I received an e-arc of this book through NetGalley and St. Martins/Wednesday Books. Thank you so much to them for the opportunity and know that all of my thoughts here are honest and my own.

Unfortunately, this was not the hit I thought this was going to be. I initially was quite interested in our main character, the settings, magic, and plot. But quickly the pacing started to slow down more than I cared for and I started to lose interest. On top of that our main characters did not inspire much care from me. Inez is meant to be well educated and too smart for her own good, this is made very clear to us in the beginning, but she proceeds to make careless and ignorant mistakes through out the entire novel. Her back and forth on who in the group to trust meant I never felt very close to any of them and never gave much thought to them. The plot twist was so well foreshadowed it was painfully obvious and I spent so long wondering when everyone else would finally figure it out. A specific character at the end felt added only to try and liven an already dead plot and it felt incredibly cheap. Not to mention I have no clue why this is a series. So little actually happened in this book that if you cut out the unnecessary back and forth and repeat moments you could have fit the whole story into one novel. Most of my complaints here could have been solved by stronger editing, in my opinion. The only thing I did like, that kept me reading to the end, and therefore earns the second star, was the banter in the romance. But the cliffhanger ending made me no longer care to follow that either and I will not be reading book 2. Clearly lots of people have enjoyed this book so if you are still interested in picking it up, go for it, but the execution of it left a lot to be desired for me.

The Mummy meets Indiana Jones in all the best ways. Inez is feisty and confident, but owns up to her mistakes. Whit... rubbed me the wrong way at first, but slowly I was coaxed into liking him, just like Inez.

What the River Knows is such an enchanting story, a historical fantasy with slow burn, yearning, magic, secrets, unexpected twists and turns, Egyptian mythology and much more, I couldn't put it down. The ending will be keeping me up at night, im shocked to my core, baffle, appalled and every word you can think of. Such an amazing read!!

Thank you netgalley and Wednesday books for this eArc, I loved it.

3 stars

I've read several of Ibanez's books, have loved some, and have liked others, and unfortunately, for me, this one is just okay.

What I enjoyed the most about this adventure is the betrayal motif. This is nicely executed, and I recommend that prospective readers stop with the reviews so that they don't get any spoilers on that. For me, it's the most memorable part of the read (on the positive side).
 
On the other hand, this book is too long. I listened to the audio version, and it's 17 hours. It...felt like 17 hours. Ibanez is always an extremely successful painter of the scene, but I wish there had been some editing in that realm. I don't need every swipe of the hair, every glance in a specific direction, and so on. Whereas this has made me really enjoy some of her other works (looking at you, _Woven in Moonlight_), I found it too distracting here. On a related note, I hope we get to have a heroine who kicks butt and does not have the distraction of some very predictable romantic interest one day. Ibanez is too strong of a writer to have to rely on this so frequently.

I had high hopes for this one, and the sense of place and betrayal elements do make this a worthwhile (if long) read. The audiobook narration is excellent, and I'm not sure I would have persisted if I had accessed this in the original format I received (ebook).

I'm still an Ibanez fan, but I am hoping for something different from the next effort.

Ibañez has masterfully created a wonderful historical fantasy novel in What the River Knows. The book has something for everyone: history, magic, romance, adventure, mystery, intrigue and more. I think that every reader will find something to enjoy and connect to over the course of the story.

The main character, Inez, is strong, intelligent and independent. She lives with her aunt and cousins in Argentina. After the unexplained death of her archeologist parents in Egypt. She travels alone to try to find answers. Upon arriving, she has to use her wits and skills to both avoid obstacles and to discover the truth of her parents’ death.

Overall, What the River Knows is a strong immersive and engaging read. The story has a wonderful balance of history, drama, romance, and adventure. At times, the history can bog down the pacing; however, it adds a lot of context and flavor to the story. I was not a big fan of the romance between and Whit. I felt it was a bit heavy handed and lacked a bit of the nuances of true chemistry. This did not really taint my overall impression or enjoyment of the book. I thing the magical elements fit well into the plot. There are also plenty of twists, turns and heart pulsing moments. It all concludes in a big cliff hanger and hoping for a book two.

Magic, ancient Egypt, romance, The Mummy meets...say less! This book has it all. I absolutely devoured it!

This novel is historical fiction, set largely in Egypt in the late 1800s. Fervor for Egyptology is high, and archeologists and grave robbers abound. Inez Olivera is the daughter of two archeologists; she lives with her aunt in Buenos Ares, while her parents are gone half the year, searching for treasures in Egypt, returning periodically to visit, and refusing any efforts on Inez's part to join them in Egypt. So Inez's life goes, until her 18th year, when her parents are reported to be missing and presumed dead, causing Inez to board a ship to Egypt to go looking for her Tio Roberto, now executor of her inheritance, and the last person she knows who saw her parents alive.

This novel is a mystery, with interwoven events told largely from Inez's point of view, and including occasional narrative from her uncle's assistant, Whitford Hayes. This is an adventure story, in the same mix of genres as the Indiana Jones tales, and similar in concept, dealing with archeology and grave robbers, and will appeal to anyone who enjoys fantastical adventures. Recommended for readers ages high school to adult.

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

This book surprised me, it's the first time I've read the author, at first I wasn't very convinced but the more I read the more I was hooked, I really didn't want to stop reading haha, even though it was a little difficult for me to get into it. I really liked the story, it's historical fantasy set in Egypt, so I had my moments trying to remember the places they mentioned haha ​​but it was a lot of fun, I LOVED IT!!😍🤍

Everything about the discoveries they made, the adventures to reach Cleopatra's tomb, the betrayals, the secrets, the romance, perfect!!🤍

I really loved Inez, I liked her attitude and rebellious personality, it was very fun to read the crazy things she did, and Whit, omg, that man with his flirtatious and “indifferent” attitude but at the same time with his tender side, simply, in love.🥹🤍

The plot twists were very good, and the ending?!! haha ​​omg THAT ENDING?!!! I need the second one urgently!!!🛐

I’m happy but mad because it ends on a cliffhanger!! Honestly this is such a great book and now I have to wait (un)patiently until the next book comes out. If you like YA books, The Mummy, and Indiana Jones do yourself a favor and pick this up because it’s so entertaining.

What the River Knows, the first book in the Secrets of the Nile duology, is a must read for fans of mystery, romance and historical fiction. Inez Olivera has spent her life with parents who spend long stretches of time in Egypt while she comes of age in the glittering society of 19th century Buenos Aires. At the age of eighteen, she learns that her parents have died, and against the wishes of her guardians, she travels to Egypt in investigate their deaths. Her uncle, who has been working on a mysterious project with her parents, is less than happy to see her, and when he fails to effectively send his niece back home, he assigns his dashing employee, Mr. Whitford Hayes, to keep an eye on her and make sure she stays out of trouble. Inez, who has absorbed a touch of old magic from a ring her father sent her, secretly follows her uncle as he sails down the Nile searching for Cleopatra’s tomb.

This book was such fun! There is intense romantic tension between Inez and Whit, and although the book is told mostly from Inez’ point of view, the chapters are punctuated with Whit’s voice and take on the unfolding adventures. Inez and Whit’s relationship is full of intelligent banter, and in spite of their obvious frustrations with one another, their mutual attraction sizzles. Billed as a mix between The Mummy and Death on the Nile, this book contains the perfect blend of murder mystery and romance with the right touch of magic and mythology.

I love Agatha Christie’s novels and enjoy books about Egypt, so I was excited to read What the River Knows. Ibanez’s novel did not disappoint as it swept me away to another time and place. I gasped out loud several times as the plot twisted and turned itself, upending my expectations. I can’t wait to read the second installment in this duology! If mystery, romance, and magic interest you, give this book a read; you won’t regret it!

Thank you to NetGalley for a free copy of the book in exchange for a fair review.

PRAISES:
-The atmosphere and visual writing was wonderful! I felt like i was there in Egypt.
-The romance had some sweeeeet moments.
-The mystery had some fun twists that i did and did NOT see coming.
-The banter between Inez and Whit were some of my favorite parts.
-I loved how the author included Egyptian history into the plot. It was fascinating.

THOUGHTS:
The magical realism was done poorly. It was presented in tiny, random chunks with no real explanation. I was waiting to be convinced and it didn’t deliver. It wasn't believable for me.

Inez's character changes and not for the better. She starts out as this wonderful, headstrong, determined and smart woman and she turns into this naive, stupid, rash acting girl.

Half of this book felt convenient and the answers to the mystery were handed to her again and again.

The ending wasn't revolutionary and frankly made me angry. I won't be reading the next one.

Thank you NetGalley for an advanced copy. I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Thank you to Wednesday Books and NetGalley for the free eARC. This is my honest opinion.

I found this book to be amazing, filled with all the beauty of 1880's, fashion, manners, tourists being obsessed with Egypt, history, and interesting artworks. Inez is the daughter of 2 absent parents who spend most of her life in Egypt, leaving her in Buenos Aires. When she receives a letter from her uncle telling her that her parents are dead, she travels to Egypt to find out more about their deaths. This sparks a crazy adventure filled with lies, un-truths, magic, mystery, and ancient Egyptian shrines and tombs.

Inez is a naive 18 year old, and makes some very dumb decisions consistent with her age. Whitford Hayes works for her uncle as a some thing (vague is best). Her uncle Ricardo is an Egyptologist working with his brother-in-law on dig sites searching and documenting Eygptian history.

Lots of really cool descriptions of historic locations, art works and interesting plot twists and turns.

4.5 out of 5 stars. Highly recommend for lovers of 1999's The Mummy and for those who like a little mystery.

For the archeology girlies who believe artifacts belong in their countries of origin!

I had a lot of fun with this. I liked the characters a lot, they had interesting personalities and dynamics with each other. Also my overall enjoyment steadily increased throughout, culminating in a super fun high-action ending (with a shocking tragedy I did not expect but maybe I should have but it really upped the ante on the whole adventure).

That said, the writing suffered from a few issues that slowed me down/confused me throughout the reading process, which I will now detail (do not read if you’re not interested but these things were just bugging me and I need to get them out for my sake not yours. remember that the star rating above is indeed 4 stars so I clearly did enjoy this book i’m just thinking out loud here let me cook)

- Promise of the Premise: for one, I just wanted more archeology! I thought they’d be searching and finding clues and digging and uncovering but Tio Ricardo & Abdullah had already found Cleopatra’s tomb? Inez just confirmed it for them?
- Mismanagement of Mysteries: the mysteries presented to us at the beginning of the book as central driving questions (the main one being, what really happened to Inez’s parents?) don’t end up being the most important questions and/or culminate in underwhelming answers
- Pacing: the first half of the book was much slower and the second half much faster. I didn’t prefer one half to the other though because the first half set things up too slowly and the second resolved them too quickly. Neither was quite right
- Underwritten Romance: okay our two romantic parties don’t know each other and first and have a lot of mutual distrust but grow to have feelings for one another. sounds good. except. instead of showing a gradual opening up to each other, Whit was just totally hot and cold for no reason, which made Inez’s affection for him right from the get-go a little confusing—Inez being generally more open than Whit made a lot of sense with her personality, but she also was confused about Whit’s hot-and-cold and THEY JUST MET so what was she even attracted to? Once they got to know each other more, the dynamic made more sense to me and I let it go, but that first half. truly. what.
- That Last Page: WAS SCINTILLATING but I fear it seemed out of character for Whit so I was left more befuddled than excited about the twists and turns of the next book. set the wrong tone for me.

All of that said, I DID STILL HAVE A GOOD TIME THIS IS ALL JUST ON MY MIND RIGHT NOW I”M SORRY. I am looking forward to the sequel which tragically has no release date yet and I’m excited to spend more time with these characters now that they’ve had time to marinate.

I'm not quite sure how Isabel Ibañez has done it, but she has taken one of my least favorite plot devices – withholding information to purposefully keep someone ignorant of a situation – combined it with the chronic folly that is being a teenage girl, and turned it into an addicting tale that you'll want to devour in one sitting.

The story follows Inez, a railroad heiress of Bolivian and Argentinian heritage who has spent her life in Buenos Aires while her parents largely live in Egypt, funding her uncle's excavations. But when she receives an artefact full of magic from her father and then the sudden word of her parents' mysterious deaths, Inez sneaks out, gets on a ship to Cairo, turns up at the hotel her parents lived in, and inserts herself into their world – only to find that her uncle absolutely does not want her there, and there is Lots of Scheming afoot.

And of course, there is Whitford Hayes, a charming, rakish, British gentleman who works for her uncle, who Inez knows she can't trust, but whom she is outrageously attracted to anyway.

Though none of the twists and turns here necessarily came as a surprise to me, Ibañez creates an evocative world of magical realism, and characters that are easy to love – Inez, though young and too trusting, is audacious and amusing, and Whit is very swoony, if a complete mess.

Set during the archaeological boom in Egypt, full of smooth manipulators, selfish treasure hunters, and greedy museum curators who care more about their illustrious collections than historical preservation, What the River Knows is an intriguing read that seamlessly blends historical fiction with magical realism, adventure, and a strong dose of mystery. Though the book will likely frustrate you to no end as Inez tries to learn the truth about her parents' fate, what her uncle is up to, and who she can trust, it's a hard book to put down. And the epilogue? It'll have you screaming.

DNF @ 34%. I like the direction of this story, but I think it will work better for me on audio. I plan to pick it up again in the future.

A historical fiction set in Egypt that recognizes the problems with Egyptology and other countries not respecting Egyptians or their artifacts! Well done, and a fresh change! A great book club read that can appeal to most, Egypt, mystery, love, family, who needs more?! There had better be a sequel or I just may cry. If you are debating it, definitely give a it try!

I really enjoyed the Egyptian history! This was my first time reading something from Isabel and I loved it! The morally gray characters made it even better! The imagery was also really well done and I think this was a perfect for a first book in a series. That being said I think it did have a little bit of an issue with the pacing. It was just a tad too slow for my liking.

Inez was such an interesting character and I thought she was pretty mature for a YA character and I can’t wait to see how her relationship with Whit develops!

I refuse to read this book since I just recently found out this author has racists views/stereotypes against indigenous people in her last book, and this book is probably no different.....

What the River Knows is a historical fantasy adventure with a bit of magic and mystery. This is a genre I had no idea I'd enjoy, and I loved it! For a minute it was giving me Indiana Jones vibes. It does get a bit violent and gruesome by the end, but I can tell you from experience that it's the perfect book for a cozy fall morning!

I really, really enjoyed this book. It had a slow start with history dumps. However, it kept me invested enough to continue and get to the more action packed second half of the book. I loved the setting. The characters were easy to understand. And the cliffhanger!! I had no clue this was a series, and that was just mean. Cannot wait for the next one.