full of lush adventure, this book fully sweeps up the reader into magic, mystery, and romance (all my favorite things) which made for an fun read :)

This was enjoyable but a little lackluster, I liked the romance but it didn’t feel super believable, it felt a little clunky and insta love based. The plot was interesting but predictable. I liked how unique the Egyptian setting was though, it gave Indiana jones vibes kind of! Historical fantasy can be hard to pull off but I think this was done well, though it read as very juvenile for YA.

I really enjoyed this book!! The plot and scene building had me engaged the entire time. I kept wondering what was going to happen next!

After a year and a half, I'm finally calling it for this one. DNF'd around halfway through. I wanted so badly to love it, but it just didn't hit for me. Unfortunately, the comp titles of The Mummy meets Death on the Nile felt incorrect, as it left me expecting a strong woman and a supportive man on a wild adventure to solve a mystery, and that just wasn't what this story gave me. I truly hope that publishers stop listing comp titles purely for a singular vibe, as it is eroding reader trust in these comparisons and making us wary of picking up books likened to our favorites.

I was really excited to read What the River Knows. The premise had all the elements I usually enjoy: historical fantasy, adventure, and a hint of romance. And while the writing was definitely strong and the setting vivid, the story just didn’t fully draw me in.

There’s a lot to appreciate here. Isabel Ibañez clearly has a talent for crafting immersive scenes, and the world-building has a rich, almost cinematic quality. But for me, the pacing felt uneven, and I had a hard time connecting with the characters on a deeper level. I kept waiting to feel fully invested, and that moment never really came.

It’s a decently written book, and I can see why others love it, but it just wasn’t the right fit for me. Still, I think readers who enjoy slower-building fantasy with lush detail might find more to connect with than I did.

I really wanted to love this magical realism/historical fiction/romance novel, but the tempo was really slow and the main character, Inez, was more frustrating than I thought possible. I also wanted more of the magic, and more importantly, more explanation of the magic! I have no idea how it worked. Is the magic only in the Egyptian trinkets? Does everyone know it exists? I couldn't suspend the disbelief. Despite the cliffhanger ending, I probably won't be reading the sequel.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.

What the River Knows is a fantastic woman on a journey story packed with mystery, magical realism, and Egyptian history. Inez is devastated to hear that her emotionally (and physically) distant parents have died while on an excavation in Egypt, a place they know better than their own home. Determined to get some closure and see the world, Inez takes the journey to Egypt on her own. However, she quickly becomes suspicious of her estranged uncle’s less than scrupulous business practices. Inez must fight to make her way onto her uncle’s archeology team, dodge his attractive yet annoying assistant, and use her natural attunement to magical items to find Cleopatra.

I liked the concept of magical attunement to objects and how it’s an accepted, but not overly well known fact of life in the story. It’s a fun play on magical realism that feels unique and is used a connected part of the story, as opposed to being used to force plot forward. I also really liked Inez. Her determination and resolve to adventure in spite of her upbringing is admirable and made me root for her. I could take or leave the romance aspect, but the love interest is at least also a well rounded character. Family dynamics become the real star of the show and contribute to some of the best twists in the tale. I’m looking forward to the next book!

Thank you to NetGalley, Isabel Ibañez, and Wednesday Books for providing the eARC in exchange for an honest review.

The only reason I rated it 2 stars was BECAUSE of the setting, history, and Egyptian mythology behind the novel, and it also kept me way more entertained than Together We Burn, which was another read by the author that I wasn't a big fan of.

I took off 3 stars for 3 specific things:

1. Whit: If Whit were a person in real life, I think I would've punched him. I don't care that he was in the military, I'd still fight him. He seems like the kind of character who would mansplain something to a girl. He's cocky, arrogant, and spent most of the time lying and hiding things from Inez (some for good reason, but mostly not), but you expected me to believe that he and Inez had chemistry? The chemistry wasn't - and still isn't - in the room with us. They spend a HUGE portion of the story fighting and bickering with each other, but suddenly they just fall in love with each other because he's the main love interest. Like, let's be real. You expected me to believe Inez likes him when she spends at LEAST 60% of the book calling him "Mr. Hayes?"

AND LET'S NOT FORGET THAT HE WAS ENGAGED TO SOMEONE AND STILL KISSED INEZ? I know he didn't seem to know his fiancée all that well, but it doesn't change the fact that he hid that EXTREMELY important piece of information from Inez for almost the entire book.

2. Inez: Her entire personality throughout the book was, "I'm from Argentina! I traveled here by myself! You can't send me back there because it's already too late, and I already did all of this!" You know that meme from Arthur where D.W.'s reading the sign at Arthur's bedroom door that says, "D.W. not allowed," but she goes, "That sign can't stop me 'cause I can't read!" That's Inez's entire personality summed up in a meme.

I get it, she's there for a reason, and if both of my parents died under mysterious circumstances in a foreign country, I would want to find answers for myself, too. But like Zarela from Together We Burn, she just constantly makes one stupid, reckless decision after another, and I eventually lost track of the facepalms I made at her decisions.

3. The ending: I legitimately don't understand WHY Elvira showed up. If she just stayed in Argentina, she would still be alive. That entire portion of the ending was 100% avoidable if Elvira just STAYED there. I just didn't feel like that was necessary AT ALL.

I also saw the very last sentence of the story coming from a mile away, and I'm not sure if it's because I've seen enough people on Bookstagram freaking out over the ending or whatever the case may be, but I read it and just sighed heavily.


Here's to hoping that Where the Library Hides is better.

This book was amazing. I was provided an ARC for it back in 2023. I could’ve sworn I wrote this review already. Let’s just say, it was fantastic. The ancient Egypt background was fascinating. I immediately went looking to see when the follow up novel was going to be out, and it hadn’t been announced. Since reading this book, the second book has come out and I had preordered it as soon as it was announced. Highly recommend.

Isabel Ibanez has a way to my heart with all her beautiful written stories since her debut Woven in moonlight. I adored the characters and it felt for sure like I was in Egypt myself with the scenery. As a history junkie myself I loved the Egyptian culture and folklore. Inez character was such a lovely character, strong willed. Im not of romance reader so the amount of banter and romance was perfect for me. Now, onto book 2!

A vibrant, atmospheric adventure with romance and moral complexity. Engaging, but not without its polarizing moments-especially around Inez's personality and the magic system. Worth reading if historical YA fantasy is your jam.

Long story short, I loved it. I was pleasantly surprised by the way the story sucked me in and kept me invested from page one.

Where to begin with this one!

I really enjoyed What the River Knows! I didn’t know what to fully expect going into it, but, overall, it was really good!

Admittedly, the marketing by both the publisher and the author reiterating time and again how this book has The Mummy vibes was a huge draw for me. The Mummy and its sequel (Third movie? What third movie?) are two of my absolute faves, so that definitely grabbed my attention. However, I feel like it’s a reach to say this book has The Mummy vibes, or Death on the Nile vibes for that matter either. I would say the mystery element to the plot, the fact that this takes place in Egypt, and the time period are where the similarities to those movies/that book ends. In actuality, the vibes I got from What the River Knows, if we’re going to go with comparisons here, are more reminiscent of The Infernal Devices or the Stalking Jack the Ripper series. This is especially the case when it comes to the dynamics and personalities of our main characters.

And, okay, OOH, let’s talk about our mains! I loved Inez as our leading lady. She was tenacious, spirited, curious, just all the best things in a protagonist. And Whit… Whit. 100% Will Herondale-coded, if I’m being honest, and I was LIVING FOR IT. The romance between these two was a well-crafted slow burn where you could really see the bond between them grow, the tension in the meantime keeping things interesting.

I will say, our leads and their developing romance were more-so the stars of this book for me, and the plot kind of took a backseat at the end of the day. The pacing was a bit stilted and was quite slow in places, but I honestly looked at the book more as a character-driven book, so this didn’t really bother me, personally. I will say, the action really picked up in the last chunk of the book, and it was truly very exciting to read.

But, BRUHHHH, THAT ENDINGGGG😂😭😭 I do not want to have to have that sitting in my head while I wait forever for the next book, but, you know… here we are🫠 Don’t get me wrong, though, I love the ending we got for this book, as torturous as it is. That second book can’t come soon enough!

Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. This was an interesting story. Cover is gorgeous. Very intriguing story. Would read more by this author.

While more Death on the Nile than The Mummy in tone and genre, this was a fun romp with high stakes and memorable characters; while the pacing in the final third of the book felt inconsistent and perhaps suffers from feeling like it ended (or could have) one too many times, it’s an overall solid book that holds its own even to those who normally don’t enjoy teen/YA fiction such as myself, and leaves a lasting impression.

I picked this up because I heard it was perfect for fans of The Mummy. I said, sign me up! I loved the writing and the atmosphere. Can’t wait to read the sequel!

Thank you, NetGalley, for an e-ARC of What the River Knows by Isabel Ibanez.
What the River Knows is a historical fiction about Egypt and archaeology. The story of a young girl who goes in search of information about her parents. The book gives solid details about Egypt in the late 1800s, but I don't know if the subject will attract teens.

My attention was caught by the comparison to The Mummy, but WHAT THE RIVER KNOWS was definitely its own story. I loved the idea of magic being imbued into various artifacts, so it was present in the world but a thing that was of the past, which made the book feel a lot more like straight historical fiction. I also loved the brief glimpse we got of Argentina during the late 1800s, and would love to see if Inez returns there at some point.

I've been in such a reading rut lately, but finally getting around to reading this book got me out of it for a little while. Between the adventure, the magic, and the slow burn romance, it had everything I needed to keep me hooked.

Ibañez’s vivid descriptions bring the Egyptian setting to life, immersing readers in the rich culture and history of the time. I really enjoyed the subtle magical elements. The romance is a slow-burning, enemies-to-lovers trope that adds tension to the plot.

I’m here for the richly detailed historical setting, but the romance won me over. I will read anything and everything by this author.

I really enjoyed this book. There was a wonderful blend of mystery, adventure, romance, with a touch of magic. The FMC was fierce, determined and very likeable. Upon meeting the MMC, the reader could tell that he would be a complex and interesting individual. I like a character with depth.