I was completely swept away by Isabel Ibañez's "What the River Knows," a mesmerizing YA historical fantasy that unfolds in the vibrant tapestry of the 1880s. Inez Olivera, a spirited nineteen-year-old of Bolivian-Argentinian descent, takes center stage in this tale teeming with magic, mystery, adventure, and a dash of Egyptian mythology, all seamlessly woven into a captivating narrative.

From the very first page, I found myself immersed in a world where the past comes alive, and every chapter holds the promise of discovery. This isn't just your typical YA fantasy; it's a compelling coming-of-age story with an edge of sophistication that sets it apart. Ibañez skillfully blends elements of romance, historical intrigue, and a quest for truth, creating a narrative that refuses to loosen its grip.

The novel's strength lies in its meticulous attention to detail and the vivid portrayal of 19th-century Egypt. As Inez embarks on her journey to unravel the mysteries surrounding her parents' deaths and the elusive treasure they sought, the reader is transported to a world reminiscent of classics like "The Mummy" and "Death on the Nile." The sense of exploration and opportunity is palpable, making each turn of the page a thrilling adventure.

I can't help but applaud the author for her captivating storytelling, which is both unique and beautifully executed. "What the River Knows" isn't just a book; it's a masterclass in historical fantasy and adventure. It has rightfully earned its place as a top recommendation for readers who crave a rich, immersive experience in the pages of a novel. If you're a fan of historical fantasy, be prepared to be enchanted by Ibañez's unparalleled narrative skill and the world she has brought to life. This is a top-tier pick that shouldn't be missed.

Pitched as 'the Mummy meets Death on the Nile', Isabel Ibañez's latest release, What the River Knows, is a lush YA Fantasy set in Egypt in the 19th-century.

In this story we follow Inez Olivera, who lives in Argentina, mostly with her Aunt and cousins. Inez's parents spend the majority of their time away from their Argentinian home, traveling and researching in Egypt. Because of this, it has always made sense for Inez to stay behind with her Aunt.

As she has gotten older though, it has started to make less sense to Inez. Why won't they take her with them? She knows that plenty of children travel and live aboard with their parents. Why can't she? Before she is able to get to the bottom of these questions, she receives terrible news. Her parents are dead, lost in the desert of the country they clearly loved so much. That is all the explanation Inez is given.

Inez's head is left spinning. How could something like this possibly happen? What were they doing unaccompanied out in the desert? Her parents were experienced travelers, in Egypt in particular, they wouldn't have unnecessarily put themselves at risk.

When everyone in her life refuses to answer her questions, Inez decides to take matters into her own hands. Under the cover of darkness, she decides to set out on the journey that will change her life forever. Setting sail for Cairo as a young woman traveling alone, Inez has to be extra resourceful just to get by.

Once in Cairo, she's reunited with the Uncle she barely knows, her Mother's brother, Ricardo, who had been a large part of all her parents' expeditions. She also makes quick acquaintance with her Uncle's assistant, Whit, who though handsome, becomes a big thorn in her side, dogging her every move.

Inez begins looking for clues immediately, trying to discover the truth about what happened to her parents. Her Uncle wants to send her immediately back to Argentina, but Inez isn't giving up without a fight. She's not leaving until she finds the answers she seeks.

This story is an absolute roller coaster ride. You go through it with Inez. Her emotions are palpable throughout. I had such empathy for her. Although she is smart and strong, there's also something about her that is just so innocent, you want to protect her.

I loved the initial set-up and the small details of magic that Ibañez wove throughout. There is magic in this world, but it is just touches and it never overwhelms the story in any way. It's Fantasy Light.

This story is a bit of a slow burn, and it did take me a while to read, but there was never a moment when I wasn't enjoying it. I think the story, as it is, is just built out beautifully and although it may seem a little long, there's nothing I would take out of it.

I loved learning about these characters, watching the relationships evolve and also trying to figure out what actually happened to Inez's parents. It was all compelling. The mystery does successfully build in intensity over the course of the story and I definitely suspected everyone at one point or another.

Overall, I was impressed with the scope of this adventure. I also appreciated the commentary included on colonial powers and tomb raiders, or treasure hunters, in Egypt.

Ibañez included a lot of different layers in this story, but they all worked so well together. Finally, I will just say, when I first learned about this novel, I do not believe there was anything said about it being a part of a series, so I did not know that going in. I genuinely thought this was a standalone, then I get to the ending and I'm like, jaw on the floor, guess freaking not!?

Thank you to the publisher, Wednesday Books, for providing me with a copy to read and review. I was looking forward to this and it was just as wonderful as expected. Ibañez is an incredibly talented writer. Her stories truly come to life on the page. I can't wait to see where this goes from here. This is one ending that I will not forget!

5 stars
I freakin loved this. Isabel can take all my money. I heard fans of The Mummy would like this- can confirm. This gave me a rollercoaster of emotions I thoroughly enjoyed. I didn’t know all of the Egyptian background, but it didn’t impede any reading.

Oh my gosh this cliffhanger!! I received an ARC and I am already jumping for book 2.

Thanks to Netgalley and St. Martin’s Press for this digital ARC. Review delayed due to St. Martin’s Press boycott.

This Was such an interesting story and I loved every second of it. I can’t wait to read what comes next from this author.

thank you to netgalley for the advanced reading copy. I really enjoyed this and will be getting copies for my shop.

3.5…. Maybe close to a 4 for me?

So. It’s good. But it dragged in parts. It took me a bit to feel invested in the characters. I was able to put the book down and step away for a few other books without questioning what was happening in the book and if I had fomo… I didn’t. It was good. But the hold on my mind wasn’t there until the end.

I’ll be excited for the second book to get answers, but I was hoping for a bit more (and I didn’t compare it to the mummy, I encourage you not to either)

Oh, thanks netgalley for the arc! Completely my own thoughts and feelings

I enjoyed the premise of this story. Inez is young and naive when it comes to the world and the people who move through it. I am hoping that she will be able to grow and learn more in the following installment as I feel that would really drive the character development and my enjoyment of the story.

I have always loved Egyptian history and really enjoy seeing that history reflected here. Ibañez also setting this story in a period where we can see the colonial reach and control of the british empire also made this more interesting.

I will read the next book as I want to uncover more about Whitford and how his developing feelings for Inez will affect whatever plan he is a part of. The fallout if handled well will be delicious. So far a good opening to a series.

Perfect for readers who enjoy:
*historical fiction that acknowledges colonialism, Inez is Argentinian and regularly notices colonial influence in her journey through Egypt
*spunky heroines who refuse to be limited by station or societal pressure
*mystery as Inez tries to discover what happened to her parents who died on an archeological dig
*treasure hunting tales as they search for the lost tomb of Cleopatra
*Enemies to Lovers
*Cliffhanger endings
*duologies
*A little predictability in the story arc

I LOVE THIS BOOK. I obsessed over it before it came out, bought copies for my friends once it came out and even now I am obsessed with the characters, with Inez and Whit and the rich Egyptian history we get along with a magical mystery that keeps you hooked until the very end!

While the first half of this book is very slow, it makes up for it with a bombastic climax and intrigue in the second. The romance was a bit cringey, even for a YA, but it doesn’t take up too much of the plot. I wish we could have spent more time on the magic system, but that might be coming in the sequel.

The atmosphere and setting was beautiful and engaging! Overall, a very fun and thrilling YA fantasy.

Isabel Ibanez has crafted a great novel weaving together historical fiction and fantasy genres to create a unique and diverse book that will be enjoyed by many. Although it took me a while to really connect with the main character, I eventually felt invested in her story and ready to journey alongside her on her adventure. I loved the premise of her parent's story and therefore hers. It was entertaining to read and I would recommend it to others.

Whatever you need in a book, What the River Knows by Isabel Ibanez has it. Adventure? Check! Enemies-to-lovers? Check! Egyptian history and mythology? Check! Inez Olivera is not fond of the sheltered life she leads in Argentina. She dreams of accompanying her parents on their 6-month long trips to Egypt. Despite asking many times, she is never granted permission to join them. When a letter arrives sharing the news of her parents’ tragic deaths, Inez takes it upon herself to travel to Egypt and find out what really happened. Along the way she needs to figure out who she can really trust and what a strange magic is pulling her towards.
This is the type of book where after you read it, you want to be able to read it again for the first time. The unraveling mystery is intoxicating and the vibes of 19th century Egypt are immaculate. Think Indiana Jones, The Mummy, and the book Lady Adventurers Club all combined. I was so deep into the story that I felt like I needed to brush the desert dust off my own clothes when I finished. You’ll fall in love with the smart and sassy Inez Olivera and root for her with all of your heart.
**I received this ARC from the publisher in exchange for an honest review**

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the early copy.

Let me start by saying, I was obsessed with Egypt as a child. We learned about it in school, and then that was bookended by The Mummy franchise coming out and naturally there's a whole slew of us millennials who made it our entire personalities for a while (some still do).

I go back and forth between LOVING this and being irritated with it.

All in all, I think I really liked it, but I also wanted to shake the hell out of most of the characters and be like JUST FREAKING TALK TO EACH OTHER. This book, at its core, is based on the miscommunication trope or the lack of communication trope. It's literally like, I will keep this pivotal information from you which is definitely going to cause bigger issues down the road, and we, as the reader can see it coming, which is incredibly frustrating.

I know this happens in life, but this happened throughout the entire book. At some point they really should have talked with Inez. She had barged her way into their lives and she clearly wasn't going home, so instead of continuing to keep things from her, they really should have sat her down and been like, you are an impulsive mess of a human, so we need to explain a few things to you so you don't cause more trouble. But no! And this happens from start to finish in the book.

The plot of finding Cleopatra's tomb and the constant shitting on the English for stealing everything was a delight. Loved that. It also took a different look at the history of Egypt, instead of focusing deeply on the history of the Pharaohs or the mythology, it really focuses on the archeologists and preserving the history, and the assault of grave robbers and white men who stole artifacts to sell and become rich instead of respecting these spaces. It focused on a few good people who want to document their findings and then leave them behind in secret to be respected.

The plot was fun, there's a couple twists and really only one of them shocked me at the end (iykyk). The characters were quite frustrating so that's why I'll say it's a solid 3.5 that I'm rounding up simply because this book gave me what I want from books about Egypt but can't find.

Actual rating: 4.5 stars

WOW. What an ending!! My jaw is on the floor.

What The River Knows </i> was pitched to me as “The Mummy meets <i> Indiana Jones,” and after hearing that, I rannnnn to Netgalley to request it.

I’ve been obsessed with Egyptian mythology for as long as I can remember (yes, I am one of those nerds, thanks to my old obsession with House of Anubis), but I haven’t read one that I liked since Rick Riordan’s The Kane Chronicles.

This novel was such a treat—a lush, magical ride through Egypt. The main character, Inez, is spunky, courageous, and curious. Inez has grown up in Argentina for her entire life, separated from her parents, who spent the better part of their years in Egypt looking for ancient artifacts instead of raising their daughter. Her parents’ lives seem like an unreachable dream that she can never be a part of, no matter how many times she asks. At the beginning of the novel, Inez receives a letter informing her that both of her parents are lost in the desert, presumed dead. Determined to find out what happened, Inez immediately leaves Argentina to embark on a journey to Egypt.

I loved experiencing this adventure from Inez’s point of view. Her banter with Whit—her uncle’s suave but emotionally distant right-hand-man—was absolute perfection. And the PLOT! The plot was twistier than the Nile River. I was genuinely surprised not once, not twice, but three times.

The only thing keeping this from being a five-star read was the magic component—in the beginning, it seemed like ancient Egyptian magic would be a big part of the plot (which would be incredible!!), but the magic aspect of the story really fell flat for me, especially in the second half of the book. I hope the sequel delves into it more!

Thank you to Netgalley for sending me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This book is a classic YA adventure/mystery book that I think most readers would genuinely enjoy. It was intriguing and the build up was great! I enjoyed the historic setting and all of the exotic countries as places like these are never usually focused on in popular books, a lot of cultural and Spanish/Arabic language highlights that I thought brought a ton of color to the story! I am a huge fantasy fan and the hints of magic in this book were lovely!

Only part of this book I didn’t like was the last 3/4, this part gets a bit hairy and the FMC just flip flops all over the place and it really takes away from what made first part of the book so amazing. I don’t think I would read the second book in all honesty, this should have been suited perfectly as a 1 book story and now it seems like it was forcefully dragged out into a series. All in all a decent most would like, but personally not one of my favorites.

It’s a historical fantasy which is something I do enjoy from time to time and this was no exception!
I loved the fast pace of the story, the Egyptian history and elements of Cleopatra was so interesting and kept me engaged in the story.

I really like the main female character as well as the love interest!

My absolute favorite thing about this book was the banter, angst and tension between Inez and Whit! I LOOOOOOVE that in a story and it kept me wanting more from them!

I loved the premise of the book, but the twists didn’t always make sense. I needed more background on the mother to see how she became so evil, and more explanation on why parents left their kid for six months every year.

ok this was so so SO fun! really compelling storyline that totally drew me in and I loved the narrator. Really strong writing, I will definitely read more from this author!

I wanted to like this more than I did.

While the setting was lush and well described and I do love Egypt, not much else worked. The mythology was not pulled into the story near as much as I would've liked; in fact, it felt a little bit forgotten a lot of the time.

The characters were fine, but the relationships were a bit hard to figure out. The romance went from nothing to everything so fast I got whiplash; i did not feel the connection was truly built between them. The familial relationships were confusing and seemed to change frequently, and I had trouble following everyone's changing feelings and opinions.

The plot suffered a similar issue- so little happened for a long time, and then all of a sudden everything happened, there were twists and betrayals and deaths and all sorts of things happening way too close together. It needed better pacing, a bit more going on in the beginning, and less of an all out run to the cliffhanger finish.

And finally, the magic system was not fleshed out or explained either. It was just thrown in at random times, with little to go off of and it seemed to be forgotten randomly.

I do have hope for the second book due to the ending, but this one was a bit of a mess in a lot of ways. Highly disappointing for me, i was anticipating this being a favorite.

I did not expect to like this one so much, but it was great. I really liked Inez, she was reckless at times but her strength and wit would always get her out of bad situations. She is absolutely determined to get answers about what happened to her parents and stopped at nothing, which I loved. Her feelings about her parents were so well depicted and her actions were realistic.