OMG!!!! Wow, what a fun read. I absolutely loved Inez and her fierce determination. Her loyalty to those she loves reminded me a lot of myself. Whit was a mystery and I couldn’t quite nail down his motives. Their banter had me giddy!

I love this author’s writing style. It’s descriptive, atmospheric and lush. She transports you to into every world she creates. The story line is gripping and kept me wanting to read all day and night.

As a kid I was fascinated with Egyptian mythology (and Greek), so the minute I read the synopsis of this book I knew I had to read it! Although I’m not as familiar with the topics anymore it brought up so many good memories for me.

WHAT THE RIVER KNOWS is packed full of epic adventure, magic, Egyptian history & mythology, secrets, mystery, lies, and a slow burn, forced proximity, reluctant lovers romance. I loved every second of it and I can’t wait, no I’m DYING for book 2.

If you made it this far you’re probably wondering why I rated it 4 and not 5 stars. Honestly the things that brought my rating down didn’t affect how much I enjoyed the book! There were a few parts that were slow, several plot points that felt a bit forced to me and I would have loved MORE magic.

Adventure, romance, and mystery intertwine in this new lush fantasy escape that will have you immersed in the wonders of Egypt and its rich history, buried treasures, and all.

Growing up, Inez’s parents ventured to Egypt for half of the year, leaving her with her aunt and cousins. After an extended time away, Inez receives word of a tragedy surrounding her parents and decides to travel across the seas herself to find out what happened to them. Once arriving in Egypt, she discovers there’s more to their disappearances than she ever thought possible.

I loved the idea of weaving together the thrilling adventure, beautiful scenery, and compelling mystery from some of my favorite stories—Death on the Nile and The Mummy. I 100% saw the vibes and was captivated by the exciting energy their inspiration brought to the novel. Ibañez wrote the setting and the details of the story meticulously and beautifully. I felt transported to Cairo and beyond.

I adore a tension-filled rivals-to-lovers love story, and this one was a great balance between angst, emotion, and romance. I can’t wait to see where it’s going to go in the next book and how this story will continue. After that mind-blowing ending, I am in desperate need of answers!!

3.5/5

*Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for sending me an eARC in exchange for an honest review.*

3.5/4 stars.

WHAT WAS THAT ENDING!!!!??? The last 15% of the book was what made it engaging to me.

Overall I will say I struggled to stay engaged through a majority of the book. I did find the plot to be dragged out a bit. I think originally this was pitched as a Mummy type book. However, it is more along the lines of Death on the Nile. This is a mystery/crime book based in Egypt. So I think if you are a fan of Egypt and Death on the Nile you will thoroughly enjoy this read.

I did enjoy our main character and her banter with Whit our characters main love interest. The overall magic system is simple and explained. It is also not really used in this book aside from helping to navigate Inez to finding Cleopatras tomb. So don’t expect much magic, this was a let down for me. I expected more magic and a mummy but we do not get that in this book.

All in all I will probably be picking up book two because of the ending, I need to see how the story finishes up and if Inez will figure everything out and what that means for her and Whit. Because….. I see a fight brewing on a lot of fronts.

A big thank you to Netgalley for allowing me to review this book!

What the River Knows by Isabel Ibanez is a book that filled a very special void in my heart. My academic history is in Ancient Near Eastern history, which also covers Egypt. Saying this, one of the book series that I've read ages ago was the Amelia Peabody series by Egyptologist Elizabeth Peters. This book was that exact feeling, but with a fresh twist.

What the River Knows plays out at the turn of the century, and follows Inez, a wealthy young girl from Buenos Aires, as she finds out her parents were killed while they were working on an Egyptian excavation that might lead to the location of Cleopatra's tomb. Inez is struggling to make sense of this sudden loss and sets out to Egypt, where her uncle is still working to find answers.

The story takes so many turns, and while it was a little bit slow at the beginning, the story definitely picks up. The cast of characters are so diverse - all with their own motivations. This was so well researched, and I really appreciate the effort that was put into making sure all the elements were accurate and that it was respectful to the history it portrayed - not just of Cleopatra and ancient Egypt, but of the country at that point in time as well.

I was not aware it was part of a series, but with the way it ended I'm hoping the next installment is on its way soon! I can't wait to see where this story leads!

I didn't realize this was YA when I first requested, but I'm glad for that because i may not have read it otherwise. It was exactly the kind of fast-paced, fun book with a touch of magic that is perfect for cozy Fall reading. I enjoyed the story and the twists, though some of the bad decision-making by the main character to make the plot move forward took me out of the story a few times. I've heard it compared to The Mummy, and it also gives some of the cute and funny vibes of Jungle Cruise. The plucky main character, Inez, makes the tone of the book feel light-hearted even though it's an adventure set up with dark secrets and a sad premise. Inez's archeologist parents - who have spent much of their lives in Egypt, leaving her behind over and over again to be raised in Buenos Aires - have mysteriously disappeared and are presumed dead. She travels to Egypt alone (no easy feat for a young woman in the 19th Century) to try to find out what happened to get closure - only to find herself in the midst of a fast-paced adventure. Because the tone was so fun and PG (like Jungle Cruise or The Mummy), I found myself really surprised at some of the darker turns and tragedies that happen toward the end of this book. It ends on a cliffhanger - which also surprised me, because I didn't realize it was the start of a series. But it was a happy surprise. I'll pick up the second installment to continue this story when it's available. A solid adventure story and I liked the added elements of magic that worked well with the old-world charm of this cozy mystery.

As soon as I saw this was "The Mummy meets" or inspired by The Mummy - I was fully on board! This was such a ride of exploration and wonder. It was incredible to get to know Inez and Whit and have the backdrop of Egypt add another level of intrigue to their romance. This was so fast-paced and was so jam-packed with adventure! That cliffhanger is a crime though! How am I expected to wait?!

I was really hoping to love this story more than I did, especially because I find Egyptian mythology to be fascinating, and reading the description of The Mummy meets Death of the Nile really made me think I would love this, especially because I enjoyed a previous book by this author. I also reread Death Comes at the End (Agatha Christie), which takes place in Ancient Egypt, so I was all set for a good ride. Sadly, I didn't quite get that with this book. It wasn't all terrible--it was still a decent read. But there were things that just left me feeling meh.

Part of it may have been the audiobook narration. I listened to and read along with the narration, and I think that made it easier. But the narrator's rendition of the main character, Inez Olivera, made her sound like a schoolgirl. I get that she's not that old, but still, she often ended up making me think she was 12, rather than almost 18. But I think it's also because of her actions. On the one hand, she was a strong-willed woman who knew what she wanted and was willing to throw convention into the wind so that she could go after it. From an educational standpoint, she was fairly learned, having been schooled in multiple languages, the general sciences, history, and she read a LOT. But she was also extremely naive and thought that just because she wanted something, it should happen. She also seemed to go from strong and strong-willed woman to weak little girl depending on the situation and that just got aggravating after a while.

A few times the narration was from Whit's point of view and a different narrator was used for him. But this only happened a few times, so although I'm glad they used a different voice, it was still jarring every time they switched to his point of view.

As for the chemistry between them--I just didn't quite feel it. We were told there was chemistry simmering between them, but something just felt off. Maybe because she spent most of the book thinking she couldn't trust him because they were on opposing sides?

And that ending--I was sooooo confused. It took me rereading it 5 times before I realized this must mean there would be a second book. But that ending seemed to come from nowhere, especially because that name only appeared once before (thank goodness for the search feature on ebooks) and even after I searched for it, I couldn't figure out what everything meant. I still am not 100% sure, but I suspect we'll learn more in the next book. If nothing else, I want to read the next book just so I can figure out what's going on.

So part of my rating may be because I was expecting so much more than what was delivered, but overall, I was left somewhat underwhelmed. Do I plan on reading the next one? Yes, probably so. I really do want to know what's going on. But I'm definitely hoping for more.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book from Netgalley and the publisher. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Withholding a review until the SMP Boycott is over. This is in no way the fault of author Isabel Inañez. But your readers want a response and action from Wednesday Books/St. Martin’s Press.

I love anything and everything related to Ancient Egypt, so What the River Knows was one of my most anticipated reads of this fall -- especially when I saw the comparisons to The Mummy. Unfortunately, though, Isabel Ibañez's historical fantasy didn't end up being everything I'd hoped.

When Inez Olivera receives word that her globetrotting parents have died tragically in Egypt, she leaves her life of comfort in Buenos Aires, Argentina, and boards a ship bound for Cairo. When she arrives, she finds that her uncle -- an archaeologist and now her guardian -- isn't there to meet her, but that he has sent his assistant Whitford Hayes in his place. Whit has been instructed to put Inez right back on a ship bound for Buenos Aires, but Inez manages to evade him and eventually sneak onto her uncle's boat, stowing away as his team travels to a new excavation site. Guided by the ancient magic inhabiting Egypt's artifacts, Inez is determined to unravel the mystery of her parents' deaths -- no matter the cost.

What the River Knows is at its strongest when Ibañez is describing the sights and sounds of Egypt in the late 1800s -- a place of tombs and tourism, where Egyptian culture was at war with British colonialism. The atmosphere of the book is vibrant and lush, vividly realized and immersive, and it's clear that Ibañez has a lot of respect for Egypt, its culture, and its fraught history. Her research is meticulous and well-integrated into the novel.

However, the plot is uneven and often illogical, with not much really happening for the first two-thirds of the book until it all culminates in a violent scene that feels unearned and out of place. The magic element is kind of odd, not fully-formed, and only comes into play for plot convenience. The characters are shallow and stereotypical, with Whit and Inez reading like an off-brand version of Rick and Evelyn from The Mummy, in that they have the traits of those respective characters, but their banter is not charming or funny and there is no delicious slow burn. As soon as Whit's introduced it's clear where things are headed with Inez, but Ibañez doesn't really make much of an effort to develop their chemistry. It feels very superficial and not at all sweet, especially given that Whit is engaged to someone else.

I don't read a lot of YA fantasy anymore, and honestly What the River Knows reminded me of why that is. I don't enjoy reading about female characters like Inez -- stubborn and headstrong to a fault, lacking maturity, rebellious and unreasonable, rushing into dangerous situations with complete disregard for the consequences for themselves or others. I admire the fact that Inez was tenacious and independent in a time when that wasn't commonplace, but her characterization just felt too over the top.

What the River Knows had so much potential, but it just wasn't a good fit for me. Thank you to St. Martin's Press/Wednesday Books and NetGalley for the complimentary reading opportunity.

LIKED:
-Egyptian Setting was beautifully crafted
-Inez (lead) is fiery and curious
-Examination of archaeology - the good and the bad
-Critiques of Colonialism
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DIDN’T LIKE:
-Romance was a bit lacking (bordered on Insta-love)
-Inez’s inner monologue about her love interest was a bit repetitive (“Does he like me?” over and over)
-Many of the twists were of the same nature
-Wanted a bit more character development for both Inez and Whit
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Thoughts: I was really impressed by the level of research and detail that went into building the setting in Egypt and all the discussions surrounding archaeology, artifacts, smugglers, etc. The setting was built SO well. I felt like the characters, romance, and overall story were lacking a little in the level of detail and development.

Um excuse me! What was that ending and when can I get the second book?

This story was full of adventure and betrayal. I loved it! It definitely may have reactivated my Ancient Egypt hyperfixation. Oops. Inez is a headstrong and clever mc and there are so many characters in this story that we don't know if we can trust. I would say this a must-read for those that have enjoyed the Mummy and Enola Holmes.

I wanted to love this so much and the description made me think I could, but I didn’t. I had the hardest time finishing this book because her stubbornness drove me insane and took away any enjoyment from everything else in the book. That was sad, because short of her absolutely annoying the crap out of me, this was a pretty fun story.

Overall, I feel like this book started out strong, with a lot of momentum then slowed down and fizzled out about 1/3 of the way in. Not much happened, and the pacing was really slow for the last 2/3 of this book.

I really enjoyed the MC Inez, who is an intelligent independent heroine. I also enjoyed the setting/genre of 19th century archeological exploration in Egypt. However, these positives didn’t redeem the story for me. The pacing was just too slow.

Thank you to Netgalley and St. Martins Press for providing me with an ARC of this book to read and review.

Out on Tuesday is the newest book by Isabel Ibañez! I received an ARC and from the first line I was hooked by this swashbuckling adventure. The writing is sheer perfection.

The important historical and geographic aspects were researched (see the author’s posts) - and as a reader - I felt I was there. Not to mention, I am very vested in Inez and Whit!! Branded as The Mummy, meets Death on the Nile, with a love story.
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I ordered a signed copy because this will be a top 10 book for me this year!
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Thank you @netgalley and @wednesdaybooks

Set in 1880s we meet Inez a young Argentinian woman while she is living in the ridged Buenos Aires society and desperately wanting to spend time in Egypt with her parents and uncle. When news arrives of Inez’s parents sudden an unexpected death she decides to go to Egypt to search for answers. At every turn Inez uncle sends his employee Whitford Hayes, a former British solider, to send her back to Argentina and keep her away from dig sites and answers she seeks.

I really enjoyed this book and I think it was a decent set up for a series and I look forward to more books in the series.

Thank you to NetGalley for the eARC of What the River Knows in exchange for my honest review!

I really loved the Mummy vibes that I got from this one! The cover is one of my favorites of the year and really encompasses the beautiful story that you’ll get from it!

I've read three out of the four of Isabel Ibanez's books and What the River Knows is hands down my favorite! It's one of my top reads of 2023. I loved the historical fantasy and the magical elements, as well as how Ibanez delicately handled the varying perspectives between the Egyptian locals and Europeans and who had a right to excavate. The banter between Inez and Whit is an absolute delight, the plot kept me intrigued especially with very unexpected few twists, and the ending--the ending!!! I've never loved an almost cliffhanger more. I can't wait for book two.

One of my top fantasy reads of the year. Easily. This book is so unique and fun. I love that despite it being a fantasy it also has such an interesting mystery plot as well. I have never read a book that takes place in Egypt and I found myself so intrigued by the world and story.

This is YA but I didn’t feel old reading it. The characters were fantastic and the writing 10/10. Highly recommend. Running to go get a physical copy asap.

This is a beautiful story of adventure, magic, and love. What the River Knows by Isabel Ibañez caught my eye because it had the tagline "The Mummy meets Death on the Nile". That is a lot to live up to, but I think Ibañez did wonderfully. Not only did the book have the feel of The Mummy with the mystery of Death on the Nile, but Ibañez infused it with the culture of Buenos Ares.

I cannot recommend this book enough! Go out and have fun in Egypt with Inez!

The Nile.
The lore of Cleopatra.
Magic
Secrets.
Lies.
Intrigue.

To its markets in Cairo, the desert and its ancient tombs, this is an adventurous read.

Olivera (Inez) comes to Egypt seeking answers about her absent parent’s death. She harbors old world magic which leads her to the answer she seeks but be careful danger lurks all around.

Whit, her uncles right-hand man, thwarts her every attempt to travel the paths of her parents throughout Egypt. He’s a mysterious man with deeply guarded secrets including hiding his feelings as romantic tension looms.

Inez is determined, strong-willed and drawn to the one man she can’t have. The large cast of characters add so much to the mystery, which leaves you guessing who’s an ally.

The atmosphere and time period were fantastic. Now I must wait after this jaw-dropping cliffhanger…Tell me when book #2 will be available!

Thank you Wednesday Books for the complimentary copy.