What the River Knows by Isabel Ibañez
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Inez is a young lady who has everything she wants, except her parents. They spend most of their time in Egypt searching for artifacts. When she hears they are dead, she travels to Egypt to find answers.
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This book is being marketed as The Mummy meets Death on the Nile, and I LOVED The Mummy so I had to read it.

And I struggled to get through this book. I think it was a case of I should have waited to read it at a different time and I was not in the mood for it.
From the moment Inez arrived in Egypt I was STRESSED. She kept making bad choices and her uncle and his employee kept treating her so disdainfully. It was pretty infuriating.
So every time I put this book down I did not want to pick it back up because everytime I did I would just get upset.
I kept on, reading it in very bite size morsels. And I couldn’t put it down for the last 30% of the book, it got really good.

Then I got to the last chapter.

What the heck was that ending??!!??!??!!???!!
It was just rude. 😒😒😒😒😒

Now I am on the hook to read the second book.
4⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

When I read the synopsis of this book, I knew I had to read this book. Since childhood, I have always enjoyed adventure stories set in historical times. I highly recommend this those looking for a cozy adventure story with some surprising twists, cute romance and a touch of magic.

Inez Olivera, is a young woman, who receives news about the tragic death of her parents in Egypt. She decides to go to Egypt to find some answers about her parents. The author provides the reader with an adventure in 1880’s Egypt during a time when people were competing with eachother to find the lost treasures of Ancient Egypt. The author places some real life historical figures of the time into the narrative to provide readers with a basic understanding of the social issues of the times. Though the book did not go into a detailed description of the historical events of Ancient Egypt, the book does provide readers with an introductory level understanding of Ancient Egypt. If you do not know a lot about Ancient Egypt, this is a great book to start reading.

Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with an arc of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I totally forgot I have to leave a review for this because I just thought I was reading a book I owned for fun haha.

I have many many thoughts on this book. I do feel like the plot was a little disjointed at times and very much took too long occasionally to get to the point

BUT I liked the vibe, giving mummy/jungle cruise vibes. The betrayals around every corner really had me screaming ESPECIALLY that epilogue. How could you put me through this Isabel Ibanez!! I am in PAIN!!


The romance felt a little weird and now I completely understand why after finishing. Ugh. This was a really fun and well done story. I can’t wait for the next one.

I have to be honest here, I wanted to love this book; I really did. I was excited for the Mummy feels that I got at the beginning. Olivia seemed like an interesting character. The exposition with her aunt and cousins sets us up well. Then she goes to Egypt and things start out okay with Whit and her sparring. It felt very much like the two main characters in The Mummy movie, at first. However, at the 30% point I was over it. Olivia is not my idea of an empowered female. Her refusing, petulantly, I might add, to do what’s asked of her repeatedly doesn’t make her empowered. Then we find out Whit is engaged and she continues to harbor feelings for him and gets annoyed at him for not returning those feelings. And she’s known him for all of a week and is in love with him? Talk about insta-love. In addition, her immediate need to inwardly think about how attractive he is all the time is just annoying to listen to after awhile. She just started to feel really pathetic to me, chasing after a guy she hardly knows and who often treats her with disinterest or even disdain, he occasionally sides with her with the uncle but really, come on. Plus the magic system was confusing and also seemed unnecessary. It seemed like we could have gotten to the same conclusion with or without it. I just wish this book didn’t feel like one tired trope after another, but it did. It seemed like the author got sort of tired of writing it, because the writing felt like it went downhill as the book progressed. I’m sad, because I was really looking forward to it and it started out promising but became a chore. If you’re going to do things that have been done, they need to be done well and have something all their own. This did not for me. It has a beautiful cover and was a great premise; it just fell very short of what it could have been. Even so, there are those who may really love this, so that’s great. I’ve just read A LOT of fantasy and romantasy, and for me this one is much like many others I’ve read and a bit mediocre. I’ll give Ibanez another try, because I think she has good ideas. I just hope her next is executed better.

"Imagine everything she's seen through the centuries." The Nile knew everything, had seen the best and worst of Egypt.”

History, adventure, mystery, murder. What The River Knows follows a young woman named Inez, as she seeks answers, by breaking away from her sheltered rich life, boards a ship and travels to Egypt.

This book is filled with so much history. I found myself stopping to look things up as I read because I had to know more. There are some magical elements that pop up here and there, a tiny bit of romance, and plot twists.

Altogether I enjoyed this, but I had the feel that there was so much that could of been added, closer towards the last half the story seems to finally kick into gear, and just when it’s flowing you find out that it’s pretty much a cliffhanger and I’m not sure if the epilogue makes enough since to really pull me in like it’s supposed to. I just get confused and then had to look back in the book to understand.

Thank you Net Galley and for the chance to review.

"What the River Knows by Isabel Ibañez is a mesmerizing blend of magical realism and heartfelt storytelling. Ibañez crafts a world where the river holds secrets and characters grapple with both the supernatural and the deeply human. The prose is beautifully lyrical, immersing readers in a river's embrace of mystery and emotion. The characters are well-drawn, their journeys intertwined with the river's own enigmatic path. While the narrative is enchanting, there are moments where the pacing could be more dynamic, preventing a full five-star rating. Nonetheless, Ibañez's skillful fusion of magic and reality makes What the River Knows a captivating read, deserving of a solid four stars."

I absolutely loved this book! Thank you to @wednesdaybooks for my gifted eARC! I also needed a hard copy and got that from BOTM!

Adventurous + suspenseful + magical realism + historical + rivals to more+ cliffhanger ending= what more could you ask for??

🐊Inez’s parents have presumably died in Egypt where they spend half of the year studying and pursuing artifacts. She escapes from her aunt’s watch in Argentina and goes to Egypt to find them and joins her mysterious uncle Ricardo who is now her guardian. Brimming with gumption, Inez repeatedly outsmarts Ricardo’s right hand man, Whit, and sneaks onto their boat headed to a secretive dig site. Inez soon learns there is more to her parents’ disappearance and is not sure who to trust.

I’ve seen this described as The Mummy meets Death on the Nile and I like that description!

I cannot believe this is the first time I’m hearing if Isabel Ibañez. This book was quite simply incredible. I loved it from start to finish, and didn’t want it to end

I really enjoyed this book. This is my second novel from this author, and I would say that I enjoyed this book as much as her other book. I know that some people were worried about it being too YA, but I didn't feel like that was a problem. Yes the main character is young, but the book involves a lot of adult themes and issues so it felt like a good balance.

This is my first novel I have read that takes place in Egypt. It is very exciting to me because my own personal knowledge of Egypt is very limited. I also like the small magical elements that are tied into this book. This book ended on such a cliff hanger that I am anxiously awaiting the second!

Wow. This was a WILD RIDE. I gasped, swooned, screamed, and cried multiple times throughout. When I tell you this story took me to so many places, I am not exaggerating. I absolutely ate this up.

Romance, betrayal, adventure, TREASURE!!!! This was a recipe for success. Let me tell you, the ROMANCE!!! I gasped so violently that I frightened my husband

If you enjoy adventurous stories that are fast-paced, then this one is for you!

The ending has left me DAMAGED.

In nineteenth-century Buenos Aires, Bolivian-Argentinian Inez Olivera is part of the upper class but yearns to be with her globetrotting parents. When she hears about their deaths, Inez inherits their fortune and a guardian, an archeologist in partnership with his Egyptian brother-in-law. Inez sails to Cairo, and discovers there’s more to her parent’s disappearance than what her guardian led her to believe. Inez is stymied at every turn as she searches for the truth and must rely on ancient magic or become part of a larger game that will kill her.

What the River Knows is the first book in the Secrets of the Nile duology. Reading this was really fun, because Inez is determined to figure out the truth, and she's a joy to get to know. Everything around her is new, and she delights in it. Her uncle and Whit keep too many secrets, and there is so much corruption in the archaeological world that she can't really trust either of them. That leads her to keep secrets of her own from them, including initially the sense of magic. I love how that's described, and how it's an additional feature to everyday items in the world, not a talent that people readily have. The secrets kept from Inez makes the men look guilty, so she (and we) assume the worst.

Inez has an attraction to Whit, which he returns. Neither wants to act on it, especially when looking for artifacts, but the pull is there. I think the back and forth of their actions is believable, adding a bit of romance to the tension in the book. The finale to the book is highly emotional and tragic, with a bit of a cliffhanger for the reader to demand the second half of the duology right away.

the mummy meets death on the nile?? SIGN ME UP.
i was so excited for this one and it did not disappoint! this was actually my first by this author, but it won't be my last. it was so well written, captivating, the perfect blend of mystery, magic, world building/info, romance - i couldn't put it down. loved it!

This book was so frustrating in parts and good in others. The adventures in the book were excellent, and I loved all things Egyptian, but the magic was odd and almost an afterthought. I wish it had been explored more. The main character was immature, and it felt like the book wasn't sure whether or not it was YA.That ending, though, was the most frustrating part of all.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are my own.

Betrayal, secrets, and mystery...Isabel Ibañez's WHAT THE RIVER KNOWS has it all. I am sputtering after that ending and in awe of the journey that Ibañez takes the reader on.

Historical fiction is a bit of a picky genre for me, and not usually one I itch to read. However, after reading the synopsis, I had to read this, and I'm glad I did (except for the book hangover that I have and the intense desire for the second book, like NOW!).

Inez's parent disappear to Egypt every 6 months for about 6 months, leaving her with her aunt in Buenos Aires, but she wishes for nothing more than to join her parents and unearth ancient secrets. When she receives a letter that her parents have died, she crafts a plan to journey to Egypt--alone--to get the answers she desperately desires.

I loved the magic that Ibañez wove into the story. I mean, magical ancient artifacts? Yes, please! And Inez's and Whit's relationship is perfection. Lots of angst, tension, secrets. The beginning started off, for me, a bit slow, but groundwork was being laid for payoff in the second half of the novel. Honestly, the last 20% really picked up and I was glued, needing answers.

This novel is perfect for readers who love ancient Egypt, slow burn romance, and female protagonists who demand answers they're deserved.

"Bloody Hell."



Yep that's it, that's all I got 😫 the forbidden tension and the damn cliffhanger...

I need more Whit and Inez ❤️‍🔥

...the cliffhanger😵‍💫 and the action is intense, I wasn't expecting that😱👏

Edition shown is the Barnes and Noble exclusive 🥰

Thank you to St. Martin's Press for the eARC via NetGalley. 🤞 Fingers crossed I also get the eARC for book 2 as well 🙏 but until then, I settle for a title and a pubday 😁🤭

#whattheriverknows #isabelibañez #stmartinspress #wednesdaybooks #5starread #forbiddenromance #cleopatra #historicalromance #cliffhanger #bookpost #bookreview #netgalley #barnesandnoble #barnesandnobleexclusive

I absolutely adored What the River Knows - it’s such a fun read! What the River Knows is a well paced, well written story. I flew through it because the story arc was built so well!

Ibañez dives into the plot immediately and crafts such an immersive 1800s Egypt world laced with magic that I couldn’t help but enjoy the ride. The characters and cultures depicted were so vibrant, interesting, and intriguing. Every time the story seemed come to a lull, the plot picked up again. While some aspects of the plot were predictable, the twists and cliffhanger ending have me absolutely feral to get the next book in the series.

The romance is sweet and steamy with enemies-to-lovers and forced proximity that left me wanting more (in the best way 😉)!

Overall, I loved this book! If you didn’t get it as your BOTM pick, I definitely recommend adding it to your next

This setting is enchanting and one that is much-loved. I adore The Mummy. Inez, an heiress yearning for her globe-trotting parents' return, embarks on a quest following the tragic news of their presumptive demise lost in the desert. Inheriting both a vast fortune and a mysterious guardian, she journeys to Cairo with an ancient golden ring sent by her father and a relentless pursuit of truth.

I thoroughly enjoyed the delightful banter and dynamic between the central characters, as well as the enticing glimpses of magic interwoven with artifacts. The intricate web of family dynamics and past trauma added considerable depth to the story. The romance is satisfying, the campy nature is fun, and the banter is wonderful. What's more, this is a story that discusses colonization and theft of artifacts from native shores. However, this did seem somewhat superficial given the overall tone of the story.

Amidst the enchantment and adventure, the story occasionally veered into overly dramatic moments reminiscent of a telenovela. Certain story beats may require a heavy suspension of disbelief. My biggest complaint, without spoiling anything, is the sudden shift in tone towards the end that nonetheless lacked emotional resonance. These instances detracted from an otherwise interesting narrative.

Despite these drawbacks, "What the River Knows" remains an entertaining read, blending adventure, history, and a tantalizing rivals-to-lovers romance. It transports readers into a lush historical fantasy world set against the backdrop of Egypt with a Bolivian-Argentinian main character.

[ Note: I am waiting to publically post this review due to the SMP boycott in the wake of their employee's posting of inflammatory content on social media. I will happily post this in the future and look forward to reviewing Wednesday books in the future. Thank you for the eARC copy. ]

#WhatTheRiverKnows:

Thank you @wednesdaybooks for my gifted copy!

Sadly, I just couldn’t fully get into What the River Knows. I feel like it’s just a “wrong place, wrong time” or even a “it’s not you, it’s me” feel. It has a great premise, but I’m unable to really connect with the mystery of finding information about this coveted ring. I wanted.. well more.

It’s really hard to compare something to Death on the Nile and The Mummy and not go in with the highest of expectations. I was sat and ready for the ride of my life. While I find the similarities regarding the location, there is no true similarities that got me going.

Regardless, I feel I would have loved it instead of liked it in a different headspace. I’m interested in seeing what book 2 will have in store of Inez

An evocative story set against the backdrop of the exploration and exploitation of the Egyptian antiquities trade in the late 1800s. Headstrong Inez travels from Argentina to Egypt in a quest to find her parents who have disappeared and find herself entangled in a web of deceit and danger which challenges all she has believed to be true. The ending is a cliffhanger which leaves as many questions as when her journey began.

Missed the Point

I tried, but I just didn't care about the characters or the world... the two most important aspects of fantasy books for me. The main character is stubborn, not strong. She is impulsive, not dedicated. Her motivations are forgotten in scenes immediately following intense internal dialogs of exactly those motivations. The magic world building could have made up for those flaws. Except it's very surface level to the point that at one point I completely forgot there was magic. I could not push through, even for Netgalley.

I received an eARC of this book for review from the St. Martin's Press, Wednesday Books via NetGalley, all opinions are my own.

DNF at 65%