2.5 stars!

I went into this book extremely excited because I love the movie The Mummy, and this was supposed to give The Mummy vibes. Unfortunately, instead it took me almost four months to read and in fact in that time I watched both The Mummy and The Mummy Returns, which highlighted how this was really a poor comparison.

Unfortunately, I can't say there was a single character that I enjoyed. Inez had little to no personality besides wanting to literally exist in Egypt and pine after Whit (who wasn't giving anything), Whit was described as brooding and intriguing (honestly where???), and Ricardo was SO annoying and treated Inez poorly for reasons I still don't understand.

The pacing of this book was also kinda awful. I was excited for them to do some archeological things but most of this book was spent just meandering. I often found myself skimming because I was simply so bored. Don't even get me started on the villain of this story...

Finally, the magic system of this book was completely unexplained and also seemed like it barely mattered? It did not seem that there was much thought about the magic except as a vehicle for moving the plot forward.

I will say, I did appreciate how well researched the Egyptian history was and it did feel as if the author was very passionate about the entire process. This was just unfortunately not the book for me and I don't think I will be continuing this series.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review!

What the River Knows is touted as "The Mummy meets Death on the Nile" and I'd say that was a fitting description based on my experience with it.

What I liked a lot:
🎧 Excellent audio narration
🇪🇬 Different than usual setting
😱 a cliffhanger that suggests I will for sure need to read the next in the series
👍🏻The mystery storyline
✨the magical elements

What worked a bit less well for me:
⌛ The pacing
🤷🏻‍♀️The young adult drama and tantrum like moments
🙈 Trying to remember a couple of the characters (I'm sure this is a *me* problem)
😕One frustrating family moment

Overall, I'm not mad I read this but I expected to live it more than I did. So - you win some, you lose some. A few of my friends loved it significantly more so I'll share their reviews!

This was originally sent to me as a digital ARC from St. Martin's Press via NetGalley and I never got around to reading it until now.

This seems to be marketed as a readalike for the 1999 film of The Mummy. I'm so glad I did not know that because I didn't feel like it resembled that at all and I would have been disappointed otherwise.

I can tell you that this was a vibrant blend of ancient Egyptian mythology, historical fiction, mystery, romance, and magical elements. The magic system created through the ancient Egyptian artifacts felt unique. It was fun to see how that magic system worked throughout the story.

Ines was a little too naive for me at times, but I appreciated her determination and steadfastness. I think I would have actually given this book an additional star if it didn't take Ines and Whit so damn long to admit their feelings for each other. Almost 15 hours in the audiobook is how long I had to wait for them to kiss!

The writing in this book was very immersive, from the boat rides on the Nile, the markets in Cairo, to the dig site. I was able to envision these all clearly from the way Isabel describes them. The cliffhanger ending!! I am on the edge of my seat waiting for November to come so I can find out what happens next!

I need to talk about the narrator for a second, Ana Osorio. She did such an amazing job with multiple accents. I believe throughout the book, she used accents for the following dialects: Spanish, British, French, and Arabic. They all flowed so well! An amazing talent.

A fantasy set in Egypt? Count me in!

This was a fun read, once I separated out that it was not like The Mummy as it was advertised. It had some elements that were a little reminiscent of the 90s movie, but just because it is set in Egypt in the same relative time period with some archeological elements, doesn’t quite make it like The Mummy. Once I made that distinction in my mind, I was able to enjoy it a lot more.

It was hard to figure out some of the character’s motives, but that didn’t really take away the rich world or the history included in the story. The magic system was really interesting but I wish it was explored a little more.

I will definitely be picking up Where The Library Hides when it is released.

Thank you to NetGalley, St. Martin’s Press/Wednesday Books, and Isabel Ibanez for an e-arc of What the River Knows in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Thanks to Netgalley, the publisher, and author for the copy of this eARC for my honest review. All ratings and any reviews are opinions of my own.

A fun and interesting adventure that kept me guessing. This reminded me a little of the Samantha Knox Novels by Jenny Elder Moke. If you are a fan of this books you will love this book. It is an adventure full of mystery and deception.

I had such a fun time with this story!! I cannot wait for the sequel to come out! I loved these characters and the comparison to the Mummy movies was spot on! I couldn't stop picturing the main characters as Rick and Evie. The one thing that I struggled with was the magic system, I am a little shaky about how "magic touched items" happen, but I am sure I will be able to nail it down on a re-read before the second book. My library has ordered several copies and they're constantly on hold/checked out and I am so glad I was able to read this story early and purchase this title for the collection!

Wow, this was such a fun read! I was immediately sold on the premise, and the fact that it was billed as THE MUMMY meets DEATH ON THE NILE. I really enjoyed every part of this novel. The pacing was pretty good throughout, considering the length, and I absolutely loved Inez's journey from a somewhat sheltered and neglected girl to someone who puts her life at risk for those she loves. The magic was well-explained and believable, and the author's descriptions of the setting were lush and transportive. Overall, I felt it was a very strong first book of a duology, and I am very excited to pick up the sequel in the fall.

Absolutely love this adventurous tale of a girl searching for answers about her parents’ mysterious dealings. The estranged uncle and the reluctantly helpful love interest who deludes himself into thinking he is uninterested in the fmc are only the surface level aspects that led to me enjoying and yearning for more of this book, this world, and these characters.

2,5⭐
I was so excited with all the marketings, cover, and timeline at the front of this book. However, the reading experience itself is such a let down.

I can't stand the FMC. She's far too naive and gullible. The MMC didn't impressive at all and there's no chemistry between them.

The history has a potential to be better written and make it more exciting. The whole vibe is flat and gloomy and I don't like to be in Inez's head much longer.

There are a lot of plot twists which for me personally, didn't work out. The sacrifice in the end was unnecessary and despite everything they've been through, come in just passing in the end.

Idk I don't understand the author's stand does it mean the characters in this story are another visitors digging up Egypt's rich history and jeweleries??? If indeed the author is with the Egyptians, it would be much better to include native Egyptians in the books, and I don't vibe with the book revolving Egypt mythology without Egyptian characters.

Oh, and the magic system!!!! It could be better written bcs it started off good but didn't really useful when needed in the crucial time.

The only thing I like is how Inez is excellent at drawing.

If you're into character driven story started in Egypt laced with murder mystery and plot twist, with a smallest hint of magic and strangers to lovers romance, you might want to give this book a go.

*I received an e-arc via Netgalley from the publisher. Thank you for the opportunity to review. All thoughts are my own.*

I loved this book so much and it was one of my top reads from 2023! It’s been compared to The Mummy and Death on the Nile, and it totally gave me those vibes! I loved the setting in Egypt and felt like I was transported there to the past though the beautiful writing. Isabel took me on an unforgettable adventure!

If you love witty banter, romance and ancient Egyptian history I think you will enjoy this one too! It had such an astonishing finish, and I CAN NOT WAIT for book two!

I really enjoyed this intriguing and beautifully written story! It takes place in 19th century Egypt and folllows the main character Inez as she hunts for answers after her parents' mysterious death. I loved the world building and depictions, I could picture everything so vividly as I read! The characters were so well written with a lot of debth and secrets, you don’t know who to trust! This story was full of adventure and twists with a hint of magic and romance. The ending was definitely an emotional rollercoaster and I can't wait for the sequel after that ending!!

I feel like I’m getting a lot of five stars lately, but is it really a bad thing? Maybe I just have GREAT taste? Either way the streak continues with this one.

Since last books was on Egyptology I felt like this was the perfect next read for me. This book follows Inez as she journeys through Egypt, accompanied by Whit,her uncle’s secretary/spy/muscle, trying to figure out what happened to her parents and also find Cleopatra’s tomb.

This has a delightful sprinkle of magic in an interesting new expression for me, and I loved the liberal dosage of Egyptian history and archaeology. This was booster as giving The Mummy vibes, and as an archaeologist who was inspired to my field by that exact movie, I have to agree. The forbidden flirtation, enemies to lovers tropes did it for me. The scenery? Did it for me. The TWISTS? Shooketh. The author has a glorious way with dialogue, I loved how Inez and Whit bantered throughout. I really enjoyed this and stayed up until 1 am last night to finish. I am now desperately waiting for the second book!!

Thank you Netgalley and St. Martin’s Press for an e-arc of What The River Knows by Isabel Ibañes in exchange for an honest review.
I was immediately transported into the world of 1880’s Egypt. The way Isabel Ibañes uses her words to create these rich and vibrate scenes is nothing short of extraordinary.
Inez’s wit and conviction not only had me giggling but kept me locked into the story.
And the last act of this book- wow. Just wow. I lost sleep because I simply couldn’t out it down. And now I’m eagerly awaiting the sequel that comes out later this year.
5/5 stars

I thought I knew the trajectory of the story was and was definitely wrong, and excited to be wrong. The end definitely took me by surprise and I can't wait to see where the story heads! I hope to get more details on how the magic system works and maybe 🤞🏻 some resolution. What is real and who can Inez trust?

Since reading WHAT THE RIVER KNOWS, I have not stopped thinking about or recommending it. Isabel Ibañez’s book is one of the most creative and fun novels I have read in a long time. The description of “The Mummy meets Death on the Nile” suits it perfectly. I haven’t read many historical fantasy books set in Egypt, but I loved this one!

I didn’t expect the twists and turns of this adventurous race, and the rivals-to-lovers romance kept my pulse racing! I loved the FMC Inez Olivera so much. She is so cool—everything I yearn to be, lol.

And, oh, the ending! 🤯 I need the next book now!

Thank you, Wednesday Books and Netgalley, for the arc!

Content warnings: familial death, grief, gun violence, kidnapping, abandonment, misogyny, gaslighting, classism, infidelity, alcoholism

Giving this book a solid 3.75 stars. The characters were great, the story intriguing and able to keep my attention, the author did a wonderful job bringing the pages to life.
Inez is our main character and we love her she’s a fire cracker and bound and determined to do things her way and find the answers she’s desperately seeking. She ends up finding more than she bargained for in some aspects and learns the true meaning of betrayal but her growth from sheltered girl to informed woman is beautiful to witness. I found her journey to Cairo intriguing and could visualize the scenery well. The author did a very good job being descriptive and informative without going over the top. This book was advertised as having the vibes of the mummy and that reeled me right in, however in that comparison I feel the book fell a little flat and would have loved to see a little more action and adventure. The magic that was portrayed in the book was definitely cool however again I felt like there could’ve been more especially with the world revolving around ancient Egypt and its history. Overall I absolutely enjoyed the book and feel like the author set it up nicely for a continuation of the story and am eager to see what the next book will bring. This book kept my attention had me asking questions, laughing, gasping all the things you expect from a good story. Despite my tiny gripes I still think this is well worth the read and a book that anyone could enjoy, even if they’ve never picked up the genre. Thank you so much for allowing me to read and review this title I can’t wait for the next book.

ARC provided in exchange for an honest review.

I’ve been working diligently to get caught up with my ARC’s, my apologies. This book had lots of interesting facts about Egypt and Cleopatra in particular. I really loved how the author describes the scenery and the story made me feel like I was right there experiencing everything. There were lots of twists and turns I didn’t see coming and while the story felt drawn out at parts, it all felt necessary. I would recommend to anyone who likes mystery with some historical elements added in!

Literally one of my new favorite books of all time! I can't believe it took me so long to read and review. The first 20% of the book was a little slow and hard for me to get into, but after that it kept picking up faster and faster I couldn't put it down. The Egyptian setting was immersive and beautiful.

I love that Inez was not a perfect heroine, but she was relatable. Even when she made mistakes, I understood why and wasn't frustrated by her actions. Along those lines, she was smart- she started asking the questions and suspecting the people that I did. And the twists at the end!!! I love that this book diverted expectations and traditional storylines.

The romance was slow burn but so sweet. I can't believe I have to wait now to find out what happens next with Inez and Whit after that ending!

I received an arc of this book in exchange for my honest review :) thanks netgalley and isabel!

Gorgeous prose and beautiful characters have come to be expected in an Ibanez story, and What the River Knows is no exception. Following Whit and Inez into the heart of Egypt brought beautiful descriptions and a world that just sucks you into it. It felt like I was right there with Inez experiencing the beauty of the hieroglyphs and exploring the tomb. And Inez and Whit were such fun characters to follow. I loved their banter and how they're two lonely souls come together. I already can't wait for the next book because that ending was AAHHH!!