An atmospheric and satisfying read. Very recommendable. I fully respect the craft and skill of the author. Well-developed characters populate a carefully developed setting that almost works as its own character within this read. Easy to recommend to all historical fiction readers as well as those interested in strong women.

The world itself seemed vibrant, and as a sucker for Egyptian mythology I was excited for the book. The plot itself kept me entertained, and there were definitely twists I wasn’t expecting, but I was still left wanting more.

Some of the prose felt like it was translated poorly so some of the description or dialogue felt a little clunky. It was distracting at the beginning, but by the end it felt much smoother.

It took too long to get the adventure going. It was nearly half the book before the actual expedition began. That didn’t leave much time to really develop the adventure into something I was really excited about.

The book is clearly going to be a series, but I don’t like when a book doesn’t feel done. Almost none of the conflicts that begin have any sort of resolution. I certainly expected to have some left going, but I still want some sort of ending rather than just a last page.

I was a little confused/uncomfortable with the ages of the two main characters who seem to occupy the enemies to lovers trope. She reads like a teen and he reads like mid twenties. The difference felt like too much.

Ultimately I don’t think the adventure is one I’ll follow to a sequel. I liked the world and I liked the potential, but not enough to go down the river again.

I wanted to love this book so badly, but I just couldn't. This was just a middle of the road fantasy for me. Here's a summary of some of the things I loved and some of the things I didn't quite enjoy.

Some Things I Loved:
I really loved the setting, the way that Ibañez describes Egypt is mesmerizing and I felt like I was there with Inez and Whit (who I think are such interesting characters).

The friendship between Isadora and Inez was so refreshing! I was fully expecting girl hate and the fact that they were friends was very nice.

Some Things I Didn't Love:
My main issue is with the plotting. The first third went so slowly that it was a struggle to get to the good parts. If I was an editor, I would probably have suggested cutting almost all the Buenos Aires scenes in the beginning of the novel, they felt unnecessary and dragged the plot down.

I also didn't love Whit's POV. I'm not a huge fan of multiple POV's, but this one felt especially unnecessary.

There also wasn't enough magic for me. After all the boasting about magic items from the past we don't really see much of them.

Overall, not the worst historical fantasy, but definitely not my favorite. Thank you to NetGalley and Wednesday Books for an arc in exchange for an honest review.

I didn’t love this title as much as Ibañez’ previous work, but I’m still eager to dive into the sequel… really wish this one hadn’t ended so abruptly or with so many odd holes in the story, but I can’t wait to see how it all ties together.

I enjoyed this book, but wanted more of a focus on the mystery, magic, and history of Egypt vs the romance/ relationships. It started off with this cozy, mystery adventure with tea,dust, markets, and a magic ring... but it quickly became about the relationships instead. Either romance, trust, betrayel...I don't mind that stuff, but would have liked it more if the afforementioned other areas of interest hadn't been tossed out in the process.

But I enjoyed it overall!

Isabel Ibañez is an incredible prose writer and What the River Knows is much of the same. It is quite the gripping, historical fiction read and I enjoyed it!

I went into this book with excitement about the plot and the potential. The concept of a heroine in the late 1800s getting to the mystery behind her parents while traversing this specific period of history is a strong idea, but ultimately not one I think is executed well. I think for a younger reader this would maybe fare better. As a Spanish speaker, I was often left perplexed at the choices to leave some words translated and to leave other sections as 'this but in Spanish~', or that there would not have been some real difficulty in communication if this is taking place in the period it is. Those choices often left me pulling from the story to think "would that have been said in this period?"

Thank you NetGallety and Wednesday Books for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC of this book. Set in 1884 a young woman named Inez lives with her Aunt, while her mother and father are in Egypt. Inez yearns to be in Egypt with her parents. This is a young adult, historical fiction romance thriller (shew that was a lot of types!!) Inez is waiting anxiously to hear from her parents, that they are ready for her to join them, but instead she learns of their tragic deaths. (no spoiler here - this happens early on). She inherits a massive fortune and a guardian who is an archeologist in Egypt.
This is a very immersive read an will take you exactly to Egypt and all of the history surrounding it. It is totally movie worthy. I feel like I was watching the romance and the excitement and race evolve on the big screen! A great summer read!

Inez Olivera dreams of adventure and hopes to one day join her parents on their yearly expedition to Egypt. Instead of receiving a letter informing her when they will return to Buenos Aires, Inez is devastated to find out her parents are dead. The vague letter from her Tío isn’t enough. Nineteen and going against everything society expects from a young lady, Inez decides she must travel to Egypt. It isn’t going to be easy, but a magical ring sent weeks earlier from her father should be a clue. Will she find answers? What were her parents doing in Egypt? Can she trust her Tío? Most of all, who is the handsome Mr. Whitford Hayes?
 
What the River Knows is a captivating novel! I admire the detailed writing, especially when describing Egypt. Secrets and deception are two of my favorite themes and this novel didn’t disappoint. I love that Inez is a strong Latina protagonist grappling with society’s set standards on women in the 1880’s. Her forbidden romance with Whit will leave you wondering what will happen next. The highlight is the combination of fantasy and ancient Egypt, which is perfect. I can’t wait for everyone to read this novel!

Thank you Netgalley and St. Martin’s Press for the ARC ebook in exchange for an honest review.

This was such a fun read!
In short, I really liked Inez as a character. I thought the twist(s) were interesting, but a little out of left field. I wish we got a little more info/development on Whit and I didn't love the last page.
I understand the author is likely setting up for a sequel, but it would have been more impactful/fun if there were breadcrumbs for readers to follow instead of just throwing that last twist at us because it really did feel like it came out of nowhere.
Loved the slow burn romance and the time period/setting was one I feel like I don't see super frequently so that was a blast.
Overall a good read, looking forward to the next one!

I finished What The River Knows and now I have to find what to do with my life since this story had consumed every waking moment. And now that it’s been left on this cliffhanger, I can’t wait to jump when the sequel (?!?!) is written.

I adored this story so much! It had everything I wanted. A stubborn FMC, a grumpy but savvy MMC, adventure, secrets, magic, and twists!

I came to love Inez and her stubbornness. She’s a character you may not agree with all the time; you’ll get frustrated by her habit of rushing into things without thinking, but also understand her instinct to trust and be compassionate. You’ll love her interactions with Whit while yelling at her common sense sometimes. She’s a dynamic character and you can’t box her into one category and I loved that about her. Though the plot has some romance it is not the main storyline and does not overwhelm the story.

The sense of mystery and adventure was timed wonderfully for me and there was never a moment where I felt like it was dragging or wanted a certain interaction to end. You can tell the author spent a lot of time getting the setting and the history right and that love for the culture/history is clearly seen. The magic in the book is subtle and it does not take over the whole plot, instead it is used as a device to support the characters original beliefs and adventures.

I will say that this book is NOT a stand alone and the end had me tossing my kindle across the bed as I screamed. I cannot wait to continue this adventure with Inez and I will be impatiently waiting for the sequel.

Perfect for readers who enjoy:
Egyptian mythology
Rivals to lovers
Banter
Magic
YA Historical fantasy
1800’s time period
Twists

Thank you to netgalley and the author for an ARC of this story.

What the River Know was such an enjoyable book! I loved Inez so much. I don’t think I’ve read a MC quite like her in a long time. This story was so engaging and vivid. This book has a bit of everything, from adventure to romance. I can’t recommend this more and I absolutely can’t wait to read more from Isabel Ibañez.

“Hidden things have always fascinated me. And you, Mr. Hayes, have a secret. It’s long since buried, but I know it’s there. And one day, I will uncover it. Mark my words.”

All the stars. I am beyond infatuated with this book, and I will wait with bated breath for the next pages of the story.

What The River Knows is a lush, immersive historical fantasy set in nineteenth century Egypt and is full of thrilling adventure, intriguing mystery, ancient magic, and a forbidden “off-limits” romance (that gives great tension and banter).

Join Inez and the slightly infuriating (yet most charming) Whit on their journey by watching for this beauty’s release on November 14th.

Thank you to Isabel Ibanez, St.Martin’s Press and NetGalley for an advanced electronic copy.

First off, thanks to netgalley for providing me an ARC!

Inez's parents are archeologists digging in Egypt. She rarely sees them but her father did send her home this beautiful ring, when she put it on, she sees Cleopatra. When she receives a letter from her Tio that her parents are dead, she goes to Egypt to find out what had happened.
There, she meets a complicated group of characters who are all in search of Cleopatra's lost tomb.
She knows she can find it because of the magic the ring had given her. But when she does, she finds that many people are not who they say they are, and some aren't as dead as she was told.. 👀
I really loved this story. It had little bits of everything, history, mystery, and romance. It is a bit of a slow build, but I definitely recommend it.

What the River Knows by Isabel Ibanez
Publication Date: November 14, 2023

What the River Knows… is that Melanie thinks this was a fantastic book so get ready because I’m about to spend the next six plus months trying to convince you that you need to read this! It is quintessential YA reading!

Inez is left behind in her homeland of Argentina by her archeologist parents every time they leave for Egypt for a dig. They usually keep in contact but when the letters start to dry up she worries. Until she receives the news she has been dreading. Her parents are missing and believed to be dead. So she runs away from her aunt, books passage on the next available ship and sails to Egypt to locate her uncle and find her parents but nefarious things are afoot and she will need to prove her worth before she can even dream of answers.

I’ll admit this is a bit info-dumpy at first. I wasn’t hooked until she landed in Egypt (which doesn’t take very long!) and in walks Whit. A prickly, elusive character tasked by her uncle with sending her right back on the next boat to Argentina. He’s a jack of all trades with a past and seeking something of his own.

READ THIS IF YOU LIKE:

headstrong female characters
forced proximity
Dramatic rescues that give way to a hint of feelings
Enemies-to-lovers
Historical fiction with a side of magical realism involving real-historical figures
Historical fiction that points out the errors and flaws of society at that time
Books where most of the conversation happening in your head as you read consist of, “Don’t do it!” “Do not do that!!” “NOOOOO”
EMOTIONALLY TURBULENT ENDINGS WHICH WILL LEAVE YOU FEELING 😐😯😮😮😭🙀 AND REQUIRE ANSWERS STAT!

The Death on the Nile meets the Mummy comparison is spot on. Are Inez and Whit the new Rick and Evie? I have a sudden urge to travel to Hamunaptra.

Thank you to Wednesday Books & NetGalley for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

In typical Isabel Ibañez fashion this book was immersive in a way I actually felt I could envision my soundings. It was beautifully written and the pacing was great. Inez was a such a strong MC and the way she handled everything thrown at her just made me root for her even harder. It was interesting to read about this fierce female during the 1900s where she was born before her time. The romance was okay, very typical of YA troupes which work okay for me. I did feel some of the ending was rushed in order to set up for the second book in the series, then bam that cliffhanger comes along and makes up for it. I will definitely be picking up the sequel.

#WhattheRiverKnows #NetGalley
A must read!! Beautifully written and sort of just sticks with you. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an E-Arc copy of this novel.

“He stared at me with infinite tenderness, and it nearly broke me to know that he’d never have the chance to look at me that way again.”

First and foremost, a HUGE thank you to Netgalley and Wednesday Books for the advanced copy of this TRULY MAGICAL DELIGHT! It was an honor to read and now review this book!

Overall vibes rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️, when I tell you this book HAS. IT. ALL. Adventure? CHECK, mystical setting on the Nile, Inez is after answers about her parents. Mystery? CHECK, the entire time I found myself questioning what was true, especially since no one would tell Inez anything!!!! Magic? CHECK, such a fun addition of magic to traditional Egyptian folklore. Romance? CHECK. CHECK. CHECK. Inez and Whit had the most insane chemistry that jumped off the page, wrapped itself around my heart and squeezed until I quite literally ached. From the second these two meet I just couldn’t get enough of this slow burn “you annoy me” to friends to…? Easily one of my top reads of 2023, an absolute GEM of a story, beautifully written and left my DYING for more.

Fat-friendly rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️, very neutral. No overt anti-fatness, though also no real body diversity either. Fortunately not a major emphasis on bodies overall.

Spice rating: N/A, THE TENSION THO. Hot.

Recommend?: YES GO PRE-ORDER IT NOW!

Shoutout to NetGalley and Wednesday Books for this ARC! If I had to sum up my experience reading What the River Knows in just a few words? Talented, brilliant, incredible, amazing, show stopping, spectacular, never the same, totally unique, completely not ever been done before. I loved this book. I was not surprised, though, it has everything I want in a book and more. Isabel Ibañez is an incredible author. I was absolutely gobsmacked throughout this book because of how amazing the story and the writing was. It is definitely one of my favorite reads this year and one that you don't want to miss! It's going to be on every list, mark my words!!