Thank you to NetGalley and Wednesday Books for an ARC of this book!

What The River Knows
By: @isabelwriter09
Pub Date: October 31st, 2023

Inez is on a quest to find answers surrounding the tragic deaths of her parents. A quest that leads her to Egypt, a land filled with magic, mystery and deception.

I knew this was going to be an automatic read for me. A book by a Latina author, a Latina protagonist, and Egyptian historical fiction — I am here for it!

This book captivated me from the start. Although this was a slow burn, Ibañez’s descriptive story telling kept me hooked until the very end.

I absolutely adored Inez! She’s exactly what I’d expect out of a young Latina lead — witty, stubborn, curious and fueled by fire. I equally loved Whit, too. His darkness and mystery kept me wanting to find out more about him and his past. I loved their banter and enjoyed watching their relationship grow.

There’s a little bit of magic, Egyptian history, love, mystery, some twists I did see coming and a bunch more I didn’t! This book is the first in a series, so I cannot wait to find out how Inez’s story plays out, because that ending…

I’m going to finish this review with two emojis that sum up how the end of this book left me: 🤯💔

An absolute jewel of a book. I feel as though five stars is not enough. By far this is my favorite read this year and I can not stop thinking or talking about it now that I’ve finished it. I need the second book in my hands ASAP please! It’s been described as The Mummy meets Agatha Christie’s Death on the Nile and I would say that’s a pretty fair comparison. I would also say if you enjoy the writing style of Stephanie Garber you will love this novel by Isabel Ibanez. It’s historical fiction with a bit of magical realism I would say. The adventure and mystery is so well written and will make you feel like you’re there in Egypt yourself! The main character is strong, confident and not afraid to stand up for herself and what she wants. The love interest is sarcastic, rugged, and oh so devilishly charming. The chemistry between the two is off the charts and the banter will have you in its grip! This was my first read by this author but it won’t be my last that’s for sure. I’ve already ordered another one of her books while I patiently wait for the sequel to this book! Thank you so much to NetGalley and the Author for giving me a chance to read this one early! I believe this book releases on Halloween of this year (2023) so keep your eyes peeled it’s going to be one you want to keep on your radar!

Inez Olivera lives a life of luxury as part of the glittering upper crust of Argentinian society. She has anything she could ever want except for one thing: her parents. Inez's parents are part of an archeological dig in Egypt and often spend months away from Inez. Inez has always longed to go with them, but her parents have never allowed it. But when Inez receives a letter from her estranged uncle with the tragic news of her parents passing, Inez decides to go to Egypt for answers.

Inez crosses the seas with little more than her precious sketchbooks and a mysterious golden ring her father sent her. When she arrives, Inez quickly realizes she's in over her head. Her uncle is not pleased to see her and will barely acknowledge her, leaving her to be dealt with by his infuriatingly charming assistant, Whit. But Inez is determined to uncover the truth about her parents' disappearances, no matter the cost. But when old magic embeds itself into Inez, she must rely on it to guide her hand or risk becoming a pawn in an even greater game.

If you went through an Egyptology phase growing up, then this book is for you. I wasn't sure if I would like this because the first half felt incredibly slow, and you could tell that Ibañez was laying the groundwork for an intricate plot to unfold. But once we hit the halfway mark the action ramped up, and I couldn't get enough. Inez was such a strong-willed character, and I loved how she refused to back down from her pursuits. She and Whit butted heads at every turn, but the kind of interaction that had you going, "Ok, now kiss." They had great banter and had me smiling the whole time. I liked the mythology throughout this, but I wish the magic system had been explained more, as I still don't have a firm handle on it. Aside from that, I did see one of the plot twists coming from a mile away, but so many others took me by surprise. My jaw was on the floor by the end, and I'm already preparing my heart for the fallout. If you're in the mood to get swept away in an atmospheric adventure, I highly recommend checking it out.

Many thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press/Wednesday Books for providing me with this digital review copy in exchange for my honest thoughts.
Egypt? Magic? Naive and beautiful main character and dashing, but mysterious handsome man? Sign me up, please!
The premise of the novel is great, but What the River Knows by Isabel Ibanez contains some very formulaic elements in the plot. Inez, a young woman who’s come of age in lush Argentina, feels repressed and rebellious in the household of her prime and proper aunt while her exciting archeologist parents spend half the year away in exotic Egypt. All Inez longs for is the letter from her parents giving her permission to travel to Egypt and share in their work. Hopeful after receiving a package containing an ancient magical ring from her father, Inez received instead a devastating letter from her Uncle Ricardo telling her that her parents were missing and presumed dead and to be careful of whom she trusted.
Determined to find out what exactly happened to her parents, Inez books passage to Egypt to confront her uncle and seek out the truth. Rather than a warm welcome after her long voyage, Inez is met with condescension and hostility from her uncle and his unsettlingly handsome right-hand man, Whitford Hayes. Both men are brimming with secrets and both are determined to get her back on a ship to Argentina. But Inez is just as determined to stay as they are to get rid of her, and after some carriage chases, trips through the dusty side alleys of Cairo, and a great deal of subterfuge, Inez is begrudgingly allowed to stay IF she sketches and records the ruins that her uncle and his crew are studying. That’s when Inez’s life is turned upside down even more than she thought it already was.
What I liked about this book is evenly matched with what I did not care for. The author’s descriptions of the beauty of Argentina and the mystery and antiquity of Egypt were very well done. I felt as if I was there in those settings and was actually traveling down the Nile with Inez in a dahabeeyah and marveling at the massive columns in ruined temples. The details about the historic sites in Cairo as well as the island of Philae had me scrambling to look up more information about them. I appreciated the fact that the main character was not an insipid Englishwoman on holiday, but a feisty young lady from South America. I even (almost) liked the frustrating chemistry between Inez and Whit. Come on Whit, just kiss her, will you?
What I did not particularly like was the lack of clarity. There were just too many unanswered questions, and I am not just referring just to that jaw-dropping ending either. It reminded me of conversations with people who, while trying to be coy, drop just enough hints so that you’d beg them for more information so that they can remain the center of attention. I also think the author missed out on developing many of the secondary characters. I would have happily read another 50 pages in order to get some background details on these supporting people.
Another thread that dwindled away to nothing when it could have been great was the theme of magic. Magic was dropped into the readers’ lap at the start as if this was something normal. Apparently, everyone who was anyone could detect and use magical objects in 1884. Unfortunately, that subplot just popped up whenever the author had one of the characters in a spot where he or she needed a little extra help. That sort of thing is a “go big or go home” element, and the writer clearly did the latter in regard to the magic. Lastly, the killing of one of the characters (not going to ruin it for other readers) at the end was unnecessary and cruel. That could have been handled so many other ways but instead, the author resorted to unforgivable gratuitous violence.
Overall, I rate this book as 3 out of 5 stars due to all of the threads that go nowhere. The author leaves readers with a cliffhanger. Will I read the next one? Maybe, because I am nosey and want to find out more about the mess that we were left with at the end of this book.

This YA fantasy feels unique from the majority of popular offerings on shelves today. Firstly, I love the settings of historical Egypt and Buenos Aires, and I love the choice to infuse magic into this already magical-feeling premise. It gives strong vibes of The Mummy, which naturally only makes me like it more. The film is never more clearly evoked than in the interactions between Inez and Whit, who carry the story. They are by far the brightest spot in this novel for me. They have witty exchanges that sometimes made me laugh out loud, and I always looked forward to seeing them on the page together. Watching their relationship develop was a highlight, despite some aspects lacking real depth.
Also of note was the atmospheric depiction of Egypt and incorporation of its history, which was intriguing and did transport me in a way that I will never get tired of in fiction.
I did feel like some prominent elements of the plot were rushed, and I would have liked to see the magic system more deeply explored and defined. Additionally, some characters seemed to serve no clear substantial purpose. Overall, I feel that the book would have benefitted from tightening up and improving the focus. Nevertheless, the story’s cliffhanger brought me around again, and I will be awaiting book two! Hopefully, with all the groundwork laid in book one, we’ll be able to really dig into the characters, magic, and the true goings-on in the secret world of Egyptian excavation and antiquities. I will say that I think this book benefitted greatly from the Mummy film nostalgia and the Rick-and-Evie energy from our male and female leads, and I hope it can truly step into its own distinct identity as it continues.
Thank you to Isabel Ibanez, St. Martin’s Press/Wednesday Books, and NetGalley for a copy of the book in exchange for my honest review!

Holy shit, this book was so good! The Mummy vibes were perfect, like I seriously will be binge watching the movies constantly while I wait for this sequel. The mystery and romance were both so good. Inez and Whit are *chef's kiss*. This book has reawakened my obsession with Egypt and I want to learn to read hieroglyphics and learn about the Egyptian gods and visit Egypt. The setting was so good and the story felt so real. Some really amazing twists, one of which I guessed but several I did not. And did I mention the cliffhanger?? I am not ok and will not be ok until the sequel comes out.

Provided by Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

This book feels like a love letter to Egypt. The atmosphere and descriptions of Cairo really make the reader feel they are in this country. The author does a great job at descriptions and imagery. I also love the focus of this being about Cleopatra and her undiscovered tomb. The book talks a lot about stolen artifacts from Egypt, grave robbing, and the way other countries took advantage of Egypt and its history for their own financial gain.

One flaw this book had was the pacing. At times this book felt slow and monotonous. I think it needed a little more angst/higher stakes/more mystery, etc. to help keep the readers's attention. I also think there were a lot of aspects of the book that weren't expanded on or did not have a purpose. I think with a little more refinement this book could have been five stars.

Thank you to Wednesday Books for sending me an eARC from netgalley for an honest review.

CWs: gun violence, violence, affair, drinking, death, death of a parent, grief, murder

Wow this was an incredible read! When I heard The Mummy meets Death on the Nile, I knew I would love this one.
Inez was a great character from the start. Left in Argentina while her parents stay in Egypt 6 months of the year, she doesn’t really know much about her parents. What she does know is that she wants to go to Egypt. When an opportunity for her to go comes up, Inez goes to find her uncle in Egypt and get answers about her parents. In Egypt she meets the charming and infuriating Whitford Hayes who works for her uncle.
I adored the tension and the relationship between Whit and Inez. It was fabulous, and the build up was so well done. Whit’s character was great, and I loved the brief snippets of his POV. His secrets kept me interested, and I’m desperate for answers!
The magic and the history came together really well for this story, and the author had a fantastic way of describing the scenery. I felt like I was in Egypt with Inez as searched for answers and artifacts. The magic was a really interesting piece, and I wish there had been even more of it.
The pacing was good, and I found the writing style really easy to follow along with. I got completely hooked by the story, and I didn’t want to put it down. It’s told mostly from Inez’s POV, and her sass and strength as a character were great additions to the narration.
And that ending! I’m dying for answers, and hoping that there’s a sequel!

Isabel…why do you insist on wrecking me? I loved this story, especially the vivid imagery, Inez’s search for answers and the mystery of what drew her parents to Cairo, and what secrets she will uncover kept me turning page after page.

This is, by far, Ibañez’s best book to date, and it’s been amazing to watch her grow as a storyteller!

Argentina and Egypt! That drew me in immediately. I loved the characters, the history that was thrown in as well. You can connect with our two main characters in a great way as well.
Slow moving read but it keeps you drawn in with the fantastic descriptions of everything. The end felt a tad rushed but my goodness the cliffhanger gets you!!!

At first, I was apprehensive. It took me a bit of time to enter into this book. I was intrigued, but I didn't find myself really getting invested until at least 40% of the way through. This book was set as a "rivals to lovers" romance which I didn't see. Whit and Inez are so fun to watch come together, but I never saw him as her rival. The magical elements blended perfectly with the history presented in the book. I was completely enthralled by the mystery and the tension between the two characters. I DIED at the end. I didn't know I was so close to finishing it and then read the epilogue. I cannot wait to see what the next book will unfold. A solid historical romantasy!

Actual Rating: 3.5

I loved the premise of the book from the blurb alone — it seemed immediately like we would be getting a strong female lead who was on a mission to find the truth no matter the cost.

What the River Knows starts with a letter that Inez receives: her parents are dead and she’s inherited their fortune. All she knows about them is that they were in Cairo and that they were looking for something; with nothing but the letter and a mysterious ring her father had previously mailed to her, Inez travels to Egypt, where she finds out there’s more to her parent’s disappearance than her new guardian is letting on. Her mission only becomes even more complicated when she gets tangled up with her uncle’s handsome assistant Whit — who she only then finds out, is already betrothed.

I was really invested in the plot from the very beginning. How could I not be? We were tossed into an unknown place with Inez, who was a pretty great protagonist. I felt wronged and frustrated when she did, and I felt as nervous as she was when trying to decide who to trust and who not to. However, I’m a bit middle-of-the-road on all the twists and how they ended up. Some did catch me off guard and others were more predictable, but overall I don’t think any of them had enough build-up to give off the right oomph.

I think the world-building could’ve been more robust too. I really loved that magical elements started to be introduced, but it felt like they would appear and disappear at random moments and I wasn’t sure what the rules of it were.

While Inez was a great protagonist and Whit was also a great character, I enjoyed their banter more when it was plot-related (near the first half) and less so when it was romance-related (the second half).

In fact, I think I enjoyed the first half better in general. It was more focused and directed on Inez’s story, while we started mixing in romance and plot twists later in the book and it started to get messy.

Still, I’m invested in the story and I didn’t expect this to be to be getting a sequel! Since it looks like we will be, I’ll be tuning in for sure.

This book moves the entire time and doesn’t slow down. You take an unconventional and unauthorized journey with Inez. She encounters trials and challenges at every turn. A great adventure, fantasy/historical fiction story. I definitely recommend.

I have always loved ancient Egyptian history and thoroughly enjoyed the story. I couldn't put the book down and ended up reading the second half in one sitting;however, I am torn about the ending and the fact that there's a cliffhanger.

I was completely charmed by What The River Knows! The magic system really drew me in, the idea of old magic imprinting on objects and the less they were touched the more the magic held—which brings us to Egypt. A land full of magic and adventure, and of course, secrets.

Inez is drawn to Egypt through a mysterious ring belonging to the last Pharaoh, Cleopatra, that her father had sent her before he and her mother died. Despite her Uncle and his associate, Whit Hayes, wanting her to return to Argentina Inez is determined to get to the bottom of her parents deaths and the mysterious visions of Cleopatra she’s seen from coming in contact with the ring.

I loved Inez and her stubbornness and how it clashed so beautifully with Whit. They made an excellent pair reminiscent of Rick and Evelyn in the Mummy. The world building was excellent and I loved getting to explore Egypt along with Inez. Although I could guess what was going to happen early on and the ending felt a little quick, I still more than enjoyed it and it definitely leaves me eager for the next book!!

Thank you Wednesday books for the arc!!

I wanted to like this one much more than I actually did. Based on the description, I went in expecting fantasy, mystery, and Egypt, but only ended up with one of the three. Given the relatively minor role magic plays, I'd categorize this one as more 'magical realism' than 'fantasy' and while it's technically a mystery, it lacks the suspense needed to make the story compelling. Instead the plot meanders, switching direction several times, with numerous red herrings only serving to further distract. Pacing-wise, it drags. By a third of the way through, I no longer cared about what had happened to Inez's parents; by the 3/4 mark, I was seriously considering skimming to the end. It honestly felt more like a vehicle for the author's soap box on the evils of colonialism and the unfairness of sexism rather than a mystery novel. The descriptions of Victorian Egypt are lovely though.

In addition to the underwhelming plot, I found the characters to be pretty lacking as well. Inez is overly naive and annoying, while Whit is not nearly as charming as we're repeatedly told he is. All the rest of the characters just feel flat. The book also suffers from the standard YA trope of insta-love, but chemistry between our leads is non-existent and almost every interaction feels forced. I was over it a quarter of the way through the book; watching it the rest of the time was painful.

If you're looking for a captivating whodunnit set in Egypt, this isn't it. Several other authors have done this better including Agatha Christie (used in the comps). I'd suggest trying one of those instead.

Thank you to St. Martin’s Press, Wednesday Books, and NetGalley for an eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review. A copy of this review also appears on Goodreads.

I loved this. I was so sucked into this story from the get-go with the different historical aspects that the story explores and the mystery of the parent's death, combined with Inez and Whit really capturing my heart made this an unputdownable read. Stunning cover and story to match! I can't believe I was left on such a cliff-hanger--I'm eagerly awaiting the next one!

I'll read anything Isabel Ibañez puts out. And even more so after this one. Though I don't know that I can forgive her for leaving me on such a cliffhanger! I got to nerd out on the historical aspects that Isabel expertly woven into Inez's story– this book is a vibe. The intrigue from the mystery of her parent's death makes me keep turn the page, as well as all the banter and chemistry between Inez and Whit. Can't wait for the next one!!

I'm struggling to rate this book because it was a clear 5 stars for me until the very very end - that ending wrecked me in the worst way with that cliff-hanger - there will be a sequel, right?! Like it took all my wonderful emotions and drowned them in the Nile.

I just loved this story - the characters, the adventure, the location! I just didn't want to put it down. The characters are complex and everyone keeps you guessing. While I did wonder if <spoiler> Inez's mom was running some kind of a scheme, I didn't really figure it out until she appeared in Inez's tent that first night, and I was shocked with Inez when she left her behind and then kidnapped her cousin! Like who is this woman?!</spoiler> I was shocked when <spoiler>Elvira was shot, I thought for sure the author wouldn't crush us that hard, but no.</spoiler> I was constantly trying to figure out Whit while also falling for him just like Inez was.

My only real qualm is that there were some descriptors that were kind of annoying and repetitive. Like how many times do we need to point out that Whit's stomach is flat or "the hard line of his leg". Like we can just say stomach or leg without that extraneous stuff over and over.

And if/when there is a sequel and <spoiler> Whit ends up being a bad guy, I will cry very real tears, because Whit and Inez are just... everything x100. I just can't believe that Whit has been playing Inez, he's got something else in the works to help her out and get to marry her, I just know it must be true!</spoiler>

But for real, how long do I have to wait for the sequel. Can it come out the day after this book is released, pretty please?!

Egypt. Sarcophagi. Magic. Treasure.

This book has it all!

We hear so many things about Egypt being the most advanced ancient civilization but there is so much unknown! This YA Fantasy novel incorporates versions of real people, real legends, and puts a magical twist and some drama to bring it all together, even, a little romance.

I am so glad that this book is part of a duology because the story brought me in and really left me wanting to know more.