If you love the 1999 film The Mummy, then I think you'll love this book. It has the romantic dynamic of Rick and Evy, the beautiful Egyptian setting and exploration of Ancient Egypt, and an action-packed plot. In What the River Knows, the reader is introduced to nineteen-year-old Inez as she receives news of her parents' deaths during an archaeological dig in Egypt. Despite the societal expectations on women in 1884, Inez escapes Argentina to find answers in Egypt.

In Cairo, she meets British Whitford Hayes, personal assistant to her uncle and guardian. A battle of wills immediately begins between them and never really ends. Their chemistry and banter were fantastic and full of sparks. Their relationship was nicely developed and I'm rooting for their happiness. Alongside this romance, Inez discovers clues that make her question what really happened to her parents and who she can trust.

Inez was an incredible heroine. She's reckless, resourceful, passionate and loyal. Chafing against gender stereotypes and the need to maintain a spotless reputation to secure a husband, Inez is very relatable and easy to cheer for. As a talented artist, seeing some of her drawings in the book was fun as it enhanced the reading experience.

The book also features magic-imbued objects, illegal trade in stolen artefacts, colonialism, PTSD, an archaeological dig, Cleopatra, murder, spies, crocodiles and more! I honestly can't recommend it enough as it's pure fun. The epilogue did have me scream-texting my best friend though 😂.

WHAT THE RIVER KNOWS
I was wholly sucked in to this incredible story and could hardly put it down. It follows Inez, a young woman who travels to Egypt to learn the truth of what happened to her parents. The story that unfolds from there takes you on a wild journey through 18oos Egypt.
The historical gave the book such grounding and I found myself fully intrigued by this aspect alone. There is also a more magical fantasy element which really plays on the lore of ancient Egypt.
The enemies to lovers, slow burn relationship is addictively
good.
Five stars,
but also a big 'F you' because I thought it was a stand-alone and the cliffhanger at the end was CRUEL
(Posted on my Instagram account, @amywritesxo, with follow up post planned when book is published!)

I heard great things about this book, so I had high expectations for it and hoped that I would like it just as much as the others... and I actually did. I was fascinated right from the start, when author first introduced the rebellious and stubborn Inez, who doesn't like to be told what to do and will go out of her way to get what she wants. After hearing some sad news about her parents, our heroine decides that she can no longer stay in her homeland Argentina and travels by herself all the way to Egypt during the time, where young ladies travelling without supervision was considered scandalous. There she meets her secretive uncle Ricardo and his cheeky companion Whit, while other prominent characters appear a bit later on. In Cairo, everything seems magical - both literally and figuratively - and despite everyone wishing for Inez to come back to Argentina, she perseveres and gets caught up in adventure that may more dangerous than she initially thought it would be.

I enjoyed this story quite a lot and I thought it was well-planned in general, but there were a few times, when I felt it felt rushed (especially towards the end of the novel). Also, a couple of times, some facts were just instantly known by characters, who didn't talk about it and I found myself searching the previous pages to see if I missed something. However, I really liked the characters and thought they were fleshed-out, as well as descriptions of different locations and artefacts. Inez's and Whit's banter was great and their chemistry - undeniable. I also loved the writing style, I think this was written very well. And I shouldn't forget Inez's sketches! I'm glad, that they were included in this novel. Overall, I thought this was a great book and at times it was quite hard to put it down, so I will be (In)patiently waiting for the sequel!

thank you to Hodder & Stoughton and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest opinions!

What the River Knows was a lush combination between rich historical fantasy story, exotic Egypt setting and strong will characters we dont want to miss it.

The story following Inez's POV an Argentina orphan girl who eager to find answers about her missing parents during their acheology mission at Egypt. The writing is descriptive,  beautiful and lyrical. The pace I found slower than my normal likes but brimming with intensity. This pace will raise up rapidly around 30 percent of last book. The plot is about journey to found her self, solve the mysteries and alot adventures. Earlier of the parts feel slow and kinda dragging but the last part feel rush and full with so many things going on at same time.

The romance seed are there and I love the potentials. I also enjoyed the spark and banter between Inez and Whit. But sadly their attraction and chemistry felt instan, rush and unconvincing. I would love extra from this soft magics, ancient history and additional development from beautiful Egypt setting at 1900s.

3.7

Thank you Netgalley and Hodder and Stoughton, Hooderscape for provided me with this ebook. My thoughts and opinions are my own.

" Because I want one memory with you dancing. One thing that's mine before we part ways..."


This book was absolute perfection and made for me. Ancient Egyptian Mythology, historical fiction with mystery, some magic and romance. It had me hooked and intrigued with the story from the very beginning. It was written so beautifully with immersive world building. It was such a lush story and I was such a fan of The Mummy vibes.

The female main character Inez and the male main character Whit have such fun banter and their chemistry was fantastic. I'm very much a fan of a slow burn romance and this one had a lot of swoon. I NEED more!

I had so much respect for Inez for wanting to break out of the mould women were expected to be and she had a lot of grit and determination. I felt her pain and sorrow regarding her parents and I could understand her thoughts and motivations even when her decisions seemed rash. There were times when it felt like she had no one in her corner so I appreciated it when Whit stood up for her (plus her cousin Elvira) I also appreciate that she is an artist and sees things with a creative eye.

" My fingers itched to capture every detail, every line and curve made thousands of years ago by intrepid artists."

Whit is an intriguing character who comes across as cocky and broody, we slowly learn about as the book progresses but I feel that there is still so much we don't know about him. He definitely has more secrets that need to be uncovered and it can be hard to know what his motivations are.

That ending was a brutal cliffhanger and it will be very difficult to wait for the next book and when it does I will be reading it as soon as I can.

Thank you to NetGalley, the author and Hodder and Stoughton for the ARC!

What the Rivers Knows has the makings of a five star read. It promises an adventure-hungry debutante, a bad boy scholar, mysteriously exotic Egypt, ancient magic and comical scheming villains. But, promises are meant to be broken.

Plot, Prose and Pacing: Romance vs Mummies

Told from Inez’s point of view (with the occasional useless glimpse into Whit’s perspective), there is nothing she wants more in this world than the company of her parents. But, they spend almost all their lives in faraway Egypt. When she receives news of their deaths, Inez believes that there is more to the story. She plots her escape to Egypt in the hopes of joining her new guardian and to finally visit the world that has encaptured her parents’ fascination all these years. But it is not at all how she imagined and when the ancient ring her father sent to her gets stolen, Inez realises that there is more to Egypt than she bargained for. The ancient magic contained in the ring calls to Inez, leading her down a dark path she is unable to navigate except with the help of Whit, her guardian’s enigmatic assistant.

It is embarrassing to admit how often I watched The Mummy and its subsequent films when I was younger. To say I have an unhealthy love for the franchise is underplaying it. So, I can safely say that What the Rivers Knows does not deserve this comparison. It starts off strong. I was intrigued by the promises of the magic system and how it would tie into a historical context. I was excited to see Inez blossom in Egypt, uncovering the mystery of her parents’ disappearance and following in their footsteps. I loved how she came off as too intelligent for a society that prioritises etiquette and niceties. That all changed the moment she stepped foot in Egypt. It was as if she left all her intelligence and worldliness back in Buenos Aires.

Characterisation aside, the plot lacked a lot of intensity and fast pacing that a mysterious adventure promises. Perhaps, I had expected too much. Rather than being filled with adventure and fun, What the Rivers Knows felt more like Inez’s coming of age story. In that sense, I loved the direction the story took. I loved the betrayals, the twists and the heartbreaks. It was a more emotional journey than I expected.

Characters: A Damn Mess

However, what I did not love was how frivolous the lack of substantial characterisation made it all seem. Like a teenage girl’s fantasy played out on paper. What the River Knows feels juvenile at best. Perhaps, it is a book I would have loved and adored when I was sixteen, when all I wanted was the bad boy to be tamed by the headstrong, stubborn and reckless main character. Because a majority of the story is spent on Inez and Whit’s relationship which is shaky at best. They’ve barely known each other and they’re making grandiose declarations of love.

Inez is frustratingly reckless, jumping headfirst into precarious situations without any thought. She makes decisions without any semblance of planning and expects things to work out in her favour. In some characters, this may be a charming trait as they are able to worm their way out of trouble. Unfortunately, with Inez, she is always having to be rescued, often by the very unsexy Whit. This is also the defining quality of Inez’s personality; in fact, that’s all the personality she has. For a character who claims to have studied all that she can get her hands on about Egypt, she is reluctantly forthcoming about Egyptian knowledge nor does the book’s premise demonstrate otherwise. Inez is also said to be a talented artist; her sketches are peppered throughout the book. But, that barely had any relation to the plot. It just served as a device to get her uncle to allow her to stay in Egypt and that’s all she did at the dig sites: sketch. And might I add, without any true purpose. There were no further attempts to expand her knowledge about Egypt or engage in any scholarly pursuits. She was on all accounts, a foolish and naive girl, out of her depth and exactly like the little girl her uncle says she is. But, What the Rivers Knows, wants you to think otherwise. She was, to me, completely unlikable and not relatable.

As much as I disliked Whit, I have to admit that he is Inez’s complement. He is a walking cliche of all the bad love interest tropes you can imagine. His entire personality is boiled down to wannabe bad boy. If he’s not constantly swigging from his flask of alcohol (I was hoping to have some form of plot twist or something more interesting than budding alcoholic), he’s leaning against the wall with his arms crossed. He’s smouldering, he’s smirking, he’s winking and the list of cliched expressions go on. He is also insufferably rude and not in the least bit charming or appealing. He felt like an empty, hollow shell. And spoiler alert, Whit is already engaged to be married and is apparently, a member of British royalty. Talk about a cliche.

Instead of a historical landscape, we are to be content with the scraps of romance tossed to us in Inez and Whit who frankly are incredibly one dimensional and annoying. The banter between the both of them was uninspired and overused. I felt absolutely no tension, angst or any attraction between the two characters. There were so many things wrong with this pairing to the point that I sincerely hoped that a second love interest would pop up to complete my bingo chart. The lack of communication between the pair is supposed to serve as angst or tension but it makes the both of them seem childish, especially since they’re written as adults. The immediate attraction and instant-love was also disappointing, considering that they’ve just met, the story spans only a handful of weeks and Whit is engaged to be married back home. It’s 2023, cheating on your partner (even though it’s an arranged marriage) is tacky, especially when you’re a whole world away. It’s also not sexy to be chasing an engaged man.

Worldbuilding: Shallow and Requires Work

Frustrating romance or poorly written adventure, What the River Knows does not know what kind of story it wants to be. This is reflected in the lack of worldbuilding. It introduces a fascinating concept of magic; it is supposedly something quite commonplace, especially in Egypt. But, this magic system is never further developed. Characters use enchanted everyday objects such as a shoe that can create fire, a handkerchief that shrinks objects etc. but no one can create magic because supposedly, there were no written spells, rules or enchantments. They’re lost to time. It’s just another convenient explanation for story’s sake. No one knows why magic happens or how magic is created; it just is.

Furthermore, Inez experiences disturbing flashbacks tied to ancient magic trapped in everyday objects whereby she seems to see glimpses of an ancient Egyptian past and Cleopatra. But again, this is never expounded upon and resolved in What the River Knows. It’s hard to tell if this is going to be something we see explained in the sequel or just another story convenience.

What the River Knows also seems to lack a lot of Egyptian history and lore, whether accurate or fabricated. Even if the information was regurgitated from National Geographic documentaries or pulled out of thin air, it does not exist. While I understand that the story is set in a time when mummies were still being discovered and Egyptian treasures were being plundered by colonial forces, it did little to truly feel grounded in history. What the River Knows did not necessarily need to be set in Egypt because nothing about the worldbuilding cements itself within the region. Instead, it is made up of vague descriptions of sand, sea and excavating tombs. There are vague mentions about Egyptian politics, enough to give readers a sense of time but other than the encroaching British occupation, had again little to no impact on Inez, Whit and the overall story.

I did, however, rather like the inclusion of a secret society of treasure hunters who sell stolen Egyptian artifacts to the highest bidder. But again, never further explored.

However, there is something that unsettles me deeply. In a media landscape that has progressed so much in terms of exploring and unpacking culture and history, What the River Knows feels like a regression. It feels like it’s been written through a very White lens, despite the author and main character being people of colour. It feels like Egypt is used as an exotic, mystical location as opposed to a country with an incredibly rich history, culture and people. It simplifies Egyptian politics to scheming villains and barely features any Egyptian main characters. The Mummy and it’s subsequent films are a product of its time; it’s hard to say that What the River Knows is written in 2023. But, I am not Egyptian and have no rights to determine if this is accurate representation or not.

Did I Enjoy It: Conclusion

In conclusion, What the River Knows fails to impress. I was excited to see a Rick and Evie dynamic recreated in a book. After all, books set in Egypt are hard to come by, especially YA books. I was thankfully able to finish reading it within a couple of sittings but at some point, I was skimming. The first person point of view does an extreme disservice to what has the potential to be a rich and lush homage to Egypt. It narrows readers' view of the world to Inez’s eyes, who is herself not a likeable main character and has little redeeming qualities. With the glowing reviews I am seeing on social media and Goodreads, I think this is a matter of opinion and does not define What the River Knows. Unfortunately, this is not a series I am looking forward to return to and because the sequel seems to promise much, much more.

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for the review copy. I enjoyed this - a highlight was the richly described setting of Egypt and the exploration of the ethics of historical artefacts.. The ending perhaps felt a little rushed with alot packed in but it does make me want to read the next book. The magic in this is subtle, and while this usually is something that I would dislike, I felt like it worked for this book. I did not like the addition of Whit's POV, I did not feel like it added much to the story and those section just felt like an unnecessary interruption of the flow of the story. I would recommend this for those who enjoy historical fantasies with slow burn romance,

Absolutely amazing! If this isn't all over BookTok, I'm giving up on the community...

What the River Knows is a spellbinding historical fantasy with intricate plot, vivid imagery, and slow-burning romance. From the very first page, you're drawn into a world filled with secrets and betrayals, where every corner holds unexpected revelations. I enjoyed every character, was surprised by several plot twists and was rooting for the romance, and that ending at the end - OMG! I need to have the next book right now!!

Honestly, one of the best books I've read this year and I really hope it gets the love it deserves.

The Mummy meets Death on the Nile in this lush, immersive historical fantasy set in Egypt filled with adventure, a rivals-to-lovers romance, and a dangerous race.

I feel this so adequately explains what transpires through this novel. I loved the settings and the magic system. It has great writing, a fun and engaging plot and exotic settings.

Thank you to Netgalley and the author for the eARC for my review

Thanks to Isabel Ibañez, Hodder & Stoughton and NetGalley for this ARC of What the River Knows.

When I saw this book cover art, and read "The Mummy meets Death on the Nile" - I immediately decided that I needed this ARC and I am so happy that I was able to snag one! This was such an addictive read.

Inez Olivera is a young woman who finds herself having to leave the sheltered world of upper class Argentina to travel across the globe to Egypt in search of answers after her parents mysterious deaths.

Some of the key highlights for me;
* blend of historical mystery and romance, with magical fantasy
* amazing setting of 19th century Egypt
* young, complex and tenacious protagonist torn between societal conventions, family and her heart.
* a lot of mysterious characters with questionable motives that will keep you guessing
* snarky banter

It's apparent that Isabel Ibañez did a lot of research into 19th Century Egypt, and it's reflected well in the work. She handles the colonialism of England, and their subsequent obsession with Ancient Egypt - a form of dark tourism that definitely stands the test of time.

I found that although I loved this book, the plot in the second half of the book was a lot more action based and did get a little bit disengaging. But the ending more than made up for it. I didn't realise this was part of a series until the end of the book - so I would caution that it ends of a bit of a cliff hanger.

Firstly you should know that this is the 1st part of a series, it's not overt on the book itself (and I had no idea from the ARC). I do note the title on Goodreads indicates this so hopefully it will be marketed as such!

I really wanted to like this book, and there are sections where I loved it. But overall I found it profoundly annoying. It's quite slow to start, but sometimes that just means I'm struggling, not the story. When it finally picks up, after a few teasers of momentum, the side characters are still left lacking in any substance and the protagonist is somewhat infuriating. Is she feisty and ahead of her time? Or is she simpering and naive? I don't really feel like I know her, and the lack of expansion on the secondary characters means I don't know them either.

I'm not sure if I'd recommend this or not tbh, it took me longer than usual to read it because of the frustrations, but if you like series and slightly annoying historical protagonists then go for it!

Dnf, I don’t dnf books very often but I just couldn’t get a hold of this story it just wasn’t gripping me the way I thought it would

Thanks to Isabel Ibañez, the publishers and NetGalley for this ARC of What the River Knows, which is available on 14th November.

Eighteen-year-old Iñez Olivera is living in Buenos Aires with her aunt and two cousins while her parents explore overseas. She has every privilege but chafes against her dull and restrictive life when she could be exploring the sites of Egypt instead. When she finds that her parents are presumed dead, Inez travels to Cairo to learn the truth. There she finds her uncle has little welcome for her and won't answer questions any of her questions. She also clashes with her uncle's fixer, Whit Hayes, a man of secrets whose work is “sometimes” legal. But as Iñez sees the sights of Cairo society and then the lower Nile, her feelings towards both her uncle and Whit start to change.

What the River Knows is a compelling historical romance, set in the late 19th century. It's a little slow at the start – the section in Buenos Aires where Iñez is pining for her parents isn't as interesting as the rest of the story – however, once she makes it to Cairo, I was hooked. The author really captures the opulence and sense of cultures mixing in the Cairo scenes, and it explores contemporary debates about how Egypt should be ruled, the arrogant attitudes of British colonialists, and the sometimes-legalised selling of antiquities from the Pharaoh's tombs. I really enjoyed the sections of the book dealing with the archeological dig – the descriptions of the tomb made me wish that I could have been there for the first excavations. There are also some traces of fantasy woven through the novel: for instance, Inez is able to experience memories of the ancients by touching their objects, and her mother has a scarf that can shrink any object.

I really liked Iñez. She's strong, intelligent, and knows her own mind. She makes mistakes when it comes to reading people, but then she's only 18.Whit and Iñez make for an interesting pairing. Although they infuriate one another at first, they complement each other well – both come from restrictive upper-class societies and welcome the freedom of Egypt, they're both happy to break the rules, and they're both a bit impulsive. If romance isn't your thing, this isn't the book for you, as there are moments when I felt there was a little bit too much romance and I wanted to get back to the archeological exploration and the plot.

I've seen a few people compare it to the nineties film of The Mummy, but I think there are also a few nods in the story to the book and film of Michael Ondaatje's The English Patient. Shepheard's hotel features in both books, and they're both based on exploration in Egypt. There's also a scene where Whit gives Iñez a gift by hoisting her up on a rope with a flare so that she can see paintings up in a cave, which I remember vividly from the movie of The English Patient.

The book ends on a cliffhanger that comes out of nowhere and definitely sets you up to read the sequel. I will definitely buy this book when it comes out, and I'm already anticipating part two.

If you've ever been fascinated by ancient Egypt or the perilous adventures undertaken by archaeologists in order to unearth history's secrets, this book deserves a place on your shelves. It's a fast-paced journey with the same thrills, dangers and unlikely heroes as classic adventure films, and certainly gives all the Indiana Jones/The Mummy vibes.

As someone who usually glosses over a book's romance plot line in favour of other elements, I must say the central couple truly won me over. Their snarky banter and undeniable attraction to each other are brilliantly written, and fans of tropes like rivals-to-lovers, forced proximity, touch her and you die and forbidden love will go wild for their secret pining and obvious feelings. There are even a couple of hand flex moments for all the classic/historical romance fans out there.

I like how the magic is subtle but builds the story, helping to move events along and revealing glimpses of places and people that existed long before the protagonist's lifetime. However, I also appreciate that the story's outing of the cultural abuse, corrupt politics and theft, and its themes of loyalty, bravery and the preservation of accurate history still apply just as well in our non-magical world.

The author has clearly done a wealth of research (even a trip to Egypt to 1800s hotels!) and it shows in her vivid descriptions of the food, clothing and architecture of the time. And the end completely put me through the ringer, with twist after twist and reveal after reveal. Will there be a book two? Who knows? But I for one would certainly read it.

#WhattheRiverKnows #NetGalley

This stared off a really hard book to read & took some getting into but when I eventually got into it I was gripped. Lots of exciting twists to the story, who was telling the truth? Who could Inez actually trust?

The ending seemed to come from nowhere as well.

I really hope to read a sequel to see what happens between the characters going forward without giving away any spoilers.

I'd give it a good 4/5 stars.

this book oml - literally such an incredible book, so beautifully written and the story was enthralling it drew me in from the very beginning.
we follow Inez as she receives a devastating letter from her uncle; her parents have disappeared in the desert, presumed dead and he had become the sole executor of their estate and fortune. Inez decided to travel to Egypt alone, determined to unravel the mystery of her parents vanishing; but will she instead stumble into a intricate web of lies much larger than she could ever imagine?

I utterly adored this book, it was so The Mummy coded and Inez was a truly wonderful character to follow on her journey. I finished this book out to dinner with my family and it genuinely took everything in me to not burst into tears at the table at the ending 😭 and the plot twist in the epilogue! literally jaw dropping - the fact I've got to wait not only for this book to be published and then wait for the sequel after than is heartbreaking 💔💔
I'd give this 6 stars if I could! 🥰

Why should you read it ?
*it was really engaging .i never felt bored .even if at the beginning it was setting things up i loved it .
*it is so diverse .it is fantasy romance historical fiction mystery thriller all in one really .it is cozy and it is intense .
*we have a ballroom dance scene with all the tension
*i love all the characters.i felt so attached to them .i was worried, exasperated ,happy and sad for them
*i loved the egyptian background .it was truly the highlight of the book .how the plot interconnected with egyptian mythology was so interesting .
*the romance was present as a subplot and i love when that is so .it doesn't take away from the actual story.
*it has magical elements in it

My review : I had such a great time reading this book. It felt like I was watching a movie. This would make a really good TV adaptation actually. It started with being a cozy fantasy, mystery,  and historical fiction book but then it slowly turned into something else entirely. Things got intense. The romance subplot was a great addition but I don't know what to say after reading that epilogue. Just four words and it changed everything. I did suspect it but I got carried away in the story and forgot about it. I lowered my guard damn it .

This book wasted a long time to make the page count bigger to justify the "adult sff" label. What ridiculous behavior from certain characters!! And loads of pages wasted to strech the storyline to create another mystery for the sequel which I won't be reading as the book wasn't marketed as being the first in a new series.

I grew up fascinated by Egypt culture, wanting to be an archeologist and wishing I could ever find some artifacts on an undiscovered tombe. While this couldn’t be farther from my life, the fascination remains, which made picking up this book a no brainer.

What the River knows is an historical fantasy/mystery set in the wonderful Egypt, during the British occupation.
We follow Inez, an Argentinean 19 year old girl, curious, adventurous and fierce, who despite being quite privileged, is avid for affection as her parents, year after year, choose to live in Egypt without her. A terrible accident changes the course of her life, setting Inez on a perilous journey for the truth.

Isabel Ibanez writing is beautiful and immersive, and she makes a wonderful job of making the reader feel the appeal of Egypt’s life at the time. We are easily transported from the Cairo’s markets, sensing the chaos and smells, to the dark and dusty temples full of undiscovered treasures. We feel the dirt on our clothes, the magic on our skin and full range of emotions with the story development.

Inez is a great character, although a bit too trusting and naive. I was surprised by the inclusion of Whit’s POV, and I must confess I’m very curious about his past. I can’t get enough of him and desperately need more details of his life.

I loved the secondary characters and my main complaint is that I wish they were a bit more developed and that we had more of them.

The story is exciting, and although I was expecting the route it was taking, it kept me interested throughout the book. We get nowhere near a conclusion, and we are left wanting more, as the story ends in a major cliffhanger.

<b>What the River knows</b> is a nice start to a new series and should appeal all YA readers. I believe it would be a favorite for Rebecca Ross fans.

<i>I would like to thank Hodder & Stoughton, Hodderscape and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this ARC in exchange for an honest review.</i>

“What The River Knows” has interested me since I first saw it on a list of anticipated reads for 2023. I had a huge interest in Ancient Egypt as a child and it’s always been a fascination that has stuck with me. Needless to say, this book delighted both that child and the adult who still loves everything relating to the pharaohs, ancient Egyptian culture and history.

This book was so beautifully written and I could feel the love Ibañez clearly has for the story she is telling here. 1880s Egypt is so lushly described and felt so vivid every step of the way, so much so I could often feel the warm sun and hear the lap of the water on the Nile.

Inez is such a wonderful protagonist and truly embodies the spirit of a brave, stubborn but kind adventurer who knows what she wants and will get it, society be damned. It was lovely to read a book from this time period and have a woman be so proactive, have her own interests and a “go get it” attitude. As a fellow artist too it felt so good to see her look at the world the same way I often do, with a desire to capture as much as possible.

Her relationship with Whit was ever changing and the push-pull of their dynamic felt so refreshing. You can tell their feelings for one another are legit but are also complicated and still forming in their hearts and I love that. Their back and forth felt natural and Inez in particular giving Whit back the energy he gave her reminded me of friendships/relationships I’ve been privy to or even a part of.

I enjoyed the mystery of the story and the constant left and right turns and changing alliances was fascinating to read. It really felt like a good detective novel where no one can be trusted and everyone has something to hide/their own motives. I can’t wait to see what is revealed in the sequel and how this all wraps up, based on the cliffhanger ending.

If I had one critique (and this may just be a me thing) but I felt the way some of the ending reveals were played out felt a either a bit rushed or not explained the whole way through, but that may be mitigated on a second read come release time.

All in all this book ticked all my personal boxes and I loved it a lot! Thanks so much to the publisher and NetGalley for this ARC.