Book Review: What the River Knows - Isabel Ibañez⁣
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What the River Knows is a YA historical fantasy set in Egypt that is pure escapism! Inez Olivera is a member of the 19th century gentile class in Argentina, she has everything a girl could want, except her parents. Inez has never grown accustomed to her parents’ frequent and extended absences. Left in the care of her proper Tía Lorena, Inez finds herself bored with ladylike pursuits and would prefer to hide out in the old potter’s shed with her books and a sketch pad. One day everything changes when Inez receives a letter telling of her parents’ mysterious disappearance. Determined to discover what happened to her parents, she leaves a note for her aunt, and dressed like a widow, sets sail for Cairo. She hopes her Tío Ricardo, a partner in her parents’ business, will have answers. ⁣
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If you’re looking for a reading adventure brimming with magical artifacts, archeologists, treasure hunters, profiteers, crooked officials and those who will stop at nothing to get what they want, then pick up What the River Knows. Did I mention that there is a brewing enemies-to-lovers romance? But never mind that, the cliffhanger ending will leave you eager for the next installment in the riveting and twisty Secrets of the Nile duology. ⁣
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My special thanks to @IsabelWriter09, @StMartinsPress and @NetGalley for the gift of this advance digital copy in exchange for an honest review.

✨Book Review✨
What the River Knows by Isabel Ibañez
@isabelwriter09 [Pub Date: Oct 31, 2023]

This. Book.

So many twists and turns-some predictable, some expected, others devastating and surprising.

With the recklessness of youth and inexperience, Inez travels across the world from all she’s known in Argentina to the wonders of Egypt. Her parents spent more time there than anywhere else and now that they are gone, she wants answers…and to be connected to what they loved most. What she didn’t expect was Tio Ricardo’s reaction nor his lackey Mr. Hayes.

So much sassy banter, sadness, and laugh out loud moments you’ll be pulled down the Nile in the adventure of a lifetime.

I cannot tell you how many times I fell asleep reading this because I could not put it down and make myself go to bed. Just one more page, moment, chapter. 😅

Thanks @Netgalley for the eARC! Definitely a fav of the year.

This book is giving off The Mummy vibes all day and I am HERE for it! Inez is a strong-willed, intelligent, and take-no-shit main character who sets off from Buenos Aires to Egypt to find answers after receiving word that her parents have died while in the country on an archaeological expedition. Upon arriving in Alexandria she immediately crosses paths (and wits and wills) with her uncle's English assistant Whitford Hayes. She problem solves and perseveres at every turn to be included in her Tio Ricardo's expedition to find Cleopatra's tomb. She discovers several secrets along the way that shake all of her beliefs and foundations.
The last third was the book was action-packed, heart pounding, and heartbreaking leaving us with an epilogue that made my jaw drop. It's safe to say that I CANNOT wait for the second book to finish off Inez's journey and figure out what is truly going on.
I really loved the banter between Inez and Whit and following them on their journey on the Nile and beyond. The Egyptian history and mythology was gorgeously woven into the story with an added splash of magic.

Inez is a defiant young woman who leaves her home in Argentina in a secretive manner to travel to Egypt to look into her parents’ deaths. She expects to be greeted by her uncle, Ricardo but instead, she encounters Whit, her uncle’s assistant, who has orders to put her right back on the ship to return to Argentina. But Inez manages to thwart her uncle’s attempts to keep her away from his archeological dig for Cleopatra’s tomb on the island of Philae. Inez and other members of the team also possess some magical abilities which help their quest and Inez stumbles unwittingly into plots for selling artifacts on the black market while learning more about her parents’ disappearances. Meanwhile, she and Whit are exploring a potential romantic relationship.
Whew! Sounds like a lot going on in this story and this is one of the more positive aspects of the book. I enjoyed the action and the plot around archeology in Egypt. But, contrary to the popular opinions of other reviewers, the book was disappointing for me. I actually didn’t like any of the characters, including Inez - she was supposed to be independent and strong but also naive and the contrasts in her personality just didn’t work. Whit was also poorly developed and the dialogue between him and Inez was just lame overall. And most of the other characters were mean and/or deceitful. Elvira was the only character with some potential. I wish romance hadn’t even been thrown into this mess but what little there was seemed like an afterthought - there was nothing to base any affection on between Whit and Inez. The magical realism aspects of the story were also underdeveloped and seemed out of place. I have seen some hints about this book being the first in a series (which I won’t be continuing) but I really hated the cliffhanger ending. I really wanted to like this book so overall, I’m really disappointed.
#NetGalley #St.Martin’sPress

Wow, just wow! This was like the mummy, a treasure hunt and a will-they-won’t-they romance all in one. This was amazing from start to finish! The ending!?! Mindblowing! I need a second book! This was seriously phenomenal.

Inez, tío Ricardo, Whit, Elvira, and Abdullah were all amazing characters. Inez was innocent and trusting, but also brave as heck. Whit was the elusive “bad boy” and struck me as complicated from minute one. Tío Ricardo was grumpy, bossy, but ultimately, the good guy. I saw the mom being the bad guy coming, but now, that final telegram left me with SO MANY QUESTIONS! 🤯

Yay a great historical fiction book about Egypt! I got a lot of different vibes from this book from Indiana Jones to Tomb Raider with the mystery of Death on the Nile. I am a lover of Egyptian art and history and this book really brought the culture to life! I loved the mix of mystery and romance and thought the author created such a great amount of suspense and intrigue that I didn't want to stop reading.

Inez Olivera leaves Argentina after her parents sudden death in Egypt to find out the cause of their mysterious disappearance. Her uncle is being cagey with the details and Inez wants to know why her parents have passed away and see where they have spent the majority of their time. Although they visited her in Argentina, most of the year they were in archaeological digs in Egypt. Right before his passing, Inez's father had sent her an Egyptian ring. No note was attached, but Inez feels a power when she wears it.

Leaving Argentina and taking a cross-ocean boat was not easy, but her uncle and his companions make it even harder for Inez to stay in Egypt. They want her to leave immediately leaving Inez to question what they are hiding from her about her parents and their archaeological findings. Great read!

I did not realize this was going to be duopoly when I started reading the book, but that makes me even more excited! Now I get to read a second book in this deeply immersive setting!

I wanted to LOVE it because I loved The Mummy movies, but this one didn't meet expectations. I enjoyed the historical aspect, and her overall depiction of Egypt. I think the author did a good job in keeping a mysterious aura about the characters that made you dislike/hate/distrust them, as it played a role into her twists. I love the references to Cleopatra being a strong leader and not getting her due in history.

As an adult, I go into YA books knowing that the main characters are going to do stupid things, and be annoying. I can usually overlook it ("because teenagers") but I really didn't like this main character. For a young adult book, the FMC fits the tropes, so I guess that's good, but she was extra annoying. The pacing of the first 2/3 was really slow, and it took me longer to get into this book than what I would've liked. The last 1/3 flew by and what a way of leaving the reader hanging! Might pick up the next one. We'll see.

Thank you to NetGalley, St. Martin Press and Wednesday Books for the advanced reader's copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

What I did like: I loved all the rich descriptions of Cairo and Egypt and the historical history on ancient Egypt and Cleopatra. The author did a great job setting the scene and creating the atmosphere. Loved all of that.

What didn’t work for me: Very slow moving plot. It took forever for the story to pick up. The Uncle got on my nerves and the characters could’ve have been more fleshed out. Could’ve used more magic as well. Also, when you reference The Mummy and Death on the Nile (I like 1978 version), two movies that are favs, my expectations are high. The book did not meet those expectations.
I’m bummed because I really wanted to love this book but overall, I was just bored. The book did end in a cliffhanger and now I want to know what happens next but fool me once…..

Thanks to Wednesday Books and Netgalley for the eARC!

Inez has been waiting for her parents to summon her on their latest trip and when she gets news that they does, she decides to jaunt to a different continent to find out more.

It's such good writing and characterization! Enemies to lovers done right!
And a doozy of a cliffhanger!

But there's so much more of it dealing with colonialism and theft of culture. Again it's a brilliant ride and I can't wait to find out what happens next!

This story I had a hard time connecting with soo it took me a longer time to read it. I am glad I pushed through though because it ended up being a story I really enjoyed.

Such a fun book! The description of The Mummy meets Death on the Nile is spot on. Loved the historical fantasy elements and all the historical details. Lots of adventure and mystery, twists and turns. Great banter and romantic tension. The cliffhanger is jaw dropping and I’m dying to know what comes next.

Note: I received a copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion. Thank you, NetGalley and publishers.
If you ever watched Indiana Jones or the Mummy, or went through a phase when you were fascinated with ancient Egypt, this book is for you. As the book opens, Inez is eagerly awaiting for her parents to write her, and invite her to join them in their adventures in Egypt, where they’ve spent most of her life. But the letter she does get contains terrible news: her parents are dead. Heartbroken and grieving, she makes the impulsive decision to travel to Egypt on her own, determined to discover the truth of their lives and what happened in their final days. In this historical fantasy there is love, adventure and betrayal.

This is a BEAUTIFULLY written fantasy that weaves fantasy and forbidden romance into it so intricately. Egyptian mythology had me from the start, but you add in intrigue, romance, mystery, and an action packed plot and it’s just even more amazing.

Our FMC is one of the best written to date. Her need for adventure was popping off the page and it was just an amazing time.

Thank you to St. Martin’s Press & Wednesday Books for the e-arc.

It’s the mid-1880s and Inez’s parents have been in the thick of all things ancient Egypt— working and living there the past 17 years while leaving Inez behind with her aunt in Buenos Aires. She has always dreamt of joining them but is consistently told that Cairo is not the place for a young proper woman. When Inez receives an unusual package from her father and then distressing news about her parents, she takes matters into her own hands. A trip across the ocean later and she is in Egypt and she is looking for answers. What follows is a mix of mystery, intrigue, magic and treasure. Will Inez make it through unscathed?

I really enjoyed this novel! I have always been interested in ancient civilizations and Egypt is one that captures the imagination so easily. Placing a novel in a time where tombs are being discovered and treated as opportunities to make money by crooked excavation teams is a perfect opportunity for a great story. The added magical element to it really makes the novel interesting and engaging. I enjoyed Inez’s character and her strength in a foreign land. The relationship between her and Whit is also a fun one to follow. The novel kept me flipping the pages all the way to the very end and I cannot wait to get my hands on the next book! 5 stars.

Review based on a digital Advanced Reader’s Copy provided by St. Martin’s Press/Wednesday Books and NetGalley. Thank you!

thank you to netgalley for this arc!

I cannot say enough good things about this book, the storytelling was phenomenal. I felt so immersed in the story that when the ending came I knew I needed more before it was even over. I loved everything about the book except the massive cliffhanger at the end of the book! I mean that ending? wow!
The elements of the colonialism that went on in Egypt were so well researched and thought out (i have a small background in archaeology and antiquities and the illegal trade of them). Whit was a 10/10 love interest for me, his background was a little explored but not enough that I saw the twist coming. HER MOTHER?! absolutely criminal, literally. I need to know what happens next asap!

The premise for Isabel Ibañez's WHAT THE RIVER KNOWS was so promising, and how it was described (Indiana Jones-esque, for lovers of The Mummy, etc.) had me so excited for the story--exactly the postcolonial YA fantasy I have been looking for. Unfortunately, the story and characters fell flat for me. I've read some of Ibañez's other work, and she can definitely write, but WHAT THE RIVER KNOWS is disappointing. I'm genuinely perplexed by all the five star reviews. Overall, the story needed a major overhaul in terms of plot development and pacing. There is no satisfying arc or character development. And the cliffhanger ending...instead of exciting me, was just annoying. On the plus side, Ibañez clearly did her research. I never felt pulled out of the setting. And I didn't predict the twists. I just wish there had been more or different voices on the editing/feedback team.

Book Name: What the River Knows
Author: Isabel Ibañez

ARC
Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press, Wednesday Books for an ARC of Isabel Ibañez’s What the River Knows

Stars: 5
Spice : 0

New Series:
Cliffhanger of EIPC proportions
Fast Paced
High Stakes
Dual POV (Swoon)
Alternative Magical Historical Romance Mystery
Argentinian Representation

- Thoughts.
- ****The Mummy with Magic!* ****
- Romance was brillant
- Complex Family Relationships
- FMC's naivety was infuriating at times
- The ending was an insane cliffhanger… need more
- beliavble magic system
- believable romance arc
- Side charetyers were brillant isadora and tio ricardo and eliveira
- So good if you like the mummy, like fantasy, or like magical alternative history this is a must-read
- Tropes
- Rivals to Lovers
- Hidden Identities
- Secret
- Miscommunication
- Found family
- Betrayal
- Family Dynamics

The vibes? Immaculate. The story? Immaculate. The romance? Immaculate. That cliffhanger? Ma'am I'm gonna need the next book posthaste.

If you are like me and had phase where you watched the mummy on repeat solely for Brendan Fraser than do yourself a favor and read this. Thank you netgalley for the e arc

I believe that books often find us at the right time and this is exactly the case with What The River Knows.
I've had an arc since January but I didnt have the time to pick it up till now when just recently I caught The Mummy (original and remake) on TV and they really put me in the mood for this type of story .

It's been a hot minute since I've read anything by Isabel Ibañez so I didn't really go into this with any expectations, but the story still managed to impress and surprise me.

WtRK has everything I love - adventure, romance, mystery, magic, secrets, lies, betrayal, morally grey characters - and I enjoyed every minute of it!
II perfectly blends Egyptian mythology and historical details with magical elements blurring the lines between fiction and reality which is just about one of my fav things ever.

I had a hard time putting this down and it's difficult for me to even write a review since I loved everything about it.

The characters are fantastic.
19 year old Inez is the type of heroine I love and relate to - willful, stubborn, curious, tenacious, defiant. She could be too trusting and naïve at times which made perfect sense with the way she was brought up and she went through a lot in this book, my heart broke for her more than once.
Inez also has a great sense of humor and her banter with Whit was on point.
Speaking of Whit, I'm obsessed with him. He's morally grey, witty, smart, loyal, has a great intuition and he wears many masks to keep people at arms length, which Inez saw right through.

Their romance was forbidden and torturously slow burn and I loved every second. The banter and tension between them was *chef's kiss*.

I wouldn't say that the book is dual POV but I appreciate we got glimpses of Whit's inner thoughts, only wish we got them more often.

I really enjoyed the magic system and I hope it's explored even more in the sequel.

The last few chapters were crazy! There was an earlier plot twist that didn't surprise me but those few chapters...... I'm still reeling!! I can't believe I have to wait for the sequel, WHAT DOES IT ALL MEAN AAAGGHHHH
send help and sequel 'cause this was fantastic and I need to know what's gonna happen next!!

Eternal gratitude to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC

Isabel Ibanez just keeps getting better.

Set in 1884, Inez is pulled into the world of ancient Egyptian history and magic when she learns of her parents' deaths and vows to figure out what truly happened to them.

There's so much to dissect in this book. From the worldbuilding to the slow burn romance to the mystery and magic of Egypt!! The plot was incredibly engaging, albeit a bit slow at times and frustrating because the mystery aspect seems to just stem from people actively keeping Inez in the dark. And while the first quarter of the book dragged, the rest of the book was fun to read and I adored the vast Egyptian history that was explored.

There are a few things I wished this book had more off, especially when it's harking The Mummy and Death on the Nile vibes and seemed to lack much of it. Where's the murder? The fast-paced danger? The mummy???? I also wanted more longing/tension between Whit and Inez, and got a mid version of Evie and Rick.

But I enjoyed this book and I can't wait to read the sequel because that ending?? I have so many questions that I'm praying get answered soon.