This was excellent historical fantasy, and there were many facets of this book that I found interesting. I enjoyed the setting in 1880s Egypt, as well as the ties to Ancient Egypt through the book’s focus on archaeology. I appreciated that the author took the time to demonstrate and discuss British colonialism in the country during that time period and its many effects, including the theft and illegal sale of historical artifacts and the fact that Egyptians were generally not allowed access to their own history.

I also found the magic system and its ties to Cleopatra interesting, and appreciated how it was used to connect the two time periods, as well as her and Inez. I hope all of this is explored in even more detail in the next book. And speaking of Inez, she was wonderful. Even if she didn’t always make the smartest decisions, she always strove to learn from her mistakes and do the right thing. I understood why she did what she did and sympathized with her decisions. I greatly admired her determination, especially since she was at a disadvantage in several ways throughout the book.

And that ending…a cliffhanger if there ever was one. I’m excited to see how everything will tie together in the next book.

A fun, mysterious historical fiction novel set in the 1800’s. For everyone who grew up obsessed with ancient Egypt (or the Mummy, like me) this is a rich love letter to the beauty and history of the country. But with a twist!

In What The River Knows, enchanted objects and artifacts are a part of daily life. I found it a really cute and charming detail, since the people would stumble upon old shoes that ignited fire or scarves that could shrink any object they could cover. I was expectantly waiting for the next enchanted object to appear on the page!

The protagonist, Inez, leaves Argentina in search of the truth behind her parents’ mysterious deaths. She travels to Cairo, where she meets a cast of characters that all seem to be keeping their own secrets… so who really knows if they’re really telling the truth about her parents?

There’s also a romance plot with lot’s of escaping from the death together and silly banter in between. (My favorite).

I gave it 4 stars because the mystery tended to feel repetitive, or the protagonist wouldn’t do enough to keep learning more information- therefore the plot would slow down or lose any sense of urgency.

The thing that Inez Oliveras has longed for more than anything else is to accompany her parents on one of their many expeditions to Egypt. Instead, she's like back in Argentina with her Aunt and cousins waiting for her parent's short return trip home before they're off and away again on their adventures, but Inez bets that the next letter home will include an invitation for her to join them. That letter comes, but from her Uncle and with the shocking, and heartbreaking, revelation of their deaths.

Feeling there is more to the story, Inez travels to Egypt on her own to look into her parents' deaths and comes face to face with her near-stranger of an Uncle - who is now her guardian - and his assistant. They don't want Inez anywhere within Egypt especially not to one of their sites, but she thwarts them at every turn.

Now, filled with the irrepressible magic of a bygone era, Inez finds herself torn between finding out what happened to her parents and a discovery that, in the right hands, could change the world.

I loved the ambiance of the story. It does call to mind The Mummy (which the book is likened to in the synopsis). It's the history and the mystery and the adventure of discovering treasures thought lost, while also giving a healthy dose of background on what it actually means when people dig up these ancient artifacts and sell them.

I like the relationship between Inez and Whit. I was surprised, in a good way, with how open Inez is about her burgeoning feelings for him and informs him of this. Even though there are obstacles (aren't there always) I like that it's out in the open. I think it slightly reduces some of the angst that can cloud up too much of a story at times.

On the other hand of that, though, we deal a lot with Inez's naivete. I don't begrudge Inez's naiveté or her impulsivity. She's been kept away from things her entire life and has yearned for her parents' love and attention. No wonder something happens to them and she throws herself into finding out what. Also, I can't fault her when everyone around her is clearly keeping secrets and instead trying to shut her out. This is especially apparent after the third or forth time she thwarted the plans to keep her "safe" thereby at least indicating that she's capable. I think this ends up leaving Inez more vulnerable. You can't prepare for what you don't know about.

Overall, I like the trip through 19th century Egypt. Some of my other minor qualms I can put aside seeing as how this is only the first book in a series and, I'll tell you now, Isabel Ibañez leaves us with such a tantalizing ending that I cannot help but want to read more. Inez's adventure is just getting started.

The Mummy meets Dead in the Nile in this adventurous book. Inez is stubborn, her curiosity has no bounds so when news of her parents’ death reached her, she immediately embarks in the adventure of her life to find out what happened to them. And I will tell you, there will be a dozen theories going through your head on how this book is going but the plot twist and then the plot bomb at the end will have you at the edge of your seat, biting your lip and begging for book two.

Now, I wish we had learnt more about Inez’ visions about Cleopatra. I’m sure we’ll learn the significance of them in the next book(s) but I would have to see more of that but I’ll “patiently” wait!

This book is full of mystery, magic with a dash of romance, I truly cannot wait!

This was a really fun YA Historical fantasy but ultimately not a new favourite. The ancient Egypt vibes were really good and I did quite enjoy Ines as a main character.

The plot twists sometimes made me roll my eyes BUT that did make it a fun read.

Set in 1880's Egypt, with the backdrop of archaeology, ancient Egyptian mythology, history and magic, we follow Inez Olivera as she travels from Buenos Aires to Cairo, in search of truth, but finds danger, intrigue and betrayal instead.

First of all, what an interesting setting, I haven't read anything set in Egypt before, and given my fascination with Ancient Egypt, that sucked me right in. I would say this was very light in the fantasy though, but the way it was incorporated was very believable.

I liked Inez but I sometimes got annoyed with her stubbornness, rashness and gullibility, which just entangled her further in deeper messes. Her banter, friendship (?) and budding romance (?) with Whit provided a lightness to the heavier plot points. What's up with him anyway? He's as morally gray as they come.

The first half was really slow, full of world building and history lessons, but the second half flew by. There's action filled with mysteries, deceit, and revelations (one after the other). The twists got me dizzy and gasping out loud.

From the start to the end, you won't know who to trust.

That cliffhanger though! I don't know what to believe anymore, what even is the truth? I need the sequel as soon as possible please.

Read this if you enjoy:
Historical adventures
Ancient Egyptian mythology
Drama and intrigue
Rivals to lovers
"Touch her and you die" energy

Thank you to the author, St Martin's Press, Wednesday Books, and Netgalley for this eARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

This book has left me so angry honestly. It took a bit to get to the main parts of the books but I was captivated through the whole book.

All the twist and the betrayal throughout has me left feeling broken and angry. The way it ended has me excited for a sequel though.

Inez Olivera has spent her whole life dreaming of accompanying her parents on their yearly six month long archeological excursion to Egypt. Unfortunately, her dreams are shattered when she receives a letter detailing the mysterious and tragic deaths of her parents. In search of answers, Inez makes the decision to leave Buenos Aires behind, and sail to Cairo. Upon her arrival she is greeted by the handsome yet incredibly infuriating Whitford Hayes, who, on her uncles orders, immediately tries to send her back home. Guided by ancient magic, Inez must evade Whit’s attempts to thwart her, and uncover the truth she is so desperately looking for.

I really, really enjoyed this read!! I loved the setting for this book, Egypt in the 1880s. There’s a good mix of both actual historical facts and fiction, and an added layer of magic that feels very believable. I love the idea of magic once being this great force but is now only felt as remnants in objects from long ago.

The characters are also very interesting and different from each other. Inez is a little naive but headstrong and opinionated. I really resonated with her character. She has a lot of growth throughout the book as she learns how the world works outside of her home in Buenos Aires, and who can be trusted. Then there’s Whit, the secretive Englishman working for her uncle. His character was fun, stubborn, and a little morally grey. He made for a very interesting companion to Inez. I enjoyed the portrayal of her uncle as well, how you never knew his intentions or if he could be trusted.

There was always this air of mystery that kept me captivated throughout the entire book. There are many moments where I wasn’t sure what was the truth and what was a red herring. And that ending! I honestly was not aware before going into this that it was going to be a series, so I was pleasantly surprised by the cliffhanger!

I am so happy I had a chance to read and review an advance copy of Isabel Ibañez book, and I am eagerly waiting for the next one! Thank you to NetGalley, St. Martin's Press & Wednesday Books for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.

What the River Knows is a historical fantasy novel set in Egypt in the mid-1800s. The story is steeped in magic, mystery and intrigue.

I have seen comparisons to The Mummy which is not entirely untrue. We do get The Mummy vibes in the feel of adventure and exploration. However, don't come into this book expecting animated mummies rising from the dead. Instead this is an action packed adventure/mystery with a light romance and magic imbued items that have certain abilities.

I really enjoyed reading What the River Knows. The plot was engaging, the banter between the characters was cheeky and playful without being overdone and we have an Argentinian heroine that is bold, competent and fun.

I can't wait to read the sequel after THAT ending.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for an advanced reader copy in exchange for my honest review.
Pub Date: October 31st, 2023

I absolutely loved this book! It’s a historical fantasy which usually isn’t my most favorite but this worked so well for me. It was fast paced, I LOVED the fmc, the Egyptian history and moments about Cleopatra were so interesting, it was full of mystery and betrayals, and the BANTER and TENSION between Inez and Whit had me sweating!!! The archaeology aspects were so interesting to read about and I was on the edge of my seat trying to figure out who I could trust. I loved this so much and will absolutely be buying a physical copy when it releases on Tuesday!!!

Thank you so much Wednesday Books & NetGalley for the arc!!

I really wanted to like this book. The premise is so compelling and I’ve seen so many great reviews. Unfortunately I just couldn’t get into it after multiple attempts. I did like enough of what I read that I would be tempted to try again if the mood hits right. Just a little too slow of a start for me.

I always love any supporting details authors have in their books, in this case I was delighted by the timeline of Egypt section, it really helped me visualize the setting and the political situation in the story. I could tell that Isabel had done her research scrupulously, I was blown away by how easy it was to follow her description of Egypt. She really made me want to visit every place Inez had been to.

The plot was gripping full of mysteries, I was quite nervous throughout. I knew that everyone was hiding secrets and Inez should trust no one! I was so frustrated for Inez. Communication is important people! If they had done this earlier, as they should have, they could minimize their losses. There was somewhat slow pacing in the middle and Whit's revelation about himself was also out nowhere but overall my interest while reading held me on. I enjoyed reading this book and I'm looking forward to book 2!

Thank you to NetGalley and especially to Wednesday Books for the early copy I received on my email in exchange for an honest opinion.

I loved this story so much! Be prepared to be swept away into the mysterious and breathtaking land of Egypt. This book will take you from the bustling markets in Cairo, to the luscious shores of the Nile, to Egyptian temples and dig sites in the desert. What the River Knows is packed with adventure as Inez seeks to discover the mysterious disappearance of her parents and the shady business that her uncle is tied up in. Served with a side of rivals to lovers romance, this book is a total delight!

This book is advertised as The Mummy meets Death on the Nile. I think that's pretty accurate. This is about an Argentinian girl, Inez, who gets a devasting letter that her parents are missing and presumed dead. She then travels to Egypt on a quest to find out what happened to them. Here she meets her uncle whom she doesn't know very well as well as his colleague, Whit, a handsome young man. They are not very happy at her arrival so she takes things into her own hands. The rest could be spoilers, but I will say that I absolutely enjoyed this book and would definitely recommend it. I was not prepared for the fact that this will be, at the very least, a duology because it ends on a very strong cliffhanger and I cannot find any information for when the second book comes out! I am hooked and cannot wait. The only thing holding this back from a five-star read for me was the pacing and some of the character development. It is definitely slow in the first half and filled with lots of world-building and history lessons. The second half flew by. Again, this was exactly the type of story it's being sold as, and highly enjoyable. Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the opportunity to read an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest feedback.

As a girl, I briefly flirted with the idea of pursuing archaeology. I was enamored with the idea of studying and understanding the lives of people through artifacts and locations, and I was especially into the Greek, Roman and Egyptian then (though I would enjoy doing it in Asia now, I think). So, I was understandably excited to read WHAT THE RIVER KNOWS when I first heard about it.

I enjoyed this book! It immersed me in a world and scenarios that was familiar in a way, but also new and refreshing. (I also rewatched The Mummy in the middle of me reading this and the vibes are there, in my opinion!) The characters were likable enough, and I did genuinely enjoy seeing the main relationship change over the course of the book. But what really kept me reading was the story itself! Even though I did find a story development or two jarring, I for the most part was entertained, invested and swept up in the action. Definitely looking forward to the sequel (especially given how this ends)!

Thank you to NetGalley and Wednesday Books for the eARC of What the River Knows by Isabel Ibañez. All opinions are my own.

YOU NEED TO READ THIS BOOK!

This is a historical fiction book with magical elements sprinkled throughout. The fascinating world of 1800s Egypt made me so excited to read this book and kept my interested throughout the whole story.

I also loved the bits of forbidden romance and can’t wait to see where that goes in book two.

After finishing the ARC of this book, I immediately pre-ordered a copy for myself because I know I’ll definitely re-read it before book two comes out next year.

One thing I really liked about this book was all of the plot twists and that I never knew who I could trust. It kept me on my toes and made me want to stay up late reading.

Overall, I would recommend this book to anyone that likes magical stories, ancient Egypt, and forbidden romances.

I devoured this book!! I love when any book adds a touch of history and mythology into it. The magic in this world was so different and so amazing. The conflict and tension between Whit and Inez was perfection. I wouldn’t be surprised if this book becomes a viral sensation. I can’t wait to read more from this author.

Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC!

Ok I was sort of conflicted to read this because of the negative reviews on her other book but I will say I did enjoy this read.

This was promoted as having the mummy vibes and yes because of Egypt, excavations and the danger but if you come into this looking for an Evie and Rick romance there is none like them so I was very disappointed

I was enjoying the magical elements and how it connected to Ancient Egypt and Cleopatra. I also enjoyed how Inez would charge forth and do what she wanted to do.

So yes overall I enjoyed this book but I will say I was bored through some bits and it felt like it dragged. I know it can’t all be adventure and fun but even the moments where Inez and Whit were flirting I was like ok and ?
Also Elvira 😭the way she was brought in for the last chapters just for that ending for her ??? Vile #justice for Elvira

But the cliffhanger left me curious so I will continue w the story

“The Mummy meets Death on the Nile…” um yes! I was sold on What the River Knows as soon as I read this in the description. I stayed up to 2:00 AM reading because I couldn’t put it down. This book has a little of something for everyone: Ancient Egypt, mystery, magic, adventure, and romance. Also, the heroin, Inez, is perfection. She’s strong and stubborn with a mind of her own. Also, that ending! Waiting for the sequel is going to be excruciating.

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for an ARC. I so enjoyed reading this book. Now I am off to read everything else Isabel Ibañez has written.

I was so excited to read this YA archeology/antiquities story set in Egypt with an Argentinian protagonist.

Unfortunately, the story was very slow-paced and focused more on the protagonist’s relationships with her lost parents, her uncle, and her potential love interest, than it did on the things that interested me, the Egyptian history, archeology and magic. I had to put it down and DNF at 50%. This one just wasn't for me.

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