This was fantastic! The setting was perfect, the integration of magic was clever, and the main character was bold and stubborn and challenged what her family and society expected of her. I couldn't get enough of the story and the ending about gave me gray hair!

Inez's upbringing was split between her aunt teaching her to be a lady in society and her parents teaching her to be smart and brave and question things. I liked how this all melded together and that she kept surprising everyone, especially the roguishly handsome Whit. The banter between these two was perfect and I'm rooting for them to get together.

The plot moves along fairly quickly and the magic was a cool addition to the archaeology and history. There were a few things that shocked me and I am now clamoring for a sequel!

I voluntarily read and reviewed this book. All opinions are my own. Thank you to Wednesday Books and NetGalley for the copy.

More on a 3.5 star side. I had no clue this was a series when I started it so I am so excited that there is going to be more. I really loved our main character and all the mystery that unraveled surrounding her family. Whit was pretty insufferable throughout the book, but that was probably the point - that he be a morally grey villain. I felt that the book had good pacing then the last 30 pages everything just BAM! so much happened and so much came together. The only thing wanted more of was the Indiana Jones type story that blurbs promised.

What the River Knows was a sweeping story about Inez on her journey to find the truth about her parents. Filled with twists and turns around every corner, it mimics the feel of some of my favorite adventure movies.

The setting and some of the characters were reminiscent of National Treasure (the show), and I was constantly impressed by Inez and her ability to wiggle her way out of trouble. From the start, her stubbornness gets her into all kinds of situations, but the same tenacity sees her through. Whit is a little more cookie cutter grumpy-bodyguard-with-a-dark-past kind of love interest, but I enjoyed their dynamic nonetheless.

On that note, the twists and turns might've been a bit too twisty for my tastes. Some of them were completely unprecedented and left me feeling confused by how they came to be, leaving a taste in my mouth that wasn't...what I was looking for in this book.

Wow, okay, so this book, for me and its relationship, was a slow burn. I started out thinking, this book is interesting, what a fun historical concept! Halfway through I was like oh, oooo super intriguing! And then the last 30 pages or so hit and my eyes bulged out of my head multiple times!

If you ever had a fixation on Cleopatra or any of Egypt's history, you enjoy a female main character who messes up and is trying *so hard* to be her own person and get over grief and loss and then a different grief, you like mystery, and/or you can vibe with a book that starts off slow and you can't really see where it's going, then try out this book!

Looking forward to seeing where this one goes!

Thanks to Netgalley and Wednesday Books for the e-ARC!

"The Nile knew everything, had seen the best and worst of Egypt."

What the River Knows is a book that took me by surprise. I have to admit, by the time I hit about halfway through, I was just about ready to DNF. I didn't feel super connected to the story, and I didn't know if I could finish the whole book. BUT I'M SO GLAD I DID.

There was a point at about fifty-five percent of the way through where everything turned on its head, and the story was gripping, exciting, and thoroughly engrossing. I was fascinated by the characters and the choices they were making. I wanted more of Inez and Whit and Tio Ricardo and the excitement that was unfolding.

And now, with the kind of ending that leaves its hooks in you and keeps you up at night, I find myself eagerly awaiting the next installment. I literally gasped and felt my mouth drop open in shock as the ending unraveled, and I cannot believe I have to wait an entire year to get any kind of resolution.

I will say, it takes a bit to get through this book. The beginning is quite slow, but, in my opinion, the fast pace of the ending made up for the slowness of the start. I've heard this book be compared to The Mummy, but I really didn't get any of those vibes, except both being set in Egypt. I actually enjoyed the book far more once I stopped comparing the two.

Reading this book was like going on a rollercoaster with a really big drop. You have to climb for a while before you reach the payoff, but once you do, you are in for the ride of a lifetime.

If you are a romance/adventure fan and want to explore the untamed beauty of Egypt through the eyes of a fiery Argentinian, then this book will be perfect for you.

My rating: 3.75 stars rounded up

Content: A couple of f-words (maybe 6?), a semi-inappropriate makeout scene (nothing really explicit), some semi-graphic violence. I would say this book should be read by 14+.

Thank you so much Wednesday books and NetGalley for this ARC!

This book is for everyone who was obsessed (or is still obsessed) with Egyptian mythology and archeology. This book really felt like it had everything, mysterious deaths, Egyptology, magical objects and a slow burn romance.

Inez lives in Argentina with her aunt and cousins while her parents live Egypt half the year. Then one day, she gets a letter that says her parents have gone missing in the desert and are presumed dead. She decides to run away to Egypt to discover the truth of her parents death, but finds herself in a world of magical objects, shady figures, and in a race to discover an ancient tomb.

What I loved:
- the 1880’s Victorian era
- the multi-cultural combination (English, Egyptian, Argentinian)
- the slow burn, rivals- to- lovers romance (no spice, this is YA)
- the tomb exploration and overall Egyptian vibes

Bonus: this is a BOTM option this month and I already chose it for my box!
I cannot wait to read book 2!!

Thank you Wednesday Books for the arc in exchange for an honest review.

That ending!!!

The writing was extremely immersive and atmospheric. The fantasy aspects of the book were well balanced with the historical aspects. It was also the perfect slow burn romance!!

Can’t wait for the sequel.

This was a fun adventure with a great romance and an interesting plot. It was a bit slow to get into, but got better farther into the book. I’m looking forward to the next book!

"The Mummy meets Death on the Nile in this lush, immersive historical fantasy set in Egypt filled with adventure, a rivals-to-lovers romance, and a dangerous race."

Ugh. Isabel, I desperately need book 2! I mean…

Isabel’s writing is vivid and immersive. Grab this book, and you’ll find yourself transported to Egypt. The slow-burning romance, intertwined with adventure and the irresistible tension of forced proximity (who doesn’t enjoy that), comes with a compelling shift from rivals to lovers. Plus, there’s a classic dose of “touch her and d1e.”


Thank you NetGalley and publisher for the ARC!

This historical fantasy is an enchanting blend of magic, mystery, adventure, and Egyptian mythology. The story follows Inez Olivera, a young girl living in Argentina while her parents work as archeologists in Egypt. After hearing about her parents' puzzling death, she escapes to Egypt to investigate, however when she arrived, she is sent back home by her uncle. We follow along as Inez disguises herself as part of the crew and embarks on an archeological adventure. What the River Knows is filled with fascinating quips, and unexpected twists and turns, making it a must-read for fans of forbidden romance and historical adventures.

Thanks to Wednesday Books for the ARC!

“It was a sobering thought. The Nile knew everything, has seen the best and worst of Egypt.”

I was obsessed with Ancient Egypt as a kid, so this book is RIGHT up my alley.

It’s such a fun adventure to follow Inez from Buenos Aires to Egypt, trying to unravel the mystery what happened to her recently-deceased parents. You’ll feel like you’re right alongside Inez on the journey experiencing danger, love, adventure, and magic as she sails down the Nile, navigates Cairo, and tries to uncover Cleopatra’s tomb. Inez is extremely headstrong and I loved her character, as well as Whit’s. Their playful back-and-forth was done so well!

The ENDING of this book, on the other hand, was infuriating because I DON’T HAVE BOOK TWO IN MY HANDS. That’s right, folks, this is not a standalone read, and there is a huge cliffhanger. I need more ASAP.

Inez, a young adult sets off to solve the mystery of her parents disappearance-presumed-death, departing from Argentina to Egypt by herself. Her parents were uncovering archaeological treasures, and kept her across the world at arm's length. Inez's curiosity and determination to understand what happened has her trying to connect with her uncle despite impediments galore, and she won't be held down.

This was a fun read with touches of history, adventure, and mystery - I'm excited to read the next book - especially after that ending!

Thank you to St. Martin's Press and Netgalley for an ARC.

Not reviewing this or any other from SMP imprints until they acknowledge and apologize the behavior of their racist employee.

The Mummy meets Tomb Raider in this newest historical fiction romance set in 19th century Egypt from one of my very favorite authors. I've been looking forward to this book all year and while it was entertaining and very original/unique, it didn't have quite the same magic for me as her last book. Good on audio narrated by Ahmed Hamad and Ana Osorio. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital copy in exchange for my honest review!

What the River Knows is an atmospheric, mysterious, magical tale of a young woman searching for answers in the fraught world of Egyptian excavation.

Inez Olivera travels to Egypt in search of answers as to why her parents have mysteriously vanished, presumed dead. Upon making the journey from Buenos Aires to Egypt, she arrives to face the handsome, British, Whit Hayes, who promptly tells her she is to return home on her uncle’s orders. Inez won’t have it and insinuates herself into Whit’s and her Uncle’s lives, unaware of the grave secrets she may unravel. As the book goes on, Inez faces many dangerous challenges in her race to find the lost tomb of Queen Cleopatra, and her burgeoning feelings for Whit conflict with her loyalty to her family.

Ibanez created a rich and descriptive world, but the magic system never felt fully fleshed out. I found many things to be predictable, such as what happened to Inez’s parents, but I will admit, the ending was shocking, and I was not at all expecting it. Even now, after having a few days to process it, I’m not sure how I feel about the ending. The shock factor, the deception, it was just a lot. Definitely a major cliffhanger! 😱

It took me forever to read this one. I was so excited for it as it has so many of my favorite things! However, it felt very slow, the characters felt immature, especially Inez, and the side characters felt as if they were there as pieces to add to the setting rather than fully completed characters that added something to Inez’s journey.

Overall, this was a 3 star read for me. I didn’t dislike it, in fact, there were quite a few things I did like, but it never fully balanced out for me. I’d still recommend this to others. If you’re a fan of YA, historical fiction with magical elements, and slow-burn romance, you’ll probably enjoy this one. 🫶

Thank you to the publisher and the author for the complimentary arc. All opinions are my own.

As a history buff, I was super excited to get my hands on this book and it largely didn't disappoint. I loved Inez as a character! She comes from privilege and is very stubborn, but I also found her to be very capable. Whenever she got into situations, I felt like it was more due to her lack of knowledge/experience rather than pure naivety or a flaw in her character. This not only made me empathize with her more, but it also made her growth throughout possible. I felt similarly about the other characters in this book.

The plot itself is fascinating and there are many unexpected twists and turns. I really appreciated that these twists didn't feel forced and still made sense within the fiction of the story even when they were unpredictable at first glance. Be warned though: this book ends on a cliffhanger and the next one doesn't come out for quite awhile. If you are someone who wants a story that wraps up neatly at the end, perhaps hold off on this one.

Despite all of its strengths, I struggled a little with the writing style. Some of this might just be more personal preference than anything, but it kept me from giving this perfect marks. There are some spots that can drag on a little or where there is simply too much exposition. I understand the purpose for a lot of it, but something about the way in which it is done took me out of the fiction a little more than I would like. For all of its plot and character strengths, there were also a few things that were a little too 'on the nose' or otherwise awkward that had to be overlooked. Things got better as the story progressed, but I wish it had started off as strong as it finished.

Inez Olivera has it all as a pampered member of the upper society of nineteenth-century Buenos Aires. Or she would if only her parents would spend more time with her instead of abandoning her for Egypt at every chance. When she's told that they died in the desert without any more information, she runs away to Egypt in search of the uncle she barely remembers and some answers. What she finds are secrets and danger beyond anything she could have imagined and an alluring young man who gives her more questions than answers.
I'll start with what I liked. Setting the book in Egypt with an Argentinian girl in the lead is super original and brings a lot of interesting new twists to the historical setting of the story. It also acknowledges the fact that there are more countries in the world with people who traveled and did things right along with the English and Americans.
What I, unfortunately, didn't like is the way Ibañez kept dropping but-wait-there's-more moments in an attempt to add to the drama and intrigue but only adding unnecessary complexity. I get the impression that she was aiming for a tangled web of lies for Inez to get caught up in and overshot it a bit. Instead of being excited to see the next thing to happen, I just wanted to get anywhere with the story.
There are a lot of very cinematic moments in the story. It does deliver on the adventure, romance, and intrigue promised in the blurb. It just does it in a way that couldn't keep my interest.

Grateful to NetGalley and Wednesday Books for the chance to read this wild adventure.

Thank you to St. Martin's Press and Wednesday Books and NetGalley for an electronic advanced readers copy of this book.

Inez Olivera is a young woman growing up in the wealthy upper class in 1800s Argentina. Her parents, distant but loving, leave her for long stretches of time to do archeology in Egypt. Some ancient objects are infused with magic, as Inez finds out when she puts on a golden ring sent to her by her father. Unfortunately, she soon gets words that her parents have died, but she is unable to get any details.

Inez travels to Egypt to try and discover the truth behind her parents' death. Her uncle and his assistant, the intriguing but hard living Whit, want her to go back home. Circumstances, and the pull of the ring, lead Inez on an adventure but also brings extreme danger.

What the River Knows is an interesting read, especially for someone who isn't aware of that time period or locations. Inez is kind of annoying, but I think that's on purpose. It seems like the book is set up for a sequel.

What the River Knows is my first book read by Isabel Ibañes. I was an extremely impressed with this story. It was an incredibly unique and beautifully written historical fantasy that describes ancient Egyptian mythology beautifully. I love anything with forbidden slow burn romance and this book gave me everything! I enjoy the characters but especially the fantasy aspect of the story with its historical representation. The ending was insane and it can’t wait to continue this amazing series. Thank you NetGalley for giving me this amazing opportunity. I already purchase a physical copy because besides the beautiful writing, the cover is absolutely stunning.

First let me say that the setting was absolutely magical. Definitely makes me want to go to Egypt even more! Although I feel like I want to go in the 1800s, in fact, I just want to time travel there, thank you very much. That's how this book made me feel! If you love The Mummy or Indiana Jones movies you will love this book!

This book was a unique mash up of fantasy, magical-realism, myster, and history. I adored it.

Inez is the definition of a plucky heroine! I loved her, and definitely want to be more like her.

Whit. Oh boy. I love him but definitely never trusted him. He is hard to figure out. It bothered me how many secrets he and Inez's Uncle kept secrets from her but just expected her to be okay with her parents dying and they wanted her to tell them all her secrets...

The author's writing really brings all 5 senses out and all the feels! I love when the author can capture what the main character feels so much so that the reader feels it too! The way she immerses the reader in the story... She is DEFINITELY one to watch!
I definitely need book 2 ASAP!