. I can’t wait to read book two.

Tropes: rivals to lovers

Why you should read it:
*it’s got adventure, history, magic, mystery, intrigue, romance
*I love the banter between Inez and Whit, she is not one to back down, which I love

Why you might not want to read it:
*not into archaeology, Egyptology

My Thoughts:

This book was quite the adventure! I was swept away in the details, the magic, the story of Cleopatra, the sights of Egypt, the mystery and intrigue. I love the banter between Inez and Whit and can’t wait to see what’s in store for them in book two after that cliffhanger ending.

This was my first book by Isabel Ibanez and now I feel like I have to go read all of her books!
Inez is living in Buenos Aries with her aunt and cousin. Her parents live in Egypt, they only come home a couple months a year. Inez so badly wants to see Egypt and to share in her parents adventures. Every time she requests a visit, Inez is told that it is too dangerous. One day she receives a letter from her uncle letting her know that her parents are deceased. Inez decides that she is going to Egypt, without telling anyone, to see where her parents died. Adventure awaits her, she just doesn't know how dangerous it will be.

Thank you to Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for the eArc in return for an honest review!

I had read the Woven in Moonlight duology by the same author, so I was very excited to see that Isabel Ibanez had a new book coming out. And for the concept being around archeology and Egyptology? I was super excited to read this.
Basically, Inez travels to Egypt after discovering her parents are missing and presumed dead, and she wants to go to the place they had spent so much time at. She reunites with her uncle and meets his team of archeologists, She has to figure out who she can trust and what their goal in Egypt truly is.
It was a bit of a slow read for me, but I think the book taking its time was a good thing. The pacing worked really well in my opinion, and alongside the beautiful writing, intriguing characters, and integration of magic, I enjoyed it a ton. I also liked the dynamic between Whit and Inez, I thought it was fun and it's got a good rivals to friends (and lovers) energy and I thought that was a great thing for the story.
The magic system, while a bit confusing, I thought was a really interesting concept, especially with the idea of magical items and the memory connection. I do wish it was more fleshed out, though, and hope the follow up to this goes more into the nitty gritty of how it works.
I wasn't the biggest fan of the ending, but there's a couple of reasons. One, i read the book before discovering that there was going to be a second book, so I thought the ending was it, like there was nothing else after this - once I actually figured out it is a start to the series, it made more sense. However, reason 2, the ending was still a bit jarring. Not the biggest fan of the big conflict scene in the dessert - if you've read it, you know which one I'm talking about. I thought it was more shock value than anything. The message at the end, it's got me hooked, I want to know what it means because it could mean a lot of things depending on how you read it.
Overall, I did enjoy it! I am interested in the next in the series, and of course interested to see what else Ibanez does next! This gets a four stars in my book!

***ARC provided by NetGalley. Thank you!***

As a previous Classics major who holds archives and history dear to my heart, I was delighted when I came across this title comped to THE MUMMY with Egyptian history! The first post I came across about WHAT THE RIVER KNOWS was one the author shared a while back regarding all the books she'd read and all the research she'd done while writing this title. It was then I knew I had to read it, and the care that went into the making of this book shines on the page.

I particularly enjoyed the magical aspects along with learning of Egyptian history. Never did I feel as though I was reading a history book, but instead it was written naturally as if I was in conversation with the characters. It only made me want to learn more about Egypt! Inez, the main character, is a favorable character with a big heart who you'll quickly come to love. The only flaw I didn't appreciate was how often she was naive, especially at 19. I would have liked to see her come to conclusions or make decisions of her own agency that weren't based in her having been deceived or manipulated by someone else (no spoilers!). However, there was clear character growth through the course of the plot and I'm eager to see how she continues to grow in book two. Oh...and the ever-loving, ever-frustrating Whit Hayes. What a mysterious he was and still is despite having reached the end of the book. I'll just say this: once you think you know him, you don't.

Throughout the novel, there are plenty of discussions between characters about the historical value and importance of artifacts and how they need to be carefully preserved, but instead they are often stolen. I appreciated these conversations *so* much. I hope that for readers who are unfamiliar with archives or archaeology that these conversations are illuminating and spark a dialogue in real life about reparations and artifact possession.

On a final note: the magic! I adored the concept of magic being tied to artifacts. However, this concept was not widely explored in the book despite being a central plot point and I was disappointed at this fact. I hope that in book two we delve deeper into the magic system of WHAT THE RIVER KNOWS and we get to experience more of it.

Overall, I'd recommend WHAT THE RIVER KNOWS to fans of low fantasy, those of us who love classics, archives and history, and fans of Rebecca Ross (to whom the book is dedicated!). WTRK is a spectacular, lush novel with vivid descriptions and a slow-burn romance alongside a mystery. It ends with a cliffhanger I didn't see coming and I'm eager for book two. I can't wait to see readers fall in love with this novel when it releases in October!

Someone explained this book to me as something similar to Indiana Jones and they weren’t wrong. It was super entertaining!

I don’t read many books that take place in Egypt and the magic/fantasy type vibes were great! But I was happy to read this and was invested from the beginning. There were bad guys, mysteries, and swoony romance. I loved the MMC! 😍

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Who else was devastated at that ending!?!?!?! The one thing I hate about reading an eARC that's part of a series is that amount of time I'm now going to have to wait for the next book. Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's for the early look-see. I was really intrigued by the plot of this one - historical fiction set, not in the US or Britain, but in South American and, primarily, Egypt. Ibanez paints a vivid picture of Egypt during the height of British Imperialism (see also: the caucacity of the British)
Our story introduces us to MC, Inez Montenegro just before she finds out about her parents' disappearance in the Egyptian desert while on their quest to discover the hidden tomb of Egypt's last pharaoh, Cleopatra. We follow Inez on a clandestine trip to Egypt to uncover what really happened to her parents. There, she meets her somewhat estranged archaeologist uncle and his hired helper. We are immersed alongside Inez on an adventure that she, nor the reader could have ever imagined as she learns that her parents were not who she thought they were. Overall, great storytelling, it was a bit slow in some parts, but I loved the historical context and finding out who many of the characters real-life counter-parts were. At times an infuriating and lagging, but still a good read. If you're looking for a quick adventure with some nice-paced tension between our love-interests, I say go for it.