3.5 of 5 stars
https://lynns-books.com/2024/01/18/what-the-river-knows-by-isabel-ibanez/
My Five Word TL:DR Read : Enjoyable, entertaining, easy to read

My review for What the River Knows is long overdue so in this instances I’m going to cut and paste the description of the book rather than write about the plot. Instead I will simply discuss my thoughts and feelings.

‘Bolivian-Argentinian Inez Olivera belongs to the glittering upper society of nineteenth century Buenos Aires, and like the rest of the world, the town is steeped in old world magic that’s been largely left behind or forgotten. Inez has everything a girl might want, except for the one thing she yearns the most: her globetrotting parents—who frequently leave her behind.

When she receives word of their tragic deaths, Inez inherits their massive fortune and a mysterious guardian, an archeologist in partnership with his Egyptian brother-in-law. Yearning for answers, Inez sails to Cairo, bringing her sketch pads and an ancient golden ring her father sent to her for safekeeping before he died. But upon her arrival, the old world magic tethered to the ring pulls her down a path where she soon discovers there’s more to her parent’s disappearance than what her guardian led her to believe.

With her guardian’s infuriatingly handsome assistant thwarting her at every turn, Inez must rely on ancient magic to uncover the truth about her parent’s disappearance—or risk becoming a pawn in a larger game that will kill her.

The Mummy meets Death on the Nile in this lush, immersive historical fantasy set in Egypt filled with adventure, a rivals-to-lovers romance, and a dangerous race.’

I will start this review by saying that this is a very easy to read and entertaining story and one that I had no problems getting along with. Maybe I had a few issues here and there and I’ll try to outline these below but notwithstanding that my thoughts first and foremost are that I had a good time reading this.

I think the writing and pacing for the story were really good. I felt like the author managed to cut through some of the tedium in order to throw us into the more interesting aspects of the story. By which I mean, after a fairly short introduction to the lifestyle that Inez enjoys we join her again as she arrives in Cairo. Her parents have passed away and she is determined to have answers. I liked that Ibañez doesn’t spend page upon page detailing how Inez managed to escape her families scrutiny and travel, unaccompanied, to Egypt. A lot of what she manages to get away with, which is only briefly touched upon, is due to people jumping to conclusions about her marital status which, whilst totally wrong, allow her a degree of freedom. Of course upon arriving in Cairo, she quickly makes the acquaintance of Whit, her uncle in law’s handsome assistant, who has basically been sent to intercept Inez and put her back on a boat back home. Thankfully Inez manages to outwit Whit and grant herself a small stay of execution. And from there the story enjoys a fairly consistent pace.

The setting was a mixed bag for me. Partly because I think I raised my own expectations in terms of Egypt, dig sites, etc. I wanted a bit more from this aspect of the story. I still think the author does a good job of setting the scene, but, at the same time, some of it felt like the author was envisioning things directly from the Mummy films – although that could be just that I was envisioning those scenes in my head. I don’t know. All things being equal though, I still enjoyed the setting, the travel and the exploring. In this world magic is still very real, if fading. I think the magical aspects play a very small part. I’m not totally confident that I understand how the magic works or why it was included – I think it easily could have been removed – but, I didn’t dislike it, just more it felt a little flimsy.

The characters. I liked Inez. She’s young and naive in some ways but at the same time she manages to wriggle herself into situations and she isn’t totally without knowledge. The desire to impress her globetrotting and oftentimes absent parents, have stood her in good stead in many respects in terms of artefacts, and other little tidbits that she has gleaned over the years. Whit, he’s also a contradiction in terms, he’s sarcastic and unhelpful at times, caring and thoughtful at others. To get straight to the point the two enjoy a very slow burn romance with plenty of chemistry along the way and some rather amusing banter.

The story is constantly on the move. Certain aspects feel like going on tour. There is plenty of travel and some crazy rescue missions. I really enjoyed the pacing, never a dull moment to be honest.

In terms of criticisms. Well, for those of you who don’t enjoy cliffhanger enders – beware. I don’t mind personally but thought I’d point that out. Also, and this is more about me than the book because I’m not sure there’s any real foundation for this – but I had guessed the twist in the tale. On top of this, there is an emotional aspect to the conclusion that felt a little underwhelming, by which I mean it felt like it was brushed over very quickly and Inez didn’t seem to have the intensity of feeling that I would have expected.

All things being equal though I had an undeniably good time reading this. It was entertaining. Sure, I had a few little niggles, here and there but nothing that spoiled my enjoyment.

I received a copy through Netgalley, courtesy of the publisher, for which my thanks. The above is my own opinion.

This was an enjoyable YA read featuring an adventurous female main character.

Inez travels to Egypt alone and unchaperoned after hearing news that her parents have gone missing and are presumed dead.

In Egypt she becomes embroiled in an archeological dig and the politics that go along with it.

She's equal parts attracted to and annoyed by her uncle's employee Whit, but he's hiding things and Inez isn't sure she can trust him.

The pacing in this is solid, the ending is a cliffhanger and I am looking forward to reading the next book when it is available.

My thanks to netgalley and the publisher for a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

I really enjoyed this one. Ancient Egypt has always been a fascination of mine and it was clear that the same is true for the author. The setting was really well done and very evocative, which I really appreciated. The plot was compelling throughout with lots of twists and turns along the way, which is always fun. Most enjoyable though for me was the banter between Inez and Whit, which was really snarky and flirty and I loved every interaction between them. Overall, I thought this was super good fun and I will be eagerly anticipating the concluding book.
I received a free copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for a fair and honest review.

Some of my absolute favourite books take place in Egypt, so when I first heard about What the river knows I was excited! Ancient Egypt and the era when a lot was discovered and learned about it is definitely something I’m interested in- and I think that anyone that watched The Mummy when they were younger feels the same way. In What the river knows we folllow the young Inez Olivera, part of the upper society of nineteenth century Buenos Aires she longs to go to Egypt where her parents spend most of the year. When she receives word of their tragic death she decides to go to Egypt herself in order to find out what happened to them.

I loved the world created by Ibañez, it was clear how much research went into researching the era and the political landscape of 19th century Egypt. The magical touches made the world even more enjoyable and I’m interested in seeing more of the magic and its possibilities in the sequel!

The story itself was fun and interesting with plenty of twists and turns- and I appreciate that the story didn’t rush important moments.

And let’s not forget the excellent rivals-to-lovers romance! Whit (or Whitfield Hayes) made an excellent partner for headstrong and clever Inez. I absolutely loved their banter (top tier!) and I can’t wait to see where the sequel takes the pair!

Rating 4,5

I read up to 50 pages and decided this book was not for me. The plot was intriguing and could have made me love this book, if it weren’t for the writing style.

Ibanez’s sentences are janky, they do not flow and there are too many unnecessary descriptions that do not make sense. If you are someone who loves book with poetic prose and are very atmospheric, this is not for you.

I desperately wanted to love this but unfortunately the writing style is not for me.

Color me shocked 😮🫢

Best way to start the year! This book kept me on my toes!!
The world building was amazing and super easy to follow and the history really made me want to know more!

The characters were amazing tbh. Inez surprised me from the beginning. She was stubborn, loyal, witty, fierce and a pain in the ass 😆. And WHIT 🙀 he won me right from the start! His loyalty, his witty and whole personality were amazing and that made the banter with inez so funny and i ate that shit up!! And the chemestry 📈📈🤌

THE PLOTTTTTTTT OMGGG
it was sooo well constructed! It literally kept u on ur toes, was so intriguing, so well develop. I never saw none of it coming. I never knew who did what (still don’t tbh) there was plott twists at every turn and I couldn’t put it down. And with that… WHAT THE FUCK WAS THAT ENDING??????? At one point I was sooooo happy, screaming and jumping and then I turned the page and I got bundfumbed, speechless and shocked 😳

I can’t wait for the second one!!! It should be illegal to wait so much time for it 😤

I remember racing my way through this book when I read it a month ago because the narrative of this book makes it impossible to put it down, even if it starts out really slowly. Then life happened and I could not find enough braincells to type out a proper review until now. I would like to start by apologising for that.

Inez is a girl with strong determination to find out the truth about her parents' demise, even if it means travelling in disguise and going against all the rules imposed on her. She is unstoppable (believe me, Whitford really tried his best). My history loving heart loved all the details and descriptions provided along with drawings & the mystery at the core of the story just got more twisted the more the plot progressed.

For me, the main twist of the story might not have been such a shocker, but the epilogue did have my brain go "excuse me, WHAT?". I just cannot wait for the next book to be here so that I can know what happens next!!

Quite an enjoyable read although it felt a little flat in places. I didn't care for Whit too much, as I felt he was a stereotypical bravado male, but the rest of the book was okay.

I am so grateful to the author, publishers and NetGalley for the ARC. My review is 100% my own and honest.

A book set in Egypt, with an Argentinian protagonist and we get to explore Egyptian tombs in the late 1880’s? I actually really enjoyed the first half but the last quarter felt so rushed. Getting to know Inez was a pleasure but the last few pages weren’t actually enjoyable at all.

I will read a sequel just to see what happens, but I’m not happy at the moment. I hope we get more on the magic in the world because it’s fascinating and it felt like it was just peppered in for effect but not really given much of a muchness about it.

As I do my reviews as soon as I finish the book it’s hard not to scream spoilers but I am not okay with the last 20-30 pages.

Inez has loved Egypt from afar for many years as her parents spent most of their time there. But when she receives word of their deaths, she decides she needs to go to the country herself to find out the truth of what happened, and to experience the place they so adored for herself.

What follows is an archaeological adventure with a little bit of magic. Most of the characters are difficult to like - including Inez - but I thought the plot was strong despite that. I've not yet decided whether I'll pick up the sequel, but even if I don't I won't regret having read this book.

I received a copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review

I've heard this described as Death on the Nile meets The Mummy and I have to say I think that's pretty accurate. I love books about Egypt so this was an instant win for me but I enjoyed it so much. The main character Inez was so refreshing, she had a great character arc, I loved that she wasn't just a simpering female around men as well and she actually had a realistic relationship with Whit. And Whit was just perfect. There were so many twists in this book, I did see a few of them coming but that didn't take away from my enjoyment of it. And that ending! The last 100 pages I was gripped wondering what was going to happen next and I was quite shocked by a certain characters death! I cannot wait for the sequel, I need to know what happens!

4.5 stars

Thank you Netgalley for an advanced copy of this book.

What the River Knows is a beautifully crafted tale with elements of historical fiction, mystery, magic and romance. I must confess that I've always had a fascination for ancient Egyptian history and archaeology so this book was right up my street.

Inez, having received word that her parents were missing and presumed dead travels from Argentina to Egypt to find out just what happened. As she tries to uncover the mystery of their death she becomes embroiled in mysteries, archaeological finds and danger.

I loved everything about this book. The characters were well developed and interesting, the world building was incredible and the slow burn romance was perfect. My only very slight criticism is they I wish the magic was more prevalent. The fantasy element of this story was only very minor but it honestly, it did work well. Definitely a favourite from this year!

In this highly anticipated release described as The Mummy meets Death on the Nile, Inez Olivera is determined to find her missing parents, who constantly leave her behind, to embark on their next great adventure. After escaping to Cairo, the city her parents hold so dear, she seeks out her mysterious guardian, who might have the answers she is looking for, but along the way, she meets Whit, her uncle’s assistant, who is determined to ruin her best-laid plans. Inez soon realises the grave danger in which she has gotten herself, and that betrayal might just cost her her life as well as those around her.

I have been looking forward to What the River Knows for months and was so happy to have finally gotten a copy, as the story intrigued me from the first moment I heard of it.

Inez is such a loveable character for her determination, bravery and strength, and I had the most wonderful time joining her on her journey. Whit captured my attention from the moment he was introduced, and I loved the banter and rivals-to-lovers aspects between him and Inez.

The setting stood out to me entirely, and I loved learning more about Egypt and Cleopatra. I could not get enough of the author’s descriptive writing as it contributed so much to the story - the imagery it created in my mind helped me visualise it all. however, I could not get over the ending/cliffhanger and still think about it.

What the River Knows is perfect for those who are looking for an action-packed and adventurous historical fantasy filled with dangers lurking around every corner and a perfectly executed rivals-to-lovers romance.

Thank you, Netgalley, for providing me with an eARC!

- I had been looking forward to reading this book since I first heard about it. This was even before it was marketed as The Mummy meets Death on the Nile which only increased the intrigue. In general, the story had potential but its execution was messy. I could not like any of the characters, especially not Inez and Whit. The romance felt too forced and at times pathetic on Inez’s part. I don’t care for the ending but I will read the next book with hope that it gets better. The magic aspect felt weak and I wish there had been more to it.

Despite, personally, it being a slower paced read, I enjoyed every second of the story. The ancient Egyptian history was retold beautifully, with mystery and magic thrown in, and with the drive of the young and adventurous protagonist Inez, it made for a very gripping read whilst she tried to come to terms with her parents untimely death. Of course, she doesn’t go through any of this alone, being sent under her Uncle’s care, she first meets Whit.
It was certainly an entrancing story, and one for any historical fiction fan (of course with some mystery and tension thrown in!)

Couldnt get enough of this book! Can't wait to pester everyone I know into reading it! There was something so magical about the storytelling and the setting was so vivid. The romance was giving serious "The Mummy" vibes!

A great historical fantasy read.

Inez is an upper class girl who lives in a world steeped in old magic and has everything she could want – except her absent parents, who are always off in Egypt. News of their death reaches Inez and she does what any other person would do, she runs off to Egypt in search of answers from her estranged uncle and now guardian. There are just a few problems, and the biggest one is called Whit, her uncle’s infuriating and very handsome assistant. And maybe the old magic tethered to her from a ring her father sent to her before he died.

Inez wants answers but no one wants to help her, they want to send her back to Argentina. Relying on this old magic to guide her, and her own cunning and bravery, Inez navigates Egypt and makes discoveries that she might have preferred stayed hidden.

This whole book gave me major ‘The Mummy’ vibes all the way through and I loved it. Being a huge fan of the films, and having a fascination with ancient Egypt, it was as if the book were written for me.

I loved the imagery the author weaved throughout the book, I really felt like I was at a glamourous hotel, in a boat on the Nile, and inside a dusty tomb. I found the storytelling good and the language used, both English and Spanish, easy to read. There were drawings used in multiple chapters as Inez is an artist, and I really enjoyed this touch! It added so much to the story and it was so fun to see, it was like I was seeing these scenes through Inez’s eyes more so because of them.

I liked the chemistry between Inez and Whit. The first part of the story there wasn’t much and then the romance escalated out of nowhere. They went from teasing and longing looks to Inez jumping Whit, asking him to not deny what’s between them. However, the romance and tension was top notch after this. Their relationship felt more natural and I enjoyed their banter and opening up to one another.

I wasn’t too keen on the magical objects part of the story. I enjoyed the ring and Inez having part of that magic by touching it etc, but a shoe that’s a light? And a tie that produces boiling water? I just couldn’t get on with those parts. And some parts of the story were very predictable. I wont be spoiling anything, but you could see these plot points and reveals coming from a mile off. That being said, what was a shock was a part near the end and the actual ending. Now that I did NOT see coming and it immediately infuriated me as I have to wait for book 2.

This is a fantastic book, filled to the brim with action and tension, Egyptian expeditions and strong female characters, betrayals and romance. I am looking forward to reading the second book!

Thank you to Hodderscape, Netgalley, and Isabel for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for a free ARC in exchange for a review.

In short, I need the next book in this series right now. I need Inez and Whit happy and married and I need it now. This is a new favourite series. I can feel it.

In long, what an amazing, twisty-turny, emotional, complex, romantic, and beautiful book. A love letter to Egypt, adventure, Buenos Aires, family, friends, love; I could go on. It's just amazing. I loved the Mummy movies as a kid, and if you love the idea of an archeological magical adventure through Egypt but would like something both historically accurate (for the most part, there is magic here), and with the cognizance of the damage done by Westerners to the country, this is the book for you.

Inez is a feisty, warm, and smart heroine who knows what she wants, admits when she doesn't get something, and loves so deeply it hurts. Whit is a really fascinating enigma. The glimpses we get of his perspective are so fab, and his interactions with Inez are to die for. I can't wait to find out more about him.

The dig team, and Inez's family make the background characters, all who are fleshed out and special in their own ways. The depictions of Egypt are so breathtaking. If you didn't want to see it for yourself before, you will after reading.

I could keep going honestly, for a while. But I'll hold myself here and just say: read this. You won't regret it. Five stars.

Just finished an ARC from NetGalley, and I am reeling! This is such an amazing adventure through Egypt, with the best touches of mysticism and romance, all led by a fiery, self-possessed protagonist.

I fell entirely in love with Inez and how deeply she felt each emotion, of which the author so gracefully depicted. The whole journey she took from Argentina to Egypt, then through Egypt, was both a mystery and such an epic journey, full of twists and secrets and magic. Of course, there was Whit too with his smirks and infuriating-ness. The author does a wonderful job of reviving Egypt in the late 1800s and making it so full of life, plus her characters and their dynamics are just perfect. I’ve fallen into the lovely group of readers kicking our legs impatiently for the sequel!!

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Hodder & Stoughton for this life changing ARC!

i don't read much YA but I made an exception for this as the story about a girl travelling all that way to find out the truth about her parents really spoke to me. It seemed such a mystery and story for a YA and I could imagine the scene setting. This is a wonderfully crafted story and I was sorry it ended!