This story grabbed my attention right away as you’re whisked off to Egypt in search of Cleopatra’s final resting place. With alligators along the Nile, and magical lost artifacts, this story was so much fu!! I could easily picture it in theaters!!
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this advanced copy. My opinions are my own.

Thank you NetGalley for this ARC! I fell in love with What the River Knows, and with Inez and Whit. There was something so honest about Ibanez’s writing, and she really made 19th century Egypt come alive for me. The book ends on a cliff hanger, which I was not expecting!! I look forward to the sequel, I can’t wait to see what happens next.

With the description saying is a cross between The Mummy and Death on the Nile, it was impossible for What the River Knows not to grab my attention, I have been obsessed with Ancient Egypt since forever and it’s so good to find books about the subject.

What the River Knows was exceptional in every way, the characters were on point, Inez is so strong willed, and resourceful even at times where women had very little power she found ways to get what she wanted and I admire her so much for it, Whit was the perfect bad boy, always flirting, drinking and charming everyone, he was the perfect counterpart for Inez

But the plot was what charmed me, the first half was what truly made it shine, I loved seeing Inez discovering Egypt and trying to learn more about the lives her parents had led, but the second half of the book dragged a little bit, while it was interesting seeing the temples and cities I felt it became repetitive after a while, the magic system was never truly explained, I would’ve loved learning more about it and maybe it would have made the book stand out more but by the time the book ended it felt like it lost the shine and magic of the start of the book and things just dragged until I just wanted to finished it already.

Overall it was a nice book, it has more potential but hopefully Isabel will come through in the second book.

Thank you so much, st. martins press / wednesday books, for sending me an arc in exchange for an honest review

Wow! What an amazing historical fantasy.
This is definitely the genre of the year.
19 year old Inez has always wanted to go to Egypt. The land where her parents reside for half the year. She desperately wanted to tag along with her parents all these years. Except this year, she receives a letter one day with condolence that they have passed.

Month have passed and Inez has traveled independently to Egypt. It is an exciting time in history for Egyptian archaeology. She first encounters Whit, her uncles assistant. Their chemistry and bantering are fun to read and the chemistry is off the charts.

However secrets have made Inez question many things. How did her parents die? What secrets are her uncle keeping? This is a journey in discovering Cleopatra’s tomb and what secrets lies ahead.

Mummy vibe but no resurrected mummy here!
There are many plot twist and I discovered there’s more to come!

I can’t believe the ending!
You know when a book is good when it evokes the right emotion in certain scenes. The betrayal. The loss. And the immense curiosity of that epilogue!

This is definitely one of my top favorite books of the yr!
Thank you netgalley for an earc and St Martin’s Publishing Group for a physical copy

I loved this book! The Egyptian setting, mystery, and action were enough to make this book amazing. Add in a slow burn romance with a secretive and aloof MMC and a determined and curious FMC, and it’s a winner for me!

Inez Olivera has lived in Argentina with her aunt and cousins her hole life while her parents leave half the year to go to Egypt and continue their archeological work with her uncle. Inez has dreamt of one day going to Egypt with her parents. When she gets the fateful news of their death with no explanation from her uncle, she is determined to find out what really happened to them. She sets off on a trip across the ocean to Egypt only to discover she is not wanted and her uncle has many secrets.

I was surprised to discover this book has fantasy elements with an ancient magic system. They are very light but it added a little extra something to the book that I really enjoyed! My only negative was that I thought the language was sometimes too modern for the time period. But honestly, I enjoyed the story so much that it didn’t bother me. I thought the plot was fast paced. The mystery was just enough to keep me guessing. The romance was so great. I loved the push and pull between both main characters. Every time they were together the chemistry just poured off the page. And THE END!!! I just can’t. I’m still processing and trying to figure out what it means!


Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for the eARC. All opinions my own.

4.5/5 🌟
Wow! What fun!
A unique story of a young woman traveling to Egypt in search of answers, but arriving only to find more questions. This was an extremely well done slow burn romance. I adored the characters and found the events keeping me on edge. I was a little discouraged to reach the end only to realize that it was the first book in what will likely be a series, instead of a stand alone. I also was disappointed that the Whit POV were very few and very short. If there’s going to be dual POV then commit to it.

However, I am hooked. The history with a sprinkle of magic was enthralling. I can’t wait for the next book and will definitely be recommending this to those who like Fantasy Romance YA/NA.

A twisty beginning to a historical fiction adventure set in 1880s Egypt. This deals heavily with the British control in Egypt as well as the unchecked tourism (resulting in desecration of cultural heritage sites), looting, and illegal antique smuggling running rampant at the time. As far as Inez (fmc) knows, her parents lost their lives in the hunt for a precious cultural heritage site that is in need of protection from such organizations, which leads her to Egypt to find out what happened. Now she’s all alone in a foreign country and doesn’t know who to trust; her parents’ end and objectives are shrouded in mystery. This reads like a prologue for the next book; the first quarters are quite slow and mainly deal with setting the stage and giving us info, the next quarter is where things get rolling and then all the action goes down near the end. I expected more of a high stakes adventure and there wasn’t too much of that, but given the way the book ends, there’s a chance the next book will be delivering on it instead. The romance is delicious; the banter between Whit and Inez was perfect and despite the barriers in their way, they can’t help but become closer, it’s a natural gravity that’s just *chef’s kiss*. Is all as it seems though??? Hehe who knows. Lastly, as someone who’s been wanting to try Egyptian food for a while, every scene where the characters ate a meal was a direct attack on my stomach, thank you, I do love foodie scenes.
Thank you to NetGalley and Wednesday Books for a copy of an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

What the River Knows follows Inez Olivera, a curious and intrepid young woman who travels to Cairo to investigate the mysterious death of her parents. She’s immediately at odds with her new guardian, Tio Ricardo, and his charming and scrappy muscle man, Whitford Hayes. Pulled by the magic lingering in the ring her father left her, Inez is led on an exhilarating, romantic, and twisty adventure through Egypt to find answers about the parents she grew up without.

This is the kind of book that reminds me of why I fell in love with reading in the first place. From start to finish, it was packed with fun and magic. Ibañez’s vivid descriptions of Cairo immersed me in city’s rich history. The characters were compelling enough to keep me glued to the page because I was desperate to know what would happen to each of them. Inez in particular was such a force to be reckoned with despite all her flaws and mistakes—I found myself attached to her immediately. I was also pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed the romance between Inez and Whit, which was perfectly beautiful and complicated and juicy with tension.

I’m so looking forward to the second book and would recommend this one to readers who want a romantic adventure filled with heart. It’s very much in the vein of those nostalgic adventure movies that brought me so much joy as a young girl, like The Mummy, Pirates of the Caribbean, Indiana Jones, etc. If you love those movies, you’ll love this book.

Thank you to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review :)

# What the River Knows (412)

This book was so hyped up on YouTube that I had to request an ARC to see what it was all about. While the premise sounded promising, I kinda of wish this had been written by Silvia Moreno-Garcia instead. Overall was okay but our main character really felt “not like other girls” and then tried to self-correct by being. We are told that she is close with her cousin, but that’s not really developed, so when that plot point becomes relevant towards the end, it lacks the emotional weight it needs. That said, there was hardly any depth for any of our characters or plot points. I felt like I was being spoon-fed how I should be feeling, which was increasingly frustrating. Inez’s uncertainty and questioning quickly became repetitive, as it felt like the same conversations were happening time and time again. Most of the plot twists are so obvious to the point where I was checking if this was a young adult novel because I could have sworn it was new adult. (I was wrong in this, and kinda of happy about that fact since it was written in such a simplistic style.) The magic system is inconsistent and seems not to make any real sense: Do only some people know about magic? Is it more prevalent in certain areas? Is this widely known? I forgot there was magic even in the book for a while, and when it popped up again, I was mildly confused.

Honestly, I wish there was an epistolary element, maybe the journals from the mom and newspaper clippings to have better context of what is happening in the politics of the area rather than just info dumping in the dialogue. Also a more consistent narrative shift, rather then changing to Whit’s perspective a handful of times.

Ah, fellow literary explorers, gather 'round as I unveil a gem from the realm of quill and parchment! With stars in my eyes and a quill in hand, I eagerly pen my thoughts about the enchanting voyage that is "What The River Knows," masterfully crafted by the wordsmith extraordinaire, Isabel Ibanez. A twinkling quasar of gratitude beams upon me, for I've been graced with a prelude to this literary treasure, ahead of its grand unveiling on October 31, 2023. Can you believe the fates aligned so divinely?

As the ancient scrolls proclaim, a book can whisk you across the globe while you lounge in the comfort of your abode, much like a magic carpet ride for the mind and soul. Prepare to be spellbound, for such was my wondrous sojourn through the tapestry of "What The River Knows." This delightful concoction of Historical Fiction, Fantasy, Mystery, and Romance forms a symphony that harmonizes with the senses of all who dare to tread its pages.

Isabel Ibanez, the literary alchemist, wielded her quill like a magician's wand, transporting me to the bustling bazaars and mystic marvels of 1800s Egypt. Through her words, the tapestries of time unfurled before me, painting scenes so vivid that I could practically smell the spices wafting through Cairo's alleys. Can you blame me for pondering whether I should secure a one-way ticket to Cairo, whisked away by the allure of this evocative tale? And lo, a unique magic system, akin to a pharaoh's treasure, was unveiled, casting an enchantment that has me eyeing even the humblest of trinkets with the hopes of savoring roses in every whiff.

Picture Inez, a woman of unyielding purpose, a heroine whose journey becomes your own. A compass pointing to the north star of your heart, urging you to root for her with every heartbeat. Oh, the tendrils of empathy that wound around my very soul! But wait, here's Whit, our charismatic yet morally enigmatic champion. Ah, how easy it was to surrender to his charms, like an oasis in the desert of my emotions.

As the Nile's current flows leisurely, so does the romance in this tale, a gentle dance that's as tantalizing as a desert mirage. A SLOOWWW burn, oh what a delightful potion, a magic elixir that caresses the senses and kindles a fire of anticipation, much like a desert sun kissing the dunes.

Behold, a cavalcade of characters parades through this narrative, each as intriguing as a cryptic hieroglyph. There's a medley of endearing souls, a chorus that enchants your spirit, while the not-so-endearing bring a storm to the desert skies. The twists in this tome? More intricate than the labyrinthine corridors of a pyramid, leaving my mind a delightful whirlwind of surprise and awe. And the crescendo, the zenith of this grand symphony—the ending! Ah, it left me thirsting like a traveler in the desert, yearning to quench my curiosity at the oasis of the sequel.

Thus, my fellow seekers of literary marvels, heed this scribe's exhortation: "What The River Knows" is an oasis of storytelling brilliance. Isabel Ibanez's sorcery has woven a tapestry that has ensnared my heart, a devotee I shall remain, forever under her captivating spell. As you embark on this odyssey, carry with you the spirit of an intrepid adventurer, and brace yourself for an expedition through a tale as bewitching as the pyramids themselves.

➸5/5 Stars

I appreciate NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for providing me with an advance copy (ARC) in exchange for my sincere review.

4.5 Stars
WHAT THE RIVER KNOWS, by Isabel Ibanez, is novel that takes place mainly in historical Egypt--blending Historical Fiction, Fantasy, Mystery/Thriller, and a bit of Romance as well.

Inez is living with her Aunt and cousins in Argentina, as her parents spend most of their time away in Egypt, doing excavations with her Uncle. Though she's longed to go with them, she's always been refused. Other than sitting around and waiting to be married off, her mind is much more progressive for a woman in the late 1800's. Due to her family's immense wealth, she is expected to remain in the mansion, learning what she considers "trivial things", like her two cousins do.

Until the last letter arrives, from her Uncle.

"My parents are dead.

After this dramatic beginning, the story REALLY takes off. Inez sneaks away to Egypt, ready to find her Uncle and hear what happened to her parents. However, her arrival is certainly not approved of for a myriad of reasons.

I loved the characters in this book! Inez's strength, intelligence, and quick wit make her the perfect main character. Enter her Uncle and his mysterious "employee", Whit, and you have a recipe for all manner of things to go wrong... or right. The atmosphere written here made me feel as if I was actually seeing ancient Egypt through the eyes of the characters. The terms, and history recounted, led more authenticity to the narrative, in my opinion.

". . . Desperation made people dangerous . . ."

Although I did find the first third or so a little "slow" to reveal any major action or details of the plot, it gave me time to see more of the large cast of characters and form opinions of my own on them. When we get to one major part of the mystery, the story takes off without pause. I was absolutely riveted on it for the entire last half or more.

Overall, one of the most unique, memorable novels I have read this year.

Recommended.

*Thank you NetGalley for the digital ARC. All opinions expressed are uniquely my own.*

Thank you to the publisher St. Martin’s Press, Wednesday Books for access to this eARC via Netgalley in exchange for my honest review!

Release date: 31 October 2023

Inez lives with her aunt and cousins in Argentina but longs to be reunited with her parents, who are treasure-hunting in Egypt. A letter from her uncle announces that her parents have gone missing and are presumed dead.
When Inez learns that her treasure-hunter parents have gone missing and are presumed dead, Inez becomes singleminded in her determination to find out what has happened to her parents. She ditches her aunt and cousins in Argentina and hops a ship to Egypt. Upon her arrival in Cairo, however, Tío Ricardo and his assistant “Whit” Hayes try to send her home. Inez refuses to abort her mission.

STRENGTHS
+ Isabel Ibañez sets her story in Egypt during the reign of Tewfiq Pasha (1879 to 1892), at a time of British occupation. The sense of time adds texture to the plot and characters.
+ Who can say no to vibes reminiscent of The Mummy and Indiana Jones? This story should, in theory, scratch that itch to be an archaeologist born out of childhood fascination with ancient Egypt.
+ The magic is easy to understand. This is low-fantasy magic that is tied nicely into the plot through Inez’s family drama and the broader political-historical struggles of Egypt.
+ The writing style is simplistic, delivers the story without distraction, and makes the story digestible.

WEAKNESSES
- I could not stop being annoyed by Inez. She recklessly gallivanted around the world by herself and then rebelled against her uncle to do whatever she wanted in a foreign country. I understand that needed to happen for the sake of the plot, but I think the author could have brought Inez to the same plot points in a different way. Maybe teen me would have cheered on headstrong Inez, but I just found her behavior to be stupid and thoughtless.
- I could have done without the romance. I cannot understand why Whit, someone experienced in the world, would go after petulant, childish Inez. I guess it was convenient.
- A lot of the book felt like filler. Inez and Whit have frequent antagonistic conversations verging on flirtation that feel copy-pasted with the same emotional beats and content over and over.
- The big reveals fall flat because no clues or foreshadowing were placed in the story beforehand. As a reader, I was robbed of feeling any tension or anticipation that might have made the payoffs bigger.

As one of my most anticipated books for the fall of 2023, I found <i>What the River Knows</i> to be one of my most disappointing reads of the year. Even the things I found to be strengths of the books like atmosphere and historical influence remained light. I wish Ibañez would have leaned more heavily into the treacherous political climate in Egypt, would have spent less time on Inez's angsty feels, and would have incorporated more action and complex intrigue into the story.

OMG, I loved it!!! I discovered Isabel Ibañez through a reel that she made about this book’s aesthetic and I was instantly hooked!
The Mummy movies are some of my all time favorites and I just knew that I had to read this.

Where do I begin??

I loved the characters, the setting, the adventure, the romance, the descriptions, everything! (Whit is my new book bf 😉)

Ancient Egypt is so fascinating and the author does such a good job of explaining it’s history and the consequences of outsiders involving themselves in that history.

The first half of the book, for me, was a very slow buildup of learning about Egypt and the politics of that time, as well as learning the complexities of the main character, Inez, and her family dynamics.
The second half of the book was so full of action and new discoveries, I couldn’t put it down!! There were several twists I didn’t see coming & the ending left me speechless.
I need the next book now, Isabel!!! lol

I highly highly recommend this book to you if you love The Mummy movies, Death on the Nile, romance, and adventure! 🤎 You won’t regret it! It comes out on October 31, 2023!

Thank you to NetGalley + St. Martin's Press for this advanced copy!

3.5 ⭐️
It’s romance mixed with mystery and kind of magic from the old centuries!

I love how the writer describes the setting and how we explore the archeologist’s site. It’s fascinating.

I honestly enjoyed the banter of the main characters. Inez and Whit. But i don’t know, i feel irritated by two of them from mid to the end of the book.

Inez with all her naiveness, and i think i need more of whit pov so atleast i could think he’s not one dimensional.
And the last thing is how could they flirt or even kissed in the middle of “chaos”?
(i keep reminding myself that this is a romantasy, so it possible to happen)

The betrayal and the excavate thing keep me reading further.

But overall, i enjoyed this book. I demand more Whit pov. And more explanation about the magic itself!

Thank you St. Martin’s Press for granted me the e-Arc

This might be my favorite book this year! The mystery and magic mixed with secrets made for an incredible combination and story. I didn’t want to put it down. I devoured it and then wanted to reread it.

I chose this book because I liked the cover, and it didn’t disappoint! I was totally immersed from start to finish.

Thanks to netgalley for the ARC!

Super interesting read! Loved the context and characters and that says a lot because this isn’t my favorite genre

I think this is what my taste would call an author glow UP.

Yes. That's just all I have for this. Yes, yes, yes. The premise is so exactly what I want to read and this time, Ibañez *delivered*. And after I kind of hated her previous book (it was completely illogical and half-assed to me), this was truly a redemption. I loved everything about this, from Inez's sheer tenacity and inability to let things be, to her mysterious love interest and the Egyptian setting, to the secrets that twisted the plot on its head continuously. My hand over heart honest to god truth is that I had the absolute BEST time reading this.

And that ending! Dear lord, there better be a sequel coming soon because I genuinely cannot remember the last time an epilogue has DEVASTATED me this badly. I need answers, damn it!

Fair warning, though, I do think readers will need to enter this with a decent amount of patience. There are a few aspects that do come across as somewhat tedious. For instance, part of the premise is she travels to Egypt by herself without permission, and the number of times her uncle tells her to go home is a *lot*.

To start things off, I just need to address Ms. Ibanez before I go any further: I don’t know if you currently are writing other books or have ideas for other books, but I am kindly asking you to please write the next book that follows this one because that cliffhanger left me questioning everything and I need more of Inez and Whit please and thank you so much! Also thank you so much to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press/Wednesday Books for the digital galley in exchange for my honest review - I cannot wait until What The River Knows comes out and I can buy a physical copy for my bookshelf to annotate!

I completely devoured this book in a matter of two days (I would have finished it faster if not for the fact I couldn’t stay up late to finish it), and I believe it will now just forever live in my brain. It has absolutely everything I could ask for and everything that I love all rolled into one story: Ancient Egypt, the 1800s, witty banter between Inez and Whit, archaeological digs, and family secrets/intrigue. You can really tell how much time was spent by the author to craft this historically accurate yet beautifully exotic time period in Egypt in the late 1800s, including mentions of famous persons from that time period in the museum/archaeology community. The fashion, the history, and the imagery are all spot on and you really feel as if you are right there with Inez as she tries to find out more about her absent parents and why they loved Egypt.

The witty banter between Inez and Whit definitely kept me laughing and reading, enjoying the progression of always butting heads to friendship to perhaps more than friends? I also love that Inez is from Argentina and Whit is British - I always fall for the ones with an accent. But again with that record-scratch of a cliffhanger at the very end, I am certain that we need more resolution and another book because it left me wanting more! If you are in the market for an adventurous quest through 1800’s Egypt full of ancient artifacts, archaeological digs, and a girl who wants to find her missing parents, then I cannot recommend this book enough - it has all of the above and so much more!

Themes/Tropes (as I see them): historical fantasy, archeology in Egypt, rivals to lovers (somewhat), complicated family dynamics, journey/quest

I wanted to like the book, but I couldn't get lost in the setting like I wanted to, and that was the main reason I wanted to read it.