this was a really good! I liked the characters, and they were super well-developed. the plot was super cool and fun to read, and the writing was also smooth and easy to understand
highly recommend

4/5 stars
Recommended if you like: Egypt, Death on the Nile, archeology, adventure

This review has been posted to Goodreads and will be posted to Instagram on 4/7 and to my book review blog on 4/12.

I really wanted this to be 5 stars. The premise is so intriguing and Egypt has so much interesting history, both on its own and in relation to archeology. Unfortunately, this is a book where I'm not really sure how I feel about it, so it's 4 stars right now but might drop down later.

The first half of the book lives up to expectations. We get Inez traveling to Egypt and using her wits to tag along on her uncle's excavation. I loved the descriptions of Cairo and the Nile and Phillae. There's so much culture and lush imagery, it's easy to become engrossed in the setting and story. Unfortunately, after that the plot doesn't focus as much on archeology and Egypt as it should. We do get multiple excavation/temple/tomb scenes, but I wanted more of them. I wanted a true exploration of being on an archeological site and discovering these big things and worrying over tomb raiders. Instead, we get more focus on personal relationships (or lack thereof).

The story was also fairly predictable. I wasn't entirely sure at first, but once Inez got to Cairo I felt more certain of what I suspected. Then, later on when the first half of my theory was revealed, it was also immediately obvious that the rest of it was too and I got to sit with a feeling of utter dread while Inez just went with things despite the signs pointing to a bad conclusion. That being said, I can actually understand why Inez didn't question things as much as she should've, and why when she did question things, she dismissed her own instincts. Like, honestly, I think anyone probably would in that situation. This is one of the few cases where I think things being predictable for the reader and not for the character actually makes sense...I just wish the predictability was less subtle so I didn't have to spend 30% of the book waiting for the other shoe to drop.

One thing that really bothered me was that the whole mess with the grave goods was framed as being wholly Inez's fault. Like, was she being extremely dumb? Absolutely. Is it understandable? Also yes. And is it especially understandable because her uncle kept lying to her and hiding the truth? 100%. Half of the mess would've been avoided if Tío Ricardo had simply told Inez what he'd suspected and dealt with the potential fallout of that. Instead, he kept secrets and lied (and it was fairly obvious this was setting up to be a miscommunication trope) and then got angry with Inez when she didn't magically know who their enemies were. Not just him, Abdullah also got upset with her, though not as much as Tío Ricardo....but Abdullah also wasn't telling her shit. Like, a single conversation in Cairo, as upsetting as it would've been, would've literally circumvented this whole thing and instead everyone blames Inez.

As for the characters. Inez is great in the first half of the story. She's got a lot of spunk and a desire for the truth. She's fairly good at getting herself in and out of any situation, which comes in handy. But for someone so interested in Egypt, she doesn't really seem to know that much about it.

I actually liked Isadora, and I'm not really sure what Whit's problem with her is (though I'm sure it will get revealed in book 2). She and Inez make a formidable team and I would've liked to see them interact more. Her dad can be awful and kind of gruff, but Isadora seems to manage him fairly well.

Whit is...mainly annoying, imo. Inez wants the two of them to be friends, and while they're in Cairo he seems fairly normal, but so much of the story involves him being secretive or lying or just being annoying and pushing Inez away. It gets frustrating after a while. We also get to see things from his POV, but they're mostly small snippets and single scenes. I think it would've worked better if we'd gotten chapters or half-chapters from his POV or if it had been excluded altogether. Some of his POV scenes provide helpful information, but the way it's written now it mostly just seems like he has a POV because Ibañez couldn't figure out how to provide the information any other way.

Tío Ricardo had the potential to be a fantastic character. The first scene where they're all at dinner makes him seem really promising, and it definitely appears as though he cares about Egyptian history and the injustices being wrought by the British and French. However, a lot of that is overshadowed by how secretive he is and just downright awful he can be to Inez. He sort of redeems himself toward the end and shows that he truly cares about her, but it still doesn't make up for the rest of the book.

I didn't realize that this book was part of a duology. I thought it was a standalone like her previous book. This book really didn't need a sequel. The way it stands now, there's obviously things left unfinished that require a sequel, but if the book had been cleaned up a little, I really think a full story and arc could've been told within the one book. Certain parts of the book are dragged out and probably could've been cut in favor of finishing the story satisfactorily. And honestly, what's left of the plot doesn't really feel like it could fill a whole second book.

Also, what was that ending? Things were already fine without that INEZ FELL FOR IT note. It adds a layer to the story that it absolutely does not need. There are already so many complicated relationships and crossing and double-crossing, the book doesn't need more. I was actually somewhat interested in a sequel before reading the epilogue, but once I read it just kind of felt 'meh.' It's too much going on and I'm not really interested in seeing more of Inez getting lied to and then falling flat on her face when everyone else's lying is revealed.

This book was so good, so well-written, I could really imagine myself with Inez in Egypt. The tension and banter between the main characters is incredible and I was transfixed. I couldn't stop reading. They made me smile countless times. Their chemistry were remarkable and Whitford is the perfect swoon-worthy character.

If you love a story with ancient magic objects, quests like in Indiana Jones, a strong female character who fights for herself, amazing chemistry between the two main characters in an Egyptian setting, this book is for you. I cannot recommend it enough.

I already preordered it and cannot wait to do a reread in November. Thank you to let me read this advance copy. It is an amazing read.

I loved this book! Unputdownable adventure romance! It’s on point with The Mummy and Death on the Nile comparison. Twists and turns that kept me guessing. I love Inez and Whit’s story, but that cliffhanger! I foresee some heartache before they see this through.

Totally immersive, this action packed historical fiction kept me up reading late into the night. Mystery, deception, betrayal, romance - I’m still trying to figure it all out. I love the way the magical element was lightly woven into the story, it wasn’t the main focus but very believable. The banter between Inez and Whit was *chef kiss*! I really enjoy the author’s writing style. Please don’t make us wait too long for book 2, that cliffhanger was GAH!

Thank you St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for the e-arc.

I'm going to be that person and give this a not so 'lovely' review.

The two stars straight of the bat is someone who wants a Mummy (Rick / Evelyn) romance, well, it's there. It's a POC character and there is so much historical importance / information about Egypt.

I wanted to like this book, but the way the entire romance and focus on how Whit / Olivia is written is so confusing and honestly, it's poor. Poor woman's Rick & Evelyn.

Olivia is a bit of a problematic female. Girl is chasing after an engaged man and getting upset that he is not perusing her. She would not drop her feelings and they were so superficial. She hardly has known him for a week and already professing her love for him and says that they're 'friends'. Are they? Are they really friends? Sounds more like an obsession. The tone of the book is thrown out the window by this ridiculous lusting Olivia has over Whit and how she is constantly angry with him about not returning any feelings.

Whit was problematic too. Throughout he book, he was written as if someone was a bit TOO high on 'cocky male vibe drugs'. I can't tell you how many times Whit 'lounged against walls' 'crossed his legs while lounging against the wall' 'drank from his flask' 'crossed his arms across his chest'. This absolutely got on my last nerves, and I felt like the author was trying to push home this dude was sexy. CAN WE FIND OTHER WAYS TO EXPRESS HIS SEXINESS INSTEAD OF THIS CLICHE STUFF REPEATED?

Together, they absolutely brought the book down. Their 'will they / are they / won't they' was a mess.

There is also the magic aspect. Nobody in the world seems to care about this magic aspect people gleam / get from looking at artifacts. Do many people know of it? If this was a thing you'd think society would be a lot different than how it is. I don't understand the point behind it and why it exists and why it only existed in the past. I know it has been lost for years, but the schematics / magic lore was laughable and honestly, if you removed it from the book you would probably get to the same point just taking longer.

This book is a downright mess and if it makes it to print I'd have to side eye it a bit for roping people in based on the Mummy comparison. Trust me, Evelyn / Rick's romance is written a million times better here with their banter and slow burn chemistry.

I thought this would easily be a 4 star book for me, but I ended up enjoying the first half more than the second. Where it really faltered for me was mostly the plot. Inez spends a lot of time trying to decide who to trust, rightfully so, but it vacillates back and forth, and seems to take up a bulk of the story. It was fun to try to deduce at first, but quickly grew stale the longer we spent at it. We don't really accomplish much of anything in this first book, outside of one especially key moment, and it was a struggle to watch nothing get done over 400 pages. Additionally, we kept adding more layers to characters and motivations, but almost to the point of ridiculousness.

Immediately I liked Inez, mostly due to her fondness for running away and her ability to do it so smoothly. She's stubborn, determined, and pretty fearless, mostly smart, occasionally stupid (but aren't we all?) I wanted to like Whit, but the way he's written sometimes makes me roll my eyes. He's so brawny and muscled and, you know, one of those bad boys with a heart of gold. (Or is he??) I wish we would have had more and longer POVS from Whit, or maybe none at all. As it was, we had maybe half a dozen very short snippets from his perspective.

The setting of Egypt was a good one; atmospheric and immersive. The magic system felt pretty weak to me though.

I thought this was a stand-alone, as I didn't see anywhere that it was a projected series (probably a duology), and I honestly think I would have preferred a complete story in this one book. With the proper trajectory and obvious storyline changes, this could have been a pretty legit standalone. Alas, we get a first book that serves only to set up for the sequel and has a hard time being meritorious on its own.

That being said, I did still enjoy it and I would start in on Book 2 right now if it were available, but I had different hopes and expectations for this one.

This book has everything I love in a fantasy romance: thrilling action, exciting adventures, vibrant characters, complicated family dynamics, and best of all, a slow burn romance that will keep you turning the page, hoping for more. The magic system in this book is so interesting and unlike anything I've read before. I love the idea of finding a random trinket that does something silly like a necktie that produces boiling water??

All in all, this book was a riveting adventure with twists and turns in every chapter. This book will keep you guessing until the end. And when I say twists, I mean it!!

Thank you to Wednesday Books and NetGalley for providing me with an early copy in exchange for an honest review!

The worlds Ibanez creates are always so immersive and detailed and I was very much looking forward to entering this one. I love the historical aspect of this one - it further cements Ibanez's writing acumen as before she could take all the creative liberties she wanted since she was the creator, but now ensuring details are accurate had to come into play. You can tell how much research went into this book, but none of the details are stuffy or overwhelming.

This book kept me guessing until the end, and honestly past that as it does end on a major cliffhanger. I love Inez and Whit's banter, how his background is slowly teased out of him, and his snippet's of POV were perfectly placed to keep readers on their toes. I enjoyed the element of magic interspersed throughout; it made an already imaginative read more fantastical.

I basically inhaled this book and already know a reread is in the future. In the words of Shakespeare's Antony (Antony and Cleopatra Scene 4, Act 15): "I am dying, Egypt, dying" for the next book.

What an incredible and fun read! This story was adventure-packed and swoonworthy all wrapped up into a delicious tale of trust, love, and mystery. It definitely gave me The Mummy vibes, and I absolutely cannot wait for the sequel!!!! Plus, the history was incredibly interesting. Sooooo good!!!!

For fans of A River Enchanted or Six Crimson Cranes, this is an intense wild ride that will take readers to beautiful Buenos Aires and to the edge of Egypt and back! Embracing 1800’s old world magic, adventure, a thrilling archeological hunt, history, fantasy and much more, author Isabel Ibanez will increase her fan base by the thousands. This is for every young woman who decides to boldly take a stand against the status quo, even if that means standing against your family. I flew through this book in one day! The strong character development, world building and characters to fall in love with (and laugh with), will make this an instant NYT bestseller. Egypt is a place where we need to travel to more often in books. There wasn’t a moment I didn’t love. I HIGHLY recommend every school library to have multiple copies of this book.

Much gratitude to St. Martin's Press, Hodder & Stoughton publishers via NetGalley for the honor of reading this arc! I read this voluntarily and all opinions are my own.

Review to be posted to Amazon, Goodreads, Tiktok and Instagram around public publication date.

Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press/Wednesday Books for an arc of this book. Below is my honest review.

I will admit … I saw historical fantasy set in Egypt and I hit click faster than the speed of light. I was 100% sold! Was it everything I dreamed it would be? Yes, yes it was!

Buenos Aires, August 1884—Inez is waiting for a letter that could change her life. She lives with her aunt and two cousins in a house full of old magic (silly little spells like singing mirrors or flowers that grow in old shoes) She gets along well with cousin Elvira and can’t stand the elder and perfect Amaranta. Will today be the day she finally hears back from her parents who have living in their beloved Egypt? A solicitor shows up with a letter … not from her parents asking her to join them, but from her Tio Ricardo writing to say her parents are presumed dead.

Three months later … Inez arrives in Egypt. (Did you really expect otherwise? I hope not. I’d have been disappointed). She travelled without warning her aunt, only leaving a letter, and didn’t even bring a personal maid. She is alone in the country her parents loved best as well as where they lost their lives. Let’s hope her tio meets her when her boat docks. And … of course he doesn’t. He send his regrets along with a British boy, Whit, with whom he works. The boy comes with an immediate ticket home … so Inez runs, hops on a train, and learns the last gift from her father is not just any ring…but Cleopatra’s. Yes, THAT Cleopatra.

Will Inez find out what happened to her parents? Will Whit turn out to be more than a deplorable rogue? Who is friend and who is foe?

Oh my, this book. Inez is a real spitfire and I love her. She never gave up, is a ridiculously clever escape artist, and is absolutely amazing. She gets the win for being an extremely likable character that you just can’t help but to root for.

Whit is the morally gray character we all love to love. He is crass, at least for the time, adorable when infuriated, and always had me questioning his motives and beliefs. Who is he actually? Is he on Inez’s side or her enemy? I was thrilled to get some pages in his POV.

The side characters are ridiculously shady in the best way. You never know, other than Sterling, who is on which side. I will admit, I saw a few of the reveals coming…but that didn’t lessen my enjoyment. Also, I tend to be really good at predicting plots, I suspect most readers won’t know what hit them.

Top all of this off with magic and Egypt? Although I wish we learned a bit more about the magic system, I am still absolutely sold on this book! I LOVED it. All I have to say is that there better be a sequel, pretty please? Maybe then we can learn more about the magic? And, well, that ending!

Oh, and a spin-off with some Elvira adventures, too? I bet that would be highly entertaining.

If any of this sounds up your alley, run, don’t walk, to get a copy as soon as you can. You won’t be disappointed. Solid five star book.

Dear Wednesday Books,

Thank you for the invite to read an early copy of this book so that I can sit in AGONY until the next one is released. How could you do this to me?? 😭

On a more serious note. This book is everything. I don’t even know where to start. From the magical elements to the breathtaking landscape, I fell hard.

The twists and turns will keep you on your toes. The foreshadowing will have you thinking you have everything figured out only to realize that’s just a small part of everything else going on.

And yes, there is romance, specifically of the forbidden nature 😏. So many quotable lines and heartfelt moments. The tension is sweet and the longing slightly bitter. The perfect combination.

Don’t mind me while I go preorder a copy of this beauty because it definitely needs a spot on my shelf.

Content: Explicit language, death of loved ones, brothel scene, on page death, grief

It is 1884 in South America and Inez, newly nineteen, is living with her aunt and cousins while her Egyptologist parents are tracing objects that have old hidden magic — frequently sending discoveries home to Buenos Aires (like the flying armchairs destroying the smoking room). The last thing her father had sent Inez was a magically imbued gold ring, presumably from Cleopatra, whose provenance might lead its current owner to her unknown tomb.

Inez receives a letter from her uncle Ricardo, a partner/beneficiary of her parents' excavations, revealing that her mother and father are missing and presumed dead, and he is her de-facto guardian. Without contacting her uncle for permission, Inez sets sail off to Africa to discover what has really occurred. However, once she arrives in Cairo, Tío Ricardo and his young Brit aide-de-camp, Whit Hayes, do everything they can to put her back on the next ship to Argentina. In a day’s time in Egypt, the ring is rudely stolen from her by a supposed officer of the Antiquities Office and Ricardo’s upper class dinner companions act suspiciously, while his assistant is arrogantly dismissive of her and then confusingly supportive. The circumstances only make Inez frustrated and more determined to stay.

Since Agatha Christie, the Nile river is its own character in mystery novels — misty, dark, expansive, and mesmerizing, with foggy banks hiding mystical destinations

“Magic-touched” objects are acknowledged throughout the story — it’s a belief that old forgotten magic still exists in items that have not been handled enough to disperse their original power. And within these objects, such as the ring, their everlasting power will reunite them with related, but hidden, items, like burial sites. Inez is a person who can feel the magic, so she is allowed to stay. But her main purpose is to root out what happened to her parents. She is never sure who to trust. As we find out, trust is elusive.

Inez will be known as a grand character of YA historical fiction — independent, tragic, intelligent, determined, rebellious, “plucky” and “curiously bothersome.” I did love the character, but as this tale ended (and it requires a sequel to tie up loose ends), I was as frustrated as Inez. 4 stars. Be aware you’ll need to commit to another book to eventually (I hope) be satisfied with the story.

Thank you to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for an advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review!

Literary Pet Peeve Checklist:
Green Eyes (only 2% of the real world, yet it seems like 90% of all fictional females): YES Elvira, Inez’s cousin,has green eyes and Whit interprets Inez’s hazel eyes as “green then then brown then gold.”
Horticultural Faux Pas (plants out of season or growing zones, like daffodils in autumn or bougainvillea in Alaska): NO But we do know that Cleopatra’s magical presence conjures the fragrance of roses.

Ibañez’s writing was so immersive, transporting readers through time and making readers feel the heat of the desert sun, the swirling of sand on their skin, and perfume of roses wafting through the air… but that cliffhanger of an ending left me speechless. To say the last 75ish pages were INTENSE is an understatement and I think I was holding my breath the entire time.

The entire cast of characters was phenomenal. Inez was such a dynamic character and I admired her determination, quick wit, curious spirit, loyalty, and bravery and you know she’ll always have your back. Whit was the morally gray, mysterious dreamboat you know you should probably avoid, but can’t help being drawn into his orbit.

You could definitely sense the meticulousness of Ibañez’s research not just in writing the story, but also in presenting truth and exposing the atrocities of colonialism and the individuals central to oppression in Egypt specifically. Stories about ancient Egypt and its rich history are wildly fascinating, but in many cases the plundering of these artifacts is glossed over and instead celebrated as discoveries for the world to “share” - I was immensely grateful Ibañez not only had Inez call out the thievery and harmful actions of these treasure hunters and colonialists, but also addressed it in her author’s note.

Did my brain and heart suffer major emotional whiplash from the brutal cliffhanger ending? Yes. Would I go on this emotional roller coaster again? 1000% yes.

ALL THE STARS!!

As soon as I saw that this book was being marketed as “The Mummy meets…”, I immediately picked it up and it did NOT disappoint!

I was drawn into this historical fantasy from the very beginning. The research that went into this book is incredible and I was completely immersed in nineteenth century Egypt. The magical element was so unique and a fun addition to the story.

I love Inez! She is so fiesty and independent. I loved that nothing could stop her from going after what she wanted. And Whit?! I love him. He’s mysterious, grumpy, and swoony all at the same time. Their banter and rivals to lovers relationship is top notch.

That ending?! What does that mean?? I will be {im}patiently waiting for the next book!

Thank you to NetGalley and Wednesday Books for the eArc!

The Mummy is one of my all time favorite movies and growing up I wanted to be an Egyptologist, so of course I was thrilled to be invited to read an advance copy of What the River Knows.

This book can only be described as a dream. You’re immediately placed within the action, starting an epic adventure that includes sight seeing in Cairo, a trip down the Nile, and a quest for Cleopatra’s resting place. Inez is such a strong and independent MC - she’s stubborn and determined and doesn’t let anyone or anything get in her way.

It’s obvious this book was meticulously researched and it paid off. The setting is so beautifully described that I felt as if I had been transported to 1880s Egypt with Inez, and the magic system was integrated so seamlessly. I adored the romance between Inez and Whit - it developed over time which made it all the more realistic. I loved literally everything about this story and I cannot wait to see what happens next.

Thank you to NetGalley, Wednesday Books, and St. Martin’s Press for the e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

In 19th century Argentina, Inez has lost her beloved parents but gained an inheritance. She’s inherited a substantial sum of money along with an Indiana Jones type guardian who’s currently working in Egypt. Eager to learn more about her parents’ deaths, Inez travels to Cairo, wearing the gold ring her father gave to her. It turns out the ring has connections to magic and those connections lead her to discovering the truth about her parents and her mysterious guardian. This is a thinking person’s historical, swashbuckling, magical novel. Tremendous fun

A Dazzling Adventure filled with magic, intrigue, and romance. I enjoy storylines that follow several stages of adventure; this book is a perfect illustration of this. The storytelling brought this atmosphere to life. The reader accompanies the Main Character in uncovering the mysteries of this quest.

Historical Fantasies are now one of my favorite genres.
Thank you very much Isabel Ibañez for this lovely story; and to Wednesday Books and NetGalley for the ARC!

I was immediately swept away with this story and characters. Inez and Whit have flawless Rick and Evie energy.
This is a historical fantasy with great pacing and I thought the romance was splendid; so natural and satisfying to watch evolve. The immersive writing places the reader directly into the atmospheric setting. This is a complex story and it was so well executed. What the River Knows is not to be missed and I will already be looking forward to Isabel Ibañez’s next masterpiece.

A special thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press & Wednesday Books for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.