*Thank you so much to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for the chance to review an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.*

Inez's parents have been leaving her home in Buenos Aires her whole life to go off adventuring in Egypt. She has always wished and longed to be able to go with them to see what they love so much about the country. When one day she receives a distressing letter, she knows now is her chance to go to Egypt to get some answers for herself.

Wow I loved this! I have always been fascinated by the history of Egypt, and this book makes certain aspects of it come alive. I was not expecting it to be a mystery, but that part of the book was the most entertaining. The twists were great and I couldn't put this book down! I would recommend it to anyone who enjoys Egyptian fiction.

What The River Knows is an exciting magical fantasy that delves into the world of old magic and the mysteries of the Last Pharaoh of Egypt. Filled with lush storying telling this book pulls you in.
Inez comes from a wealthy family but does not want the life that is expected of her. She wants to travel with her parents to Egypt where every year they spend most of their time returning now and then to visit Inez.
Soon Inez learns of her parents disappearance and ultimately their assumed deaths. She finds herself now a wealthy woman however she does not have access to her money until she is wed. She decides to travel alone to Egypt to confront the uncle her parents worked with.
Along the way she stumbled upon mysteries and magic surrounding Cleopatra.
Her parents uncovered something that may have gotten them killed.
Will Inez suffer the same fate or will Cleopatra reach out to her across time and magic to help finish want her parents started.

I want to thank #Netgalley for the opportunity to read #WhatTheRiverKnows by #IsabelIbanez

This book is pure gold.

It kept me engaged from the first page, sucking me right into this lush world Ibanez created. This is the first historical fantasy I've read this year, and it reminded me why I love the genre. The vivid detail of the world coupled with the family secrets, mysteries, and twists put this one at the top of my list of favorite reads for the year.

The characters were all wonderful and layered with complexities. Even when I thought I had them figured out, Ibanez would reveal something that would leave me second guessing everything I thought I knew. And the cliffhanger? The best one I've read in quite some time (but I need the sequel immediately because omg).

I flew through this book and found opportunities throughout the day to sneak my phone to read a few lines. It was such a fun adventure, and one I will revisit for sure!

5/5 stars

This was okay. Its got a solid plot and an intriguing mystery, but the entire thing is bogged down by a romantic storyline that I found grating in its poor execution. First, the good: Ibanez writes incredibly detailed settings, and I felt fully immersed in this version of Egypt. I can see where some might want more world building re: the inclusion of magic and how it's impacted the world (apparently not much??), but I was comfortable just rolling with it. Again, the overall mystery is well done even if some of the red-herrings are perhaps a bit too obvious. And I am curious enough to be interested in reading the sequel. Comparisons to the Mummy series are probably apt--or at least what the author was shooting for.

But, ugh, the romance. All of their interactions felt so artificial and overly done. Every single tone of voice and shift of stance is detailed in such a way it felt very much like telling and not showing. I know she was going for Austenian-banter and annoyance-turned-to-love and can't you just feel the tension? But that's a type of relationship that requires some subtlety, some reading between the lines, and that is not what we got here. This guy could not have been more amused by our protagonist. So many smirks, so many crossed arm wall leans--it all came across as repetitive and trying too hard. All of that said, we still know very little about Whit and the ending of the book presents a possibility for their relationship to be presented in a different light in which case I might be able to forgive its overall awfulness. But that remains to be seen.

Overall, a mixed bag, but I'll probably pick up the sequel. It will at least be worth the skim!

ARC provided by NetGalley.

I’m not typically a historical romance girly, but What the River Knows was absolutely phenomenal. The twist ending absolutely threw me. I’m not kidding, it left me staring blankly at my kindle for several minutes, which was quickly followed by utter despair at the knowledge that it’s the beginning of AUGUST and this book doesn’t even RELEASE until HALLOWEEN! Which means HOW MUCH LONGER MUST I WAIT TO FIND OUT WHAT HAPPENS TO INEZ????
We’re calming down. This doesn’t end on a cliffhanger, per se; it’s nicely wrapped up, but boy is that surprise at the end a whopper.
Seriously cannot wait to find out where book 2 takes us. I’ll be impatiently waiting, hoping against all hope that Isabel Ibañez throws us another curveball. IYKYK.

WHAT THE RIVER KNOWS by Isabel Ibanez is a wonderful historical adventure set in the late 1800s. Our protagonist is a well brought up young lady of 18 who finds herself on adventure of a lifetime. This is not a predictable story. There are many twists and turns that leave you guessing what will happen next. I won't give anything away, but I will say I liked this book so much that I stayed up all night reading it. I highly recommend you check out book.

ARC provided via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.

TW: abandonment, alcohol, blood, colonization, confinement, death, death of a loved one, emotional abuse, gore, grief, gun violence, injury/injury detail, kidnapping, sexism, violence.

Immersive and magical, this was a delightful book - albeit suffering from a slow start.

It took me a bit to find my rhythm with the story, but once I did, I found that I didn't want to put it down. It was unique and yet familiar at once, in a way that reminded me of watching VHS on the floor of my bedroom in the dark as a child. Which is such a highly specific memory and yet there it is. Despite the fact that I knew exactly how the story was going to unfold from the beginning, it didn't feel predictable; rather, I felt excited to guess things (and satisfied when I was correct.)

I did - however - struggle with certain characterization a bit. It felt very... inconsistent. And while I understand the deeper implications from some characters, it sometimes felt like they couldn't decide what they wanted to be. Maybe I wish they had been fleshed out a bit more or that they had been more present in the book, such as Tío Ricardo.

As for the comparison to the Mummy, I have actually never seen the films (an absolute oversight on my part, I'm aware) but I could definitely feel a similarity to the little I know about the film series and the book (specifically that one scene everyone shares where Brendan Fraser tosses the woman over his shoulder.)

Overall, as I said, this was delightful and the cliffhanger! I already need book two, which is unfortunate since book 1 isn't even out yet. I'm so grateful I got the chance to read this as an ARC and it's definitely going to be one I recommend.

All the stars in the Egyptian sky for this epic fantasy adventure!!! Isabel did such a fantastic job of combining history with magic and I ADORED EVERY SCENE. Literally felt cinematic like I was watching a movie 🎥 It gives National Treasure The Mummy Indiana Jones Death on the Nile but with a little fantasy magic ✨ It will gut you in the best way and leave you craving more.

Here’s what to expect:
✨ slow burn
✨ door frame leaning + smirk 🫠
✨ strong willed FMC + strong willed MMC (did I mention he’s hot and British)
✨ rivals to lovers
✨ forbidden romance
✨ historical time period + fantasy
✨ travel across Egypt
✨ treasure hunting
✨ touch her and 💀
✨ forced proximity

I devoured this and don’t know what to do with myself now. TBR this immediately. (TBR is now a verb.)

Thank you NetGalley and publisher for the ARC!

Action, romance, adventure - all set against the landscape of Egypt in nineteenth century.

Seeing as The Mummy is my all-time favorite movie this book rocketed to the top of my TBR. And I’m glad it did.

I could immediately tell the author had visited the locations she was describing - the descriptions were lush and immersive. I also loved the banter and furry between Inez and Whit - the rivals to lovers vibe is strong between them! I think that was my favorite part.

The strife between Inez and her uncle was less appealing to me. Too much angst and not enough softness for my liking but it fits the story.

The only part I did not like was Whits language. I understand his character and the author’s desire to make him appear roguish, but honestly it rang false. I have a hard time believing he would have used the F word in this time period and it took me out of the story every time. Really, if there ever was a story in YA where you could get away with little to no language - this was it! The perfect historical time period for it. That really made me disappointed and dropped my review to 4*.

As for the romance, it’s no spice but is definitely more descriptive in regards to touching.

I did enjoy the book (and already ordered the B&N special edition) but I would say 17+ as for readership.

Well, what can I say about this book? This book was incredible from the start. It sucked me in and wouldn't let me go. The writing is so atmospheric and the characters so well rounded. I was left with the classic symptoms of a great book after finishing it: heartsickness, pacing, ranting, raving, telling my husband all about it because I just needed to express my feelings about it. Do not hesitate. Add it to your cart NOW!

From the writing to the setting, this book was thoroughly engaging and enjoyable! Inez is a wonderful protagonist, intelligent and driven, but still very much flawed. The setting of historical Egypt and the elements of archaeology provide flavors of The Mummy, so this story is perfect for anyone looking for fantasy, adventure, and Egyptian history.

A high stakes race to discover ancient Egyptian treasures, family secrets, political secrets, and murder!
Inez is a polished young lady from Argentina who wants for nothing - except attention from her globetrotting parents who spend at least half the year in Egypt, uncovering ancient tombs and experiencing the world outside pleasant society functions. But upon hearing news of her parents disappearance and assumed death, Inez runs to the nearest port and sails to Egypt to find out why her parents never allowed her to join them and what secrets her uncle is keeping from her regarding their disappearance.
Stepping foot in Egypt is a dream come true for Inez, but the hired man that her uncle sent to put her back on the boat and back to Argentina is going to put a real pinch on Inez's plans. But Mr. Whitford Hayes has other plans for Inez...
I just reviewed What the River Knows by Isabel Ibañez. #WhattheRiverKnows #NetGalley

The author excels in many areas of this book, the atmosphere, the interesting take on magic, and the way she describes Egypt. You can tell so much time was spent in researching and understanding the culture and the history of the place. The setting and how she explored the world was the best part of the story.

Where I felt the biggest drawback was the pacing of the story. It was dreadfully slow at some parts, and I considered DNFing the book in certain areas when the book became exceedingly dry. As well as people's lack of interest in the magic of the world. It seemed like everyone found the LITERAL magic of items to be very Meh. The system was so fascinating, but I don't think we got to really enjoy it. I didn't personally see a The Mummy comparison beyond that the book also takes place in Egypt, one being bookish and one being domineering.

As a student of archaeology, I cannot recommend this book enough! Inez is the hero I have always wanted. She is fierce, smart, loyal and actually respects the complex, beautiful history of Egypt. Plus, there is a thrilling romance that keeps you rooting for love to conquer all.

Five stars.

What The River Knows is hands down one of the best books I have ever read. As someone who has a special interest in Egypt and its relative archeology, exploration, and history, I was blown away by the clear dedication to research and late 1800s Egyptian history displayed in this novel. Then, you have an incredible amount of language and cross-cultural relations that pull you deeper into the immersive experience. This is a historical fantasy that truly FEELS like a historical work. Then you take all of that and add mystery, and a romance with the perfect amount of tension and angst?! Isabel Ibanez is truly a master of her craft. I need the sequel yesterday!

What the River Knows has Agatha Christie vibes. Olivera’s parents live two separate lives. Their daughter lives in Argentina, while they split time in Egypt. One day Olivera receives a letter letting her know that her parents have died. She’s determined to find out what happened to them. I loved the fast pace of the novel and the cliffhanger ending!

I literally just finished this book and I feel breathless. I had no idea this is the first book in a duology and that cliffhanger took me ABSOLUTELY by surprise.

Inez is such a relatable character. She's headstrong but naive. She has been delt quite the hand and seems to be traversing a whole new map about as well as any of us could expect to.

I loved the way magic was woven into this story in sublet but impactful ways.

I am 100% unsure how I feel about Whit.

The multi layers of betrayal in this book while knock the wind out of you, over and over again.

I’ve been obsessed with Egypt since learning about Ancient Egyptian culture in middle school so when I saw the blurb for What the River Knows saying it’s for lovers of the movie The Mummy and Agatha Christie’s Death on the Nile, I could not resist requesting an ARC!
While I feel like those comparisons are a little misleading, I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book! I'm giving it 4.5-5/5 stars. It’s a young adult version of Elizabeth Peter’s Amelia Peabody series and that series is one of my all-time favorites.
What the River Knows begins in late 19th century Argentina with 19-year-old Inez Olivera learning about her parents’ disappearance and presumed deaths in Egypt. She’s always yearned to go along on their adventures to archaeological digs led by her maternal uncle, Ricardo, and now Inez takes the opportunity to visit him and discover what became of her parents. Chaos ensues as soon as she lands in Egypt and it’s one adventure after another!
I absolutely loved the story!! It’s such an interesting premise and Ibanez pulled it off so well. The only quibble I had was the love interest, it was a little cringey at his introduction(Inez finds out he’s British and asks him if he’s proud of what his countrymen have done by invading Egypt…literally the second or third thing she says upon meeting him!) and I didn’t believe their instant attraction. It gets better as it goes on and I liked him after awhile. The intrigue was a slow burn and I wasn’t able to put it down until I finished it only to find a cliffhanger!! From other reviews I found out this is to be a duology, whew!
Thank you NetGalley and Wednesday Books for sending this book for review consideration, all opinions and thoughts are my own. I’ll definitely be ordering this book(and the sequel when it becomes available) for my library and recommending to our patrons!

WHAT A BEAUTIFUL ADVENTURE! This is the first of Isabel's books that I've had the chance to read, but boy did it live up to the hype. The voice of the character, and the emotion in the MC's POV, were what hooked me at first but Isabel has made the setting of this book feel like its own character - and it was her writing of the setting that kept me reading. It made me feel like I was there. Definitely a slow-burn romance but I enjoyed every minute of it. I'd recommend it to everyone!

Secrets, lies, intrigue, mystery and magic!!! This book has it all!

Set in Egypt, this historical fantasy follows 19year old Inez Olivero as she sets out to find out the truth behind her parents mysterious deaths. Her uncle, a famous archeologist is now her guardian but with his taciturn attitude towards her and his commitment to sending her home without answers Inez discovers she has a secret that may give her a place at the table. She has been imbued with old magic that is pulling her towards maybe making one of the biggest discoveries in Egyptian history and also getting the answers she seeks about her parents. Whit, her uncles hired man is supposed to be blocking her attempts at finding answers but their contentious relationship is more charged with romantic tension than either one of them want to admit but with his own secrets can Inez really trust Whit? And will she get the answers she is so desperately seeking?

I LOVED this book so much and for so many reasons. The writing in this book is deliciously immersive, I felt like I was in the markets of Cairo and on the Nile and on site at the dig to find precious artifacts. The use of Spanish throughout the book made my heart so happy and felt so authentic. The various family dynamics represented were complicated and filled with drama and very relatable. I enjoyed the fantasy aspects of the story and felt it was well balanced within it's historical representation of actual events. At times I did think that the book leaned to far in to descriptions of history where it began to feel like a lecture but it wasn't enough to effect my rating.

Inez is a new favorite FMC for me! I loved her determination and her tenacity. Her relationship with her parents definitely had me hurting for her. Her romance with Whit was the perfect slow burn and I appreciated a more mature representation of their romance. Their banter was top tier and I loved every second of their interactions. And that ending left me reeling and dying to know what happens next!! The large cast of characters that are all shrouded in some kind of mystery had my detective skills working overtime and had me guessing the entire time. I loved the atmosphere of the time period and the inclusion of social and cultural politics of that time period. This book just checked so many boxes and managed to feel very unique as a fantasy read. I am delighted to have had the opportunity to read it.

<i>Thank you to St. Martins Press, Isabel Ibanez and Netgalley for the gifted arc</i>