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.

Special thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press/Wednesday Books for providing me with an e-arc in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Rep: Latinx, Egyptian mythology, slow burn romance

Thoughts
Neutral thoughts:

If you’re worried that this book is just gonna be a copy and paste version of the The Mummy movie or if you’ve been burned by other books that “promised” to be like The Mummy do not worry about this one! We actually have a good one here 😭

Can I just how on point the tag line is for this book??? I will say that I have yet to watch Death on the Nile, but The Mummy feels are HERE in this book!! What the River Knows is definitely its’ own book and does not at all copy the plot of The Mummy. While there are similar “places” (as in ancient places that have been thought to be purely myth at this point) that our cast of characters venture to, what happens and who is involved is so different and you can’t think that you’ll know where the plot is going to go just because you’re familiar with The Mummy. At the core of this book is adventure, mystery, betrayal, romance and magic that the book just flies between your fingertips. This was my first Isabel Ibañez book and it did not disappoint!

Be warned: there is quite the cliffhanger at the very end and I can't believe I have to wait so long for the next book 😭😭😭

The romance(s):

Inez and Whit’s relationship reminded me SO MUCH of Rick and Evy in The Mummy and I had such a good time reading the interactions between the two of them and seeing their relationship grow. We learn some things at the end of the book that is going to affect these two in the next book and I can't WAIT to see how they play out 😈😈😈😈

What the River Knows by Isabel Ibañez is a lush, enchanting and beautifully written story filled with romance, action, and one hell of an adventure!
Isabel Ibañez creates a stunning magical world. Like wow! It’s pure magic inside her stories.
The world-building was exquisitely crafted. It felt very fresh and unique.
The story has a steady pace, the characters are developed, and the passion between the characters was insanely intriguing. I loved the characters so much, their interactions with one another were so real and believable.
I love how the author writes in a descriptive style, so you feel a part of the story.
From page one I was very intrigued by the plot. It was so beautifully written and well developed.
An adventurous filled historical fantasy romance set in Egypt filled with personality, witty banter and characters who you’ll never want to leave.
This badass rivals-to-lovers should be at the top of your tbr list and it’s one you will not want to miss!

“I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.”

Thank You NetGalley and Wednesday Books for your generosity and gifting me a copy of this amazing eARC!

Thank you to Wednesday Books for sending me an early copy of this in exchange for review! I screamed when I saw this arrive in my email.

This was a wild ride! First thing you can definitely tell the author did extensive research for this book and I loved it so much. I loved the characters Inez the main character she was so stubborn and just wanted to find out what happen to her parents, Whit the morally gray assistant. this story is fast paced set against Egypt as a backdrop and I absolutely devoured it in one sitting.

This. Book.

I don’t have adequate words for how much I loved this book. The characters, the romance, the setting, the twists. The intensity of emotions I felt while reading this book, especially THAT ending… well suffice to say I think I need a support group.

I loved Inez. Whit. Just everything.

If I loved it less, I might be able to talk about it more.

1000/ 5 stars

This. Book. As soon as I saw the pitch for "The Mummy meets" I didn't have to read any further. And then I binged this book in a handful of hours. Buckle up, because I'm about to give you a long list of reasons why this book is amazing. The short version is: a great heroine, a believable romance with hilarious and flirty banter, adventure, plot twists (and plot turns and plot bombs), ancient Egypt, magic, and an overall fun plot that kept me hooked beginning to end. Will the end of this book make you need therapy? Maybe. But it's so worth it.

Let's start with Inez. She's immediately a fun, strong, stubborn heroine that is easy to root for. Her cousin Amaranta sums up her personality perfectly in the beginning of the book. "Your curiosity will get you in trouble one day." Inez is strong willed in the best way and despite having a relatively sheltered upbringing, she immediately finds her own strength and resilience. Inez will stop at nothing to get answers about what happened to her parents, and that is what I loved most about her. Her natural curiosity for the world paired with a stubbornness to figure out what happened to her family made her so easy to root for. She's smart, she's witty and funny, and she always finds a way out of the trouble she willingly and not-so-willingly gets herself into. I loved seeing Inez's growth throughout the book and how certain aspects of her personailty tie into the plot (if you've read this....you know what I mean.) I can't wait to see her develop further in the next book, which seems unbearably far away.

Next we've got the love interest, Mr. Whitford Hayes. A morally gray bad boy who's actually a gentleman at heart, he serves as the perfect swoony foil and romantic interest for Inez. He's smart and whitty just like she is, and knows his way around the underbelly of Cairo. He makes you swoon with his protectiveness, his charm, and his soft heart. Their banter is 100% the best part of this book. I can also see in their relationship why The Mummy is mentioned in this pitch--I may or may not have kept picturing Rick and Evie. Also, young Brendan Fraser is exactly how I pictured Whit (even if I wasn't supposed to...oops).

I also loved the side characters and how complex they turned out to be. Isadora is a character who is introduced later in the book and I immediately wanted to know so much more about her. She's beautiful, a perfect lady, but also willing to shoot crocodiles in the head. I really hope we see more of her in the sequel, too. "She looked like a damsel from a romance novel, just waiting to be saved. Except I couldn't get the picture of her firing that gun out of my mind."

I loved the ups and downs with Tio Ricardo, too, a really interesting character with hidden depths. I would say more about his character and his relationship with Inez, but there's a lot of spoilers tied up in that so I won't. Let's just say I want to see more of him and his backstory in the next book!

The plot is another huge plus to this book. Ancient Egypt, a mystery, magic, adventure...what more could you want? As one of those kids who had that golden Egyptology books....this book immediately captured and held my interest. I loved the intertwining of magic/ magical realism and real history. The book starts a little slow, but once we get into the real plot things go quickly and don't slow down. This book is the perfect adventurous read, especially if you like ancient Egypt like I do (and even if you don't--it's really that good.).

I could go on and on and on about how much I loved this book, but let me just sum it up with this: READ IT. You can thank me later.

I absolutely adored this book. Archeology, intrigue, adventure. romance– this book has it ALL. I am here for a MMC who broods but has a heart of gold; and, to boot, a young heroine who won’t take “no” for an answer as she undertakes a quest to find out what happened to her parents as they searched for treasure in Egypt. The banter between Inez and Whit was perfection! But the cliffhanger is completely MURDERING me and why must I wait SO LONG for the next installment. I am so happy I preordered this book (out November 14th!) but I am even happier that I got my hands on an early release copy.