I was so excited to read What the River Knows after reading and loving Together We Burn by the author last year. Ibañez is such a fantastic storyteller, and this mix of romance, adventure, and intrigue captivated me from the very first page.

The story follows Inez, a young woman from Argentina, who has recently learned that her parents died while in Egypt. Traveling to Egypt to meet her uncle, Inez is determined to discover what happened to her mother and father. I love Inez. She’s so determined and stubborn, and her love for her parents is as big as her personality. She is a force to be reckoned with, and though she isn’t as savvy as she thinks she is, she more than makes up for it in gumption, bravery, and devotion.

The story delves into interesting Egyptian history, especially in relation to Ancient Egypt, Cleopatra, and her tomb. It was so fascinating, as was the world-building in general. Ibañez transports the reader to 19th-century Egypt, from the bustling city of Cairo to a long journey on the Nile to an expansive archeological dig in a remote region of the country. It’s all vividly presented and rich in detail.

As the story deals with Egyptologists and others who have invested interests in unearthing rare artifacts, themes about the effects of colonialism and the theft of culturally important artifacts are strong and become major points of contention for a variety of characters. These themes, as well as themes of identity, truth, and honor, are subtly woven throughout the story as Inez becomes more and more immersed in the dangerous mystery of her parents’ deaths.

In Egypt, Inez is often accompanied by Whit, a young British man who works for her uncle. I adored Whit! Like Inez, he is a layered and complex character, and there’s an air of mystery about him that makes him all the more appealing. And the romance!! It is a slow-burning, forbidden romance with humor, tons of sexual tension, and some super swoon-worthy scenes! The banter between the pair is perfection, though their relationship is riddled with obstacles. I loved them together, and though their romance wasn’t the main focus of the story, it was a definite highlight for me.

I thought this was a fantastic read. It’s exciting and suspenseful, and the magical elements are as intriguing as the mystery. With richly developed world-building and characterization and brilliant storytelling, it is gripping and thought-provoking and thoroughly enjoyable. And that ending? I have no words because I AM STILL SPEECHLESS! I need the next book ASAP!

Special thanks to Wednesday Books and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of the book. All thoughts are my own.

I received this book from the publisher and NetGalley in exchange for a review.

This book pulled me in on the premise, a mystery in Egypt with a sheltered woman searching for answers and an honorable rogue, and the Mummy vibes. For the most part it delivered. Inez is an excellent lead, naive and brave and angry, making huge mistakes but throwing herself into situations for those she loves. The rest of the characters aren't as fleshed out as I'd have liked, unfortunately. And that's the issue I had with the book. The pacing felt off and so some character decisions made little sense. The slight romance was obvious but also felt like something was missing.

This is clearly being set up as a series, because the ending rushed and then ended HORRIBLY. It's not enough to make me drop my rating, but im annoyed.

Overall, I enjoyed it, except the last 15%. But I'd have liked to see more development in plot, pacing, and characterization. It would have made the ending less jarring.

3.5 stars.

I picked up What The River Knows because I saw it compared to The Mummy and Death on the Nile, and I think it does give those vibes. It’s a fun YA historical fiction/romance novel with some fantasy elements, set in Egypt in the late 1800s.

Inez Olivera has grown up in Argentina, but her parents spend half the year in Egypt without her, involved in archaeological expeditions with her uncle. When she receives a letter notifying her that her parents are presumed dead, she travels to Egypt to find out what happened to them. When she arrives, her uncle and his infuriatingly handsome hired man, Whit, attempt to send her straight back to Argentina—but Inez is determined to stay and take part in their search for Cleopatra’s tomb.

This book was really fun. I found Inez to be a likable protagonist, and I also found the slow-burn romance in this book to be compulsively readable. And a good thing, too, because the romance felt like the main focus of the plot.

Unfortunately, other elements of the plot—the search for Cleopatra’s tomb, the tension between archaeologists and those intent on profiting off the sale of Egyptian artifacts, and the mystery of Inez’s parents—felt unfocused and not fully fleshed out. I would have liked to see the author lean more into the fantasy element of the story too, really showing the impact that the presence of ancient magic has on the world at large.

I also wish I’d known going in that this is not a standalone novel. It wasn’t until over 90% of the way through the book that it dawned on me that there were a lot of loose ends that were not going to be tied up. I think the story could have been a little stronger if just a few elements of the story had come to some sort of conclusion.

Overall I felt this book could use some edits but was still a very fun, enjoyable read.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the advanced reader copy!

Content notes: some strong language; innuendo, but no sex; some gun violence.

This was a beautiful, mysterious, magical, intriguing story!

•I loved the setting! -Egypt and the tombs!
•I enjoyed the historical element - the history of Cleopatra and the current social issues of 1884 Egypt
•The magic element was fun, made sense, and was easy to understand
•Inez, the FMC, is strong, smart, stubborn, curious and creative
•Whit is mysterious, morally gray, and a bit broken. He's also a charming flirt. AND he's so secretive and I just NEED ANSWERS.
- all of the characters in this book were fantastic!
•this story definitely gives The Mummy vibes and a bit of Death on the Nile
•There's mystery and murder and betrayals and "who can she really trust?!"
•THERES ALSO A CLIFFHANGER ENDING

Absolutely enjoyed this story and can't wait for the sequel!!
Content is pretty consistent with the YA label - there's murder but its not overly gruesome, there is mild language through-out, mostly said by our MMC, including F words scattered here and there. I wish there weren't in F words in YA, but that's my personal opinion.
Romance is closed-door, it includes 1 passionate make-out, perfect! I HOPE THE ROMANCE REMAINS CLOSED DOOR!

2.5 stars.

There was a lot of potential with this book, but I don't think it managed to make everything as fleshed out as it could have. Inez was a difficult character for me to like. I felt like she was too rash with her decisions and at the same time, not emotional enough. There were many events that should have, and could have, been surprising but Inez's reaction to it was basically shrugging it off and going with the flow, regardless of the shock factor. This made the story quite flat. I would have enjoyed the book more if there was more mystery to it, but I also couldn't tell if it felt like there was a lack of mystery because of the content/events that happen or because Inez just doesn't have any reaction to anything. It was just a lot of "here's what's happening and here's what you need to do" instead of Inez figuring things out herself.

I did like where the story took place and it could have made for a much more exciting story if the characters discovered things themselves instead of being handed the discoveries/scenarios. I also wasn't convinced of the budding relationship between Whit and Inez. I don't even know when they started to "flirt" with each other and their conversations were quite bland. Overall, there were good ideas in this story but they need to be built upon more.

In the beginning I was a little bored, because of all Inez’s attempts to stay in Egypt. After she got on the ship, it picked up so much.

It had fantasy elements to it, such as the magical items, but it was mainly a historical fiction, mystery novel. Overall, I really enjoyed it! I will definitely be reading the sequel.

When Inez Olivera's parents disappear and are presumed dead while excavating in Egypt, Inez is determined to find out what happened to them, even if it means traveling solo from Argentina to Egypt and becoming embroiled in a world she doesn't know much about. All she knows is that prior to his disappearance, her father sent her a golden ring imbued with magic that seems to be connected to Cleopatra and may hold answers to her parents disappearance.

While I did end up really enjoying this book and eagerly anticipating book 2, it does start out incredibly slowly - the first 30% or so is quite a bit of set up and a lot of time is spent on Inez's travel to Egypt as well as character introductions. I'm ultimately glad that I stuck with it but it took me much longer to read than usual due to the pacing.

Once it got going and we were in Egypt and in the area they were excavating, the plot definitely picks up and is a little bit of a whirlwind until the end! And of course the cliffhanger that this ends on has me already ready for the next book.

I think what this book does really well is explore relationships - especially difficult relationships. The relationships between Inez and multiple family members are not easy or straightforward - for either Inez or the readers. And the relationship between Whit and Inez is complicated to say the least!

Thank you to St. Martin's Press/Wednesday Books and Netgalley for the eARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Inez learns of her parents deaths and decides to travel alone to Egypt to meet with her uncle and determine what really happened. She finds a friend and ally in her uncle’s employee Whit, though can’t fully give him her trust either. She is impulsive and it often gets her into problems she can’t get herself out of. Lies and betrayal plague her journey, and she still has much to learn.

Nothing really happens for the first 25% except character intros. The middle 50% was interesting learning how the magic worked and exploring down the Nile, as well as exposing colonialism. I did really enjoy the story development, though I began to anticipate what was coming, and didn’t think Whit’s POV was necessary. The last 25% was one twist after another and began to feel contrived, especially with <spoiler>Elvira thrown in and promptly discarded<\spoiler>.

The climax was rushed and not resolved at all, leading to a huge cliffhanger. I don’t want to remove stars just because it has a cliffhanger, but this did not feel like an ending, every plot point was left wide open as though the author ran out of time and just slapped an epilogue on. Of course I want to read the second to see what happens next, but am mad about it.

I was going to give it 4 stars, though the writing was subpar and leaned heavy on dialogue, and made me wonder if the final copy will be better edited. I settled on 3.5 stars, but may round it higher or lower in a few days depending on how strongly I still feel about the ending.

Thank you to Wednesday Books and NetGalley for providing this eARC for my honest opinion.

This was a little slow going for me in the beginning, but once The Elephantine entered the picture I was hooked. Every time it felt like it was slowing down again, boom, twist.

I typically don’t like historical fiction but I adored the setting, and definitely got The Mummy vibes from it.

I’m going to be really upset if Whit makes me hate him in the sequel, Inez is a badass even if she is a little impulsive, and Isadora kind of terrifies me.

Cannot wait to read the sequel!

Looking for your next YA fantasy fix? What the River Knows is the book for you!

I always loved Ancient Egypt growing up, and this book created such a lush and immersive Egyptian experience. I really loved the magic system, and I would have loved to seen it explored more.

There were a lot of familial, friendly, and romantic relationships explored in this book, and they all felt very real.

Whit is my newest book boyfriend! He had me swooning the whole time.

My biggest complaint about this book is our main character, Inez. Everyone around her (and herself included) talked about how smart and clever she was, but she was lowkey dumb when trying to understand all the secrets her family had in Egypt and the mysteries she encountered. For her to be 19 and considered so smart by herself and peers, I felt like she was too juvenile and and headstrong to pick up on the actual clues around her.

Otherwise, I loved this book and can’t wait for the sequel. Thank you for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review!

Rating: 4.5 stars rounded down

What the River Knows by Isabel Ibanez takes us into the world of 1884, where two unlikely souls find one another.

Will Inez find what she's looking for?

Inez Olivera
Inez Olivera is coming to Egypt to fully understand what happened to her parents as she doesn't believe what she has been told. This young woman is bright and has her whole life in front of her. Yet she has followed in her parents' footsteps to Egypt, despite the fact that she probably shouldn't. I liked Inez from the moment I read the first chapter, and I was rooting for her throughout the entire thing. Inez is stubborn and doesn't want to conform to what society thinks a young woman should do. She is a welcome sight from the normal historical viewpoint of what a lady must do. I hope that she knows what she is doing from here on out.

Whit Hayes
Whit Hayes is an associate of Inez's uncle, and he has been told to stay away from Inez. However, his big problem is Inez turns up everywhere he looks, and then the uncle tells him to keep an eye on her. I love seeing from Whit's viewpoint and how he has to deal with some of the things that he's been hired to do. The big thing for me is that I feel bad for him as he doesn't seem like he wants to lie to the people whom he views as his friends, but it seems like that is what he has to do. I'm just worried about how big of a role he actually does play in all of this and if Inez can see it coming before it does.

The Story
Inez Olivera decides to go to Egypt on a whim to be face-to-face with her uncle and demand answers. Easier said than done from what Inez has found out. I love her determination to find out what has really been going on for the past few years since her parents came to Egypt without her. Throughout, I was seething mad for Inez and was rooting for her and crying with her. Basically, I felt so many emotions while reading this story. Another thing I felt was how cool the magic system that Ms. Ibanez created for this story was. I loved everything about it.

Five Stars
My rating for What the River Knows by Isabel Ibanez is five stars, and I'm recommending it to anyone who loves to read historical fantasy. Another big reason why I'm recommending it is because I do get big The Mummy vibes from this amazing book. Of course, the movie I'm referring to is the 1999 film. Plus, the magic system is great, and the subtle romance kicked in there was fantastic. Ms. Ibanez, I loved everything about this book, and please continue writing as I love your work.

I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

Thank you for dropping by! I hope you enjoyed this review of What the River Knows by Isabel Ibanez.

Until the next time,
Karen the Baroness

If you would like to see other reviews like this one, check out Baroness Book Trove.

Okay, so I'll start this off by saying that my expectations for this book were like, ridiculously high. I'm talking knocked out of the park, clears my skin, wins me the lottery high. I mean the comps are The Mummy meets Death on the Nile--there has literally never been a more perfect premise for me. Unfortunately, and this is really a me problem, but I don't know that the book itself could have ever been able to live up to what I had in my mind, and my reading experience suffered a bit for it.

The book follows Inez, an Argentinian girl who has recently found out that her parents have died in Egypt. They spent the majority of their time there with Inez's archaeologist uncle, who Inez barely knows. When Inez receives a mysterious ring from her father that is shrouded in magic, she sets out for Egypt on her own to find out what really happened to her parents. Cue the adventure, deception, and a love connection.

I found this book to be an enjoyable one. It took me a little while to get into it, but once I did, I felt compelled to continue reading, especially once they arrived on Philae and started getting into the archaeological stuff. The plot was fast paced, which kept the story moving, though at times it felt like some plot points and characters weren't fully fleshed out. This also ties into the relationship between Inez and Whit. I love a good hearted rogue as much as the next gal, and I enjoyed Whit as a character. I know he's being set up to have more of a reveal in the next book, but I kind of wish I had gotten to know a little more about him in this one, and at times the relationship felt a little rushed and needed some more development. I enjoyed seeing some real historical figures show up, and the subplot surrounding Cleopatra was interesting to me. I wanted everyone to succeed, and I knew I was invested when I started yelling at Inez to get herself together and realize she was being lied to.

And speaking of being lied to. THAT ENDING. I'll just say this about it: I'm stressed, and I'm mad that I'm going to have to wait so long for a sequel. And that's that on that.

Something I found that I didn't really love was the use of magic. Yes, I know it played a pivotal role in leading Inez to what her uncle was seeking, but I almost feel like there could have been another solution for that, and that otherwise I didn't find the magic to be that integral a part of the story. I'm thinking it will probably come into play a little more in the next book, but for now I'm left feeling like it was a little lacking. I also didn't love the use of "the f word" throughout the book. I know this word was used back then, but it almost felt jarring seeing it used here and took me out of the story a little. There was also one...slightly steamy scene? There was no sex, and it was all very vague, but I don't know that I would purchase it for my 9th grade library (especially with the book police breathing down our throats).

Overall, I enjoyed this. Anything dealing with Ancient Egypt, especially if you compare it to The Mummy, is going to get me every time. Unfortunately this isn't a new favorite, but I still think it's a worthy addition to your collection if the premise interests you.

3.5 stars rounded up to 4. Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

★★★★★ - 𝐛𝐨𝐨𝐤 𝐫𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐰
What the River Knows by Isabel Ibañez
Book 1 - Secrets of the Nile duology
༘Spoiler free ༘
⭐️4.75/5
🌶️
Young Adult, Historical Fantasy, Adventure
Dual POV
➳ 🔮 magical realism
➳ 💘 rivals to lovers
➳ ❤️‍🔥 slow burn
➳ 🕸️ web of lies
➳ 🏺 archaeology
➳ 🔍 mystery

✨ “Everything was replaceable, but this chance? It was a once-in-a-lifetime kind of opportunity. I snatched it with both hands.“ ✨
A delicious blend of mystery, secrets, history, magic and romance served up in an Egyptian setting with a side of plot twists and betrayals.

📚📚📚

It the opulent world of 19th-century Buenos Aires, Inez is a privileged Bolivian-Argentinian heiress, who seemingly has it all. Yet, she longs to be across the ocean in Egypt with her archaeology obsessed parents, who frequently leave her behind. When tragedy strikes, Inez is left as the sole inheritor of her parents’ immense wealth.
Overcome with grief and curiosity surrounding her parents death, Inez embarks on a journey to Cairo, armed with her sketchpads and mysterious golden ring from her late father. Her quest takes a mystical turn as the ancient magic bound to the ring pulls Inez into a world of secrets.
To solve the mystery, Inez must harness the ancient magic, uncover the truth about her parents past, or risk becoming a pawn in a larger and more perilous game.

❧✧･ﾟ: *✧･ﾟ:*❦*:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ✧❧

“What the River Knows” carves its niche by giving us a blend of historical, magical, and romantic elements within an Egyptian setting. Ibañez excels at creating a sense of mystery and hitting us with plot twists. The magical system is tied to ancient artefacts creating a sense of archaeological enchantment.*More notes on the magic system in my “Likes” section.* Like other YA Fantasy novels, we have a strong and independent protagonist. She is determined, resourceful, and sometimes to her own demise fiercely stubborn.
You will feel the Nile come to life with Ibañez ability to conjure a fully realised-Egypt with her words. This book pulls you in with every sense. You will smell the scent of magic, and taste the flavours of Egyptian dining. You will feel the clothes worn by Inez, and hear the sounds as you travel along the Nile.
Ibañez delivers a feast of a reading experience, and I devoured every word of it, leaving no crumbs.
No detail was overlooked, Ibañez provides readers with Important dates in Egyptian history that are pertinent to the story prior to the prologue. “What the River Knows” blends fantasy with a rich historical backdrop. The fusion of history and fantasy set this story apart.
This book was a sloooooooooooooow burn, and I found myself urging the characters along as the story progressed. The characters were complex and beautifully developed. I found myself grateful any time we received a chapter from Whit’s perspective.

The search for truth and identify was a heavily expressed theme in this story. As well as the effects of colonialism and the repression of native cultures and rights. My heart ached for the Egyptian people. The protection of artefacts, and who they truly belong to also weighed heavily on my mind whilst reading this. Do they belong in a museum? Who makes the money off these items and the museum? Does it go back to the native people, or is it stolen by the oppressors?

The ending of this book … the massive cliffhanger… has left me eagerly awaiting the sequel. I thought the plot twists throughout the story were shocking, but I audibly gasped when I read the massive betrayal at the end. From 74% on this book was running full speed and I couldn’t tear my eyes away from the pages.

10/10 Would recommend this read to anyone who has a love for mystery, fantasy, history, archaeology, magic, slow burns, and plot twists galore.

✧･ﾟ: *✧･ﾟ:* *:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ✧

💖
LIKES:
⋆🔮 Spellcasters in the past would create magic with rare plants and ingredients, and the spark of energy given off by this magic would cling to surrounding objects leaving an imprint of the spell. People no longer perform magic, the knowledge long lost. Ancient practices were forgotten. The magical energy leftover in objects from those ancient Spellcasters would sometimes transfer upon contact with someone or something else. Artefacts for destroyed & hidden by organisations that specialise in hunting down magic, and many of this old artefacts were buried and forgotten.
⋆ 🧩 The mystery and plot twists were next level. I was left in suspense and trying to solve the puzzle before Inez did throughout the whole book.
⋆ 🎑 This book pulls you in with every sense. You will smell the scent of magic, and taste the flavours of Egyptian dining. You will feel the clothes worn by Inez, and hear the sounds as you travel along the Nile. <b> Ibañez delivers a feast of a reading experience, and I devoured every word of it, leaving no crumbs. </b>
⋆ 🪝 The cliffhanger ending left me absolutely shook. I love a good shock and surprise.

❤️‍🩹
DISLIKES:
⋆ I would love the magic system to be more deeply explored, but think that might be part of the focus for the next book.
⋆ The cliffhanger is a like and a dislike, while I love a surprise… I also seek the resolution in the second book.

**Fantasy Scoring**
Worldbuilding ➷ ✅ 5/5
Foreshadowing ➷ ✅ 4.5/5
Plot ➷ ✅ 5/5
Relationships ➷ ✅ 4.5/5 (I’m hoping they are further developed in the next book)

Thank you to the Isabel Ibañez, St. Martins Press, Wednesday Books and NetGalley for the opportunity to provide my honest opinion on the ARC of this book.

This was my first Isabel Ibañez novel and it didn’t disappoint!

Blurbed as for fans of The Mummy, I knew I had to read this one. And it definitely has similar elements - Egypt, treasure hunting, secrets, magic, and falling in love amidst the chaos of it all.

Inez is a headstrong, determined woman in the 19th century - she will not be deterred from finding out what happened to her parents, who are assumed to be dead. She travels from Buenos Aires to Cairo, only for her uncle and guardian to try and immediately send her back home, via his right hand man, the very handsome and endlessly frustrating Whitford Hayes.

What follows is a whole lot of adventure, intrigue, secrets, and near death experiences. Inez’s initial feelings of frustration with Whit begin to grow into something else, even as she realizes everything she thought she knew was wrong. It’s the perfect fun, adventurous read, especially if you enjoy Egypt and lore and finding love amongst peril. I can’t wait for book two!

The history of Egypt is my personal Roman Empire, so going into What the River Knows, I knew I was going to love it – but it entirely blew me away. Inez Olivera was the perfect heroine – feminine and of society, but also brave and adventurous. And Whit! What a dreamboat. There was history, romance, adventure, and twists and turns along the way. What the River Knows was a 5 star read for me that kept me wanting more as soon as I finished.

4.8 / 5.0 Captivating and heartbreaking, this story will hold the attention of YA reader and adults like.

The characters are deeply flawed and yet essential to the story in every way. I especially enjoyed how tropes and themes, such as enemies to lovers (but not spicy) and dark academia, respectively, were used to create tension and stakes that carried throughout the book. I am also a big fan of the entire mystery and the author’s disapproval for how Egypt was stripped of her identity, freedom, and culture in the late 1880s.

Overall, this was fantastic and one of my favorite reads this year. The book ends on a significant cliffhanger and so I will be keeping my ears open for news of the next book in the series.

Until Next Time,
MC

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for access to this eARC for my honest review. I absolutely devoured this.

This book was so much more than I expected! The historical aspects of Egypt mixed with the hunt for ancient artifacts gave The Mummy vibes, and I loved it so much! This world was so fantastically immersive, and the storytelling was wonderfully done. The characters were intriguing, and you never quite knew who to trust. I really enjoyed our FMC, Inez. She was incredibly brave and stubborn. The slow burn with Whit almost killed me, but their chemistry and the buildup were so worth it! The number of twists and turns this story took throughout was incredibly thrilling and kept you on the edge of your seat. And speaking of plot twists, I was not expecting that cliffhanger ending. This was quite literally an adventure that takes you through all the emotions and leaves you absolutely baffled by the end.

Inez Olivera is a high society lady in 19th century Buenos Aires. She lives with her aunt and cousins as her parents spend half their year in Egypt. Since Inez was small she has begged every year to go with them and was turned down. One day a package arrives from her father containing a mysterious golden ring. As soon as she wears it magic rushes through her and shows her a vision of a beautiful woman. But with this package is a solicitor who tells her her parents have disappeared and declared dead. Desperate for answers Inez travels to Cairo to get them from her maternal uncle, who is now her guardian, and who worked with her parents. When she arrives she finds the magic is leading her to a secret kept hidden for over 2000 years, and is tied to her parents disappearance.

When I started this book I was under the impression it was a standalone read, but with a cliffhanger like that it can't be. Unfortunately though I know nothing about the second book. That being said, I very much enjoyed this book. The atmosphere of high society in Cairo mixed with the race of Egyptologists trying to uncover a hidden tomb was well written. I was drawn in as I myself love ancient Egyptian history. And Inez was a great character to read. She was smart, talented, and sympathetic. I did feel for her when the twist came near the end and am a bit worried about what will happen next. Despite everything I still feel like she can't trust anyone, but will have to wait for the next book to see. Can't wait.

Rating 4 stars
*I received a review copy from NetGalley for my voluntary and honest review

I really enjoyed this! I've read a lot of YA fantasy/historical fantasy and after a while the plots tend to all start to sound alike. What the River knows was unique and beautifully written! I really loved the main character, Inez. I found her to be a likable, smart, and capable heroine. The plot itself seemed a little basic so that was a little disappointing, but the other elements of the book (Egyptian setting, magical elements, archeology, likeable heroine) made up for the lack of intriguing plot. My overall enjoyment of the book coupled with the huge cliffhanger will definitely have me picking up the sequel when it comes out!

Look, when a book's dedication offers a hat-tip to one of your favorite fantasy authors, Rebecca Ross, you know you are in for a treat!

Ibanez's 19th century Secrets of the Nile duology book 1 was a smashing adventure and five star read for me. Her descriptive writing of the architecture, history/culture, FOOD, and people of Egypt was so transportive! From bustling Cairo scenes, to a long river boat journey on the Nile, to camping at archaeological dig sites searching for the lost tomb of Cleopatra, every scene was full of fast-paced dialogue, explosive adventures, and slow burn forced proximity romance. Inez is such a plucky, headstrong young heroine whose naivety often gets her into compromising situations that her guardian's begrudging assistant Whit must come to her aid. Whit's smirks, banter, and charm are smoldering and I fell so hard for this morally grey hero and truly adored his quick POV chapters at the end of each segment. Inez's growth arc was painful as she attempt to solve the disappearance of her parents, but I adored her curiosity, quick thinking, and magical capabilities. The TWISTS, jaw-dropping reveals, and cliffhanger ending have me aching for Book 2! I also appreciated the character diversity and author's inclusion of Abdullah's perspective on the dig team; there was appropriate commentary on colonialism and the important preservation of Egypt's treasures from the plundering and lotting of other nations. Overall, this book delivered on it's promise to immolate The Mummy plus Death on the Nile and I am so happy I received an advanced copy from NetGalley and St. Martin's Press.