This was okay. I actually started reading an eARC of this book last year but I set it aside because I couldn’t get into it. I just finished the audiobook version and so my review is based on that. The story was okay but I think the book was way too long. Inez was a little annoying and I didn’t feel like there was much chemistry between her and Whit. The pacing was slow throughout but picked up toward the end. I will read the next book because I did like the ending and I want to know what happens next.

3.5⭐️

I revisited this one much later and actually wow - I loved it this time around. I'm not sure if there was another round of edits or perhaps I just wasn't in the right mindset, but I found myself swept away by the adventure, romance, and magic of Cairo. I didn't love the magic parts - I feel like this works perfectly well as historical fiction - but everything else was awesome. Can't wait for the sequel!

Thank you to NetGalley for an earc of What the River Knows in exchange for an honest review!

So I have a complicated relationship with books that feature Egypt/Egyptian mythology.

Egypt is repeatedly viewed through a myopic lens, in which it’s only worth gazing at when we discuss its history, in particular, when we mention its once great and mighty age.
That’s not to say that every non-Egyptian author can’t have a genuine interest in these mythologies and historical legacies rooted in feelings of respect, appreciation, passion and a willingness to learn and unlearn. I mean take for example P. Djèlí Clark’s A Master of Djinn. I take trouble when we view these mythologies as stories disconnected from the actual contemporary settings they’re embedded in that we feel we can farm for over and over again.

And in What the River Knows, its respective uncritical take on ancient Egypt/19th century Egyptian society is a plot revolving around the digging up and smuggling of historical artifacts in Egypt. While the novel makes a half-hearted attempt at engaging thoughtfully with the British colonial empire, it fails to recognize that the protagonists, positioned purposefully as voices to morally root for, are also participating in the byproducts of imperialism in Egypt.

I just find it really interesting the way this author treats Egypt so eerily similar to ideas of how the West would view nature — as empty, untouched places that can be claimed. I saw another reviewer on here state, “What else was the author but a tourist?” which is a perfect encapsulation of the author’s own positionality here.

Some other qualms I have:

I think Inez and her relationship with her family members were one of the most exasperating parts of the book to read. Inez’s privileged and filtered perspective is very annoying to root for.

The main male lead was also a main to read through. Nothing about his character, personality, or relationship with Inez was charming or root-worthy.

One of the biggest weaknesses of this novel is the treatment of side characters and how they all revolve around Inez’s character in ways that make her entirely unlikeable. I also think they are so clearly framed as plot devices and add little texture to the story.

Loved it, the slow burn romance is really well done and the twists and turns kept me so intrigued. I cannot wait for the sequel.

Inez is a smart, badass, who doesn’t listen to anyone. When she decides she’s going to travel to a different country, alone, to solver her parents murder, no one can stop her, not even the handsome Whit who works for her uncle. Since they can’t get rid of her, they drag her along on their quest to find Cleopatra’s final resting place. This book was the perfect mix of political intrigue, murder mystery, and The Mummy vibes. The last 25% of this book is an amazing roller coaster, with twists and turns that even I didn’t see coming. After that cliffhanger I need the next book ASAP.

If you love history, magic and The Mummy franchise, this book is for you. When Latinx main character Inez receives a letter informing her of her parent’s disappearance and alleged death, she can’t help but wonder if there was something more to the story then what her Tio is telling her. Determined to find the truth, she sets out to Egypt, a place where her parents kept her from but spent their lives discovering and where secrets of ancient past call to her. Set when woman were seen as demure, a strong female main character take the stage forced to team up with an untrustworthy handsome criminal (who happens to be her Tios right hand man) the two face many challenges to uncover the truth of Egypt, her parents and herself.

After the death of her parents, Inez travels to Egypt to find out what happened to them. She also wants to explore this land that took her parents so often away from her.
I loved the character of Inez - she is brave, sometimes gullible, and I wanted to root for her. The adventure was well written. I also liked the magical realism touch to the story. Items are still being removed from Egypt, but many of these items have magical resonance. It felt much like Egypt was another character in the story.

Great read, thoroughly enjoyed the characters and the plot. I would love to read more by this author just because they are so descriptive and makes the story come alive!

'The Mummy' meets 'Death on the Nile'? I *had* to read! I enjoyed this book from start to finish; it was so visually detailed, the characters were layered and fascinating, and the mystery intriguing. There were some repeated cliches (such as the repeated visual description of the main male character) but it didn't take away from my overall enjoyment of the book. I did not realize it was to be a duology, and ended on quite a cliffhanger! I eagerly await the next!

I admit that it took me a bit to get into this one, but once the story got going I was invested, and the last ten percent of this book solidified it as a five star read for me (also—Whit is 100% becoming a new book boyfriend).

I experienced about five different emotions in the span of a half an hour while reading the ending. There were lots of twists and turns that kept me guessing. I was constantly questioning who to trust, and I honestly still am (looking at you, you absolute BOMBSHELL of an epilogue). The last line of this book also had me squealing and immediately wanting to read the sequel. I don’t know how I’m going to be able wait for it!!

The atmosphere is also a part of what made this book great. The descriptions of Egypt and its history were nothing short of magical. The magic itself that is present in the story is interesting and unlike anything I’ve read about before. Some of the magical objects and their “abilities” were clever and had me chuckling. Inez’s connection to magic was also really cool and I feel like it could be explored a lot more in the next book. There are also certain characters that are still shrouded in mystery that I would like to see more of (Isadora!!).

I have so many unanswered questions, especially after that cliffhanger and the epilogue. This was my first book of the author’s and it did not disappoint! I’ll be eagerly awaiting sequel news (even though this one hasn’t even released yet). I liked this so much that I may even preorder the beautiful B&N edition that was just announced 👀

This was my first book I've read by Isabel even though I own all of her books, and I was surprised at how much I enjoyed it. I am first and foremost a sucker for anything involving Egypt. It was the world building and characterization that really sucked me in. Some moments were, dare I say it, cliche, but I laughed regardless. I guess I am going to check out the other books this author has written!

Isabel Ibañez's "What the River Knows" is a captivating blend of historical fantasy and adventure that sweeps readers into the heart of 19th-century Egypt. The story follows the determined and headstrong heroine, Amaris, on a quest to uncover the truth about her parents' mysterious deaths. With rich, evocative prose and a strong sense of place, Ibañez brings the setting to life, immersing readers in the vibrant culture and mystique of ancient Egypt.

The novel shines in its world-building, with lush descriptions and well-researched historical details that ground the fantastical elements. The plot is fast-paced, filled with twists and secrets that keep you turning the pages. Amaris is a compelling protagonist—brave, flawed, and deeply human—making her journey both thrilling and relatable.

However, while the story is engrossing, some secondary characters feel underdeveloped, and the romance, though sweet, sometimes overshadows the main narrative. Despite these minor drawbacks, "What the River Knows" is a delightful read for fans of historical fiction with a magical twist.

I enjoyed this book very much. I appreciated the historical context because I love learning through fiction. The second half? I couldn't put it down. However, the first half of the book felt like it could have been much shorter. I just couldn't get into the beginning - I wasn't connecting and so it took me months to get to the halfway point (and then I finished the rest in less than a week). I will definitely be reading the final book to see how the story ends.

The world building. The writing. The characters. I am in love with every aspect of this book. The last 150 pages had me so anxious and ready to get to the end but once I finished, I needed more. Absolutely amazing.

This book had sooo much going for it. It could have been all I wanted and more. Unfortunately, it fell severely flat of my expectations. (Her first book remains my favorite by far and no others have lived up to the hype.) The ancient Egyptian, Mummy-esque plot and romance lured me in and I was excited for this book. While this was not an overtly bad book, it just really wasn't what I was looking for. The plot was a little slow with lower tension than I wanted for most of the book, the magic was confusing and not a highlight, and the romance was just okay. The end ramped up a bit and took a few unexpected turns, so that, at least, was pretty interesting. I haven't decided yet if I plan on continuing this duology.

What the River Knows is full of interesting characters and a mystery that will keep you guessing. The twists were hard to predict and left me eager for the next book!

A beautifully written historical fiction book for teens infused with magic and a simmering enemies to lovers trope. This is perfect for fans of The Mummy and anything by Stephanie Garber.

I usually don't read historical fiction, but I was drawn to this one because it is historical fantasy in Egypt. The mystery of the story that drove the main character was interesting. I don't know much about The Mummy movies or Death on the Nile, but I think I see the inspiration from both. It was cool to have real Egyptian history and figures in this novel. Although, I think I would've liked more magic.

Five Huge Freaking Stars

The Mummy meets Death on the Nile in this lush, immersive historical fantasy set in Egypt filled with adventure, a rivals-to-lovers romance, and a dangerous race.

Why do I do this to myself?! Why do I get a book I know I'll love and sit on it? Michelle told me to read this book OVER a year ago. OVER A YEAR! Why didn't I do it? I'm terrible, that's why.

This book was an entire adventure and I ADORE the characters. ADORE THEM! Inez is so cool and Whit is...OMG I love him.

Inez lives with her aunt and cousins while her parents spend most of the year in Egypt treasure hunting with her uncle. One day Inez receives a letter from her uncle letting her know that her parents have disappeared into the desert and are believed to be dead. He is now her guardian. Inez decides that she needs answers, she wants to know what was so important to her parents that they, essentially, abandon her. So she sneaks off and heads to Egypt for answers. The adventure and chaos that ensues is GRIPPING. At no point did I want to pause my reading of this story. I guess, one good thing about waiting so long to read this is not having such a long wait for the conclusion because that cliff is going to keep me SICK until I'm let off of it!

I highly recommend this book to EVERYONE but especially if you like a really good YA, Fantasy, Mystery, Historical Fiction.

Note: this book was selected for Book of the Month Club's November 2023 pick.

I remain firmly convinced that in order to build a fantasy world with magic, there needs to be a lot of rich detail to make it work for the reader. I noticed quickly that within this world, I did not fully understand the 'magic' and its use/rules within the world I was attempting to submerge myself within. At first, I thought it would eventually start to unravel and make sense, but unfortunately it never did. To me, this was a big downfall for the novel as a whole. It just made it hard to fully engage when I didn't have enough answers.

Setting that aside, I do like a good mystery and 'rivals to lovers' is a good trope to work with in YA. On this, the book delivers somewhat in the middle. The romance is a bit... no, I guess the romance is very much forced. Our heroine isn't given many options for suitors (due to the mystery, setting, etc.) and actually very quickly just decides she likes a guy who, let's be honest, does very little to earn that sudden desire she has for him.

The mystery itself was decent, and it did allow you to keep guessing throughout the story. But by the end of the book, I felt like I was running out of steam with this book, almost as if I was ready for the ending and to be done-done with the book. Come to find out, it appears this is part of a series, and that was a twist I wasn't ready for. I kind of wanted to set this aside and have a conclusion, you know?

Now, did I enjoy it? For the most part, yes, even though there were moments that I felt the style of writing could have been improved upon (just certain passages and such). I think if you can get over not understanding the magical components of the book, you're going to enjoy it more than I did. However, that seemed to really knock me off my balance with this one.