From the minute I read “The Mummy meets Murder on the Nile” I knew I would enjoy this book, and ended up loving it. Egyptian history, a soft magic system, angsty love interest, stubborn headstrong MC, slow burn romance with a lot of witty banter, all so perfectly done in What the River Knows. I adored Whit, his back story is so intriguing and I loved the slow reveal of who he was as a person. Inez is such a fun MC, she doesn’t back down but also isn’t afraid to show where her weaknesses are. It contains a complicated family dynamic that just has you on the edge of your seat. The glimpses of the magic system were so interesting and the way the author describes the scenery within the book was so beautiful. There were so many twists and turns I didn’t know what to really expect and oh my word that ending! I can’t believe I’ll have to wait so long for the next installment, but it will definitely be worth the wait, definitely one to add to your list if you love Historical YA with touches of magic. I also appreciated the romance keeping within the threshold of YA with a few steamy kisses but nothing beyond that.

Thank you to NetGalley and Wednesday Books for an early copy to review.

Thank you to @netgalley and @stmartinspress @wednesdaybooks for an eARC of @isabelwriter09 ‘s WHAT THE RIVER KNOWS!

I’ll be thinking about this book for a long time. I finished it 24 hours ago and I can’t get it out of my head. What the River Knows is rich in culture and history, thrilling adventure, a heart pounding mystery, and a swooning “off limits” romance. You’ll fall in love with Inez and Whit and, with every turn of the page, root for them more and more. And that dedication page 🥹

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Add to your TBR immediately!

Reviewed for NetGalley:

3,5 rating.

Inez hasn't seen her parents in years, and when word comes that they have passed, she travels to Egypt to find out what happened to them.

A fun, adventurous, historical read. Some nice twists and turns and slow burn romance.

The author did a good job of making this time period come alive, and I enjoyed the characters. Knew something wasn’t quite “right” from early on, but didn’t expect the ending. Was actually quite frustrated by the end, so if this doesn’t have a sequel this will ultimately be an unsatisfying read! Maybe only read up to the epilogue!

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for a digital copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Inez Olivera is an intrepid young Bolivian-Argentinian woman living with her aunt and cousins in Buenos Aires, left behind by parents who journey to Egypt multiple times a year for reasons unknown. When she receives word that her parents have been lost in the desert and are presumed dead, Inez travels across the Atlantic, determined to unravel the mystery of their disappearance. But upon arrival in Egypt, she is met with resistance by their business partner, her Tío Ricardo, who refuses to answer any of her questions and insists she return home to Argentina at once for her own safety. With malevolent forces hot on her heels and danger lurking around every corner, Inez is thrust into an adventure filled with ancient mysteries, old world magic, and a dash of romance.

This was such a fun adventure to read! I loved the premise—ancient Egypt, magic, and a rivals-to-lovers romance? Sign me up.

I loved cultural patchwork of this story, reflective of the vibrant yet contentious cultural melting pot that was Egypt at the turn of the century due to tourism and, yes, colonialism. And I really enjoyed the dynamic between Whit and Inez. They had very practical reasons not to trust each other despite their palpable attraction, and as we know, with high stakes comes great sexual tension. Their slow-burn romance was very effectively done.

This is a YA novel, though, so some readers may find the plot twists to be a bit predictable (although I was definitely not prepared for that epilogue, which leaves us on a major cliffhanger and has me dying to read the inevitable sequel). Because I don’t read much YA, I had a hard time telling whether this predictability was due to the nature of the genre, or if Inez was really just that oblivious most of the time, or if it was just clumsy storytelling.

My biggest gripe with the book was the pacing, which was way too slow for an adventure novel. The magic system and world building relied on info dumps that stilled any rising momentum to a halt, and it was really difficult to get the ball rolling again once it slowed down. It often got bogged down in unnecessary details that, to me, came off more as self-serving proof of the author’s interest rather than essential information for the reader. While the bare bones of the story are exciting and intriguing, the reading experience is a bit clunky and uneven.

I’d recommend this book for readers who enjoy ancient Egypt, exotic adventures, and a solid forbidden romance. The execution wasn’t perfect, but this book was lots of fun and I highly look forward to reading the sequel!

Thank you @wednesdaybooks for the e-arc of this amazing release!

Here’s what I loved:
• the Egyptian setting was so
immersive
• lots of twists and turns
• reluctant/forbidden romance
• ancient magic
• adventure and betrayal

This book was unlike anything I’ve read before. It was so unique and addictive, full of fiery romance, tombs, magic, and that end? I am not ok.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★/5
Steam: make outs
TW: murder, death, blood, language

What the River Knows is a historical fantasy that is set In Egypt and is filled with action, and rivals to romance storyline. The setting was described beautifully, and I enjoyed hearing about locations around Egypt.

Inez is a strong-willed character who is determined to find out what happened to her parents and continues to defy her uncles orders to find the answers she seeks. Whit works for Inez's uncle and has been tasked with looking out for her. Inez gives Whit trouble every step of the way. Inez and Whit are at odds with each other in the beginning, they are constantly bickering with one another and as the book progresses their relationship starts to shift.

This was a pretty steady paced book filled with action, magic, twists, and betrayal. A fun read with a cliffhanger ending that leaves me eager for the next book.

What's not to like about an artless but spirited heroine, a dusty and magic-tinged adventure through 19th century Egypt, and a sprinkling of forbidden romance? If you said nothing, then you'd be right.

This is a rich and immersive historical fantasy that follows Inez Olivera as she hops a ship from Buenos Aires to Cairo after learning of her parents' tragic deaths. She arrives in Egypt armed with nothing but a sketchbook and an ancient ring her father sent her, determined to find answers about what happened to them. However, not long after she arrives, the ring's magic pulls her into a world of archaeology, ancient Egyptian history, and secrets about her parents that are much more dangerous than she was led to believe.

Overall, it's a fun, fast-paced adventure.

Inez is relentless, sassy, and willing to challenge the status quo of both her life and the era she lives in, so she's easy to champion as a character. And her dynamic with Whit, resident enigma-with-a-gentleman's-soul, is fire from their first exchange. They're infuriating (to each other) in the best way.

Even her relationship with Tío Ricardo is nuanced, with many shades and unraveling layers.

It all makes for a sweeping good time. Watch out for that cliffhanger at the end, though! It'll take the feet out from under you like quicksand.

3.5 stars

Special thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the ARC in exchange for my review.

What the River Knows by Isabel Ibañez

416 Pages
Publisher: St. Martin’s Press, Wednesday Books
Release Date: November 14, 2023

Fiction, Historical Fiction, 1880s, Teens, Young Adult, Archeology, Egypt, Argentina

Inez Olivera lives in a beautiful mansion on a great estate in Argentina with her aunt and two cousins. Her parents spend six months every year in Egypt excavating. This year is no different, but Inez has a plan. Instead of wanting to choose a husband and settle down like other young women her age, she decides to travel alone to Egypt in 1884.

When she arrives in Egypt, she meets her Uncle’s assistant Whit at the ship docks. His plan is to put her back on the boat and send her back to Argentina, but Inez has other plans. She leaves him with all her belongings, hoping he is a gentleman and will take care of them, and takes a train to the hotel she knows her parents always stay while they are in Cairo.

The book has a steady pace, the characters are developed, and it is written in first person point of view. I love Inez and her plucky attitude. There are not many people that would just pick up and travel halfway across the world on their own. Her downfall is her faith in others. The book has the same quirkiness as the The Mummy movie but with the twists of Hercule Poirot. If you like historical fiction, you will enjoy reading this book.

What. A. Ride.

First of all with the setting, Egypt in the 1800. What an amazing time/place to write a book. The magic system was subtle and well thought out, the characters we lovable/hate-able to the right degrees, the family dynamics made me feel a lot of things. I trusted no one for the whole book and I’m still not sure what is going to happen in the next one. The heartbreak and slow burn were real people! Definitely give this one a try if you like anything I mentioned above!

As promised in the description of the book- this IS like The Mummy meets Death on the Nile. This was my first Ibañez book, but won't be my last.

I really enjoyed the characters and their trials & tribulations, the love story, and the setting. This is well written and easily consumed.

The cliffhanger ending has me sad I have to wait for the next installment, but I am excited for it nonetheless. What a wonderful YA story that will still appeal to adults as well.

TYSM for letting me be an ARC reader for this one.

What the River Knows is an adventurous historical fantasy set in Europe. It is filled with mystery, a slow burn rivals to lovers romance, and well-written writing. I loved the main characters and I’m excited to see what else Ibañez will release in the future

This book has it all! Adventure! Romance! Family drama! Egyptian mythology! The Nile! Crocodiles! Magical sandals that light up! Treasure hunting! Villains! Scoundrels! Sahwoony moments!

But seriously it’s so good.

What I loved about this book:
-the writing is atmospheric, beautiful! I felt like I was on the Nile, in the tombs, wandering the streets of Cairo with them
-I stan Inez, she is brave, determined and loyal, to a fault. She goes through so much, but never gives up.
-Whit, love a morally grey love interest who you just can’t pin down but gosh is it shmexy
-the plot was fantastically done, never felt slow or rushed. Expertly paced!
-pretty much everything. It’s fantastic.

Magical objects, mysterious trips to far away places and an illustrious and spellbinding expressiveness, Isabel Ibanez hits it out of the park with What the River Knows. I’m completely under the spell of all things Egyptian and this historical fantasy tale, is absolutely brimming with intrigue, romance and adventure. Go Inez!

This books checks all the boxes. Romance, check. Fantasy, check. Adventure, check!
Such a fun read for anyone who loves historical fantasy.

Thanks to Isabel Ibañez, Wednesday Books, and NetGalley for this ARC!

Set in the late 1800s, Inez Oliveria is residing in Buenos Aires when she receives word that her parents have mysteriously passed. Her parents have spent her entire life leaving her with her aunt, while they search for artifacts in Egypt. She is determined to find out what happened to her parents, ultimately sneaking past her aunt and traveling to Cairo to find the truth. There is a magic system with magic imbued objects, and a subtle hinting about looking for alchemy documents.

I loved Inez, and I felt so sad for her throughout the novel. Her parents were barely in her life, sending letters and visiting occasionally. She spends her time researching Egyptian history so that she can relate to her parents. She is intelligent, resilient, and naive all at once. I personally think it can be frustrating to see Inez making mistakes or trusting the wrong person, but who is she to trust? We have an innate instinct to trust our parents and loved ones. Her foundation is parents that are never in the same country. It makes Inez relatable, and I found myself admiring her.

Whit, whit, whit. Oh my goodness. He has the right amount of mystery, angst, and brooding. I knew he was going to be trouble from the beginning, and still love him regardless. Naturally, Inez falls for Whit quickly but the romance is still a slow burn.

As a final note, What The River Knows ends on a significant cliffhanger. Ibañez, you did NOT have to do that to us. It will be at LEAST a year for the second novel. I would’ve immediately bought myself the next book after reading that last paragraph.

I received this ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
My rating a 3.5

Very standard YA novel, which in no way is a bad thing( I mean that YA formula draws me in every times baby ;) ).

I honestly felt bad for Inez the whole time! My girl could not catch a single break. And while
the plot happened predictably, and was a bit slow in the first half and quite speedy the latter, I.Could. Not.Stop. Reading. Feeling bad for our heroine only made me root for her more and I just love how the author writes scenery. I was brought into Egypt everytime a room or landscape was described.
The magic system was definitely intriguing and new to me. A touch confusing but perhaps will be highlighted on more in the future? The limitations of it could definitely be explored more and I'd be interested to learn more about it!
The romance was between Whit and Inez was the classic independent heroine and sarcastic love interest (I eat it up almost everytime). While I loved their banter for the most part with some bits just striking me as odd and ¿Clunky? I guess. For the most part Inez's relationships were just a bit perplexing.

I had no idea the book was going to be a series, so I quickly had to adjust my expectations ( and I mean like suddenly seeing the word epilogue thinking I had 30 pages left quick).

With all that being said: Would I recommend this book? Yes, if you love YA, historical romance or The Mummy- Go for it!
Will I read the next one? Yes, of course. I have to know what's next for Inez.
Congrats and thanks to Isabel Ibañez for the great story and to Wednesday Books and NetGalley for the ARC!

This is so, so good. I’ve had this book about a week, and I didn’t have many opportunities to read it but when I did I devoured it. And that ending!! I need the sequel ASAP. A twisty, unreliable character book, with realistic mistakes, so good. The Mummy references are accurate, I definitely feel those vibes with this book. Isabel Ibañez, I NEED the sequel.

I recieved a free arc through NetGalley. These opinions are my own.
Amazing read! So many twists and turns. I wasn't sure what to expect. The story has the vibes of the mummy movie without the horror. the book has mystery and the tension and the main character is well developed and reminds me a Dontella from the Caravel series. It does switch pov with another character in the book and it makes it an absolute wonderful read. It you love historical mysteries with a touch of magic this book is for you. One of my absolute favorites and can't wait to get a physical copy and book 2!

The Mummy meets Death on the Nile? I don't think I've ever requested an ARC so fast.
I was obsessed from page 1. I took my time reading this only because I couldn't think about it ending and the long wait until we could delve back into the lush, historical world.
This is literally everything I've been wanting in a fictional book about Egypt. With the touches of magic and immersive landscapes, the book came to life with each turn of the page.
Inez was a bit naive but she was so headstrong. What wouldn't she do to find her parents? I couldn't stand how her Tio kept blaming her for the messes she found herself in, when if there had been honest communication, she wouldn't have even been in them! But alas, that is *always* the main issue in YA books...or any book. Communication. It's always going to boil down to it. And I'm always going to want to ring the characters neck not utilizing it.
Whit. I don't know where he falls in all of this. But he's book bf material. Good. Bad. Neutral. I don't even care at this point.
The magic with Cleopatra. I want more. I want a prequel of this Cleopatra and the world she lived so badly. The glimpses we got just simply aren't enough. I think Isabel Ibanez could really write the perfect Cleopatra historical fantasy book that I've needed my whole life.

So to put one final rave into this review. The way the author puts down into her characters how I feel about the artifacts removed from the tombs and resting places, just thank you. I can't believe history has desecrated these ancient places. It's one thing to go and visit and admire while leaving these places whole. It's another to remove anything from the grounds. Culture and history and beliefs were stolen from these lands and it's not right.

So.
This book was perfection for me. Pure perfection. The wait until we can dive back in will be agony as who knows when it will be since this one still won't be out into the world for months. But if there's anything I've learned, it's that the author is going to absolutely make the wait worth it.