Not to be dramatic but I am the most impatient person in the world and the cliffhanger/plot twist absolutely killed me, realizing that this book isn't even our yet and now I have to wait even longer for the second one is just... painful.
This book had a great balance of historical fiction mixed with fantasy, adventure and romance; the atmosphere felt immersive and electric like I was really in nineteenth century Egypt for the first time. The mystery kept me on my toes while providing depth to the characters, some may appear as a friend or a foe or they may be both or the opposite (I was wary of a few and was proven right, that part I enjoyed too). Inez was multidimensional, as feisty and stubborn as she was she was also soft and scared, dealing with the grief of her parents yet courageously traveled to another country to find answers, it was easy to root for her as well as sympathize with her. One of my favorite parts was the will-they-won't-they romance of Inez and Whit, their banter was where they shined their snark, honesty, and the push and pull throughout the book continuously left me thinking that a I was going to get a "heroine doesn't get the guy in the end" storyline but Isabel Ibanez did not disappoint at all (that ending though was ROUGH I was reeling). Definitely one of my favorite reads this year, thank you St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for this ARC, all the stars to What the River Knows!
This review is also posted on my Goodreads:https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/5839790006

What the River Knows by Isabel Ibanez was a wonderful read. I was absolutely enchanted by the depictions of Egypt, and I loved the historical fantasy mystery aspects as well.

Inez was one outstanding character: independent, mischievous, brave, intelligent. Whit was very interesting also, and I really hope we get inside his head more in the next book.

While I thoroughly enjoyed this book, a couple things didn't completely work for me. The pacing itself felt inconsistent. Sometimes we'd be zipping along and then it felt like we came to a standstill. I really would have liked more of Whit's perspective, so again, I hope that'll be the case in the sequel.

Speaking of sequels, I thought this was a stand-alone, but I am pretty intrigued to see what is going to happen next. I need some revelations!

***I voluntarily read and reviewed an Advance Reader Copy generously provided by the publisher via NetGalley.***

I'm pretty sure it has been said but I'll say it again. If you are a fan of the movie The Mummy you'll absolutely love this book. There is all the action, adventure, and romantic tension similar to the movie. I loved how the a author included a few historical figures and events into the story. It helped in building the picture of what Egypt was facing at the time. This book is a fantasy but the magic is subtle. I think subtlety of the magic made the story connect with me quickly. The characters though are the main attraction for me. Absolutely love Tio Ricardo and Whit! They made the story for me. They are characters full of depth and Whit more so than Tio Ricardo I'd say is morally grey. This definitely was a fast read for me and just couldn't put it down. As the book ended in a cliffhanger I'll be desperately anticipating the next installment!!

This book was captivating right from the start! I loved the blend of historical fiction and Egyptian mythology throughout the story. The magic in this story was well done and I enjoyed the plot and mystery. My one knit pick was that at times the pacing felt slow, but overall a great book!

I was hooked from the first page. And the twist on the last page has me DESPERATE for another book to be announced.

The blend of mythology, magic, mystery, drama and romance throughout was done so well. The tension (plot and romantic) was perfection. I loved these characters, I loved the surprises that caught me off guard until the very last page, and I loved the setting throughout Egypt and through time.

This is one of those books that somehow comes to life, and I did not want to leave my immersion in the fictional world. Can’t wait to read more.

Thanks to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for the ARC.

I love Egyptian culture and have always been fascinated with it. This was a wonderful book of magic , adventure, and great characters.

I loved this one!! It’s so good! I highly recommend. I loved the setting the most, it brought me back to my college days studying anthropology.

3.5

I really enjoyed this one. I was a little nervous to read this one because it seemed so out of my comfort zone. This book had major Indiana Jones vibes. This one kept me on the edge of my seat the whole time. I highly suggest this one.

Loved loved LOVED this book! Huge thank you to the publishers and to Netgalley for giving me the opportunity to read this e-arc! This is my first Isabel Ibañez book, and I’m so excited now to go and read all her other books as I wait for the sequel to What the River Knows. The Mummy is one of my favorite movies ever and Inez and Whit came loaded with Evelyn and Rick vibes from their very first scene together, so I was fully hooked early on, and I stayed hooked through the rolling, banter- and tension-filled adventures that followed.

If you are looking for a refreshing and Jules Verne type of experience. Then this book is up your ally from mystery to history this book has it all. It is easily in one of my top 10 of the year, a must-read for any adventure and history buff.

It's a joy to witness Inez's journey of discovery in Egypt as she seeks to learn more about her parents' lives. However, the second half of the book loses some of its momentum. While exploring temples and cities remains interesting, it did lose some of the suspense. I appreciate what the author was trying to do. And it was well written. I anticipated a page turner. But it was a little more complex than that. Fine by me. I will definitely recommend this title. It’s new and different and that’s really exciting! Thanks NetGalley.

I just reviewed What the River Knows by Isabel Ibañez. #WhattheRiverKnows #NetGalley

Wonderful blend of history, adventure and romance, with a splash of magic. The perfect start to a series, and one heck of a last page and epilogue. I was immediately entranced with the setting, the historical atmosphere was beautifully described and immersive. I would like to understand more about the "magic" in the world, a bit more background on why and how (hopefully more in the sequel), sometimes it seemed like more of a whimsical inclusion - but I loved how Inez could feel/experience Cleopatra's life, and the "flashbacks" were some of my favorite parts of the story. Inez and Whit had great banter/chemistry from the start. You never really know who to trust, and I felt Inez's frustration intensely, and also her grief. I loved this story. I will definitely be purchasing and recommending this title in my library.

What The River Knows by Isabel Ibañez is a historical fantasy with major vibes from The Mummy! If you know me at all, then you know that I love anything and everything from the Egyptian culture. It's just so fascinating to me.

This story centers around Inez, a young woman from Argentina who wants nothing more than to be with her parents exploring all of Egypt. Unfortunately, she doesn't get the chance due to unforseen circumstances, which actually leads her into a dangerous adventure of a lifetime.

What The River Knows was such a great story from the very first page. I loved the vivid scenes that were easily created in my imagination due to the great writing! The flow and pacing were seemless. The characters were wonderful, my favorite being Whit, who was just so mysterious. The twists were executed perfectly, and it had me continuously questioning things. Loved the magic and treasure hunting aspect of it.

Overall, it was a great read, and I can't wait to see what happens next!

I enjoyed this book. I like the setting and most of the characters. I thought the plot twist was a little predictable but I have no ending what the ending means. I will continue on with this series because I think Whit is a very interesting character. I found him way more interesting than Inez. She was bland and predictable even though she was written to be anything but. All in all, enjoyable read. Solid 3 stars.

Such a stunning book!!

I want more from this author ASAP. I felt so immersed in the story, and it usually takes quite a bit for that to happen for me, especially with historical fantasy.

I loved everything from the setting, the writing style/descriptions, the push and pull between the MCs.

4.5 stars. Inez has grown up constantly missing her parents, as they spend half the year or more in Egypt, leaving her behind in Buenos Aires and forbidding her to visit them. When she receives news that they are missing, presumed dead, she embarks on a secret journey to Cairo to question her uncle and find out exactly what happened. A magic ring will throw a wrench in Inez's straightforward plans, and a handsome rogue will frustrate her progress at every turn, but she will insist on being included, no matter the risk or the danger to her person. Inez is having visions of an ancient woman's life; can these vignettes lead her to discover what really happened to her parents?

Oh man, this was my first Isabel Ibañez book, and I am definitely hooked on her writing. The characters! The action! The TENSION! It's all perfect. Inez is a fantastically rendered character, and the story is fast-paced and gripping from the very start. The romance elements are *chef's kiss* and I seriously cannot wait for the second book in this series — THE EPILOGUE...!!!! Ugh, I'm going to perish in the interim.

Anyways, you should read this book if you enjoy historical fiction, magical realism, romance, strong female characters, mystery, YA, or fiction in general. Think I nailed most of you in there. It's just such a fun book that's jam-packed with little somethings for everyone. Please read it so we can speculate on what the last page means!! I'm dying.

THANK YOU to Isabel Ibañez, Wednesday Books, and NetGalley for my advance digital and physical copies.

Synopsis-
Inez lives in Argentina with her aunt and two cousins, while her parents work in Egypt most of the year. One day, she receives news that her parents are dead. She makes her way to Egypt to find out what happened. While on this journey, Inez runs into trouble, and her feelings.

Review-
It took me longer than expected to finish this book (this is due to life, not the book in any way), and I wouldn’t have had it any other way. Reading this slowly allowed me to really take it in and enjoy the journey. I have reacted so much to this book that by the end, I was just floored. “My mind is reeling” is what i said to my boyfriend - if you want to experience a book hangover, pick this up!

I really enjoyed reading and reacting to this novel, it was sincerely a wild ride of emotions. I was so caught up in it, that I forgot it was an ARC, and not only did I have to wait for the publication of this novel, but I had to wait even LONGER for the sequel.

Characters-
I enjoyed the characters - they had such strong personalities that each person jumped off the page. Inez is one of my favorite protagonists. She’s headstrong, sharp-tongued, resourceful, and practical, but can be too trusting at times.

Whit and Tío Ricardo are two characters that are hard to penetrate. Because of this, it was hard to know where I stood with each one. One moment I could be in support of them (as individuals), and in another instant, I’d be shouting “don’t trust him!”. It was really fun not knowing where they stood.

I enjoyed the camaraderie there was between the women in this novel. I grew up with stories of women cutting each other down or having snide remarks saved for one another. It’s nice to see this change in literature (and visual media).

Writing-
I think this book is a bit on the slower-paced side, and that’s totally fine! It works for this book. Ibañez clearly did her homework on Egypt and its history - I could feel the admiration for the country and its people on the page. The novel has beautiful descriptions and fantastic tidbits of Egypt and its history throughout.

In What the River Knows, we deal with serious elements (e.g. death, trust, robbing ancient artifacts), but it is tempered by comedic relief in the form of sarcasm and quips between Inez and Whit.

The writing and story propelled me to keep going. The rivals-to-lovers trope is pretty heavy in this one, and although I’m not usually a romance girly, I couldn’t stop swooning over Inez and Whit’s interactions.

The story is primarily told from Inez’s point of view, although there are a handful of chapters that include snippets of Whit’s perspective.

Plot-
The plot was great! This novel had me on the edge of my seat.

Do I recommend-
Yes! If anyone wants to escape reality, go through a romantic rollercoaster and an archeological magical journey, this is it!

Read if you liked...
What the River Knows is advertised as a combination of “The Mummy” and Death on the Nile and it lives up to that. Read this if you like having your heart tossed around with anticipation, innocent romance, and unreliable characters.



Thank you NetGalley and Wednesday Books for an advanced digital copy in exchange for my honest review.

I liked the premise of this book. It had great potential, just wasn't executed quite right. I felt like the magic element needed a bit more. It felt like an afterthought. The romance felt weird and forced. It just didn't draw me in like I hoped it would. The cliffhanger does have me intrigued for the following books though!

When Inez Olivera receives word that her parents were lost in the desert in Egypt and presumed dead, she sets off to find out what really happened to them.

This book is packed full of adventure with unexpected twists and turns. It was a delight to read. Every time I thought I knew what was happening, things changed. It was absolute chaos, in the best way.

Magic is largely forgotten in this world, but lingers in objects. It can latch onto people who handle the objects and this happens to Inez with an ancient ring her father sent to her with no explanation. I found the magic system really intriguing and love all the random magical artifacts throughout the story.

Inez is a captivating main character. She's curious, stubborn, and a bit naive. I found her so easy to root for but was also pulling my hair out when she would make stubborn, rash decisions that placed her in danger.

I found the other characters compelling as well. Whit is an infuriating, enticing mystery. Ricardo is gruff, Isadora is intriguing, Abdullah is ever the scholar, and Elvira is the best cousin. And the pining between Whit and Inez had me swooning! Their chemistry and banter is exactly what I look for in romances.

And OH. MY. GOSH. that cliffhanger at the end. I was stunned. I can't wait for book 2!

Thank you to NetGalley, Wednesday Books, and Isabel Ibañez for the advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.

What the River Knows is a fun romp of a romantic adventure set in Egypt during the height of the Egyptian archeological craze. In an alternative world where magic is real, Olivera defies her family and travels to Egypt from Argentina in search of answers as to what caused her parents' deaths and why they chose to spend half of her life on the other side of the world away from her in the sands of Egypt. Armed only with a letter and a ring with a cartouche of Cleopatra, Olivera quickly finds herself immersed in a world of ancient magic, tomb raiders, and deception.

As a lover of all things Ancient Egypt, I thought the magical realism was a unique touch, although I hope in future books in the series, as I assume there will be since this one ended on a major cliffhanger, that the rules of the magic are expanded upon. Does everyone have access to the magic or is it only for the elite. Is Olivera unique in her ability to connect with magical artifacts or can anyone experience the past as she does? I definitely liked the blooming relationship between Olivera and Whit and think that that too, can be greatly expanded upon and fleshed out.

Overall a fun enemies to lovers romance with high stakes adventure and a murder mystery to boot. Highly recommended for fans of cozy fantasy romance. I look forward to reading more in this series and finding out more about this unique world that the author has created.

Huge thank you to NetGalley, Isabel Ilbanez, and Wednesday Books for an advanced reader's copy in exchange for an honest review.