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

This book was a little bit of a struggle for me. I enjoyed the characters and the idea of the story but I think the writing style just didn't click for me. I read a fair amount of YA books but this felt a bit younger to me - something I would have enjoyed in junior high or early high school maybe. I feel like there was a little bit of "I won't be stupid/lie again....oh no I've been stupid/lied again" from our young female main character. And while I understand that is how young people work and learn a lot of the time it can get repetitive and old really quickly. A lot of major things happened in this book and yet it just never felt like a big impact as I was reading; there wasn't a big emotional response from me that should have been there (again, I think this was mostly due to the writing style not clicking for me).

I had high hopes for this book, but unfortunately, I have to admit that I was left with mixed feelings. To start with the positives, I really enjoyed the immersive storytelling and creative incorporation of fantasy - both story attributes I’m coming to expect from this author. Additionally, I loved that the author raised the stakes for her characters by putting them in gripping moments of life-threatening danger. For me, it made this book far more compelling than her previous one (Together We Burn).

What I stumbled over most was the progression of attraction between the main characters throughout most of the story. It felt a little “they fell too fast”, but I thought the author did a slam dunk job on the chemistry between them from chapter 25 onwards.

Overall, this book didn’t make it onto my list of must-read recommendations, but I am looking forward to the sequel because my jaw dropped at the twist in the epilogue. If you’re a fan of the following, you’ll probably enjoy the read:

- the 1999 cinematic masterpiece “The Mummy”
- Cleopatra as a historical figure
- independent, plucky FMCs
- a “touch her and die” moment

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the e-ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Wow!! What a fantastic and unique read that really combined fantasy and historical fiction! I really didn’t know what to expect with this book as I went in blind, and I’m so happy that I did.

The depictions of the history and scenery were incredible and i really enjoyed learning more about the history of Egypt and some famous rulers. I found myself googling many things itching to learn what was fact and what was fiction.

My heart broke for Inez and everything she went through in the story, and while I felt the ending of the book left me a little lost and unsure of who I can trust, I do feel confident that Isabel has a great series here and the foundation has been set for a fantastic new emotional fantasy series! I can’t wait to continue this one!!

Rating it 4 stars as I felt some of the middle pacing could have been tighter and I would have preferred all the end action to be spread out a little more, and maybe a bit more clarity on who we can trust. That’s possibly just a my preference thing, and I have a feeling this book will be staying with me a long time and I might adjust my rating!!

Thanks so much for the arc Wednesday books, NetGalley and Isabel Ibanez!

Oh my god! I have not loved a book this much in a long time. This is my favorite read of the year. The mystery, the setting, the adventure, the banter, the flirting, it's all perfection. The ending had me reeling. I am never surprised by a plot twists but this author got me. I need the next book yesterday. Obsessed!

Rating: 4/5
I received an eARC for my honest opinion.

If you love books that mix history with mythology, you need to read this book. I loved the little bit of history education that you get about Egypt and then you get to learn more about their mythology. Not going to lie, I already knew a lot about this time-period in Egypt and to see if being brought to life by Ibanez was something wonderful. This book has mystery, action, a little bit of romance, and magic.

The characters in this book were easy to connect with and even be able to relate to the main character with her love for Egypt even before she was able to visit there. It might not have been the best reason that finally made her go but I loved getting to see Egypt through her eyes and the love you could feel that she had for all the history. The plot was great and something different for me was the magic system. I do wish that we would have learned more about the magic system, but I am hoping that we will get more in the next book. I thought the pace of the book was good, it was perfect in the beginning of the book then it did slow down a little towards the ending, I was able to stay focused in the book, but I can see why others would say that it was slow. For me it was the author's way with words that really did it for me, I loved that she was able to bring the characters to life and to make me feel as though I was there with Inez and Whit.

In this book we get introduced to Inez and Whit, along with other characters but those two were the focus. I thought the growth of Inez was great, because you can see the direction that she is now heading too, and I cannot wait to see her really shine in the next book. Whit, I was laughing at the banter between those too. It was not an instant love but more like enemies to lovers, or a mutual understanding between those too that grows into something more. The romance is not the main plot of the book but more like a subplot to the book, but the way that Isabel wrote it, it flowed just like a boat down the Nile River.

I do have to say that cliffhanger, I was not expecting, and I am upset and now waiting for the next book to come out because I must know what happens next! If you like fantasy, YA books, mystery, subplot romance, great twists in the plot and some good character banter you really should pick up this book to read.

I want to thank NetGalley and St. Martin Press for the opportunity to review this book.

As a big fan of Elizabeth Peters' Amelia Peabody series, the description of this story sparked my interest. A lot of the terminology was familiar to me from Peters' books, but other aspects -- including the historical tidbits about Cleopatra's reign -- were new and interesting. The story does do a good job of transporting the reader to Egypt and capturing the many foreign influences struggling for power. It was also a refreshing change to have an Argentinian protagonist, providing an outsider's perspective of the British and their role in world affairs (albeit from a teenager's limited POV).

Setting and historical details aside, I struggled a bit to get through this book. The characters fell flat for me, with Inez growing less sympathetic as the story went on and Whit's (as well as Ricardo's) questionable loyalties and motives becoming a bit tedious. There were some interesting side characters introduced who I hoped would get a more prominent role (including Isadora, a sharp-shooting assistant to her father's security detail, and the granddaughter of Abdullah, who was a photographer in the early years of camera development), but they disappeared without much fanfare. Without getting into spoilers, a shocking event near the end of the book felt unnecessary and out of place in the tone of the story, and knocked my rating down from 3.5 to 3. Based on the cryptic cliffhanger, I'm hoping that maybe that event is not what it seemed, but for now I was left slightly disappointed.

Thank you to Wednesday Books and Netgalley for providing an ARC for review!

This review was made possible via an ARC through NetGalley.

I loved a lot of what this book did. I really liked Inez and Whit and their dynamic, I liked the worldbuilding with the small magic, I liked the twist and felt that it was well-planted. Inez and Whit feel like two people who genuinely want each other and to be together and the things that keep them apart don't feel contrived. I also really enjoyed the prose and the Voice. It's one of those books that feels very YA almost from jump and I mean that as a compliment because it's nice to pick up a book where you get most of what you are expecting.

The small bits of magic were more of a pleasant surprise as I was expecting no magic at all besides a curse due to the Mummy comp. My only real critique is that Whit is not enough of a Rick for me to feel that this is the Evie x Rick dynamic. He's just missing that chaotic energy that Brendan Fraser brought to Rick, so if the key thing for you about the Mummy is that dynamic, I don't think this will hit as hard as it could for you.

I wanted to like this book SO badly because the first 80% of it was interesting and magical and vibey, but I was so disappointed with the ending. It feels as though the author needed to wrap the story up without a clear plan, which led to stilted dialogue and characters acting like completely different people. I was so invested up until the stakes were supposedly “raised” and then the danger fell kind of flat on the page. The plot twist at the end came out of nowhere and unfortunately it wasn’t in a good way, but in a way that left me confused and feeling like there was no build up to it or sense to be had.

I will still read the next book when it is announced as the first 80% of this book was a 4.5 stars for me!

That ending was just CRUEL. But it has me so excited for the sequel! This was the historical fantasy of my dreams with a headstrong protagonist surrounded by a cast of untrustworthy characters. Despite being YA, the writing felt very mature. I loved how magic played into the story, one of the best low fantasies I’ve read. The setting was perfection, the plot well paced, and the twists timed well. And that cover?! Gorgeous. I just know this one is going to be a hit.

Unfortunately this one wasn’t for me.
I wanted to love it so much.

There were a lot of unique elements that got me excited- the setting, the magic, all the questions / mysteries.

But I struggled with pacing and character development.
And the ending made me mad.

I may read the next book for answers as there is a lot left to sort out in the story.

Thank you to netgalley and the publishers for the chance to read an advanced copy.

What the River Knows by Isabel Ibañez was a completely immersive and magical story to read. It brought me the same vibes that Indiana Jones and Uncharted did. It was a super action packed, kept me on the edge of my seat, and constantly turning the page.
Inez travels to Egypt from Argentina after hearing the news of her parents passing. When looking for answers, she unravels more than she bargained for.
The amount of plot twists in this book had me constantly guessing. A gut wrenching ending with a massive cliffhanger that is leaving me anxiously anticipating the stories continuation.

Inez is the daughter of two adventurers. They are constantly away in Egypt on a dig leaving her behind in Argentina under the thumb of her aunt. Trapped in the societal expectations of a woman in the 1880's. When she gets a letter saying her parents have died, she decides, against all logic, to get on a ship to Egypt to see if she can figure out what happened to them. When she arrives, she is immediately suspicious of everyone in her uncle's circle and is constantly in peril as her uncle desperately tries to send her back home. She manages to get to the dig site and realizes that she may have the key to finding Cleopatra's tomb and figuring out what happened to her parents.

Isabel Ibanez must have captured lightning in a bottle with Woven in Moonlight. I have yet to feel any of her subsequent works can live up from an originality and creativity perspective. The worldbuilding here was vivid and immersive. Although not enough Cleopatra or magic, the magic often seemed to get our friends out of a jam but there was no logic to it. Also the plot was a little slow for me. I also guessed the baddies pretty early and hate the last page reveal leaving everyone hanging for book two. I'm not sure I'm intrigued enough to read it.

Thanks to Wednesday Books for gifted access via Netgalley. All opinions above are my own.

Thank you so much for an advanced copy of What The River Knows! I was very excited for this book, and it definitely lived up to the hype!

First, this story reads like a love letter to Egypt and Egyptian culture. I was completely transported to another world with this book, and I enjoyed every minute. The author has an amazing attention to detail, and this made all the pieces of the story so much more impactful. There is nothing, IMO, in this book that doesn't matter to the story or the lush setting. I was completely swept away!

Second, I really enjoyed the characters and the mystery/intrigue they brought to the table. Some things are not as they seem in this book, and I was hanging onto to every morally grey character's decisions as we went. I cannot help myself! :) Inez and Whit were such interesting characters to me, and while Inez read a little young to me, I enjoyed the character dynamics throughout the whole story.

I recommend this one for anyone searching for an immersive fantasy book! You're going to get a beautifully woven story with this one, trust me!

Rating: 4⭐️

Thank you to the publisher for this ARC! I loved the way this author described everything in this novel. Everything was so descriptive and made me feel fully immersed in the story. I loved the main character SO MUCH and found her so relatable in so many ways. Overall loved this story and I think anyone who liked Divine Rivals this year will love this one :)

This story weaves a magical tale with mystery and history and of course Egyptian Mythology. When I heard it was like The Mummy, I knew I needed it and I didn’t disappoint. It blended that a little Tomb Raider meets Uncharted for me(main characters on a mission of archeological exploration) as our main character Inez gets lost on an adventure of her own.

Inez’s parents are globetrotters who always leave her behind. She tends to feel lonely and yearns to escape with them. But when she receives word that they died on their last adventure and inherits their massive fortune, she decides to set sail for Cairo to know exactly what happened. Entrusted with a guardian, an archeologist and his sidekick brother in-law, her adventure begins. Especially with the magic of the city tugging at her at every turn.

This story was unique and fun and different and definitely was a fun fantasy read. I really liked the characters and the plot. It was definitely immersed in the history and adventure. And of course with a cliffhanger of an ending to set you up with the next book.. which I definitely need.

For me I loved the way Inez was written. I also loved exploring the history of Egypt more, as the book definitely gives it. I also enjoyed it being a mystery as well. It was shroud in suspense that wasn’t too intense but magnified the story.

Can’t wait for the next book!

What the River Knows is a historical fantasy steeped in mystery. Inez Olivera has lives in Buenos Aires, under the care of her aunt while her parents spend most of their time in Egypt. After receiving word of her parents' deaths, Inez grabs her sketchpad and the magical feeling golden ring her father mailed to her for safekeeping and heads to Cairo to meet her new guardian, her uncle Ricardo. Her uncle, however, is far from happy to see her and is determined to have his handsome assistant, Whit, return her to Argentina. Inez is far too set on finding answers to her parents mysterious deaths, and uses her artistic skills and link old world magic to join her uncle’s archeological crew.

I loved the overall writing style of this book. It was descriptive and beautiful, and unique. The entire book was a beautiful tribute to Egypt and ancient artifacts. I loved Inez’s strong will and determination. The romance between Whit and Inez was a highlight of this book for me and I loved the way their chemistry built. I also enjoyed the varying family dynamics throughout that were at times complicated and messy.

I did feel that the pacing was a bit off. The first half of the book was really slow for me, but the pace picked up drastically and the second half was absolutely fantastic. I also didn’t love that there were so many secrets being kept. It felt like Inez was just asking a million questions until someone finally answered and that was the extent of the mystery solving element. I also would have loved for the magic system to have been better explained and to have played a more prominent role. Overall, this was a really enjoyable read, and after that cliffhanger I’m ready for the next book!

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press/Wednesday Books for the eARC.

Thank you to NetGalley and Wednesday Books by St. Martin’s Press for the opportunity to read and review this phenomenal book!

This book… just… WOW. It’s incredible! The adventure, the mystery, the history, the magic, the romance, all held together with fantastic writing, results in an amazing YA book that is one of my favorites of the year without a doubt! It also takes on some big issues like colonization, masculine gaslighting, and grief. It’s one I will be rereading time and again, and you can bet that I’ll be reading the sequel as soon as I can get my hands on it!

If you have ever had a fascination with Egypt, as other reviews have mentioned, this book will be right up your alley. I have to say that my knowledge of Egyptian history begins and ends with a few classic movies, so I don’t know much about the subject, but that didn’t hinder my enjoyment at all. In fact, it just inspired me to do research on a new subject!

Inez is a sheltered girl growing up in Buenos Aires with some pretty selfish parents who spend most of their time galavanting in Egypt. Ok, it’s more complex than that, but I was disgusted by both of her parents’ behavior and wanted to smack them through the pages. Inez is treated as disposable by so many people in her life, and when she finds out that her parents died in Egypt, Inez sneaks across the ocean to get to the bottom of the mystery. And oh, that’s where things get so good! Not to mention that’s also when Whit, a mysterious young man working for Inez’s Tio Ricardo enters the story and collectively steals all readers’ hearts (I’m just speculating here).

Even though I hate cliffhangers, I can’t give this book anything other than 5 stars. It’s rare for me to have such vivid images in my mind when reading a book, but this one really sparked my imagination and interest. There’s so much more I could say, but I don’t want to spoil anything… just take my advice and read this one! You won’t regret it!

The comparisons to the Mummy fit this book in the best way. It is a fun romp through Egypt while weaving in discussions of the complex ethics of treasure hunting and museums in a way that feels natural for the characters and the plot. I'm fascinated by the dynamics between Inez and her uncle and her morally complex love interest Whit.

The book balances adventure with a tension-filled love story and Inez's grief over her parents, making for a compelling story that does not rely too heavily on cliches but uses the tropes it includes in an effective way.

As a character, Inez is wonderfully imperfect and adept without being unbelievably skilled. She is easy to root for while also having flaws and making mistakes. There were times I really wanted her to see what was right in front of her but all of her decisions make sense for the characterization.

The ending leaves the reader with so many questions! I will definitely be picking up the sequel as soon as it comes out.

I recommend it to any fan of Susan Stokes-Chapman or Rebecca Ross.

Isabel Ibañez has been an author high on my radar since her YA masterpiece WOVEN IN MOONLIGHT graced my shelves years ago, and with this newest installment to her corpus of work, she is securing her spot as one of the most lush, magical, and genuinely wonderful YA fantasy authors of her time. Her writing is so beautiful and descriptive, I truly believe she could sell a paper bag to a paper bag salesman.

WHAT THE RIVER KNOWS follows Inez, an uppercrust society girl in nineteenth century Buenos Aires, as she sets sail for a new life in Egypt following the tragic death of her parents. There is adventure, romance, and a dash of mystery, all wrapped up in a book with a cover that could hang in museums.

One of my favorites of the year so far.

This book has it all! Historical fiction, fantasy, romance and mystery. I really enjoyed reading about Egypt and historical artifacts. I always love a strong female lead…even though Inez could be quite clueless. She walks a fine line between fearlessness and naivety. All of this and I still found her so entertaining! And Whit…so rugged but also endearing. This book was a grand adventure! I hope the author turns this into a series.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an advanced release copy in exchange for an honest review.