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.

What the River Knows is an exciting, captivating book about Inez who travels from Argentina to Egypt to find her uncle and uncover the mysteries surrounding her parents’ deaths. The book takes place in the late 1800s, and it is full of the sparkling, upper class society during a time when world powers dominate the globe. 🌍

My favorite parts about this book are the archeological scenes where we are solving puzzles and exploring history. I also loved all the Egyptian stories and hieroglyphics that were scattered throughout the story. It was so fun to learn about these discoveries and how they mix with the history of grave robbing.

I loved the magic in the book! Having items that old spells latch onto was such an interesting way to depict magic, and I enjoyed learning about it! Also I loved the idea of magic and memories being connected through the years and being able to be seen/ heard/ smelled/ experienced😍

My main complaint about the book is just that Inez is often incompetent and clueless- but it’s obviously because she was sheltered and people keep lying to her 😅 So it was understandable, but pretty frustrating.

There were some amazing scenes between Inez and Whit- and that’s all I’ll say without getting into spoilers 😜. Let’s just say sober Whit all alone is my favorite…

Overall I had a good time with the book! I love Isabel Ibañez’s lyrical writing that is so easy to read. She set up a thrilling story with fun characters and gorgeous settings. I can’t wait to see where the book goes next now that we have laid the groundwork and gotten to know characters! That epilogue really left me dissatisfied and waiting for the sequel 😂

I’d recommend this book to fans of sassy and clever main characters, mysterious and protective love interests, and a whole lot of magic, deception, and discoveries ❤️

I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Together We Burn was one of my favorite YA releases of 2022, so I was literally waiting like a psycho to request What the River Knows the minute it appeared on NetGalley. Imagine my disappointment when this didn't work for me. The tone was all over the place, the fantasy elements felt more like plot devices than an integrated part of the world, and the ending felt unnecessarily shocking.

I had also thought this was a standalone but...uhh....nope. TBD if I pick up the second one.

In all fairness, Whit was swoony and the setting was vivid.

Prepare for a gripping journey through Egyptian history! Inez, a young girl grappling with the mystery of her parents' death, ends up on an unexpected search for Cleopatra's tomb. Her quest takes her to Egypt, the last place they were seen alive, where she encounters an untrusting uncle she barely knows and an enigmatic Englishman named Whit who challenges her at every turn yet sparks her curiosity.

This tale is a rollercoaster of deception, concealed truths, murder, love, and betrayal that keeps you eagerly flipping the pages. Talk about a cliffhanger!

A very exciting adventure with loveable (and hateable) characters. Vivid descriptions made it feel like I was walking down the street in Alexandria. Can't wait for the next instalment!

A riveting & exciting adventure that takes readers on a fantastical ride! I would highly recommend this book others!

Even though I DNF’d this about halfway through, I am still rating what I read. Unfortunately this one just didn’t grip me enough to continue. I think given the YA nature was part of the problem as I am finding YA titles are becoming harder to hold my interest any longer. There will be plenty of readers who will enjoy this, and the writing is good, it just ultimately wasn’t for me.

This book has all of the elements that feel so characteristic of Isabel Ibañez's work: a strong female protagonist, slow-burn romance, complex characters (particularly family), and a historical setting that feels so vivid it readily comes to life. I loved going to Egypt with Inez and reading about her journey (both physical and emotional). Inez never gives up, and wanting her to succeed and be happy is the easiest thing. All of the conflicts were interesting, both on the global scale with the issue of partage in Egypt and on the familial side, as Inez learns more about her parents and uncle. The pacing was done well and, although some twists were fairly obvious, I definitely was not expecting the ending. I do think that the magic system is intriguing and I wish it had been more present throughout the book. I am excited for the sequel (I need lots of answers and details) and eager to see what's next for Inez and Whit.

I would recommend this book to anyone interested in archaeology, exploration, 1880s Egypt, and anyone who enjoys an emotional rollercoaster.

Overall a 4.5 stars for me!

This is my first novel by Isabel Ibanez, and it did not disappoint at all!

The writing style pulled me in immediately and it was pleasant style to follow along with. I felt as though it wasn't so simple that it lacked in description and for me - the detailed quality of the description did not overshadow the action and dialogue of the novel. It was balanced for me, and not too flowery and not too lacking in detail and I felt myself immersed in the world and story while I was reading. The writing style also lended well to the atmosphere. I really enjoyed the Egyptian archeological dig insights and I certainly loved the "flashbacks" that Inez experience. I did get some The Mummy movie vibes from this and it made me love the story even more, and lended more to the atmosphere of the story. I also enjoyed some of the more sensory descriptions, such as smell, which I can't always relate to but I did relate to in this one - especially for the smell of roses that was mentioned a few times.

Obviously I have two characters that are favorites, which are our two mains: Whit and Inez. I really really enjoyed the character and relational development of both. Inez's development was a little more obvious and mentioned in plain terms in the narration of the text, her perspective was fun, passionate and interesting. Her growth through travels and experience was well done and fun to read on. My favorite character arc was definitely Whit's, I enjoyed learning about his past and his story developed slowly, which made it that much more enticing. I enjoyed reading about the relationship blossoming between these two and how their experiences changed them and the way they perceived the other.

The plot was very intriguing and fun to read. I did feel that the first 40-50% of the plot was fast paced and I couldn't stop reading! There was a bit of a lag where the plot becomes more political towards the middle of the novel but I still found that to be enjoyable. There are certain situations that occur in this that are absolutely surprising and unexpected - plot twists that I never saw coming! From the epilogue, it really seems that there will be more surprising twists in the second of this duology! It's one of those stories where you never really know anyones motives or if they are leading a double life vs. being true and honest.

Overall, I Ioved this novel, I would've preferred the pacing to be a bit better in the middle of the novel, and I would've loved it even more if it was adult - but that is a personal preference! I would highly recommend to anyone that loves a low fantasy novel with mystery and intrigue set in an older time with Egyptian Archeology and history!