“It wasn’t a bad life, but it wasn’t the life I wanted.”

From the outside, Inez Olivera seemed to be the girl who lived a life of peak luxury. Hailing from a wealthy family in Buenos Aires where her life is nearly planned for her, she dreams of being able to explore the world with her parents who often leave her behind. Since her days as a child, it was not uncommon for Inez’s parents to travel to Egypt for extended stays, resulting in a majority of her childhood overseen by her aunt and cousins. Now an adult, Inez hopes one day to join her parents on an expedition. Little did she know that her dream may not come true in the way she had hoped.

After Inez receives a letter informing her that her parents have passed away and she is left with an inheritance, she plans to journey to Egypt to seek the truth behind this revelation, holding close to a ring that her father sent her before his death which holds more secrets than she knows. Arriving in Cairo, Inez would have little idea what was ahead of her in her search for answers.

This book was an incredibly fun read. It features a charming cast, subtle magic, and beautiful descriptions of the Egyptian landscape while also mixing in some grand thrills. It also shows some slight implication on the effects of colonization and tourism as well which to me was interesting.

Inez is a girl who has wanted a chance to be free from the grasp of upper society courting and meetings to catch a glimpse of the life her parents lived. She is resourceful, stubborn, and witty. Her quick-wit and charm help her traverse from Buenos Aires to Egypt and even escape from unwanted attention. Her stubbornness and quick-trusting of others certainly made it an interesting interaction with the numerous individuals she encountered. I enjoyed her personality and can definitely see traces of Evie from The Mummy.

Our other major protagonist is Whitford Hayes, or Whit. Whit is a man who has his own demons to face and is constantly showing up in Inez’s world once she arrives in Cairo. Under the employment of Inez’s uncle, he is to ensure that Inez is promptly taken care of and this sets off an interesting rivalry friendship that becomes a slow-burn romance.
Unfortunately for me, the more I read, the less I liked Whit and I think a lot had to do with the banter between him and Inez which to me felt incredibly repetitive. Every time these two were together it just felt to be the same conversation which really made this book feel longer. Occasionally we are given Whit’s POVs and I think the book would have benefited from more than we got. He isn’t a bad character, but I did not vibe with his personality.

We also meet a fun mix of side characters, as well as getting to know a bit about Inez’s family in Buenos Aires. These secondary characters certainly add more charm and mystery to this novel and I genuinely wish some would have gotten more time dedicated to them.

The magic system as I mentioned was subtle and it is more “magical realism” than fantasy in this regard. I say this in the sense that magic is only tied to various relics and artifacts that are thousands of years old and have limited power. These artifacts hold traces of magic from those known as Spellcasters. Each artifact holds a unique magical trait, such as being able to purify water. Smaller relics often diminish their magical effects as more contact is made by different people. I found it unique how magic had become something lost to history but still was relevant in the lives of people in the current era. I hoped to see a bit more backstory on how relics became enchanted as the explanation does not provide much.

The topic of tourism and collection of antiquity is relevant throughout this story. It provokes an interesting perspective on how outside territories try to assert their dominance in the name of curation and collection of ancient artifacts as well as a tourist hub and its effect in the country. The implication of tomb raiding for profit and preservation is one that hangs over this tale. I suggest it would make for an interesting discussion for a book club!

The pacing in the book felt sluggish at times. The first half of the book had excellent pacing but to me, the second half felt longer than it needed to be. While we had some great scenes in the second half, some felt unnecessarily long. I personally feel this book could be about 30-40 pages shorter with nothing major missing. The overall plot was very interesting and I will admit I did not see the plot twist coming. I was slowly putting pieces together in my mind but the twist definitely had me.

What The River Knows is certainly a fun ride and a great homage to its inspiration of The Mummy and Death on the Nile. If you like a mystery set in nineteenth-century Egypt, I encourage you to check this book out and enjoy the trip through Egypt. Ibañez is able to paint gorgeous Egyptian landscapes and scenes, making you feel like you are truly visiting the bustling streets of Cairo and navigating the path of the Nile while weaving in complex thriller elements to keep you on the edge of your seat.

3.5/5 stars

Huge thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the eARC in exchange for a review

3.5 stars

I loved the premise of this story. A heiress in a tropical country going on an international archeological adventure. I’ve never watched/read The Mummy or Death on the Nile but I think What the River Knows is in that vein. The parts in Alexandria in the hotel reminded me of A Gentleman in Moscow and the Grand Budapest hotel. That was probably my favorite section, especially the scene at the market and cafe. I loved Whit there I hope we see more of that side of Whit next book.

My biggest issue is I wasn’t very attached to the characters. It was exciting that you couldn’t trust anyone Inez met but I wanted to uncover more this book. I felt like nothing much happened other than very predictable who-dun-it plot twists. I really loved the Cleopatra focus but I’m really unclear about the magic. I feel like it was underutilized this book and it felt more like a historical mystery rather than historical fantasy romance.

I’m not sure if my issues were because the ARC still needs to go through more drafts. I’m looking forward to the next book and I hope it’s more satisfying.

I am about 30% through this book and unfortunately decided to not finish this one.

It is a bit difficult for me to understand the book's contents; it is not horrible, it is simply that I do not think this book is for me. yet I believe this book will be more fascinating to readers who favor fantasy with historical fiction as sub genre than I am. Who knows, maybe the next time I try to read it, I will be more drawn in.

Huge thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press/Wednesday Books for providing me with this ARC.

*I received a free copy in exchange for an honest review*

This was one of the best books I've read this year, for sure. It had so much to keep me interested: Egypt, Cleopatra, archeology, and magic. Inez was also a really fun protagonist, and her interactions with Whit (and keeping him on his toes) had me chuckling at times. I really felt like Inez didn't know what was going on, and her flailing around trying to put the pieces together felt so much more real than just having her miraculously find exactly what she's looking for. I did feel as though I knew exactly what the twist was going to be, and then there was another that completely caught me off guard. I also appreciated her uncle's desire to keep track of every item that they discovered, instead of just sending things off to London (as was typical in this time period), and the discussion around how actual Egyptians would feel about watching their own history be stolen away by the British. I did want to know more about the magic, but it feels as though that might be discussed more in a second book, which I eagerly await!

I really loved this book. Ibañez was able to pull me into ancient Egypt. I loved Inez but I loved Whit so much more.

One thing that I wish the book had more of was prose. I was missing those poetic descriptions, instead getting very simple language and basic descriptions that felt more middle grade.

Other than the lack of beautiful writing though, I did love the story and I was on the edge for the whole murder mystery. I can’t wait for the next book!!

Thank you, Net Galley, for this ARC. If you think you know where this booking is heading, you will be wrong. I loved that it kept me guessing right up to the very end. The atmosphere and characters leave nothing to be desired. What's not to like: Missing Parents, Searching for Cleopatra's tomb, Enemy to lovers, EGYPT. If you loved The Mummy, then I think you will like this book. The ending left me wanting the second book out now. I will be reading future books by Isabel Ibanez..

Isabel has a wonderful way of inserting the reader into her character's inner and outer world. The thing I struggled with the most was the haphazard romance between Whit and Olivia thrown into the mix, almost like it was an afterthought. In terms of the main character, I didn't really understand how Olivia was duped several times throughout the novel, but still somehow smart enough to be elusive and evade her uncle when she wanted. The magic system didn't hold enough of a presence in the book - I'm not sure it was really needed if no one seems to really care about the magic within the artifacts and more the artifacts themselves. Overall, it just felt a little too disheveled with too many plot points and not enough true character or magic system development. I really love the premise and hope that book two (assuming there's a book two?) can become a little more focused because it's an interesting storyline.

I was so excited to receive an advanced copy of this book and it was everything I wanted it to be!

This one is due out in November so add it to your list if you’re looking for an Egyptian adventure story with a bit of forbidden love mixed in.

I was hooked on this from the very beginning. I loved the main character Inez. She’s fierce, strong headed, bold, and funny. I loved the banter between her and everyone, but especially Whit.

This is a story about uncovering secrets and discovering the things that shape us. It’s adventurous with an edge of mystery and flirtation. I couldn’t put it down!

If you love Egypt and adventure stories then this one’s for you!

It took me a minute to warm up to this one, but once I hit about 30% done, then I devoured the rest.

Olivera leaves Buenos Aires to go in search of her missing parents in Egypt. Along the way, she gets caught up in a mystery, in history, in romance, and in danger. The story flows well, and it was neat to learn more about Egypt as the story progressed.

Olivera is a likeable enough MC, and Whit is a good balance for her. There are also several secondary characters who keep the story interesting, but not much about them is ever divulged, so they're not all that memorable.

This is definitely a fun read (part Rick Riordan and part Hercule Poirot) that I think teens will love.

Overall: 4 stars

I'll tell my students about: alcohol, sex, language, murder, magic

**Thank you to NetGalley and St.Martin's Press for the free ARC. All opinions expressed are my own.**

As an avid fan of The Mummy, I was hooked by the comp alone. :) What the River Knows was a delightful adventure, equal parts thrilling and delicious.
At 17 years old, Inez Olivera discovers that her parents have died in Egypt. Having lived under the care of her aunt for most of her life, Inez has longed to see Egypt--the place that so captivated her parents that they abandoned her in Argentina. Inez decides to travel alone to discover what happened to her parents, reconnect with her uncle Ricardo and seek answers to her many questions.
The tension and banter between Inez and Whit is chef's kiss, and I look forward to reading the sequel to see how Ibanez resolves that cliffhanger!
I'm giving What the River Knows 4 stars because I think Inez's age didn't seem appropriate for the story, which pulled me out a few times. I also didn't understand why the death of a certain character (toward the end of the story) was necessary. That said, I loved the exploration of Egypt, the mysteries and twists, and Inez's spunk.

what the river knows is a historical fantasy set in egypt and in my opinion, it is much more interesting that the titles it's been compared to. inez grew up in buenos aires and she is half of her parents' heart. but the rest of their heart resides in egypt and when news of their death reaches inez, she sets off to find out what truly happened to them, handsome assistants to her guardian and old magic be damned! once she sets foot in egypt though, she quickly realizes there's more to her parents' story and her search for answers may reach an unexpected path.

this book was incredibly fun and interesting, so much so i'm ignoring that the side romance is NOT rivals to lovers (in fact i think we need to learn what rivals mean again!) and inez was just such a likeable and wonderful character, always ready to do things her way, defiant and headstrong, but full of love, she really truly was one of the strengths of this book. i enjoyed the brief snippets of whit's pov we got and that cliffhanger was evil. this book really covered loss and love and mystery with so much care and research going into portraying the cultures in egypt and the history behind everything accurately and with care, something i appreciated. but truly i cannot begin to explain how inez was just an amazing character to read about, never did i feel frustrated by her action (though i did get embarrased quite a few times) which is just so nice. this was just a very enjoyable book full of characters to love and the author's note at the end was also very interesting! overall i am very excited for the conclusion in the duology and i'm more excited to enjoy reading about inez again!

thanks to st. martins press and netgalley for the arc!

What. A. Book!! I absolutely adored What The River Knows and I have no idea how I'm going to wait for the sequel after a cliffhanger like that! This was such a hard book to put down, I was along for the ride with every twist and turn. Inez is everything I love in a female lead - strong, sassy, and smart! I was laughing out loud at her wit and loved seeing the dynamics between characters evolve throughout the book. And the banter between Whit and Inez is just next level, so so good!

I've had a copy pre-ordered for months already and can't wait for it's release in October so I can relive the adventure all over again!

I honestly couldn’t get into this book. That doesn’t mean that it is bad by any means, I’ve had books where it was hard to get into but ended up being five stars. The premise was interesting I just couldn’t vibe with the writing. This ended up being a DNF for me.

Isabel Ibanez starts her story of a young woman traveling to Egypt to uncover the mystery of her parent's lives with loads of great imagery and knowledge of a time rife with explorers into this ancient land. You can tell that the author has spent time researching so much about this time period and region, which is commendable. However, the number of characters in the story and twists and turns are so confusing that it's hard to really get invested in the story and follow along. I was also expecting more on the 'magical' aspect surrounding Cleopatra and was disappointed at how underwhelming any manifestation in the story turned out to be.

I'm assuming there is a second book for in the works for this but the first was so muddied, I don't think I would be continuing on.

What the River Knows follows Inez Olivera whom escapes her home in Argentina to Egypt where she intends to uncover information about the disappearance of her mother and father. Finding answers regarding their disappearance in Cairo comes with challenges from her uncle and his right hand man, Whitford Hayes, but Inez is resourceful and determined.

I love the world that Isabel Ibañez builds with her storytelling. Aside from the betrayals and mystery, I thought the magical element in the story was unique, but some explanations fell flat. Overall, it was an enjoyable, lovely, and transporting read. I can’t wait to get my hands on the next book!

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for a chance to read and review an advanced copy of this book!

Writing: 5/5
Characters: 4/5
Plot: 5/5
Enjoyment: 4/5

Themes: Historical, Adventure, Ancient Egypt, Magic

What the River Knows is about a girl who is trying to find out what happened to her parents in Egypt. She runs away and goes to her uncle in Egypt, who she hardly knows, and finds a whole new world she didn’t know existed. There is adventure, betrayal and even a little romance. I love anything to do with Ancient Egypt and this book was full of it. Going to archeological sites, hyroglyphs, artifacts and the gods and goddesses. It reminded me of an Indiana Jones or The Mummy break off. Inez was such a fun FMC and how strong and mischievous she is. There was a big twist at the end and I can’t wait to read the next book.

I received an arc and am leaving an honest review.

Firstly I mostly enjoyed this book. The plot was engaging, the characters are interesting, and overall it kept me reading. I do think the Egyptian lore felt a bit disjointed within the story sometimes, but as a YA book I actually think that’s fine. It’s part Indiana jones style mystery, part romance, and part family drama, so it has something for lots of people.

The main thing that was took me out of the story was the descriptive writing which was at times very heavy handed. I also wish that since the author chose to make the characters Argentinian and actually spend time there, I would have liked to feel the cultural tension more the characters and their Egyptian setting.

Overall though I do think YA readers and fans of new adult urban fantasy will enjoy this!

*trigger warning w/ mild spoiler

I do think a trigger warning should be added for an abrupt murder towards the end of the book. Especially in a YA that really has no violence of consequence or otherwise explicit content for the whole book, I found the unexpected murder to feel extremely jarring, so readers should just know that’s coming.

This book was an enchanting read, and the only thing that would have made it better would have been if I had known it was a duology. It was a riveting read and I cannot wait for more from Ibanez!

Overall, this read just felt confusing, like it couldn’t decide what it wanted to be. Let’s start with genre — is this YA (it has a young protagonist, but all other characters are adults), is it adult fiction (there is adultery and murder), or a brush with magical realism (the use of magic was fine, but the lack of understanding and inconsistencies was annoying).

Additionally, character development was lackluster at best. I do not like what the author did with her female characters. The protagonist, Olivia, endlessly swoons over an engaged man, not to mention is reckless and selfish. Her best friend/sister, Elvira, has no development outside of loving and eventually dying for the protagonist. And Olivia’s long lost and adored mother turns out to be a thief and adulterer who cons her own daughter. Like, what is this?

Lastly, the writing style didn’t work for me. The book alternates between Olivia and Whit’s (her love interest) POV. But Whit added nothing to the story; his narrative was almost always in reaction or response to something Olivia did. Additionally, Ibañez randomly incorporated Spanish into the story (I.e. chapter titles and the occasional phrase) but did little to develop the culture. In fact, she also incorporated French and Egyptian dialogue with little difference. In trying to do too much, the author actually did nothing.

Simply put, this read didn’t work for me. That being said, it worked for a lot of other readers. So, I encourage you to read a few different reviews before deciding if this is a book for you!

5 STARS TO THIS ENCHANTING STORY!

I'm in awe!!!!!! I still can't believe what a crazy story that was! At first, I was just entranced by how beautiful the writing was. It felt so atmospheric, and I loved how the author wrote in the era the book is set in. It just felt so real and tangible and beautiful. And for a moment there I did feel like it was dragging on slightly, I wanted there to be more happening, but I started just accepting that this was going to be a bit of a slow burn with a lot of layers underneath it. The second half/later half of this book is absolutely nuts in the sense that there's this growing tension and feeling that something's wrong. You really can't trust anything that's happening and the deceit and lies and secrets are just SO good. I was shocked and I felt like I was experiencing everything along with Inez.

ALSO. Whit!!! What a beautiful, haunted man! I loved their banter, I loved the way they antagonize each other. The tension was absolutely perfect.

The ending was...bad in the sense that I CAN'T BELIEVE I HAVE TO WAIT SO LONG TO KNOW WHAT HAPPENS NEXT!!!! THAT. WAS. INSANE. I'M ASLDFJLSDKFJASDLFKJALFKJ. I'd say that I think I know where this is going with the little snippet in the Epilogie, but I have no doubt that the author will have a million and one surprises.

This was such a wonderful adventure. It did feel like a slow burn, and it did feel long at times, but I"m so happy I stuck with it. It was interesting, felt well researched and understood, and was just complex...ugh what a dream a book. It felt so grounded in earth, but magical. The overall atmosphere and tone of this...perfect.

Can't wait for everyone to read this in October!!!!!! Please put this in your TBR!!!!!!