A fun mystery in the style of The Mummy or a classic Agatha Christie! The female main character was a bit overly frustrating, but I enjoyed the atmosphere of this book a lot!

HOLY CRAP
That’s all that’s coming to mind. Everything about this book was astounding. I had things to do, but instead I dumped everything and just read. I couldn’t stop reading. The detail of the characters, scenery, and plot was astounding. Isabel Ibañez is a master world builder. Her ability to combine history and fantasy astonishes me and I will forever love everything she writes. Inez’s character was so fun. I felt such a close connection to her and her quest to seek the truth. AND MY WORD- WHIT- what a man!! I mean, he’s so gorgeous. I do wanna slap him, but I’ll get over it. I felt like I was in Egypt, walking the streets and seeing the sights. I loved being able to read What The River Knows since I’m going to Egypt in January. Reading this book has only encouraged my excitement on going. Im so honored and thrilled to have been able to get an EARC.

**Review will be published October 26th on my site and socials!**

WHAT JUST HAPPENED.

This has got to be one of the best cliffhangers I’ve read in recent memory. When I tell you my jaw DROPPED and I frantically read the last page multiple times trying to figure out what happened, ohhhhh boy. That right there deserves a lot of praise. I love a good blindside. BUT WHAT DOES IT MEAN.

The tension in this romance will send you to space. Whit and Inez are two planets orbiting each other but not quite close enough. AND I LIVED FOR IT ALL. Give me all of the build moments. I am a sucker. I loved both of them as separate characters too. Complicated backgrounds and trauma, learning to be open and lean on each other, just all the goodness I love seeing in main characters.

I thought the plot was fantastic and it sent me on multiple internet dives to read more about Cleopatra and Egypt. I loved the way that history was blending in with the fantasy and how lush and beautiful the words built the world. Immersive and daring and WILD twists and turns. I may have caught one, but in no way caught them all.

I NEED BOOK TWO NOW.

Overall audience notes:

YA Historical Fantasy Romance
Language: a little strong
Romance: heated make-out
Violence: high
Trigger/Content Warnings: gun violence, murder, kidnapping, loss of loved ones, near death experiences

this book was a good read! i first saw it on barnes and noble’s website because they have a special edition, but the overall story was extremely enticing as well.

arc provided by St. Martin's and Wednesday Press.

this was a fun read! it's pitched as Death on the Nile meets The Mummy, and definitely leans more toward the latter of those; the mystery aspect is hinted at early on but doesn't pick up until at least halfway into the book. the archaeology aspect is the main focus of the book, and it's really well-grounded in the historical context of the time. this feels a bit more magical realism than fantasy, but it's very well researched and the setting is extremely immersive. the main characters were all interesting and felt like real people, but some of them didn't get the narrative time i felt they needed (really hoping Isadora gets more screen time in the sequel). i did feel like Inez had a bit of Feyre Archeron syndrome where she's headstrong and kind of clueless and gets herself into situations way over her head, but she's a sheltered ya protagonist and i can't really fault her for it. there were a couple minor continuity errors in places, but they didn't really distract from the book. overall, this was an enjoyable read and i'll definitely be picking up the sequel because this one's ending is a cryptic cliffhanger that i need to see resolved.

arc provided by St. Martin's and Wednesday Press in exchange for an honest review

Firstly, thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for allowing me to read the ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review. It is greatly appreciated!

Aspects of this book that I absolutely loved:
• The magic system- it is a very interesting concept and I’m excited to see where the author goes with this.
• The setting and historical aspects
• The writing was amazing, and immediately pulled me in.
• The MMC’s characterization (I can’t help but love him).
• The plot twist at the end- completely surprising and unexpected (but also, I need the next book immediately).

Aspects of the book that I wasn’t a fan of:
• The book was slow paced until the end where it seemed like everything happened at once.
• The FMC’s characterization was a point of contention for me. Endless questions at the worst times, nosy, brash, and all around annoying. I didn’t like how she didn’t respect the MMC’s request to call him by his last name or the fact that the world was imploding around her in various ways and she was still thinking of unnecessary questions to ask the MMC. I liked her at first, and her sense of adventure, but as time went on, I found myself becoming repeatedly aggravated by her. I am hoping in the second book she matures as she becomes exposed to more of what is happening around her.

The thing that immediately drew my interest regarding this book was the B&N special edition that will be coming out later this year. I loved the pictures of the main characters and immediately preordered. It’s gorgeous! Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed this book and will definitely be reading the second one!

What the River Knows follows Bolivian-Argentinian Inez Olivera as she travels on her own (😱) to Egypt to find out what happened to her parents in a world full of items steeped in the remains of magic. Set in 1884 What the River Knows is the Mummy meets Death on the Nile, and it definitely holds up to that!

This is the first book I've read by Isabel Ibañez, and I immediately bought another after reading this. I didn't know what to expect from her so there was something that happened that was completely unexpected which very rarely happens for me and made me love the story even more. And to give some perspective on that, if you've read Fourth Wing, I saw the whole thing coming before I was even halfway done.

What the River Knows is full of Egyptian history with a magical twist, witty banter, and an ending that will leaving you begging for its sequel (is there a date yet Isabel?). I keep having to remind myself that this book doesn't come out until Halloween because I'm anxious to find out what happens next...even more so than other anticipated sequels.

I'd love to say more, but I worry I'll give so many fun and exciting things away. This was a book I pestered my husband with, telling him the whole story as I read it even though he had no idea what I was talking about.

Go pre-order What the River Knows (BN has a beautiful exclusive edition I'll be getting!). And make sure to follow @isabelwriter09 now for news on the sequel because once you read this, you'll be asking for more!

It is very rude of authors to take time to write a second book because I want it now.

What I liked:
- the setting and vibes. Argentina and Egypt don't get a lot of YA love and especially not in the colonial era
- archaeology! I may be biased as I read it while on excavation
- the very last twist, my heart

What I didn't like:
- pacing was pretty slow until the end, when everything started happening at once
- Whit is a stupid name and his POVs were unnecessary. If it was equally weighted dual POV I think it could've worked, but the 90% Inez 10% Whit split was weird.
- there is magic. It is not explained at all. No one outside the protagonists seems to care. Expand on this pls

Thank you, Isabel Ibañez, for sharing this story and for perfectly wrapping up my main obsessions as a child. Magic, art, and Egypt!

"What the River Knows" ended up being more than I wanted and exactly what I needed to get me out of my spiral of re-reading. Colourful and fresh, the adventure this book brings you on has romance, danger, and betrayal to rage-cry over.

An amazing mc who's witty and playful and adventurous and a little on the machivious side, I instantly liked Inez Olivera. It was truly fun reading her travels into Egypt. Her on-the-spot thinking and ability to find trouble really pushed the story along. And Whit just compliments her character so well. Inez being someone who needs to find the truth and Whit being so full of secrets, their push and pull was super entertaining and had me smiling like a fool and kicking my feet.

It being based in Egypt the world in What the River Knows is stunning. You can feel the love for Egypt coming off the pages from the exquisite and almost poetic way it's described by the author. From buildings and artifacts, to pastries and clothes, it's all beautifully writen and colourful. The magic is fascinating in the way it's from the "old world" and clings to odd objects rather than be something people cast or create in the present times. It was a refreashing take and different from the usual (that I read anyway). The magic also wasn't some super complicated, overwhelming thing that took up 80% of the story. More like it moved along with the characters and the plot seamlessly.

The actual story line was very well explained and it didn't feel too jumpy or like it was missing anything important. Although a bit of it was predictable it was wonderfully written and was a joy to read. But that end though *chef's kiss* My Lord, that was out of left field and now I for sure need more.

Overall, it was a fun a quick read. I would read it again, I want it on my shelf, and I will be looking for the news on the next one.

I love to hate when an ending leaves me hanging. Particularly when the book is an ARC that NetGalley lets me read, and that means that THIS book hasn't been published, let alone the sequel! I may not be okay over here!

This book was intriguing and pulled me right in to the mystery of Egypt and the tomb of Cleopatra. I found myself deeply invested in the characters and the story. That said, it would have been so easy to make this a book I could hand off to a teen rigout a thought. There is some foul language in here that just wildly unnecessary, alongside a some suggestive descriptions. I just think it would have been so easy to keep this clean, while staying true to the story.

Overall, really enjoyed this book and will look forward to the sequel!

Review:
This book was awesome, I was sucked into the story immediately and couldn’t put it down. It helps that I am always a sucker for a stubborn and capable FMC. A cohesive blend of Egyptian and Greek mythology, British and Egyptian history, romance, crime, and freaking magic. Speaking of magic, I loved how the magic worked in this story and it was discussed so matter of factly since it is a matter of fact part of their universe.

I did find parts of the story somewhat predictable and the way Elvira’s story went really bothered me. Not for what happened but for how it was dealt with and told. But maybe it’s because it was handled so realistically instead of having a plot line rescue that wouldn’t happen in real life.

Also the ending. Omg. I need book two asap.

I ABSOLUTELY adored this book. The Egyptian setting in the past was so refreshing, and I loved seeing it from the perspective of a visitor who was respectful and in awe of the setting. I also enjoyed the creative way Cleopatra was integrated into the story. The romance was fun too, especially with how stubborn and slippery our heroine was!

I loved the story, the world building and meeting the different characters. I felt completely immersed in the story and couldn't stop reading it.

After receiving a letter from her uncle saying that he parents have died, Inez goes to Egypt to get answers. When she gets there, she finds that her uncle is not telling her everything and must rely on ancient magic to help her learn the truth about her parents and her uncle. What the River Knows is a historical fantasy novel by Isabel Ibañez. This story takes place in Egypt in the 1800's.
This book was a bit hard to get into for me. Once I started to get into it, it was good and I enjoyed reading it. I was going to give it 4 stars but there were a few things about this book that made me change my mind. The first thing was the plot twist about her parents wasn't really a plot twist as it was easy to figure out. The second thing was the abrupt ending. I did not like it at all. Although I have to admit, I didn't expect it. I was expecting an ending that would leave me satisfied with questions answered, not more questions unanswered. If it had been easier for me to get into and the ending was better, I would have given it another star. I would still recommend this book to others. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC. All opinions are my own.

The most ELECTRIC book I've read all year. I absolutely adored What the River Knows. It is a triumph in tension and romance. I read it so fast and I'm desperate for book 2. Five Fantastic Stars.

Guys. This was incredible. Quite probably the BEST ARC I’ve read all year.

Set in nineteenth century Argentina, Inez sails to Egypt after finding out her parents had died, to discover what really happened.

And let me tell you. I predicted absolutely nothing correctly. This book was seriously a wild read from start to finish.

Whit is the best love interest and I am HERE for the enemies to lovers trope 100%.

The ending made my jaw drop and left me fuming just slightly because WHAT A CLIFFHANGER!!

I am dying to know what happens next! 😭😭😭

The writing style was wonderful and I think this is definitely the best book Ibañez has written. I enjoyed reading Woven in Moonlight a few months back, but her writing is even better in What The River Knows. The dialogue is stronger and feels more natural, and the love interest felt more three dimensional too. I am so excited for Ibañez as a writer, I feel like she keeps getting better and better, and she was pretty fabulous to start with!

I’m not usually one to highlight quotes in a book, let alone annotate, but there were such good lines I couldn’t resist!!

Anyway, all that to say, this is an amazing book, add it to your tbr, get it on preorder and then message me when you read it so we can discuss the ending!!!!

This has themes of murder, archeology, ancient Egypt, betrayal, and enemies to lovers.

Thanks to @netgalley for a copy of this book in exchange for a review. All opinions are my own.

4.5 stars! Thank you to NetGalley, St. Martin's Press, and Wednesday Books for this advanced copy! You can pick up What the River Knows on October 31, 2023.

I finished this book in one sitting. It was so captivating from the start that I couldn't put it down, the characters leaping off the page and the central mystery snaring me immediately. I haven't read any other works by Isabel Ibañez, but she's undoubtedly a master world-builder and researcher.

I truly felt transported to 1800s Egypt. Everything, from the archeological sites to metropolitan Cairo, felt viscerally real. The attention to detail was incredible without being overwhelming, adding so much texture to the setting that it could've been me running around the city or digging in the tombs.

Inez and Whit had incredible chemistry, and their individual POVs helped us sympathize and relate to them so much. My one gripe is that I wish Whit opened up a teensy bit more, but I understand why Isabel made the decisions she did with his secrets.

And that ending? Criminal. I feel like Inez, left with more questions than answers. I can't wait to see how her and Whit's story will end in Book 2!

Isabel Ibanez' Together We Burn was one of the highlights of my reading journey last year. It was well plotted, with characters I could root for, and a satisfying ending. Unfortunately, What the River Knows has none of those things.

Inez Olivera has just found out her parents have died in Egypt, where they spent half of each year, leaving their daughter behind with family. She immediately embarks on a trip to find out what happened to them, as well as decipher the magic in the ring her father mailed her.

One of the worst choices made by the PR team or publishing company when it came to marketing this book was to compare it to the 1999 movie The Mummy, which is an iconic film with outstanding performances and many fun and clever moments. Unless a book was near perfect, it was never going to measure up to The Mummy, and this book is far from perfect.

“I can be incredibly loud and annoying when I want to be.” Unfortunately, this is our protagonist in a nutshell. She is the archetypal feisty heroine who antagonizes and snaps at everyone she meets, deciding she knows best even though she is in a land that is new to her, dealing with lies and betrayals she doesn't know about, and is basically on her own.

The attempt to ensure that the reader see Whit, the dashing assistant, as a worthy substitute for Rick O'Connell is so obvious - we are forever told about his long legs, his broad chest, the lock of hair that falls rakishly over his forehead - we get it, we get it, he's supposed to be a charming rogue!

I wish there had been more of the magic hinted at in this book, it was a clever way of including a fantasy element. The setting is vividly brought to life, Ms Ibanez has a gift for making a land leap off the page, and I could picture the scenes in my head as she described them. I really, really wanted to like this book but sadly not even the revelations and events toward the end made up for Inez's behavior.

Overall, I enjoyed this book. The setting of Egypt in the 1880s felt immersive and rich, and the characters had depth to them. And this combined three genres I love (historical fiction, mystery, and fantasy).

The interactions between Inez and Whit were so fun to read, especially when they were purposefully aggravating each other.

I did feel like the last quarter of the book was rushed and didn't hold together as well as the rest did. Characters sometimes made big jumps in their arcs, scene changes would happen rather abruptly, and there were moments where the logic didn't quite work or things were repeated. That twist at the very end though! I need to read the next book!

Thank you to to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for sharing this arc!

I honestly am so disappointed in myself that I waited so long to read this arc. This has turned out to be one of my absolute favorite books of the year.

What the River Knows is a historical fantasy with a lot of adventure, a sprinkle of romance, and a dash of magic. Set in 1884, our main protagonist Inez lives in Buenos Aires and receives the unfortunate news that her parents are presumed dead. As Inez travels to Egypt to uncover the truth, she finds that the tales her parents told her about the magical and mysterious land of Egypt are so much more than she expected. Along the way she meets up with her Tio Ricardo, an archaeologist and artifact connoisseur who Inez suspects has ulterior motives in discovering long-lost treasure. To make things even more complicated, Inez has to content with Tio Ricardo's right hand man, the suave, complicated, and ruggedly good looking Whitford Hayes, who seems to have secrets of his own. With a little bit of magic, Inez and Whit have to work closely to attempt to discover the mystery of the last pharaoh.

This book is full of adventure and feels like Indiana Jones, Death on the Nile, and The Mummy all rolled up into one delicious story. Isabel Ibanez has done an amazing job of bringing Egypt to life with rich storytelling in an incredibly detailed setting. I am so excited to see how this story continues with the second book in the duology.