An entertaining read, though I wanted more out of this duology in terms of plot and substance.

These books are a bit too mired in romantic subplot for my taste, but if you like that sort of thing, you’ll probably enjoy these more than I did. Unfortunately this aspect of the story really takes over the second book, and I got bored quickly with all the I love you, I hate you, I love you again back and forth. It feels contrived and wastes pages that could have been spent deepening the central plot, which is far more intriguing and worthy.

I wish we’d gotten a lot more setting and a lot more archaeological history than we do here. It almost feels like an afterthought, which is a shame because what we do get of this is quite good. I also would have liked to see a better developed magical system. This one seems to come and go on a whim when it’s convenient, and I think it would have been a much better story had it either leaned into the fantasy aspects with more dedication or simply been grounded firmly in the real world.

I liked the characters and the writing is lovely, but this wasn’t quite what it needed to be in terms of plot and theme. Might be a good pick for younger YA readers, especially those focused on romance.

I loved this title as much as I loved the first in the duology. I appreciated the historical aspects and the imagery. Thanks for making available!

This is a perfect example of a sequel done right! My gosh I devoured this!
The pacing was great, all the questions from book 1 got answered, we got to see more emotions from characters and it was really lovely to see characters not try and excuse their actions but show with more actions how they would continue to try and be better!
One thing I also loved was that this picked up right after book 1. I’m not a fan of time jumps when it’s just 2 books so getting back into this world and not feeling like I missed months was amazing!

4.25⭐️2.75🌶️

Book 2 in Duology
New Adult Romantasy
Dual POV
Historical fantasy
Magical realism
Egyptian Setting
Coming of Age
Hispanic Heritage
Mystery
Secrets
Grief
Banter

*Closed door romance


Where the Library Hides picks up exactly where the first left off. And the characters are so strong and set up in rhe beginning that it’s like I read book 1 yesterday, when I actually read it months ago.

I found the atmosphere a little less defined in this portion of the duology. There was so much going on that I am afraid the author didn’t spend as much time immersing us in the setting. The Library centric plot point, which could have been such a sensory experience, wasn’t even brought up until later in the book. It’s hard to not notice, when book 2 had SO much of the river in the book.


The foreshadowing was a bit more smack you in the face, you can’t miss it, than I prefer. Twists were obvious chapters in advance. Even most of the characters seemed to see things coming while Inez fell backwards a bit backward and back into the naivety I thought she left behind in book 1. But, she is also a 19yo.

There was a tiny bit of an opening for a spin-off, and I’m not sure if I’m looking forward to that or not.

Overall, I really did love this bingable duology!


Thank you Netgalley and St. Martin’s Press, Wednesday Books for an Advanced eReader Copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

Amazing book! Isabel Ibañez is easily one of the best writers of young adult literature. I remember Ibañez documenting her research trip to Egypt for this very series. To finally be able to read it is the best gift ever. For all the children who were interested in Ancient Egypt as a kid, this book is a love letter to you, the reader. Our library has purchased a copy and I will be promoting this series to everyone--it's that good! Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan for this advanced reader copy.

Inez Olivera must choose: leave Egypt or marry Whitford Hayes. After the events of book one, Inez cannot leave Egypt, but can she trust Whit with her plans, or her heart?
Where the Library Hides is the stunning sequel to What the River Knows, full of adventure, romance, betrayal and hidden discoveries.

Where the Library Hides is a fun conclusion to the book What the River Knows. It continues where the previous book left off and follows Inez and Whit as they search for Inez's mother and the stolen artifacts. The story was engaging and I was eager to find out what happened next. I throughly enjoyed this book and the duology as a whole!

Review:



I was excitedly anticipating the return of Inez, one of my favorite YA heroines with her wit and rebellion, as well as, reading past the cliff-hanger from book one.

I LOVED the betrayal from Whitford, though I was disappointed that it didn’t lead to more of an estrangement between the two; I was hoping for more of a “camping” scenario where they are truly separated. There was angst, but there was no real threat that they weren’t going to end up together. As I was reading about the deception and when Whit stole all of Inez money, I had to wonder “why all?” Taking ALL seemed like it was intended to hurt Inez, it didn’t seem to make sense that Inez had the perfect inheritance amount to save Whits sister (who was so insignificant to me that I cannot remember her name).

I also did love the Cleopatra flashbacks, and wished for more in-depth visions, maybe even an actual interaction with Cleopatra since she was such a strong magician.

Now on to the unfortunate details of why this book did not deliver:

1. I still don’t know where the library hides. I was getting so lost with where the events were happening. I could not picture it, and sadly, all the hopes of having another grand adventure with Inez fell so flat that I could barely keep reading. I did not feel as though we were on to a discovery of any sort. When discoveries were made, they seemed so… superficial. I was rolling my eyes most of the time or didn’t even care/know what they were referring to. It didn’t feel clever or cunning like it did in book 1.

2. Isadora. Wow. I cannot express my disdain for this character. She took up way to much of the book for no reason. Inez already has a mother who betrayed her and a missing father, a husband who stole all her money and a dead cousin. Did we really need a mystery sister who tries to also murder her? Don’t we already have enough?

3. Cayo. What a bizarre and not-so-welcome twist. I was really rooting for Cayo to show up and be the ONE PRO-INEZ character since literally every person who ever met Inez is either dead, betrayed her, or in prison. But the author thought that even though Inez is portrayed as a loving and trusting person, we need to have her father also *takes mask off* reveal that he is also an artifact smuggler who, coincidentally, has no love for Inez and tries to kill her. What I cannot believe is what complete bad luck Inez has. It’s so out there and goes against every reference to Cayo thus far, that this in itself feels like a farse. Why did the author need yet ANOTHER family member to betray Inez? It was too much and, frankly, unrealistic.

4. Plot line. There was a lot of plot lines that created to much noise. I would have loved it just to be Whit and Inez trying to find the library and in doing so, saved or discovered Cayo and brought justice to Lourdes. There were too many distractions which made it hard to follow and hard to enjoy.



I do appreciate the opportunity to read Where the Library Hides. Though it did not deliver to my expectations, I will continue to follow Isabel Ibanez in her writing journey because of how wonderful book one was.

The perfect follow up to What the River Knows!

I loved everything about this story. This book wraps up all of the loose ends that we were left with in What the River Knows. We dive a little deeper into how the magic works and we get to see our characters go through some pretty transformative events in the short timeline of this story. The character arc for Inez was so well done. The traumas she experienced in such a short amount of time really changed her, and we saw how that played out on the page. She's still young, she's still impulsive, but she also realizes a lot about her life and how she can be happy in her future. While the timeline is short, we really get to see her grow up.

What I thought was done well here was the balance of twisty reveals and anticipation for things you know are coming. One betrayal was obvious (Whit kept telling us, so we knew something was up) but the details really built anticipation for how our characters would learn of said betrayal. Another twist came absolutely out of left field! I loved the way it handled the concept of how power corrupts, the commentary on women's rights, and the atmosphere of Egypt in 1885.

I don't think that this sequel was as good as the first book unfortunately, but I still love these characters and the world and i was entertained the whole time soooooo rounding up it is

This sequel didn't really go the way I expected.
Before I continue if you haven't read the first book definitely don't read this review and I'm gonna try to keep this as spoiler free as possible. Now buckle up, it might be a long one.

So the book starts exactly where the first one ended. The prologue is literally a continuation of the last chapter of What the River Knows before the epilogue.
Interestingly, Inez didn't react to the marriage proposal the way I thought she would which was a nice surprise. I honestly thought she'll jump blindly into the marriage without thinking it through (I mean, hello! It's Whit, I wouldn't have blamed her lol) especially given the intensity of her feelings. But she actually took her whole situation into consideration and was hesitant to make that kind of commitment. This was a nice change from her usual reckless behavior and I appreciated her development after everything she went through in book one.

Now, I have several issues with this sequel.
I cant believe I'm saying this but the first half of Where the Library Hides was pretty frustrating and that came mostly from Whit.
I wanted to throttle him during the first ~200pages, hell I was barely rooting for him, he really, really pissed me off. But what pissed me off even more than his betrayal (I don't even think this is a spoiler because if u have read the first book u know this is coming just not how or when) was not only the utter lack of apology after she found out, apology for hurting Inez not so much anything else, but also the way even, me the reader, couldn't tell what he was feeling about the whole situation.
Isabel gave us his POV but when it came to what Whit felt towards Inez and the situation they were in, his POV was sooooooo vague, too vague, we are as in the dark as Inez is.
I missed the build up and tension that we had in the first book. Whit's inner conflict regarding Inez, especially when their relationship evolved in later stages, was delicious. The whole "I want her, but I shouldn't, I will ignore that, I will stay away from her, OH, but I can't!" was just so good, and so well done. That's completely missing in he sequel and it could've been done in a similar way after what happened between them.
I suspect that, to a point, Isabel did it on purpose especially with what's revealed later on. I think maybe she wanted to have a big moment where his true feelings were revealed but the build up to that was missing because we literally don't get any indication until we get there and because of that, in my opinion, the romantic plotline suffered.

I was expecting WTLH to be different in tone, and the first half of the book certainly focuses more on the emotional impact rather than much of anything else happening. Which I don't mind, I didn't think there will be banter on every other page but again, because of the way Whit's chapters were written in the end I was frustrated at least half of the time. The magic i felt when i was reading WTRK was not really there. (I'm not gonna lie though Isabel tugged on my heart strings more than once, this book was definitely more emotional that the first)

I also thought that Inez will focus on looking for her father and then looking for the library given the title and what was hinted but neither of those things happens the way i thought they would and neither was a major plotline which was even more surprising.

The second half of the book, or after part III, is where it got really good. That was, i would say, the turning point for the story.
The plot was unquestionably more exciting and interesting, the tension was also much better and I love that we finally start to see past Whit's defenses—we get glimpses of vulnerability that I wish we saw earlier in the book.
There is a very big moment in this second half which brought me tears (happy tears!) and i was really expecting something like this to happen if Inez was ever going to forgive Whit. The reveal was a little abrupt since we don't see a build up from the beginning as i mentioned but I still loved it and I was honestly even hoping for something like it.

Speaking of reveals and twists there were a bunch in this book that shocked me, some more than others, though I have to admit that the 2 major twists were so crazy they felt a little far-fetched.

Regardless, I was super entertained the whole time, as I mentioned earlier and the second half managed to make up for my frustration during the first.
One of my absolute fav chapters was the one where they went to the Lighthouse—it was adventurous, it was dangerous, it was intense. I really thought the whole book will be like that, just nonstop adventure, but that wasn't really the case.
Loved the ending and the epilogue made me cry. I can't believe this is the last we see of Whit and Inez though I truly hope that spinoff teased at the end of the book really happens.

eternal gratitude to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC

To be honest, the first book felt lacking. I wanted more, more explanation of the fascinating magic instead of using it whenever there was no other way to explain something. I wanted more passion, and more understanding of her parents. I wanted Whit to have certain motivations. I wanted there to have been a better editing job that would have helped her be more clear and concise in the right moments (some mystery is expected!)

To start with the sequel I was profoundly disappointed. I wanted Whit to want the papyrus so he could cure his sister's hidden ailment, I wanted them to find a way to bring Elvira back, I wanted all these things and they were not there.

Once I got past my own expectations, I started to enjoy the story.

This one lacks the archeological dig setting, taking place almost entirely in cities but it was still an excellent setting.

Once I relaxed my wants for the characters, I enjoyed their journeys. The twists and turns left me gasping and so excited to read more.

I did enjoy this one, despite my own ideas and predictions.

Thank you to Net Galley and St. Martin's Press for the eARC!

"Where the Library Hides" by Isabel Ibañez is an absolute gem that wraps up the story from "What the River Knows" in the most thrilling way possible! Set against the stunning backdrop of 1885 Egypt, this lush historical fantasy has everything: adventure, mystery, and a riveting rivals-to-lovers romance that will leave you breathless.

Inez Olivera’s journey is nothing short of captivating. Reeling from her cousin Elvira's murder and her mother’s betrayal, Inez is thrust into a whirlwind of emotions. You feel her struggle as she faces a tough choice: marry the dashing but infuriating Whitford Hayes or risk everything.

Ibañez has a gift for creating vivid settings, and Egypt truly comes alive in her hands. The rich descriptions transport you to bustling markets and sun-soaked landscapes, making you feel like you’re right there with Inez. It’s a world filled with secrets and shadows, perfectly mirroring Inez’s own journey of self-discovery.

The stakes are sky-high, and just when you think you know where the story is headed, Ibañez throws in twists that keep you on the edge of your seat. The emotional depth and character growth are woven beautifully into the narrative, making this not just a romance but a powerful tale of resilience.

Overall, "Where the Library Hides" is a must-read that beautifully balances suspense, heart, and a touch of magic. Isabel Ibañez has crafted a mesmerizing conclusion that will stay with you long after the last page. If you love immersive storytelling and unforgettable characters, this novel is an absolute treasure!

This book was a wonderful action packed and twisty follow up to What the River Knows! So glad it started off right where the first book left off and we weren’t left wondering too long about that cliff hanger. Although I missed the archaeological dig and discovery aspect from River, the action in this was fast paced and fun! And wow, I didn’t see those twists coming! Loved this book!!

This was a great follow up to the first book. Didn't lose momentum, had new twists and turns, and was a great read. The pair of books are delightful and I definitely recommend them.

First l'd like to thank NetGalley, St. Martin's Press, and Isabel Ibanez for a copy of the eARC in exchange for an honest review.
This book is a love song to the heart of a little girl that wanted to grow up to be an archaeologist. Thank you for taking us along on Inez's journey through self reliance and the mystery surrounding her parents. Every plot twist actually surprised me even! The mysteries of Cleopatra added a hint of curious wonder about those we never truly knew. I cannot wait to purchase my copy once it's released!

A captivating read for fans of lush historical fantasy, magical realism, and epic romance, particularly those who delight in immersive stories set in ancient Egypt, rich in adventure, mystery, and forbidden love.

Thank you NetGalley for allowing me to read an arc of this book! Having just finished it and given some thought to my review, I’m giving it 4 out of 5 stars.

I seriously loved and adored this book. Egypt has always been a big love of mine, especially Ancient Egypt and that’s why I fell so heavily in love with book one and that love continued into book two. I don’t want to spoil this book, but the action truly does continue into this one and the mystery of Inez’s mother (and father) does too. Whit and Inez continue their story and continue working to try and recover Cleopatra after the events of the last book and oh boy do things get real SUPER fast. The action was perfect I felt and the chemistry and relationship between Whit and Inez continued to grow from book one. Without spoilers, again, these two have a super complicated relationship and while Whit is by no means a perfect man, or necessarily a good choice for Inez given his actions in this book, I absolutely adore them together and the clear love they have for each other. Honestly, the exploration of relationships in this book - especially Inez’s relationships - were great; I adored finding out about all of these complicated relationships and without spoilers, my poor Inez, the girl needs a big hug.

The main reason why I can’t give this book 5 stars is that the plot was just really missing something for me. Book one had a lot of focus on Cleopatra and her tomb and its discovery and I was so hoping for more of that in this book. And while the plot very much still focused on Cleopatra, it was lacking a lot of the archeology and that Ancient Egypt vibes from book one. While this book has a bit of a bigger focus and shift to the Library of Alexandria, which makes sense given the direction the plot takes, I felt like that focus wasn’t enough and that Inez and Whit should have spent more time in this area than what we actually got. The main Library part was done in about 70 pages or so with very little exploration of it as this was where the climax of the plot all happened and it just felt super rushed over and rushed through which was very disappointing to me both as a reader and as an avid “the burning of the Library of Alexandria keeps me up at night” kinda person. I felt like the pacing in the beginning was quite slow too, things didn’t start to really pick up until 100 pages in which I felt a little put off by. However the twists and turns in this book was top notch, each twist had me in shock and immediately reading more to see how the twists played out and how Inez would react to them.

I was also hoping for a bit more of an explanation as to the “magic” in this world. With it being the second book and the last of this duology I was hoping that the author would give us just a little bit more insight and explanation as to the magic that’s left in this world, but it never happened. While high fantasy is my real love in reading, I wasn’t expecting a high fantasy type of magic in a young adult book by any means, but since magic is an integral part to the plot of the duology, I found myself wanting to know just a little bit more about how it worked and how it came about and why it’s no longer as prominent in the world, how magic-touched items came to be, who imbued the items with magic, etc. I truly feel like this is a missed opportunity to expand this fantasy world just a little bit more by the author.

Overall, I truly loved this book, I just wish that Inez and Whit had more time with the Library and doing archeological type stuff there together like they did with Cleopatra’s tomb in book one. The ending also felt a bit rushed and unfinished which was disappointing to me; it felt like we still had another 20 or so pages to go when the epilogue hit and ended so quickly. My arc copy on NetGalley only had 330 pages while Goodreads is showing the hardcover as 400 pages, so maybe there’s more in the finished book, fingers crossed! Also, personally, I do feel like this easily could have been a trilogy with the plot moving onto the Pyramids of Giza, especially since it’s mentioned in the ending notes that Inez and Whit go there anyways; the ending was just truly that rushed to me that it feels like we SHOULD have one more book. The wrap up with Inez’s mother (and father) easily could have gone on for another book without feeling like it’s being drawn out and dragged on too much, but that’s just my personal opinion.
I’m also selfishly hoping that the tidbit in the end of Arabella going to Egypt and having her own adventures means we might still be coming back to this world again, so my fingers are crossed for this too!

Again, thank you NetGalley for the opportunity to read the arc of this book!

"When the Nile knows a secret, the desert will soon know it, too." (Ethiopian Proverb)

Isabel Ibanez continues the flow in her second book in the Secrets of the Nile Series. If you've had the pleasure of reading What the River Knows #1, then you're already perched at the ready for this one. I'd encourage you to read the first book in order to get a feel for these characters and a heads-up on the circumstances.

Inez Olivera has had many stamps on her travel itinerary in 1885. She's left the comfort of Buenos Aires by ship to arrive in Cairo and then Alexandria. Inez is trying to follow in pursuit of her archaeologist parents. Inez has always been close to her father. She arrives at their hotel rummaging through their things for a simple clue.

Her Uncle Ricardo is up in arms at her arrival. Keeping Inez under control is a monumental effort. Inez has a locomotive personality. Isabel Ibanez has created one feisty character while adding magical elements to this storyline. After all, her parents may have known the location of Cleopatra's tomb with all its regality. Inez has a gold ring in her possession given to her by her father. What is the actual source of this intriguing piece of jewelry?

We'll have the addition of Whitford Hayes, a former British military stained by rumors of being a defective. Whit and Inez seem to have a destiny. Stay tuned for the coming events. It's a wild ride down the Nile into highly dangerous waters. Isabel Ibanez sees to it.

I received a copy of this book through NetGalley for an honest review. My thanks to St. Martin's Publishing Group and to the talented Isabel Ibanez for the opportunity.

I am always nervous to begin reading sequels, especially when I really loved the first book in a series. I have been burned so many times by poor writing, hasty publishing deadlines, and unfulfilled ideas. After my surprising enjoyment (or rather, not so surprising, in hindsight, but that's what it's there for) of What the River Knows, I was elated to receive the ARC for Where the Library Hides, but was anxious to start.

I should not have been. Readers, Ibañez has written a triumphant, rollicking sequel that not only lives up to part 1, but, perhaps, surpasses it. What the River Knows was much like a river -- frantic in stretches, but also luxurious and slow when needed, to situate us readers into Inez's character and world. Here, we are deeply ensconced in both Inez and Whit's perspectives, with the tensions ratcheted and the secrets bigger. Where the Library Hides has a much more frenetic pace, but also has more emotional twists and payoffs that kept it from going stale.

Sure, some things I could quibble over, but having just finished it a few minutes ago, I can hardly remember the flaws. Instead, I am sad the adventure is over and am recalling most of it quite fondly.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press | Wednesday Books for the ebook ARC. All opinions are mine alone.

i am so in love with my two idiots - and what a tangled web of a book!!!!! this duology was so fucking good, mummy fans take note. i was devouring every page