I was so interested in this book when I read the blurb, I love The Mummy and this sounded a little bit like The Mummy fanfic so I was down. I haven't read the author's previous books but I also read some early reviews saying this is her best book to date.

What I Loved:

1. The setting - the author does an immaculate job of setting the scene and provides a lot of detail and imagery. I honestly think the length of this book is due mostly to the author's obvious love for Egypt and her wish to really put the reader inside of it as much as possible. It worked! I finished this book wanting to read everything else on Egypt I can find.

2. The history - again, the author does such a great job of giving us bits of history throughout this book and even included two prominent historical figures into the story.

3. The end - I won't lie, the cliffhanger grabbed me. The author shoved a twist in right at the end and I think it will bring a lot of angst into the next book. I'm excited for the next one and to know what's going on with Whit and his scheming and Lourdes and her scheming.

What I Didn't Love:

1. The romance - maybe I'm getting pickier as time goes on but this romance seemed so rushed and was based on so little that I was never rooting for it. I think a lot of romance readers push their romances forward too quickly. This book is the first in a series and the FMC was talking about love without knowing much about her love interest. I think the Victorian time period could have been used to bring more angst and pining to the situation that seemed more natural. Those things are brought up periodically but not really enforced throughout the book.

2. The mystery - I was so intrigued by the mysteries in this book but I don't think our FMC spends a lot of time actually solving them. She spends a lot of time complaining that no one will tell her anything and she spends like one scene sleuthing. I wanted her to have more agency, especially as a girl who reads as so vibrant and willing to step outside of the box.

3. The magic system - this is more in-between for me. I was interested to know more about the magic system and there's barely an introduction to it here. I'm hoping the author plans to do a lot more delving into it in the next book which seems like it could be likely.

I would recommend this to those that have enjoyed The Mummy, Stalking Jack the Ripper, and/or Egyptian history.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for my ARC!

I loved this story and the way the mystery unfolded throughout! I have always found Egypt fascinating along with its mythology so this book definitely fits right in with that. I loved the characters and the premise of the story. It was heart-pounding at times yet filled with lots of heart and history. I cannot wait until for the sequel!

Last year, the book I read by this author, TOGETHER WE BURN, was one of my favorite books. I’ve enjoyed the other books she’s written, so I went into this book fully expecting it to be amazing. And it really is.

The story is different than I expected, though. I liked how quickly Inez reaches Egypt and her quest there begins. It did feel like she was often at the mercy of other characters or that there were brief lulls in the action.

It really might just be me, though. I started and stopped a lot during my reading, so that might have made the book seem choppier than it is. Once I got to about the 60% mark, I felt a significant uptick in my investment in the book, and I think I read from there to the end in one sitting.

I love how this author creates strong, independent characters and delivers some great connections between female characters. The romance, as in her other books, definitely had me hooked.

On the whole, I enjoyed this book and loved getting to read a book set in Egypt. I think fans of Isabel Ibañez’s other books will not be disappointed in this one.

This book has a fantastic premise, but a so-so execution. The dual POVs are sometimes misleading (intentionally), but confuse the narrative rather than add to it. I find that I cannot relate to or sympathize with novels that rely solely on sexism to drive a narrative, as is the case in this novel. The ending, while sudden and rather violent, was confusing. What exactly is it that the twist was referring to? I don't think I'm entirely certain

Such a fun and unique read! What the River Knows by Isabel Ibañez is an immersive historical fantasy that takes the readers on an adventure from Buenos Ares to the Nile River. Inez Olivera is a young woman on the cusp of adulthood who has just received word that both of her parents have died, inheriting their fortune and winding up under the custody of her estranged uncle. Needing answers to what happened to her parents, Inez sets out on a journey that takes her far from home into a world she’s always dreamed of. What she finds is very different from what her parents told her about and all the more exciting for it.

Inez is an interesting character to follow. She is quite naive about how the world works having been sheltered by her parents and aunt. Now she finds herself in a position to leave all she’s ever known for the dream she’s always had, and she takes that chance. I love her spirit and how she refuses to give up without answers. However, her naïveté brings a lot of trouble for herself and those around her.

When she arrives in Alexandria, Egypt, she is met not by her estranged uncle, but by his handsome yet infuriating assistant Whitford Hayes who is there to send her back on the next boat. I love Whit as much as I do Inez, and part of the story is from his perspective. He is working with Inez’s uncle as an archaeological assistant. He basically does whatever work is required of him, including playing babysitter to Inez. Not much is known about his past or his intentions which keeps Inez at arm’s length because she isn’t sure if she can or should trust him.

The plot of this one moves at a relatively steady pace. There is constantly something happening in the story with Inez or Whit or both. The magical elements of the story add to the mystery surrounding the pyramids and ruins they are studying. I love how Ibañez weaves history into this story creating her own world with its own rules seamlessly. The magic the historical artifacts carry and how they affect Inez and others in the story are perfection!

Overall, I really enjoyed What the River Knows. Inez and her quest to find answers is easy to follow. The mystery adds to the suspense rather than detract from it. Whit’s own past and intentions add to the mystery. The budding relationship between them also adds some tension to the story. If you enjoy Ancient Egyptian history, fantasy with a slight touch of romance, and mystery, I highly recommend it.

I’m dead and Isabel Ibañez murdered me with her killer storytelling.

This was a masterpiece from start to finish. The developed characters, witty banter, neat historical fantasy vibes, and the gorgeous prose all come together to create one stellar novel. This is easily one of my top five fantasy novels ever! What the River Knows has it all: jaw dropping twists, a main character to root for, romantic tension you can cut with a knife, and a lush, atmospheric setting that pulls you in and refuses to let go.

I’m not sure what I’m going to do with myself while I wait for the next book. I’ve never read anything else by Isabel Ibañez, but I’ll certainly be making my way through the rest of her books now!

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

Nineteen-year-old Bolivian-Argentinian Inez Olivera has lived a sheltered, wealthy life in nineteenth century Buenos Aires with her aunt. Her world has magic in it, but it's mostly been forgotten.

Inez has everything she wants, except time spent with her beloved parents, who are archaeologists with a passion for Egypt. When word arrives that they are missing and presumed dead, Inez decides she will go to Egypt. Evading her aunt and heading out in secret, she is nonetheless surprised that her uncle is intent on sending her right back home when she arrives in port.

Inez immediately decides that she will not be handled, and takes control of her situation, booking her own transportation and arriving in Cairo, much to her uncle's dismay. Inez will not be deterred, and figures out a way to accompany him on his journey, with others, to Philae, where everyone hopes to find Cleopatra's tomb.

Inez never stops being daring, is occasionally headstrong, but also really tough. She has skills, and grows up a lot, learning much on along the way. There is adventure, growing friendship, difficulties, and eventually, shocking revelations for Inez.

I knew I had to read this book as soon as I saw the gorgeous cover. It promised Indiana Jones-level adventure (with the requisite stealing of cultural artifacts), a courageous central character, and mysteries, both personal and magical. I just wish that the romance that author Isabel Ibañez had not soured me on the story. From the moment the love interest appeared early in the story, and Inez and he began their painfully flirty arguments, my enjoyment for this book began diminishing. I think this book would have worked so much better without this melodramatic aspect to the story

Thank you Netgalley and to St. Martin's Press for this ARC in exchange for my review.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This book was such a wild ride in the best possible way. It had adventure, fantasy, romance, betrayal... and that ending? I am deceased. Please respect my wishes and do not revive me until the second book can be placed into my hands because I have questions that need answers! Things I really loved about this book: the setting. Inez. WHIT. The fact that the author gave POV blurbs into Whit's head that really fleshed him out into a more three-dimensional character beyond being just another sarcastic, witty rogue-ish type. All in all, I adored this book and, I must reiterate, NEED the second one. If you're someone who's not good with cliffhangers... maybe wait to read this one for awhile. But buy it now, so you have it on hand!

While I originally picked this up after seeing all of the "fans of The Mummy" comparisons- I'm not mad at that being the convincing factor. While aside from the setting, I didn't get too much of the same vibes, the writing is so descriptive and packed with adventure and tension that it truly transports you to a front row seat of the action.

Twists, turns, and a slow burn rivals to lovers situationship that leaves you swooning one moment and wanting to leap up and throw the book in others? Yeah, settle down and prepare for a ride. There are a few times that the pacing drags a bit and the magical system almost got forgotten before getting shoved to center stage but overall this was a solid first book for the duology. I'll be keeping my eye out for the conclusion because that ending? What even was that!

Okay, so this is not my typical read, but I thought I’d give it a try after reading some really great early hype for the book, and I am so glad that I got to indulge in this one. It was gorgeously written, enchanting and full of magic that left me thinking about this one long after the book was done.

Thank you to Isabel Ibañez, St. Martin’s and NetGalley for a digital ARC of this book for an honest review.

I truly loved this book! I felt as if I was there in the story with the characters. I cannot wait for my physical copy to come in and I can read it again!

I felt like I was on a true adventure through Egypt! I thought the character development was excellent! Overall loved it, can’t wait for the next one!

This book was amazing! It blew up on social media, and the hype was absolutely real. I loved all of the ancient egypt aspects to the story and I felt like I was learning a lot as I was reading. I also loved the magic elements, they added a lot to the story.
I loved the main character and her strength. The romance was also very well done and I can't wait to see it develop further in future books. The plot was very twisty and had me sitting on the edge of my seat up until the end, and the ending had me begging for the next book! A must-read for fantasy and history lovers alike.

What a wanderlust book with intrigue, archeology, (light) magic, mystery, lies & Egyptian mythology. A strong female MC that goes to find the truth about her parents death/disappearance, even when her uncle continues to thwarts her finding answers.

Great first book for a series- fun setting, engaging plot, likeable characters & great writing.

OKAY. I want to buy this maybe?? I’ve banned myself for a while but I might break it. As a kid who grew up reading Percy Jackson, I am HERE for any sort of Mythology. I loved the Egyptian Mythology in this book, the mystery, romance, and historical fiction elements. It was great. I don’t really have any complaints other than it’s not five stars, not because I didn’t enjoy it, I’ll say 4.5 stars. I say that because it was hard for me to get into in the beginning because there was a lot of world building and the pacing was slower..

Thank you to the publisher for the chance to read this book!

I thoroughly enjoyed reading this story. It had a great way of leading you through the story and weaving new details throughout. The change in POV was seamless and the different perspectives was well done. I heard this was for fans of the mummy, and I absolutely agree that it fits that feel, but also has a vibe all its own.

This book has everything: mystery, ancient Egyptian mythology, history, romance, and magic. How the author combined all the different religions, cultures, and myths was mesmerizing. I couldn't get enough of the main character, Inez Olivera - she's young, naive, and brave all at the same time. Oh, and did I mention she's super smart too? Definitely recommend this book to anyone who loves a good adventure!"

Release date: 10.31.2023
Review date: 1.2.2024

I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. Opinions are my own.

Bolivian-Argentinian Inez Olivera belongs to the glittering upper society of nineteenth century Buenos Aires, and like the rest of the world, the town is steeped in old world magic that’s been largely left behind or forgotten. Inez has everything a girl might want, except for the one thing she yearns the most: her globetrotting parents—who frequently leave her behind. When she receives word of their tragic deaths, Inez inherits their massive fortune and a mysterious guardian, an archeologist in partnership with his Egyptian brother-in-law. Yearning for answers, Inez sails to Cairo, bringing her sketch pads and an ancient golden ring her father sent to her for safekeeping before he died. But upon her arrival, the old world magic tethered to the ring pulls her down a path where she soon discovers there’s more to her parent’s disappearance than what her guardian led her to believe. With her guardian’s infuriatingly handsome assistant thwarting her at every turn, Inez must rely on ancient magic to uncover the truth about her parent’s disappearance—or risk becoming a pawn in a larger game that will kill her.

For the longest time I've wanted a book that gives me the same vibes as The Mummy from 1999 and really hoped this would be the one. Sadly this was lacking the curse element. Overall I had a decent time with this book. I enjoyed the characters and the plot in general, but as I said I needed a curse. I will say I am quite interested to continue. Would recommend.

Ibañez has created a beautiful, well-paced historical fiction novel with a believable romance and twists and turns that will leave readers guessing until the end. Perfect for fans of The Mummy, What the River Knows includes just a bit of magic as well as romance and historical adventure. It expertly dovetails into a second book with cliffhangers that will upset even the most patient readers.

This was a fantastic read, with a mix of history, magical realism, adventure, and just enough romance to help flesh out the main character without making her two dimensional and a caricature. I’m very much looking forward to the next book, and I’m the meantime will recommend this to any fantasy or adventure readers.