Thank you to NetGalley, Isabel Ibañez, and Wednesday Books for an eARC of this amazing story. This is the best book I have read in 2023!! It is a superb historical fantasy set in Egypt. It is totally giving The Mummy vibes as main characters Inez and Whit have similar energy to Rick and Evie!!! There is also a murder mystery thriller edge to the story as well which adds to the intrigue and unputdownable appeal!

The story, set in the late 1800s, follows a 19 year old Inez from Buenos Aires to Egypt upon learning some terrible news. Upon her arrival, she meets the intriguing Whit and her uncle Ricardo. Ricardo is an archaeologist excavating ancient Egyptian sites and Inez gets involved in his work. She finds her self in a mystery involving her family and the terrible news that brought her to Egypt in the first place. All the while, she finds herself on an emotional roller coaster with Whit! 5/5 STARS

Could not put this down and now I have to WAIT FOR THE SEQUAL 😭😭😭 Completely lost myself in this book and I’m having a bit of anxiety (thank you SJM) about Whit and Inez and I need to know what happens right now.

I’ll admit I did find it a bit predictable but that actually helped me (I don’t enjoy surprises in books). It was so lovely I want to go read it again :)

Egypt, a bit of magic, ancient burial sites, and adventure, what is there not to like. Inez lives in Buenos Aires with her aunt and cousins while her parents spend most of their time in Egypt with her Tìo at dig sites finding ancient artifacts and never allowing Inez to join them. One day she gets a terrible letter from her uncle and sails to Egypt on her own to find out what really happened. There she embarks on a journey filled with mystery, intrigue and lots of questions more than answers.

I love the main characters, Inez and Whit, and all the side characters good and bad. Inez has spunk and is determined although a bit naive. Whit is a bad boy with a good heart. The tension between them is strong and I’m there for it. I loved Isadora, who isn’t in the story a ton, but hoping she will be a lot more in the sequel, with a great back story. I was stunned at some of the happenings at the end of the book that took me by surprise.

I can’t wait for the sequel and hope it won’t take too long to write and be published!!

Thanks to NetGalley, the author and publisher, I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

StoryGraph review in link. Thank you for the book!

This book was great and I learned some things about Egyptian Mythology. The ending was not nice though, it left off on a cliff hanger.

Oh my goodness where do I even begin… I LOVED this book. I noticed the dedication at the start of this book was to Rebecca Ross who is one of my favourite authors… so I knew it would be a good one. Right from the start, this book had me obsessed. It is fast, it is action packed and it is fun. The writing is nice and doesn’t feel like a YA novel. Our protagonist is witty and stubborn, trekking from Buenos Aires to Egypt where her parents are said to be dead (or missing?). Here she deals with her mysterious uncle and his employee, the attractive yet complicated Whit. Filled with Egyptian history (cleopatra), adventure and a forbidden romance, this book is everything I could’ve wanted and more. It finishes on a MASSIVE cliff hanger and I will be eagerly waiting for the sequel!

Easiest five stars on the year by far!

For a story pitched as the mummy meets death on the Nile there was very little action.


I am so so sad because I had high hopes for this one. Unfortunately, it was to slow of a read that I grew bored. I grew up loving the mummy and it's what drew me to this story, but it also made me expect action, adventure, and danger. It didn't deliver on any of that. Instead I got page after page of Inez wondering who she could trust. It got so repetitive.

Another thing i really dislike in books is when characters withhold information and the MC doesn't make any headway in trying to pry the information from them. It gets tiring really fast when the MC is like I need to find the truth oh they won't tell me.

The romance was cute and I liked their back and forth but it wasn't enough to save this. I also grew tired of Whit's mysteriousness and how obsessed Inez was in getting him to open up about himself.

This story just wasn't for me.

I love this book.
It's the mummy all the way and I will be purchasing the book and the audio. I love this author.

OH. MY. GOSH.

I was warned about this book, but somehow I still wasn’t ready. Where to even start???

The culture.
Fabulous. We et a glimpse of 1800s Egypt (obviously), but we also get a glimpse into Argentina and England (through its influence on other countries at the time-AKA, most of the world). I loved the Spanish and Arabic interwoven throughout the book. It was done in a way that didn’t detract from what the character was saying while at the same time adding to the richness of the world.

The characters.
I love Inez, but can we please talk about Whit for like…EVER. Isabel, you better give us more answers about his backstory in Book 2!

The twists.
I saw most of the twists coming, except for the one in the epilogue. I’m pretty sure my heart quit beating for a full minute. Isabel will be getting my therapy bill until Book 2 releases-maybe that will speed up the publishing process

1000/5 stars from me! If you love-
-Egyptology
-the Mummy movies
-Cleopatra
-SUPER morally grey characters
-family secrets
-twists at every turn
-never knowing who to trust

Then keep an eye out for this book’s release in November 14.

Thanks so much to the publisher and to Netgalley for providing me with an e-ARC copy of this book!

I have scheduled promotional posts around release day for this book and I will provide a full review on my Instagram once I am able to get to this read.

Rating 5 stars on Netgalley as a placeholder for me to update later once the review is complete.

Will also complete a review on Goodreads once read.

Thanks again!

I really enjoy Isabel’s writing style. I feel like I’m transplanting into a different time and culture. It’s so fun!

What an adventure! I absolutely loved the writing- the writer did an excellent job of describing EVERYTHING. I’m a fan of fantasy/mythology involving gods and goddesses, and it was so easy to see the story as it unfolded from her descriptive writing. I do hate a cliffhanger, but I can’t wait for the next book to arrive! (The only downside of getting ARC…if there’s a sequel it can seem like forever!) I hope the next one involves more story in Argentina as well, the opening chapters of her home were as interesting as her latter adventures.

If you are a fan of The Mummy/Indiana Jones movies, or any other magical/archeological storyline, I think you’ll really enjoy this book.

My local bookstore is having a pre sale for autographed copies of this book upon release, can’t wait to get mine. The cover is gorgeous!

Thanks to NetGalley and St Martins Press/Wednesday Books for the advance copy. I’ll be waiting patiently for the next❤️

When I learned What the River Knows was compared to The Mummy (one of my all time favorite movies ) and Death on the Nile, I knew I had to read it!

I’m happy to report that it lived up to the comparisons while telling its own unique story. The setting is transporting, the magic is enchanting, the plot is intriguing and the romance is a slow burn.

It kept me engaged the entire way through. There are a few twists and turns, some more predictable than others, but it kept the plot interesting and moving. I absolutely loved the dynamic between our main characters and love interests. The banter between Inez and Whit made me chuckle and swoon.

Definitely pick this one up if you’re in the mood for adventure, mystery, and a slow burn!

(this has been copied and pasted from Goodreads)
Thanks NetGalley for the ARC and for breaking my heart!
I'd give this 20 stars if I could- I'm beyond frustrated at the ending and you're telling me the FIRST book isn't out yet and I'm already desperate for the SECOND?!
I've always loved Egypt and archaeology growing up so to have a more accurate depiction of it has been amazing! The characters are so well written, and Inez is a total gem (naive but in a good way, not the annoying protagonist way). Whitt is just.... man, I can't tell you how many times I highlighted stuff that had me giggling and swinging my feet. That man (up until the epilogue curse you) had my heart.
I am so glad I preordered this before I read the ARC because now I get to read it again!

If you love Egypt, magic, and a good splash of romance that's definitely witty and fun, this book is amazing! I will be making sure the library I work with has loads of copies!

What the River Knows by Isabel Ibañez

Storyline: 5/5
Characters: 5/5
Writing: 5/5

First off, thank you to NetGalley and Wednesday Books for the eARC. I was so surprised that I was given the chance to read this in Advance. So thank you, thank you.
​What the River Knows is Isabel's fourth book. I first discovered her through Instagram when she came out with her first book, Woven in the Moonlight. What drew me to her book in the first place was that Isabel wrote about the Bolivian culture in it. Isabel's parents are from Bolivia, so I'm sure she drew from their history and stories to create her own. My husband is half-Bolivian, and his mom is from Bolivia. I was interested and wanted to read more about their culture. So it was great that an author included it in her work.
​Isabel's fourth book centers on Egypt and the colonization of Egypt. The country is growing on the map. More and more people are traveling to Egypt, whether it be for fun or for work. Egypt was and is an excellent place of discovery. The history there is rich, and the artifacts and pyramids are some of the great sites of Egypt, the wonders of the world.
​When I was growing up, I had an aunt who was obsessed with Egypt. So I would watch movies and read books all about Egypt with her. We would look up pictures and facts on the computer. I loved it. Egypt was always a place of great fascination for me and still is. The burial sites and all the hidden treasures that the Egyptians placed in the tombs are the things Egypt is most well known for.
​In What the River Knows, Inez's parents travel and spend most of their life in Egypt. They leave their daughter in Buenos Aires and travel. Inez misses her parents and lives with her aunt and two cousins. She has difficulty following propriety and wishes to be her own person. However, she does get along with her cousin Elvira. She is the reason why Inez can mostly hold it together. Inez loves to sketch, which doesn't cease to annoy her aunt because Inez's fingers are constantly covered in black from her sketching.
​Inez is waiting for a response from her parents. She wants to travel to Egypt and be with them. Every time she has asked, the answer has always been no. But she secretly wrote to her parents and begged once more. The book opens with Inez receiving a letter that she believes contains an answer from her parents. However, tragedy has struck, and Inez discovers her parents have died in the desert. This is shocking to Inez because she knows her parents wouldn't travel in the desert and not have the essentials. So she secretly travels to Egypt by boat and reaches out to her Uncle Ricardo. Once she has arrived in Egypt, she discovers, much to her dismay, that her uncle has already arranged transport back to Inez's home. Inez refuses and finds her own way to the Shepheard Hotel, where her parents had stayed.
​Ricardo has a man working for him named Whit, who comes to put Inez back on the boat. Whit decides he can't stand Inez, and she quite frankly feels the same. We all know how that goes. Ricardo is an archaeologist. He travels with his deceased wife's brother to discover all the hidden wonders in Egypt. His goal is to find the tombs of the great pharaohs and maintain the artifacts' authenticity. During the late 1800s, many people traveled to Egypt and stole artifacts from these sites to sell on the black market. They would make a lot of money. Ricardo and his brother-in-law aimed to end this and maintain Egypt's magic. However, that wasn't easy; it was quite dangerous. Inez gets caught up in the turmoil and danger of these escapades. She refuses to go home and wants to help. She wants to discover what happened to her parents.
​What the River Knows is the journey of Inez going against propriety and being an independent woman who decides to fight for her freedom. She refuses to believe her parent's death was an accident and won't stop searching until she finds the answer.
​Isabel's fourth book was her best yet. I love everything about Egypt, so I was constantly on the edge of my seat. I loved traveling with Inez and discovering the hidden secrets of Egypt with her. The descriptions of the pyramids and tombs made me think I was there with her walking in the sandy desert with the sun beating down on me. I couldn't imagine dressing as they did back then, with corsets and dresses with a million buttons. Imagine the suffocation…Inez apparently felt the same, propriety be damned. Well, not quite; she did her best. But she wanted her power back, she wanted to travel and make her own choices, and that is what many women had to fight for during that time.
​Isabel's writing was so smooth. It was fluid and filled with detail. It was smooth. You could tell she has grown as an author. Every book of hers has been better than the last. It is considered a Young Adult book but could be regarded as New Adult too. I appreciated the authenticity that she put into her characters. You could relate to them, which is what every author strives for in a good book. It's something that makes an ordinary book a page-turner. When you can relate to the character, and you like the character, you care about what happens to them. The ultimate goal is for the author to grab your attention and tie your emotions to the story. Isabel has done that with Inez and with the character Whit. The friendship that they formed throughout the story was enjoyable to read but also realistic because there wasn't any instant love.
What the River Knows is full of
• Suspense
• Egypt and it’s culture and magic
• Enemies to Lovers
• Light Spice
• Detailed History
• Descripted Scenery
• Cliffhanger

​If you love Egypt and the mystery of the Pharaohs, you’ll love this book. Isabel’s writing is magical and addicting and you just don’t want to put the book down. What the River Knows comes out November 14, 2023, and I already can’t wait for book 2. Please do yourself a favor and pre-order this, you won’t regret it.

This was pitched to me as "The Mummy" meets "Death on the Nile," and I was immediately sold!

In Buenos Aires, Inez Olivera is a society girl, living with her aunt and cousins - left behind by parents who are always drawn back to Egypt. When news of her parents' tragic deaths arrive, Inez is filled with questions and determined to fins the answers. Sailing to Cairo to find the tío that has become her mysterious guardian -an archeologist in partnership with his Egyptian brother-in-law -, Inez sets off with little more than the golden ring her father gave her and her sketchbook. But when she arrives in Cairo, the old-word magic of her golden ring and the questions around her parent's disappearances leave her with more questions.
"With her guardian’s infuriatingly handsome assistant thwarting her at every turn, Inez must rely on ancient magic to uncover the truth about her parent’s disappearance—or risk becoming a pawn in a larger game that will kill her."

I cannot describe how much I loved this book. Everything about it is refreshingly unique and perfectly balances the mystery and the magic of the world. Every character is wonderfully complex, and the twists and turns of the story will leave you guessing at every turn.
Out main character, Inez, is passionate, strong-willed, courageous, and not afraid of vulnerability. You root for and admire her at every turn. She was so full of life that she practically jumped off of the page. And the infuriately handsome assistant, Whit, was a perfect compliment to her - guarded, but tender, with a lot of backstory that I hope we get to explore so much more in further books. Their banter had me laughing out loud at points. Their tension and push-and-pull romantic tension was EVERYTHING I needed.
The setting and atmosphere was stunning. Ibañez describes each site in Egypt with engaging and awe-inspiring detail. She captures the wonder of archaeology and the featured historical sites with respect and wonder, and I was itching to be there with the characters in their dig site camp.
The plot had me guessing at every turn. There is so much happening behind the scenes that slowly and perfectly gets revealed as the novel progresses. And every time Ibañez laid another card on the table, I was GASPING! The story was deliciously mysterious. The twists and turns were perfectly paced and left me turning page after page until I reached the end.
And speaking of the end ...
I won't go into spoilers, but I will say that I needed to read it twice, both times with my jaw on the floor.

This is one of my new favorite books. It's full of magic, adventure, romance, banter, and the awe of (anti-colonial) archaeology.

⭐️⭐️.7/⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (2.7/5 stars)
DNF'd. as an avid lover of ancient egypt since childhood, i kinda wanted just a little bit MORE, ya know? May be someone else's cup of tea 100%

Described as The Mummy meets Death on the Nile, this one was a fun tromp through Egypt. Inez is trying to figure out how her parents died while excavating in Egypt, She doesn't know who to trust and the weight and rules of society expectations seems to thwart her at every pass. Her spunkiness and bravery are her worst and best qualities. I enjoyed this one thoroughly, but the cliff hanger ending was unexpected and a bit annoying. However, it did make me want to read the next in line. Recommended.

This story took a bit for me to get into. It’s very slow paced and honestly didn’t hold my interest until about halfway through and then it became unputdownable.

Inez’s parents spend half the year in Egypt leaving her in Bruno’s Aires under the care of her aunt. When they go missing and are presumed dead, Inez travels to Cairo to reunite with her estranged archeologist uncle turned guardian and solve the mystery of her parents deaths.

The characters are well written and the descriptions really make you feel like you’re in 1880’s Egypt. I won’t lie, I saw the twist coming a mile away, but I can also say that about 90% of the books I read. However, the ending… the ending?! The ending!! I was fairly confident the book was going to wrap up neatly and then it most definitely threw a curveball in there and now I’m left anxiously awaiting the sequel.

This book has me from The Mummy and Death on the Nile. It did not disappoint. I loved the setting and details of Egypt. Inez and Whit were wonderful and their banter so perfect. The mystery kept you wanting more.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for the free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. My opinion was not affected by the free copy.

I'm going to be honest that I'm DNFing this book at 25% so there's every chance it'll get better. And admittedly I should have expected this given the time period. Still, I really did not like the way that Whit was speaking to Inez-- either out loud or through internal monologue. The very first thing he does is call her a "chit" and he continued to speak to her condescendingly afterward. At one point Inez says something like "don't talk to me like that" and Whit is like "oh would you rather I flirt with you instead" and... ugh, I hated it. If I were to guess, I'd say this guy is the eventual love interest. And having a guy constantly insult you and speak to you the way he speaks to her does not make for an appealing love interest.

Another thing that bothered me was the other guy Inez runs into early on. This guy is a collector for the museum, I guess, and steals a ring right off Inez's finger. It's a ring that her father gave to her and thus holds personal significance to her. She tells him this but does he care? Nope. He whips out his credentials and just like that, he can take this stolen ring from this girl with no consequences. This plot thread will probably come back but it still really pissed me off. I'm guessing this was a thing that actually happened and while I can commend the book for its authenticity to history, that doesn't mean I have to like it when it happens to our MC.

The one thing I will say in the book's favor is that Inez doesn't take any of people's handling of her lying down. Her uncle tries to make her go back home but she refuses; Whit tries to keep her inside with a maid as a guard but Inez locks the maid in a room. I might have felt inclined to keep reading since Inez is a great character, were it not for the fact that I'm pretty sure Whit is the LI and I can't stand him. I think this book was trying to imitate Rick and Evie's relationship from The Mummy.

It's a shame because I really wanted to read a historical fiction novel set in Egypt. I just really didn't want to read about this condescending asshole talk to a girl the way Whit does to Inez and get rewarded for it by becoming her love interest.